There Is No Denying It Jesus Is Lord!!!

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.