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The Christian and Common Problems

  • David Brown
  • Apr 28, 2010
  • Category: Christianity
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Then the high priest rose up and all those who were with him (which is the sect of the Sadducees), 
              and they were filled with jealousy, and laid their hands on the apostles and put them in the common 
              prison.
   Acts 5:17-18
What crime did the apostles commit that warranted their being jailed?  Many signs and wonders were being done through their hands (verse 12) and multitudes of people believed in Jesus (verse 14) through their witness.  These wonderful ministry results filled the high priest and his Sadducee cohorts with jealousy.  They were so embarrassed and angry over the success of the apostles that they exercised their community power and had them thrown in jail!  The apostles weren’t in trouble for doing something wrong…but for doing something right!  They, like their Savior Jesus, were going about doing good and healing all that were oppressed of the devil”.  (See Acts 10:38)  They were doing good…yet they suffered the indignity and discomfort of going to jail.
Notice also that they were thrown into the “common prison”.  It wasn’t a “special” jail for the elite like some Hollywood starlets are allowed to stay in when they’ve been arrested for drunk driving.  Nope!  The apostles, though leaders of the highly successful and publicly popular new Christian movement, were put in the “common prison”.  Lesson?  Good people go through bad times!
That’s right.  We aren’t immune from the common problems of life.  We’re subject to the very same temptations, sicknesses, relationship problems, debt, bankruptcy, business failures, depression and discouragement…that everyone else is.  We can suffer just like common people.  We’re not common according to scripture.  (See Acts 10:15)  We’re new creations!  This however, is our spiritual status, not always physically apparent.  We can and do go through the same hard times as anyone else, as long as we live on this cursed planet.  We’re not promised immunity…but we are promised victory!
Here’s the good news!  Most suffering is short lived.  Even though the apostles were put in jail, one night the angel of the Lord came and sprung them!
But the angel of the Lord by night opened the prison doors and brought them forth…
Acts 5:19
Liberated by heaven itself, they went right back to the temple and continued teaching, reaching and blessing people.  It’s true that we’re subject to common problems…but we are not left without hope or help from God!
There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will 
not allow you to be tempted above that ye are able: but will with the temptation also make
a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.
1 Corinthians 10:13
Many are the afflictions of the righteous: but the Lord delivers them out of them all.
Psalm 34:19
Be encouraged child of God!  An angel is on his way to your house!  He’ll open your prison doors.  He’ll bring you forth!  
When he does, thank God and go right back to doing the right things that God has called you to!  We don’t quit.  We win!  
But thanks be to God which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ!
1 Corinthians 15:57

Then the high priest rose up and all those who were with him (which is the sect of the Sadducees), and they were filled with jealousy, and laid their hands on the apostles and put them in the common prison. - Acts 5:17-18

What crime did the apostles commit that warranted their being jailed?  Many signs and wonders were being done through their hands (verse 12) and multitudes of people believed in Jesus (verse 14) through their witness.  These wonderful ministry results filled the high priest and his Sadducee cohorts with jealousy.  They were so embarrassed and angry over the success of the apostles that they exercised their community power and had them thrown in jail!  The apostles weren’t in trouble for doing something wrong…but for doing something right!  They, like their Savior Jesus, were going about doing good and healing all that were oppressed of the devil”.  (See Acts 10:38)  They were doing good…yet they suffered the indignity and discomfort of going to jail.

Notice also that they were thrown into the “common prison”.  It wasn’t a “special” jail for the elite like some Hollywood starlets are allowed to stay in when they’ve been arrested for drunk driving.  Nope!  The apostles, though leaders of the highly successful and publicly popular new Christian movement, were put in the “common prison”.  Lesson?  Good people go through bad times!

That’s right.  We aren’t immune from the common problems of life.  We’re subject to the very same temptations, sicknesses, relationship problems, debt, bankruptcy, business failures, depression and discouragement…that everyone else is.  We can suffer just like common people. We’re not common according to scripture.  (See Acts 10:15)  We’re new creations!  This however, is our spiritual status, not always physically apparent.  We can and do go through the same hard times as anyone else, as long as we live on this cursed planet.  We’re not promised immunity…but we are promised victory!

Here’s the good news!  Most suffering is short lived.  Even though the apostles were put in jail, one night the angel of the Lord came and sprung them!

But the angel of the Lord by night opened the prison doors and brought them forth… - Acts 5:19

Liberated by heaven itself, they went right back to the temple and continued teaching, reaching and blessing people.  It’s true that we’re subject to common problems…but we are not left without hope or help from God!

There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted above that ye are able: but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it. - 1 Corinthians 10:13

Many are the afflictions of the righteous: but the Lord delivers them out of them all. - Psalm 34:19

Be encouraged child of God!  An angel is on his way to your house!  He’ll open your prison doors. He’ll bring you forth!  
When he does, thank God and go right back to doing the right things that God has called you to!  We don’t quit.  We win!  

But thanks be to God which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ! - 1 Corinthians 15:57

 

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