Dangerous Christian Pt 3
Texts Reading... Acts 3:1-10 1 ¶ Now Peter and John went up together into the temple at the hour of prayer, being the ninth hour. 2 And a certain man lame from his mother’s womb was carried, whom they laid daily at the gate of the temple which is called Beautiful, to ask alms of them that entered into the temple; 3 Who seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple asked an alms. 4 And Peter, fastening his eyes upon him with John, said, Look on us. 5 And he gave heed unto them, expecting to receive something of them. 6 Then Peter said, Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have give I thee: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk. 7 And he took him by the right hand, and lifted him up: and immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength. 8 And he leaping up stood, and walked, and entered with them into the temple, walking, and leaping, and praising God. 9 And all the people saw him walking and praising God: 10 And they knew that it was he which sat for alms at the Beautiful gate of the temple: and they were filled with wonder and amazement at that which had happened unto him.
In this message part three of our series we’ll continue discussing what makes a Christian dangerous. Previously, we identified that knowledge is vital; the Bible states in Hosea 4:6 that my people are destroyed for lack of knowledge.
On the other hand, if we possess this knowledge he is speaking of it empowers us, enabling us to overcome rather than be defeated.
Now, I want to highlight a second crucial aspect: what we possess in addition to what we know. Knowledge is powerful and foundational, but it is truly activated by faith.
Jesus emphasized this when he said, “According to your faith, be it unto you.”
Everything related to the kingdom functions through the authority and presence of faith in our lives.
The Bible also reminds us that without faith, pleasing God is impossible, as we must believe in Him, and that He rewards those who diligently seek Him.
This message on the dangerous Christian arises from a belief and an understanding that God is urging us to adopt a more assertive approach in life, differing from the stances many Christians have taken in the past.
We are in a critical time as disciples of Jesus Christ and representatives of God's kingdom. It's essential to adopt a more proactive and even confrontational approach, and take a strong stand, as the passivity of the past, has allowed various issues to take root in our society, influencing both social and church structures.
While not all elements of the church embody God's kingdom, there remains a remnant of true followers. We must position ourselves as the frontline advocates and vanguards for the church and God's kingdom on earth.
This requires a conscious awareness of not just knowledge, but also possession of what we have as Christians.
In this sermon, I want to focus on what makes us a threat to the kingdom of darkness. One of my favorite Bible passages features Peter and John meeting a lame beggar at the temple gate. The man hopes for financial help as they approach. However, Peter tells him, "Silver and gold have I none, or I'm sorry, I don’t possess what you're asking for.
But he quickly follows up that statement with... But such as I have give I thee.
Peter's declaration, “Such as I have, give I unto thee,” is a powerful revelation. It reveals two important points. First, Peter recognizes that he possesses something significant. This awareness allows him to benefit personally from it, access it, and enjoy its blessings in his life.
His possession is not merely an abstract concept; it's a tangible reality. Knowing he possesses it gives him the ability to share it with others, aiming for it to have the same positive impact on them as it has had on him.
Peter believes that if this blessing has produced such glorious results in his life, it can do the same for others.
This idea reflects Jesus’ assertion that “out of your bellies will flow rivers of living water,” referring to the Holy Spirit, which had yet to be given because Jesus had not been glorified. "Jesus was speaking about the outpouring and infilling of the presence and power of the Holy Spirit."
Water symbolizes life, especially when described as rivers, which represent movement and refreshment. Rivers sustain various forms of life, from fish to deer and birds, providing the essence of vitality.
Jesus uses the imagery of flowing water to illustrate the Holy Spirit. When Peter says, "Such as I have, give I thee," he is referring to the presence of the Holy Spirit within us. This Spirit not only dwells within us, offering personal edification and blessings, but also empowers us, and flows from us to others.
Jesus promises that those who drink the water He provides will have within themselves a well, springing up into everlasting life. Then from our bellies, rivers of living water will flow. This signifies that the life-giving source within us should also extend outward, as a life-giving force, providing strength and vitality to others.
The anointing awakens this power, allowing it to flow as powerful streams of the Spirit, not in small trickles or stagnant pools, but as life-giving currents of power that nourish, sustain, strengthen, heal, and deliver.
This knowledge and operation of the Spirit was not limited to Jesus or Peter, all of those who experienced the Holy Spirit's power in their lives had this knowledge and this experience.
Paul demonstrated this fact by sending out anointed cloths and aprons from his body, as they were laid upon the sick, the diseases departed from them, and the evil spirits went out of them.
The point being that Paul like Peter, knew he had something that he could share. This is what made Paul a dangerous Christian. He was loaded. He was carrying the presence and power of God and he knew it.
This is why Paul said... We have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us. 2 Co 4:7
Knowledge is important, but all of the knowledge in the world doesn't add up to one ounce of Holy Spirit Power.
In Acts 1:8 Jesus didn't say you'll receive knowledge, or even wisdom when the Holy Ghost comes upon you. He said ye shall receive power.
Yes, knowledge makes us dangerous Christians, but only as knowledge is harnessed to power. Knowledge is the doorway through which power enters.
Let me say it another way. You may know everything there is to know about how to break down, and put together an AR-15 assault rifle. First of all, it's not actually an assault rifle. AR stands for "ArmaLite Rifle." But you may know its firepower, and how fast the bullet travels when it is fired. And you may know the impact it can have on an object. But all of that information is just filler, or fluff... It doesn't mean one single thing to a Soldier who is on a mission to destroy you.
All of the knowledge you have of the weapon, won't stop that assailant. You have to have the gun itself. In other words, you have to have in your possession the firepower.
Please don't think I'm being mean, I'm not wanting to be. But I think many times the church falls into this category... We know about the power.
We can tell you about the power.
We can show you where the Bible talks about the power.
And we sing songs about the power...We sing, we've got the power in the name of Jesus.
But then the devil comes and he hits us, or he hits our family, or our country. And we're forced to ask the question... Do we really have the power, or do we just have the knowledge of the power?
• Do rivers of living waters really flow from our innermost being, or is it just a phrase, that we like to quote?
• Can we actually undo and destroy the works of the devil, or is it a shout with no clout?
• Do we really know how to use the weapons of our warfare, or are they just spiritual window dressing?
One ounce of demonstrable manifested power of God outweighs tons of powerless information.
In one of my favorite scriptures, Paul makes this statement...
1 Corinthians 2:1-5 KJV And I, brethren, when I came to you, came not with excellency of speech or of wisdom, declaring unto you the testimony of God. [2] For I determined not to know anything among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified. [3] And I was with you in weakness, and in fear, and in much trembling. [4] And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man's wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power: [5] That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God.
Friends, it is not wrong to desire to see the power of God manifested. In fact there is something very deficient in the Christian who has no desire to see or experience the manifestation of the power of God.
One of the most important things about the God we serve is that he makes his presence and his power tangibly known.
In other words, you can feel his presence, and you can see visible manifestations of his presence and power at work.
Again I say that there is something very deficient in a church or a Christian that can be satisfied with nothing more than a literary record of who Jesus is. We should never be satisfied with just a history of what Jesus did.
There should be something within the bosom of every Christian that cries out for his tangible presence, and visible manifestations of his power, in signs, wonders, miracles, and gifts of the Holy Spirit.
That's not extremism or radicalism, that's just plain old everyday normal Christianity.
Normal Christianity has to embrace the supernatural. It has to embrace, miracles, wonders, and signs. It has to embrace healing and deliverance, or it's not a biblical Christianity.
Paul told the Corinthian church... I am not here just to talk about Jesus; I'm here to manifest his power. I'm here to give you something to believe in. Not just words, or information, but the manifestation of the power of God.
For our gospel came not unto you in word only, "or information only" but in power, and in the Holy Ghost, and much assurance. 1 Thessalonians 1:5
Somebody said, well pastor, I don't believe that I have to believe in or experience miracles to be saved.
Ok, let me walk down that road with you a little way. I agree you don't have to see miracles and signs and wonders, and manifestations of the power of God to be saved and go to heaven. Because the blood of Jesus is enough to save your soul.
Now right there some non-charismatic, non-Pentecostal will say... there you go, that's what I'm talking about, the blood is all you need. I don't have to go that supernatural, miracle, signs and wonders, and Holy Spirit and talking in tongues road. I'll just stay with the blood, that's all I need.
Ok, so I walked with you that far. There's power in the blood. So then you say, ok so we're in agreement, I don't have to have all that supernatural, miracle, faith stuff right?
Oh wait a minute, I didn't say that. I said that I agree, that the blood of Jesus is enough to save you, and you don't have to see a miracle, or be filled with the Spirit or speak in tongues to be saved.
But what you need to know is... Whether you ever see a miracle, or you ever experience the baptism of the Holy Spirit and speaking in tongues or not... You yourself are a miracle.
Your salvation is a miracle, wrought by the power of the Holy Spirit. Yes, the blood redeemed you from sin's power, but it's the Holy Spirit who regenerates your spirit. It's the Holy Spirit who makes you a new creation.
Your new birth is a miracle. You were drawn by a force you couldn't see, and you were saved by a blood you say covers you, but no one else can see it. And you received all of this by a supernatural spiritual force called faith.
So what I'm saying is, you're already in the door. You're already in the realm of the miraculous; you might as well jump into the deep end.
You might as well quit holding onto the edge, and just go off the high dive, and drop into everything God has for you.
Jesus said, I am come that you might have life, and have it more abundantly. That abundant life is found in only one place... It is the person and the power of the Holy Spirit.
John said: I baptize you with water unto repentance, = Salvation from sin. But one is coming who is mightier than I, when he is come, he will baptize you with the Holy Ghost and with fire.
Acts 2:1-4 says, And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. [2] And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. [3] And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. [4] And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.
Acts 1:8 Jesus said, You shall receive power after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you, and you shall be witness unto me in, Jerusalem, and in all Judea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost parts of the earth.
Speaking with other tongues is not the power, but it has always been the initial evidence that one has been baptized into the Holy Ghost.
It is the ministry and the operation of the Holy Spirit to bring us into possession of our inheritance. It is the Holy Spirit that takes us from knowing to having.
And that is what the devil fears. He is not afraid of clouds without water. He is not afraid of a gun with no bullets. He is not afraid of a big head with an empty heart. He is not afraid of a furnace with no fire in it.
As important as knowledge is, the devil doesn't back up one inch for what you think. It's what you have that puts him on his heels and puts him under your feet.
When you walk out of those doors today, I want you to leave knowing what you have. You should be as certain of spiritual realities as you are about physical realities.
1 Jn 4:4 says, Ye are of God little children and ye have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you than he that is in the world.
Remember Paul's words... We have this treasure in earthen vessels.
Do you know what you have? If you have the Spirit of Christ in you, then I can tell you what you have.
You have eternal life abiding in you.
You have a salvation wrought through a miraculous work of the Holy Spirit.
You have the Spirit of Christ abiding in you.
You have an anointing from God upon you.
You have an inner source of supernatural peace, strength, and joy.
You have a position in Christ far above the devil and all his demons.
You have an inheritance in Christ that is not in heaven waiting for you to die. But it is in you, in him. Christ in you is the hope of glory.
You have an abiding presence of Jesus, for he said, I will never leave you nor forsake you.
You have a power in you that is greater than all the power of the devil. For it is written... greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.
You have a living faith that can access all of the blessings of the kingdom of God because you cannot be saved without faith.
You have a heavenly father who is with you every day, watching over you, protecting you, and blessing you all along the way.
You have as your weapons, the blood of Jesus, the name of Jesus, the power of praise, and the word of God.
You have the helmet of salvation, the breastplate of righteousness. You have the loin girdle of truth, the shield of faith, the sword of the Spirit, the shoes of peace.
You say, Oh pastor now I get it, you're talking spiritual. Yes sir, yes ma'am, now you got it. Yes, everything I'm talking about is spiritual. They are spiritual realities. But they are as real as the ground you walk on, and the air you breathe. They are recognized in heaven and on earth.
If you want to be a Dangerous Christian, you are going to have to be a spiritual Christian, because these things only work in the spirit.
Yes, we walk in the flesh, but we do not war after the flesh, for the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God, to the pulling down of strongholds, and the casting down of imaginations, and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God.
Say neighbor: I'm leaving here Armed and Dangerous.
