Skyscraper Ministries/Lectures/Annual Baptisms/The Other Seventy Training Academy
67th Annual
Southwestern Christian College Lectureship
November 21-25, 2004
Theme: “Obeying
God Rather Than Men” (Studies in Acts)
Selected Topic:
Obedience in the Darkest Hours
Lecturer: Dr. Ammar Saheli, Evangelist
West Oakland church of Christ, Oakland, CA
Website: www.Romans1616.org
Email: westoaklandcoc@yahoo.com
In
Matthew 28:19-20 the apostles of Christ were commanded to go into all the
world and proclaim the Good News or Gospel of Christ. They were promised
the reception of the Holy Spirit of God, which provided comfort, teaching,
and memorization of the Words of Christ (John 14:16,26). Because of the power
of God and indwelling of the Holy Spirit (1 John 4:4), when they faced persecution,
imprisonment, and homicidal threats because they taught in the name of Jesus
Christ, they confidently responded “….We ought to obey God rather than
men” (Acts 5:29). They were in a compromised predicament but they elected
to serve God over self-preservation and the pleasing of men.
Through tumult, persecution, and spoil Christians must continually obey God. Jesus Christ and His apostles provide several examples of such Christian behavior. Under close analytical investigation, the apostle Paul provides the church with a beneficial case study for maintaining obedience through the darkest hours. Paul found himself incarcerated on two occasions with the first being more tolerable than the second (Acts 28:20; 2 Timothy 4:9). Despite the fact that Paul found himself bound in prison chains on several occasions, he maintained obedience through his darkest hours. Through his last two imprisonments, Paul, an incarcerated man, had the heart to comfort the free through his writing of the Word of God.
From prison, Paul wrote five inspiring letters or epistles: Philemon, Colossians, Ephesians, Philippians, and 2 Timothy. Even through struggle, Paul sought to comfort others. Paul put his incarceration in perspective. He viewed his imprisonment as bondage in Christ as opposed to earthly imprisonment of man. He said in Ephesians 3:1-4, “For this cause I Paul, the prisoner of Jesus Christ for you Gentiles, If ye have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which is given me to youward: How that by revelation he made known unto me the mystery; (as I wrote afore in few words, Whereby, when ye read, ye may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ).” During Paul’s darkest hours as a prisoner of God, he was concerned with the forward progress of the Words and the biblical understanding of others.
Paul, because of his commitment to Christ, had the ability
to talk about love, unity, humility, the absence of strife, and his inward joy.
Without being under the control and guidance of the Holy Spirit, an automatic
response in the face of injustice might be self-vindication and promotion.
However, at this point and time in the life of Paul, he said to the church in
Philippi, “If there be therefore any consolation in Christ, if any comfort
of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any bowels and mercies, Fulfill ye
my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of
one mind. Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of
mind let each esteem other better than themselves. Look not every man on his
own things, but every man also on the things of others. Let this mind be in
you, which was also in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 2:1-5)
Paul, bound with chains and under house arrest had enough spirituality to encourage others how not to focus on earthly things but on the heavenly and eternal. How many people in prison take a vested interest in helping free people see and understand God more perfectly. He said in Colossian 3:1-3, “If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God.” Paul maintained joy through his darkest hours because he perceived his life to be hid in Christ and was more concerned with his final resting place than he was his temporary incarceration.
The apostle Paul remained solidly committed and entrenched in Christ while incarcerated because he knew he was God’s obedient prisoner and not that of men. Because of his disposition in Christ, Paul was able to pen some of the most vital and critical words ever given to the church in Ephesians chapter four:
4:1 I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you
that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called, 2 With all
lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love; 3
Endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. 4 There is one
body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; 5 One
Lord, one faith, one baptism, 6 One God and Father of all, who is above all,
and through all, and in you all. 7 But unto every one of us is given grace
according to the measure of the gift of Christ. 8 Wherefore he saith, When he
ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men. 9(Now
that he ascended, what is it but that he also descended first into the lower
parts of the earth? 10 He that descended is the same also that ascended up far
above all heavens, that he might fill all things.) 11 And he gave some,
apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and
teachers; 12 For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for
the edifying of the body of Christ: 13 Till we all come in the unity of the
faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the
measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ: 14 That we henceforth be no
more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of
doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in
wait to deceive; 15 But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all
things, which is the head, even Christ: 16 From whom the whole body fitly
joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to
the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body
unto the edifying of itself in love. 17 This I say therefore, and testify in
the Lord, that ye henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk, in the vanity of
their mind, 18 Having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life
of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their
heart: 19 Who being past feeling have given themselves over unto
lasciviousness, to work all uncleanness with greediness. 20 But ye have not so
learned Christ; 21 If so be that ye have heard him, and have been taught by
him, as the truth is in Jesus: 22 That ye put off concerning the former
conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; 23
And be renewed in the spirit of your mind; 24 And that ye put on the new man,
which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness. 25 Wherefore
putting away lying, speak every man truth with his neighbor: for we are members
one of another. 26 Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your
wrath: 27 Neither give place to the devil. 28 Let him that stole steal no more:
but rather let him labor, working with his hands the thing which is good, that
he may have to give to him that needeth. 29 Let no corrupt communication
proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that
it may minister grace unto the hearers. 30 And grieve not the holy Spirit of
God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption. 31 Let all bitterness,
and wrath, and anger, and clamor, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with
all malice: 32 And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one
another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you.
For the purpose of Christian success, it is imperative that all children of God remain faithful to His will through the darkest hours. We ought to obey God rather than men” (Acts 5:29).