Intro: In Acts Chapter 4 we see some fantastic things. We see the promises of God fulfilled in the Apostles. Jesus had promised the helper to come and in Acts 4 twice we see the filling/anointing of the Holy Spirit for Bold preaching of the good news of Jesus Christ.
In this same chapter we see an eternal truth about who Jesus is. He is Lord!!! It does not matter whether you accept Him as Lord or not He will still be Lord. What ultimately hangs over the balance of the bottomless fiery pit is your eternity. The direction of your eternity is directly affected by you response to Jesus’ Lordship.
Not only is your eternity in the balance, but as a Christian if we have accepted Jesus Christ as Lord our abundant life depends on whether or not we yield to His control, and direction.
So we begin by looking at the
I. Reprimand of Religious leaders
A) Despite their rejection Jesus is Lord!!!
1) How can you say bro Bill they rejected?
There was no record of response to the Gospel of the Sadducees as there was of the temple crowd!
2) What shall we do with these men?
Should have been: What shall we do with this Lord?
3) Bro Bill “They could not deny it Acts 4.16”
4.13 “these men had been with Jesus”
The miracle stood before the
a) Just think, Larry the Lame man!! Everyone knew him he had sat by the gate called beautiful for almost 40 years. Well known by all the passers by. There was no denying the power of God had healed him!!
b) They could not deny the power of Jesus
But they would not accept it!!!
Illustration: We cannot deny that there is gravity in operation on this planet. But if we choose to reject its control on us and jump off a cliff thinking that it will not pull us down to the ground too our death we are sadly mistaken!! L
If we choose to reject Jesus’ control of us through the Holy Spirit we will not escape our sin dragging us down to the bottomless pit!
These Sadducees had decided not to follow Jesus.
They were not moved by Peter’s sermon
In fact it only made them want to shut the disciples up that much more.
B) Despite their strangulation of the truth Jesus is Lord
Acts 4.17 But to stop this thing.
1) People that strangle the truth today
a) non-believers (ACLU, NOW, AUSCS, Muslims, Etc. .
b) believers:
i) Those not living holy acceptable lives to God
ii) Those that live lives with secret sin
Proverbs 6 things God hates 7 an abomination to Him.
C) Despite their intimidation of the apostles Jesus is Lord
1) It was in the face of intimidation that the Church grew quickly.
2) It’s intent is to deter the followers of Christ from telling others about His name
It’s result is to prove the truth of the followers claims.
Intimidation, persecution, and execution lead to proof that Jesus is Lord!
Acts 4.17 Why on earth would you want somebody to stop speaking the matchless name that made a lame man walk!!!!!!??
They should have commended them and said preach on!!!
Instead they condemned them and said be gone!!
Is there something that you today condemn that should be commended?
If so you are probably in the same shoes as the Sadducees.
Acts 4.19,20 The spiritual lameness of the leaders, the Sadducees, is in complete contrast to the Apostles who walked with God.
Transition: It was the walk with Jesus that gave rise to the Apostles response
II. Response of the Apostles/Disciples
A) Extraordinary response from ordinary folks (4.19-20)
1) Courage from a former coward!
2) Loyalty to their Lord
a) Despite the cost (Jesus had once told people to count the cost what was the result) (they all left and turned from Him (find in bible))
Great picture of some in the church and many in the world turning away from Jesus because of the high cost of discipleship!!
3) They had been with Jesus
J Vernon McGee "Unlearned and ignorant" -- that is, these men hadn’t been to a theological seminary. But the Sanhedrin noted that they had been with Jesus. How wonderful to have a life that somehow or other calls attention to Jesus!
B) Extraordinary difference of Apostles and Council.
4.14-15 Despite the councils power they couldn’t do anything because the man that had been healed was right there so they told the apostles to step out so they could “discuss” their punishment.
The warning of the Council was given according to the New American commentary in narrative style (indirect). It may have been Dr. Luke’s way of pointing out the Council’s timidity.
In contrast you see Peter and John directly speaking boldly and almost defiantly.
) Irony of the comparing of accusers and accused
a) Boldness of Apostles
Words of Socrates (a philosopher, a learned man)
i) Could only speak of what they had seen and heard
no opinion creeping in here!!!
· Saw and heard Jesus’ ministry
· Death, and Resurrection
It was only right in God’s sight to tell others.
Acts 4.19-20
b) Timidity of Accusers
1) Catch and release
2) No grounds
3) They feared the peoples response
(we should always fear God’s response as the apostles did not the peoples)
III. Result of Spirit and preaching
A) Jesus is Proclaimed as Lord
1) It was the preaching of Jesus that disturbed the Parisees and Saduccess.
2) It was the preaching in the name of Jesus that disturbed the Sadducees.
B) Jesus is Accepted as Lord
(His Lordship in no way hinges on our belief)
(Our eternity hinges on our acceptance of His eternal Lordship)
Romans 10.9 “that if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.”
· Lord of Lords
· Lord of Life
· Lord of all
Rev. David Holwick
“Our experience in Christ is not always as complete as our position in Christ.”
We can stand before God but we don’t always stand for God!!
1) When a person accepts Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior their position before God is settled for all eternity.
2) The amount of abundant life you experience in Christ is completely up to you.
a) A yielded life is an abundant life
b) An un-yielded life is an empty life
Conclusion: Jesus is Lord whether you have yielded your life to Him or not. Because of who He is we owe Him our loyalty, and our life.
Because of What He did we owe Him our service, our self.
Characteristics of un-yielded life
1) rejection of the truth
2) strangulation of the truth
3) intimidation of the messengers of the truth
Characteristics of the yielded life
1) Courage in telling the truth
2) Loyalty to Jesus despite the situation
3) Bold proclamation despite the persecution
What then do we need to yield to?
The Kingdom of God! Under the Lordship of Christ!
The Greek word we translate Kingdom, when we pray your Kingdom come your will be done is basiliea.
Most think of physical places, castles, far stretching fields of green.
But it carries a dual idea.
First the rule, reign, authority, or kingship
Second the obvious actual domain or territory over which authority is expressed.
Where does Jesus rule, reign and have authority today?
Jesus rules and reigns in your heart.
Jeremiah 31.33
“But this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, declares the Lord: I will put my law within them, and I will write it on their hearts.
It is from the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.
Why will God not allow me to preach anything else?
Because until we get this we can’t move on to the meat of the word!!!
Hearts full of cursing and demons will utter cursing and foul speech.
Hearts full of Jesus will utter blessings and life giving speech.
So have you yielded to Jesus as Lord?
