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WE LIVE OUR FAITH OUTSIDE THESE WALLS
September 5, 2004 Jay Robison ACTS 4:1-11
Which is more important; what we say we believe
Or what we show we believe by our actions?
Of course it is what we show we believe by actions
Many people say a lot but if do not show it no good
How do you act in your workplace?
What kind of a person are you outside these walls?
What kind of a boss are you? What employee are you?
I’ve come to share with that God wants to use you
That should give you reason to be optimistic
Today can do much more for God outside these walls than in
If no live it people no see it
Can believe all we have is superstition
Or a form of control, or a game we play
Talking about being church God wants us to be
From Acts, 1st we are out to change the world
Last week, we depend on each other
Today living faith outside these walls
Story in Acts 4 tells us truths to remember in living faith
1. R ESPECT THE MESSAGE WE HAVE
Respect= value revere, think a lot of defer to follow
Question; do we really believe gospel makes all difference
See bible says all of us will be judged on day
Not by constitution, or bank account, or given IQ test but in final analysis question is what done w\Jesus
That is why it is so urgent that we carry good news
While Peter & John were speaking to the people Vs 1 NRSV
These men appeared to be captured by a call
Their lives were oriented toward serving Jesus
James wanted be most famous maker\seller of cheese in world Began w\little buggy pulled by pony Paddy. Make cheese then he & Paddy would ride down streets of Chi selling months passed, James in despair cause not making any $$$ in spite of long hrs & hard work. 1 day pulled Paddy to a stop & began to talk to him. Something’s wrong afraid we have things turned around & our priorities are not where they ought to be.
Maybe we ought to serve God & place him first in our lives." boy drove home promised for rest of life 1st serve God
Years later James, SS Superintendent North Shore Baptist Ch "I would rather be a layman in North Shore Bapt than to head greatest Corp in America. 1st job serving Jesus. So, when you take a bite of Philadelphia Cream cheese, sip a cup of Maxwell House, mix a quart of Kool-Aid, slice DiGiorno Pizza cook Mac\Cheese spread Grey Poupon stir a bowl of Cream of Wheat, slurp down Jell-O, or eat cream out of middle of an Oreo or serve Stove Top, Remember boy pony named Paddy, and the promise little James L. Kraft made to serve God and work as He directed.
Peter and John had depth of commitment
Living out their faith, respected the message
Trying to share it, were not trained pastors
But God uses ordinary people who are persistent
Calvin Coolege Nothing in world can take place of persistence. Talent will not; nothing more common than unsuccessful men w\great talent Genius will not; unrewarded genius almost a proverb Education will not; world full of educated derelicts. Persistence, & determination alone are omnipotent.
Do we believe message have to share really makes difference?
The belief that death had ultimate power
was exposed as an illusion
The resurrection made death merely a comma in eternal life And put an exclamation point on every day living
The apostles believed the message,
CS Lewis said Christianity, if false, is of no importance, and if true, of infinite importance. The only thing it cannot be is moderately important.
Don’t understand, we live in pluralistic society
What difference can gospel make to people never heard?
Who live far differently than we do, asked self these
An anthropologist studying a primitive tribe in South America which had been won to Christ by a missionary years earlier. After living among tribe several weeks, anthropologist met w\tribe’s leader. “You have a wonderful culture, but it is a shame missionary infected your tribe w\his religion.” The chief replied, “See that rock? That’s where we would break the skulls of our enemies. See that tree? That’s where we’d sacrifice them to our God. If we had not learned Christ was our Lord, you would be our dinner tonight.”
If you offend be sure it’s your POSITION
Not your DISPOSITION
Our message is offensive, but we should not be
Bible says all have sinned I am comfortable thinking you have sinned
I know you, but to admit that I am wrong, I have sinned is a different story
Maintain sense of respect for others not personal
2. E XPECT OPPOSITION
Sometimes we naively think if serve God will be blessed
That is true, we are blessed because serve God
But blessings also joined by opposition
Listen to Vs 3 NRSV Disciples are preaching, good thing
So they arrested them and put them in custody Until the next day, for it was already evening
Magnitude of growing group of disciples with
Unbounded enthusiasm is cause for alarm.
So thrown into jail over night hauled to court
Next morning Sanhedrin met
Sanhedrin council of about 70 members given considerable authority over internal affairs from Romans Called together Peter and John are brought before them. certain formality to proceedings makes it seem like a trial.
Sadducees WEALTHY, DID NOT BELIEVE IN RESURRECTION, MAINTAIN PEACE WITHIN JEWS
Sadducees were minority controlled temple & powerful in gvt Much of wealth in lands could be easily taken by enemies In their best interests to work w\ Romans.
Sadducees worried about Xian emphasis on Jesus as new king
Pharisees FOLLOWED THE LAW TO THE LETTER
RESISTED FOREIGN POWERS
Pharisees opposed Jesus because of his conflict with them on points of the law, but Sadducees were not disturbed until following Jesus threatened the peace
Listen to Vs 7 Peter and John hauled in
Challenged by what authority are you doing this?
Arrested, hauled before court, frightening
But disciples appeared ready to pay the price
What was the difference in the artillery training school? U.S. Army officer told of contrast in pupils during 2 different eras of teaching at artillery training school at Fort Sill, OK In 1958-60 attitude was so lax instructors had a problem getting the men to stay awake to hear the lectures.
During the 1965-67 classes, however, men, hearing the same basic lectures, were alert & took copious notes. What made the difference in the class of 65?
Knew in less than 6 wks be facing enemy in Vietnam
Peter was fearless before the Sanhedrin was sure
of his ground nothing would shake him from his faith that Jesus was risen and present in this powerful work
You see, fear sees the obstacles,
but faith sees the opportunities!
God takes bad situations and works great good out of them! Placing you in hospital, or job, You may have broken down, but how else you witness to particular tow-truck driver?
3. A CCEPT POWER FROM GOD
Vs 2 grounds for intervention were unauthorized preaching
by unprofessional preachers Look at Vs 7 NKJ
And when they had set them in the midst, they asked,
By what power or by what name have you done this?
You see it was clear to the accusers Peter & John no alone
Standing up for God
Before the resurrection the disciples were fearful Lk 22:57 Peter denies his Lord vehemently, in the end cursing as he bolted
Jn 20:19 disciples crouching in seclusion of a room in fear
Now they are boldly standing in court
In public proclaiming Jesus
How could this change have taken place?
Vs 8 The spirit took possession of his mind, saturated emotions
compelled his will & energized his body.
We receive the Holy spirit in salvation, but HS empowers
us on special occasions
Vs 13 these two uneducated men who stood before Sanhedrin the same group that had condemned Jesus to death.
Yet here they stood confident empowered by God
Look at their conclusion Wise men of Sanhedrin Vs 13 NKJ
Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated & untrained men, they marveled. & they realized that they had been w\ Jesus.
Do people just see you or Jesus?
Transformed by the same power that raised Jesus from the dead
Their experience of Christ was vital, disturbing & productive, so much so that even their accusers were deeply impressed
Where does your confidence come from?
Have you seen Jesus lately? This council could see him. They saw him in the men that knew him.
Now they were boldly living their resurrection faith
Jesus whom was dead is now alive
They wanted what happened TO THEM
To happen THROUGH THEM TO EVERYONE
WE LIVE OUR FAITH OUTSIDE THESE WALLS
September 5, 2004 Jay Robison ACTS 4:1-11
Which is more important; what we say we believe
Or what we show we believe by our actions?
1. R
Respect=
While Peter and John were speaking to the people Vs 1 NRSV
Christianity, if false, is of no importance,
and if true, of infinite importance. The only thing
it cannot be is moderately important. C.S. Lewis
If you offend be sure it’s your
Not your
2. E
So they arrested them and put them in custody
Until the next day, for it was already evening Vs 3 NRSV
Sanhedrin
Sadducces
Pharisees
What was the difference in the artillery training school?
3. A
And when they had set them in the midst, they asked,
By what power or by what name have you done this?
Vs 7 NKJ
Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated and untrained men, they marveled. And they realized that they had been with Jesus.
Vs 13 NKJ
Transformed by the same power that raised Jesus from the dead
They wanted what happened
To happen
