Just Ordinary Men... But No Ordinary God!

Just Ordinary Men... But no Ordinary God!

Pastor Glenn Newton

10-16-05

AC 4:13 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. 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."

AC 4:18 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."

AC 4:21 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.

AC 4:23 On their release, Peter and John went back to their own people and reported all that the chief priests and elders had said to them. 24 When they heard this, they raised their voices together in prayer to God.

AC 4:31 After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly.

Last week I asked you the question, Will you live by Fear? Or will you live by Faith? How many of you decided to live by Faith this last week? Good.

I know some of you have recently made a commitment to start tithing… what a great way to demonstrate a life of Faith and Trust in God…. You will be amazed at how God will bless you as you tithe and trust.

Living by Faith requires us to stay close to the one who will empower our life…. So this morning I want to take you to a scripture that will help us see how living a life of Faith can bring powerful results in our lives…. Even if we are just ordinary men and women.

It’s OK to be just ordinary when your God is Extraordinary… Amen? This last Thursday we had a Missionary here who shared with us some Extraordinary stories of God’s power in the face of danger, in the face of persecution…. Friends when you miss our missionaries when they are here… you miss a great blessing. Rev. West, his message was right along with what we have been talking about…. How God can turn Fear into Faith, how we can take Grasshoppers (Me and You), and help us defeat the Giants in the land.

Lets look at His Word together…. Acts 4:13

AC 4:13 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.

1. Courage Comes from being with Jesus. v. 13

Have you thought about the transformation that has happened in the life of these disciples? It wasn’t long ago that these disciples were all running away from Jesus when the soldiers came to arrest him. It wasn’t long ago, that Peter was denying Christ to the people in the courtyard, denying that he even knew the man.

It hadn’t been that long ago since the disciples watched Jesus die on the cross, they were afraid, they were confused, and they were hiding behind locked doors waiting for the Romans, the authorities to come and get them next. These disciples don’t sound like extraordinary men do they?

These men and women were in need of a Transformation in their lives… they needed a transplant… a courage transplant. Have you ever wished that you had more courage? Do you read the Bible and think to yourself….. Boy I wish I could respond like that! Lord, Help me to be as courageous as these servants… give me what I need. Have you ever prayed something like that? I have.

The question we need an answer to is what caused this transformation in their lives, what so moved them from being ordinary men who were willing to run when things got hot, to men who would stand before the great Sanhedrin and preach with boldness and courage that defied their heritage and schooling?