Rethink Church - Confident Faith

Confident Faith

Acts 1:8 CSB

But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come on you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

Confident Faith

Promise of power also came the inevitable struggle

We a deep rooted system in place that does not want to be disturbed

Any one that tells you if your having troubles than your faith is an issue I would contend the opposite is true

We are standing in a world with very y clear lines -

Culture or Christ, World or the Word

Carpe Diem - seize the day - live it to fullest

Anyone can be extraordinary - who gives their life to Chirst

Acts 4

The Trial

Acts 4: 1-22

Peter and John just healed the lame man

Arrested - held over night

Put on trial

Acts 4:7–8 CSB

After they had Peter and John stand before them, they began to question them: “By what power or in what name have you done this?” Then Peter was filled with the Holy Spirit and said to them, “Rulers of the people and elders:

The Trial

Notice - Peter filled with the Holy Spirit

That’s where the power comes from

They were ready with an answer

Matthew 10:19 CSB

But when they hand you over, don’t worry about how or what you are to speak. For you will be given what to say at that hour,

Acts 4:13 CSB

When they observed the boldness of Peter and John and realized that they were uneducated and untrained men, they were amazed and recognized that they had been with Jesus.

uneducated and untrained - no credentials

Recognized they had been with Jesus

Can that be said of us?

Look how the early church responds

The Prayer

Acts 4:23-30

One of the best prayer in the bible

What the church didn’t pray for:

Safety -Comfort - Revenge

What the church did pray for:

Boldness - Use us more - Expecting signs and wonders

Acts 4:29–30 CSB

And now, Lord, consider their threats, and grant that your servants may speak your word with all boldness, while you stretch out your hand for healing, and signs and wonders are performed through the name of your holy servant Jesus.”

There was an urgency and unity

Are we praying urgently for His will to be done or Let your will be what I want

The Bible Exposition Commentary Chapter Four: Persecution, Prayer, and Power (Acts 4:5–31)

“Do not pray for easy lives,” wrote Phillips Brooks. “Pray to be stronger men and women. Do not pray for tasks equal to your powers. Pray for powers equal to your tasks.”

This is a prayer God did and will answer

The Answer To The Prayer

Acts 4:31 CSB

When they had prayed, the place where they were assembled was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak the word of God boldly.

The Answer To The Prayer

The house was shaken

They were filled with the Holy Spirit

This filling was response to their surrender

When was the last time you were shaken by God

Overwhelmed by His presence

Empowered to move out

The Result

Acts 4:31–33 CSB

When they had prayed, the place where they were assembled was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak the word of God boldly. Now the entire group of those who believed were of one heart and mind, and no one claimed that any of his possessions was his own, but instead they held everything in common. With great power the apostles were giving testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great grace was on all of them.

The Result

Boldness - Unity - Generous - Power - Grace

The Bible Exposition Commentary Chapter Four: Persecution, Prayer, and Power (Acts 4:5–31)

we are reminded of Augustine’s wise words, “Pray as though everything depends on God, and work as though everything depended on you.”

Confident Faith

We will never be the Acts Church

It was for that time

We can be Family Church

We can choose Christ over Culture

We can choose Word over the World

We can pray in unison for boldness not blessing

We will see God use us more

We will expect amazing things that only God can get credit for

How confident is your faith?

Can you say:

Acts 4:19–20 CSB

Peter and John answered them, “Whether it’s right in the sight of God for us to listen to you rather than to God, you decide; for we are unable to stop speaking about what we have seen and heard.”