Healing and Persecution
Mr. Taguchi was a new Christian and things were going well. He was growing spiritually and even his family members seemed to be showing an interest in the new joy and happiness he found in Christianity. He thought that soon some of them would become Christians. But then he was tempted to go back to the old life style of drinking after work at bars and reading the sports news and magazines instead of his Bible. He even wondered whether it was worth being a Christian and whether he should stop going to church. It was so hard to get up on Sunday morning after a tough week at the office. His friends wanted him to come and play golf. They were pressuring him to join them in their parties. For some unknown reason things began to get difficult. That kind of experience is not uncommon. It happened in the early church as well. We will see what the apostles did about it.
Why is it when there seems to be spiritual victories that soon after there are real struggles. Last week we were thankful that the fall festival at the shrine was cancelled. I am not sure of the reasons but we feel that it is an answer to pray. When there are spiritual victories Satan works to set us back. We need to realize that we are in a spiritual battle and that when God makes successes, the Devil is there ready to od battle to try to discourage and win back those advances which God has made. There was a secret which the apostles had which allowed them to successfully fight off that low point and to go forward with even more power and strength in the Lord.
We saw in the story of Ananias and Sapphira that not every one who came into contact with the Gospel did what was right. They tried to lie and deceive the apostles to receive glory for themselves but they were caught and found out that it does not pay to try to deceive. You might say that it was a fatal mistake but behind it was that schemer, the devil, who goes about seeking those who are weak to devour them. The apostles did not give up but after the loss of Ananias and Sapphira worked all the more diligently. God gave them new strength.
In today's passage we see the reaction of the people, the religious leaders and the response of the apostles to persecution.
When the church was purified God was able to work miracles through the apostles. Those that did not believe, the seekers did not want to join the apostles as they worshipped in the temple area. As people heard the message and believed they joined the church. As people joined the church the power of God was increased in Jerusalem. The power of God was so great that just the shadow of Peter was enough to bring about healing. Many people were healed. They came from many towns around Jerusalem and those who were being tormented by an evil spirit were all healed. This shows us that much of the difficulty people face is spiritual. As a pastor I have had to deal with several cases where demons sought to destroy people. God does give the victory. Sometimes to defeat Satan we need to fast and pray. We know that this was the way the disciples gained their spiritual power. If we would desire spiritual we must make sure that our lives are pure and come to God in humility.
Jesus prophesies in John 14:12 and Mark 16:16-18 were being fulfilled. I believe that God can heal supernaturally as well as through a doctor's abilities. Healing can take place when people confess their sins and believe that God has the power to heal. Healing is not determined by a person who has God's gifts to heal but the source of the healing is God himself. God chooses whether he will heal a person here on earth or not. We read that in heaven there will be no death or mourning or crying or pain. (Rev. 21:4)
Where God is working in a mighty way Satan tries to come and disrupt. The Jewish leaders were jealous of Jesus and they were jealous of the popularity of the apostles. While Jesus was with his disciples he warned them that they would face persecution when he left. The religious leaders arrested the apostles and put them into jail. To cover their spiritual weakness they had to use force. When people are spiritually weak they often use physical force to try to impress others.
God was taking care of the apostles and sent an angel to let them out of jail. The messenger from God told them to go into the temple and preach to the people there. So they obeyed. They did not run and hide but they went on showing deeds of kindness and love to the people. The next morning when the Sanderin a counsel of 70 members was gathered, they were ready to call in the apostles to question them. The jailers however could not find them in the cell and were very surprised. The jail was locked , the guards were standing at the doors but the apostles had escaped. They were even more embarrassed when they found the disciples preaching in the temple.
The Sanhedrin had been responsible for the crucifiction of Jesus. The disciples were telling everyone that these leaders had killed an innocent man, Jesus. Thus they were murders. The Sanhedrin did not like this kind of publicity and tried to use force and intimidation to have the apostles silenced.
They had been commanded to remain quiet but instead they had filled Jerusalem with their teaching. They had penetrated their community with the gospel. I am praying that in several years the same thing might be said of this church. That we have filled the community with the liberating message of Jesus Christ.
Let us read their defence in verses 29 - 32. Jesus died that we might be forgiven of our sins and repent for rejecting the Son of God. This answer made the council furious. Gamaliel, a great teacher had a prophetic word with the council. He said, "if this is from God, you will not be able to stop these men; you will only find yourselves fighting against God." (v. 39).
How true this was. Since that time the message of the disciples has spread around the world. Millions have found life, joy and peace by believing that Jesus died for their sins and they have followed the teachings of the Bible.
The Sanhedrin did not kill the apostles but they did whip them. This was usually 39 stripes with a whip on a person's bare back. It was very painful but after the apostles went away rejoicing that they could suffer on behalf of the gospel. Today few Christians in Japan suffer for the gospel and even few really sacrifice anything for the sake of the gospel. They work diligently but know nothing of this kind of treatment.
These apostles were rejoicing. They had seen Jesus suffering on the cross for their sins and now they counted it a privilege to suffer for the sake of giving others the message of hope and life. They were experiencing Jesus words in Matthew 5:10-12. They understood that they were a part of God's family and were proud to suffer as the prophets had.
They did not stop but continued preaching in the temple and from house to house. I trust that we can follow a similar pattern. This place is a place for worship but the disciples also went from door to door sharing the gospel with people. The church often laments that so few people are becoming christians but they also are not filling the city with the gospel nor are they going from house to house. They are not using their own house as a place where the gospel is shared with their neighbours. I trust that you will consider starting a prayer meeting in your home or a bible study and invite your friends to come and study with you. In this way God will use you to bring people to the wonderful assurance of salvation. This will bring joy and happiness to your home as well as God will bless you in a mighty way.
CFC 8/1/82 WHC 10/9/88