When Boldness Meets Worldly Denial Series

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