Revelation 21:10,22-22:5 gives us a vision of the New Jerusalem, especially the heart of the Celestial City. We have a chance to explore its origin, appearance, exterior, dimensions, materials, characteristics, brilliance and blessings. The entire city will be a holy temple where God and the Lamb dwell, and whose inhabitants will be priests who serve God. The Celestial City will descend from heaven when Christ returns.

John also gives us a vision of the centre of the city. The most striking fact is that there is no temple. That’s because Christ will be the temple. There’s no need for a special building set aside for worship. God and Jesus will be the centre of worship.

We sometimes think our efforts bring about the Kingdom, but we must remember that the Kingdom and its fulfillment belong to God. God’s final fulfillment in Revelation fluctuates between exclusion and inclusion. One can read that in the end nearly everyone will be saved or only Christians will be saved. Current thinking emphasizes exclusion, but the New Jerusalem is a welcoming city, not a gated community. Even foreigners are invited to enter. In our time, when nations and neighbourhoods try to secure themselves against outsiders, the church can claim Revelation’s true vision of openness and welcome for the whole world.

God’s plan in choosing a people for himself is to bring everyone into the embrace of His love and His life. That plan includes the mission to carry the good news of God’s love to all nations. God is a God of embrace, not exclusion. We as God’s people can’t isolate ourselves from people whom we see as different by making the lines between us more rigid. We must recognize that every human being is a beloved child of God.  

In the new creation, sin’s corruption will be eradicated. God’s light will displace the darkness of sin. God’s shining presence will drive out sin. Everyone will enter God’s presence without hindrance or hesitation. Everyone will have complete access to the tree of life. There will be no more disease or death.

Entry into the New Jerusalem is by God’s grace. It is a reminder that, by God’s grace, those written in the Lamb’s Book of Life will live in the New Jerusalem. God will remove all uncleanness from us. God will provide healing for the nations, healing from the idolatry and falsehood that has infected us. God’s drawing of the kings and nations to Himself is no threat; the uncleanness that led to oppression, violence and evil will stay removed forever.

According to Ephesians (and other books of the Bible) we are marked with the sign of the Holy Spirit. The sign reflects baptism. The seal or sign is a promise, and in Revelation 21:4 we have the fulfillment of this promise. We see Jesus and bear His name. The books of Exodus and John reflect the idea that one can’t see God and live, but in the New Jerusalem, we will live in the very presence of God.

Believers will serve God in heaven. Exactly what they will do isn’t known, but they will use their God-given talents. Whatever we do will be far better than all we can imagine, to the praise and glory of His name.

In recent years society has become increasingly aware of the crises concerning the environment. Scholars have encouraged us to read the Bible in light of the problems in our environment. The vision of the new heaven and the new earth is fascinating when we consider the current state of the environment. Many people who read Revelation as a literal script for the end of the world use the new heaven and the new earth as an excuse not to care for the environment. While it is true that God will make all things new, that does not give us an excuse to abuse the environment. Until the new heaven and the new earth are created, we have to come together to take care of our current, earthly home.

The new creation will be a return to the Garden of Eden, paradise regained. The original order will be restored, with the redeemed ruling over all creation with Christ. The tree of life and the pure river-once guarded by the cherubim with the flaming sword at the Garden of Eden-reappear to beckon the weary pilgrims of the Lord to their future inheritance.

Jesus and God will be in every part of their earthly temple. They will be adored in all places. Earthly rulers will lay down their earthly treasures at Jesus’ feet. We will be allowed to visit every part of God’s realm and see His wonderous works.

There will no darkness of any kind-no disasters, no sorrow, no bereavement. Christians will live forever. They will gain knowledge about everything in God’s realm, and they will know everything about God. There will be nothing but peace and happiness. We will be able to enjoy the tree of life-the one tree Adam and Eve were forbidden to touch in the Garden of Eden. That tree will constantly produce fruit. It will grow everywhere. People who partake of that tree will be blessed with long life and good health. Our heavenly home will be pure and happy. There won’t be any place for sin. There will be no divisions or exclusions because of race or politics.

The same angel who has been speaking about the new creation assures John that these things will happen because the lord God guaranteed both the words and the events foretold by the holy prophets. The phrase, “which must shortly take place,” indicates that both the book and time itself are nearing their conclusion.

Revelation’s vision of God’s life-giving watershed in the centre of our cities renews hope for the future. We need the New Jerusalem. We need the tree of life and the healing of nations. The glimpses of a renewed earth that we see in Revelation can inspire and motivate us. Through each of our cities there is a river flowing from God’s heart. It is the life-giving water of life, into which we are baptized and by which we are renewed.

We may think that there is a scarcity of resources on earth, but in the New Jerusalem there is more than enough for everyone. The rejuvenation from the water of life and the healing leaves are accessible to everyone since the river of life provides equal access to the wholeness and not just those who are already powerful and privileged.

This passage gives Christians hope for the future. Jesus can forgive and heal. He will also reign, so His healing power has authority. He will sustain us for eternity. All of this gives authority to the church in the world. The church’s authority depends on the authority and truth of the Gospel.

Because of Christ’s death and resurrection, we have access to God when we approach Him by faith in prayer. In our heavenly home we will live in God’s presence forever.

Saint Augustine said that the reason we are here on earth is to love God and glorify Him forever. The vision of heaven that John gives us in this passage from Revelation bears that out. We will glorify, love and serve God forever. We will reign with Him in the glory that was His before the world began.  

All good things will never end. All bad things have been removed for eternity. We will be with all believers who have gone before us, including our believing relatives. Are you feeling homesick? Are you ready for your heavenly home? Are you ready to sing the words from the great hymn “Jerusalem the Golden?”

Jerusalem the Golden

with milk and honey blessed,

beneath thy contemplation

sink heart and voice oppressed.

I know not, O I know not

what joys awaits us there,

what radiancy of glory,

what bliss beyond compare

Bibliography

1. Jeremiah, David: The Jeremiah Study Bible: New King James Version (Brentwood, TN: Worthy Publishing; 2013; pp.1868-1869)
2. Barnes’ Notes on the New Testament. Part of Wordsearch 12 Bible software package.
3. Palmer, E.F. & Ogilvie, L.J.: The Preacher’s Commentary Series, Vol. 35: 1,2&3 John/ Revelation (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Inc.; 1982; pp. 231-234)
4. MacArthur, J.F. Jr.: The MacArthur Study Bible: New American Standard Bible (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers; 2006)
5. Stanley, C.F.: The Charles F. Stanley Life Principles Bible: New King James Version (Nashville, TN: Nelson Bibles; 2005)
6. Anne Graham Lotz, “In His Presence…Forever.” Retrieved from info@angelministries.org
7. Dr. Ed Young, “Why Are We Here?” Retrieved from ministry@winningwalk.org
8. Micah D. Kiel, “Commentary on Revelation 21:10,22-22:5.” Retrieved from https://www.workingpreacher.org/preaching.aspx?commentary_id=2846
9. Barbara Rossing, “Commentary on Revelation 21:10,22-22:5.” Retrieved from https://www.workingpreacher.org/preaching.aspx?commentary_id=1695
10. Rev. Alan Brehm, “Precious in His Sight.” Retrieved from http://thewakingdreamer.blogspot.com/2010/05/precious-in-sight-rev-2212-21-1-it.html
11. Brian Peterson, “Commentary on Revelation 21:10,22-22:5.” Retrieved from https://www.workingpreacher.org/preaching.aspx?commentary_id=573
12. Michael R. Lomax, “Lectionary Commentary.” Retrieved from http://www.theafricanamericanlectionary.org/PopupLectionaryReading.asp?LRID=4
13. George Carlson, “Revelation 21:10,22-22:5.” Retrieved from communic@luthersem.edu
14. Swindoll, Charles R.: Swindoll’s New Testament Insights on Revelation (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan; 2011; pp. 281.828,285-287)
15. “Jerusalem the Golden.” Written by Bernard of Cluny (12^th cent.). Translated by John Mason Neale. Printed in Common Praise (Toronto, ON: Anglican Book Centre; 2000)

Have you ever wondered if God really speaks to people and tells them what to do? If so, all you have to do is read the Bible. It is full of stories of God telling people what to do. We see one of these stories in Acts 16:9-15.

Paul wanted to go to the Roman province of Asia. He was convinced that this was the next step of the strategy for reaching the Gentiles, but God had other plans. When the Holy Spirit lives within us, he will use our emotions and intelligence to tell us if something we are doing is right or wrong. When our purpose and long-range goals are clear, we can trust our consecrated thinking and emotions because our thoughts and feelings are dedicated to serving God.

When God shut down Paul’s plans, Paul moved on to new cities. He followed his purpose of preaching Christ and reaching the Gentiles. God was able to get Paul to go where God wanted him to go. Similarly, God can get us to go where he wants us to go and do what he wants us to do by whatever means he decides to use. Being with God wherever he wants us to be is better than being without him, and doing what God wants us to do with him by our side is better than doing things without him by our side.

Faith involves actively listening for God’s presence in our lives. Once we have heard God, he wants us to act, and that is easier said than done. God wants us to remember that he knows whom to call and why. Paul had a vision that was so forceful and so powerful that he knew God was guiding him. Paul was sensitive enough to the Holy Spirit that he could tell the difference between yes and no when it came to discovering God’s will-and he was obedient enough to respond to both. This time, God directed Paul to leave Asia Minor and go into Europe.

Philippi was a Roman colony, taking its name in 356 BC from Philip II of Macedon, the father of Alexander the Great. It was a favoured city of Rome and its citizens were exempt from paying provincial Roman taxes. Since Paul seemed to prefer to establish ministry beachheads in key regional cities, it should be no surprise that he picked Philippi. There was no significant Jewish population, so Paul witnessed in the closest thing to one-a group of women gathered outside the city for prayer.

One of Paul’s first converts was a businesswoman named Lydia. As a seller of purple goods, she had some wealth. Her house became the gathering place for Christians in the city. That encounter opened the way for Paul’s ministry in Philippi. Lydia was a Jewish “God-fearer.” Purple was the colour of royalty and nobility, so she was probably a very successful businesswoman. She also had a home large enough to host Paul and his team.

God opened Lydia’s heart to the truth of Gospel. No human has ever had the ability to open anyone’s heart except Jesus. Even faithful preachers like Paul can’t do it. God’s servants can sow the Word, but ultimately the Holy Spirit is responsible for accomplishing the harvest.

Lydia was not saved by doing good works. She was saved so that she could do good works. Once she was saved, she began to fellowship with other Christians. God gives us the same responsibility to have fellowship with other Christians, just like all of us are having fellowship right now. Fellowship helps us in our faith, and it will help other believers in their faith. It doesn’t matter if these believers are down the hall, across town, in another part of the province or the country or even in another country. When someone cries out for answers or help, God wants us to answer the call.

Bibliography

1. Jeremiah, David: The Jeremiah Study Bible, NKJV (Brentwood, TN: Worthy Publishing; 2013; p. 1515)
2. ESV Study Bible. Part of Wordsearch 11 Bible software package.
3. Ogilvie, L.J. and Ogilvie, L.J.: The Preacher’s Commentary Series, Vol. 28: Acts (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Inc.; 1983, pgs. 244-245)
4. Pastor David McGee, “Poke!” Retrieved from www.crossthebridge.com
5. Bayless Conley, “’Come Over and Help Us!’” Retrieved from Christianity.com@crosswalkmail.com
6. Os Hillman, “Lydia, A Workplace Minister.” Retrieved from Christianity.com@crosswalkmail.com
7. Butch Odom, “Sixth Sunday of Easter 2016-Acts 16:9-10.) Retrieved from comment-reply@wordpress.com
8. Bruce N.G. Cromwell, Ph.D., “A Plain Account-A Free Online Commentary-Acts 16:9-15.” Retrieved from http://www.aplainaccount.org/

How many of you have been part of sad goodbyes? Perhaps it was because of an adult child leaving home. Perhaps it was because a visitor was leaving, or perhaps it was because you were getting ready to leave after visiting someone. Perhaps it was because of the death of a family member or friend. Regardless of the situation, sometimes goodbyes are not easy.

The reading from John 14:23-29 was part of Jesus’s goodbye message to his disciples. This took place at the Last Supper. Jesus told his disciples that he will be crucified. Naturally, the disciples were sad. They had spent the last three years learning from him. They wondered how they would cope after he was gone.

When someone we love leaves us, it’s natural for us to not want to see them go, but if we really love them, we have to let them go. Real love allows us to release those we care about. When we try to hang on to the ones we love, we are being selfish. Jesus was preparing to die and eventually return to his Father, but the disciples did not want him to leave. He urged them to rejoice because he was leaving. His departure would allow the disciples and all believers to do great things, including growing Christianity.

Jesus was more concerned for the disciples than he was for himself. He reassured them that they would not be alone. He promised them peace and hope-the same peace and hope he offers to all believers. Even though he offered instructions to the disciples during his earthly ministry, he knew that they did not understand what he had taught them. They did remember his words and teachings after the resurrection and ascension When Jesus was with his disciples, they could listen to his teachings and ask him questions. When he was gone, the Holy Spirit assumed that role. For the rest of their lives and as Matthew, Mark, Luke and John wrote the Gospels, the Spirit reminded them of all the things Jesus did and said. The Holy Spirit stood with them and guided them, just like it stands with us and guides us today. Jesus made it clear that His followers love him by serving others. That message is just as relevant to us today. To live that kind of love requires the constant presence of God in our lives.

There are times when we feel alone and we don’t know what will happen to us. We could be stranded in a strange town with a broken down car. Our spouse has just died and our future looks bleak. You’ve lost your job and you have no idea what to do next.  At times like these it’s natural for us to ask ourselves, “What’s to become of me?” How do we take care of ourselves in such moments? For us as Christians, the answer is clear. God wants us to trust in him. When we do, we will receive both the Holy Spirit and God’s peace.

When Jesus told his disciples that he would be leaving, they were afraid. They could not imagine their future without him. Jesus confronted their fears with four truths, and these truths allow all believers to overcome fear:

1. We may be inadequate, but the Holy Spirit will make us competent and courageous. He will teach us and remind us of what Jesus has already taught us.
2. We may be fearful, but the peace of Jesus Christ is ours for the taking. Jesus wants us to focus our attention on the final victory.
3. Circumstances may be difficult, but victory has been assured. Jesus has written the future and it can’t be changed. Our future might be difficult and our experiences might not always be pleasant, but we can endure with hope because God has secured victory for us.
4. Circumstances may be difficult, but courage is found in obedience. We do not have to fear anything. God is our ally, especially when we face enemies. When we trust him, we begin a process of growth in which we experience the truth of Christ’s words personally through obedience. When we obey God, our fears diminish.

The peace Jesus offers is not the same peace that the world offers. The peace offered by the world is similar to the peace that people enjoyed during Christ’s lifetime. That peace was the Roman peace-a peace that was founded by military might, funded by Roman taxation and enforced by soldiers. It was dominance rather than peace. In contrast, Christ offers real peace. We can see that peace in the lives of ourselves and fellow believers. We will receive a calm strength. We can use Romans 8:31 as our motto- “If God is for us, who can be against us?”

The world situation today is scary. There are wars, disease, hunger, famine, terrorism and other problems. If we think that we live in a country that is free from trouble, we are wrong. As Christians, we need to be concerned for our world and pray for it, but we do not need to be afraid because we have the Holy Spirit within us, and it offers us the peace of Christ.

Christ’s peace is the kind of peace we feel inside even when the world around us is falling apart. Christ’s peace is peace of mind, peace in our conscience, peace with our fellow believers, peace with our bosses and coworkers, peace with our environment and peace with our world. Jesus gives us this peace freely, without expecting anything in return except for the hope that when we are changed by this peace, we might pass it on to others.

Jesus tells his disciples and us not to be troubled. Trusting him does not mean that all of life’s circumstances will change for the better, but that his followers will have peace as they endure trials and difficulties. When we receive the peace of Christ, we can take our problems to the cross. Christ’s peace gives us peace in our hearts.

The Holy Spirit will give us God’s wisdom, counsel, knowledge and power. It will make us more dependent on God and less dependent on worldly things. Jesus wants us to focus on God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. They are sovereign over us, our circumstances, our possessions and other people. When we allow God to be sovereign over all of these things, everything finds the right balance. We see ourselves as we should, circumstances become God’s tools, possessions become blessings and people become our equals before Christ. They become equally unworthy of grace and love. When we are confronted by fear, we can turn our attention to God within us and ask God to take control of us and our situations.

The Holy Spirit keeps our relationship with God vibrant. It holds us together in love with Jesus and with God. The Holy Spirit allows us to see God at work and learn about him. It allows us to communicate with him and learn from him, especially when we read the Bible. Love for Christ is demonstrated by keeping his commandments. Obedience flowing from love is very different from obedience performed out of obligation. Jesus promises his presence as people join him in his work. God is always with us, because the Father and the Son have made their home with us where we are. God has made his home in our hearts, and in return he has made a home for us in heaven. Home is where we are with the Lord-and we are with the Lord now-and will be with the Lord forever.

Bibliography

1. Jeremiah, David: The Jeremiah Study Bible, NKJV (Brentwood, TN: Worthy Publishing; 2013, p. 1468)
2. Swindoll, Charles R.: Swindoll’s New Testament Insights on John (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan; 2010, pp. 249-254)
3. Exegesis for John 14:23-29. Retrieved from www.lectionary.org
4. ESV Study Bible. Part of Wordsearch 11 Bible software package.
5. Frederikson, R.L. & Ogilvie, L.J.: The Preacher’s Commentary Series, Vol. 27: John (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Inc.; 1985; pp. 223-226)
6. MacArthur, J.F. Jr.: The MacArthur Study Bible: New American Standard Bible (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers; 2006)
7. Lucado, M: The Lucado Life Lessons Study Bible (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson; 2010, pp. 1485-1487)
8. A.W. Tozer, “The Holy Spirit: We Need Him More and More.” Retrieved form Biblegateway@e.biblegateway.com
9. Jude Siciliano, OP, “First Impressions, 6^th Sunday of Easter-C.” Retrieved from www.preacherexchange.org
10. Pastor Rick Warren, “The Holy Spirit Brings God’s Truth to Mind.” Retrieved from connect@newsletter.purposedriven.com
11. Michael Youssef, Ph.D., “Divine Peace: The Peace of Jesus Christ.” Retrieved from mydevotional@leadingtheway.org
12. Lindsay Popper, “The Courage of Easter People.” Retrieved from http://day1.org/7160-the_courage_of_easter_people.print
13. Carolyn Dale Newell, “Supernatural Peace.” Retrieved from Christianity.com@crosswalkmail.com
14. Mary Hinkle Shore, “Commentary on John 14:23-29.” Retrieved from http://www.workingpreacher.org/preaching.aspx?commentary_id=591
15. “Easter 6C: Peace the World Cannot Give.” Retrieved from noreply+feedproxy@google.com
16. Prof. Dr. David Zersen, “Hugging in the Dark Hallways of Life.” Retrieved from http://www.predigten.uni-goettingen.de/archiv-6/040516-5-e.html

The passage from Revelation 21:1-6 is one that is often read at funerals. It offers comfort to the family and friends of the deceased person, but it also offers hope for the future for the living and the dead.

The apostle John, who wrote the Book of Revelation, was living in exile on the Greek island of Patmos in the Aegean Sea. He knew he would die in the near future. This was the very moment in time when God chose to give John a vision of the glory of Jesus Christ. This vision included a glimpse into heaven, where one day God Himself will live forever with His people. John was commanded to write down what he saw. The vision was to be not only for his personal comfort and encouragement, but for all people down through the centuries who, when facing daily challenges, could do so with courage and hope.

Because of modern communications, our world has become a global community. Even with all the shared knowledge today, true world peace is no closer than it was years ago. Without the Prince of Peace, there is no peace. It will always evade us as long as we put our trust in a path to peace created by man. One day Jesus will return and bring real and lasting peace, but before that peace can come there will be suffering and trials. Life and death are in God’s hands. He will defeat and ruin every power that opposes what is good and true. We should hope for that day, when world peace will be here for good.

Revelation 21 describes the state of the church after Christ’s return. It is a time when conflicts have stopped and Christ’s enemies have been destroyed. A new heaven and a new earth have been created. All tears have been wiped away. There will be no more death, sorrow or pain. The fearful and unbelievers have been cast into the fires of hell.

God has promised that all things will be new. As part of being new, the world, especially the church, will be God’s beloved bride. At that moment God will be very proud, because His bride will be free from sin. His heart will be bursting with joy knowing that He is being united with the one He loves with all His heart. He will regard His church as the most beautiful thing on the face of the earth.

The church is called to be on the side of God and to be part of the new creation. In addition, the church is called to make a choice-turn to God or the world. The latter choice will lead unbelieving Christians who are focused on entertaining people rather than offering new life. Dying to the old life and living into the newness of God is the main message of the Book of Revelation.

Christians are not called to escape into this new world but rather to partner with God in ways that will allow the power of God to be experienced in this world. That’s the reason why God came down into the world to live with His people.

For ancient readers, the sea was a raging, threatening and fearful place that the Lord often had to calm.  In Revelation, it is the home of the dead and is also associated with the abyss-the place from which the beast comes. The sea represents the chaos that existed before creation when the earth was formless and empty and darkness was over the surface of the sea. God’s spirit hovered over the water and when He said “Let there be…” order came and the chaos was contained. In the passage we heard from Revelation, the chaos that threatens is not the sea. It is death, for mourning and crying and pain and tears caused by loss. They can make our lives formless, empty and dark.  Therefore, when John says there will be no more sea in the new heaven and earth, he is saying that there will be nothing to harm or cause God’s people fear; no chaos, death or evil. Everything will be created new.

The New Jerusalem will be the eternal ruling place of Christ, as the Old Jerusalem was His temporary ruling place during the Millennium. The holy city originates from heaven and from God. All of its inhabitants are also Christ’s bride, the redeemed. The New Jerusalem is both the bride and the place where she lives.

The phrase, “a loud voice from heaven” indicates that important words follow. This announcement is about God but not spoken by Him. The tabernacle of God-His dwelling place, His immediate presence-will now be on the new earth. The multiple references to God emphasize His all-consuming presence and intent to dwell with His creation. The promise God made to Abraham-that all nations will be blessed in Him-is now fulfilled.

The disappearance of death, sorrow, crying and pain represents a total reversal of the curses of Genesis 3, when they entered human history. All the evil present in the old creation will have been removed with the destruction of the old heaven and the old earth. The tears that God will wipe away are not tears of shame or guilt but tears caused by the pain, death and persecution, and other hardships that His people suffered on this present earth.

The Alpha and Omega is an expression indicating God’s absolute sovereignty over all things. As the beginning and the end, God is the Beginner of the beginning and the Ender of the end. He stands at the beginning of creation and now at the end in a new creation. God’s New Jerusalem is a place where life and its essentials are given as a free gift.

The best part of heaven is the loving presence of God Himself. Heaven will never grow old because God promises to make all things new. Heaven belongs to those who have sought the satisfaction of salvation and eternal life.

God will account for every one of our tears. The reason for our suffering will be made plain as God reveals the unseen and unimagined purposes behind our hurts through the years. As He dries our tears in heaven, we will see His intimate affection toward us personally.

God has accomplished it all. He does everything. He ushers in the new heavens and earth, not us. Faithful people simply receive with thanks the salvation God has provided for them. God will also make us new. He will give us a fresh start. He will make us new people, and God will have new opportunities in store for us.

We are challenged to be part of wiping every tear or minimizing needless pain. We are challenged to seek a world where pain and death are no more. If this isn’t possible, we are challenged to minimize our perception of deathful situations. This idyllic world doesn’t exist now, but we can begin to act as if it is coming. We are encouraged to make our lives holy “on earth as it is in heaven.”

Death, sorrow, pain and thirst continue because they are part of the old things that have not yet passed away. In spite of this, God is with us now. We can find God’s newness in our faith communities, businesses, schools, clubs, agencies or parks. We can find God’s newness in people experiencing homelessness or people in cultures very different from our own. We might be surprised where we find God dwelling. If we look for it, we can join the newness of the loving community we will find.

We won’t be bored in heaven because we won’t be the same people in heaven. Boredom emerges from things that won’t be allowed in heaven-weariness, mental limitations, self-centeredness and tedium. We won’t be bored because God will have work for us to do. If we are looking forward to the day when God removes all evil, then we should worship God here on earth and tell Him how much we love Him. When we meet other people and they see our joy, we should tell them about the future we have-a future they can also have.

Bibliography

1. Jeremiah, David: The Jeremiah Study Bible: New King James Version (Brentwood, TN: Worthy Publishing; 2013; pp.1866-1868)
2. Barnes’ Notes on the New Testament. Part of Wordsearch 12 Bible software package.
3. Palmer, E.F. & Ogilvie, L.J.: The Preacher’s Commentary Series, Vol. 35: 1,2&3 John/Revelation (Thomas Nelson Inc.; 1982; pp. 227-230)
4. Stanley, C.F.: The Charles F. Stanley Life Principles Bible: New King James Version (Nashville, TN: Nelson Bibles; 2005)
5. MacArthur, J.F. Jr.: The MacArthur Study Bible: New American Standard Bible (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers; 2006)
6. Lucado, M; The Lucado Life Lessons Study Bible (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson; 2010; pp. 1777-1779)
7. Dr. Jack Graham,” Why Believe: The 12” Retrieved from www.jackgraham.org
8. Anne Graham Lotz, “Facing the Future with Hope.” Retrieved from info@angelministries.org
9. Israel Kamudzandu, “Commentary on Revelation 21:1-6.” Retrieved from www.workingpreacher.org/preaching.aspx?commentary_id=2842
10. Barbara Rossing, “Commentary on Revelation 21:1-6.” Retrieved from www.workingpreacher.org/preaching.aspx?commentary_id=1696
11. Joni Eareckson Tada, “An Inventory of Tears.” retrieved from communications@joniandfriends.org
12. Bruce Epperly, “The Adventurous Lectionary-Fifth Sunday of Easter-May 19, 2019.” Retrieved from https://www.patheos.com/blogs/livingaholyadventure/2019/05/the-adventurous-lectionary
13. Mary Simpson Clark, “Revelation 21:1-6.” Retrieved from communic@luthersem.edu

I want to start my message by asking you a question, and the answer might take you on a trip down memory lane. How many of you remember the TV series “I Love Lucy?” Ricky Ricardo always had a line he used when Lucy did something wrong. It was “Lucy, you’ve got some ‘splaining to do.” It was a humorous way of saying that Lucy did something illegal or embarrassing. Today when we tell someone that they have some explaining to do it’s also a funny (or not so funny) way of telling them that they did something illegal of embarrassing.

In Acts 11:1-18, the disciples told Peter that he had some explaining to do. The disciples in Jerusalem had heard that Peter ate with and associated with the Gentiles. In their eyes, that was illegal and/or embarrassing because the Jews always kept themselves separate from the Gentiles. Jews considered the Gentiles to be “unclean.”

Acts 11:1-18 is a summary of the events in Acts 10 with a few additional details. In Acts 10, Peter received a vision telling him to spread the Good News to the Gentiles. In chapter 11, he gives the disciples an explanation of why he associated with the Gentiles.

Instead of debating his accusers, he told them the remarkable story of all that had happened. Peter made sure that they knew he went to Caesarea in direct obedience to the Holy Spirit, and the six Jewish believers who accompanied him to Cornelius’ house saw the outpouring of the Holy Spirit upon the Gentiles. There was to be no distinction or discrimination between Jews and Gentiles. Cornelius and the other Gentiles who were in his house received the Holy Spirit without having to follow the Jewish laws, including circumcision. That was God’s answer to the debate and settled the matter as far as Peter was concerned. No one was to refuse to allow any new believers to be baptized. No one was to prevent any new believers from becoming members of the church.

The Gospel is God’s provision for making peace between sinful men and God and between hostile races. God’s plan was for the Gentiles to receive the Holy Spirit, and it is better to be on God’s agenda than to have him on our agenda. He prepares the steps we have to take to follow his agenda. He will move us on in our spiritual growth. He will never allow us to stay where we are. God’s love overrides any man-made requirements such as circumcision. In fact, nothing can stand in the way of God’s love. He demolishes the barriers, and he asked Peter to do the same. The result was and is characterized by compassion for everyone and not compliance to a code of purity. It is also characterized by radical inclusivity instead of hierarchical exclusivity, and inward transformation instead of outward ritual. God is the god of everyone.

The discussion between Peter and the rest of the disciples was really a difference of opinion. They represent the differences of opinions that Christians often have. The reason why so many different denominations exist today is because of differences of opinion about what beliefs are essential to Christianity. Some individual churches have even broken up because of differences such as whether or not to install microphones or use overhead projectors or install kitchens or the type of bread to use during Communion. Some of these differences do need to be discussed, such as the one between Peter and the disciples. Sometimes way too much time and energy is spent on these discussions. There is too much to do for the Kingdom. God wants us to join together and serve him-which is what the disciples and Peter eventually did.

The greatest task for the church is to find out where God is already at work in the world and take part in that work as God directs. Sometimes the church has missed the new work God is doing because it was waiting for something to happen in its own corner of the world on its own terms, when God was already doing great things in another part of the world.

Imagine what it would be like if all the churches agreed to change their names to simply “church”? What if all references to denominations were removed and we were all just Christians? When people chose which church to attend, they wouldn’t do so by the change outside…they would do so by the hearts of the people inside. When people asked what church they attended, their answer wouldn’t be a label but just a location. Then we as Christians wouldn’t be known for what divides us. We would be known for what unites us-our heavenly Father.

When God gave Peter a vision in Acts 10, it was a reminder of what Jesus said in John 14:26: “But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things, and will remind you of all that I said to you.” God blessed Cornelius and his companions just like Peter and the apostles were blessed at Pentecost. All of them were blessed with the gift of the Holy Spirit. God made it perfectly clear that he loves both the Jews and the Gentiles. Refusing to accept the Gentiles would be the same as hindering God. Peter could not do that, the apostles were not to do that, and God doesn’t want us to do that either.

Peter leaned that holiness was a matter of being cleansed from sin by Christ’s blood and of being like God in thought, word and deed. Repentance and confession are therefore fundamental elements of Christianity. Peter emphasized the gift that both Jewish and Gentile believers share-the gift of the Holy Spirit, repentance to life, and salvation. To receive one is to receive all. The important thing to remember is that God took the initiative to give us that gift. This gift is an experience of God-an experience that draws us into confession and glorification of God. God wants us to bear witness to what he has done in Christ. He urges us to tell the story of God’s act of reconciliation through the death and resurrection of Jesus.

The phrase “The status quo is not an option” certainly applies here. Our ideas of what is proper and what is not proper can’t restrict the message of salvation no matter how valid or how well-conceived they are. Labelling people by various categories based on our own standards violates the standards of the Gospel by excluding people for whom God is working to take the message. In addition, our standards are not perfect, but God’s standards are perfect. People who might be rejected by our standards might be perfectly acceptable by God’s standards and vice versa.

Who are the Gentiles among us? Who are the people who we consider to be “unclean?” Labelling others as unclean and impure, drawing boundaries between “us” and “them” is easy. Loving others like Christ loves us is hard. God gives gifts to others who may not believe or practice faith in the same way that others do. In other words, he gives the same gift of the Holy Spirit to all who believe. Their gifts and experiences, along with our own gifts and experiences, need to be shared within our churches and within the entire world.

The admission of the Gentiles to the body of believers marked a change. Change is not easy. We often resist change, but Jesus wants us to accept and even promote the Gospel of Jesus Christ to everyone. He wants us to drop all barriers to the cause of Christ. He wants us to welcome everyone who is saved. He wants us to leave a place of security and identity and launch out into unchartered territory with nothing but God’s Word to guide us.

Bibliography

1. Jeremiah, David: The Jeremiah Study Bible, NKJV (Brentwood, TN: Worthy Publishing; 2013; p. 1506)
2. ESV Study Bible. Part of Wordsearch 11 Bible software package.
3. Don Ruhl, “Witnesses to the Gentile Conversion.” Retrieved from comment-reply@wordpress.com
4. Pastor David McGee, “Bickering Believers.” Retrieved from www.crossthebridge.com
5. Stephen Davey, “The Church that Changed.” Retrieved from Christianity.com@crosswalkmail.com
6. Ogilvie, L.J. & Ogilvie, L.J.: The Preacher’s Commentary Series, Vol. 28: Acts (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Inc.; 1983, pp. 187-189)
7. Lucado, M.: The Lucado Life Lessons Study Bible (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson; 2010, pp. 1519-1521)
8. Kyle Fever, “Commentary on Acts 11:1-18.” Retrieved from www.workingpreacher.org/preaching.aspx?commentary_id=1617
9. William Loader, “First Thoughts on Year C First Reading Acts Passages from the Lectionary: Easter 5.” Retrieved from www.staff.murdoch.edu.au/~loader/CActsEaster5.htm
10. Daniel Clendenin, Ph.D., “Any Person, Every Nation: Even the Gentiles.” Retrieved from www.journeywithjesus.net/Essays/2007043033.shtml
11. Dr. Jan Love, “Encountering Other Religions.” Retrieved from http://day1.org/1940-encountering-other-religions.print.
12. Exegesis for Acts 11:1-18. Retrieved from www.lectionary.org
13. Jeremiah, Dr. David: A.D. The Bible Continues: The Revolution That Changed the World (Carol Stream, Illinois: Tyndale House Publishers; 2015, pgs. 195-196, 201-203)
14. Evangelectionary for Sunday, April 24, 2016. Retrieved from http://www.evangelismconnections.org/evangelecitionary-for-sunday-april-24-2016/
15. Paul Christenson, “God Pause for Monday, 4/18/2016.” Retrieved from communic@luthersem.edu
16. Daniel Clendenin, “The Day of Non-Judgment is Near.: Retrieved from http://journeywithjesus.net
17. Dr. Randy L. Hyde, “Explaining One’s Self.” Retrieved from http://www.lectionary.org/Sermons/NT/05-Acts/Acts-11.01-18-ExplainingSelfHyde.htm
18. Pastor Daniel W. Brettell, “Law and Gospel.” Retrieved from http://www.lectionary.org/Sermons/NT/05-Acts/Acts-11.01-18-Law&Gospel-Brettell.htm
19. Richard Neill Donovan, “Biblical Commentary-Acts 11:1-18.” Retrieved from http://www.lectionary.org/EXEG_Engl_WEB/NT/or-Acts-WEB/Acts.11.01-18.htm
20. “Lucy, You’ve Got Some ‘Splaining to do.” Retrieved from http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=Lucy%2C+you+got+some+’splainin’+to+do!

I’m going to take you for a walk down memory lane for a couple of minutes. How many of you remember the TV show, “I Love Lucy?” On that show, the main character, Lucy Ricardo, was always getting into mischief. Sometimes it was so bad that her husband said, “Lucy, you’ve got some explaining to do!”

In the passage from Acts 11:1-18, Peter had some explaining to do to the rest of the apostles. They heard the reports about Peter preaching to Cornelius and his family, and they were not happy. The Jews believed that as God’s chosen people they were the only people who could receive the Holy Spirit and the Good News. The idea that the Gentiles could receive the Holy Spirit was extraordinary and contrary to the ideas of the Jews. It is not surprising therefore that Peter would have to do some explaining when he returned to Jerusalem. Instead of debating his accusers, Peter told them the remarkable story of all that had happened. Peter made sure they knew that he went to Caesarea in direct obedience to the Spirit, and that six Jewish believers had accompanied him to the house of Cornelius.

Peter showed that the best way to silence opposition is to make a plain statement of things as they occurred. Opposition most commonly arises from prejudice or false or exaggerated statements. They can best be removed not by arguing but by truthfully telling the facts.

As Peter told the disciples what happened in Caesarea, the Holy Spirit was at work in the minds of the disciples. They loved Peter and believed in him. They gave him a good hearing. Peter and the disciples asked the question, “Who are we that we can withstand God?” They carefully considered the evidence and received the message that the Good News was open to everyone.

This story has implications for us. There is a difference between the Lord being on our agenda and us being on His agenda. God urges us to keep our focus on Him. God is preparing the next step for each of us. God will move us on in our growth. He won’t let us stay where we are. He will gently nudge us and give us the desire to receive what He wants to give us. He will involve us with people who need Him more than they need their next breath.

Once we clearly see God at work, we are wise to join Him or stay out of the way. For example, it never occurred to the early Jewish believers that God might choose to send the Holy Spirit to the Gentiles. Once they saw the truth, they responded correctly by praising God. The Holy Spirit makes it possible for people to have their lives changed and in the process, change the world where they are, and so make the kingdom of God a reality here and now.

Another truth revealed in this passage from Acts is that God gives gifts to others who may or may not believe or practice their faith in the same way that we do. God gives gifts to both unbelievers and believers. God accepts all people even as He has accepted us. It is useless for us to argue with God or contradict God. We can’t win.

This story has implications for the church. Culture clashes are inevitable, especially when churches try to hold on to rules that have nothing to do with the Gospel. There are times when it takes much more strength to let go of these rules than to hang on. There are also clashes with different denominations and their cultures.

What would happen if all the churches agreed, on a given day, to change their names simply to “church?” What if all references to denomination were removed and we were just Christians? And when, people chose which church to attend, they wouldn’t do so by the sign outside. They would do so by the hearts of the people inside. When people were asked what church they attended, their answer wouldn’t be a label but just a location.

The message from this passage holds power for us today. Peter, with the help of the Holy Spirit, entered a space in which he was unfamiliar, in order to become like “the others.” Peter’s experiences are remarkable in and of themselves, but in sharing his story with skeptics in the church, he expanded the horizon of possibilities for his own people. Are there times when our experiences outside of the realm of church need to be shared with those within the church? How might those experiences change the ways that we are called to follow Jesus? How can we be loving toward people who have differing, even contrary, worldviews and ideologies and practices to our own? What does extending love look like when individuals do not want to receive love? We need to remember these three things:

1. There is one Gospel: God accepts all who have faith in Christ.
2. There is one body: In Christ, there is neither Jew nor Gentile.
3. There is one rule: In Christ, love others as God loves you.

Bibliography

 

1. Jeremiah, David: The Jeremiah Study Bible, New King James Version (Brentwood, TN: Worthy Publishing; 2013, p. 1506)
2. Barnes’ Notes on the New Testament. Part of Wordsearch 11 Bible software package.
3. Ogilvie, L.J. & Ogilvie, L.J. The Preacher’s Commentary Series, Vol 28: Acts (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Inc.; 1983; pp. 187-189)
4. MacArthur, J.F. Jr.: The MacArthur Study Bible: New American Standard Bible (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers; 2006)
5. Stanley, C.F.: The Charles F. Stanley Life Principles Bible: New Kings James Version (Nashville, TN: Nelson Bibles; 2005)
6. Lucado, M.: The Lucado Life Lessons Study Bible (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson; 2010)

 

“Oh, look!” Winnie said as her mother parked the car at Grandpa’s farm. “I see Grandpa’s new sheep! Let’s go pet them.” The children climbed out of the car and raced toward the sheep, but the animals darted to the far corner of the pen.

“Oops! We scared them,” said Josiah. “Let’s try again. Let’s pull some grass for them, and this time let’s walk, not run.”

Winnie agreed, and they each pulled a handful of grass and slowly carried it toward the corner where the sheep huddled. But as they approached, the flock spun around and dashed away. Winnie dropped her grass. “I give up.”

“Me too,” said Josiah, throwing his grass on the ground.

A moment later, the children saw their grandfather coming. They ran to give him a hug. “Grandpa, why do you have those baby bottles?” Winnie asked when she saw what he was carrying.

“Two of my lambs need these,” replied Grandpa. “I feed them because their mother died.”

“I wish I could feed one of them,” said Winnie, “but your sheep don’t like us. They run away.”

Grandpa smiled. “Watch,” he said as he led the children to a small pen beside the barn. They saw that it held two little lambs. “Here, Fluffy. Here, Snowball,” Grandpa called as he opened the pen. The lambs scampered out and followed him as he crisscrossed the lawn.

Josiah laughed. “They’re playing follow the leader!”

Grandpa handed each of the kids a bottle. “Here,” he said. “You can hold these for them.”

“Cool!” said Winnie, offering her bottle to one of the lambs. She giggled in delight as the lamb eagerly took it. “This one dances while he eats!” Winnie looked at Grandpa. “But why wouldn’t your other sheep eat the grass we pulled for them?”

“Sheep know their shepherd’s voice and follow him. They tend to run away from strangers,” explained Grandpa. “It always reminds me that we are like sheep. We follow our Shepherd–Jesus–by obeying Him and trusting Him to guide and protect us and not let anything or anyone lead us away from Him.”

The fourth Sunday of Easter is designated as Good Shepherd Sunday. It might seem strange to us that an entire Sunday every year is given to a single image of Christ and God, especially one that is culturally remote from most modern Christians. The prophets predicted that the Messiah would be a shepherd to His people. Jesus referred to His followers as His sheep.

Shepherds of Jesus’ day raised their sheep in the Judean hills. The countryside was rocky, hilly and creased with deep crevices and ravines. Grass was sparse. The shepherd had to establish a personal relationship with each sheep, nurturing its love and trust in order to lead it to where the path was the smoothest, the grass was the greenest, the water was the cleanest, and the nights were the safest. The shepherd always led the sheep. He knew their names, and when he called them, they recognized his voice and followed him. When he stopped, the sheep huddled closely around him. Their personal relationship with him was based on his voice, which they knew and trusted.

Sheep are among the dumbest of all creatures. Most animals will survive if released into the wild. They will learn to fend for themselves and make it. A sheep released into the wild can’t survive. Sheep have no survival skills. They depend on the shepherd. The sheep know that when the shepherd speaks they should follow him because His plan for them is better that their plan for themselves.

The Bible describes our relationship with Jesus as being similar to the relationship between a shepherd and his sheep. That relationship is based on the sound of His voice. Jesus’ sheep can be recognized because they hear and follow His voice, which is God’s Word, the Holy Bible.  God has supplied His Word not so people will obey it out of obligation or fear but to assure His children of their relationship with Him and guide them home.

Jesus’ declaration that He and the Father are one means that they are unified and they enjoy perfect equality. Jesus and the Father are distinct persons, yet they share the same essence and attributes. Eternal life is not something believers receive when they die; they obtain it the moment they believe in Christ as Saviour. There are forces at work to try and snatch us out of Jesus’ hands. Some are subtle, and some are direct. Jesus reminds us that we are secure in God’s hands. No one will be able to snatch us out of God’s hands. His followers will never be cast into hell. Jesus and God are united in redeeming and preserving their followers. If we get something that is very valuable as a gift, what do we do with it? We protect it. We keep it safe. We might even buy insurance for it. If we are believers, we are God’s most precious treasure. He keeps us safe.

Often we are like tiny, helpless birds. God holds us in His hands and brings us to safety. We can’t always see what’s ahead, and sometimes we feel like we’re stuck. God scoops us up and protects us. He reminds us that in His hands we’re in the safest place we could be. No one is excluded from God’s love. We experience this love only when we accept the path of Jesus and it’s alignment with God’s character and plans for us.

God never drives us to anything. He leads us with love. We can choose to follow Him or go our own way. If we follow Him, the reward is eternal life. Do we hear His voice? Does Christ know us? Are we following Him?

Jesus can only be known as the Messiah by spiritual insight and not by verbal or human proof. That’s why the Pharisees could not believe that Jesus was the Messiah. They wanted Him to state clearly that He was the Messiah. Jesus’ deeds were the evidence that He was the Messiah, but the Pharisees ignored that evidence.

Jesus also performed miracles, and to the scribes and Pharisees that was evidence that He was the Messiah. They had one problem. They claimed that the Messiah could not come from Galilee. He was poor and hated. He did not meet their expectations. The Pharisees accused Jesus of being an imposter, but God would not give power to an imposter. The power of working miracles was proof that Jesus was the Messiah. His words and deeds make who He really was known to those who sincerely seek the truth about Him.

Jesus told the Pharisees that if they would only open their eyes and see what He has been up to, they would see that He belongs to the Father. If they would open their ears to hear His voice, they would understand that they could belong to His sheep. Their refusal to become part of His flock makes it impossible for them to believe.

We are like the Pharisees. People want concrete evidence that Jesus is the Messiah, but they refuse to look at His deeds. The Pharisees wanted Jesus to declare openly that He was the Messiah so they could justify attacking Him.

Putting our faith and trust in Jesus is crucial because of who He was. He was God in human form. We hear the voices of the world and long to listen to them, but Jesus’ voice never fades away. There are thousands of radio and television frequencies all around us, but we don’t hear them all because we’re not tuned in. If we tune a radio or television to one of those frequencies, we will pick up the signal.

In the same way, God is constantly transmitting to us. He wants to lead us, guide us, protect us and give us insight, but too often we’re not tuned in to His frequency. We have to pay attention to Him and learn to hear His voice. God doesn’t speak to us out loud most of the time. Sometimes He speaks to us through subtle things such as inner peace.

Jesus speaks to us every day. He summons us in our restlessness and our longing. He calls to us in our deepest sorrow and in the incompleteness and dissatisfaction of our greatest joys. We have to train ourselves to hear His voice above all others, because His voice is the only voice that matters. We hear His Word by reading His Word daily and spending time listening for His instructions. That’s the only way we can know God’s will for our lives.

How does His ultimate care and protection shape our daily lives? It begins with remembering that God brings more good things than physical health and protection or even material wealth. Sometimes God’s protection and goodness may not be experienced in physically tangible ways at all. The truth that ‘nothing can or will snatch us from Jesus’ hand’ is known in these ways or ways like them:

1. In an imagination which keeps creating even when it has been rejected too many times,
2. In the ability to love again, even in the wake of heartbreak,
3. In the courage to risk once more even when things didn’t work out as hoped the last time or the time before that.
4. Perhaps it is in the wonder that faith does not fail us even when evidence for believing seems meager.
5. Indeed, maybe it is in being given a heart which is open to the pain of the world and which keeps seeking to respond even in the face of seemingly insurmountable challenges…

And maybe it is in the ability to keep singing even as suffering and death seem to be winning the day.

Jesus calls us not as individuals but as a flock. That’s why we attend church on Sundays. We celebrate the resurrection because it is safety. It’s safety from death’s grip and from grief and anguish. It’s safety because the shepherd sees to it that our needs are met. It’s safety because our shepherd is totally committed to the well-being of the sheep. It’s safety because the shepherd knows his sheep intimately.

We aren’t just to listen to Jesus’ voice as one among many. We are called to hear Jesus’ voice as we hear the voice of a beloved parent. We are called to recognize the good news in the voice of the Shepherd-and to trust Him.

Bibliography

1. Jeremiah, David: The Jeremiah Study Bible: New King James Version (Brentwood, TN: Worthy Publishing; 2013; p.1460)
2. Barnes’ Notes on the New Testament. Part of Wordsearch 12 Bible software package.
3. Fredrikson, R.L& Ogilvie, L.J.: The Preacher’s Commentary Series, Vol. 27: John (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Inc.; 1985; pp. 180-181)
4. MacArthur, J.F. Jr.: The MacArthur Study Bible: New American Standard Bible (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers; 2006)
5. Anne Graham Lotz, “The Sound of His Voice.” Retrieved from info@angelministries.org
6. Debbie McDaniel, “When Strong Winds Blow: We’re Secure in His Care.” Retrieved from crosswalk.com
7. The Rev. Billy Graham, “Isn’t Belief in God Enough?” Retrieved from aarcamax.com
8. Ed Young, “That Still, Small Voice.” Retrieved from ministry@winningwalk.org
9. Daniel Darling, “God Loves Whom He Treasures.” Retrieved from Crosswalk@crosswalkmail.com
10. David H. Roper, “Listening to His Voice.” Retrieved from donotreply@email.rbc.org
11. Greg Laurie, “How Are We Like Sheep?” Retrieved form com@crosswalkmail.com
12. Rick Boxx, “They Know My Voice.” Retrieved from com@crosswalkmail.com
13. Joel Osteen, “Tune to Him.” Retrieved from no-reply@joelosteen.com
14. Richard Innes, “The Shepherd’s Call.” Retrieved from com@crosswalkmail.com
15. Jude Siciliano, OP, “First Impressions, 4^th Sunday of Easter, -C-.” Retrieved from preacherexcahnge.org
16. Margaret M. Primrose, “Grandpa’s Sheep.” Retrieved from info@keysforkids.org
17. Paul Simpson Duke, “John 10:22-30.” Retrieved from https://blogs.baylor.edu/truettpulpit/2016/04/14/john-1022-30/
18. David Lose, “Resurrection is Protection.” Retrieved from workingpreacher.org/craft.aspx?post=4602
19. Amy Lindeman Allen, “The Politics of Hearing and Response-John 20:22-30 & Acts 9:36-43.” Retrieve from https://politicaltheology.com/the-politics-of-hearing-and-response/
20. Bruce Epperly, “The Adventurous Lectionary-The Fourth Sunday of Easter-May 12, 2019.” Retrieved from https://www.patheos.com/blogs/livingaholyadventure/2019/05/the-adventurous lectionary.com
21. Janet Hatt, “No One Will Snatch Them Out of My Hand…” Retrieved from www.dancingwiththeword.com
22. Paige G Evers, “John 10:22-30.” Retrieved from communic@luthersem.edu

 

 

The theme of the Easter season is redemption. Jesus died to save us from our sins and to restore our relationship with God. The readings from Acts 9:1-20 and John 21:1-19 are good examples of Jesus’ work of restoration.

Paul’s transformation was one of the most famous transformations in Christian history. Here was a man who was a religious zealot. He was so convinced that the way the Pharisees worshipped God was the only way that he actively persecuted the early Christian church. He was present when Stephen became the first Christian martyr. Paul even called himself a strict Pharisee in Philippians 3:5.

Jesus spent most of his time on earth arguing with the Pharisees. He argued that it was not necessary to worship God by obeying the 600 or so rules that the Pharisees had. He tried to make the Pharisees understand that God is for everyone, both Jews and Gentiles. He had little success—until he quite literally made Paul “see the light.

Why did Jesus choose Paul to lead the church in its expansion to the Gentiles? We don’t know for certain. God’s ways are not easy for us to understand, even when we ask him “why”.  Take Ananias, for example. God used him to go to Paul and lay hands on him. God always uses ordinary people to do extraordinary things. God used Ananias to deliver the Holy Spirit to Paul, thereby preparing Paul for his ministry.

Paul’s reputation preceded him, but Ananias did not know that Paul encountered Jesus on the road to Damascus. At the same time that God was speaking to Ananias, Paul was waiting in prayer and fasting for a word from Ananias to tell him what to do. Ananias was the one chosen by God to go to Paul and tell him where his future was. Ananias’ knowledge of Paul’s reputation was a barrier to obeying God’s order immediately.

Like Ananias, we have a word from God. We have an order to bring the Good News to a world that is tumbling toward hell. Our knowledge of people’s reputations and opposition to the gospel often hinders our work. We have yet to hear that many people have reached the end of their hopes. We have yet to hear that people are in the depths of despair. We have yet to hear that people are frustrated by pleasure-seeking. We have yet to hear that people are frustrated by a daily routine without meaning.

Ananias also had his doubts. He told God about how Paul persecuted Christians, but God mentioned that he chose Paul to do his work. Ananias saw Paul as an enemy, but God saw Paul as an ally. God transformed Ananias from a doubter to a faithful servant. Ananias answered God’s call so that Paul could answer God’s call. No one is beyond salvation. No one is beyond hope. Even if our past is dirty, God can clean us and make us whole.

Paul saw the light of Christ even before he lost his physical sight. Paul had to lose his physical sight and be humbled by God so that he could gain spiritual sight. During his period of blindness, he ate and drank nothing, Was it because he was ashamed of his previous life? Maybe, but some scholars believe that he was preparing himself for the work God called him to do. Each of us has a place of obedience. Some of us only need a gentle nudge to lead us to God, while others need a lightning bolt. Paul realized that he was lost. He realized that by persecuting Christians, he was actually persecuting Jesus, the Messiah who had already come. Paul’s conversion gave him a vibrant faith and a strong commitment to his calling.

Paul still had a will of his own, but he needed his own will and determination to do God’s work. Paul is a good example for us to follow. When our will is merged with God’s will, we can do great things for God’s kingdom. We all want to control our own lives. Paul controlled his own life for more than 30 years, but when he “saw the light”, he became dependent on others, including God. When he was redeemed by God, Paul surrendered control of his life to God. In return, God led Ananias to Paul, and God led Barnabas to introduce Paul to other believers and to help start Paul’s ministry.

New believers need fellowship. Pastors can only do so much from the pulpit. New believers need living examples of what a Christian is. What do Christians do with their free time? How do Christians treat each other? New believers need to be out there in the real world with fellow believers, seeing how their new life will play out.

Now, we turn to Peter, a man who often suffered from “foot in mouth disease”. Almost every time he opened his mouth, he put his foot in it. He had a bad habit of acting first and thinking later. For example, Jesus said that Peter would deny him three times on the night before his crucifixion. Peter said he would be loyal to the end, but when the pressure was on him, he did deny Jesus three times. Not only that, but Peter and the disciples denied both the Christian way of life and their calling from God when they returned to fishing.

There are times when we want to throw in the towel and give up. There have been lots of others who have been down that same road. The good news is that God is faithful and abounding in steadfast love, and even when we feel discouraged and impatient and when we have lost all hope, God comes to us and calls us back into fellowship with him.

The disciples were discouraged when they thought that their walk with Jesus was over. It was at that point when Jesus showed up on the shore to extend forgiveness and draw the disciples back to him. Jesus often comes to us when we are at a low point in our lives. He often comes to us when we are discouraged, because it is precisely when we are discouraged and doubtful or uncertain in our faith that Jesus comes to us and gives us the strength we need.

God came to Paul, Ananias and Peter when and where they needed him. In return, they learned four hard lessons:

1. Seek God’s will for your life. Otherwise, you will come up empty-handed.
2. When God calls you to do something, do it!.
3. Watch what you eat for spiritual food.
4. Live out your faith. Don’t just show it.

When Peter was asked three times if he loved Jesus, Jesus was really asking him “Where am I on the scale of your affections?” Jesus knew the answer, but Peter needed to evaluate where Jesus was on his love scale. Jesus knew whether Peter’s act of repentance truly brought him back  in undying love. Jesus was asking Peter if he loved him so deeply and personally that he would faithfully obey Jesus in the mission he was given. It was not a question of how many green leaves came forth in Peter’s life, but how much fruit he would bear because he abided in Jesus’ love. Peter cared for all the sheep. He fed the young ones, disciplined the stubborn ones and tenderly watched over the old ones.

For every public denial Peter made on the night before Jesus’ crucifixion, Jesus gave him a public opportunity to state his faith. It was Jesus’ way of hearing Peter’s confession and pronouncing forgiveness for past sins. It was Jesus’ way of saying, “Peter, since you love me, I need you to work for me”. Jesus says the same thing to each and every one of us. Jesus died to take away every one of our sins. He assures us that our sins have been taken away. With the faith in Jesus that the Holy Spirit gives us, we are forgiven of the past and empowered for the future.

Jesus redeemed Peter and the rest of the disciples, and they carried on his work in spite of persecution and opposition. Like them, we are redeemed by Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross. We are restored in faith to God, and then we can go and do his work in our world. Jesus loves us even when we turn away from him like Peter and the disciples did.

When we obey God, we will be rewarded. When the disciples cast their nets on the right side of the boat after Jesus told them to, they were rewarded with a huge catch. When we obey God by casting the net called the Good News when and where he tells us to, we will also be rewarded with a great catch-a great catch of souls.

The reading from John’s Gospel concludes with an invitation to Peter and all of us to follow Jesus in the manner of both his death and his service to others. We are challenged to obey Christ even in the face of persecution. We would be wise to remember that many of our Christian brothers and sisters in other parts of the world are persecuted-even killed-because of their faith, but they still persevere in their faith because that is what Jesus has told them to do. If they can persevere, so can we.

We might think to ourselves, “I do love Christ, so why am I not doing what he has called me to do? Am I afraid of actually doing what he is calling me to do?” We can do everything Jesus is calling us to do. All we have to do is rely on him like Paul, Ananias and Peter did. We do not have to rely on our own strengths. Jesus is asking us today, “Do you love me?” Thanks to the redeeming power and grace of his love, we, like Peter, Paul and Ananias, can say “Yes”.

Bibliography

 

• Dale Vander Veen, “Converting Grace”. Retrieved from www.thisistoday.net
• John Shearman’s Lectionary Resource, Easter 3. Retrieved from lectionary.seemslikegod.org.
• Exegesis for Acts 9:1-20. Retrieved from lectionary.org
• Os Hillman, “Called to Someone Versus Something”. Retrieved from Today_God_Is_First@crosswalkmail.com
• James MacDonald, “When God Finds Someone”. Retrieved from com@crosswalkmail.com
• Charles R. Swindoll, “A New Beginning”. Retrieved from for.Living@insight.org
• Charles R. Swindoll, “No Surprises”. Retrieved from for.Living@insight.org
• Greg Laurie, “What New Believers Need”. Retrieved from Crosswalk@crosswalkmail.com
• Randal Matheney, “Don’t Believe Everything You Hear”. Retrieved from forthright@fastmail.fm
• Os Hillman, “The Place of Obedience”. Retrieved from Today_God_Is_First@crosswalkmail.com
• Pastor Jack Hibbs, “Do You Love Me?” Retrieved from wttw@calvarycch.org
• Exegesis for John 21:1-19. Retrieved from lectionary.org
• Frederickson, R.L. & Ogilvie, L.J., The Preacher’s Commentary Series: Vol. 27, John (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson, Inc.; 1985)
• Philip W. McLarty, “Living the Promise”. Retrieved from www.lectionary.org
• Dr. Ken Klaus, “Do You Love Me?” Retrieved from www.lhm.org
• Jim Penner, “Do You Love Me?” Retrieved from hourofpower.org
• John Van Schepen, “Revisiting Old Hurts”. Retrieved from thisistoday.net
• Philip W. McLarty, “Come, Break the Fast”. Retrieved from www.lectionary.org

A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, J, K, L, M, N, O, P, Q, R, S, T, U, V, W, X, Y, and Z.” Hailey looked at her three-year-old brother. “Okay, Curtis, now you try.”

Curtis looked like he was thinking intensely. “A!” he suddenly shouted, and then, after a pause, “Z!”

“Ugh!” Hailey put her hand on her head in frustration.

Dad, who was watching the whole thing, began to laugh.

“I’m glad you think this is funny,” Hailey said. “I’ve been working with him for an hour, and he’s just not getting it.”

“Why is it so important that he know the alphabet right now anyway?” asked Dad.

“Jenny and I are having a race,” replied Hailey. “I’m trying to get Curtis to learn the alphabet before she teaches her dog to sit and roll over. If Curtis learns the alphabet first, I get to pick the movie we watch this weekend.”

Dad chuckled and shook his head. “You guys are silly.”

Hailey laughed. “Yeah, I guess.” She put her head in her hands and sighed. “Yesterday Jenny asked me a question that made me feel really silly. She asked me how old God is. I didn’t know what to say.”

Curtis walked over to where Dad was sitting, and Dad picked him up and put him in his lap. “Well, Curtis just told you the answer,” he said.

Hailey gave her dad a confused look. “But all he said was, ‘A, Z.’ That’s not a number.”

“In the Bible, Jesus says He’s the Alpha and Omega–the beginning and end. Alpha and Omega are the first and last letters of the Greek alphabet, like our A and Z. God is A to Z, just like Curtis said. He always was, is, and will be. He doesn’t have an age.”

“So God has no beginning or end?” Hailey asked.

“That’s right.” Dad’s eyes twinkled. “And yet, He was born–and also died.”

“But wait, you just said…” It took Hailey a moment to realize what Dad meant. “Oh, I get it–you’re talking about Jesus! He was born as a baby and died on the cross for us.”

Dad nodded. “Jesus is God, who is eternal with no beginning or end, but He was willing to become human and die for us so we could have eternal life.”

“Wow,” said Hailey. “He really sacrificed a lot to save us!”

All three members of the Trinity-Father (“Him who is and who was and who is to come”), Son (“Jesus Christ”) and Holy Spirit (“seven Spirits”)-were involved in creating the Book of Revelation. They were present at the beginning of time, and they will be there at the end of time. God is Lord over all of history-past, present and future. There is more to be expected from Him than what we have experienced so far. God the Father is described as Yahweh, the One who ultimately is, and who makes Himself known, the One who is author of grace and peace. The Holy Spirt is described as being in fellowship with the Father and Son, and who from that presence also sends grace and peace to the churches and to us.

The words “Alpha” and “Omega” are the first and last letters of the Greek alphabet. In this passage they point to the eternity of Christ and to His all-inclusive power. Jesus is the boundless, timeless and powerful One. Unlike humans and everything else, God doesn’t have an age–there was never a time when He didn’t exist! But even though He has no beginning or end, He still chose to be born on earth and die on the cross so we could be saved. He made that sacrifice so we could be with Him forever.

Although each of the seven churches received a special letter from Christ through John, each congregation could read what was written to the others because everything was contained in this one, larger letter. God’s people have the same advantage today. To have the perspective of the divine Head of the church is convicting. Modern churches could solve some of the problems they face by reading the Lord’s recommendations to these New Testament congregations.

How do we hear a word for us even though the letter is clearly addressed to them? We don’t need to be persecuted or enslaved by temporal powers like the early Christians were in order to desire freedom. We are all in bondage to sin and can’t free ourselves. Wholesome people may face an imminent end. All of us will eventually die and will find comfort in the knowledge that Jesus opened a way for those who believe in Him. The promise of Jesus’ return is a promise that the sufferings in this world will come to and end and a world of peace, joy and love will take its place.

Both John and Paul use the phrase “grace and peace” in their letters. John makes the connection that grace and peace come from God. Grace is the surprise gift from Him. Peace is wholeness and health. The result of grace is peace whereby the walls of hostility are broken and we see ourselves as belonging to a new world view ruled by all three members of the Trinity.

Jesus Christ is described as the one who loved His people, freed them from the bondage of sin and lifted His people up. The term “washed” could more literally be translated as “loosed” or “freed.” John 11:44 describes Lazarus as being loosed from his grave clothes. The word also recalls that the Israelites were freed from slavery in Egypt. Jesus has likewise freed believers from their sin!

Only in the Book of Revelation is Christ given the title of “faithful witness”. He was a genuine martyr, faithful unto death. The phrase “ruler over the kings of the earth” refers to Christ’s present reign, not His future one. He is now the King of Kings.

Revelation identifies Jesus as a faithful witness as the “firstborn of the dead.” Revelation ties Jesus’ glorious reign to his most inglorious death. If Jesus reigns through His faithfulness, His followers will inherit His kingdom through their own faithful testimony.

Verses 7 and 8 present the theme of the entire Book of Revelation: the return of the King and establishment of His rule over the kingdom. The word “coming” expresses Christ’s return. It describes the arrival of the King and the changes in the situation that His return produces. Jesus is the most important person in the universe. He thinks we are so important He gave His life for us. In His eyes we are important.

In Revelation we are introduced to ourselves and we learn of our own worth, the meaning of our lives and the task of our living in the world. We also learn about the meaning of history, which is one of the theses of Revelation. We also learn about God’s love. When we see God’s love for creation, we see what we have to do to care for creation as His priests. When we see how God controls the future, we don’t have to worry about our own future. We are encouraged to take hold of our time as followers of Jesus. What we do and say has lasting significance because of Jesus.

Priests are mediators between people and God. They represent humanity to God and God to humanity. That’s our role on earth. We introduce to people to God and help them grow in their relationship with God. Jesus will return to earth and make all things new. It’s an exciting message. Until He returns, we have to tell the world that there is a God, we matter to Him, and He has a plan for our lives. If we cooperate with Him and serve Him, He will change our lives for the better.

God’s grace has set us free from our sins by Christ’s costly grace. This gift of freedom is a daily experience and obligation for those who receive it. People who receive this gift are the ones who are willing to become Christ’s servants and His kingdom in the world.

In our pleasure-driven society, guilt is frowned upon. We try to avoid it through frantic activity, alcohol, entertainment, talking to a therapist or blaming someone else, but we can’t get rid of it. It’s like a stain in our clothes that we can’t get rid of no matter how many times we wash it. The stain has become part of our fabric. The only way we can wash away our sin and guilt before God is through Christ’s shed blood. God has given us a conscience with a guilt alarm that goes off when sin enters so that we can go to Christ for cleansing.

Will all of our problems vanish if we give our lives to Christ? No, not necessarily. But we will no longer be alone. Christ will give us wisdom and courage to tackle our problems.   We are on a journey where we will encounter cancer, death, hunger, wars, terrorism, AIDS and other dangers. We will be tested with idols. At times we will be tempted to compromise with the world, but if we put our trust in God, He will lead us to a place where He lives.

Bibliography

 

1. Jeremiah, David: The Jeremiah Study Bible: New King James Version (Brentwood, TN: Worthy Publishing; 2013; pp.1838)
2. “How Old Is God? (Part 1)” Retrieved from info@keysforkids.org
3. Palmer, E.F. & Ogilvie, L.J.: The Preacher’s Commentary Series, Vol. 35: 1,2&3 John/Revelation (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Inc.; 1982; pp. 110-114)
4. Dale Melenberg, “A Kingdom and Priests.” Retrieved from today@thisistoday.net
5. Anne Graham Lotz, “Just Think on Jesus.” Retrieved from info@angelministries.org
6. Pastor Allen Jackson, “An Exciting Message.” Retrieved from contact@intendministries.org
7. The Rev. Billy Graham, “Will Jesus Make My Problems Go Away?” Retrieved from arcamax.com
8. Anne Graham Lotz, “Washed in the Blood.” Retrieved from info@angelministries.org
9. Israel Kamudzandu, “Commentary on Revelation 1:4-8.” Retrieved from workingpreacher.org/preaching.aspx?commentary_id=2825
10. Greg Carey, “Commentary on Revelation 1:4-8.” Retrieved from workingpreacher.org/preaching.aspx?commentary_id=2683

 

 

 

Have you ever noticed that people aren’t always receptive to the Good News of the Gospel? We’re living in a world where it is increasingly forbidden to share the Good News with a desire to win converts. The situation is getting to the point where the only place where the Gospel can be proclaimed is in a church.

This problem isn’t new. The disciples were some of the first victims of this type of persecution. We heard an example of this persecution in Acts 5:27-42. Peter and John were arrested for preaching and brought before the Jewish authorities. They were released with orders not to preach-orders they promptly disobeyed. They were arrested again, and when they were asked why they disobeyed the order, Peter made a speech similar to the one he made on the Day of Pentecost.

Acts 5:27-42 is a story about obeying God regardless of the consequences imposed by mankind. Like Peter, we as Christians are to obey the Lord rather than man in situations where the two are in conflict. For example, when obeying our political leaders would cause us to do something that goes against God’s Word, we are to obey God’s Word instead of our political leaders. At all other times we are to obey our political leaders as commanded by the apostle Paul.

In this reading, Peter and the disciples have been arrested and brought before the Jewish Sanhedrin, or high court, on charges of preaching the Gospel in spite of being ordered not to. In their defence, Peter preaches the second of his two famous sermons as recorded in the Book of Acts, the first one being preached on the Day of Pentecost. It is in this second sermon that Peter teaches that we as Christians are to obey God instead of man in cases where the two are in conflict.

Was Peter’s speech inspired by the Holy Spirit? We don’t know for sure, but I believe that it was. Was Gamaliel’s speech inspired by the Holy Spirit? Again, we don’t know for sure, but I believe that God used Gamaliel to save the lives of the disciples. If they had been put to death, Christianity would also have died. Instead, Gamaliel fulfilled his part in God’s plan by encouraging the members of the Sanhedrin to leave the disciples alone.

The problem the Jewish authorities had was not what the disciples preached but how they did it. They were drawing public attention to the message of a Jewish man who was executed on a Roman cross. That message was contradictory to common ideas about God’s anointed Messiah. Their message challenged claims associated with Roman rule. The authorities failed to realize who the apostles were because they failed to recognize who Jesus was.

God first delivered the disciples from jail through supernatural means by sending an angel from heaven. Then God delivered them through natural means by causing an enemy of Christianity to argue for their release. This is passage is proof of the work of God’s sovereign hand in history. He can even use the thoughts of those who oppose the gospel to preserve and protect His servants.

Gamaliel’s advice was wise, both for us and the Sanhedrin. There are times when certain people and causes are obviously a contradiction to the Word of God that we know they are not of Him. There are times when they may be great truths wrapped up in new methods with which we are not familiar. Wait. If they are of God we can’t stop them. If not, they will not succeed.

The disciples also obeyed God by continuing to teach and preach in spite of the warning from the Sanhedrin. The disciples knew that God wanted to fill the minds of the people with truth. That was the only way they could oppose the lies that Satan wanted to fill the people’s minds with. We as Christians today also need to be filled with spiritual truth in order to counteract the lies that Satan and our sin-filled world want to fill our minds with. We get spiritual truth by  attending weekly worship services, studying the Bible either by ourselves or as part of a small group, and by listening to sermons preached by people such as me or other preachers.

Peter’s claim that the disciples had to obey God instead of man was a continuation of the tradition of appealing to a higher authority to support or challenge actions. He made the same points that he made in the speech he delivered on the Day of Pentecost:

1. Christians must obey God rather than men
2. Jesus the Messiah is alive.
3. Jesus lives in us.

Peter and the disciples knew that following the outdated rules and regulations of the Jewish authorities would not lead to the forgiveness of sins. Only Jesus can provide forgiveness.

God calls on us to make disciples of all nations. This will likely mean that we will be persecuted, but the end result might be a period of revival. We are not alone in facing persecution. Our Christian brothers and sisters in the Third World face extreme forms of persecution such as death-all because of their faith.

As Christians, we must acknowledge that there is a tension between obeying God and obeying civil governments. God, not government, is to be obeyed when it comes to the mission of the church, which is to spread the Good News of the Kingdom. Civil governments might seem to be the answer to all of our problems, and they might even seem to be the potential saviours of our world, but they aren’t. Civil governments must be obeyed except when they overstep their bounds by trying to stop the work of God. When that happens, governments must be disobeyed. When injustice and oppression are part of religious, social and political systems, nothing short of mass activism will transform them.

Here in Canada we are fortunate in that we can share our faith with others. In many other countries it is against the law to share our Christian faith. We as Christians have an allegiance to a higher authority-God. In the words of Dr. Charles Stanley, who is the President of In Touch Ministries and the man who compiled one of the study Bibles that I use when I prepare sermons, when God tells us to do something such as sharing our faith with others, we have to “obey God and leave all the consequences to Him”. We must expect persecution for doing God’s work, but we must remember that if we are persecuted for obeying God, God might not stop the consequences from happening. He might not ease the consequences. The persecution we face might be part of God’s plan for our lives.

Would we, like the disciples and the apostle Paul, rejoice if we suffered for the Lord? If we feel battered and bruised, we must remember that God sometimes delivers us through the battering and the bruising, not from through the battering and the bruising. We, like the disciples, must remain committed to obeying God, regardless of the cost.

When we obey God by doing things such as loving an enemy, people will be amazed because it is not the logical thing to do. Obeying God is the Christian thing to do. In contrast, obeying man is the worldly thing to do. When we obey God, we don’t know what the result will be, but God will bless our obedience in some way.

God wants us to acknowledge that He is sovereign and trust him instead of rejecting him and following our own plans. The disciples decided to follow God’s plan, and in doing so they set a good example for us to follow. If we are ever asked to do something that would cause us to disobey God or violate our conscience, that is where we have to draw the line. Our conscience tells us what is morally right and morally wrong, and if we go against our conscience, then that is sin. Our allegiance must be to God and not to man, because God is the ultimate authority that we must answer to.

God is in charge of our lives. He has rescued us from the bondage of sin, forgiven us and brought us into his family. The proper response is for us to be so grateful that we will spread the Good News in spite of opposition. God calls us by our baptism and authorizes us to keep doing what the apostles were doing. The Holy Spirit calls us by the gospel, and the gospel creates hearts that are obedient to God. We are latter day apostles. We get to follow the first apostles and speak the gospel to people who are gathered in places where anyone can come.

Bibliography

 

1. Jeremiah, David: The Jeremiah Study Bible, NKJV (Brentwood, TN: Worthy Publishing; 2013)
2. Randy White, “A Time of Risk?” Retrieved from Christianity.com@crosswalkmail.com
3. M. Moore, “When Not to Obey.” Retrieved from www.colsoncenter.org/the-center/colummns/viewpoint/18240-when-to-speak
4. Charles Stanley, “Obeying God.” Retrieved from Crosswalk@crosswalkmail.com
5. Bayless Conley, “When Is It Right to Disobey?” Retrieved from com@crosswalkmail.com
6. Kyle Fever, “Commentary on Acts 5:27-32.” Retrieved from workingpreacher.org/preaching.aspx?commentary_id=1616
7. Bruce K. Mondahl, “As One with Authority.” Retrieved from Sabbatheology@Crossings.org
8. Exegesis for Acts 5:27-32. Retrieved from lectionary.org
9. Preaching Magazine, January/February 2016 (Nashville, TN: Salem Publishing; p. 52)
10. Mitzi J. Smith, “Commentary of Acts 5:27-32.” Retrieved from workingpreacher.org/preaching.aspx?commentary_id=2824
11. David Jeremiah, “Cause for Amazement”. Retrieved from turningpoint@davidjeremiah.org
12. Fred Gillett, “Obedience, Not Outcome…”. Retrieved from hourofpower.org
13. Jack Graham, “Loving God with Your Heart and Mind”. Retrieved from Crosswalk@crosswalkmail.com
14. Bayless Conley, “When It Is Right to Disobey”. Retrieved from answersweekly@answersrbc.org
15. M. Moore, “The Courage to Endure”. Retrieved from www.colsoncenter.org
16. Charles R. Swindoll, “An Unexpected Ally”. Retrieved from for.Living@insight.org
17. Exegesis for Acts 5:27-32, 40-41. Retrieved from sermonwriter.com
18. Ogilvie, L.J.; The Preacher’s Commentary Series; Vol. 28: Acts (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Inc.; 1983)
19. The NKJV Study Bible (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Inc.; 2007)