1. Ancient Future Community
An Acts Series

2. Message by: Lisa Henton Drawn from: Acts 5:17-42
“Path of obedience”
Message by: Lisa Henton
Drawn from: Acts 5:17-42
National conference one of the major themes was obedience. The key to greater intimacy and seeing miracles is obedience. The anointing rides on obedience Mike Pilavachi
So far we have seen this to be true in the ancient future community! And if we are modeling our lives after the ancient future community we can expect it to be true for us too!
I believe intimacy and obedience are closely linked. Last week Tim covered intimacy Remember he said Lies kill intimacy and this whole thing hangs on intimacy. Guess what intimacy kills lies! If you weren’t here on Sunday or you want to catch up o the series you can hear them on coastvineyard.net
Look at where we finished off last week in scripture.
15 As a result of the apostles’ work, sick people were brought out into the streets on beds and mats so that Peter’s shadow might fall across some of them as he went by.16 Crowds came from the villages around Jerusalem, bringing their sick and those possessed by evil spirits, and they were all healed.
Greater works! That’s amazing, they all were healed! Intimacy and obedience…
This week we are going to delve into obedience. By looking at the ancient future community and how they themselves pressed into the path of obedience. Remember Jesus said if you love me obey my commands. What is getting in the way of your path of obedience that Jesus is asking you to take. Lies are one of the things that gets in the way of obedience.
Here’s a Don’t worry word, most likely obedience to Jesus won’t start out like getting yourself persecuted for Jesus. Remember when Peter and the disciples were just starting out and they had been fishing all night and Jesus came in the morning and was like hey throw your net on the other side and Peter argued because it didn’t make sense but then did it. The results a huge load of fish! Then again after Jesus resurrection Peter had gone back to fishing and the disciples had gone with them. Again Jesus called out to them from the shore in the morning throw your nets on the other side. This time Peter did it without arguing. Another successful load that they couldn't even haul into the boat. Peter then recognizes Jesus and goes to him. Peter is then reinstated and commissioned!
My point is that we can grow in obedience! We will see this as a recurring them.
Let’s pray!

3. 17 The high priest and his officials, who formed the party of the Sadducees, became extremely jealous over all that was happening, 18 so they had the apostles arrested, placed in chains,and thrown into jail.
ACTS 5:17-18TPT

4. As you press into the path of obedience to jesus opposition will come.
EXPECT IT!
Point #1 As you press into the path of obedience to Jesus opposition will come. Expect it!
Who here has experienced opposition when you are trying to do what Jesus tells you? It can come from all sides right?!?
Obedience is submission to another's authority. We are specifically talking about submitting our will to Jesus’ will. Being under the authority of Jesus.
As you can see from this short passage their obedience was upsetting to the balance that was in place and the powers that be were not happy about it! In this example the powers that be were using the sadducees to do their bidding. Understand…the powers that be are not the people. But the principalties and rulers of this world that Jesus has overthrown. It says they were extremely jealous and they put them in jail.
Let’s normalize this, let’s encourage one another in this. Let’s lift one another up. Let’s pray for one another that our love for Jesus will win out over the resistance to obedience because Jesus’ love for us won out over the power of death and judgement! Ultimately, death and judgement have no hold over us, so let us go boldly into obedience without hesitation or fear! Scoreboard
Now you all are like yeah right Lisa how can we do that? We are not superhumans and we all have a will of our own. Our spirit is willing but our flesh is weak. Which is why Jesus told his disciples to watch and pray so that they would not fall into temptation.
Jesus is our role model:
40 Then he returned to his disciples and found them sleeping. “Couldn’t you men keep watch with me for one hour?” he asked Peter. 41 “Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.”42 He went away a second time and prayed, “My Father, if it is not possible for this cup to be taken away unless I drink it, may your will be done.”43 When he came back, he again found them sleeping, because their eyes were heavy. Matthew 26:40-43
As you press into obedience to Jesus opposition will come. Expect it. But I think you can expect something else too. Let’s read some more from the text.

5. 19 But during the night, the Lord sent an angel who appeared before them. He supernaturally opened their prison doors and brought the apostles outside. 20 “Go,” the angel told them. “Stand in the temple courts and preach the words that bring life!” 21 So early that morning they entered the temple courts and taught the people. The high priest and his officials, unaware of their supernatural release from prison, convened the members of the supreme council. They sent for the apostles to be brought to them from prison. 22 But when the officers came to the prison cell, it was empty! They returned to the council and informed them,

6. 23 “We found the jail securely locked and the guards standing by their cell, but when we opened the door, there was no one inside!” 24 When the captain of the temple guard and the leading priests heard this report, they were perplexed and at a loss over what to make of it. 25 Someone came and informed them, “The men you put in prison are out there standing in the temple courts, teaching the people!” 26 So the captain of the temple guard and his officers went to arrest them once again, but without using force, for they were afraid the people would stone them. Acts 5:19-26 tpt

7. And expect the supernatural to break you out!
Point #2 And expect the supernatural to break you out!!
An angel of the Lord supernaturally opened the prison doors and brought them outside!
And them told them to go into the temple center and preach the words that bring life!
The story just got super crazy, you broke us out and you want to us to do it again!
Yes! That’s the point. Wherever the opposition comes in at is the point you are most likely to return to! The lion guards the honey

8. 27 When they brought them before the council, the high priest demanded an explanation, 28 saying, “Didn’t we strictly warn you that you were to never again teach in this name? But instead you have now filled all of Jerusalem with this doctrine and are committed to holding us responsible for this man’s death!” 29 Peter and the apostles replied, “We must listen to and obey God more than pleasing religious leaders. 30 You had Jesus arrested and killed by crucifixion, but the God of our forefathers has raised him up. 31 He’s the one God has exalted and seated at his right hand as our Savior and Champion. He is the provider of grace as the Redeemer of Israel. 32 We are witnesses of these things, and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God freely gives to all who believe in him.”33 When they heard this, they were infuriated and determined to murder them. Acts 5:27-32

9. THE POWERS THAT BE ARE THREATENED BY OBEDIENCE AND WILL TRY TO SHUT YOU UP.
Point #3 The powers that be are threatened by obedience and will try to shut you up!
If we understand the disciples context what they said is a really big deal!
They are blowing up Israel's whole system. And who were they to do that. They were nobodies in their culture
Here they were with power and authority that people were being healed and set free because Peters shadow fell on them. Overshadow: to envelop in a haze of brilliancy
They are proclaiming Jesus as Messiah understand to the Jewish mind what this means! Not only that but they were going around letting everyone know who was responsible for his death.
What are the powers that be that are trying to shut you up and get you off the path of obedience to Jesus? Tie it to the pharisees pause and see what the holy spirit is doing.
Family of origin - reenacting our and even our parents stories of pain and trauma. Epigenetics stored trauma in our very DNA. Then on top of that through our lived experience we make judgements, loyalties and agreements. Adaptive strategies become maladaptive
Then there are systems that are put in place: Family systems, political systems cultural systems religious systems
Lies that have been handed down to us or that have been created from our lived experience or that we have knowingly or unknowingly agreed with.
How about doubt? That this whole clash of the kingdoms is it really that real??
Lack of Clarity of vision
With all that how do we keep on the path of obedience to Jesus?

10. 39 But if this movement is of God, you won’t be able to stop it
39 But if this movement is of God, you won’t be able to stop it. And you might discover that you were fighting God all along!”
Oh ya let’s check the scoreboard and walk in the confidence of that reality!
Wise words from a Pharisee named Gamaliel, a noted religious professor who was highly respected by all, stood up. And sent the disciples out
He reminded them of some uprisings who for awhile seemed to be going really well but in the end when the leader died so did the movement
So he advised them to leave them alone, for if it originated from themselves it will amount to nothing but…
The council took his advice and had the disciples beaten and ordered them to never talk in the name of Jesus again.

11. 41 The apostles left there rejoicing, thrilled that God had considered them worthy to suffer disgrace for the name of Jesus. 42 And nothing stopped them! They kept preaching every day in the temple courts and went from house to house, preaching the gospel of Jesus, God’s Anointed One! Acts 5:41-42 TPT

12. AND NOTHING STOPPED THEM!
Point #4 And nothing stopped them!
They continued on Doing what the father was doing on the path of obedience to Jesus laying down their will and picking up the will of God proclaiming and demonstrating what the Kingdom of God is like.
As you press into the path of obedience to Jesus opposition will come. Expect it!
And expect the supernatural to break you out!! Those are the prison chains that Jesus wants to free you from
Understand The powers that be are threatened by obedience and will try to shut you up! Have an understanding of what those are for you.
Let nothing stop you from pressing into the path of obedience to Jesus. Say yes to Jesus