It's Not About Us

One of the great traditions we have in the Black Church is the call and response worship style. It is a beautiful thing really. If you have never thought about it you may take for granted. In our context we can talk back to the preacher, singer, person praying, or even the child doing a speech. If the preacher says, “can I get a amen?” that is the call, the response is “amen, preacher”. If the singer says after the first verse of the song “can I say that again” someone might say, “sing chil’e”? If a person is praying their heart out and you agree with what they are praying you might say, “Yes Lord” in agreeance with the prayer. When that little child is supposed to give an Easter speech and they forget the words, someone might say, “That’s all right”. If a person starts crying during their testimony we say, “Take you time”. And finally, my favorite and it can be used in all the mentioned situations is this phrase, “let God use you.” This lets the person know to let go and let God. And that seems to be the nature of how God operates. When we can’t, God can. When we don’t have the words God gives them to us. When we can’t find a note, God can guide us. When we get emotional in prayer, God will intercede with groaning we can’t understand. When we forget what we were going to say, God can remind of us of our words. When you avail yourself unto God He will add strength to your strength and give you ability beyond what you can naturally do.

1. It’s not because of You…But Jesus

Peter addresses the crowd and their amazement. They are supersized that this has happened and they immediately turn their attention to Peter and John. And before Peter gets a chance to relish in his part of the miracle he lets them know. it was not because of their power or piety.

The received “Power from on High” not Peter’s Power but Jesus.

Peter is the last person to be considered an example of godliness.

But then he tells them who it is about. “God glorified his servant Jesus”

2. It’s about You…but the Gospel of Jesus

The Gospel is good news. And good news is only good when compared to either bad news or bad conditions. Peter, approaches the death and resurrection of Jesus with first prefacing it with their responsibility in Jesus’s death. “But you disowned the Holy and Righteous One… and asked for a murderer to be granted to you,...” Our sin will have us to chose over Jesus. (Preach)

Prince of Life-we are witnesses

3. It’s about Faith…Through Jesus

Faith in His name..

What does it mean in his name? The name determines the character of a person. John 5:43 ““I have come in My Father’s name...”

So, Jesus name is above every name.

Faith through Him..

Creation came through him, Moses call, Israel’s deliverance, Sampson’s strength,

Redemption, power, resurrection, peace,