What we have seen and heard

Introduction

This is a part 2 to last week with Peter. (Explain briefly what we talked about last week)

Last week we talked about the testimony of Peter and it wraps up our testimony series. When we left Peter last week he had just been reinstated into ministry after denying Jesus three times and messing up royally. He made bold promises and caved in a moment where it mattered. He failed and he feels it. But Jesus outgraces him and meets him at the sea and says “Follow me” the first thing he ever said to him. He gave him a holy do-over. The next thing that happens is awesome.

Peter goes back to Jerusalem and waits for the Holy Spirit like Jesus tells the disciples to do.

Acts 1:8 you will receive power WHEN the Holy Spirit fills you. Now, notice here: don’t get it twisted…if you try to operate without the spirit of God on your own power you will be POWERLESS.

What is the primary thing that got Peter in so much trouble all of the time? HIS MOUTH

Now God is going to use the very thing that got him in so much trouble to bring Him the most glory. It’s not how you start it’s how you finish.

(Story of myself and my mouth. My mamaw told me to yell a cuss word in church and I actually did it)

The very first church service happens, and Peter the guy that gets in the most trouble with his mouth God uses his mouth to preach. And this is what he says: Acts 2:22-24

Acts 2:22–24 ESV

“Men of Israel, hear these words: Jesus of Nazareth, a man attested to you by God with mighty works and wonders and signs that God did through him in your midst, as you yourselves know— this Jesus, delivered up according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God, you crucified and killed by the hands of lawless men. God raised him up, loosing the pangs of death, because it was not possible for him to be held by it.

He says you heard of Jesus? Yep, you crucified him and you should surrender to him. And the Word says that the people were cut to the heart and they asked “Well what can we do to be saved?” And he said that’s easy “repent and be baptized and put your faith in the one that you crucified” and the bible says that they did. 3,000 people saved and baptized that day. The early church goes from 0 to 3,000 in one day.

Now we get to Acts 3.

v. 6 - did he get up and walk yet?

v.7 - Don’t miss this: Lipservice is worthless. By faith he helps the man up and he walks. Faith is acting as if you actually believe he is who he says he is and he keeps his promises. He doesn’t just speak the words over him but he reaches out and its through the reaching out in faith and the healing happens in Jesus name.

Where in your life have you been moved to act by faith and you didn’t act by faith? Maybe it’s sharing your faith or sharing your testimony. You have no idea what hangs in the balance of those conversations. Maybe it’s to pick up the phone and ask for forgiveness because that relationship isn’t going to be reconciled until you stretch out your hand by faith. Maybe it’s to go on that mission trip for the first time even though you think it’s too expensive.

Do whatever gives Jesus the most glory and you’ll never be wrong. Scary story of the talents.

We worship at the idol of safety like no other people in history.

The worst thing that I think that can be instilled in you is this: be careful.

Now don’t be careLESS. Don’t be dumb.

Don’t be careful, be COURAGEOUS.

Courageous vs. Careful

So another crowd forms. Peter begins to preach again. And he says a very similar message as he said the first time. He preaches Jesus.

Read Acts 3:15-16

Acts 3:15–16 ESV

and you killed the Author of life, whom God raised from the dead. To this we are witnesses. And his name—by faith in his name—has made this man strong whom you see and know, and the faith that is through Jesus has given the man this perfect health in the presence of you all.

This one gets him in trouble though. And we pick it up in chapter 4, he’s still speaking.

Read Acts 4:1-2

Acts 4:1–2 ESV

And as they were speaking to the people, the priests and the captain of the temple and the Sadducees came upon them, greatly annoyed because they were teaching the people and proclaiming in Jesus the resurrection from the dead.

You may want to jot this down. Any time there is unsanctioned life change from Jesus the religious people get greatly annoyed because it’s all about fear and control. It’s hard to schedule a good life change. Anybody ever notice that Jesus never operates by our calendar?

Read Acts 4:3-4

Acts 4:3–4 ESV

And they arrested them and put them in custody until the next day, for it was already evening. But many of those who had heard the word believed, and the number of the men came to about five thousand.

Dude, the guy giving the message is being handcuffed and dragged away, and 5,000 get saved.

Acts 4:5–7 ESV

On the next day their rulers and elders and scribes gathered together in Jerusalem, with Annas the high priest and Caiaphas and John and Alexander, and all who were of the high-priestly family. And when they had set them in the midst, they inquired, “By what power or by what name did you do this?”

Have you ever asked this question of yourself? By what power or by what name are you here? Like did I just operate in my own name and my own power in order to get where I am in my life right now? Did I get here because I am just trying to fulfill the expectations of everybody else? This wasn’t God’s plan for me this was my dad’s plan for me and if I share God’s plan dad won’t pay for college. Did you get where you are right now from obeying the voice of the good shepherd or are you just going with the flow?

Acts 4:8 ESV

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

This is a new category for Peter. Previously Peter wasn’t filled with the HS and he was always getting in trouble because he always did things his way. NOW he has turned over the reigns of his life and has been filled by the HS that’s going to give him the right words to say and the right motives.

Acts 4:9–12 ESV

if we are being examined today concerning a good deed done to a crippled man, by what means this man has been healed, let it be known to all of you and to all the people of Israel that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead—by him this man is standing before you well. This Jesus is the stone that was rejected by you, the builders, which has become the cornerstone. And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.”

Romans 3:20–22 ESV

For by works of the law no human being will be justified in his sight, since through the law comes knowledge of sin. But now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law, although the Law and the Prophets bear witness to it— the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe.

Acts 4:13 ESV

Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated, common men, they were astonished. And they recognized that they had been with Jesus.

Put last week and last week together. Something changed significantly in his life. 6 to 7 weeks before this he is denying Jesus. Now he is eye ball to eye ball with the people that could kill him. And he’s no longer warming himself by the fire, but is filled with the fire of the Holy Spirit.

What happened to him? How do you go from being full of fear to fearlessness?

Acts 4:14 ESV

But seeing the man who was healed standing beside them, they had nothing to say in opposition.

Acts 4:15–16 ESV

But when they had commanded them to leave the council, they conferred with one another, saying, “What shall we do with these men? For that a notable sign has been performed through them is evident to all the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and we cannot deny it.

It’s hard to argue with a changed life.

Acts 4:17–18 ESV

But in order that it may spread no further among the people, let us warn them to speak no more to anyone in this name.” So they called them and charged them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus.

What’s Peter going to do?

Acts 4:19–20 ESV

But Peter and John answered them, “Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you rather than to God, you must judge, for we cannot but speak of what we have seen and heard.”

What we have seen and heard!!!!! He has tasted and seen that the Lord is good.

4:23 - They went back to their friends, I hope you guys have godly friends to go to.

Is prayer a last resort or a first response?

The prayer for boldness and proclamation of the gospel of Jesus PRECEDES the hand to heal but we lack the prayer life and the boldness to proclaim the gospel of Jesus. You can’t have one without the other.

4:30 - When was the last time you were praying and the place was shaken? We want the results of God but we don’t want to go to the Sovereign Lord. We want to be about your business.

4:31 - It starts with a bold move. What got them in trouble was a bold move. And the way that it ends is a prayer that God would continue to give them the BOLDNESS to speak the word of God.

And the reason that we are here right now on the other side of the world in a church, is because of the boldness of the early church to speak the gospel with boldness.

Are we too safe, too comfortable, too tame, too cautious? Have we lost our boldness?

Land the Plane

We are at a moment right now in the life of our church and in the life of this student ministry specifically that I believe God is beginning to turn this thing into a movement. This is a pivotal moment though. Because it can either spread like wildfire or it can be put out. That’s the unique thing about beginnings like this. And it takes a particular boldness to keep pushing it forward. And these moments require a decision…are we going to opt for careful and comfortable? Or are we going to choose courage?

Do you know what hangs in the balance of what we’re asking God? You have no idea.