Rejoicing to Suffer for Christ
Minister: |
Rev. Ronald Van Overloop |
Date: |
10/18/2015 PM
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Text:
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Acts 5:41
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Psalters: |
66, 216, 18, 165 |
- Suffering.
- The Sanhedrin had the apostles scourged: their backs were ploughed into gore by painful flogging.
- “Shame” is to be dishonored, insulted, with contempt, disgrace, for being humiliated wrongly.
- “For His name.”
- Everything revolves around the name of Jesus: 3:6,16; 4:7,10; 16:18.
- “Name” is revelation of Jesus and all His power and grace which is conveyed for our apprehension.
- They rejoiced to be counted worthy (honorable), instead of being frustrated, bitter or complaining about the injustice.
- Negatively,
- Instead the apostles reflected on their heavenly Father and then considered these disgraceful stripes to be badges of honor.
- To their suffering something had been added to transform the bitterness into sweetness (as at Marah, Ex. 15:22-25).
- 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).
- They would have beat a hasty retreat if the joy had not given them new strength, to go on preaching and teaching the gospel.
- The ministry of the apostles was not hindered; they did not even slow down in their blessed work.
- They did not start to work in secret because God’s command was that they “stand and speak in the temple” (5:20).
- Instead the threats and punishments are spurs to drive the apostles to greats and more extensive endeavor for Christ.
- Let us learn that we must wrestle with affliction and anxiety in order that we may gladly take up our God-given crosses.
- The apostles had a God-given certainty that this is what they were commanded to do; and the joy came from this certainty.
- This remains the commission of the true church of Christ today, and is the response of the church in every generation.