To Stand For Christ July 16, 2006
To Stand For Christ
Super Hero
Superman
Why?
Star wars
What does it take
What can we learn
Peter and Paul
How did they start?
Both Jews
both ordinary men
different spectrums of the social ladder
How then did they become the giants the superheros of chrisendom.
Luke&Acts Discussion
Who were they?
Peter
Luke 5:1-11
1Now it happened that while the crowd was pressing around Him and listening to the word of God, He was standing by the lake of Gennesaret; 2and He saw two boats lying at the edge of the lake; but the fishermen had gotten out of them and were washing their nets. 3And He got into one of the boats, which was Simon's, and asked him to put out a little way from the land. And He sat down and began teaching the people from the boat. 4When He had finished speaking, He said to Simon, "Put out into the deep water and let down your nets for a catch." 5Simon answered and said, "Master, we worked hard all night and caught nothing, but I will do as You say and let down the nets." 6When they had done this, they enclosed a great quantity of fish, and their nets began to break; 7so they signaled to their partners in the other boat for them to come and help them. And they came and filled both of the boats, so that they began to sink. 8But when Simon Peter saw that, he fell down at Jesus' feet, saying, "Go away from me Lord, for I am a sinful man!" 9For amazement had seized him and all his companions because of the catch of fish which they had taken; 10and so also were James and John, sons of Zebedee, who were partners with Simon. And Jesus said to Simon, "Do not fear, from now on you will be catching men." 11When they had brought their boats to land, they left everything and followed Him.
Luke 22:61-62
60But Peter said, "Man, I do not know what you are talking about." Immediately, while he was still speaking, a rooster crowed. 61The Lord turned and looked at Peter And Peter remembered the word of the Lord, how He had told him, "( Before a rooster crows today, you will deny Me three times."62And he went out and wept bitterly
Paul
Acts 8:1-3
1Saul was in hearty agreement with putting him to death And on that day a great persecution began against the church in Jerusalem, and they were all scattered throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles. 2Some devout men buried Stephen, and made loud lamentation over him. 3But Saul began ravaging the church, entering house after house, and dragging off men and women, he would put them in prison.
Acts 9:1-6
1 Now Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest,2and asked for letters from him to the synagogues at Damascus, so that if he found any belonging to the Way, both men and women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem. 3As he was traveling, it happened that he was approaching Damascus, and suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him; 4and he fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to him, "Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?" 5And he said, "Who are You, Lord?" And He said, "I am Jesus whom you are persecuting, 6but get up and enter the city, and it will be told you what you must do."
What does it take to Stand for Christ
Be a Superhero?
Encounter with Christ
obedience to him
but perhaps most important
Walk with the Holy Spirit
Acts4:6-13
6and Annas the high priest was there, and Caiaphas and John and Alexander, and all who were of high-priestly descent. 7When they had placed them in the center, they began to inquire, "By what power, or in what name, have you done this?" 8Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, Rulers and elders of the people, 9if we are on trial today for a benefit done to a sick man, as to how this man has been made well, 10let it be known to all of you and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead--by this name this man stands here before you in good health. 11"He is the STONE WHICH WAS REJECTED by you, THE BUILDERS, but WHICH BECAME THE CHIEF CORNER stone. 12"And there is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among men by which we must be saved." 13Now as they observed the confidence of Peter and John and understood that they were uneducated and untrained men, they were amazed, and began to recognize them as having been with Jesus.
Acts9:13-18
13But Ananias answered, "Lord, I have heard from many about this man, how much harm he did to Your saints at Jerusalem; 14and here he has authority from the chief priests to bind all who call on Your name." 15But the Lord said to him, "Go, for he is a chosen instrument of Mine, to bear My name before the Gentiles and kings and the sons of Israel; 16for I will show him how much he must suffer for My name's sake." 17So Ananias departed and entered the house, and after laying his hands on him said, "Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on the road by which you were coming, has sent me so that you may regain your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit." 18And immediately there fell from his eyes something like scales, and he regained his sight, and he got up and was baptized;
Stephen
Acts 6:5-8 15
5The statement found approval with the whole congregation; and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit, and Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas and Nicolas, a proselyte from Antioch. 6And these they brought before the apostles; and after praying, they laid their hands on them. 7 The word of God kept on spreading; and the number of the disciples continued to increase greatly in Jerusalem, and a great many of the priests were becoming obedient to the faith. 8And Stephen, full of grace and power, was performing great wonders and signs among the people.
15And fixing their gaze on him, all who were sitting in the Council saw his face like the face of an angel.
Who was Stephen
Acts 7
Acts 7:54-60
54Now when they heard this, they were cut to the quick, and they began gnashing their teeth at him. 55But being ()full of the Holy Spirit, he gazed intently into heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God; 56and he said, "Behold, I see the heavens opened up and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God." 57But they cried out with a loud voice, and covered their ears and rushed at him with one impulse. 58When they had driven him out of the city, they began stoning him; and the witnesses laid aside their robes at the feet of a young man named Saul. 59They went on stoning Stephen as he called on the Lord and said, "Lord Jesus, receive my spirit!" 60Then falling on his knees, he cried out with a loud voice, "Lord, do not hold this sin against them!" Having said this, he fell asleep.
There I believe is where Paul saw evidence
Philipians 1:21
21For to me, (AT)to live is Christ and to die is gain.
How do we become Superheros
Encountering
Obedience
Holy Spirit
Isaiah 63
God's Vengeance on the Nations
1Who is this who comes from (A)Edom,
With (B)garments of glowing colors from (C)Bozrah,
This One who is majestic in His apparel,
Marching in the greatness of His strength?
"It is I who speak in righteousness, (D)mighty to save."
2Why is Your apparel red,
And Your garments like the one who (E)treads in the wine press?
3"(F)I have trodden the wine trough alone,
And from the peoples there was no man with Me
I also (G)trod them in My anger
And (H)trampled them in My wrath;
And (I)their lifeblood is sprinkled on My garments,
And I stained all My raiment.
4"For the (J)day of vengeance was in My heart,
And My year of redemption has come.
5"I looked, and there was (K)no one to help,
And I was astonished and there was no one to uphold;
So My (L)own arm brought salvation to Me,
And My wrath upheld Me.
6"I (M)trod down the peoples in My anger
And made them (N)drunk in My wrath,
And I poured out their lifeblood on the earth."
7I shall make mention of the (O)lovingkindnesses of the LORD, the praises of the LORD,
According to all that the LORD has granted us,
And the great (P)goodness toward the house of Israel,
Which He has granted them according to His (Q)compassion
And according to the abundance of His lovingkindnesses.
8For He said, "Surely, they are (R)My people,
Sons who will not deal falsely "
So He became their (S)Savior.
9In all their affliction (T)He was afflicted,
And the (U)angel of His presence saved them;
In His (V)love and in His mercy He (W)redeemed them,
And He (X)lifted them and carried them all the days of old.
10But they (Y)rebelled
And grieved His (Z)Holy Spirit;
Therefore He turned Himself to become their enemy,
He fought against them.
11Then (AA)His people remembered the days of old, of Moses
Where is (AB)He who brought them up out of the sea with the shepherds of His flock?
Where is He who (AC)put His Holy Spirit in the midst of them,
12Who caused His (AD)glorious arm to go at the right hand of Moses,
Who (AE)divided the waters before them to make for Himself an everlasting name,
13Who led them through the depths?
Like the horse in the wilderness, they did not (AF)stumble;
14As the cattle which go down into the valley,
The Spirit of the (AG)LORD gave them rest
So You (AH)led Your people,
To make for Yourself a glorious name.
"You Are Our Father"
15(AI)Look down from heaven and see from Your holy and glorious (AJ)habitation;
Where are Your (AK)zeal and Your mighty deeds?
The (AL)stirrings of Your heart and Your compassion are restrained toward me.
16For You are our (AM)Father, though (AN)Abraham does not know us
And Israel does not recognize us
You, O LORD, are our Father,
Our (AO)Redeemer from of old is Your name.
17Why, O LORD, do You (AP)cause us to stray from Your ways
And (AQ)harden our heart from fearing You?
(AR)Return for the sake of Your servants, the tribes of Your heritage.
18Your holy people possessed Your sanctuary for a little while,
Our adversaries have (AS)trodden it down.
19We have become like those over whom You have never ruled,
Like those who were not called by Your name.