JESUS IS IN CONTROL
Acts 4:1-23
THE POWER
STRUGGLE
V:1 The
priests and the captain of the temple guard and the Sadducees came up to Peter
and John while they were speaking to the people. 2 They were greatly disturbed
because the apostles were teaching the people and proclaiming in Jesus the resurrection of the dead. 3 They seized Peter and John, and
because it was evening, they put them in jail until the next day. 4 But many
who heard the message believed, and the number of men grew to about five
thousand.
BACKGROUND
ON JEWISH RELIGIOUS LEADERS
The Sadducees controlled the temple hierarchy
and most of the resident priesthood.
The sagan,
or captain of the temple guard (a local police force permitted by the Romans
and made up of Levites)
Sadducees disagreed with the *Pharisaic
doctrine of the *resurrection, but Pharisees posed less of a threat to them
than the Christians, for the Pharisaic doctrine was only a theoretical hope for
the future. From the Jewish perspective, the apostolic witness that one person
had already been raised would proclaim that the resurrection had been
inaugurated. By guaranteeing rather than simply teaching the future hope of the
resurrection, the *disciples
threatened the Sadducees' security as leaders of the people.
A. Peter and John healed a lame man at
the entry to the Temple.
1. The man was so excited that he ran into
the Temple leaping, jumping
And praising God.
2. The people of Jerusalem heard the
message about Jesus and
Witness the miracle.
a. As a result, 5000 families believed
in Jesus.
b. The population in Jerusalem was
estimated to be
25000 to 85000.
c. This large number of believers represented
a threat to the
Jewish leader’s control.
A. The religious leaders got upset because
the preaching of Jesus
Took center stage.
1. One of their own got healed.
2. Instead of rejoicing, they got upset
about the teaching of Jesus.
3. Instead of being excited about a man
who was incapacitated
And now able to be a tax-paying
citizen, they complained.
4. Instead of rejoicing with the previous
lame man, that rejected
His divine blessing.
B. What was the problem with the
religious leaders?
1. What was the real reason with leaders
who claim the Lord as
Their God, got upset?
2. Let me suggest a few possible reasons.
a. The healing pointed to their failure
to show compassion.
b. The healing pointed to their failure
to use the power of prayer.
c. The healing pointed to their lack of
knowledge of the God they
Claimed.
d. The healing pointed to their envious spirit.
e. Most of all, the preaching of Jesus
pointed to their fear
Of losing control of the
community.
C. The Jewish leaders thought they had
got rid of Jesus with the crucifixion,
But His teaching was spreading like a wildfire.
1. They continued the bullying of
believers by putting Peter
And John in jail
overnight.
2. They became the judge and jury of
anyone who didn’t follow
Their rules.
3. They were so religious, that they
were blinded to the true meaning
0f the Word.
D. There is a difference between
religion and Christianity.
1. Religion claims God, but Christianity
lives with God.
2. Religion displayed the Word, but
Christianity walks in
The light of the Word.
3. Religion sets penalties, but Christianity
pays the penalties with grace.
4. Religion has selective love, but
Christianity is all-inclusive love.
5. Religion has man at the center with
God on the sidelines.
But Christianity has God and
the Son at the center
TRIAL BY
OPINION
V:5. The next day the rulers, elders, and teachers
of the law met in Jerusalem. 6 Annas the high priest was there, and so were
Caiaphas, John, Alexander, and the other men of the high priest's family. 7
They had Peter and John brought before them and began to question them:
"By what power or what name did you do this?"
A. In times of trouble, trust God with
the situation.
1. I don’t know what Peter and John did
the night in jail.
2. They were jailed because the
religious leaders feared the
The influence of the
community because of the healing
Of one of their own in the
name of Jesus.
3. Let me suggest that Peter and John spent
the night in prayer.
4. A word from the Lord can calm you down so
God’s mission
Is clear in your mind.
B. When questioned by your accusers. You
need a clear calm mind
So that you respond according to the guidance of the Holy Spirit.
Luke 12:11-12
"When you are brought before synagogues, rulers and authorities, do
not worry about how you will defend yourselves or what you will say, 12 for the
Holy Spirit will teach you at that time what you should say."
1. To hear the Word of God, you have to
expect to hear from
The Spirit.
2. To receive a Word from the Spirit,
you have to be listening
For His guidance.
3. Once you receive His guidance, repeat
exactly what He said to you.
4. Speak boldly and confidently before
your accusers.
5. When you speak a word from the Spirit,
you are under the protection
Of the spirit.
Isaiah 54:17
no weapon forged against you will prevail,
and you will refute every tongue that accuses
you.
THE POWER
OF THE WORD
V:8 Then
Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them: "Rulers and elders of
the people! 9 If we are being called to account today for an act of kindness
shown to a cripple and are asked how he was healed, 10 then know this, you and
all the people of Israel: It is by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom
you crucified but whom God raised from the dead, that this man stands before
you healed. 11 He is
"'the
stone you builders rejected,
which has
become the capstone.'
A. The indwelling of the Holy Spirit is
automatic for a Christian.
But being filled with the Holy Spirit is a deliberate act on your
Part.
1. It takes time to be filled with Holy
Spirit.
2. To be filled with Holy Spirit, you
have to push out all
Fear and doubt.
3. To be filled with the Holy Spirit you
have let Him take
Charge of your mind, your
thoughts, and your voice.
4. You have to become a shell that
Spirit is speaking through.
B. Peter filled with Holy Spirit stated
the facts.
1. The facts need no defense, they speak
for themselves.
2. Peter spoke with boldness Jesus
Christ which the religious leaders
didn’t want to hear.
3. To the question “By what power or
what name did you heal the
Lame man?”, Peter
answered Jesus Christ.
4. Peter responded, the same man you
crucified, God raised from the
Dead, showed favor to the
previously lame man.
C. Don’t take credit for what you didn’t
do.
1. All the credit belongs to the Lord.
2. God used the healing to glorify
Himself.
3. Change the conversation from the man
who was healed to the
Man who did the healing.
4. When the testimony is focused on
Jesus, you can talk about
Salvation.
5. Watch this, the accusers of Jesus,
became the accused.
6. The one the religious leader
crucified became the cornerstone
Of the Christian
community.
PROCLAIM
THE GOSPEL TO BENEFIT OTHERS
V:12
Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven
given to men by which we must be saved."
A. When Jesus becomes the center of your
conversation you can
Promote salvation.
1. Watch this;
a. Religion can’t save.
b. Good works can’t save
c. Good attitude can’t save
d. Going to the place of worship can’t
save.
e. Your doctrine can’t save.
2. It is in the name of Jesus that we
are saved.
B. Find a way to put Jesus in your
conversation.
1. If some say you did well, blame on
Jesus.
2. If some say you look good, blame it
on Jesus.
3. If some say it is a good day, blame
it on Jesus
4. Some ask How are you doing, blame it
on Jesus.
5. The name of Jesus has the power to
change minds.
6. The name of Jesus has the power to
change hearts.
7. The name of Jesus has the power to lift
spirits.
8. The name of Jesus has the power to
solve problems.
9. The name of Jesus provides victory in
your life.
10. The name of Jesus makes an imprint
on the minds of
Your enemies.
IN JESUS
WE BECOME EXTRAORDINARY
V:13 When
they saw the courage of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled,
ordinary men, they were astonished and they took note that these men had been
with Jesus. 14 But since they could see the man who had been healed standing
there with them, there was nothing they could say.
A. The name of Jesus encourages your
spirit.
1. The name of Jesus makes the ordinary,
extraordinary.
2. The name of Jesus makes the ignorant
wise.
B. When you show up, people need to know
you have been with Jesus.
1. When you have been with Jesus, your
testimony will be astonishing.
2. When you been with Jesus, people will
start looking at you
Differently.
3. The man that they were complaining
about, the man that was
Healed was standing in
from them for all to see and it
Was nothing the religious
leaders could say.
THE WORD
CONFUSES THE ENEMY
V:15 So they
ordered them to withdraw from the Sanhedrin and then conferred together. 16
"What are we going to do with these men?" they asked. "Everybody
living in Jerusalem knows they have done an outstanding miracle, and we cannot
deny it. 17 But to stop this thing from spreading any further among the people,
we must warn these men to speak no longer to anyone in this name."
A. Men without Jesus as their focus,
know the truth, but refuse to
Acknowledge it.
1. These were religious leaders, who saw
the power of God but
Refuse to give Him glory.
2. Whatever Jesus does is outstanding.
3. Jesus is outstanding every day.
4. Our existence is a miracle.
5. Fools say that there is no God and
everything came
Into exitance by a big
BANG.
B. People who deny God, don’t want to
hear about Him.
1. To claim the existence of God, you
have to give up
control of your life.
2. To claim the existence of Jesus, you have
to give up control
Of your destiny.
C. The religious leaders wanted to stop
the spread of the Gospel
so they continued their bullying tactics.
1. They could not deny a miracle had
taken place, but they
Refused to give Jesus the
credit.
2. That happens every day, some people prefer
to believe a
Lie than deal with the truth.
BOLDNESS
IN THE FACE OF TROUBLE
V:18 Then
they called them in again and commanded them not to speak or teach at all in
the name of Jesus. 19 But Peter and John replied, "Judge for yourselves
whether it is right in God's sight to obey you rather than God. 20 For we
cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard."
A. When you operate under the Holy
Spirit, you operate with power
And conviction.
1. On the night before Jesus’
crucifixion, Peter afraid of losing
His life, lied that he
did not know Jesus.
2. Now being full of the Holy Spirit,
Peter boldly proclaimed Jesus
And refuses to be silent.
3. Peter put the burden of being silent
on the religious leaders.
4. It is better to please God than man.
B. The job of the believer is to proclaim
the Gospel at all costs.
Matthew 10:33-35
33 But whosoever shall
deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven.
Think not that I am come
to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword.
1. Peter and John were packing.
2. They were armed with the sword.
3. The Word is a two-edged sword;
Hebrews 4:12-13
For the word of God is
alive and powerful. It is sharper than the sharpest two-edged sword, cutting
between soul and spirit, between joint and marrow. It exposes our innermost
thoughts and desires. 13 Nothing in all creation is hidden from God. Everything
is naked and exposed before his eyes, and he is the one to whom we are
accountable.
4. Faith is tried and tested under the pressure
of the opposition
To God.
VICTORY
IS IN JESUS
V:21 After
further threats they let them go. They could not decide how to punish them,
because all the people were praising God for what had happened. 22 For the man
who was miraculously healed was over forty years old.
A. The religious leaders could not back up
their threat because God was
being praised.
1. Anytime you want the presence of God,
get your praise on.
2. God inhabits the praise of His
people. Psalms 22:3
B. Religious people become agents of
Satan when they refuse to
Honor God.
1. They had the evidence of God’s work
in front of them, but
wouldn’t recognize the 40-year-old
man who had been healed.
2. The religious leaders knew the
healing was God’s work but didn’t want to diminish any authority they had.
C. Religion controls, Christianity frees.
1. Our greatest freedom is in Jesus
Christ.
IN
SUMMARY: WHAT WE LEARN FROM PETER AND JOHN
1. EXPECT PROBLEMS
2. EXPECT THE PROBLEM SOLVER TO BE ON
THE JOB
3. DON’T WORRY
4. STAY IN PRAYER
5. FILL YOURSELF WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT
6. LET THE SPIRIT DO THE TALKNG
7. SPEAK BOLDLY
THANK GOD
FOR THE GOSPEL
Rev. M.
Mitchell
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