Young Avengers

Preached at: Mt Barker youth

Marvel intro:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=os2C0TdDphc

Who’s your favourite super hero?

What’s your favourite super hero moment?

Peter saves MJ: https://youtu.be/mdrXsFVT12s?si=XEzVZHd3u7TewKNL

I am Iron Man: https://youtu.be/TWB31WFomz4?si=DGxaxvfR-6RWi3X5

When you watch these clips who do you see as the hero?

I know when I was at Hoyts watching these moments for the first time, I pictured myself as the hero.

When we read the great heroic stories in the Bible, who do we see?

E.g., Moses splitting the Red Sea, Joshua conquering Jericho, David vs Goliath…

It’s easy to place ourselves as the hero in those stories, rather we should place Jesus as the hero in those stories.

E.g., Jesus delivers people out of their Egypt (sin), Jesus knocks down the walls that keep people from God’s promises, Jesus is the one who conquers our giants!

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1. Jesus is Our Hero

Ultimately Jesus is the hero in our story and we must continue to allow Him to be our hero!

If Jesus is our Hero, it means we have an enemy. Who is our enemy?

Ephesians 6:2 NLT, “For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places.”

People are not your enemy

That’s what the real enemy, the devil, wants you to think.

Turn to your neighbour and say, “You’re not my enemy.”

Turn to your neighbour and say, “I like your costume.”

Ephesians 2:1-3 NLT, “Once you were dead because of your disobedience and your many sins. 2 You used to live in sin, just like the rest of the world, obeying the devil—the commander of the powers in the unseen world. He is the spirit at work in the hearts of those who refuse to obey God. 3 All of us used to live that way, following the passionate desires and inclinations of our sinful nature (the flesh). By our very nature we were subject to God’s anger, just like everyone else.”

The three enemies of our soul are:

The world

The flesh

The devil

The world - This is all the peer pressure, social media influence, and cultural messages that pull you away from God's standards. Society will try make you think that you don’t need God, you can live the life you want with no consequences, to follow your heart, and decide what love is for yourself. The world influences you to compromise your values.

It pushes you to care more about popularity, than Godly clarity (what God wants for your life).

It pushes you to sit on the fence of falsehood, than at the table of truth.

It pushes you to desire material gain, than the eternal things which come with pain.

The flesh - This is our sin nature fighting against doing what’s right. It’s the inner voice that wants you to rebel, be selfish, or give into temptation. It's that part of you that wants to lie to get out of trouble, look at stuff you shouldn't, get revenge when someone hurts you, or put yourself first even when you know it's wrong.

It nudges you to choose comfort over character.

It nudges you to get revenge, when God says that’s mine to avenge.

It nudges you to seek temporary pleasure over lasting treasure.

The devil - This is Satan himself actively trying to mess with your life. He wants you to believe lies like “you’re not good enough,” “God doesn’t really love you,” “did God really say you shouldn’t do that?” or “just this once won’t hurt.” He tries to make you doubt God, feel hopeless, or think you’ve messed up way too much to be forgiven. John 10:10 says the devil comes to “kill, steal, and destroy” your life.

He wants you to choose isolation over restoration.

He wants you to live in shame and condemnation, rather than freedom and celebration.

He wants you to focus on your failures and past, rather than God's faithfulness that will last.

It’s been quoted, “The greatest trick the Devil ever pulled was convincing the world he didn't exist.”

The greatest trick he pulls on Christians is convincing them he’s not part of the problem.

If he can get our eyes on flesh and blood, than we’re distracted from his presence.

JESUS CAME AND DEFEATED THEM ALL!

Ephesians 2:4-5, 8-9 NLT, “4 But God is so rich in mercy, and he loved us so much, 5 that even though we were dead because of our sins, he gave us life when he raised Christ from the dead… 8 God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God. 9 Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it.”

Our sin meant we needed saving.

Our salvation was not a product of anything we have done or could do.

And Jesus isn’t just a one-time hero, but He continues to rescue us…

as Psalm 46:1 NIV says, “God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.”

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If you could have any superpower what would you have?

While Jesus is our Hero, He wants to give us all a super power!

And what if I told you this super power gives you:

a boldness to share about God effectively,

an ability to live out your God-given purpose,

a new language to speak,

wisdom beyond your education,

and an ability to move in the miraculous!

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2. The Power of the Holy Spirit is Our Super Power

Acts 1:4-5, 8 NIV, “Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about. 5 For John baptised with water, but in a few days you will be baptised with the Holy Spirit… 8 you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

Power is the Greek word “Dynamis” = power displayed in miracles or, more generally, the ability of God or people to carry out their purposes.

In other words, God enables His people to accomplish His work, wherever and whatever it is!

God's own supernatural ability flowing through us to accomplish His mission!

This is how powerful the power of the HS is…

Jesus’ disciple Peter wanted to be the hero time and time again.

Our boy Peter:

Sees Jesus walking on water and tries doing the same, he then sees the wind, becomes afraid and begins to sink. So Jesus had to rescue him (Matt. 14:22-33).

At Jesus’ transfiguration, where Elijah and Moses appeared from heaven talking with Jesus, Peter impulsively offered to make three tents. Then the voice of God from heaven had to interrupt him (Matt. 17:1-6).

Before Jesus’ betrayal, Peter promises Jesus that he’ll go to prison and even die for Jesus. Then he proceeds to deny Jesus three times (Luke 22:31-34, 54-62).

When Jesus was being arrested, Peter tried saving Him and cut off the ear of a the person arresting Jesus. So Jesus had to heal the guy’s ear, tell Peter to drop his sword, and that He could save Himself if He wanted to (John 18:10-11).

Peter had good intentions, but kept messing up when it mattered most.

He was brave enough to step out of boats and cut people’s ears off, but still sunk and denied Jesus when the pressure was on.

This is a picture of us.

People of good intention, wanting to do good in the world and to represent God well.

But if we’re not led by the Holy Spirit and if we don’t live with His power, we’ll simply only be those who’ll step out and keep sinking.

But then we see Peter receive baptism of the Holy Spirit in Acts 2…

Acts 2:1-4 NLT, “On the day of Pentecost all the believers were meeting together in one place. 2 Suddenly, there was a sound from heaven like the roaring of a mighty windstorm, and it filled the house where they were sitting. 3 Then, what looked like flames or tongues of fire appeared and settled on each of them. 4 And everyone present was filled with the Holy Spirit and began speaking in other languages, as the Holy Spirit gave them this ability.”

Peter, full of the Holy Spirit, then preaches to thousands of people and we read in Acts 2:41 NLT, “Those who believed what Peter said were baptised and added to the church that day—about 3,000 in all.”

This same Peter who denied Jesus in front of a few people, was now fearlessly sharing Jesus with thousands of people.

The very next chapter we read about Peter encountering a man who can’t walk and was begging people for money. He begged Peter and John for money, but then we see in:

Acts 3:4-8 NLT, “4 Peter and John looked at him intently, and Peter said, “Look at us!” 5 The lame man looked at them eagerly, expecting some money. 6 But Peter said, “I don’t have any silver or gold for you. But I’ll give you what I have. In the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene, get up and walk!” 7 Then Peter took the lame man by the right hand and helped him up. And as he did, the man’s feet and ankles were instantly healed and strengthened. 8 He jumped up, stood on his feet, and began to walk! Then, walking, leaping, and praising God, he went into the Temple with them.”

This same Peter who was chopping ears off, was now supernaturally healing people.

I WANT POWER WHERE THOSE I PRAY FOR WILL WALK, LEAP, AND PRAISE GOD!!!

I WANT POWER WHERE MIRACLES TAKE PLACE ALL AROUND ME!!!

He goes onto:

walk in a boldness to share about God effectively,

live out his God-given purpose,

speak a new language - a heavenly language,

wisdom beyond his education,

and receives the ability to move in the miraculous!

Acts 5:15-16 NIV, “…people brought the sick into the streets and laid them on beds and mats so that at least Peter’s shadow might fall on some of them as he passed by. 16 Crowds gathered also from the towns around Jerusalem, bringing their sick and those tormented by impure spirits, and all of them were healed.”

Average ordinary Petey boy was doing this!

How? By the power of the Holy Spirit!

Ephesians 1:19-20 NLT, “I also pray that you will understand the incredible greatness of God’s power for us who believe him. This is the same mighty power 20 that raised Christ from the dead and seated him in the place of honour at God’s right hand in the heavenly realms.”

When you’re Holy Spirit baptised, you’re filled with the same power that raised Jesus from the dead!

So point 1. Jesus is our Hero, and 2. The power of the Holy Spirit is our superpower

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And, in the wise words of uncle Ben before he took his last breath in Spider-Man…

3. With Great Power Comes Great Responsibility

Matt. 28:19-20, “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptising them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

Our responsibility is to make disciples.

To reach the broken, lost, and hurting.

Our family and friends.

Next week we have Full Send.

We also are given a new language!

1 Cor. 14:1-4 NLT, “Let love be your highest goal! But you should also desire the special abilities the Spirit gives—especially the ability to prophesy. 2 For if you have the ability to speak in tongues, you will be talking only to God, since people won’t be able to understand you. You will be speaking by the power of the Spirit, but it will all be mysterious.”

The Navajo Code Talkers:

During WWII, the U.S. military recruited Navajo speakers to develop and use a secret code based on the Navajo language.

Navajo was chosen because it was unwritten, extremely complex, and virtually unknown outside of the Navajo people.

The Code Talkers developed a coded form of Navajo — it wasn’t just plain Navajo — where certain military terms had specific word substitutions (e.g., “turtle” meant tank, “iron fish” meant submarine).

They transmitted messages using voice radio or Morse code in this coded language.

This was so the enemy couldn’t interpret the key information they were saying.\

In a similar way, this is how speaking in tongues works.

Our enemy, the devil, can’t interpret what we’re communicating to God.

Only God understands!

And it’s a language that strengthens us and helps us when we don’t know what to pray.

My ACL healing testimony

I spoke in tongues as a 14-year old and God healed my knee in that very moment.

Testimony: Luan at youth camp, responded to the altar call for HS baptism, didn’t think anything happened… later on got angry that he lost a game, and as he walked away muttering words he started speaking in tongues!

Luke 10:18-19 NIV, “18 He replied, “I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. 19 I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy; nothing will harm you.”

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Prayer

a) Prayer for HS baptism

b) Prayer for salvations