Is It Evident?

Introduction

The word evidence means “a thing or things helpful in formatting a conclusion or judgement.” In a court room, evidence is the documentary or oral statement that is admissible as testimony or proof. We have an insert in our bulletin where names of men have been listed to honor or remember them as fathers, grandfathers, uncles and brothers. We could tell stories of bravery and courage and how these men challenged us in life to be all we could be. We could tell stories of why we are honoring or memorializing them. The stories would be evidence of the lives that were lived and why we are paying tribute to them.

I recently ran across a list of some phrases and words that are quite memorable:

What if we

As I look as this list, I am reminded of many men of faith that have encouraged me over the years in my ministry and in my life. I have been reminded of several characteristics that I need to have in my life. Our text today highlights several of these characteristics and I want to share with you this morning from God’s Word how each of us and learn from the example of Peter and John.

In Acts chapters 3 and 4, we learn of how Peter and John came across a crippled beggar. The beggar pleaded for Peter and John to give them money. Peter looks straight at the man and tells him, “look at us.” Having the beggar’s undivided attention, Peter says, “Silver or gold I do not have, but what I have I give you. In the name of Jesus of Nazareth, walk.”

Acts 3:

The Bible says that the man was helped up and immediately his ankles and feet became strong and and began to walk. Peter then goes on to speak the witnesses and shares the fact that because of the resurrection of Jesus that God healed this man in the name of Jesus.

Here are some funny epitaphs from real tombstones:

We learn in Chapter 4 that many heard the message and believed. The Bible says the number of believers grew to about five thousand.. This was a concern for the religious leaders so they had Peter and John arrested. tells us that after the arrest, a court session took place where Peter and John were asked: “By what power or what name did you do this?” referring to the crippled beggar being healed. Peter speaks under the influence of the Holy Spirit and shares that it was through the Name of Jesus by which the man was healed. He says boldly, “Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to me by which we must be saved.” What a beautiful explanation of where you and I can find salvation. We don’t have to look anywhere else for salvation but in the Name of Jesus!

On the grave of Ezekial Aikle in East Dalhousie Cemetery, Nova Scotia: Here lies Ezekial Aikle Age 102 The Good Die Young.

The very next verse, , is our emphasis for today.

In a Thurmont, Maryland, cemetery: Here lies an Atheist All dressed up And no place to go.

In a London, England cemetery: Here lies Ann Mann, Who lived an old maid But died an old Mann. Dec. 8, 1767

Acts 4:13 NIV84

When they saw the courage of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished and they took note that these men had been with Jesus.

There are several things in this verse that can serve as an example for all of us. There are several things that we men could learn from this verse especially! There are three areas which we would do well to practice in our lives that would strengthen our church and our community.

First notices that these men were COURAGEOUS MEN.

Courageous Men

The religious rulers recognized the courage of Peter and John. They had just heard and watched them boldly proclaim the life changing gospel. The word courage means boldness and confidence. It comes from having a level of belief that is sure and unwavering. We have a God that is sure and unwavering and if we believe in Him and trust in His Word, we too can become a courageous people.

Peter and John boldly stood before the intimidating religious leaders and spoke without fear. They told the facts of the gospel that they had experienced and witnessed first hand. You can’t share what you don’t know.

Luke 22:8 NIV84

Jesus sent Peter and John, saying, “Go and make preparations for us to eat the Passover.”

They had come to understand what the law meant in :

Deuteronomy 31:6 NIV84

Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.”

Peter and John had become determined in their faith but it didn’t come easily. Peter had been the one who had denied Jesus. How excruciating it had to be for Peter to come to the place he was at now. We tend to think that things can come easily to us, but we must realize that there is a process we must endure as we are molded and shaped into the image of God. That process begins when we decide to trust God and His Word. When we do this, we have intention and direction. We are steadfast and strong.

I believe that when Peter and John recognized how big their God was, they became so determined that their very appearance changed. Their jaws were set, their posture upright.

Isaiah 50:7 NIV84

Because the Sovereign Lord helps me, I will not be disgraced. Therefore have I set my face like flint, and I know I will not be put to shame.

Can you set your face like flint because of your belief level in our Lord and know you will not be put to shame? Peter and John were able to do just that!

Ezekiel 3:9 NIV84

I will make your forehead like the hardest stone, harder than flint. Do not be afraid of them or terrified by them, though they are a rebellious house.”

Ezekiel

Now I have been called hard headed a time or two in my life, but if my life shows courage like Peter and John and a boldness like they had for Jesus, please call me hard headed! We need to have men in our church that are courageous and unashamed of the Gospel. We need courageous men that will be willing to stand up and lead for the sake of Christ. We need courageous men that will boldly share the love of Christ and lead others to do so. We need courageous men that will not wait for others to lead but set their faces as flint and go and do what God has called them to do.

You might say this is true for everybody not just the men. It is indeed. However, men, if you look at the work done in our church, our ladies are out doing us! They are the ones serving, they are the ones teaching, they are the ones making visits and contacts. Men, we can do better!

The example we learn from Peter and John is that they were courageous men. You might say, “I don’t know, we can’t be like a Peter or John. They were special.” If you study scripture, one thing you will see is that not only were they courageous men, they were common men.

Common Men

Our verse today says that Peter and John were “unschooled, ordinary men.” Unschooled means without learning or unlettered. It means nonprofessional or layman. Ordinary means outsider or an unskilled person.

Peter and John did not receive teaching or instruction from the Jewish schools. They were untrained to teaching, yet they became teachers. These men didn’t know much about philosophy or things of the rules and regulations of the temple. They were fishermen. They were hard workers. They probably blended in with all the other men in their community. Nothing really set them apart, until they found Jesus.

This tells me that we don’t have to be over educated or greatly skilled in one thing or another to be used by Jesus. We just have to be willing to trust Him wholeheartedly.

You might say, “I am not qualified or my past prevents me from doing anything for Jesus.” That is far from the truth. We don’t have to be pure and righteous to be used by Jesus. Peter denied Jesus at least 3 times. He flat out disowned Him. This reminds me that it doesn’t matter about what you have done in your past. It matters what you are doing now.

You might say, “Well I know I am forgiven of my past but I am not qualified to do anything.” Moses told God in :

Playing with names in a Ruidoso, New Mexico, cemetery: Here lies Johnny Yeast Pardon me For not rising.

Memory of an accident in a Uniontown, Pennsylvania cemetery: Here lies the body of Jonathan Blake Stepped on the gas Instead of the brake.

Exodus 6:30 NIV84

But Moses said to the Lord, “Since I speak with faltering lips, why would Pharaoh listen to me?”

In a Silver City, Nevada, cemetery: Here lays Butch, We planted him raw. He was quick on the trigger, But slow on the draw.

However, we see throughout the Book of Exodus that the Lord empowered and equipped Moses to be His spokesman and lead His people away from their bondage. You might say, “Well that is great, I am not a Moses or a Peter or a John.” You are right. You are not. However, just like them, you and I are made in the image of Almighty God. He has called each of us and gifted us to serve, be and do His work for the Kingdom. It is time we got up and said, “Yes Lord we will be obedient and do what you have called us to do!” Men we have to do better than what we have done. Peter and John did better because they were common men that said yes to an uncommon God!

A widow wrote this epitaph in a Vermont cemetery: Sacred to the memory of my husband John Barnes who died January 3, 1803 His comely young widow, aged 23, has many qualifications of a good wife, and yearns to be comforted.

If you go back to our verse in and carefully look at that statement, you will see that these courageous and common men had one thing that made them stand out and be different. They were connected.

Connected Men

A lawyer's epitaph in England:

In these incredible verses in and 4, we see that Peter and John had a clearness, a boldness, an assurance and an understanding of the scriptures. In fact, they had this clearness, boldness, assurance and understanding in such a way that they were able to confound the most experienced judge in the court. Why? Because they had been with Jesus! There is something about a relationship that trumps any other process of experience. They utilized the knowledge and experience of their relationship with Jesus. Are you training up under Jesus? Are you in a relationship with Him?

Sir John Strange Here lies an honest lawyer, And that is Strange.

These guys had been with Jesus. They were attentive to His Word. They prayed in His Name. They celebrated His death and resurrection. They lived their lives in a way they had been with Jesus. As a result, they were holy. They were heaven oriented. They were spiritual and cheerful because they knew that the life they had was temporary in this world and they were just passing through!

Someone determined to be anonymous in Stowe, Vermont: I was somebody. Who, is no business Of yours.

As I look men in our community and in our world, I see a whole lot of men connected to their egos. I see men connected to their passions. I see men connected to the almighty dollar. I see men that are fearful of being bold and courageous. I see men that are afraid to step up to the plate and lead in their churches and their communities. I see men that selfish and want to gain only their glory. God has called us to something radically different. He has called us to be courageous. He has called us to be common because then He can show His great power. But most of all, God has called us to be connected.

Lester Moore was a Wells, Fargo Co. station agent for Naco, Arizona in

Acts 4:12 NIV84

Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved.”

the cowboy days of the 1880's. He's buried in the Boot Hill Cemetery

We must turn from our selfishness and call out to the only Name under heaven that is able to give us salvation.

in Tombstone, Arizona: Here lies Lester Moore Four slugs from a .44 No Les No More.

Romans 10:13 NIV84

for, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”

Romans 10:13 NIV84

for, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”

In a Georgia cemetery: "I told you I was sick!"

Romans 10:12–13 NIV84

For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile—the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him, for, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”

On Margaret Daniels grave at Hollywood Cemetery Richmond, Virginia: She always said her feet were killing her but nobody believed her.

We can no longer be ashamed.

Romans 1:16 NIV84

I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile.

On Margaret Daniels grave at Hollywood Cemetery Richmond, Virginia: She always said her feet were killing her but nobody believed her.

Romans 1:16 NIV84

I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile.

her.

We can no longer be timid.

2 Timothy 1:7 NIV84

For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline.

In a cemetery in Hartscombe, England: On the 22nd of June - Jonathan Fiddle - Went out of tune.

We can no longer be timid.

2 Timothy 1:7 NIV84

For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline.

2 Timothy

Are you using your spirit of power, love and self-discipline to make an impact in this church and community?

Are you using your spirit of power, love and self-discipline to make an impact in this church and community?

We need leadership right now to help us establish a more effective men’s ministry and men’s bible studies. We have several that are capable right now to make it happen.

Obviously this is a message on Father’s Day to spur our men into making a difference for Jesus. However ladies, this is a challenge for you as well. Each one of us in this room are called to be courageous, to be common folks dedicated to an Uncommon God, and to be connected to Him through Jesus Christ His Son.

Acts 4:13 NIV84

When they saw the courage of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished and they took note that these men had been with Jesus.

In a few years when others look back at our lives, will it be evident that we had been with Jesus? Let’s make sure by starting right now.

In a few years when others look back at our lives, will it be evident that we had been with Jesus?

In a few years when others look back at our lives, will it be evident that we had been with Jesus?

Went out of tune.

Anna Hopewell's grave in Enosburg Falls, Vermont has an epitaph that

sounds like something from a Three Stooges movie: Here lies the body of our Anna Done to death by a banana It wasn't the fruit that laid her low But the skin of the thing that made her go.

More fun with names with Owen Moore in Battersea, London, England: Gone away Owin' more Than he could pay.

Someone in Winslow, Maine didn't like Mr. Wood: In Memory of Beza Wood Departed this life Nov. 2, 1837 - Age 45 yrs. Here lies one Wood Enclosed in wood One Wood Within another. The outer wood Is very good: We cannot praise The other.

On a grave from the 1880's in Nantucket, Massachusetts: Under the sod and under the trees Lies the body of Jonathan Pease. He is not here, there's only the pod: Pease shelled out and went to God.

The grave of Ellen Shannon in Girard, Pennsylvania is almost

a consumer tip: Who was fatally burned March 21, 1870 by the explosion of a lamp filled with "R.E. Danforth's Non-Explosive Burning Fluid"

Oops! Harry Edsel Smith of Albany, New York: Born 1903--Died 1942 Looked up the elevator shaft to see if the car was on the way down. It was.

What would be on your tombstone? How do you want to be remembered? Many of us have our wishes perhaps. It is good to be remembered and we all should strive to live in a way that we will be remembered. It is a good thing to be remembered, but I feel it is a better thing to be known for who you are right now. We see this especially in our scripture for today.

waydown. It was.

In , we see that Peter and John are confronted by the priest, the captain of the guard, and the Sadducees. Peter and John had been speaking and these folks were greatly disturbed that they were teaching the people and proclaiming in Jesus the resurrection of the dead. The Bible says they seized Peter and John and put them in jail. A hearing was held and Peter and John were questioned.

“By what power or what name did you do this?” They were referring to the act in which a crippled man was healed and Peter preached to the onlookers about the salvation found in Jesus.

Peter answered the rulers and shared with them that it was in the name of Jesus that this man was healed. Peter makes this statement:

Acts 4:12 NIV84

Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved.”

Acts 4:12

The rulers heard that statement and how incredibly bold a statement it was, then it became evident.

Acts 4:13 NIV84

When they saw the courage of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished and they took note that these men had been with Jesus.

Today is Father’s Day. There are many phenomenal fathers gathered in this room. Some of us today are remembering incredible fathers. Some of us don’t have such fond memories. We can The Bible says that these rulers and officials were astonished about Peter and John.