Rejoicing to Suffer for Christ

Minister:
Date: PM
Text: Acts 5:41
Psalters: 66, 216, 18, 165
  1. Suffering.
    1. The Sanhedrin had the apostles scourged: their backs were ploughed into gore by painful flogging.
    2. “Shame” is to be dishonored, insulted, with contempt, disgrace, for being humiliated wrongly.
    3. “For His name.”
      1. Everything revolves around the name of Jesus: 3:6,16; 4:7,10; 16:18.
      2.  “Name” is revelation of Jesus and all His power and grace which is conveyed for our apprehension.
  2. They rejoiced to be counted worthy (honorable), instead of being frustrated, bitter or complaining about the injustice.
    1. Negatively,
    2. Instead the apostles reflected on their heavenly Father and then considered these disgraceful stripes to be badges of honor.
      1. To their suffering something had been added to transform the bitterness into sweetness (as at Marah, Ex. 15:22-25).
      2. While they did not and cannot share in the atoning suffering of their Savior, we do partake of Jesus’ sufferings (Col. 1:24; Phil. 1:29; Rom 8:17,36; II Cor. 1:7; 4:11).
  3. They would have beat a hasty retreat if the joy had not given them new strength, to go on preaching and teaching the gospel.
    1. The ministry of the apostles was not hindered; they did not even slow down in their blessed work.
      1. They did not start to work in secret because God’s command was that they “stand and speak in the temple” (5:20).
      2. Instead the threats and punishments are spurs to drive the apostles to greats and more extensive endeavor for Christ.
    2. Let us learn that we must wrestle with affliction and anxiety in order that we may gladly take up our God-given crosses.
      1. The apostles had a God-given certainty that this is what they were commanded to do; and the joy came from this certainty.
      2. This remains the commission of the true church of Christ today, and is the response of the church in every generation.