How to be Strong Without the Spinach
Acts 4:8-12
Sept. 10, 2006 FBC, Chester Mike Fogerson, Pastor
Introduction:
A During WWII, meat was in short supply in the U.S. & the government rationed it in an attempt to send it to the men serving in the armed forces in the European theater.
1 Popeye was hired by the U.S. Government to promote the idea of eating spinach as a substitute for meat.
a In the 1890’s a German scientist had shown that spinach contains the same amount of iron as meat (iron is one essential the body needs to build strength)
b The Germans proved that spinach contains iron, but when they published their results, they put the decimal point in the wrong place (10.5-1.05)
c Overestimated the amount of iron in spinach by a factor of 10!
d The substitute they were trying to make wasn’t enough.
2 It wasn’t until after WWII that the correction made it across the ocean.
B Historical Background
1 In Jerusalem, shortly after the day of Pentecost, John & Peter, through the power of the name of Jesus, healed a crippled beggar.
a As they were speaking to the people, the priests and the captain of the temple guard and the Sadducees came up to them, 2 being greatly disturbed because they were teaching the people and proclaiming in Jesus the resurrection from the dead. 3 And they laid hands on them and put them in jail until the next day, for it was already evening. Acts 4:1-3 (NASB) The police, who worked for the temple, put them in jail.
b The next day, Peter & John were put through an oral examination by the religious leaders (Sanhedrin, who 5 weeks earlier had put a young carpenter from Galilee on trial)
aa The Sanhedrin’s job (Deut. 13) was to protect the Jewish faith, & this meant to examine every new teacher/teaching that sprung up.
bb It was within their right to investigate what the church was doing.
c Not right to arrest innocent men & then refuse to honestly examine the evidence (healed cripple).
d Question was simple, yet scornful: "By what power (doo-nami, might, strength) or in what name have you done this?" When they had placed them in the center, they began to inquire, "By what power, or in what name, have you done this?" Acts 4:7 (NASB)
2 Peter is once again filled with the Holy Spirit (1 of 3 x’s in Acts 2:4, 4:8, 4:31)
a And do not get drunk with wine, for that is dissipation, but be filled with the Spirit ...Eph 5:18 (NASB) Eph. 5:18 tells us to be filled with the Holy Spirit if we’re to be effective witnesses for Christ.
b Then Peter lets loose
C Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, "Rulers and elders of the people, 9 if we are on trial today for a benefit done to a sick man, as to how this man has been made well, 10 let it be known to all of you and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead—by this name this man stands here before you in good health. 11 "He is the STONE WHICH WAS REJECTED by you, THE BUILDERS, but WHICH BECAME THE CHIEF CORNER stone. 12 "And there is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among men by which we must be saved." Acts 4:8-12 (NASB)
1 Peter came with the power of God on his plate when he had to come to the plate (essence of the text in a sentence).
2 Our source of strength should come from the Lord (essence of the sermon in a sentence)
a I pray you will examine what’s on your spiritual plate that pleases God (objective).
b What’s on your plate? (Probing question)
c Let’s browse what kind of substitutes are used for God’s power on people’s plates (transitional sentence).
d Pray
I Some substitutes seem sensible.
A The very council Peter & John stood before was full of sensible substitutes for God’s power.
1 They were religious, knowledgeable men from a long line of religious, knowledgeable men.
a Religious: at temple every time the doors were open, served on the council, did everything a good Jew would do.
b Educated: knew their Bible, Jewish law, history
c Family: to sit on the Sanhedrin, you had to be in the family of the high priest ...and Annas the high priest was there, and Caiaphas and John and Alexander, and all who were of high-priestly descent. Acts 4:6 (NASB) generations of serving in the temple.
2 These men had plates full of self, not things of the Spirit.
B Many today assume that these same sensible substitutes are good enough to get by on.
1 Good people with good families...they just have a bad idea of where real strength comes from.
a Religion: go to church, in this/that, serve here & there
b Educated: know my Bible, doctrine, theology, church policy
c Family: Grandma was a Sunday School teacher, Dad & Mom in the choir, Grandpa was a deacon.
2 These are all good, but they are not God.
a There’s only one way to be saved-no substitutes!
b "And there is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among men by which we must be saved."
As we come to the Lord’s table today, some of us not only have substitutes on our plate...some of our plates are dirty (transitional sentence)
II Some substitutes are hard to let go (point taken: Laurie Beth Jones "Jesus in Blue Jeans")
A In America, you can’t (not supposed to) be served with a dirty plate (salad bars/buffets-must use a clean plate each time).
1 Today, when we come to the Lord’s table, many of us are coming with dirty plates.
a Therefore whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner, shall be guilty of the body and the blood of the Lord. 28 But a man must examine himself, and in so doing he is to eat of the bread and drink of the cup. 1 Cor 11:27-28 (NASB)
b Jesus insists on us bringing a clean plate to His banquet table
2 Everyone who walked with Jesus got a new plate.
a Former prostitute? No problem-I’ll make you an example of holy love. Former coward? No problem-Peter, you’ll become a legendary leader. Former skeptic? No problem-Paul, you’ll preach the Gospel in new & exciting ways.
b Jesus gave everyone of them a new, clean plate (no cracks, no unwashed sin, left-over resentments).
B Not all our plates are clean today.
1 Plates are dirty with sin.
a Anger, resentment, grudge on our plates & we want Jesus to serve us at His table.
b CLEAN PLATE!
2 How? Let Jesus wash you!
a "If I do not wash you, you have no part in me." John 13:8
Conclusion:
A What needs to be off your plate before you come to the Lord’s table?
1 Substitutes: religion, education, family (good, but not God)
2 Sin: anger, grudges, resentment (can’t be served with a dirty plate)
B Salvation/repentance appeal
C Serve Lord’s Supper
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My name is Mike Fogerson, and I pastor a Southern Baptist Church in Chester, Illinois. I have been a long-time user of Sermon Central and truly appreciate its content and contributors. Some of the best sermons I’ve ever preached have been reworked material from this website. As you use the material from my sermon bank, understand that it is work that has been done from not just myself, but from hundreds of other pastors as well. If you see part of your message, or a bunch of your message with my name on it and this upsets you, please email me and I will quickly respond and cite you as the main source. My intent is not to claim someone’s work as my own. I am disclaiming up front that I use the resources from Sermon Central and appreciate the tool. I simply want all those who use my work to know that some of these messages were inspired by the Holy Spirit working through other pastors. Because I do use the messages of other pastors I waive all claims of originality or origin of creativity for the messages posted under my messages. I pray God blesses your preaching ministry for the glory of His Kingdom.
Respectfully,
Mike Fogerson
