The Power & The Pressure

In the previous chapter of Acts, chapter 2, we saw the birth of the Church.

The Holy Spirit came down, and everything changed.

But here in Acts 3 and 4, we see something just as important:

We see what happens when the Church leaves the building and enters the world.

Because it’s one thing to have power in the upper room

But completely another thing to walk in that power in a broken world.

And here’s the truth of it:

A Spirit-filled Church will always attract attention.

You can bet that if everyone of the members of this church were to rise up and start praying for sick people,

And those sick people you were praying for started getting cured,

You can bet, there wouldn’t be pew open in this church,

And we would have every news outlet in here every week waiting to capture video of it.

But, that kind of attention will not always be positive.

The Bible tells is in Acts chapter 3, the power of God was on full display.

Then immediately after, it shows us in Acts chapter 4 shows us the pressure that followed.

And the dominant theme tying both chapters together is this:

The Gospel makes the Church unstoppable—even in the face of opposition.

Acts 3:1–10 NKJV

1 Now Peter and John went up together to the temple at the hour of prayer, the ninth hour. 2 And a certain man lame from his mother’s womb was carried, whom they laid daily at the gate of the temple which is called Beautiful, to ask alms from those who entered the temple; 3 who, seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple, asked for alms. 4 And fixing his eyes on him, with John, Peter said, “Look at us.” 5 So he gave them his attention, expecting to receive something from them.

Peter and John went to the temple to pray.

It was just a normal day, just a another normal routine.

But God interrupted their routine with a divine appointment.

There was a man—lame from birth—whom was laid daily at the gate called Beautiful.

He’s wasn’t expecting a miracle,

Instead he was expecting money.

But Peter said

Acts 3:6–10 NKJV

6 Then Peter said, “Silver and gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk.” 7 And he took him by the right hand and lifted him up, and immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength. 8 So he, leaping up, stood and walked and entered the temple with them—walking, leaping, and praising God. 9 And all the people saw him walking and praising God. 10 Then they knew that it was he who sat begging alms at the Beautiful Gate of the temple; and they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him.

“Silver and gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you:

In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk.”

And instantly,— he’s healed.

You see, this man didn’t need a handout,

What he needed was a transformation.

And church, that’s still true today.

That is one of the biggest handicaps in the Christian church today,

We a world full of people, / Christians just sitting at the “gate”

begging for their meaning

begging for their identity

Or begging for their hope

And the world keeps throwing money at them,

throwing them the coins they were conditioned to expect,

But what they really need is Jesus.

AMEN!

Illustration

Look at it this way,

You can give a man food, and he’ll eat for a day.

You can give a man money, and it’ll run out.

But when Jesus changes a life, He changes everything!

Church, we as the body of Christ don’t just offer charity

We offer Christ.

And when Christ steps in:

—broken people walk

—lost people are found

—dead hearts come alive

Now the crowd begins to gather.

Do you know why?

Because when God moves, people notice.

And Peter doesn’t waste the moment.

He begins to preach.

But notice what he DOESN’T say:

He doesn’t say:

“We did this”

Or “Look at our power”

Rather He said in

Acts 3:11–16 NKJV

11 Now as the lame man who was healed held on to Peter and John, all the people ran together to them in the porch which is called Solomon’s, greatly amazed. 12 So when Peter saw it, he responded to the people: “Men of Israel, why do you marvel at this? Or why look so intently at us, as though by our own power or godliness we had made this man walk? 13 The God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, the God of our fathers, glorified His Servant Jesus, whom you delivered up and denied in the presence of Pilate, when he was determined to let Him go. 14 But you denied the Holy One and the Just, and asked for a murderer to be granted to you, 15 and killed the Prince of life, whom God raised from the dead, of which we are witnesses. 16 And His name, through faith in His name, has made this man strong, whom you see and know. Yes, the faith which comes through Him has given him this perfect soundness in the presence of you all.

He said, “Why do you look so intently at us… as though by our own power… we had made this man walk?”

And then he pointed them straight to Jesus.

Peter’s message is bold, he says pointing to the Jews,

You denied Him

You rejected Him

You even crucified Him

But God raised Him from the dead.

And then he calls them to:

Repent and be converted.

Church, hear this clearly:

The miracle opened the door, But the message is what saves.

Now, we are living in a time where people want:

inspiration without repentance

blessing without surrender

church without conviction

But the Gospel still says: “Repent, and turn to God.”

Isn’t a wonder how in this world we live in,

People will celebrate a healed body, but reject the truth that confronts their sin.

They’ll even shout with you over the miracle,

“Praise the Lord,”

But yet, when repentance is preached, they go silent

Listen to me Church

We cannot stop at:

good works

kindness

outreach

We must declare bodly,

Jesus is the only way.

In Acts Chapter 4, where the tone shifts.

Because some in the same crowd that was amazed,

joined by the leaders now angry.

Acts 4:1–6 NKJV

1 Now as they spoke to the people, the priests, the captain of the temple, and the Sadducees came upon them, 2 being greatly disturbed that they taught the people and preached in Jesus the resurrection from the dead. 3 And they laid hands on them, and put them in custody until the next day, for it was already evening. 4 However, many of those who heard the word believed; and the number of the men came to be about five thousand. 5 And it came to pass, on the next day, that their rulers, elders, and scribes, 6 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.

Peter and John are arrested.

Why?

What was their crime?

Because they were preaching Jesus and the resurrection.

Let this sink in:

They weren’t arrested for doing wrong,

They were arrested for doing right.

Church, here’s a truth we must understand:

When the Church walks in power, the world is definitely going to push back.

The religious leaders question them about where they are getting their power to do these things:

Acts 4:7 NKJV

7 And when they had set them in the midst, they asked, “By what power or by what name have you done this?”

And Peter—filled with the Holy Spirit—responds:

Acts 4:8–11 NKJV

8 Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, “Rulers of the people and elders of Israel: 9 If we this day are judged for a good deed done to a helpless man, by what means he has been made well, 10 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. 11 This is the ‘stone which was rejected by you builders, which has become the chief cornerstone.’

And then he declares:

Acts 4:12 NKJV

12 Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.”

Now That’s boldness.

There was No compromise.

There was No softening the message.’

And did you see, this? There was No fear.

But are we are living in a culture that says:

“Don’t be so exclusive”

“There are many ways to God”

“Just be tolerant”

But the Scripture is clear, and it says,

There is only ONE name.

Illustration

Now, You can stand on truth, or you can stand with the crowd.

But you absolutely cannot do both.

Acts 4:23–28 NKJV

23 And being let go, they went to their own companions and reported all that the chief priests and elders had said to them. 24 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, 25 who by the mouth of Your servant David have said: ‘Why did the nations rage, And the people plot vain things? 26 The kings of the earth took their stand, And the rulers were gathered together Against the Lord and against His Christ.’ 27 “For truly against Your holy Servant Jesus, whom You anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles and the people of Israel, were gathered together 28 to do whatever Your hand and Your purpose determined before to be done.

So, after being threatened, they were released.

And what do they do?

They go right back to the church, and start praying.

But notice what they DON’T pray for:

They don’t pray:

“Lord, remove the opposition”

“Lord, make it easier”They pray:

Rather they pray for more boldness.

Acts 4:29 NKJV

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

And then something powerful happens:

The place is shaken

They are filled again with the Holy Spirit

They speak the Word with boldness

Now Church, don’t miss this:

Boldness doesn’t come from your inward personality somewhere deep within you that God miraculously waked up in you

No, It comes from prayer.

Church:

If we want boldness:

we need prayer meetings, not just committee meetings

we need the presence of God, not just planning meetings

Now again, hear me church,

The reason many believers stay silent, is not because they lack knowledge

It’s because they lack power.

Acts 4:32–37 NKJV

32 Now the multitude of those who believed were of one heart and one soul; neither did anyone say that any of the things he possessed was his own, but they had all things in common. 33 And with great power the apostles gave witness to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. And great grace was upon them all. 34 Nor was there anyone among them who lacked; for all who were possessors of lands or houses sold them, and brought the proceeds of the things that were sold, 35 and laid them at the apostles’ feet; and they distributed to each as anyone had need. 36 And Joses, who was also named Barnabas by the apostles (which is translated Son of Encouragement), a Levite of the country of Cyprus, 37 having land, sold it, and brought the money and laid it at the apostles’ feet.

Chapter 4 ends with a picture of unity.

They were:

one heart

one soul

generous

committee

And here’s the result:

33 And with great power the apostles gave witness to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. And great grace was upon them all.

Church,

Power + Boldness + Unity = an unstoppable Church

CLOSING CHALLENGE

Acts chapter 3 shows us the power of God.

Acts chapter 4 shows us the push back, or rather, the pressure of the world.

And the message is clear:

The Church cannot be stopped when it walks in the power of Jesus.

FINAL ILLUSTRATION

You can try to silence a voice,

But you cannot stop a movement fueled by the Holy Spirit.

Empires have tried.

Governments have tried.

Both ancient and modern Cultures pf the world have tried.

But the Church is still here.

Why?

Because it wasn’t built on manmade idea

It was built on Christ.

INVITATION

Let me ask you:

Have you experienced the transforming power of Jesus?

Are you living boldly for Him, or just comfortably silent for yourself?

Are you part of the mission, or just watching from the gate?

Consider this a Call to Action

If you’re lost → Repent and be saved

If you’re silent → Ask God for boldness

If you’re comfortable → Step into the mission field with us.