Peter and John have made a bold stand for Jesus, but that doesn’t mean that they won’t encounter resistance to the Good News…

They Had Been with Jesus

Acts 4:13–22 “13 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. 14 But seeing the man who was healed standing beside them, they had nothing to say in opposition.

Our source is Christ

Luke 21:12–15 “12 But before all this they will lay their hands on you and persecute you, delivering you up to the synagogues and prisons, and you will be brought before kings and governors for my name’s sake. 13 This will be your opportunity to bear witness. 14 Settle it therefore in your minds not to meditate beforehand how to answer, 15 for I will give you a mouth and wisdom, which none of your adversaries will be able to withstand or contradict.” - the preparation, if any, comes before the battle

2. Our sufficiency is from God

2 Corinthians 3:5–6 “5 Not that we are sufficient in ourselves to claim anything as coming from us, but our sufficiency is from God, 6 who has made us sufficient to be ministers of a new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit. For the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.”

3. Our message is, “Jesus is Lord”

2 Corinthians 4:5–7 “5 For what we proclaim is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, with ourselves as your servants for Jesus’ sake. … 7 But we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us.”

A Spirit of Resistance

Whenever God is preparing or beginning to do a good work amongst His people, resistance arises…

Acts 4:15 But when they had commanded them to leave the council, they conferred with one another, 16 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. 17 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.” 18 So they called them and charged them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus.

John 15:18–21 “18 “If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you. 19 If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. 20 Remember the word that I said to you: ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you. If they kept my word, they will also keep yours. 21 But all these things they will do to you on account of my name, because they do not know him who sent me.”

Matthew 10:19–20 “19 When they deliver you over, do not be anxious how you are to speak or what you are to say, for what you are to say will be given to you in that hour. 20 For it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you.”

Standing For Truth

19 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, 20 for we cannot but speak of what we have seen and heard.”

1 Peter 3:15 “15 but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect,”

Philippians 1:27–29 “27 Only let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of you that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving side by side for the faith of the gospel, 28 and not frightened in anything by your opponents. This is a clear sign to them of their destruction, but of your salvation, and that from God. 29 For it has been granted to you that for the sake of Christ you should not only believe in him but also suffer for his sake,”

Acknowledging weakness

Ex 4:10-12 I am not eloquent

Jer. 1:6-9 I don’t know how to speak

21 And when they had further threatened them, they let them go, finding no way to punish them, because of the people, for all were praising God for what had happened. 22 For the man on whom this sign of healing was performed was more than forty years old.”

How Then Shall We Live?

God’s Spirit will fill empty vessels.

Honor Christ as Lord in our hearts.

We will see God leading when we open our eyes.

Are we missing what God is doing simply because we are not looking/listening for it?

Is it evident that we “…have been with Jesus”

Bold Prayers

Lord, I surrender to You

Please fill me with Your Spirit

Overflow me with Your Spirit

Help me to live from the overflow of your Spirit in me instead of my own strength and wisdom

Do what you must to make me your own

Bold Actions

take charge of my schedule instead of being ruled by the calendar

win my morning battle

purge my apathy toward being the spiritual leader of my home, my finances, my personal choices

step forward in follower-ship

step forward in leadership

speak up for the cause of Christ

establish Godly priorities for my life and the life of my family

conduct myself in alignment with God’s will, even when that is in contradiction to the world around me