If you have your Bible, please turn to Acts 5. We’ll be reading from v.12. Acts 5:12. Last month, I talked about two historically disconnected things that have one all-important common thread – the holiness of God and His call upon us for personal integrity. The severe, fatal discipline upon Ananias and Sapphira and the impeachment of a president revolved around issues of honesty and integrity. We can learn lessons from both of these extremely different events that pertain to each one of us.

Psalm 25:21 is an appeal you can humbly pray as a forgiven sinner, “Let integrity and uprightness preserve me, for I wait for you.” If you claim Christ as your Savior, you must also accept His lordship in how you conduct your life. Integrity and uprightness are His nature; and they’re yours, as well, when His Spirit lives within you. Cultivating the habits of honesty, integrity and uprightness will gradually earn you a place of respect and trust in here and in society after you release. Your reputation goes before you.

Yes, you’ll have to acknowledge in job applications and interviews that you’re a convicted felon. But, by faith, you’re also men who have committed to abiding by God’s and society’s laws, even if that costs you some opportunities initially. What any employer wants to know is – can I trust you to give an honest day’s work for honest pay? Can I trust you not to use drugs or drink on the job, or let these control your life off the job? Can I trust you not to steal from me? If you can answer those questions – first to God here in prison – and then on the outside, opportunities will eventually open up for you. God has his people all over this region who are looking to help men who’ve made bad choices in the past, but intend to be good men in the future.

Now let’s read Acts 5:12-13: “Now many signs and wonders were regularly done among the people by the hands of the apostles. And they were all together in Solomon’s Portico. ¹³ None of the rest dared join them, but the people held them in high esteem.”

Notice that immediately after Luke told of the sudden deaths of Ananias and Sapphira, he recounted signs and wonders happening frequently through the apostles’ hands. The two were connected both in time and purpose by God. The deaths of the two errant Jews magnified God’s holiness; the miracles magnified God’s love. Together, they glorified God’s wisdom in action.

I believe you can list all of God’s inseparable, moral perfections under three categories: holiness, love and wisdom. Just as Father, Son and Holy Spirit are inseparably intertwined personalities within the One Spirit Being who is God, so God’s holiness, love and wisdom are manifest in everything God does. Our salvation rests upon our recognition of our utter sinful corruption in contrast to God’s perfection, which moves us to turn to Christ (that is, repentance) and His perfect example of self-sacrificing love for our salvation.

Paul wrote to the Corinthians: “We preach Christ crucified… the power of God and the wisdom of God. For the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men.” Paul ironically described the paradox of something that looked utterly foolish as being more brilliant than anything man ever conceived – Christ’s humiliation and helplessness hanging naked upon the cross – for our salvation. In fact, Christ crucified is the most powerful, redemptive act that will ever occur. It initiated God’s New Covenant with the entire human race, and stripped Satan and his horde of nearly all their powers – an act of divine, conquering power.

To the thousands of redeemed Jews who embraced this radically unexpected gospel, their joy at being united with Messiah and His new community created an immediate and powerful sense of unity. Notice the simple, but profound phrase: “they were all together in Solomon’s portico.” They were all together – not just in location but in heart and vision. This is what Holy Ghost revival produces in the Church when people are earnest in seeking God’s will together for their community.

Unity in a common cause is the basis for power. Unity between husband and wife is the basis of power for raising healthy, happy children. Strife and division empower Satan to inflate pride and selfishness and tear down love and self-confidence. He then sows adultery in the parents’ minds and rebellion in the hearts of children. Can any of you bear witness to that from your upbringing?

The disciples were all together in unity. But the rest of Judea floundered in bewilderment and uncertainty. Even at this early stage in the new community, many Jews were afraid to associate with the believers, for fear of the Jewish council and their legal and economic power. Even so, Luke said, “the people held them in high esteem.”

Friends, although we live in a country that enshrines religious freedom, believers still face rejection when their commitment to Christ becomes known to those who have embraced an opposing position – be it religious or not. Holding true to your faith in a work environment that embraces a wide diversity of people can be challenging.

I encourage you to pray for those around you, and be warmly affirming of all people, even when their lifestyles are radically different from yours. Let God judge the sinner; you go out and love them with kindness and genuine caring. Pray and then act so that others see Jesus in you.

Let Philippians 2:14-15 be your guide to a successful career: “Do all things without grumbling or disputing; ¹⁵ so that you will prove yourselves to be blameless and innocent, children of God above reproach in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you appear as lights in the world.” Having a positive attitude and work ethic is the best way to gain favor with your employer and protect yourself from being cut down from behind.

Reading on from v. 14: “And more than ever believers were added to the Lord, multitudes of both men and women, ¹⁵ so that they even carried out the sick into the streets and laid them on cots and mats, that as Peter came by at least his shadow might fall on some of them. ¹⁶ The people also gathered from the towns around Jerusalem, bringing the sick and those afflicted with unclean spirits, and they were all healed.”

Luke said “multitudes of both men and women” joined the new Messianic flock. One evident reason is the power of the Holy Spirit that brought healing to many. The anointing was so strong on Peter that they brought their sick into the street so that “at least his shadow might fall on some of them.” Such was their faith in Peter’s anointing as an apostle.

I don’t know if Peter’s shadow was needed for divine healing to occur; but I believe that honoring God’s anointed leaders allowed for more divine healing to occur. God is a God of order, who reigns over an orderly kingdom. So honoring those in authority bearing the word of God allowed the flow of God’s Spirit for healing to continue. Unity is the basis for power in God’s kingdom, whereas as strife and contention stifle the work of the Spirit. The sense of unity among the believers was so strong that people from outlying cities brought sick and demonized people to them; and they were all being healed.

What can we learn from this moment of early Church history, where the anointing of the Spirit was so strong? One thing is to appreciate the environment you are in. Even though we are not presently in an atmosphere of intense Holy Spirit anointing, He is still here, and here with the power to save, heal and deliver from satanic oppression. Your genuine enthusiasm and support for God’s work wherever you are allows for more of the Spirit’s work to change lives for the better.

Second, be prepared to respond positively whenever you see God at work around you. Be willing to accept that every situation you find yourself in is an invitation to exercise positive faith. Sometimes you can’t easily bring Jesus into the conversation; but you can always model Christ’s goodness and concern for others. You can offer to pray for someone who has a genuine hurt or concern. Most inmates have these concerns, so be alert to the opportunity to point someone to Christ as the ultimate answer to their needs.

The people outside Jerusalem brought their sick to the apostles for healing. Can we not encourage others to seek God by attending good Christian services, or reading the Bible or listening to an uplifting song? Believe that you can be an instrument for positive change or emotional healing in someone’s life and you’ll be surprised by how God steers needy people your way.

The apostles and early believers were riding high for a while, but opposition quickly struck back. Reading on from v. 17 of chapter 5:

But the high priest rose up, and all who were with him (that is, the party of the Sadducees), and filled with jealousy ¹⁸ they arrested the apostles and put them in the public prison. ¹⁹ But during the night an angel of the Lord opened the prison doors and brought them out, and said, ²⁰ “Go and stand in the temple and speak to the people all the words of this Life.” ²¹ And when they heard this, they entered the temple at daybreak and began to teach.

So the high priest tried to arrest all the apostles; but an angel released them from jail. He told them to go to the temple and preach the gospel! What a shock that must have been to the priests – a mass escape from jail! They investigated and found the doors locked and the prison guards were oblivious to the apostles’ release. No doubt they failed to do a morning count.

Angels can operate inside and outside of space and time and can project imagery into human minds that we cannot distinguish from reality. So the apostles’ release may have taken less than a minute chronologically, or else the angel blinded the guards’ minds to not see what was happening right in front of them. Either way, their release was supernaturally aided.

The Bible says angels are ministering spirits sent to render help to God’s people. Angels are all about us; so the natural and supernatural are never far apart for God’s children. Trust in their willingness to help you, too, when you pray. If you haven’t memorized Psalm 91 – the Psalm of protection – I would at least encourage you to memorize vv.11-12, which say, “He will give His angels charge over you to guard you in all your ways. They will bear you up in their hands, lest you strike your foot against the stone.”

Another great verse to memorize is Psalm 34:7, “The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear Him and rescues them.” Angels are the mightiest creatures in God’s creation, now and forevermore; and their duty is to aid and protect those whom God has appointed for salvation. Claim their assistance, and they will strengthen you within while protecting you without.

The apostles walked out of jail with the guards completely unawares. Then someone reported that the apostles were standing outside their chambers proclaiming Jesus to the people, just as the angel told them to do! So the priests sent officers to arrest the apostles again.

“And the high priest questioned them, saying, “We strictly charged you not to teach in this name, yet here you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching, and you intend to bring this man’s blood upon us.” ²⁹ But Peter and the apostles answered, “We must obey God rather than men. ³⁰ The God of our fathers raised Jesus, whom you killed by hanging him on a tree. ³¹ God exalted him at his right hand as Leader and Savior, to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins. ³² And we are witnesses to these things, and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey him.”

Peter seized the opportunity to declare three truths of utmost importance to you and me today. First, he rebutted their command to cease preaching Jesus. Peter spoke for the apostles, “We must obey God rather than men.” Fifteen centuries later, the Christian Reformers formulated a just doctrine of disobedience to governing authorities, which at that time meant the Catholic kingdoms of Europe.

Scripture charges you and me to obey laws and authorities at all times, unless those authorities compel us to disobey God in one of two ways. The first is commanding us to violate the moral will or law of God. The second is when government forbids you to do what God commands. The second is what Peter affirmed. We must disobey government in those two, and only those two, instances. And we must be wise, faithful to the Scriptures and willing to bear the consequences when we do.

Second, Peter immediately went to the core of our faith: the death and resurrection of Jesus, who is our Leader and Savior who grants us the ability to change (repentance) and then forgiveness of our sins. We should never disobey pesky laws that we don’t like; but we must disobey when unjust laws prevent us from declaring ultimate truth – the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Third, the apostles declared they were witnesses of these two great truths, along with the Holy Spirit – God’s gift to all Christ followers. In John’s gospel, Jesus affirmed the central role the Spirit has in empowering our witness for the Savior, “I tell you the truth, it is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I go, I will send Him to you. ⁸ And He, when He comes, will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment.”

Let’s go back now and consider the Christian doctrine of civil disobedience. In the first instance, no government has the right to compel us to be false witnesses in court, to steal or harm others unjustly, or violate our conscience. But in this widely diverse, pluralistic world peoples’ “rights” or identities can collide against others’ sense of liberty or conscience.

The demand to compromise freedom of conscience or beliefs is the trickiest and most contentious in our country. These matters are being fought in state and federal courts, and become the grist of what is called “the culture war.” There are social issues that have and will likely continue to cause conservative Christians to be falsely accused, sued or fired in the marketplace.

Any area where commerce or public practice collides with the moral demands of scripture can become a ground for legal contention. In the marketplace, these changes are likely to bring professional harm or loss to godly people. This is one more reason I believe we are in the final stages of history before Christ returns.

I don’t have easy answers to provide you as to when you must take a stand and risk being arrested, sued or fired. The moral and social ground is rapidly shifting beneath our feet. You may choose to battle the authorities as a few have done, or look for a work-around or compromise. I can’t tell you what you must do except to obey your conscience and the clear commands of scripture. I advise you to seek wise and godly counsel before you challenge any authority. There are right and wrong ways to appeal perceived injustice or assert religious liberty.

Jesus said, “Blessed are those who are persecuted for the sake of righteousness.” He also said, “Be shrewd as serpents and as innocent as doves.” Try to pick your battles wisely, and ask yourself, “Is this a cause worth suffering for?” before you resist authority in the workplace, in the community or even argue with extended family members.

Above all, remember Solomon’s wise counsel, “The one who guards his tongue, guards his soul from trouble. The one who shoots off his mouth [my translation] comes to ruin.” That’s why my most frequent prayer as a DOC chaplain is Psalm 141:3, “Set a guard, O LORD, over my mouth; keep watch over the door of my lips.” The slanderer, Satan, will use human proxies to set you up for job failure if you don’t watch what you say in the areas of social controversy.

The second reason for civil disobedience is when government forbids us from doing what God commands us to do. In many countries with antichristian elites, Christians have to meet in secret or risk arrest, imprisonment or harm. I urge you to learn about and pray for persecuted Christians in our world. For they are on the front lines in a cosmic struggle for the Kingdom of God against Satan.

Our founding fathers made religious liberty the first of our First Amendment rights for good reason. They understood that without freedom of religion no other freedom can be safe. For true religion speaks to the ultimate meaning and purpose of our existence. Without God, societies and governments are without restraint and are capable of any level of atrocity.

In America, that’s not as much a danger. But what about sharing Jesus with a colleague at work? How far can you go in expressing your faith in the workplace? These are tough issues that you may face at some time when you release from prison. Seek wise counsel from your brothers in Christ, and stand firmly for righteousness and your faith, as you are able.

God used the most esteemed Jewish scholar of his time, Gamaliel – the future Apostle Paul’s mentor- to dissuade the council from killing the apostles. Reading from v. 35, “And he said to them, “Men of Israel, take care what you propose to do with these men. ³⁶ For some time ago Theudas rose up, claiming to be somebody, and a group of about four hundred men joined up with him. But he was killed, and all who followed him were dispersed and came to nothing. ³⁷ After this man, Judas of Galilee rose up in the days of the census and drew away some people after him; he too perished, and all those who followed him were scattered. ³⁸ So in the present case, I say to you, stay away from these men and let them alone, for if this plan or action is of men, it will be overthrown; ³⁹ but if it is of God, you will not be able to overthrow them; or else you may even be found fighting against God.”

There is a profound irony in what Gamaliel said to the Sanhedrin, and what followed in the coming years. As we learn in Acts 8:1-2, a great persecution arose against the church in Jerusalem and throughout Judea and Samaria to the north. And the chief agent of this persecution against the believers was none other than Saul of Tarsus, who later became the Apostle Paul.

The ironic effect of this persecution was to cause the Jewish believers to leave their comfort zone in Judea and live among Gentiles in neighboring lands in the Roman province of Syria. This led to a significant increase of evangelism among the Gentiles. It was the beginning of a decades-long transformation of the Church from a predominantly Jewish sect of Jesus-followers into the Christian Church that we know today. The Church Universal has spread among virtually every people-group on earth.

Gamaliel was entirely correct when he advised the Sanhedrin, “Let them alone, for if this plan or action is of men, it will be overthrown; ³⁹ but if it is of God, you will not be able to overthrow them; or else you may even be found fighting against God.” Christ’s new movement is indeed of God, and no political authority throughout the world has ever successfully eradicated the gospel, once it has been planted.

As for the Jewish Sanhedrin, “They took his advice; and after calling the apostles in, they flogged them and ordered them not to speak in the name of Jesus, and then released them. ⁴¹ So they went on their way from the presence of the Council, rejoicing that they had been considered worthy to suffer shame for His name. ⁴² And every day, in the temple and from house to house, they kept right on teaching and preaching Jesus as the Christ.”

Brothers, the bottom line in this spiritual battleground we all live in is whether we are willing to openly identify with and share Jesus both publicly and privately. The angel’s word to the apostles after releasing them from prison must be our watchword in a spiritually hungry world. “Go and stand in the temple and speak to the people all the words of this Life.”

We are Americans, and we have a precious legacy of liberty and freedom of conscience that we must defend. I urge you to be witnesses for Jesus humbly, graciously and discreetly when you’re among secular people. Keep your family, co-workers and neighbors in your prayers; and prove by your deeds that you have respect and care for them. Let’s seek out those who are willing to hear, and be gracious toward those who aren’t. Let’s trust the Holy Spirit to guide us and give us both discernment and courage to obey God rather than man.

God charges us to come into His presence in worship, as we are today. He wants us to be nourished on the words of Scripture with other believers. But then we must go and take our stand in the places where we live and work. For the Jews of Jerusalem, the temple was the center of their religious and civic life. For us, our temples are the place we work or gather with others. Wherever we live and work that is our social temple. Christians are temples of the Holy Spirit; so our witness to the world is from the inside out, rather than gathering at a sacred place to bring the holy in.

We are to go and stand in the places God has appointed us to be, and then speak to others the words of this life. Witnessing for Christ is part of our calling as believers. Jesus promised us before He departed the earth: “You shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you. And you shall be My witnesses… to the uttermost parts of the earth.”

Brothers, we’re living about 9,000 miles from Judea; so this is an “uttermost part.” But right now MCC is your Jerusalem; and Western Washington is our Judea and Samaria – more than double the size of Israel. This is where God wants you to be His witness, until He moves you somewhere else.

Look around you. Every inmate in this prison unit is a spiritually needy man. They are people worthy of your concern, because God knows and loves every one of them, even if they don’t know Him. So go and stand in this prison and speak to the people all the words of this Life. Praying a short, heartfelt prayer for a man who is worried may do more for leading that man to Christ than a dozen sermons. One small encouraging word from you may be just what someone needs to lighten his burden, or move one step closer to following Jesus.

Remember the stakes for everyone in this life are ultimate. The Bible warns, “It is appointed for a man once to die, and after this comes judgment.” Everyone will have their life reviewed by Messiah face-to-face; and the critical decision that will determine their fate is whether they trusted Him as their Savior or not at all. Their eternal destiny – heaven or hell – will rest upon that one lifetime decision. While they still live, they have an opportunity to choose Christ as their Savior and live forever. Let’s help people make the decision that leads to everlasting life.

What about you? Have you really and truly decided to be a Christ follower, now and after you leave prison? Your decision concerning God will be tested by the devil in your heart and by people in the world who want you to join them in sin. Now is the time to drive a stake in the ground of your life and decide that Christ will be Lord in your life forever. Will you make that decision today? Pray this prayer with me:

Lord Jesus… I come to you today as a sinner who needs Your grace. I know that I have sinned greatly against You and have broken Your law. I believe you died on the cross for me and then rose from the grave. You paid the price for my sins. I ask you to forgive me of my sins and come into my heart today. Change me from within by Your Holy Spirit. I will do my part to honor You and obey You. I will follow you and love others in Your Name until You bring me safely home to heaven. I love you, Jesus. Amen.