We Ought to Obey God Rather Than Men (Acts 5:12-29)
Speaker: Rev Dr Jeffrey Khoo
Date: 25 Oct 2020

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Sermon notes taken by:

Anhony Cheng

Philip Schaff said that the reformation was a mighty work of God, the greatest revival in church history second only to the Pentecost in Acts 2. The Reformation restored the gospel light to us at a time when the church taught that salvation was by works. Webelieve that the Bible is 100% infallible, inerrant, 100% perfect without mistakes. God not only inspired His words, He also preserved His words.

On Reformation Sunday, we remember the reformers’ courage and faith. For their faith, they laid down their lives. These included John Wycliff (who translated the Latin Bible to English), Tyndale (who translated the Bible in its original languages to English), John Huss, Martin Luther (who nailed the 95 Thesis on 31 October 1517), and theologians like John Calvin, Ulrich Zwingli, John Knox who taught the Word of God. We also remember Rev Timothy Tow who was the founding pastor of the BP Church in Singapore in 1950. The corrupt church tried to silence them, yet the convicting work of the Holy Spirit made it irresistible for them to speak the truth so they could not resist the truth but to obey it.

The disciples of the Lord Jesus Christ too were so full of the Spirit, they could not be silenced. They preached the gospel of Christ’s death, burial and resurrection and many thousands were converted, more than when Christ was on earth (Acts 2:41, 4:4). Satan is already a defected foe, and Jesus has crushed the Serpent’s head (Matt 16:18, 1 Cor 15:55), but Satan continues to resist the work of the gospel. The Sadducees, rulers, elders, scribes (Acts 4:1-7) tried to stop the disciples, but Peter rebuked them (Acts 4:8-12). The rulers threaten them (Acts 5:17-18) not to teach the name of Jesus, but Peter answered that they have to hearken to God and not men (Acts 4:19). And they continued to preach, so the high priest caught them and imprisoned them (Acts 5:17-32). But the angel opened the prison doors and brought them out (Acts 5:19), and they continued to preach the gospel (Acts 5:25). Again they were stopped by the high priest (Acts 5:28), then Peter rebuked them (Acts 5:29) saying: “we ought to obey God rather than men.” The Word of God cannot be silenced (2 Tim 2:9). When God opens the door, no one can shut it (Rev 3:7). The higher law of spirituality overrides the lower laws of society (Rom 13). Gamaliel said (Acts 5:34-38), “Refrain from these men, and let them alone, for if this counsel or this work be of men, it will come to naught” for no man can fight against God. So were the days of the Reformation. God moved the reformers to speak the truth and the scriptures. Likewise, may we as believers of Jesus Christ do the same, and stand firm and obey God rather than men.



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