To the Ends of the Earth, Part 5
When Boldness Meets Worldly Denial
Acts 4:1-22
Introduction
- Welcome to Seasons Church & 2024 sermon series, “To the Ends of the Earth”
-- In 2023 we unpacked the beginning of all history (Creation/Fall/Promise)
-- And we looked ahead, anticipated the coming & victory of Jesus (Revelation)
-- But, in order to get to the end, we have to be busy doing the work now (Acts)
- Last week we saw a roadmap for sharing our faith
-- Peter told us in Acts 2:38, “Peter replied, “Each of you must repent of your sins and turn to God, and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. Then you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.”
- From Abraham, to Moses, to prophets of Samuel – message of truth is same
-- We examined three simple steps for sharing our faith
• How should we witness for Jesus? (Without shame)
• A message of truth is ALL you need! (Just tell what happened)
• What response must people have for salvation? (The results are His)
- Today, I want us to consider one word: Boldness
-- Ask yourself this question: What would it take to be bolder in faith?
-- As believers, we are called to share and to live our faith publicly without fear
-- We are in the world, not of it (ref: Jesus prayer for safety in garden; Jn 17)
- Therefore, we should live in a way that shows who we live for …
-- Who we serve, who we are devoted to, who we are willing to invite others to
-- When we live a life of boldness, we are following the footsteps of 1st NT church
- Read Acts 4:1-22 / Pray
- TR: Just one point to focus on today … believe this amplifies our charge
Point 1 – Serving Jesus requires Spiritual Boldness
- Understand this – what we see in this story is the first persecution of NT church
-- Sure, we might argue that Jesus was persecuted as well … but …
-- The church had not yet been established (Holy Spirit wasn’t given)
-- Timeline: This is prob. within a week of the HS gifting … see the confidence
- RE: Disciples received the Holy Spirit - which empowered them
-- Because of that, they healed a man who was crippled at the Temple
-- It is the ultimate expression of “faith over fear” … they are not ashamed
- And as a result, seven things transpired as the church service gets underway
-- Spoiler: God still wins, even when society disagrees with what happened!
-- APP: This is a great cause and effect for us to consider today:
1. Peter and John were arrested and tried (v1)
-- What were they confronted for? For preaching something other than “religion”
-- The world will always rebel against things that cause them to repent / confess sin
-- Consider: Disciple’s focus was on the glory of God’s word – on God’s promises
-- (don’t miss) Yet it was those who knew the scriptures who railed against them!
-- The ones who were supposed to be teachers, the religious, shut them down!
2. They were jailed because they preached Jesus’ resurrection (vv2-4)
-- The authority of “religion” will always be threatened by the truth of the Gospel
-- It upsets the desire to be in charge – it is what threatens their position (PRIDE)
- Life lesson: this is where we need to ensure we are following the truth
-- Matthew 16:26, “And what do you benefit if you gain the whole world but lose your own soul? Is anything worth more than your soul?”
- BIG: If our preferences differ from scripture … we are focused on ourselves
-- APP: Critical life lesson for true followers: It is not about our wants
3. They gave glory to Jesus who has the power to heal (vv5-10)
-- The question of the Sanhedrin is clear: “By what authority do you do this?” (v7)
-- Said another way: “Who told you to do this? Where is your authority?”
-- Their answer is striking (and cannot be argued with) to the Sanhedrin
- Peter’s boldness shows he has been empowered to declare truth (v8)
-- He is filled with the Holy Spirit – and asks why they are angry? (EXP.)
-- Has a man not been healed? Is this not a good thing? Shouldn’t this happen?
- This is the quandary of inserting ourselves into the narrative …
-- If life is about us, then it is not of God because we cannot be the focus
-- APP: God will not share the spotlight, or the authority, with His creation
- That is why Peter’s question haunts them … Peter puts God at the center
-- His response of ‘why/how’ is simply to glorify God’s work! (re-read v10)
4. They proclaimed that salvation is ONLY through Jesus (vv11-12)
-- Peter quotes David’s prophecy (big wakeup call to the religious): Psalm 118:22, “The stone that the builders rejected has now become the cornerstone.”
-- Even though humanity rejected God’s promise, it has still happened!
- BIG: This is the message of the Gospel – Disciples (we) are just messengers
-- Again: You crucified Him, God raised Him, and now we are doing His work
-- Our job (if you need one) is to proclaim what God offers – salvation is His!
- EX: What has Jesus done? He has fulfilled God’s promise, offers rescue
-- Why? All authority rests with Him to save! That is the message of the Gospel!
5. They gave evidence that they had been with Jesus (vv13-14)
-- APP: Sometimes, you just need to find boldness by being partnered to others!
-- Matthew 18:20, “For where two or three gather together as my followers, I am there among them.”
- Without any special education, Peter and John were certain of their teaching
-- Consider: A seminary degree doesn’t make a good/truthful preacher …
-- The credibility is found in the Scriptures vs. who is doing the teaching
-- This is where power comes from – and where we can also be bold
6. They endured the threats from the religious (vv15-18)
-- Love this … the religious send them out of the room so they can chat (v15)
-- APP: They don’t like to face that they’re wrong, so they seek self-approval
-- It’s got such a stench of pride it is nearly insulting to teach on …
- RE: These are the religious leaders who cannot refute God’s word / promises
-- But something incredible happens … the truth still invades their deliberations
- They realize they cannot deny what has been done – a healing in the Temple!
-- Remember from Ch 3 – a lame man was healed on the way into prayer / church!
-- God has shown up, lives have been changed, and the message has been preached
-- How? Simple lesson for all of us today … don’t miss the ‘how’:
7. They refused to compromise the message (vv19-20)
-- Even in the face of certain jail (or even death), their resolve is clear
-- We must continue to tell what God has done! (Re-read vv19-20) …
-- Jesus taught in Matthew 5:11, “God blesses you when people mock you and persecute you and lie about you and say all sorts of evil things against you because you are my followers.”
BIG IDEA
- BIG: When the message of the Gospel is proclaimed, the work is up to God
-- Don’t miss: in the face of the truth - God’s word/redemption, they are set free
- Why? The leaders were worried that a riot might break out against them (v21)
-- Very telling: Everything they do is based on ‘how can we keep our power?”
- Lesson here: If you are part of an org that is about self-promotion – RUN
-- You won’t have to look far to find those kind of organizations in 2024
-- Sadly, churches are some of the prime culprits of this kind of leadership
- FACT: When a church is about man, it has lost the ability to be about Jesus
-- Sure, repentance can occur, and change can happen – but will it? Does it?
- What we see is the “religious response” to the warning the disciples present:
-- Stop talking about it – go away – and let us never hear from you again!
- But, what happens is a praise celebration of the work of God! (v22)
-- It’s like, the “scolding” didn’t even happen – they just go back to their work!
- Wonder: Would this church be so bold to do the same?
-- To face the world and tell it that it needs Jesus, without being catty?
-- The disciples simply proclaimed how good God is … we MUST do the same!
- No invitation song … but here is your Call to Action:
-- Tell two (2) people this week about what God has done for you …
- Pray
