Sunday 01:08:12

If it is from God, you will not be able to stop these men; you will only find yourselves fighting against God.” (Acts 5:39 NIV84) The Gospel is unstoppable because it is the power of God. But to stop this thing from spreading any further among the people, we must warn these men to speak no longer to anyone in this name. Then they called them in again and commanded them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus. But Peter and John replied, “Judge for yourselves whether it is right in God's sight to obey you rather than God. For we cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard.” (Acts 4:17-20 NIV84) On their release, Peter and John went back to their own people and reported all that the chief priests and elders had said to them. When they heard this, they raised their voices together in prayer to God. “Sovereign Lord,” they said, “you made the heaven and the earth and the sea, and everything in them. You spoke by the Holy Spirit through the mouth of your servant, our father David: “ ‘Why do the nations rage and the peoples plot in vain? The kings of the earth take their stand and the rulers gather together against the Lord and against his Anointed One.’ Indeed Herod and Pontius Pilate met together with the Gentiles and the people of Israel in this city to conspire against your holy servant Jesus, whom you anointed. They did what your power and will had decided beforehand should happen. (Acts 4:23-28 NIV84) Now, Lord, consider their threats and enable your servants to speak your word with great boldness. Stretch out your hand to heal and perform miraculous signs and wonders through the name of your holy servant Jesus.” After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly. (Acts 4:29-31 NIV84) But a Pharisee named Gamaliel, a teacher of the law, who was honored by all the people, stood up in the Sanhedrin and ordered that the men be put outside for a little while. Then he addressed them: “Men of Israel, consider carefully what you intend to do to these men. Some time ago Theudas appeared, claiming to be somebody, and about four hundred men rallied to him. He was killed, all his followers were dispersed, and it all came to nothing. After him, Judas the Galilean appeared in the days of the census and led a band of people in revolt. He too was killed, and all his followers were scattered. Therefore, in the present case I advise you: Leave these men alone! Let them go! For if their purpose or activity is of human origin, it will fail. But if it is from God, you will not be able to stop these men; you will only find yourselves fighting against God.” (Acts 5:34-39 NIV84) The Gospel is the power of God. I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile. For in the gospel a righteousness from God is revealed, a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: “The righteous will live by faith.” (Romans 1:16, 17 NIV84) Paul writes to believers in Rome. We have no city like it today. It was the the center of political, philosophical, religious, legal, and military power. It was the capital of the known world. All the Philosophy, archetecture, culture, military, and government over the civilized world was all consolidated in this one powerful city. The roman empire's first ruler, octavius augustus, was given the title cesar because it had an aspect of divinity. In the midst of all that, Paul writes, "I am not ashamed of the Gospel, because it is the power of God for salvation." None of that intimidated Paul. None of that made him apologetic for it's message. For all the philosophies, military strength, political influence was all the constructs of men, but the Gospel is the word of God, the will of God, and the  power of God. Everywhere the Gospel was preached, it took hold. In every society, in the city, in the country, from Roman rulers to slaves, the Gospel was changing lives. that has come to you. All over the world this gospel is bearing fruit and growing, just as it has been doing among you since the day you heard it and understood God's grace in all its truth. (Colossians 1:6 NIV84) The Gospel is unstoppable, irrepressible, invincible, unbeatable. The Gospel will triumph over all the wisdom of men. The Gospel will outlast all rulers. The Gospel will go on after the rise and fall of nations. No matter where it goes, it will be victorious. It will triumph over every earthly and heavenly foe. Don't be intimidated to speak about it. Tell about the story of the God who triumphed over sin and darkness in your life and brought freedom to you.