UNSTOPPABLE COURAGE

THIS MORNING WE ARE CONTINUING IN OUR SERIES ON THE BOOK OF ACTS.

LAST WEEK WE TALKED ABOUT REAL CHANGE.

WE FOUND THAT PETER AND JOHN BOTH WE HEADED TO THE TEMPLE AND WERE DIVINELY INTERRUPTED BY A MAN WHO HAD BEEN PARALYZED SINCE BIRTH.

SOMETIMES GOD WILL INTERRUPT US IN ORDER TO GET OUR ATTENTION FOR HIS GLORY AND PURPOSE.

WE PICK UP RIGHT AFTER THAT MIRACLE THAT TOOK PLACE AT THE TEMPLE.

The New International Version Chapter 4

The priests and the captain of the temple guard and the Sadducees came up to Peter and John while they were speaking to the people. 2 They were greatly disturbed because the apostles were teaching the people, proclaiming in Jesus the resurrection of the dead.

NOW... YOU NEED TO UNDERSTAND SOMETHING ABOUT THE SADDUCEE'S

THEY WERE POLITICAL…THEY SIDED WITH THE ROMAN GOVERNMENT

WHY?

BECAUSE ROME GAVE THEM FAVOR AND BECAUSE ROME APPOINTED SOME OF THEM AND DEPOSED OTHER HIGH PRIESTS

THEY WANTED TO GET ON THE BEST SIDE OF THE POLITICAL ENGINE AND NOT DISTURB THE PEACE

THEY ALSO DIFFERED FROM PHARISEES SPIRITUALLY...

the Pharisees believed in the supernatural -- angels, demons, heaven, hell, and so on -- while the Sadducees did not

- SADDUCEE’S DID NOT BELIEVE IN THE RESURRECTION OF CHRIST

THEY DIDN’T BELIEVE IN AN AFTERLIFE AT ALL.

THE SADDUCEE’S SAW NO HOPE IN LIFE AFTER DEATH

THEY WERE RELIGIOUS BUT THEY DIDN’T BELIEVE IN THE HOPE OF LIFE AFTER DEATH

WHAT A TERRIBLE WAY TO LIVE

I OFTEN THINK ABOUT UNBELIEVERS

HOW THEY EVEN GET THROUGH LIFE WITHOUT THE HOPE OF JESUS

MANY OF THEM DON’T

MANY OF THEM TURN TO OTHER THINGS TRYING TO FILL THAT HOLE INSIDE THEIR SOUL

THIS IS THE WAY THE SADDUCEE'S LIVED THOUGH…NO HOPE AFTER YOU DIE.

THIS IS WHY THEY WERE SAD....YOU SEE…LOL

BECAUSE OF RELIGIOSITY.....

RELIGIOSITY IS SAD YOU SEE, BUT A RELATIONSHIP WITH JESUS MAKES YOU GLAD - YOU - SEE. LOL

SORRY THAT WAS LAME

2 They were greatly disturbed because the apostles were teaching the people, proclaiming in Jesus the resurrection of the dead.

PROCLAIMING THE GOSPEL OF JESUS CHRIST WILL CAUSE PEOPLE TO BE DISTURBED.

2 Timothy 3:12 (ASV)

12 In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted,

IF YOUR NOT SUFFERING PERSECUTION AT ALL FOR YOUR FAITH… IT MUST MEAN THAT YOUR NOT.....WHAT?

LIVING GODLY IN CHRIST JESUS

BECAUSE THE BIBLE PROMISES THAT EVERYONE WHO DOES WILL SUFFER PERSECUTION.

THE GOSPEL ALWAYS DISTURBS PEOPLE

BECAUSE IT ALWAYS DISTURBS THE STATUS QUO.

WHEN YOU OPEN YOUR MOUTH TO PROCLAIM SALVATION IN JESUS CHRIST ONLY...

YOUR BEING VERY DEFINITIVE AND YOUR BEING VERY SEPARATIST

YOUR TAKING THE BROAD SPECTRUM OF “ALL PEOPLE ARE GOOD AND ALL PEOPLE FIND THEIR OWN WAY”

AND

“SO MANY PEOPLE ARE SINCERE AND THERE IS SO MANY WAYS TO GOD”

AND BY OPENING YOUR MOUTH YOUR SAYING...”NOT ONLY AM I GOING TO DISAGREE WITH THAT...

I’M GOING TO SHOW YOU THAT ALL OF THOSE “WAYS” IN GOD’S BOOK ARE CLOSED DOWN TO ONE SINGLE AND NARROW AVENUE

FAITH IN CHRIST ALONE - APART FROM WORKS

So, faith alone in Christ alone is the only way to be saved because that is the only way to put complete and total trust in the work of God and not in our ability to be good enough to achieve or maintain our salvation.

THIS MAKES PEOPLE DISTURBED..ANGRY..TICKED OFF

AND SO WHAT DID THEY DO ABOUT IT.....?

The New International Version (Chapter 4)

3 They seized Peter and John and, because it was evening, they put them in jail until the next day. 4 But many who heard the message believed; so the number of men who believed grew to about five thousand.

CHURCH....

THIS IS THE WHOLE REASON THAT WE DO WHAT WE DO...

SO THAT THOSE WHO HEAR WILL BELIEVE…RIGHT?

I DON’T ABOUT YOU BUT......

THIS IS WHAT KEEPS ME GOING

WHEN PEOPLE COME TO BELIEVE IN CHRIST FOR THE FIRST TIME…SALVATION!!!

HOW ABOUT WHEN PEOPLE HAVE FALLEN AWAY FORM THEIR FAITH AND YOU HELP THEM BACK

WOW.....IT’S AN AMAZING FEELING

NOTHING MORE FULFILLING IN LIFE

HERE’S THE THING.....

I KNOW THAT NOT ALL WILL AGREE WITH OR BELIEVE IN WHAT I TEACH OR PREACH....... BUT SOME WILL....

IT’S THE SOME THAT I LIVE FOR

THE PARABLE OF THE SOWER

JESUS TALKED ABOUT THE SEED THAT WAS SOWN

AND THE ENEMY COMES AND ROBS THE SEED THAT WAS SOWN BY THE WAYSIDE

OTHER SEED ONLY LAST TEMPORARILY BUT THEN DRIES UP WHENEVER THERE IS A HARD TIME OR PERSECUTION THAT COMES

OTHER PEOPLE GROW FOR AWHILE BUT, THE CARES OF THIS WORLD CHOKE THEM OUT

BUT THEN, JESUS SAID THERE IS THE SOIL THAT IS GOOD

THERE IS A HEART THAT IS GOOD AND THE SEED OF THE WORD OF GOD IS SOWN IN SOME PEOPLE'S HEARTS

AND IT TAKES ROOT AND THEN THEY BEAR FRUIT

the good soil was productive because it did not have the deficiencies that limited the fruitfulness of the wayside, the rocky ground and the thorny ground. If your heart is hard, shallow, or cluttered, you will be unfruitful.

THE GOOD SOIL IS WHAT I LIVE FOR

LOOKING FOR THE GOOD SOIL THAT WILL TAKE ROOT THE SEED THAT IS SOWN AND BEAR EVERLASTING FRUIT.....OH COME ON SOMEBODY.

5,000 MEN CAME TO BELIEVE IN THE RESURRECTION OF CHRIST.

The New International Version Chapter 4

5 The next day the rulers, the elders and the teachers of the law met in Jerusalem. 6 Annas the high priest was there, and so were Caiaphas, John, Alexander and others of the high priest’s family. 7 They had Peter and John brought before them and began to question them: “By what power or what name did you do this?”

8 Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them: “Rulers and elders of the people!

I WANT TO POINT SOMETHING OUT REAL QUICK....

WHEN YOU HAVE THE HOLY SPIRIT LIVING INSIDE OF YOU

THERE IS A BOLDNESS, A COURAGE THAT COMES WITH THAT

PETER WAS DIFFERENT

IT WASN’T THAT LONG AGO....

THAT PETER WAS DENYING THAT HE EVEN KNEW JESUS…NOT ONCE BUT THREE TIMES

HERE HE IS IN THE SAME PLACE AS HE WAS…SITTING IN FRONT OF THE SANHEDRIN AND BEING QUESTIONED ABOUT JESUS

BUT THIS TIME IT WAS DIFFERENT......WHY?

BECAUSE HE IS FILLED WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT

OH COME ON SOMEBODY.

THERE IS A COURAGE THAT COMES WITH KNOWING WHO’S POWER YOU ARE OPERATING UNDER

PETER BELIEVED THE PROMISE THAT JESUS GAVE THEM BEFORE HE LEFT EARTH

WATCH THIS.... MARK 13:9-11

The New International Version Chapter 13

9 “You must be on your guard. You will be handed over to the local councils and flogged in the synagogues. On account of me you will stand before governors and kings as witnesses to them. 10 And the gospel must first be preached to all nations. 11 Whenever you are arrested and brought to trial, do not worry beforehand about what to say. Just say whatever is given you at the time, for it is not you speaking, but the Holy Spirit.

WHERE IS HE AT RIGHT NOW?

STANDING IN FRONT OF ALL THE RULERS AND ELDERS AND TEACHERS AS WELL AS THE HIGH PRIESTS AND HIS FAMILY....HAHAHA

WATCH WHAT PETER SAYS TO THE SANHEDRIN.....

Acts 4:9–11 (NIV)

9 If we are being called to account today for an act of kindness shown to a man who was lame and are being asked how he was healed, 10 then know this, you and all the people of Israel: It is by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified but whom God raised from the dead, that this man stands before you healed. 11 Jesus is

“ ‘the stone you builders rejected,

which has become the cornerstone.’

The New International Version Chapter 4

12 Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved.”

WOW!

TALK ABOUT BEING BOLD AND COURAGEOUS

I LOVE THIS NEXT PART…WATCH THIS

Acts 4:13 NIV

13 When they saw the courage of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished and they took note that these men had been with Jesus.

PEOPLE KNOW

Matthew 12:33 NLT: “A tree is identified by its fruit. If a tree is good, its fruit will be good. If a tree is bad, its fruit will be bad.

JOHN 13:35 (AMP)

By this everyone will know that you are My disciples, if you have love and unselfish concern for one another.”

THEY CAN SEE A DIFFERENCE WHEN YOU HAVE BEEN SPENDING TIME WITH JESUS.

YOU CAN ALSO TELL WHEN PEOPLE HAVEN'T BEEN SPENDING TIME WITH HIM....LOL

HAVE YOU EVER JUST COME IN CONTACT WITH SOMEONE AND RIGHT AWAY YOUR LIKE.....

YOU NEED TO GET OUT OF MY FACE AND GO SEEK HIS FACE....LOL

I TELL MY LEADERSHIP ALL THE TIME

SPEND PERSONAL TIME WITH JESUS

BECAUSE PEOPLE NOTICE WHEN YOU HAVEN'T BEEN

IT TAKES THE PLACE OF YOU HAVING TO BE EDUCATED AND EXPERIENCED

ALL YOU GOTTA BE IS WILLING AND OBEDIENT AND GOD TAKES CARE OF THE REST.

The New International Version Chapter 4

14 But since they could see the man who had been healed standing there with them, there was nothing they could say. 15 So they ordered them to withdraw from the Sanhedrin and then conferred together. 16 “What are we going to do with these men?” they asked. “Everyone living in Jerusalem knows they have performed a notable sign, and we cannot deny it. 17 But to stop this thing from spreading any further among the people, we must warn them to speak no longer to anyone in this name.”

18 Then they called them in again and commanded them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus. 19 But Peter and John replied, “Which is right in God’s eyes: to listen to you, or to him? You be the judges! 20 As for us, we cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard.”

SO MANY TIMES WE CARE TO MUCH ABOUT OFFENDING SOMEONE THAN SHARING THE TRUTH OF THE GOSPEL WITH THEM

OUR FEAR OF MAN IS KEEPING US FROM DOING WHAT WERE CALLED TO DO.

HE HAS CALLED US TO BE BOLD AND COURAGEOUS EMPOWERED BY THE HOLY SPIRIT

THEODORE ROOSEVELT -

“It is not the critic who counts: not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles or where the doer of deeds could have done better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood, who strives valiantly, who errs and comes up short again and again, because there is no effort without error or shortcoming, but who knows the great enthusiasms, the great devotions, who spends himself in a worthy cause; who, at the best, knows, in the end, the triumph of high achievement, and who, at the worst, if he fails, at least he fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who knew neither victory nor defeat.”

—Theodore Roosevelt Speech at the Sorbonne, Paris, April 23, 1910

I WOULD RATHER BE A

FLAWED CONTRIBUTOR IN THE ARENA OF SERVING GOD

THAN A JUDGMENTAL CAIAPHAS CRITIC

CRITIQUING WHETHER OR NOT PETER AND JOHN SHOULD HAVE EVEN HEALED A MAN ON THE SABBATH DAY

OH COME ON.....

“OH WE KNOW EVERYTHING THERE IS TO KNOW ABOUT PETER,DON’T WE?

HE CUT A GUYS EAR OFF A COUPLE MONTHS AGO”

“HE CUSSED LAST NIGHT”

OH COME ON…YOU KNOW WHO I’M TALKING ABOUT

WE NEED MEN AND WOMEN WHO ARE WILLING TO SHOW UP

GOD IS LOOKING FOR THOSE WHO ARE WILLING TO BE OBEDIENT AND SHOW UP.

WE NEED TO STOP BEING THE CRITICS OF THOSE WHO ARE TRYING

THOSE WHO ARE WILLING TO SHOW UP

YEAH MAYBE THEIR LIFE IS A MESS

MAYBE THEY LOOK LIKE THEY’RE FALLING APART BUT,

THEY’RE TRYING TO BE OBEDIENT

HOW ABOUT WE COME ALONG SIDE OF THOSE AND ENCOURAGE THEM TO KEEP TRYING.

CHURCH....

WE GOTTA STOP BEING THE CRITICS AND START BEING THE CONTRIBUTORS TO HIS KINGDOM.

THE CONTRIBUTORS WERE NOT CARRYING THE BURDEN OF OUTCOME

THEY WERE CARRYING THE BURDEN OF OBEDIENCE…OH COME ON

REMEMBER THAT SERMON?

WE CAN’T CONTROL THE OUTCOME

WERE NOT CALLED TO DO THAT

WE ARE CALLED TO BE OBEDIENT

PETER AND JOHN WERE NOT WORRIED ABOUT HOW MANY PEOPLE WERE GOING TO SHOW UP TO HEAR THE MESSAGE

THEY WERE ONLY TRYING TO BE OBEDIENT IN WHAT THEY WERE CALLED TO DO.

WE ARE NOT CALLED TO BE LORD OF THE HARVEST

WE’RE CALLED TO BE PLANTER OF THE SEED

I CAN PLANT AND I CAN WATER BUT,

GOD HAS TO BRING THE INCREASE....AMEN

PETER AND JOHN SAID....

The New International Version Chapter 4

20 As for us, we cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard.”

WE CAN’T STOP THIS!!!

TELL YOUR NEIGHBOR

YOU CAN’T STOP THIS

The New International Version Chapter 4

21 After further threats they let them go. They could not decide how to punish them, because all the people were praising God for what had happened.

YOU CAN’T STOP THIS

WE WILL CONTINUE TO BE A CHURCH THAT POINTS PEOPLE TO JESUS

WHEN YOU ARE WALKING IN THE SPIRIT

THE ENEMY GETS SCARED AND NERVOUS

The New International Version Chapter 4

23 On their release, Peter and John went back to their own people and reported all that the chief priests and the elders had said to them. 24 When they heard this, they raised their voices together in prayer to God. “Sovereign Lord,” they said, “you made the heavens and the earth and the sea, and everything in them. 25 You spoke by the Holy Spirit through the mouth of your servant, our father David:

“ ‘Why do the nations rage

and the peoples plot in vain?

26 The kings of the earth rise up

and the rulers band together

against the Lord

and against his anointed one.’ b

27 Indeed Herod and Pontius Pilate met together with the Gentiles and the people of Israel in this city to conspire against your holy servant Jesus, whom you anointed.

UNDERSTAND THIS CHURCH

WHEN YOU BEGIN TO WALK IN THE SPIRIT

WHEN YOU BEGIN TO OPEN YOUR MOUTH AND SPREAD THE GOOD NEWS

THE ENEMY WILL CONSPIRE AGAINST YOU AND WHATEVER YOUR TRYING TO DO FOR GOD’S KINGDOM

(TALK ABOUT THE MEETING WITH CALEB)

HE CAME TO ME AND CLEARED THE AIR BECAUSE THE ENEMY HAD BEEN FEEDING HIM LIES

HE WASN’T ABLE TO SLEEP

HE WASN’T ABLE THINK CLEARLY

ALL BECAUSE OF AN IDEA OR THOUGHT THAT CAME FROM THE ENEMY

CALEB DID WHAT HE WAS SUPPOSED TO DO.

HE WAS OBEDIENT TO GOD’S WORD

“GO TO YOUR BROTHER OR YOUR SISTER AND CLEAR THE OFFENSE”

THIS IS THE WAY WE FIGHT AGAINST THE ENEMY CHURCH

HE IS WAITING FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO DESTROY YOU

HE IS PLOTTING AGAINST AND CONSPIRING TO STOP WHAT GOD IS TRYING TO DO.

YOU HAVE TO KNOW THAT.....

.......WORSHIP TEAM COME.......

The New International Version Chapter 4

28 They did what your power and will had decided beforehand should happen. 29 Now, Lord, consider their threats and enable your servants to speak your word with great boldness. 30 Stretch out your hand to heal and perform signs and wonders through the name of your holy servant Jesus.”

31 After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly.

EXPOUND

The New International Version (Chapter 4)

32 All the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that any of their possessions was their own, but they shared everything they had. 33 With great power the apostles continued to testify to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. And God’s grace was so powerfully at work in them all

WITH GREAT POWER THE APOSTLES CONTINUED.....

WITH GREAT POWER COMES GREAT RESPONSIBILITY

.......STAND TO YOUR FEET..........

This quote is often attributed to Uncle Ben from Spider-Man however the origins of this go back much further. A version of this quote can be traced back to 1793 appearing in a volume issued by the French National Convention. Here is what it said:

They must consider that great responsibility follows inseparably from great power.

WHAT DOES THE BIBLE TELL US ABOUT THIS???

LUKE 12:48

BUT TO WHOM MUCH IS GIVEN

MUCH WILL BE REQUIRED.

CHURCH

THE HOLY SPIRIT CAME AND THE WORK OF THE LORD WAS CONTINUED AND ACCOMPLISHED.......

HOW?

32 All the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that any of their possessions was their own, but they shared everything they had.

WATCH THIS.....

The New International Version (Chapter 4)

33 With great power the apostles continued to testify to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. And God’s grace was so powerfully at work in them all.

COURAGE

BOLDNESS

SOME OF US HAVE BEEN BOWING DOWN TO THE WHAT THE ENEMY IS TELLING YOU ABOUT YOUR....

MARRIAGE

YOUR KIDS

YOUR JOB SITUATION

YOUR HOUSE OR LIVING SITUATION

YOUR MINISTRY

THE WAY YOU SERVE

WE HAVE GOT TO STOP GIVING IN TO THE THOUGHTS OF THE ENEMY

EXPOUND

WHERE ACTING LIKE SAULS

RUNNING AND COWERING DOWN TO THE DEMANDS OF THE ENEMY

GOD IS TRYING TO RAISE DAVIDS

THOSE WHO WILL STAND AGAINST WHEN EVERYONE ELSE IS COWERING DOWN TO THE ENEMY.

IT’S TIME TO STAND UP TOGETHER

UNITED IN PURPOSE AND DESIRE

THE WORSHIP TEAM IS GOING TO PLAY

AND THESE ALTARS ARE OPEN

COME THIS MORNING

LETS PRAY FOR COURAGE IN OUR SITUATION

LETS PRAY TOGETHER FOR THE HOLY BOLDNESS THAT COMES WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT