The Impossible Silence

Bible Studies In The Christian Library

Scripture Reading: Acts 4:13-20

The Impossible Silence
(Acts 4:20 NCV) We cannot keep quiet. We must speak about what we have seen and heard.” ***The voice of the Lord’s Disciples is LOUD and CLEAR…It is IMPOSSIBLE to keep silent about Jesus Christ! His Words and His actions have given cause to CELEBRATE!
***Christians the World over are called upon to pledge their Allegiance to the one who has SAVED us from the depths of Hell! Jesus paid the price of our Sins…Brethren, it is IMPOSSIBLE to remain SILENT about Him!
***Dietrich Bonhoffer was a believer of Christ who was martyred at the hands of Adolf Hitler during World War II. He was quoted as saying: “Discipleship means allegiance to the suffering Christ.” (Willing to DIE rather than turn away from the Lord. Yes even at the hands of Nazi Germany) ***King Arthur bound his “Knights of the Roundtable” to a series of 99 vows by which they promised their faithfulness to the King!
***Winston Churchill made a stirring speech in 1940 by which he called for all of England to bind together for the common good of the entire nation. Inside this speech, Churchill is remembered for the dramatic oath he offered for his defense of the nation: “I have nothing to offer but blood, toil, tears, and sweat.”
***Now, in the passage we have just read, we are struck by the loyalty shown by these Disciples, Peter and John, who have been threatened with death on orders of the Sanhedrin. These Obedient Followers were warned to stop witnessing about the Resurrection of Jesus Christ…they found this order impossible to obey!

From the fourth chapter of Acts, we are reminded of several reasons why it is IMPOSSIBLE for Christians to “remain silent” about the GOSPEL of Jesus Christ!

I. It is IMPOSSIBLE to remain silent…because the message of Jesus might DISTURB some lost soul and set them onto the road of Righteousness.

(Acts 4:1-2 NKJV) Now as they spoke to the people, the priests, the captain of the temple, and the Sadducees came upon them, {2} being greatly disturbed that they taught the people and preached in Jesus the resurrection from the dead.

***Just because people become upset…or feel uneasy about someone who proclaims the Lord to them…we STILL have the responsibility of speaking boldly about the POWER in the Blood of Jesus!
***Those examples of the first century Christians have been reserved for you…that you may imitate them as they imitate Christ! [1 Cor. 11:1]
***Soon after the passage we have read above, we will find these same Disciples in prison…because they refused to quit speaking about the Lord!
(Scriptures even go as far as to tell us that James was executed because of his bold stand for the mission of His Disciples! [Acts 12:1-2])
***We remember in the Revelation Letter that Jesus scolds the church in Ephesus because they have “left their first love” [Rev 2:4] (they were no longer BOLD in their defence of Him) Also, Jesus condemns the church in Laodicea because they had allowed their faith to become “Lukewarm.” [Rev 3:15-16]

II. It is IMPOSSIBLE to be silent about Jesus because He is STILL the only source of Salvation!
(Acts 4:12 NKJV) “Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.”

***No matter what we may hear from “learned scholars” and “respected preachers” on the television and in our neighborhoods…the fact still remains, Jesus Christ is the Author and the Finisher of our Salvation! [Hebrews 12:2]
***Even though Political Correctness tells us to be mindful of all religious followers….whether they be Hindu, Buddhists, Islam, or any of the hundreds of denominations that dot our nation….Jesus Christ died on the Cross in order to offer the ONLY vehicle which leads to Eternal Life in Heaven. One religion was not as good as any other then…nor is it acceptable today. Only the Blood of Jesus Christ has been declared acceptable for salvation.

(Phil 2:9-11 NKJV) Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, {10} that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, {11} and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

***The very fact that you know someone who will stand condemned on the Day of Judgment…should be enough of a reason why you cannot remain silent about Jesus Christ!
***In our case study today, YES there may have been people who were DISTURBED because Peter and John were preaching about Jesus…but let’s also notice that “many of those who heard the message believed.” [Acts 4:4]
***My friends, such FAITH and OBEDIENCE would not have been possible if these Brethren had kept silent about their testimony!

If the name of the Savior is precious to you,
If His care has been constant and tender and true,
If the light of His presence has brightened your way,
O will you not tell of your gladness today?
If your faith in the Savior has brought its reward,
If a strength you have found in the strength of your Lord,
If the hope of a rest in His palace is sweet,
O will you not, brother, the story repeat?
If the souls all around you are living in sin,
If the Master has told you to bid them come in,
If the sweet invitation they never have heard,
O will you not tell them the cheer-bringing word?
O will you not tell it today? Will you not tell it today?
If the light of His presence has brightened your way,
O will will you not tell it…today?

Christian, Jesus remains as the ONLY source of Salvation for your family, friends, for the entire world. Will you tell about Him today?

His voice still speaks out…loud and clear:
(Luke 14:23 NKJV) “Then the master said to the servant, ‘Go out into the highways and hedges, and compel them to come in, that my house may be filled.

III. It is IMPOSSIBLE to remain SILENT about Jesus because He has EMPOWERED us to serve as His Witnesses!
(Acts 4:10 NKJV) “let it be known to you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead, by Him this man stands here before you whole.

***This is possibly one of the GREATEST reasons…why it is IMPOSSIBLE to keep silent about Jesus Christ!
                            ***His BLOOD has washed away my SINS!
                            ***Thanks to Him, I have freedom of past sins!
                            ***By the name of Jesus…I can stand before God:
                                                                                                            <<<Acceptable
                                                                                                            <<<Perfect and Complete
***As Paul has stated “I believed and therefore I spoke” [2 Corinthians 4:13]
                <<<God has never asked anyone to do His Will without empowering them.

Christians today have God available to them in:

Prayer, the Bible, Strength from fellow Christians!

            ***With Moses, He sent along a multitude of plagues, a brother to speak,
                   the ability to govern.
                   (The nation of Israel became a reality. They were led to the Promised Land.)
             ***With Gideon, God promised to support His outnumbered army.
                    (God led a small group of 300 soldiers to victory)
            ***With His Apostles, Jesus promised not to leave them as orphans but would pray to His
                  Father to send the Comforter…The Holy Spirit!
                    (The Early Church grew, many people were added daily!)

Bo Bolinger was a famous football player on one of those National Championship Oklahoma University teams. During an interview once, Bo was asked what type of a player…the Oklahoma coaches were looking for. Was it speed, strength, or skill? He replied that the coaching staff generally looked for players who had a will to win!

***Having the resolve to tell others what Jesus means to me….this is the characteristic that makes it impossible for Christians to be silent about Jesus!
***Peter and John found it impossible to keep silent about their Lord even when they were threathened with death! Firmly, they were resolved: “We must obey God rather than men.!” [Acts 5:29]
***No matter what lies ahead…Christians of 1998 must not keep silent about Jesus either!

(Acts 5:30-32 NKJV) “The God of our fathers raised up Jesus whom you murdered by hanging on a tree. {31} “Him God has exalted to His right hand to be Prince and Savior, to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins. {32} “And we are His witnesses to these things, and so also is the Holy Spirit whom God has given to those who obey Him.”

***This message was important then, it is important today***
***Will you tell the story of Jesus***

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