You Want Power?
Strengthening Your Faith Series 2009
February 15, 2009 AM Sermon
Acts 4
Let’s begin this morning with the state of the world. CEO’s make billions falsely while millions struggle from day to day. Politicians trade punches and beat around the bush while individuals and families are wandering where their next meal is going to come from. I ran across this e-mail this week – many of you may have seen this one before – it’s good. The title: “Is this the NFL or the NBA?”
36 have been accused of spousal abuse
7 have been arrested for fraud
19 have been accused of writing bad checks
117 have directly or indirectly bankrupted at least 2 businesses
3 have done time for assault
71, repeat 71 cannot get a credit card due to bad credit
14 have been arrested on drug-related charges
8 have been arrested for shoplifting
21 currently are defendants in lawsuits, and
84 have been arrested for drunk driving in the last year
Can
you guess which organization this is?
Neither the NBA or NFL,
it’s the 435 members of the
United States Congress
Why is our nation in peril? Why ask why?
Listen to more:
Here’s some more that shows where we are at:
Studies/Surveys have shown that 50% of all HS students will have engaged in pre-marital sex before they graduate from High School
65% of HS Students before they graduate from High School will have partaken of alcoholic beverages
35% of HS Students before they graduate from High School will have partaken of some type of illegal drugs
Divorce rates are at an all time high with Christian couples
Why are we at this point? Give Satan an inch – and he’ll become your ruler!
If there is ever a time in our history in which we need to be strong in the Lord – strong in our faith in God – it is NOW.
If there has ever been a time in history for the church to come together as a unified body of believers fighting for Christ – it is NOW.
If there has ever been a time in history we need the power of God in our churches – our families – our homes – it is NOW.
This morning – we look at Peter and John, preaching and proclaiming the Gospel of Jesus Christ. We see how God is working in their lives – seeing people saved, not by the hundreds, but by the thousands. We see how God is working in the church – unifying the spirit, the individuals. We see how Satan is trying to form an attack of persecution and destruction.
Today – we focus on the following – Where does our power source come from? Does our power come from God or does it come from man. See, in order to strengthen one’s faith – one must have faith.
TEXT
I. Power of God is Provided to God’s People when they are FAITHFUL
In Acts 3:11-26 – Peter and John are preaching on Solomon’s porch (portico). They are preaching a message on repentance (turning from your sins to a new way of life). The results were amazing – individuals were healed (lame man at the temple gate 3:1) – individuals were saved – a community was stirred. Sounds almost like REVIVAL.
Well, when anything good is happening – the cold water committee is around the corner. The Religious right pays a visit – the Saducees, the Priests, and the captain of the temple – come to arrest Peter and John – “Shut them up, shut them up – get them out of our hair – It’s our way or no way”
Even though the Cold Water committee has arrived – arrested – and shut down the current proceedings – thousands were saved. Notice how Luke words the number “5000 men.” He didn’t specify the total number of individuals (Men, Women, Children) who became believers that day.
God worked – even though Satan wanted the proceedings to cease!
II. Power of God is Provided to God’s People when they are FILLED WITH THE SPIRIT
Peter and John have been arrested, and now appear in front of the same lynch mob to crucified Jesus. The 72 members of the Sanhedrin led by Annas, Caiphas, John, and Alexander.
Question: “By whose power or in what name have you done this? (This – “healing, repentance, power)
Side bar note: Acts 1:4-8 – “And being assembled together with them, He commanded them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the Promise of the Father, which He said, you have heard from Me; for John truly baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now. – But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, and to the uttermost parts of the earth”
“Peter – being filled with the Holy Spirit” laid down the law, notice:
1. You crucified Jesus
2. He rose from the dead, ha ha
3. He was the stone (Ps 118:22) that you rejected – that has now become the chief cornerstone
4. He is the sole provider of salvation
5. “No other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved”
The 72 looked at one another in amazement – these ignorant men, uneducated persons – how?
What can we do to stop this train? We can’t deny it – too many have seen what is happening.
We must stop them – see v. 18-22
III. Power of God is Provided to God’s People when God’s People ASK FOR IT!
1. Prayer of Adoration – v. 24
2. Prayer of Scripture – v. 25-26
3. Prayer of Recognition/Supplication – v. 27-28
4. Prayer of Request for Boldness – v. 29-30
God shows up – see what is said in verses 30-31
CONCLUSION:
Man cannot live by bread alone, but by every word of God
Man has become powerless because we live on the words of man, instead of the Word of God
Churches have become powerless because we try to please man, instead of pleasing God
Families have become powerless because we tend to live worldly – instead of Godly
The stats speak for themselves: trouble is not on the horizon, trouble is here
Who is the power source of your life? Have you ever trusted Jesus Christ to be your Lord and Savior?
