Today, I Declare.....

Context

Good morning Church!!! It is so good to be back with you again! If you have your Bibles, I would like you to be finding the book of Acts 4.

While everyone is finding that passage, I want to do a quick recap on what we have seen so far.

In Ch. 1, we witnessed Jesus making a promise. He told His disciples that if they would stay in Jerusalem, the Holy Spirit would empower them within just a few days.

In Ch. 2, we got to see that promise come true. The Holy Spirit came down upon those present in the upper room, it endowed them with the supernatural ability to speak in unknown tongues, and they spoke the things of God to the crowd that had gathered around in Jerusalem for the feast. We also got to see how the Church responded to the coming of the Holy Spirit. They were joined in Holy unity, they worshipped together daily, they prayed together daily, they are meals together daily, they partook of Holy Communion what seemed to be daily, and as they did these things daily, God added to the church daily, such as should be saved daily.

In Ch. 3, we see Peter and John going to the temple for the daily time of prayer. While they take this journey, they come across a man who was in desperate need of Jesus. Peter heals this man who had been crippled since birth, and the result of that, was that the man followed them on into the temple leaping and praising God!!! A crowd began to gather in amazement of what had been done, and Peter is moved by what he sees. His response was to share the Gospel of Christ with them.

Although this crowd was receptive to what Peter and John had to say, there was another group of individuals who were not so receptive to their message. This is where we begin today.

Acts 4:1–4 CSB

1 While they were speaking to the people, the priests, the captain of the temple police, and the Sadducees confronted them, 2 because they were annoyed that they were teaching the people and proclaiming in Jesus the resurrection of the dead. 3 So they seized them and took them into custody until the next day since it was already evening. 4 But many of those who heard the message believed, and the number of the men came to about five thousand.

Most of everyone knows what today is: Independence Day! It is the 4th of July. It is the time in which many of us get an extra day or two off of work, we have family get-togethers and cook some good food, we either go watch a firework show or shoot some ourselves, or possibly both, and we simply enjoy the time together. It is all of these things, but it is the day in which we celebrate the freedom of this country, as well as those who have fought and died so that we could have it.

On this day, the fourth of July, in 1776, the Declaration of Independence was signed declaring this nation’s freedom from Great Britain. It was the moment in time when the people of this nation had to stand up for what they thought was right and fight for it, the best way they knew how.

With that thought in mind, I want to speak to you today on the topic of “Today, I Declare......”!!!

Content

Acts 4:1-4

Acts 4:1–4 CSB

1 While they were speaking to the people, the priests, the captain of the temple police, and the Sadducees confronted them, 2 because they were annoyed that they were teaching the people and proclaiming in Jesus the resurrection of the dead. 3 So they seized them and took them into custody until the next day since it was already evening. 4 But many of those who heard the message believed, and the number of the men came to about five thousand.

While Peter and John spake to the people concerning Jesus Christ, the priests of the temple, the captain of the temple police, and the Sadducees confronted them.

By this time, it had been brought to the attention of those with authority over the temple that a ruckus had commenced. They were so worried with tradition and formalities, that they were unable to see the miracle of what God had done.

Isn’t it amazing how so many people can see all of the same evidence, and come to different conclusions.

The presidency of the United States. (all other elections)

Jesus Christ (thieves on the cross, everyone today, etc.)

Tradition (some good and some bad)

The Bible (40,000 denominations of Christianity)

We must be careful that we do not allow our customs and traditions of today become so important that we miss God when He shows up!!!

We see in verse 4 that many of those present at that time believed what Peter and John had said. Why is it that some will believe truth and some simply won’t?

Acts 4:5-7

Acts 4:5–7 CSB

5 The next day, their rulers, elders, and scribes assembled in Jerusalem 6 with Annas the high priest, Caiaphas, John, Alexander, and all the members of the high-priestly family. 7 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?”

While Peter and John sit in prison overnight, the powers to be are conjuring up a plan. Phone calls are made, texts are sent, conversations are had concerning Peter and John.

The next day, after all members of the high priest’s family have been summoned, they bring out Peter and John from the prison cell, place them in the hot seat, and begin their interrogation. Their main question, “How did you accomplish this so-called miracle and by the authority of what name have you done this?”

It is so important that we familiarize ourselves with the Word of God, and remember it in times of need. Listen to what Jesus had told His disciples during His Earthly ministry:

Mark 13:11 (CSB)

11So when they arrest you and hand you over, don’t worry beforehand what you will say, but say whatever is given to you at that time, for it isn’t you speaking, but the Holy Spirit.  

This council of religious leaders probably thought that Peter and John would crumble under the pressure, but what they failed to realize is that they had been prepared for this very moment.

Over the past several weeks/months, they had seen enough to know that they could trust in the words of Christ. Not only concerning the empowerment of the Holy Spirit, but all of His words. Even those words which He spoke before that they didn’t understand.

The disciples had had plenty of time to reflect back on the things of Christ, especially the things that He taught them while He was here.

I think Peter and John slept like babies that night in the prison cell. I am sure they prayed hard; I am sure they asked for guidance; I am sure they even had conversations amongst themselves about what might take place; but i am confident that the words of Christ reminded them of exactly what all the Holy Spirit could and would do. This new found Spirit within them enabled them to do over and beyond what was normal. Not just normal amongst men, but especially normal amongst themselves.

IF you remember when Christ was arrested, Peter denied that he knew Christ for fear of being put in front of these same leaders to be judged. Now Peter stands confident, bold, and ready to tell them about Jesus!!!

Acts 4:8-12

Acts 4:8–12 CSB

8 Then Peter was filled with the Holy Spirit and said to them, “Rulers of the people and elders: 9 If we are being examined today about a good deed done to a disabled man, by what means he was healed, 10 let it be known to all of you and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified and whom God raised from the dead—by him this man is standing here before you healthy. 11 This Jesus is the stone rejected by you builders, which has become the cornerstone. 12 There is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to people by which we must be saved.”

Once again, as promised by Jesus, the Holy Spirit did just as Christ said He would. He took over and provided exactly what needed to be said at this moment with this group of people.

The Holy Spirit, speaking through Peter, treats these men with respect. Notice that the truth can be told while remaining faithful in attitude, respect, and speech. He addresses them as “Rulers of the people and elders”. This was their worldly title, and He uses it during His address.

To clarify the conversation, the reason was restated.

Acts 4:9–10 (CSB)

9 If we are being examined today about a good deed done to a disabled man, by what means he was healed,

10 let it be known to all of you and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified and whom God raised from the dead—by him this man is standing here before you healthy.  

It needed to be clear, so it was. The Holy Spirit made sure to be respectful, but also abundantly clear as to how this miracle was performed: by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth. He even went as far as to clarify who Jesus was, so that there would be no room for confusion: “whom you crucified and whom God raised from the dead.”

The Holy Spirit now does something that would be personal to this group of men, He quotes scripture. He quotes Psalm 118:22 in vs. 11, which is something that these religious leaders should have been able to relate with. He is showing them that Jesus really is the one prophesied of by David, and then makes a final declaration that ALL Christians should know and understand:

Acts 4:12 (CSB)

12 There is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to people by which we must be saved.”  

Acts 4:13-18

Acts 4:13–18 CSB

13 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. 14 And since they saw the man who had been healed standing with them, they had nothing to say in opposition. 15 After they ordered them to leave the Sanhedrin, they conferred among themselves, 16 saying, “What should we do with these men? For an obvious sign has been done through them, clear to everyone living in Jerusalem, and we cannot deny it. 17 But so that this does not spread any further among the people, let’s threaten them against speaking to anyone in this name again.” 18 So they called for them and ordered them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus.

These men had no idea that Peter was being led of the Holy Spirit, but yet it says that they were amazed at their boldness. If they only knew that they were amazed of God instead of being amazed at “these uneducated and untrained men”. The very Jesus whom they crucified was the very Jesus that left them in amazement. If they could only see that and accept that for what it was, they too could have been saved of God.

The fact that Peter and John were untrained and uneducated, made the fact that they were quoting scripture all the more amazing. How were they able to take the prophetic passages of the prophets and apply them to what was happening now without training and schooling? Regardless of how it was possible, everyone had seen this crippled man leaping and praising God inside the temple. Because of this, there was nothing that they could say in opposition. It was too much!!!

Because they couldn’t make a case, they sent off Peter and John so that they could come up with a plan. The only thing they could come up with was to threaten them....LOL!!! Now think about it: In vs. 2 it says that the Sadducees were upset because they were teaching of the resurrection through Jesus Christ. Now they are threatening these men with the most dangerous thing they have in their arsenal, which is death. To a certain degree, this is almost comical. These men believe in the words of Christ, and He promised of a coming resurrection for those who were in Him. “I am the resurrection and the life”, he said. The most dangerous thing that these men can do is kill them, and Christ has already proven, in His own death and resurrection, that it is only temporal.

Acts 4:19-22

Acts 4:19–22 CSB

19 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; 20 for we are unable to stop speaking about what we have seen and heard.” 21 After threatening them further, they released them. They found no way to punish them because the people were all giving glory to God over what had been done. 22 For this sign of healing had been performed on a man over forty years old.

Peter gives them a very bold, courageous, but biblical response: “Whether it is 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.”

This is one of the most profound lessons in all of scripture. An individual that has been moved by God in their life, should be unable to keep Christ out of their lives. They have to speak about Him. They have to tell others about what He has done for them. They have to train others in His ways. They have to incorporate Jesus into every aspect of their lives. They simply can’t help it!!! They have too!!!

Listen to what Peter is saying. Christians should be actively seeking out lost people in their lives so that they can change their lives for eternity.

Commitment

Like Peter, I hope that we too would be bold enough to make some declarations today!!!

Today, I declare that I will let go of my greed, my selfishness, and my pride so that I might put others before myself.

Today, I declare that I will seek the unity of God in my life by being filled with the Holy Spirit as Peter was.

What is your declaration today?

Today, I declare that I will let go of the grudges that are holding me back from being the Christian that I need to be. I choose forgiveness.

Today, I declare that I will no longer allow my traditions and customs to cloud what God is trying to do in my life. I am tired of being a pharisee.

Today, I declare that I will stand boldly in front of my enemies, through the power of the Holy Spirit, and openly proclaim the name of Jesus.

Today, I declare that I will no longer allow the cares and worries of this world to cloud my judgment as a child of God.

On this day of declaration, what will you declare?

Today, I declare that I will give my life to Jesus, the Savior of my life, and I will acknowledge Him as Lord and master over my life from this day forward.

Today, I declare that I am tired of living in fear. I am tired of worrying about others’ expectations over my life. I am tired of worrying about what others think and what others are saying. I am tired of living in my own head, and I want freedom. I declare that freedom in the name of Jesus.