1 - overcome a spirit of disturbance. 1 may. 2011 - 1

Text: Acts 4:13-22

= A Principle of Receiving God’s Blessing:

= Why do people Not come to Light?

John 3:19-20 - This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but men loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that his deeds will be exposed.

Topic: Overcome the Spirit of

Disturbance

= Chances Given for Change of Mind:

Vs. 10 - then know this, you and all the people of Israel: It is by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified but whom God raised from the dead.

(1) Resurrection story(2) Pentecost(3) Healing

How Can We Handle the Spirit of Disturbance in

Our Life?

1. 1. Speak the Truth Plainly

Vs. 10 - It is by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified but whom God raised from the dead, that this man stands before you healed.

= What are the Backgrounds of the spirit of Disturbance?

Vs. 2 - They were greatly disturbed because the apostles were teaching the people and proclaiming in Jesus the resurrection of the dead.

= What are the Issues behind the Backgrounds of the spirit of Disturbance?

Vs. 16-17 - “What are we going to do with these men?” they asked. “Everybody living in Jerusalem knows they have done an outstanding miracle, and we cannot deny it. But to stop this thing from spreading any further among the people, we must warn these men to speak no longer to anyone in this name.”

(1) People’s Attention to Others. Vs. 16 - “Everybody living in Jerusalem knows they have done an outstanding miracle, and we cannot deny it.

(2) People’s Attention to Their Wrongs.

Vs. 17 - But to stop this thing from spreading any further among the people, we must warn these men to speak no longer to anyone in this name.”

= What are the Characteristics of Jesus’ Witnesses in the world?

Acts 1:8 – But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.

Disciples had to face Disturbed People (Acts 4:2)

Disciples had to face Jail (Acts 4:3)

Disciples had to face the instructions of the Sanhedrin (Acts 4:19)

(1) No Fear – BoldnessActs 4:7-8 - They had Peter and John brought before them and began to question them: “By what power or what name did you do this?” Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them: “Rulers and elders of the people!

Acts 4:13 - 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.

(2) No Shame - ConfidenceActs 4:12 - Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved.”

Mark 8:38 - If anyone is ashamed of me and my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will be ashamed of him when he comes in his Father’s glory with the holy angels.

Romans 1:16 - I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes.

1Peter 4:16 - However, if you suffer as a Christian, do not be ashamed, but praise God that you bear that name.

2. 2. Confront the Wrong Firmly

Vs. 10 - It is by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified but whom God raised from the dead, that this man stands before you healed.

= How Wisely should We Handle Various People’s Reponses to the Same Event?

Acts 2:12-13 - Amazed and perplexed, they asked one another, “What does this mean?” Some, however, made fun of them and said, “They have had too much wine.

(1) Good Response: Acts 3:10, 4:21 - they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him, … all the people were praising God for what had happened.

(2) Disturbed Response: Acts 4:1-2 - The priests and the captain of the temple guard and the Sadducees came up to Peter and John while they were speaking to the people. They were greatly disturbed because the apostles were teaching the people and proclaiming in Jesus the resurrection of the dead.

= Why were the Members of the Sanhedrin Surprised by Peter and John?

Vs. 13 - 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.

(1) It was by the Ordinary Men.Vs. 13 - When they saw the courage of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished,

(2) It was by the Presence of God.Vs. 13b - they were astonished and they took note that these men had been with Jesus.

= Why is It Wrong when All Men Speak well of You?

Luke 6:26 - Woe to you when all men speak well of you, for that is how their fathers treated the false prophets.

(1) It is about A Everyone – Pleaser.

(2) It is about A No-Opinion Person.

(3) It is about A Compromiser.

= How Directly did Peter and John Speak to the Leaders of the Jews about the Wrongs they had Made?

Acts 4:10-11 - then know this, you and all the people of Israel: It is by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom You crucified but whom God raised from the dead, that this man stands before you healed. He is “‘the stone You builders rejected, which has become the capstone.’

3. 3. Silence the Opponent Confidently

Vs. 16 - “What are we going to do with these men?” they asked. “Everybody living in Jerusalem knows they have done an outstanding miracle, and we cannot deny it.

= How Confidently did Peter and John Express their Viewpoints on What they had to do?

Vs. 18 - Then they called them in again and commanded them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus.

Vs. 19-20 - But Peter and John replied, “Judge for yourselves whether it is right in God’s sight to obey you rather than God. For we cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard.”

= What Made Peter and John so Confident at the Threat of the Final Decision of the Sanhedrin, the Highest Leadership of the Jews?

Vs. 21-22 - After further threats they let them go. They could not decide how to punish them, because all the people were praising God for what had happened. For the man who was miraculously healed was over forty years old.

= What are the Challenges in the light of Compromise the Church has to Face in this world?

(1) The world Promotes Relativism

Acts 4:12 - Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved.”

We Never Say “All Religions are the Same.”

(2) The world Promotes Tolerance

Acts 4:17 - But to keep them from spreading their propaganda any further, we must warn them not to speak to anyone in Jesus’ name again.”

We Never Say, “Jesus is One of the Many Ways.”

(3) The world Promotes Permissiveness

Prov. 22:15 - A youngster’s heart is filled with foolishness, but physical discipline will drive it far away.

Prov. 29:15 - The rod of correction imparts wisdom, but a child left to himself disgraces his mother.

We Constantly Say, “Heaven and earth will pass away, but

God’s words will never pass away”

How Can We Handle the Spirit of

Disturbance in Our Life?

(1) Speak the Truth Plainly(2) Confront the Wrong

Firmly(3) Silence the Opponent

Confidently