Lessons In Persistence

Thank you from the honor of being allowed to bring todays message.

Thank you Mrs. Gilmore for reaching out

Before we get started I do have a question for you today, feel free to respond,

What is the most important things we as Christians are supposed to do?

I feel the most important thing for use to focus on after we find Christ is to show others how to find him..

We all can know its important but here are some

Life Way Research Study

In the past six months, most have spoken about their beliefs with loved ones at least once, including having a conversation about faith (53%) and sharing a story about what God has done in their lives (52%).

In the past six months, few Christians say they have shared with a non-Christian loved one (38%) or a stranger (30%) how to become a Christian, according to an @EEvangelism and @LifewayResearch study.

 Around 1 in 7 (14%) say they try to bring up faith in conversations with everyone, while more than a quarter (28%) look for natural opportunities to bring up faith. Close to a third of Christians (32%) say they answer faith questions if asked or comment if others bring it up. Around 1 in 5 (21%) say they won’t talk about faith with most people.

(65%) agree sharing with a nonbeliever how they can become a Christian is the most loving thing they can do for them, 

More than 2 in 5 Christians (42%) say sharing with a non-believer how they can become a Christian is scary, according to an @EEvangelism and @LifewayResearch study.

Acts 5:12–42 (ESV) 12 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. 13 None of the rest dared join them, but the people held them in high esteem.

There are plenty of people that love to listen to the stories from the bible but haven't allowed them to move to heir heart and hands.

14 And more than ever believers were added to the Lord, multitudes of both men and women, 15 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. 16 The people also gathered from the towns around Jerusalem, bringing the sick and those afflicted with unclean spirits, and they were all healed.

Where God is moving, people pay attention

People were doing all they could to get to the apostles, to hear their message, to expreance the mericals

People today are wanting something similar, people are hungry for purpose, genuineness, Love. This is excitly what the gospels offer.

17 But the high priest rose up, and all who were with him (that is, the party of the Sadducees), and filled with jealousy 18 they arrested the apostles and put them in the public prison.

19 But during the night an angel of the Lord opened the prison doors and brought them out, and said, 20 “Go and stand in the temple and speak to the people all the words of this Life.” 21 And when they heard this, they entered the temple at daybreak and began to teach.

God asked the apostles, that were just imprisoned for sharing the gospel, to go back and do it again.

and they did.

We can not continue the excuses about our inablility to share the gospel, we must make it a point to do it no matter the cost

Now when the high priest came, and those who were with him, they called together the council, all the senate of the people of Israel, and sent to the prison to have them brought. 22 But when the officers came, they did not find them in the prison, so they returned and reported, 23 “We found the prison securely locked and the guards standing at the doors, but when we opened them we found no one inside.”

God got them out in a way that not even the guards at the door saw them leave.

24 Now when the captain of the temple and the chief priests heard these words, they were greatly perplexed about them, wondering what this would come to. 25 And someone came and told them, “Look! The men whom you put in prison are standing in the temple and teaching the people.” 26 Then the captain with the officers went and brought them, but not by force, for they were afraid of being stoned by the people. 27 And when they had brought them, they set them before the council. And the high priest questioned them, 28 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.”

Notice there comeplaints

one that they were preaching in the name of Jesus

questioning the athority of the religious leaders

and two, that the aposles were blaming them for the death of Jesus.

Because it was

29 But Peter and the apostles answered, “We must obey God rather than men. 30 The God of our fathers raised Jesus, whom you killed by hanging him on a tree. 31 God exalted him at his right hand as Leader and Savior, to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins. 32 And we are witnesses to these things, and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey him.”

Peter didn't stand down

nether should we,

Truth is truth no matter how hard it is to hear.

33 When they heard this, they were enraged and wanted to kill them. 34 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. 35 And he said to them, “Men of Israel, take care what you are about to do with these men. 36 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. 37 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. 38 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; 39 but if it is of God, you will not be able to overthrow them. You might even be found opposing God!”

Christianity is something differnt

something that has lasted for 2000 years,

something that have lasting no matter how many times it was ment to be wiped out

There is something about the name of Jesus, that sets it different from the rest

So they took his advice, 40 and when they had called in the apostles, they beat them and charged them not to speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go. 41 Then they left the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer dishonor for the name. 42 And every day, in the temple and from house to house, they did not cease teaching and preaching that the Christ is Jesus.

Count it as joy when you face tribulations

Peter did.

We should

3 Lessons to learn today.

We Must Obey God

1 Samuel 15:22 (ESV)

22 And Samuel said, “Has the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to listen than the fat of rams.

John 14:15 (ESV)

15 “If you love me, you will keep my commandments.

We keep his commandments

Matthew 28:18–20 (ESV)

18 And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

We must Be Like the apostles and Imitate Christ

Philippians 3:17 (ESV)

17 Brothers, join in imitating me, and keep your eyes on those who walk according to the example you have in us.