THE POWER OF PROCLAIMING THE GOSPEL
Acts 4:3-22
THE
EFFECT OF PROCLAIMING THE GOSPEL
V: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.
1. Proclaiming Gospel excites anger in
those who hate the Lord.
2. Proclaiming the draws men and women
to Jesus
3. Proclaiming the Gospel is God’s
opportunity to perform miracles.
SERVE
WITH THE AUTHORITY OF JESUS
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. God expects us to help those in need with
the gifts and talents He has
Given us.
1. It takes courage to serve the Lord in
adverse situations.
2. Those who oppose the Lord will oppose
any work you do to
Serve Him.
B. Peter and John had 3 to 4 years,
experience with the opposition of the Jewish
Leaders trying to destroy the work of the Lord.
1. The Jewish leaders crucified Jesus to
stop the advancement of the Word.
2. Peter and John knew that Jewish
leaders were opposed to any mention
Of the name of Jesus.
3. The leaders thought that by killing
Jesus the movement would end.
4. The death and resurrection of Jesus
was God’s plan to propel
Church.
C. Peter and John healed a lame man who
had been placed
At the temple, the gate begging for money.
1. The man was pulled to his feet by
Peter and John ran into the temple leaping and jumping and praising God.
2. The man healed in the name of Jesus
in front of many witnesses
Upset the Jewish leaders.
3. Some people are satisfied with your
cripple position
And don’t want to see you
healed.
D. Whenever we pray for someone it
should be done boldly in the name of Jesus.
1. We should be prepared to give an
argument for what we do for
Jesus.
Philippians 1:16-17
The latter do so in love, knowing that I am
put here for the defense of the gospel.
2. Those who opposed the Lord are put
here for us to defend our faith in
Jesus.
3. Jesus is the power and the authority to
serve Him and proclaim the Gospel.
BEFORE
SPEAKING, BE FILLED WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT
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.
A. It is the Holy Spirit that empowers
us to speak with conviction of our love
For Jesus.
1. We do not have to formulate our
thoughts to defend the work
We do for God.
2. Mark 13:11
But when they shall lead you, and deliver you
up, take no thought beforehand what ye shall speak, neither do ye premeditate:
but whatsoever shall be given you in that hour, that speak ye: for it is not ye
that speaks, but the Holy Ghost.
B. Those who hate the Lord, cannot see
the good He does for them.
1. In the name of Jesus, one of their
people was healed, yet the Jewish leaders complained about the miracle.
2. Instead of rejoicing that a man was restored
to be a working, tax-paying citizen, they considered only their lack of control
of the crowd.
C. Before you respond to criticism of
your service for Jesus, allow the Holy Spirit to power your thoughts with the Word
of God.
1. It was the Holy Spirit that put perspective
on the situation.
2. The healing of the man was an act of
kindness in the Name of Jesus
Who they crucified.
3. I am sure that the Jewish leaders were
more upset and frustrated because
The Gospel of Jesus
Christ was still growing despite all their efforts
To put an end to it.
4. Even more frustrating to the Jewish
leaders was the proof that
Jesus Christ was raised
from the dead.
5. Through the power of the Holy Spirit,
Peter and John spoke confidently
That the Gospel of Jesus
Christ would continue to grow.
SALVATION
IS THROUGH FAITH IN JESUS
V:11 He is "'the
stone you builders rejected,
which has
become the capstone.'
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. Verse 11 is a repeat of the prophecy
in Psalms 118:22.
1. By rejecting Jesus, the Jewish leaders
fulfilled the prophecy they should
Have known.
2. They were responsible for building
the Church but their concern was the politics of religion.
3. The Jewish leaders rejected Jesus the
author and foundation of The Church.
4. They were keepers of the Word but
totally ignorant of its meaning.
B. Jesus said if I be lifted up, I will
draw all men to myself.
1. By crucifying Jesus, the Jewish
leaders fulfill the prophecy that made It possible for the world to be drawn to
Him.
2. Jesus at His resurrection became the
head of the Church.
C. Except for Jesus, no man ever lived
without sin.
1. Since the wages of sin is death,
except for Jesus no man qualifies to
Be The Savior of the
world.
2. Only a completely unblemished lamb
could atone for the sins of the World.
3. Jesus is the lamb of God.
John 1:29
The next day John saw
Jesus coming toward him and said, "Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away
the sin of the world!
LET THE
TRUTH SPEAK FOR IT’S SELF
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. 15 So they ordered them to
withdraw from the Sanhedrin and then conferred together.
A. The Lord chose ordinary men and women
to be the leaders of the church.
1. He could have set aside highly
educated Jewish leaders to be His
Apostles.
2. The Jewish leaders corrupted
themselves with their pride.
3. Jesus chose ordinary men and women who
humbled themselves
Before Him.
B. The evidence of the power of the Gospel
was the courage that Peter and John showed in front of the ones who could have
them crucified.
1. The evidence of the power of the
Gospel was displayed in their knowledge of the Word.
2. The evidence of the power of the
Gospel was displayed in the miracle
That was performed on the
lame man.
3. The leaders had evidence of the
extraordinary power standing in front of them but they refused to honor Jesus.
C. It is the work of Satan to discard
the truth and change the subject to the promotion of a selfish agenda.
1. When you speak for the Lord, Satan
and his demons will gang up on you.
2. The Jewish leaders couldn’t dispute
the truth so they adjoined the meeting to take council among themselves.
EVIL MEN
SUPPRESS THE TRUTH
V: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. Satan’s agenda is to stop the spread
of the Gospel.
1. If Satan can stop you from
proclaiming Jesus, he can take control of your mind, your thoughts, your
actions, and your being.
2. The leaders knew the truth and could
not deny it for there were too many witnesses.
3. They prevent the spread of the Gospel
they minimized the power of the spirit in their minds by calling it “a thing”.
B. The Jewish leaders used threats of
violence and persecution to prevent
The talk of the Gospel.
1. It is the trick of Satan to excite
fear in your mind to get his way.
2. We have to know that God is in
control and fear is a useless tool.
OBEY GOD
NOT MAN
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 facing the enemy, see God as
bigger and more powerful.
1. Stand on your convictions about Jesus
Christ.
2. Put your faith to the test and watch
God the glory of God in your life.
B. We should never obey laws that go
against the commands of God.
1. It is our responsibility to be the
light for others to follow.
2. Put Jesus before the safety of
yourself.
Luke 9:24
For whoever wants to save his life will lose
it, but whoever loses his life for me will save it.
3. We have a testimony to the power of
conviction today in the USA.
a. We have certain governors who have
mandated a no mask requirement
In public during the
COVID 19 pandemic.
b. School systems have resisted the
mandates and required masks
In the classrooms to
protect our children.
PRAISE
SHUTS DOWN SATAN
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. Standing up against the enemy for Jesus
does not prevent threats but promotes them.
1. When you stand for Jesus, the enemy
is left speechless.
2. When you stand for Jesus, you set the
stage for others to praise God.
B. You can deny the truth, but you can’t
change it.
1. You can deny the truth, but you can
change the effects of it on the lives of others.
2. We are the living proof that Jesus is
Lord and Savior.
3. We stand as a testimony of His
goodness.
THANK GOD FOR THE TRIALS THAT TEST
OUR FAITH
Rev. M.
Mitchell
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