Is It Obvious?

Background

 Jesus had resurrected and ascended

 The Holy Spirit had come

 Peter had preached boldly and many had responded to the message of Christ

 Peter and John had healed a lame man and then proclaimed the message of Jesus

Acts 4:5-7 (NLT)

The next day the council of all the rulers and elders and teachers of religious law met in Jerusalem. [6] Annas the high priest was there, along with Caiaphas, John, Alexander, and other relatives of the high priest. [7] They brought in the two disciples and demanded, "By what power, or in whose name, have you done this?"

A Demand for Answers

 Many of these leaders had been a part of seeing that Jesus was crucified

 They thought they were done with Jesus

 Many were Sadducees who did not believe in the resurrection

 The claims went against their worldview

 Boldness for Christ will cause others to question

 Doubters

 Skeptics

 Seekers

Acts 4:8 (NLT)

Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, "Leaders and elders of our nation,

A Changed Man

 Not so long ago

 Peter had denied Christ

 Peter cracked under the finger pointing of others

 The transforming power of the Holy Spirit

 Peter was no longer a slave to fear

 Peter spoke with boldness

 Peter would risk it all for Jesus

Acts 4:9-10 (NLT)

are we being questioned because we’ve done a good deed for a crippled man? Do you want to know how he was healed? [10] Let me clearly state to you and to all the people of Israel that he was healed in the name and power of Jesus Christ from Nazareth, the man you crucified, but whom God raised from the dead.

Turning the Tables

 Peter knew the real issue was not the healing that had taken place

 The name of Jesus is divisive

• Some accept

• Many reject

 Peter boldly proclaims the name of Jesus and bears witness to the truth

 The truth of Jesus brings forth conviction of sin

Acts 4:11 (NLT)

For Jesus is the one referred to in the Scriptures, where it says,

’The stone that you builders rejected has now become the cornerstone.’

Holding It All Together

 Peter identified Jesus as the cornerstone

 The most important stone

 Assures structural integrity

 Jesus had been rejected by the religious leaders of the day

 He is now the head of the “church”

 Only by his power does the church stand

Acts 4:12 (NLT)

There is salvation in no one else! There is no other name in all of heaven for people to call on to save them."

One Way

 The road to salvation is clearly marked

 Only Jesus is the Son of God

 Only Jesus died for the sin of all people

 Only Jesus rose from the grave

 God has clearly marked the path of salvation

 There are not multiple paths

 All other roads lead to destruction

Acts 4:13 (NLT)

The members of the council were amazed when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, for they could see that they were ordinary men who had had no special training. They also recognized them as men who had been with Jesus.

Miraculous Boldness

 The disciples had scattered when Jesus was arrested

 Now they stood in front of the same religious leaders and spoke without fear

 They spoke above their education level

 They spoke despite lack of formal theological training

 God can use anyone to boldly proclaim His message of redemption

 Willing vessels

Known by the Company You Keep

 The religious leaders knew Peter and John had been with Jesus

 Their boldness

 Their testimony

 Their countenance

 The miracles around them

 Does anyone know that you’ve spent time with Jesus?

 We become like those we spend the most time with

Acts 4:14 (NLT)

But since the man who had been healed was standing right there among them, the council had nothing to say.

The Power of Changed Lives

 The healing of the lame man could not be refuted

 He was standing there

 Many had seen him before and after

 The greatest testimony of God’s power is a changed life

 Do people see a change in you?

 Whose life is changing because of you?

Final Thoughts

 Peter and John were empowered because they were fully surrendered to the Holy Spirit

 When you spend quality time with Jesus...it shows!

 What is the unmistakable proof of Jesus power in your life?

**Powerpoint available on request