Acts chapter 5, verse 33. It says, when they heard that, they
were cut to the heart and took counsel to slay him. Now that
verse has got some italicized words in it and it's a Real eye-opening thing to read
it without them. It says, when they heard, when
they heard, men can listen for a while, right? But when they
finally hear, wait a minute. When they heard, they were cut. And they took counsel to slay
them. They said, we're going to kill these men. What were the apostles doing?
We've been reading this, leading up to it. The answer is everything
in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. Everything. All their
preaching was in that name. All their works were in that
name. They were bringing people and
laying them at Peter's feet and he was healing them in that name. in that name. All their results,
all of their success was in that name. The apostles had no results. That name had all the success,
every bit of it. They preached Christ and Him
crucified and the world didn't like it. They just didn't like
it. Religion didn't like it, they
hated it. They absolutely hated it. Turn
with me over to John 15. John 15, look at verse 18. If the world hate you, you know
that it hated me before it hated you. If you were of the world,
the world would love his own. But because you're not of the
world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the
world hateth you. Remember the word that I said
unto you, the servant is not greater than his Lord. If they
have persecuted me, they will also persecute you. If they have
kept my saying, meaning if they have taken what I said and held
to it and they won't let it go, they're singling it out, they
will keep yours also. Verse 21 says, But all these
things will they do unto you for my name's sake, because they
know not Him that sent me. Who's he talking about? Who's
going to do this? The men and women of religion. The men and
women of religion. Look right here at John 16, verse
1. These things have I spoken unto
you, that you should not be offended. They shall put you out of the
synagogues. They're going to kick you out
of the church. They're going to kick you out
of the church. For preaching and believing in my name. Well, that doesn't make any sense.
That doesn't make any sense. Nobody's going to be kicked out
of the church because of Jesus. Right? The whole reason everybody
goes to church is because of Jesus. I'm not talking about
Jesus. I'm talking about the Lord Jesus
Christ. They are two different people. They are two different people. One is a weak sissy. The other is the High King of
Heaven. That's the difference. They are
two different people. You preach or believe in the
name of the Lord Jesus Christ, God manifest in the flesh. The all-ruling, all-controlling
High King of Heaven. The sovereign Lord who does what
He will with whom He will, who saves whom He will and only whom
He will. The One who by Himself purged
our sins, by Himself shed His blood, paid our debt in full
and then sat down. No help from any man, not from
me, not from you. You preach or believe the Lord
Jesus Christ, the successful Savior. You preach in the past. It's finished. Salvation is accomplished. You
preach or believe a finished work and they will kick you out
of the church for it. They'll either force you out
or they'll force you to force yourself out. One of the two.
One of the two. Chapter 16, John 16 verse 1 says,
These things have I spoken unto you that you should not be offended
They shall put you out of the synagogues, yea, the time cometh
that whosoever killeth you will think that he doeth God service."
Let me do something nice for God as I listen to that come
out of your mouth and kill you. They're going to think they're
doing God service. They're going to call good, which
is the Word of God, evil. And they're going to call evil,
which is denying the Word of God and killing
you for believing the Word of God, good. And they're going
to hate you and they're going to persecute you only because
you hold to the Word of God. That's the only reason. That's
the only thing. I mean, now we're sinners and
we have faults and wrongs, but they don't care about any of
that stuff. None of that stuff. It's just because you hold to
the Word of God. And in doing that, they think
that they've taken the high road. They're a better Christian than
you are because they share God's glory with everybody. We're not
as narrow-minded as you are. We take all the glory that is
owed to God and we equally divide it out amongst everybody. Verse 3 says in John 16, And
these things will they do unto you, because they have not known
the Father, nor me. But these things have I told
you, that when the time shall come, you may remember that I
told you of them. How sad is that? How sad is it
really? They're going to fight you? They're
gonna hate you. They're gonna war against you.
How sad is that? Over this issue of the gospel. How sad is that? You want some
good news. I love it when we get to the
good news. Go back over to Acts chapter 5. Acts 5 verse 33 says, When they heard that, they were
cut to the heart and took counsel to slay them. Then stood there
up one in the council, a Pharisee named Gamaliel, a doctor of the
law, had in reputation among all the people, and commanded
to put the apostles forth a little space. Send them over there just
a minute and let me tell you something. Verse 35, And he said
unto them, Ye men of Israel, Take heed to yourselves what
ye intend to do as touching these men. He said, we better stop
and think about this. Verse 36, For before these days
rose up Thudias, boasting himself to be somebody to whom a number
of men, about four hundred, joined themselves, who was slain, and
all as many as obeyed him were scattered and brought to naught.
After this man rose up Judas of Galilee in the days of the
taxing, and drew away much people after him, he also perished,
and all, even as many as obeyed him, were dispersed. And now
I say unto you, refrain from these men, and let them alone,
for if this counsel or this work be of men, it will come to naught,
but if it be of God. If this is of God, you can not overthrow it. Lest haply your hap is gonna
be, you're gonna find yourself. Lest haply ye be found even to
fight against God. You're not gonna fight these
men You're going to be fighting God. You're going to be fighting
God. If you want to get to these men,
you've got to go through God first. You know what I call that? Good
news. That's good news. You've got to go through God
first. Turn over to Matthew 18. Matthew 18 verse 2 says, And
Jesus called a little child unto him, and set him in the midst
of them, and said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted,
and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom
of heaven. Whosoever therefore shall humble
himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom
of heaven. And whoso shall receive one such
little child in my name receiveth me. But whoso shall offend one
of these little ones which believe in me, it were better for him
that a millstone were hanged about his neck and that he were
drowned in the depth of the sea. Verse 10 says, Take heed that
you despise not one of these little ones, for I say unto you
that in heaven their angels do always behold the face of my
Father which is in heaven. For the Son of Man has come to
save that which was lost. Now I saw something comforting
in reading that today. I have always thought in my mind
that that verse said their angel doth behold. It says angels.
Who knows how many? He said, Woe unto the world because
of offenses. Verse 7, Woe unto the world because
of offenses. It must needs be that offenses
come, but woe to that man by whom the offense cometh. Just
like Jehaziel, we look back at the story Sunday, just like Jehaziel
told Jehoshaphat, You shall not need to fight in
this battle. The battle is not yours, but
God's. It's God's. And God's Word, the
Word that you hold to, we are holding to this Word, the Word
that you cling to for dear life, it cannot be overthrown. It cannot. Turn over to Isaiah
8. Isaiah 8. God told Isaiah to
tell the enemies of his people. He said, I want you to tell them
something. You tell the enemies of my people in verse 10. Isaiah
8 verse 10. Take counsel together. Go ahead. Y'all get together. It shall
come to naught. Speak the word. Say what you
want to say. Accuse. Afflict. It shall not
stand. For God is with us. God is with
us. God told Paul to write, if God
be for us, who can be against us? Who can be against us? Really? Who? They'll make it miserable for
us for a little while, but it's not going to stand. It will not
stand. If you belong to Him, and if
they're attacking you, they're going to realize real soon, they're
actually fighting with God. They're fighting with God. Go over to Matthew 15. Matthew 15 verse 10 says, And
he called the multitude and said unto them, Hear and understand,
not that which goeth into the mouth defileth a man, But that
which cometh out of the mouth, this defileth the man." All the
people in religion, you know, they wanted to say, touch not,
taste not, handle not, and he said, that's not true. It's not
what goes into the mouth that defiles a man, it's what comes
out. Verse 12 says, Then came his disciples and said unto him,
Knowest thou that the Pharisees were offended after they heard
this saying? Man, they were offended. Those old ladies over there said,
this stuff has never touched my lips. They were offended. Verse 13, But he answered and
said, Every plant which my heavenly Father hath not planted shall
be rooted up. Don't you worry about it. Don't
worry about it. God will take care of it. He'll
take care of it. Go back over to Acts chapter
5. Acts 5 verse 39 says, But if
it be of God, you cannot overthrow it, lest happily you be found
even to fight against God. And to him they agreed, and when
they had called the apostles and beaten them, They commanded
that they should not speak in the name of Jesus and let them
go. They beat them. Why did they
beat them? Number one, they hated them.
They hated the God they preached. But number two, they had to.
They absolutely had to. Go with me over to Matthew 10.
They had no choice but to beat these apostles. Matthew 10 verse 16 says, Behold, I send you forth as sheep
in the midst of wolves. Be ye therefore wise as serpents
and harmless as doves. Just be harmless as doves. God
will take care of it. Verse 17, But beware of men,
for they will deliver you up to the councils, and they will
scourge you in their synagogues. And you shall be brought before
governors and kings for my sake, for a testimony against them
and the Gentiles." God said they would, so they had to. The reason
is because He's sovereign, and everything He says, they do. They had to. Now, this is my
favorite part, all right? Back over to Acts 5. Acts 5, verse 40 says, And to
him they agreed, and when they had called the apostles and beaten
them, they commanded that they should not speak in the name
of Jesus and let them go. And they departed from the presence
of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer
shame for his name. Now let me show you what that
means. I understand we have turned to a lot of scriptures. I'm aware
of that when it happens. I have three more, okay? I'm
going to show you what that means. Go with me to Philippians 1. Philippians 1 verse 29 says, For unto you it is given in the
behalf of Christ, not only to believe on him. Is there any
doubt in our mind that God's people are going to believe? He said, unto you it is given
in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on him, but also
to suffer for his sake. It's what's given to us. It's
what's purposed for us. All right, now go with me to
Hebrews 10. Hebrews 10 verse 32 says, But call to remembrance the former
days, in which after you were illuminated, after God turned
on the light, you endured a great fight of afflictions. It wasn't
just a happy unity. You were sitting in a place and
God crossed your path with the gospel. You'd never been under
it before. Showed you the truth, showed
you Christ. And then it wasn't just the whole
room just filled up with unity and love. It was affliction. It was persecution. It was division. All right, so he says, call to
remembrance the former days in which after you were illuminated,
you endured a great fight of afflictions. Partly whilst you
were made a gazing stock by the reproaches and afflictions. Everybody's
looking at you. What in the world is going on
with him? And partly whilst you became companions of them that
were so used. You're going over there with
them. Yes, I am. You believe what about
God? What he said. Verse 34 says,
For you had compassion of me and my bonds, and took joyfully
the spoiling of your goods, knowing in yourselves that you have in
heaven. A better and enduring substance. Knowing what God has revealed
to you. Was all of that persecution worth
it? Man, was it ever. Was it ever. Alright, now turn to 1 Peter
4. 1 Peter 4 verse 12 says, Beloved,
think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try
you, as though some strange thing happened to you. Don't think
that you're being singled out for some strange thing. Verse
13 says, But rejoice inasmuch as you are partakers of Christ's
sufferings, that when His glory shall be revealed, you may be
glad also with exceeding joy. If ye be reproached for the name
of Christ, happy are ye, for the Spirit of glory and of God
resteth upon you. On their part He is evil spoken
of, but on your part He is glorified. Let none of you suffer as a murderer,
or as a thief, or as an evildoer, or as a busybody in other men's
matters. Yet if any man suffer as a Christian." And the truth of that word is
best understood by saying a Christian. A Christian. Men and women in religion
are not Christians. They're Jesusians, and I say
that with a broken heart. But there's a big difference,
and they need to see this truth if God would be merciful. The
Christ is the true and living God. He's the Messiah, the one
who came and accomplished this redemption. Verse 16 says, Yet
if any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let
him glorify God on this behalf. Our Lord said in Matthew 5, Rejoice
when it happens. Rejoice when it happens. And
be exceeding glad, for great is your reward in heaven. For
so persecuted they the prophets which were before you. Now go
back with me over to Acts chapter 5. Verse 41 says, And they departed from the presence
of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer
shame for his name. And daily in the temple and in
every house they ceased not to teach and preach Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ. May that name be on our lips.
May we not just go around with the name Jesus. That's His name
of humanity. What a precious name it is. Call His name Jesus, for He shall
save His people from their sins. But that name Christ means this
man Jesus is the God. That's what it means. May we be Christians. May we
teach and preach and follow and proclaim the name Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ. Now do you know
why these men were so happy about the fact that they suffered shame
for his name? You know why they were so happy
about that? It says that they were rejoicing. They departed
from the presence of the council rejoicing. The reason is because
these were the men who forsook Christ when the soldiers came
and led Him to Pilate. These were the men who wouldn't
even acknowledge Him. I don't even know the man. Does
that remind you of anybody? But now, by the hand of God,
By the grace of God, they are happily beaten for His precious
namesake. And they have comfort of suffering
for siding with Him, claiming Him, confessing Him. A long time ago, back in the
60s, brother Cody Groover, who was
here a couple of months ago and preached to us, the missionary
to Mexico. His father took his family to
Mexico and there was not much down there. And there was a little girl and
I knew her name and I can't remember it now, but anyway there was
a little girl who kept showing up on their front step, begging
for food. And Betty, Cody's mom, Walter's
wife, would always give it to her. And she'd be back the next
day begging for food. And back the next day, begging
for food. And so she started talking to her while she ate
and realized that her mother was a single mother and had a
lot of kids. and just had nothing for them.
Didn't even have enough food for all the kids in the house.
So she went to this little girl's mother and asked, do you mind
if she just lives with us for a while? And I'll take care of
her and get clothes for her and feed her. And her mom said, yes,
that would be great. So she came in as a little girl.
She stayed with them, I think, until she was 17. Is that right?
So it was a long time. But anyway, she came into the
family and Cody said it was clear very quickly that it was just
different. It was different. There was,
you know, Walter had five kids. How many kids did Walter have?
Five kids. And then this girl. And he said they were all into
everything. They were all getting into stuff they shouldn't have
been getting into. They were all had their hands in the cookie
jar, but only Walter's kids were getting in trouble for it. That
was not his child. And Cody said, we all knew it,
and it was kind of a resentment thing. Well, nothing's going
to happen to her, you know. Walter and Betty knew it. Cody
said she knew it. And one day Walter came home,
walked in the living room and she just saw him and dropped
to the floor and threw a tantrum and started kicking, screaming,
hollering, hitting. And he said, what in the world
are you doing? And so she did it more. kicking and screaming. He said, if you don't stop, I'm
going to have to spank you. So she got louder, kicking and
screaming. And Cody said, all the kids were
just like, what's about to happen? This has not happened yet. He
said, we watched dad pick her up. He took her in the back room,
and we were just waiting. You know, he said, we heard it.
He gave her a spanking. And he said, when she came back
out of the room, she had big old huge crocodile tears in her
eyes and a big old huge smile on her face. And Walter came
out and told Betty that she, after he spanked her, she was
crying, she crawled up in his lap, put both of her arms around
his neck and said, now I know you love me. Now I know you love me. You know what she was doing?
Rejoicing that she was counted worthy. to suffer shame for His
name. I'm in the family. I'm one of
yours. I'm one of your children. Whom
the Lord loves, He chastens. Right? And she rejoiced in that. And
so do we. So do we. It's something to rejoice
over. That's why James said, when the
trials come, rejoice over them. Rejoice over them. Alright, I
hope the Lord will cause us to rejoice. Let's stand together.