The Power of God

Introduction

Background: Jesus has commissioned His disciples, He has ascended to Heaven, these Apostles are now witnessing to the Jewish people and they beginning to build the very first church known as the “early church.” Jesus gave them a commandment to stay in Jerusalem until the Holy Spirit comes, the Holy Spirit filled them on the Day of Pentecost, and now, here in chapters 3 and 4, we are seeing both the power of the name of Jesus and the resistance that comes against Him and His witnesses.

Context: Where we are in the Bible is Peter and John have been arrested for openly declaring that Jesus has risen from the dead. Now what we have are two eye witnesses, that’s Peter and John, and what they are doing is just giving an account of what they saw. Here’s an interesting reality about this. These disciples were under threat of death, and they didn’t go back on their testimony. It’s often been said that people will die for a lie they believe is true, but nobody will die for something they know isn’t true. It didn’t matter what you did to these men, they said, “We know it’s true because we have seen it.” Now, to the Jews, these are two witnesses, and that’s enough to fulfill the requirement for a valid testimony. These Sadducees cannot definitively say that they are lying, so what they are going to attempt to do is intimidate them into being quiet.

Peter and John are released, they go and they tell the others about what is happening, and they begin to pray. Did you hear that? When we are awaiting the will of God, we need to pray. When we are experiencing persecutions, we need to pray. When we are discouraged we need to pray, there is power when we pray in the name of Jesus.

We are here in Acts 4:5-31, and the first thing we are going to see is this eyewitness account, this testimony of the Apostles.

I. The Apostle’s Testimony

Acts 4:5–7 NKJV

And it came to pass, on the next day, that their rulers, elders, and scribes, as well as Annas the high priest, Caiaphas, John, and Alexander, and as many as were of the family of the high priest, were gathered together at Jerusalem. And when they had set them in the midst, they asked, “By what power or by what name have you done this?”

A Dishonest Question v. 7

Notice the question there in v. 7.

I want you to notice that this question is a dishonest question. It is a logical fallacy.

It means that this question was used to deflect rather than to understand. This is a question of authority.

Now, in classical debate, sometimes this tactic is used and it is called an “appeal to authority.” If the debater is good at what he is doing he will point out this fallacy, calling it exactly that, an “appeal to authority.”

Now what is an appeal to authority?

Let’s use the Sadducees for example.

What they are saying here by asking this question is, “We have the authority, you don’t, so how can you teach something and say something is true that we teach against? You don’t have any authority.

The point is, the Sadducees didn’t care if it was true or not, they were strictly arguing from a position of authority saying, you have no title or credentials, you cannot possibly be right.

Sadducees beliefs Here is what the Sadducees believed. They were more like the liberal scholars of the day, and they did not believe in the physical resurrection of the dead.

A Corrupt Court This court was also corrupt. It was composed of the priest’s family.

What was taking place in this day, just as in our day, is that positions in authority were being given to family members and had nothing to do with actual qualifications.

Warren Weirsby writes this, “When Annas was deposed from from the priesthood, Caiaphas, his son-in-law, was appointed. In fact, five of Annas’s sons held office at one time or another.”

This is classic nepotism, where these priests created a dynasty for themselves. Or, maybe as we understand it better, “keep it small and you keep it all.”

It was their job: Now, I will say this, that it was their job to investigate new teachings to check for accuracy. The issue is not their investigation, the issue is their appeal to authority.

Appeal to Authority on Jesus This very same tactic was used to condemn Jesus to the cross. The evidence didn’t matter. The facts didn’t matter. The only thing that mattered was their authority to do so.

Annas, the same one named here in Acts, held the first trial agains Jesus in John 18.

It was Caiaphas that held the second trail against our Lord.

This very same logic is used today.

We have today, people in academia, that think the state should tell us what to do. They say, “we are the state, you are the people, poor, uneducated, unable to think for yourself, we will do the thinking, you do the working.” They argue from a position of authority, they do not argue facts.

What about in the church? Have you ever heard of the pastor and deacons fighting about who has the authority?

A pastor will say, “well, I have a degree in ministry, what do you have?”

The Deacons will say, “You might have a degree, but I’ve been a deacon for 50 years.”

Meanwhile, the congregation is the one taking the blow.

We cannot argue from positions of authority. What’s right is right, and what’s wrong is wrong, and that’s the way it ought to be at all times in all situations.

Attempting to Discredit the Disciples

Now, the reason they were asking this question about authority is they were attempting to discredit the disciples. They did not want them to be able to logically or authoritatively say that Jesus has risen from the dead, so they challenge their authority on the matter.

Now what the Holy Spirit is getting ready to do is to show them the authority by which they speak.

Spirit-Filled Response v. 8-12

What we get in v. 8-12 is a Spirit-Filled Response.

Acts 4:8–12 NKJV

Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, “Rulers of the people and elders of Israel: If we this day are judged for a good deed done to a helpless man, by what means he has been made well, let it be known to you all, 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 stands here before you whole. This is the ‘stone which was rejected by you builders, which has become the chief cornerstone.’ Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.”

Peter makes his case

What Peter is now doing, after being filled by the Holy Spirit, is he is making the case that they speak on the authority of Christ, and their proof of their authority is in the healed beggar.

Look at some key things in this defense Peter gives.

The Bible says he is filled with the Holy Spirit.

We are at our best when we are filled with the Spirit of God. Now, any Christian can get this filling.

I believe that when you are faithful to witness, that you are filled.

I believe that when you are faithful to pray, you are filled.

When a lost person is saved, they have the Holy Spirit that indwells them and abides in them

1 Corinthians 12:13 NKJV

For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free—and have all been made to drink into one Spirit.

That is, we are all living by the Power of the Holy Spirit. He has consumed us, He indwells us, and we are to get our refreshment from Him.

Ephesians 5:18 NKJV

And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be filled with the Spirit,

This is that we do not live like we used to, and we do not get bogged down by sin like we used to, that we are continually, day by day, filled with His Holy Spirit.

The Bible speaks two ways that we ignore this filling.

We quench the Spirit

We grieve the Spirit

To quench the Spirit means to limit Him by your unbelief.

To grieve the Spirit means to be filled with sin instead of the Spirit. - The Bible says that we are to walk in newness of life, that we are not to be overtaken by the lusts of the world, but that we are to ask God for forgiveness, showing true repentance, and then walking in the Power of the Holy Spirit.

So, Peter is aligned with God, doing the will of God, and now he is filled with the Holy Spirit.

Peter points to the evidence.

He just simply says, “Look at the change in this man’s life! You can know that Jesus Christ, the miracle worker, is still alive and has appeared to us, because He is still working.”

Church, can I tell you today that Jesus Christ is still working? He hasn’t died, He lives!

Why do you live your life in defeat like our Lord has been defeated? His blood bought us, His Spirit fills us, and His power reigns in us.

We don’t have to walk around burdened by life and death, we have a God Who has conquered it all, and all you need to do, is look around and see the evidence.

He points them to salvation

He is filled with the Holy Spirit, he points to the evidence of the lame man, and then he points them to Christ.

v. 12, “Nor is there salvation in any other than Jesus Christ. All authority belongs to Him.”

You say, “What evidence do I have today to point at and give evidence for Christ?” - that’s a very good question.

What you have in your possession today is an evidence that is more sufficient than a lame man made to walk, it is something that is living and active and sharper than any two edged sword, it is the Word of God.

Romans 10:17 NKJV

So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

You say, “Dylan, will that really work? If I give the Scripture to someone, will they come to faith?”

First, I’ll say that if you don’t give them the Scripture they will never come to faith.

Second, I want you to write down this verse.

Jeremiah 23:29 NKJV

“Is not My word like a fire?” says the Lord, “And like a hammer that breaks the rock in pieces?

What is the rock he is talking about? It is the stone heart of the sinner.

When a sinner is repeatedly exposed to the Word of God, it acts like a sledgehammer against a rock, and begins to chip away.

You have the greatest sign of all time, it is the Word of God and the witness of God’s Holy Spirit.

Peter, who was Spirit-Filled, who provided the evidence, and who pointed to Christ, is now awaiting their response.

II. The Sanhedrin’s Rejection

Acts 4:13 NKJV

Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated and untrained men, they marveled. And they realized that they had been with Jesus.

Here are the valid witnesses.

They, the leaders, have validated in their minds that these men have been walking with Jesus. They recognize that there is no way these men could do what they are doing unless they had power and authority.

The Bible says they marveled at them.

When a sinner comes face to face with a Spirit-Filled person, it is an experience they will marvel at. The Holy Spirit will begin to speak through you in a way that you cannot replicate on your own.

One day we’re at a restaurant, and I begin to share with the guy ringing me up, and when I get done sharing with him, I go and sit down and Elizabeth says, “Why were you talking so loud?”

And that’s not a usually an odd thing to me because I know I’m loud…but that time, I was trying to be pretty private with it. Mostly because it’s hard to convert someone if everyone is listening in.

She said, “Everyone in the restaurant could hear what you were saying.” Today, I still think that had to be the Holy Spirit. I remember that so vividly because I was honestly trying to have a one on one conversation.

Acts 4:14 NKJV

And seeing the man who had been healed standing with them, they could say nothing against it.

We have the valid witnesses, now we have the valid proof.

This proved two things,

They were able to perform miracles.

They got their power from Jesus who was their Master.

The evidence is so strong they really cannot argue against it.

There are many people that want to argue with you about the Scripture.

They want to argue logically and philosophically, but try as they might, the proof is in abundance, and the only way to get around the existence of God, the existence of Sin, and the need for salvation, is to perform mental gymnastics worthy of a Gold medal.

Some people believe they are too good for God, some believe they are too evil for God, all of them believe they are too smart for God.

The greatest evidence of God is creation itself. The world works in such a way that it had to be created. That is a wonderful truth that I think about every time I see the mountains or a sun set.

Acts 4:15–16 NKJV

But when they had commanded them to go aside out of the council, they conferred among themselves, saying, “What shall we do to these men? For, indeed, that a notable miracle has been done through them is evident to all who dwell in Jerusalem, and we cannot deny it.

We have human reasoning

Some people will hear that and say, “All you Christians are against reasoning! You cannot defend God. You want to believe in some sky fairy and call it faith. You are against reason.”

But hold on, I didn’t say I am against reasoning, I am just against human reasoning.

How is it that a man feels comfortable raping a woman or preying on small children? Human reason.

How is it that a man feels justified in taking other’s belongings? Human reason

How is it that a woman feels justified in gossiping against her friend or neighbor? Human reasoning.

Humanity is evil, wicked, and our minds are darkened.

Jesus is the light and His ways our higher than our ways, and His ways are not filled with perversion, they are filled with goodness.

Here is another classic example of human reasoning…the evidence is so strong, but in thier hearts they are reasoning themselves to Hell and condemnation.

There are some of you in here today, and you, in your life, other than your church attendance, other than by you being here today, cannot, with any sort of evidence, prove to be a child of God.

“Dylan, ain’t church good enough?” Just cause you’re standing in a garage doesn’t make you a car. Just going to a stadium doesn’t make you an athlete. Just going to church does not make you a Christian. What makes you a Christian is by doing what Acts 16:31 says, “to believe on the Lord Jesus Christ.”

What kind of sinful reasoning is in your heart today?

Do you believe that pornography isn’t that bad?

Do you believe that withholding your tithe is not robbing God?

Do you believe that not sharing the Gospel is alright with God, so long as you come to church when you’re supposed to?

That’s human reasoning.

We need to get into the Word of God and have Godly reasoning.

Acts 4:17–22 NKJV

But so that it spreads no further among the people, let us severely threaten them, that from now on they speak to no man in this name.” So they called them and commanded them not to speak at all nor teach in the name of Jesus. But Peter and John answered and said to them, “Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you more than to God, you judge. For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard.” So when they had further threatened them, they let them go, finding no way of punishing them, because of the people, since they all glorified God for what had been done. For the man was over forty years old on whom this miracle of healing had been performed.

They couldn’t silence them, they couldn’t reason themselves out of it, so what they tried to do is intimidate them.

Elizabeth and I are in Washington D.C. and we are evangelizing there…we have a tent set up just under the Washington Monument…and guy walks up…he’s swole, He’s got long hair, he’s got a deep, powerful voice, he is wearing combat boots, and he comes to confront me and trip me up logically.

When we get to the point where he doesn’t think he can trip me up, he begins to shout, and point, telling everyone that I am too dumb to know the Bible that I preach.

What he was trying to do was intimidate me into being quiet and leaving.

The forces of Hell will work to discourage you, to frighten you, and to intimidate you, but we have to remember that we have with us the Holy Spirit and the Word of God.

I would venture to say that most of you in this room today don’t share your faith because you are intimidated.

You are afraid of what they’ll think, you’re afraid of a question they’ll ask, you’re afraid you don’t have what it takes.

but God has not asked you to be a theologian, He has asked you to be a faithful witness and to say, “You can believe what you want, but I’ve had an encounter with the person of Jesus Christ. I’ve had an encounter with the Holy Spirit when He pointed out my sin and then pointed me to my Salvation.”

Don’t reason your way out, don’t let them intimidate you, don’t try to outsmart them, and don’t make it about them or about you, make it all about Jesus Christ and what He has done.

III. The Believer’s Source of Power

Acts 4:23 NKJV

And being let go, they went to their own companions and reported all that the chief priests and elders had said to them.

Their Powerful Fellowship

I don’t know the reaction that Peter and John had to the initial intimidation. But I do know the first thing they did was go and find refuge at that time in what would have been their church family.

Some people believe they don’t need the church. Someone will say that they are a Christian but it’s not necessary for them to be in church…but if you are not in church you are limiting your relationship with God.

I know it can be hard, I mean, sometimes people in the church can be hard to get along with…but getting along with them, loving them, having the courage to speak truth into their life is the process of becoming more like Christ.

Think about this, when Jesus saved you, were you easy to deal with? Were you ever a wayward child to your Father God? How many times in your life have you had to ask God to forgive you for something you did, said, or thought? It might be hard to love people in the church, but that’s exactly what God does for us, and that’s exactly what we need to do for others.

1 John 4:19–21 NKJV

We love Him because He first loved us. If someone says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen, how can he love God whom he has not seen? And this commandment we have from Him: that he who loves God must love his brother also.

And what is love? Love is actionable. These men, Peter and John went to their brothers and sisters in a time of distress, and we see an actionable response.

Their Powerful Response

Acts 4:24 NKJV

So when they heard that, they raised their voice to God with one accord.

Peter and John go to their earthly source of power and encouragement, that is the local body of believers…these believers took an actionable response that is going to shake the foundations of the place they are in. It is going to give this church the boldness to confront this discouragement and it is going to cause the church to continue in their growth.

It’s important to note here that these people didn’t just sympathize with Peter and John. They didn’t just say, “Aw man, that’s tough…what are you going to do?” You know, like we do so many times? We have our brothers and sisters there with us, pouring their burdens out to us, and what do we do? We sympathize, we empathize, we begin to share our story, sometimes you get in a room with someone and it’s like they’re trying to one-up your misery.

What we need to do when someone comes to us, is we need to, right then say, “Let’s pray”. You put your hand on them, you put your arm around them, and you, right there, no matter where you are, lift them up in prayer.

“Lift them up in prayer” is not just an expression. When you pray for someone like that, when you are daily filled with the Spirit of God, and you pray over someone in their time of need, their spirit will literally be lifted. It will be like a weight that will come off of them, and they will be refreshed and they will begin the journey of peace.

Philippians 4:6–7 NKJV

Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

How do we get the peace of God? We pray. And when our brother or sister is too weak to pray for themselves, we get in there with them and we intercede on their behalf. We intercede for them like we’d want someone interceding for us.

The reason why we empathize, the reason why we try and give our two cents is because we think we can be the solution to their problem. But there is no man or no person that can be the solution to these earthly pains. The only Person that can solve these earthly sorrows is Jesus Christ, Who has won the victory in us and for us.

Did you hear what Philippians said? It says that His peace “surpasses all understanding.” Not some, not most, but all understanding. If you are in this room today and you think you have advice to give that is greater than prayer, then you need to get back into the scripture and read that again.

“The peace of God that surpasses all understanding.”

Their Powerful Prayer

Acts 4:24 NKJV

So when they heard that, they raised their voice to God with one accord and said: “Lord, You are God, who made heaven and earth and the sea, and all that is in them,

Acts 4:25 NKJV

who by the mouth of Your servant David have said: ‘Why did the nations rage, And the people plot vain things?

Acts 4:29 NKJV

Now, Lord, look on their threats, and grant to Your servants that with all boldness they may speak Your word,

Do you see how they prayed here?

First, they praised.

They began to praise God. When they came before Him, and when you go before Him, the first thing you need to do is praise Him.

Second, they recited the Scripture.

Whenever you pray, the best thing to pray to God is the promises He has made you in His word.

Example: “God, I am so worried about this…You are a God who grants us peace. You say that if we will bring our request to You, You will give us peace. Lord, I want You to see my thoughts and I want You to know my anxiety, and I want you to give me Your peace.”

Third, they began to plead with God.

v. 29…they prayed and they prayed and they prayed….they were consistent and they were persistent.

God’s Powerful Filling

Acts 4:31 NKJV

And when they had prayed, the place where they were assembled together was shaken; and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and they spoke the word of God with boldness.

Now, what people are in danger of reading here is that “because they prayed” It’s not because they prayed…it’s when they prayed. Sometimes we ask God for something and we think that just because we ask we are going to get it.

You know how your kids are in the grocery store. They might ask for a million things, and they get one of them, and now they think that every time they ask they deserve it.

That’s how we work. We think that just because we ask God to give that He should give it.

God gives in His time, in His way, for His glory…but God will never give if we are not open to receiving what He is going to do.

That’s it…that’s what is happening here. All they did was open their hearts and say, “God, we know that it is your will to preach about Your Son…they have threatened our brothers into silence…give our brothers boldness to speak Your truth and do what you commanded.”

That’s what the prayer was for. It wasn’t for self, it was for the glory of God. And when they were filled…v. 31 says they began to speak the Word of God with boldness.

Jesus preaches this principle in the sermon on the Mount.

Matthew 6:33 NKJV

But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.

That’s material goods, spiritual boldness, mental health, and emotional stability.

Conclusion

Church, I pray that you begin to see the power that prayer will bring into your life.

That is:

Prayer doesn’t put God into your plans…prayer allows you to participate in God’s plans