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C:\LESSON\KINGDOM\WHOLNSS2.DOC 13-10-91 THY KINGDOM COME PART 4 WHOLENESS PART 2 Acts 4:5 to 12 read -- Last week I finished by saying -- the Sanhedrin Council sat back -- in amazement -- in wonder -- at Peter and John for they were sure they must have had some contact with Jesus -- for they were speaking and acting just as if Jesus was there --- Now they have to make their decision as to what they are going to do with these men that they now have before them -- They could see that this great miracle had happened and they could not deny it --- Why should they want to deny that this miracle has happened --- They are saying -- this miracle does not fit in with our concept of truth -- therefore even though we have all the evidence necessary to believe -- we will not We know in secret we paid off the solders -- We know this resurrection is a miracle -- and here we have living proof that a man was healed in the mention of the name of Jesus --- We do not want to accept the evidence for this is against our belief --- It is just as Jesus said in the parable -- even if one was raised form the dead -- they would not believe --- With the attitude that they had -- they rejected it knowing that they were wrong --- Now how are they going to reject this with dignity -- without losing face -- religiously --- WHOLENESS PART 2 They realised that the whole power of these men is invested in the name of Jesus --- They knew if they did not speak in the name of Jesus -- then nothing would be upset --- It is only when they bring up -- Jesus -- and resurrection -- and power in the name -- power in the person -- that things go wrong for them --- Peter and John are given a warning forbidding them ever again to speak -- in the name or act in the name of Jesus and of course this would be the end of the church You could dispose of all the leaders and that would not stop them -- but if the church stopped speaking in the authority and the name of the risen Jesus this is the end of the church for a church may do many nice works -- but it could be no more than a sect within Judaism --- It is only when those works are done -- in the power in the name in the authority of Jesus is the church in true action I want you to notice something here --- The Sanhedrin Council -- but Caiaphas in particular -- He was the religious civil authority to all the Israelites -- specifically those who were dwelling in Judah where the Apostles were dwelling at this time --- WHOLENESS PART 2 Peter listened to this civil religious authority -- and without praying about it -- He said -- we must obey God rather than men -- He was saying -- we are going to disobey what you are telling us to do --- This is not very submissive -- but when Peter writes in his epistle he speaks more about submission more than the other writers write about it -- when Peter speaks of submission he does not mean mindless obedience to the powers to be --- He does not mean to disobey the word of God in order to obey some sick minded leader --- I must disobey my religious leader if I know it to be not according to the word of God -- and it is the same as of my civil authority -- or for any other headship for that matter --- I can not go along with obedience for the sake of obedience -- I am obedient to that which is locked into the word of God --- The rulers of the council are now scared -- they are frightened to punish them -- so they just let them go -- God sure is in this -- this has made the Sanhedrin Council look in the eyes of those looking on -- very weak and stupid -- But of the Christian movement -- it showed them to be strong and bold -- that God was with them --- Peter and John now go back to the other disciples -- and very excitedly reported what had happened -- and then they prayed --- WHOLENESS PART 2 It is interesting to see how they prayed -- Acts 4:23 says -- and being let go they went to their own company and reported all that the Chief Priests and Elders had said unto them -- Verse 24 -- and when they heard that -- they lifted up their voice to God with one accord -- And said -- Lord -- thou art God who has made heaven and earth and the sea and all that is in them -- this is how they began their prayer --- They have just been told by the religious authority in Israel that they were not allowed to speak in the name of Jesus -- and Peter said -- they will not comply -- it looked as if Peter was asking for trouble --- If this was us praying -- we would be telling God all about it step by step -- and by the time we had been through it about four times -- our faith would be down to near zero -- and the Sandhedrin Council would be like a great black shadow covering us all --- You will notice that they do not even mention the request -- they begin by an act of exalting God -- Saying -- Lord -- you are God you reign over all persons and all powers you reign over Caiaphas and the Sanhedrin Council you reign over - the heaven - the sea - and the earth you made it all with the word of your mouth This type of prayer is getting things in perspective in the right order WHOLENESS PART 2 When Jesus taught the disciples how to pray I do not think that it was a prayer to pray every day -- it was more of certain pegs to hang our prayer on --- He is saying -- when you pray this is the recipe -- put all these ingredients in your prayer --- So when I come to pray the first ingredient that I must have is - our Father which art in heaven -- This is you are speaking to God with whom you have a relationship with -- one that is in heaven - and not wrapped up in the earthliness of your problem --- Your God that you are speaking to does not see it as some great mountain -- he sees it from the other dimension which is heaven - and this reduces it to its proper size -- The scripture says -- Hallowed be thy name -- That is -- may your name be separated may your name be exalted and known The whole prayer begins with worship -- You do not burst in puffing and panting and blubbering with requests -- Sit back and say -- who is this God that I am speaking to --- It is amazing how many requests that disappear at the sight of God --- The Israelites at the red sea --- They have with them the cloud of Gods glory -- they could not have missed it -- WHOLENESS PART 2 It was this cloud that had lead them into this spot -- and when they see the Egyptians -- The scripture says -- They cried to the Lord -- and God's response was -- what on earth are you doing -- I thought you were in heavenly places --- To Moses God says -- tell those people to keep quiet and move on --- Here is God right in their midst -- this is not a time for requests -- it is time to be excited knowing where you are in God it is time to adore God -- and thank him then just continue to move along with God--- This is what the disciples are doing here -- In Acts 4:23 -- they do not come in with the greatness of the requests but with the greatness of God Wherever you turn in scripture you will find this principle --- Look at the prayer of Jehoshaphat -- when all his enemies are coming against him -- He begins by saying -- God you have all power God you own all people God you are over all things it seems as an after thought when he Says -- God look what these people are doing --- Jehoshaphat has things in their right order -- WHOLENESS PART 2 Do not come with a list of prayer requests -- come with a song to God -- then see if you have any requests that are left to pray about --- What the disciples are saying -- you are the creator you are God you are everything you are all in all We are yours by redemption this gives us a sense of dignity a sense of boldness we see problems of life as they truly are Then having exalted God -- the creator the redeemer they go on and quote -- Psalm 2 : -- you will notice that disciples quote this Psalm many times --- This Psalm was a great message to the early church --- They quote the first half of it -- Psalm 2 says -- why do the heathen (nations) rage and the people plot in vain --- Verse 2 -- the kings -- (kingdoms) of the earth take their stand -- and the rulers gather together against the Lord -- and against his anointed one --- Verse 3 says -- let us break their chains and throw away their cords from us --- WHOLENESS PART 2 Here you have the nations of the world and they are joined together against -- the Lord and his Messiah -- the anointed one -- they are raging against him -- Saying -- we do not want to be chained to God -- let us be done with him -- and the response from the one enthroned in heaven is --- Verse 4 -- he laughed at the foolishness of men as they take this stand against God --- They see God in full view -- And say -- we do not want him -- and God just laughed --- How are they going to break the chains of the sovereign Lord God Almighty --- Verse 5 says -- then he shall rebuke them in anger and terrify them in his wrath saying -- have I installed my king in Zion my holy hill --- God laughs at them in their foolishness then there is a display of his anger -- and at that time he installs his king -- in Zion his holy hill --- Then there is a pause in the Psalm -- in fact someone else begins to speak -- Verse 7 says -- I will declare the decree of the Lord -- he that is enthroned in the heavens -- He said to me -- you are my son -- today I have become your Father -- ask of me and I will WHOLENESS PART 2 make the nations you inheritance and the ends of the earth you position you will rule them with a iron septer you will dash them into pieces like a potter's vessel Now we have another silence -- Verse 10 says -- Therefore you kings and judges of the earth -- these are rulers and kings that say -- we do not want this one to reign over us -- Serve the lord with fear - and rejoice with trembling -- lest you perish from your ways when his wrath is kindled but a little -- blessed are all who put their trust in him-- This psalm is quoted throughout the Acts of the Apostles --- Now let me show you what it means First of all it tells me this Psalm was fulfilled at the cross -- Not only were there Jews gathered at the cross -- but also the Romans -- and in the Roman army I think you will find that many nations were represented there --- So here you have the nations of men brought before the cross of Jesus --- They are against God and his anointed one -- the Messiah Jesus -- and Gods reaction to all that they have done is to laugh at them -- and then shows his wrath -- Gods wrath is shown in many different ways -- this time it was when they crucified Jesus -- His anger was shown against the sin that was laid upon Jesus -- they were the beholders of the wrath of God -- as they gathered around the cross they saw God's anger against sin --- WHOLENESS PART 2 It was not as lighting strikes against them -- but God's anger displayed upon Jesus --- Here Jesus is the lamb -- and upon him has been laid the sin of us all -- and on the cross Jesus endures the wrath of God for us --- The death of Jesus was the anger of God against sin --- But he raises him from the dead and he announced -- that he has installed his king on Zion my holy hill --- Verse 7 says -- the Lord said unto me -- thou art my son this day I have become you Father --- This is quoted in Acts 13 as being fulfilled in the resurrection --- So the anger of God has been satisfied against sin and then he raised Jesus from the dead and -- Said -- I have installed my king --- Jesus is now King of Kings and Lord of all Lords -- and now he is speaking to Jesus -- And he says -- ask of me -- by your death and resurrection you have purchased the right -- you have inherited the whole earth -- now ask of me -- and you will have what is yours -- or As Jesus said -- all authority is given unto me in heaven and upon earth --- That is I have inherited the whole earth --- WHOLENESS PART 2 Now the Father says to Jesus -- ask of me and I will give you that whole earth as you possession --- The prophet who wrote Psalm 2 could never imagine how this could be fulfilled -- When Jesus ascended to the throne of the universe -- and was told to ask -- he gave that authority and privilege into the hand of his disciples --- Jesus said in John 14:13 -- whatsoever you shall ask in my name you will have -- Where did it come from -- this is not a common saying - you do not read of it in the prophets -- Ask in my name in my authority I suggest it came from Psalm 2 --- Jesus the Messiah -- by his finished work purchased the whole earth -- And his Father says -- you - Messiah - ask and it is yours -- And Jesus says -- I will include my body in this -- Then he said to his disciples -- you do the asking -- but you will have to do it in my name -- for I am the one that has purchased it -- but you will do the asking -- and then you will have it --- The body of Christ becomes the asking end of the Messiah --- WHOLENESS PART 2 The Messiah has won the victory and he gives it into the hands of his body -- now you do the asking -- They understand it from Psalm 2 --- Now they are fulfilling the Psalm in the light that he is exalted -- it is now left for them to do the asking -- and this they did --- They asked -- that they with great boldness will continue to establish the fact that the Kingdom of God has come --- It was the healing at gate beautiful that brought this to the for front -- Now they are to continue to stretch forth their hand to heal -- They come forth with boldness to do what Jesus said for them to do -- and their attitude is -- no one can stop us - Acts 5 says -- they raged at these disciples -- for they have filled Jerusulem with their doctrine --- It is as if we are meeting little Jesus' all over the place --- They tried to buy the Messiah -- they tried to throw off his reign -- And he who sits in the heaven laughed -- for no man can stop that on going reign of Jesus no man can put the Messiah down for he is exalted The disciples are not upset -- they do not see themselves as being threatened WHOLENESS PART 2 In fact they see themselves as part of Psalm 2 -- There is nothing left to do but to ask knowing that they will receive -- because their exalted Jesus is the one who guarantees that they shall receive all that he died to purchase --- In answer to their prayer the Holy Spirit came among them in great power -- the place is shaken --- They go out and witness with great boldness with signs and wonders accompanying them through the power of God I believe this is the same for us this very day -- for we are living in the Kingdom -- There is no dispensational curtain come down to stop us -- we are living in the on going Kingdom of Jesus --- There is salvation in no other name and that is in the name of Jesus And as we leave here today -- let us know that through The power of the Holy Spirit And in the name of Jesus You have overcome AMEN