Is The World Taking Note That You Have Been With Jesus Tape: E- 50 E. Rome & Filed Tape H-32 Time: 5 / 2 / 04 11 a.m. Text: Acts 4: 1-13 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Introduction: V.13 Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men, they marveled; and they took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus. Objective: The objective is to cause hearers to discover what it takes to have a testimony- that they have been with Jesus. I. The Arrest That Was Sanctioned The disciples that we are going to be looking at could have been called jailbird Christians. I just wander if they would fit in our what we call conservative churches today! How conservative are we when it comes to taking a stand for Christ. Peter, Paul, Daniel, Meshach, Shadrach, and Abed-nego would be out of place in most churches in America today. They might even be turned out of some churches for being so dogmatic about Jesus and His word! A. Who Made The Arrest V.1 And as they spake unto the people, the priests, and the captain of the temple, and the Sadducees, came upon them. The Sanhedrin council, which was made up of 72 men were allreligious men. (Sadducees and High Priest V.6) They were sanctioned or authorized to arrest these disciples by a religious group. (Religious, but not Redeemed) B. Why Make The Arrest 1. Because Of The Person That Was Exalted 1
V.2 Being grieved that they taught the people, and preached through Jesus- Amplified: They taught and preached in the name of Jesus. Preachers- preaches in the name of Jesus. All Christians- pray in the name of Jesus. John 14:14- If ye shall ask anything in my name I will do it. Because Of The Person That Was Exalted 2. Because Of The Power That Was Explained V.2 Being grieved that they taught the people, and preached through Jesus the resurrection of the dead. The Sadducees didn t believe in the resurrection of the dead. 3. Because Of The Power That Was Experienced a) People Were Being Delivered From Their Sins V.4 Howbeit many of them which heard the word believed; and the number of the men was about five thousand. Verse 4 reveals that 5,000 men got saved. b) People Were Being Delivered From Their Sickness Chapter 4:22 revels that a man above 40 years old was healed. Chapter 3:12 Peter lets the crowd know who s power it was that healed this man. And when Peter saw it, he answered unto the people, Ye men of Israel, why marvel ye at this? Or why look ye so earnestly on us, as though by our own power or holiness we had made this man to walk? The Arrest That Was Sanctioned II. The Answer That Was Sought V. 7 And when they had set them in the midst, they asked, By what power, or what name, have ye done this? They wanted to know by what power, or what name have ye done this? 2
They asked the two questions, but one answer could answer both questions. They were giving Peter his TEXT on a SILVER PLATTER and he had 72 men for a CONGREGATION. Peter had 72 RELIGIOUS, LOST men for a congregation. However, these religious, lost men could cause Peter severe punishment, or even be killed and Peter knew this. What was Peter s response and answer going to be? The Arrest That Was Sanctioned The Answer That Was Sought III. The Achievement That Was Shared V.8 Then Peter, filled with the Holy Ghost, said unto them, Ye rulers of the people, and elders of Israel. A. Notice That Peter Exalts The Savior V.9 If we this day be examined of the good deed done to the impotent man, by what means he is made whole; 10- By it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth- Peter gave all the credit to Jesus!! B. Notice That Peter Exposes Their Sin V.10- Last Phrase- whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even by Him doth this man stand here before you whole. V.11 Peter reveals that they rejected the corner stone-, which was Christ. Their sin was crucifying and rejecting the Son of God. Do you know what the greatest sin in the world is today? It is not prostitution, murder, gambling, stealing or any other sin; it is the sin of all sins, rejecting the Lord Jesus Christ as their Savior. 3
C. Notice That Peter Explains True Salvation V. 12 Neither is there salvation in any other: for there us none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved. No other name!!!!!!!!!!!!!! No PERSONS name No CHURCHES name No RELIGIOUS name No DENOMINATION name No GOOD, MORAL person s name There is no other name than Jesus, whereby we must be saved! Romans 10: 9, 10, 11, & 13 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shall believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. For the scripture saith, whosoever believeth on Him shall not be ashamed. For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. No other Name!!!!!! The Arrest That Was Sanctioned The Answer That Was Sought The Achievement That Shared IV. The Amazement That Was Shown A. They Acknowledged That They Were Bold V.13a Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John- This is quit a change for Peter. Peter goes from DENYING the Lord to being BOLD and teaching and preaching in His name, knowing the outcome of possible death. 4
What the Lord needs in our day is BOLD Christians, who will not only profess that they are saved, but try to get other people saved by WITNESSING for Christ. Question? Does people acknowledge that you are bold? OR, do they acknowledge that you never bring up the name of Jesus, other than being in Church? In the day that we live, we need CHRISTIANS who are BOLD for the Lord! The Lord needs people who will witness for Him and take a stand for Him. They Acknowledged That They Were Bold B. They Acknowledged That They Were Bright V.13 Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men, they marveled; and took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus. Notice what they said, they said they perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men but they go on to say, that they had been with Jesus. POINT: They were uneducated and ignorant, but they had been with Jesus. A person, who has no education at all, if they have been with Jesus, is the SMARTEST person on this earth. Question? Have you been with Jesus? You might say, I can t be with Jesus because He is in heaven. How You Can Be With Jesus, Now? No. 1- You can be with Jesus in prayer, you can talk to Him. No. 2 You can be with Jesus in His word, let Him talk to you. 5
No. 3- You can be with Jesus in church. Mt. 18:20 For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them. No. 4- You can be with Jesus in his suffering. 2 Timothy 2:12 If ye suffer, we shall reign with Him, if we deny Him, he will also deny us. 1 Peter 4:13 Ye are partakers of Christ s suffering. PROBLEM- There are not to many that want to suffer for Christ. Conclusion: They want that easy-comfortable Christianity. They don t want to make any waves. Friend, you can t throw out a life raft to a drowning, sinking man without making waves. Is The World Taking Note That You Have Been With Jesus 1. Question, have you ever been saved? 2. If you are saved, are people saying that you have been with Jesus? Have you been with Jesus in prayer, in his word, in his house, if not, it is time to start being with Jesus so you will have an effective witness as Peter did. 3. Are you a bold witness for Christ? 4. Have you asked any body this last week if they were saved? 5. We have that opportunity ever day. V.8 tells us why Peter and John were bold in their witness and stand for Christ. Then Peter, filled with the Holy Ghost, said unto them!!! Being filled with the Holy Ghost is the secret for witnessing and taking a stand for Christ. 6
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