The Gospel and World Evangelization That Cannot Be Destroyed (Acts 5:33-42)
Let us bless and greet one another, “Happy Father’s Day!” Today, we will be giving worship as Father’s Day, and I pray that the great blessing will be upon the fathers and the fathers-to-be. As we live our lives, there are times when we are broken down. People don’t live their lives to be broken down, but it happens. For example, people are broken down because of mental problems or because of health problems or human relationships or finances or their studies, and the one who is not broken down is the one who has victory. If you’re good at studying, it means you’re able to go to the end of your studies without being broken down by them, and whether you have the natural ability or not, that’s the second matter. If you look at the professors at universities, maybe 0.1% of them are naturally gifted, but the rest of them were able to naturally endure until the very end. We just need to have the mystery to not be broken down. Let’s say you were studying, but one day, you were broken down because of a mental problem, or you’re broken down because of financial problems. There are some times we’re broken down because of health issues. Someone who is not broken down by these things is a truly successful person.
How can our lives not be broken down and go all the way to the end? Going to the very end of the path God wants is true success. Is America successful? Physically yes, but internally, in their hearts, they do not have answers. There are countless problems with mental problems, homelessness, shootings, and murder that people cannot solve, and we cannot solve our own lives. The Bible is giving us an answer to that. Simply speaking, am I in the work of the flesh or in the work of the Spirit? What work am I inside of? The physical work is the work that comes from the world, Satan, and sin, and the work of the Spirit is the work that comes from the Holy Spirit, the work of Jesus Christ. The result of the work of the flesh is death, but the result of the work of the Spirit is life and peace.
So, we must know whether our thoughts are thoughts of the flesh or thoughts of the spirit. Most of the things we are thinking are thoughts of the flesh, so my spirit continues to die. That’s why my mental state continues to break down as well. However, people who think thoughts of the spirit will continue to come to life and they receive more peace. What am I thinking right now? When you are working or studying, what thoughts are you doing that with? The thoughts of the flesh are death, but the thoughts of the Spirit are life and peace. People are not broken down because their work or their studies are difficult, but it is because their spirits are dying, so I hope you will stop trying to succeed; instead, remain within the work of the Spirit, then, you will go beyond success into world evangelization. I believe we must restore and relay this fact on Father’s Day.
1. Forces trying to block the gospel
This gospel is continuously proclaimed, but there is a group that blocks it. The leadership that has the Bible is blocking the gospel. Nonbelievers block it later on, but the Church is the one that blocks the gospel. They block it saying, “You guys are different than we are.”
1) Sadducees and Pharisees
(1) Jesus, whom you killed (Acts 5:30)
The Sadducees and the Pharisees are blocking the gospel because their testimony of Jesus Christ is different from their own doctrine. The Sadducees and the Pharisees killed Jesus. They had the words of the Scripture and they killed Jesus with it. They thought they were right. We think that we are correct, but do those thoughts come from the Word, or from our own thoughts?
(2) God raised Him from the dead (Acts 5:30)
God resurrected the dead Jesus, and the apostle said, “The God of your ancestors raised Jesus from the dead,” that means, Jesus is the Messiah, He is God Himself. When the Pharisees and Sadducees heard this, instead of repenting, they actually became angry. When people are angry about the gospel, they are bound to be destroyed because they are blocking God. When we talk about the gospel, we should have joy. Proclaiming the gospel to the ends of the earth should be our joy and our vision in life. For people like that, God will give them power until the ends of the earth. Why do we face our limitations? It is because God’s power does not come upon us. It is okay even if you are not good at studying. I’m not telling you to be bad at studying; I’m telling you it’s okay because it’s possible you might not be. However, if you hold onto the covenant of proclaiming this gospel to the ends of the earth, then God will use you with power. If you’re good at studying, then that’s great, but if you are within God’s power, your studies will be used.
(3) Exalted Jesus as Prince and Savior (Acts 5:31)
This Jesus Christ is now seated at the right hand of the Throne of God, and God has made Him the Lord of Lords and King of Kings.
(4) To give repentance and forgiveness of sins (Acts 5:31)
Heb. 1:3 says that this Jesus Christ is maintaining all of creation with His Word and controlling salvation, but when the Pharisees and Sadducees heard this, they were filled with anger.
2) Enraged when they heard the gospel (Acts 5:33)
(1) Stubborn and unrepentant heart (Rom. 2:5)
Why were they so angry? Romans 2:5 says that they have this heart that does not want to repent, they’re stubborn. They have their own stubbornness that comes from themselves.
(2) Person of the flesh – Foolish gospel (1 Cor. 2:14)
Their stubborn and unrepentant hearts. In 1 Cor, it is because these people are of the flesh.
(3) Loved the darkness rather than the light (Jn. 3:19-20)
It’s because they loved the darkness more than they loved the light. What does “darkness” mean? Sin, Satan, death, hell, they loved those things more, but the light is Jesus Christ. They knew the light, but they loved the darkness more. So, even when they hear the gospel, they are filled with anger. Whenever you hear the gospel, you should love it because the gospel has solved all of the problems of our lives. But people misunderstand that. They say, “If the gospel solved all of my problems, why do I still have all my problems?” I don’t think that’s really a problem, why is it not a problem? If the Lord becomes my Master, then it wouldn’t become a problem for me. The fact that this is a problem for you means that you are being the master of your own life. The gospel means I believe I died on the cross with Christ and now, Christ lives within me as Lord.
No matter what circumstance I’m in, if I believe and enjoy the fact that Jesus Christ is my Lord, then He will guide me because He is the true God and He has the wisdom and the power to do all things. This is what David did when he faced a crisis. Joseph went in as a slave but he also did all of this work. Do you know why? Because the power doesn’t come from the person; the power comes from the God inside of that person. That is why we must think the thoughts of the spirit, we must be seized and think about the words of Jesus Christ whose Spirit lives within us. That is what heals us and changes into power. It’s okay even if we’re diagnosed with cancer or a mental problem or addiction, why? Because we have an answer. For a life without the answer, even if they don’t have any problems like that, they’re still in problems. Little children have many problems in their lives, but if a parent is next to them, then it’s not a problem for the child. The child is not affected by financial problems, the child is not affected by food, because the parents provide all of that for them. So, even if we do have a problem, we have an answer, that’s what this means. The almighty God is with me, and He is with me through the Holy Spirit, through Jesus Christ. When we think about and enjoy those words, the power of God is revealed through me. Nobody can block the one who possesses and enjoys this gospel. Our hands may be bound, but the gospel can never be bound. Whether we are taken as slaves or as captives, the Word of God can never be bound.
3) Tried to kill the apostles (Acts 5:33)
Why were the Pharisees and Sadducees so angry, trying to block the gospel? The characteristic of people who do physical work is that they think, “If we lock up or kill the people, the problem will go away.” These people do not know the fundamental things. If we are addicted to something, it’s coming from a fundamental problem. If we have an illness or a disease, it means something is fundamentally wrong. If we have a mental problem, it means that something is fundamentally wrong, starting from our spirit. Then, what can we do to change that? Yes, we need physical solutions, but at the same time, we need to fix the Spirit. To correct the Spirit means that Jesus Christ and I become one. The way for Jesus Christ and I to become one is for the thoughts of Jesus to become my thoughts. We meditate and pray, which means that we take the Word of God and we align our thoughts to those words. Our thoughts are originally of the flesh, we cannot just let that be. Otherwise, it results in death.
(1) Works of the flesh (Gal. 5:19-21)
Gal. 5:19-20 say that the works of the flesh are division, corruption, conflict, and many other things. It’s not that that person is a bad person, it’s that they keep on thinking the thoughts of the flesh, but those who are thinking the thoughts of the Spirit are filled with love, joy, peace, patience, things like that, and self-control where people are not able to control themselves so they indulge in vices. Because people cannot control themselves, they spend recklessly or they commit lustful acts, it’s because they keep thinking thoughts of the flesh. But, if we think thoughts of the Spirit, then God’s power and wisdom is revealed in us. So, when you’re working or when you’re studying, how should you do that? You need to think of the spiritual Word, then what’s going to happen? God is with you with His wisdom and power. Our remnants are under a misconception—your studies are not what’s hard; you just have to do it. What’s really hard is my mind and my heart. That person is not difficult, but my heart is difficult, why? It’s because at your work and at your studies, you keep thinking physically, “How can I do well? How can I succeed? How can I succeed and make a good reputation for myself?” Because you keep thinking like that, it’s so difficult.
But if you study while thinking of the work of God, then God begins to work. You’re going to have more peace and life in your heart. Even when you used to give up on your studies, you will have patience and self-control. If you don’t give up, you’ll go to the end. So, it’s not whether you’re naturally smart or not smart; if you don’t give up, you’ll go to the end. Those are the people who study and work while they pray. If you’re studying and working while you pray, it means everything you do is one with God. Then, instead of doing that with your strength, you’re doing it with the power from God. That is how the forces of darkness and curses are broken down. You need to possess this and train in this while you are a remnant. You were broken down because you were not able to do this. Even after you build a Tower of Babel and succeed, then you will fall down. In Genesis 6, they married whomever they wanted, and then they were broken down. In Genesis 3, they separated from the Word of God and did whatever they wanted to do, that’s why they got mental problems. It was the beginning of fear, of insecurity. They’re now afraid to go before the Word of God, then there are problems in the family and financial problems too, and problems with the next generation. What is the beginning of all of those problems? If they threw away their thoughts of God’s Word, and instead, they thought the physical things—whatever seems good to me, whatever I want. If I do that, then I can succeed—those physical thoughts. That is the beginning of all problems.
(2) Belong to the devil (Jn. 8:44)
That’s the reason why the Pharisees and Sadducees were trying to block and get rid of the gospel. John 8:44 says, they belong to their father the devil, who is the father of lies. The devil makes you think thoughts of the flesh rather than the Word of God.
(3) Spirit of greed, murder, lies (Jn. 8:44)
So, those words or those thoughts would be correct, but they steal away our spirit, and he gives us more greed, and He kills our spirit. And he works with lies.
2. Person God has prepared
1) Gamaliel (Acts 5:34)
(1) Pharisee, teacher of the law (Acts 5:34)
(2) Held in honor by all people (Jn. 5:34)
(3) Told them to be careful with the angry people (Acts 5:35)
There was one person whom God had prepared in this situation and he was Gamaliel. Who was Gamaliel? He was the relative of the greatest scholar of the age. There was a whole group that was following this great scholar, and Gamaliel’s student was the Apostle Paul. Gamaliel was not only a Pharisee, he was also a teacher of the law. So, he was highly respected by not only the Pharisees but also the Sadducees. It’s very difficult to be respected by both the Pharisees and the Sadducees because they believe in different doctrines. For example, he was like Socrates or Confucius. They are respected highly but he does not believe in Jesus. For us, we don’t want to be like them. Many people tell you to strive to be like him, but he keeps thinking without Jesus, so no matter how good his thoughts are, they are still destroyed, but there is something that sets intellectuals apart. They study the works of history, and they think of the present. The reason we have to study history is so that we don’t repeat the same mistakes in the present. If you know the cause of the life your parents lived, then you can escape from that stream, but if you know the stream that your parents lived in but you don’t know what caused it, then you have no choice but to follow suit.
2) Intellectual (person)
So what does Gamaliel, this intellectual, say? He sends the two apostles out, and then he gives two historical examples.
(1) Brought up a similar incident from the past (Acts 5:36-37)
There was a man named Theudas who had 400 men following him, and when he was killed, his followers dispersed. Acts 5:37, there was also Judas the Galilean, who also banded people together to revolt, and when he died, all his followers scattered. There are people who are as smart as Gamaliel but do not have the gospel. Even with their intelligence, they cannot block curses and disasters. So he said, “Jesus is now dead. If Jesus’ followers are human-made, then they will fall, too. But, if it is from God, you will not be able to stop these men. You will only find yourselves fighting against God.” This is what Gamaliel said, so all of the people who hurt them were persuaded, so they flogged the apostles and let them go.
Then, what are the things that are from humans? Human ideologies do not come from God’s Word. We have plenty of philosophies right now that are not from God, like democracy or communism or individualism, and making those ideologies my standard becomes my idol. Then, no matter how many people believe in the ideology they are bound to fall. “Oh, but democracy isn’t falling”? But those people internally are collapsing. America is the place with the most democracy, but America is also the place with the most drug abusers. America is a place that does not have war, but there are so many shootings. America is the place that has the most people suffering from homelessness and addiction. That’s what happens when people do not rise internally through the Word of God. America is a place with the fiercest individuality mentality. “My privacy, my freedom, my rights,” if this becomes our ideology, then it will lead to human destruction. We must change with God, then we can be changed. Nobody can block that. Nobody can block those who have the gospel, and if somebody enjoys the gospel, they cannot be blocked even more. If there is someone who testifies this until the ends of the earth, nobody can break them down. How will my life not be broken down? My life must be raised on the Word of the gospel, nobody can break that down because God raises His Church on the rock of Jesus Christ.
(2) Leave the men alone and let them go (Acts 5:38)
(3) Ideas and actions are determined by their source
Is your heart broken down? Are you in despair? Then, that should be broken down because your heart is not from God. Your plans are from your flesh, so it is natural that they should be broken down, but if you’re holding onto and moving according to God’s Word, you will never be broken down. Isaiah 40:3 says that the grass withers and the flowers fade. The “grass” is the youth of our lives, and one day, it will wither. The “flowers,” all the beauty of life, they will one day fade. But the Word of God endures forever, only the Word of God will never be broken down. If my life is raised up on the Word of the gospel, it, too, will never be broken down. No matter what happens or comes my way, I will never be broken down. But most people are not broken down. The one who is never broken down is truly successful. Even the heroes of this world were broken down. Genghis Khan, Napoleon, all humans were broken down in the end. Even Michael Jackson, who was the greatest at singing and dancing, was broken down. All of the world’s heroes were broken down, but we try to believe in and follow these heroes. In the end, they were all broken down, but the Word of Jesus will endure forever. This is what we hold onto and follow. We should not just go back and forth from Church. “Oh, I’m a Christian”? That’s not it. My thoughts, my should be according to God’s Word because our thoughts control us. Whatever you’re thinking now becomes your future for the week, you want to change something else but it actually happens according to your thoughts. For people who think the Word of God, the works of God will take place.
3) Originating from mankind (Acts 5:38)
(1) Collapse – House built on sand (Mt. 7:26)
(2) Cain’s offering (Gen. 4:5)
Genesis 4:5, Cain just gave his own offering to God according to his thoughts. There is a principle of the worship God desires from us. According to God’s Word, humans must sacrifice an animal to atone for their sins, but Cain gave worship however he desired. He gave vegetation, and the Bible says that sin is crouching at your door. The only thing that breaks down sins and curses is the blood of Christ, so, sin devoured Cain and he killed his younger brother, but before he murdered his brother, he was filled with anger.
(3) Saul’s burnt offering without waiting (1 Sam. 13:8-14)
King Saul also gave sacrifices, just however he wanted. Before he goes out to battle, he must give worship to receive God’s Word, but he was waiting for a week and the Prophet Samuel had still not come. But his soldiers are all afraid and running away, so King Saul felt so urgent, so he actually led the worship instead. After that happened, God said, “You can no longer be king,” because we must follow the ways of God’s Word. If you stand before people and try to do things haphazardly, initially it might work. But in the end, that cannot save you. Your humanism might work in the beginning, because other people don’t recognize it, they’re humanistic too, but later on, all of that will fall. I experienced that a little bit myself. People don’t recognize this much. Whatever happens with humanism, it might look like it’s working out in the beginning, but in the end, it all collapses. Initially you might love somebody and you get married and have these festivals, and it seems fine, or, I get into the college I want, and I get the job that I want, and it seems like it is working well. But if the Word of God is not inside of you, one day, you will fall because you don’t have the Word of God. Heb. 1:3 says that God maintains all things, all of creation, with His Word. Then, everything that happens we must think according to God’s Word, that is how the work we are doing will be retained.
3. Gospel and evangelism that comes from God
1) Originating from God (Acts 5:39)
(1) People cannot destroy it (Acts 5:39)
(2) Opposing God (Acts 5:39)
(3) Word of our God will stand forever (Is. 40:8)
Why are we trapped in the scars of our past? because we have been thinking the physical thoughts we have our scars and we cannot escape, because they keep thinking thoughts of the flesh. Anyone can face a circumstance, that’s their concern, but it’s not the issue. The issue is where were my thoughts? If my thoughts were in the Word of God, then the circumstance would be a blessing. Josephs’ older brothers tried to kill him, and that was traumatic. What was Joseph thinking then? Not the thoughts of the flesh, what is God’s plan? And when he got that, the Word of God came upon him. Joseph received God’s Word, “I am sending you in advance to Egypt, to save the world, through the hands of your older brothers.” Studying is hard, isn’t it? it’s because we’re thinking the thoughts of the flesh. It’s so hard to work, isn’t it? Sometimes it’s easy and good, but your life will always be up-and-down before you go. However, if you find the meaning of God’s Word in your circumstances, you will see how God is working and moving, so even my studies and my work, God is with me and working. My life itself is moved by God. God is the Word, and when you think with God’s Word, God’s power and wisdom are revealed through you. “I hate that person and I cannot change how I feel.” “Oh, I’m a Christian so you shouldn’t be hating anybody,” but you can’t control that.
God is Love. If you keep thinking of the God Who is inside of you, you’ll change without even realizing it. There are people who cannot control themselves so they keep using substances. You can’t stop your cigarettes, you cannot stop it. The kids, they cannot stop vaping. You try it once and then keep doing it. What must we do? When the Word of God continues to be inside of us, we have self-control. If you’re able to control yourself, it means you can stop the vices. I’m not telling you to quit because you can’t; you can’t quit your drinking, and the one who can quit is beyond normal, but they’re going to do something else instead, then . people might just change their appearance, but the problem will always remain, so even if it’s late, try it slowly, fundamentally, first. If you keep on thinking about the spirit of God, the Word of God, then you will have self-control.
For people who have uncontrollable anger, you cannot change it. You get angry because you’re thinking thoughts of the flesh, but if you keep thinking of God’s Word, then rather than anger, you will have thoughts of peace. Our God is so good, and when you wake up, you meditate on Him again, then God controls my thoughts for me. This means that I think with God’s Word, I’m a source of blessings, all people on earth will be blessed through me. I’m an ambassador of Christ, God is my shield, and I do not protect my own life, but the Lord God is my shield. God is my healer, He is my healer, only He is victorious. I cannot even rely on my own life. We must rely on Christ Who is inside of us, because only He is truly victorious, He is wise. He is wisdom and his wisdom comes to me. If you’re trying to gain wisdom by reading books of the world, you will be like Gamaliel, but you will reject Jesus. The things that come from God never fall; they will endure forever. You must enjoy this answer and relay this to your children and the people around you. No matter what happens, you will never fall; anything raised on the rock will never fall, but a house that is raised on sand will fall in the wind.
I am an evangelist. God will work on the 237 nations and 5000 unreached tribes through me, but it’s not really me, it’s the Word of God inside of me. The Word of God will work through me. I am happy because God Himself is joy. We try to make ourselves happy but we cannot. Even with money or success, I’m eternally empty; we are afraid. We are afraid of when we are going to fall, we are afraid to die, but for us, we live even if we die. Because the Lord has resurrected, I too resurrect. All curses and disasters have been finished by the Lord, now God’s blessings will continue to appear through me. Because I am not like that, but God’s Word of promise inside of me will do that.
When we hold onto the Word of God, pray, and meditate, we receive healing because God is the healer. I am not healing, when I pray in the name of Jesus Christ, Who lives in me, I have a new life. Ai’ hope the remnants will put their hands themselves. If you’re hurting somewhere or if you’re not that smart, place your hands on your head and pray for yourself. If your business is not working out, then pray for your business, then what will happen? The Word of God begins to work and our work or our job shall follow the Word. It should not follow my own thoughts because I’m not God. Through me, all peoples on earth should be blessed.
2) Apostles
(1) Released after being beaten (Acts 5:40)
(2) For the name of Jesus (Acts 5:41)
These apostles were flogged, meaning they were whipped with these whips that had animal bones attached to the ends, and it ripped the skin off of their backs, and they were whipped, 40 minus 1 times, but the apostles rejoiced because they had been counted worthy of suffering for the name of Jesus. If you are living for the name of Jesus, then everything that happens is a blessing. If you are living for yourselves but people are criticizing you, then that’s rightful.
(3) Rejoiced that they were counted worthy to suffer dishonor (Acts 5:41, Mt. 5:11-12, 1 Peter 4:13-14)
Matthew 5:11-12 says that, “Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you, and falsely say all evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad in the same way the prophets were persecuted before you.” All of the prophets were persecuted for proclaiming the Word of the gospel. So rejoice. What should we rejoice for? If we are being persecuted while proclaiming the gospel, then rejoice because your reward in heaven is great.
3) Every day
(1) In the temple, and from house to house (Acts 5:42)
(2) Taught that Jesus is the Christ (Acts 5:42)
(3) Did not cease preaching the gospel and evangelizing (Acts 5:42)
So, the apostles left, and day after day, from house to house, they never stopped teaching and proclaiming the good news that Jesus is the Christ. In the Temple Courts, meaning there are people inside of the church who don’t know the gospel, teach these people. And from house to house, so they were going into the field, proclaiming the gospel in their region. They never stopped teaching and proclaiming the good news, because they were enjoying the gospel. If you’re not filled with joy, you cannot relay this. Even people who are always lying, it is because they love to lie. If there is a foodie, it’s because the people around them enjoy the food in that area.
Conclusion
1. Every incident, problem, work, study – Enjoy the gospel
2. Plan to share the gospel with every person
3. Bring new life and raise disciples
What happens when you enjoy the gospel? What happens if, every time you face a problem or circumstance, you enjoy the gospel, when you’re studying or working, you enjoy the gospel, when you’re alone, you enjoy the gospel? Then of course it will be related to you. The gospel and world evangelization that cannot be destroyed. I bless you in the name of Jesus Christ that you will continue to enjoy and relay this blessing.
Message Prayer
Let us pray together, holding onto the Word we have received. Do we have the gospel? Am I enjoying the gospel? Is my heart in the direction of proclaiming the gospel? Those are the thoughts of the spirit that we must think.
Offering Prayer and Newcomer Blessing
God, we thank You. We thank You for allowing us to remain within the stream of possessing, enjoying, and relaying the gospel. We believe that even though everything else is destroyed, only the gospel will not be destroyed. Allow our lives to be within the gospel, and allow the people of all nations to be within the stream of the gospel. Allow them to overcome success and live their lives as true victors.
We have returned Your materials as offering. Everywhere this offering is used, we pray the gospel will be proclaimed, lives may be saved, and that it may be used to raise the church building that has the Three Courtyards. Allow us to confirm Your Word that, if we give You our tithe, our warehouses will be overflowing. Allow us to do world evangelization through the finances You give us and that it may never be lacking. In the name of Jesus Christ we pray, amen.
Closing Prayer and Benediction
Now may the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the unending love of God, the indwelling, working, guidance, and communion of the Holy Spirit, be upon the heads of all of the people of God, the people of all nations, and the remnants who desire to remain within the stream of the gospel and world evangelization that can never be destroyed, be with them now and forevermore always, amen.
The gospel and gospel movement will never be destroyed!