Acts 5- God Works through His Faithful

Stay true to the Word

One of the greatest lies that enemy has sold the church is that the Word of God is not for us today-

What God did in the past He won’t do today

Many have exchanged the power of God for light shows, and tech displays

Many have exchanged the truth of Word of God for virtue teachings that demand nothing from us

Many have exchange the Lordship of Jesus for the convenience of our time

Luke 14:26 ESV

“If anyone comes to me and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple.

Matthew 16:24 ESV

Then Jesus told his disciples, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.

With this commitment to Christ come the great exchange everything that is of ourselves

our desires

our lusts

our personal agendas

our comfort

For His

Kingdom

Will

Peace

Favor

This is the great exchange that we commit ourselves to, And the more we get out of the way, the more He increases and Does amazing things in our and through our lives

John 3:30 ESV

He must increase, but I must decrease.”

Be a Vessel-

Romans 12:1–2 ESV

I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.

Be A Vessel that is consecrated to the Lord-

Joshua 3:5 ESV

Then Joshua said to the people, “Consecrate yourselves, for tomorrow the Lord will do wonders among you.”

This means to be set apart for God to use-

For us it is to be used by God through the Power of the Holy Spirit-

Unless the Lord builds we labor in Vain!

Zechariah 4:6 ESV

Then he said to me, “This is the word of the Lord to Zerubbabel: Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, says the Lord of hosts.

the Early Believers were avalabile and ready

Acts 5:12–16 (ESV)

Now many signs and wonders were regularly done among the people by the hands of the apostles. And they were all together in Solomon’s Portico. None of the rest dared join them, but the people held them in high esteem. And more than ever believers were added to the Lord, multitudes of both men and women, so that they even carried out the sick into the streets and laid them on cots and mats, that as Peter came by at least his shadow might fall on some of them. The people also gathered from the towns around Jerusalem, bringing the sick and those afflicted with unclean spirits, and they were all healed.

When think of Spiritual Warfare- we think of what we see in movies or some epic battle that is unfolding

WE give the kingdom of darkness to much power

Miracles are not random acts of kindness by God’s benevolent love-

God does love this World -

He provides rain and sun

He does acts that sustains us everyday!

Miracles are the proof of Gospel-

When sick and disease are removed from someones lives it shows the Power of Gospel -

The Power of Kingdom of God

And that kingdom flows through the hungry

The People and the Apostle’s are seeking God daily- we cannot lose sight of that hunger

Only Take your marching orders from God-

Acts 5:27–32 ESV

And when they had brought them, they set them before the council. And the high priest questioned them, saying, “We strictly charged you not to teach in this name, yet here you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching, and you intend to bring this man’s blood upon us.” But Peter and the apostles answered, “We must obey God rather than men. The God of our fathers raised Jesus, whom you killed by hanging him on a tree. God exalted him at his right hand as Leader and Savior, to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins. And we are witnesses to these things, and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey him.”

As long as God has a plan for your life the enemy cannot take you out-

Hebrews 9:27 ESV

And just as it is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment,

so many people stay in the place of fear and never move into all that God has for them-

Here the Disciples’s are engaging in spiritual warfare, and the ones who think they are religious- are actually following their father the devil-

John 8:44–45 ESV

You are of your father the devil, and your will is to do your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks out of his own character, for he is a liar and the father of lies. But because I tell the truth, you do not believe me.

The truth of the Gospel and the testimony of your life is spiritual warfare!

Acts 5:33 ESV

When they heard this, they were enraged and wanted to kill them.

The Enemy knows He can’t win-

Acts 5:34–39 ESV

But a Pharisee in the council named Gamaliel, a teacher of the law held in honor by all the people, stood up and gave orders to put the men outside for a little while. And he said to them, “Men of Israel, take care what you are about to do with these men. For before these days Theudas rose up, claiming to be somebody, and a number of men, about four hundred, joined him. He was killed, and all who followed him were dispersed and came to nothing. After him Judas the Galilean rose up in the days of the census and drew away some of the people after him. He too perished, and all who followed him were scattered. So in the present case I tell you, keep away from these men and let them alone, for if this plan or this undertaking is of man, it will fail; but if it is of God, you will not be able to overthrow them. You might even be found opposing God!” So they took his advice,

“We might Just be Goliath in this situation!”

Ephesians 6:10–20 ESV

Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end, keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints, and also for me, that words may be given to me in opening my mouth boldly to proclaim the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains, that I may declare it boldly, as I ought to speak.

This is Spiritual warfare- it is constantly walking in a state where God can move through you

2 Timothy 4:2 ESV

preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching.