Explores how encountering Jesus transforms our character, and how we can emulate His ways in our lives for spiritual growth.
Good morning, beloved brothers and sisters. It is a privilege to stand before you today, not as the one who knows all, but as a fellow pilgrim, a fellow seeker, a fellow child of God. We gather here today, not as mere spectators, but as active participants in the divine drama of redemption and transformation. We are here to encounter the living God, to hear His Word, and to be changed by it.
We find ourselves today in the book of Acts, chapter 4, verses 1 through 22. Allow me to read it to you:
[Read passage]
In the light of this powerful passage, we are going to ponder on three main points today. First, we will consider the Manifesting the Marks of Meeting Jesus. Then, we will look at Mimicking the Master: Emulating Jesus' Ways. Finally, we will reflect on the Merits of Mingling with the Messiah.
In the words of the great preacher Charles Spurgeon, "A good character when established is not easily overthrown." Today, we will see how our character is shaped and transformed by our encounter with Jesus and how we can emulate His ways in our lives.
Let us pray:
Heavenly Father, we come before you today with open hearts and open minds. We ask that you would speak to us through your Word. May we not just hear it, but may we live it. Help us to see Jesus more clearly, love Him more dearly, and follow Him more nearly. In the name of Jesus, we pray. Amen.
Let’s get started!
When we encounter Jesus, our lives are transformed. We are marked by His presence. These marks are not physical, but spiritual. They are seen in the way we live our lives, in the choices we make, and in the love we show to others. They are the evidence of our meeting with Jesus. In the passage we read, Peter and John were marked by their encounter with Jesus. They were ordinary men, uneducated, yet they spoke with boldness and authority. They healed a man in the name of Jesus, and they stood before the religious leaders of their time, unafraid and unashamed. They were marked by their meeting with Jesus.
The first mark we see is boldness: Peter and John were not afraid to speak the truth, even when it was unpopular. They were not afraid to stand against the religious leaders of their time, even when it meant risking their lives. They were bold because they had encountered Jesus. They had seen His power, His love, His grace. They had experienced His resurrection. They knew that Jesus was the Son of God, the Savior of the world, and they were not afraid to proclaim it.
The second mark we see is authority: Peter and John spoke with authority because they spoke in the name of Jesus. They healed in the name of Jesus. They proclaimed the resurrection of Jesus. They did not speak on their own authority, but on the authority of Jesus. They knew that Jesus had all authority in heaven and on earth, and they spoke in His name.
The third mark we see is love: Peter and John healed a man who had been lame from birth. They did not do it to gain fame or recognition. They did it out of love. They did it because they had encountered the love of Jesus. They had seen His compassion, His mercy, His kindness. They had experienced His love, and they wanted to share it with others.
The fourth mark we see is faith: Peter and John believed in Jesus. They believed in His power, His love, His resurrection. They believed that He was the Son of God, the Savior of the world. They believed that there was salvation in no one else. Their faith was not a blind faith, but a faith based on their encounter with Jesus. They had seen His miracles, they had heard His teachings, they had witnessed His resurrection. Their faith was based on their experience, their encounter with Jesus.
These marks are not just for Peter and John: They are for all of us who have encountered Jesus. They are the evidence of our meeting with Jesus. They are the marks that show we have been transformed by His presence. They are the marks that show we are His followers. They are the marks that show we are His disciples. They are the marks that show we are His children.
As we continue to reflect on the passage from Acts 4, we see that Peter and John, once ordinary and uneducated men, are now standing before the religious leaders with a boldness and authority that can only come from their intimate relationship with Jesus ... View this full PRO sermon free with PRO
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