www.rossvillechurch.com

781 Salem Road, Rossville, GA 307411August 3, 2011

Peter and John were arrested for preaching Jesuspreaching Jesus;

They were thrown in prisonprison for the night.

Acts 4

Acts 4:13 Now when they saw the boldnessboldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were unlearnedunlearned and ignoranignorant men, they marveled; and they took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus.

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They were brought before the priests, elders, and

scribes the next morning.

The worldworld thinks that everybody who believes Godbelieves God and His WordHis Word -- is ignorantis ignorant.

Creation,Creation, Virgin birth, Virgin birth, Resurrection, Miracles,Resurrection, Miracles,

Angels,Angels, Supernatural GodSupernatural God

Saved or damned.

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They could have been savedsaved right there and then.

God's graceGod's grace was extended to them.

14 And beholding the man which was healed stand-ing with them, they could say nothing against it.

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The proofproof of the Power of Jesus' NameJesus' Name was standing right thereright there before them.

Yet they rejectedrejected their only hope of salvation.

People still reject Jesus, not becausenot because they can't believe, but because they don't want to believedon't want to believe.

God has given to every personevery person the measure of faith.

15-17 But when they had commanded them to go aside out of the council, they conferred among themselves, saying, What shall we do to these men? for that indeed a notable miracle hath been done by them is manifest to all them that dwell in Jerusalem; and we cannot deny it. But that it spread no further among the people, let us straitly threaten them, that they speak henceforth to no man in this Name.

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They knew it was TruthTruth, but they hatedhated the Truth.

They had killedkilled Him.

18 And they called them, and commanded them notnot to speak at all nor teach in the Name of Jesus.

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Yeah -- that's really going to work.

That may well happen to ushappen to us in this country.

It's already a hate crimehate crime to speak out against certain sinscertain sins in this "land of the free".

19 But Peter and John answered and said unto them, Whether it be right in the sight of God to hearken unto you more than unto God, judge ye. 20 For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard.

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We must be bold enoughenough to say what God says, listening notnot to men who hate God.

Campus Crusade for Christ has changed their name to CruCru -- a name they admit has no meaning.

That's the wrongwrong direction.

21 So when they had further threatened them, they let them go, finding nothing how they might punish them, because of the people: for all men glorified God for that which was done. 22 For the man was above forty years old, on whom this miracle of healing was shewed.

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They threatenedthreatened, but could do nothingdo nothing.

God's HandGod's Hand was protecting Peter and John then.

They had a missionmission from the Lord, Jesus Christ.

Why were these religious leaders, rulersrulers of the people not gladnot glad for this man's healing.

In their minds, it came from the wrong Sourcewrong Source.

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Jesus had done nothing but goodnothing but good.

They hated HimHim and anything done in His Name.His Name.

The churchchurch, the body of Jesus Christ, does mostdoes most of the goodgood that is done in the world today.

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Governments resentresent that, and try to stop itstop it.

Not only in IslamicIslamic nations, but all over.

Tolerance of anti-Christian attitudesanti-Christian attitudes in the United States is escalating. Recently, a woman in Houston, Texas was ordered by local police to stop handing out gospel tracts to children who knocked on her door during Halloween. Officers informed her that such activity is illegal (not true), and that she would be arrested if she continued.

http://www.worthynews.com/1710-persecution-of-christians-growing-in-the-united-states

In Madison, Wisconsin, the Freedom from Religion Foundation distributes anti-Christian pamphlets to public school children entitled, "We Can Be Good Without God." ... 

The FBI and the Clinton White House branded fundamentalist Christian groups as hate mongers and potential terrorists. http://www.worthynews.com/1710-persecution-of-christians-growing-in-the-united-states

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Mainstream media labeledlabeled the mass murderer in Oslo, Norway a ChristianChristian,

Even though he saidhe said he didn't believe in God.

We must be willingwilling to suffersuffer injustice and persecution to stand upstand up for Jesus' Name.

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The government of The United States of America declares oftendeclares often and loudlyloudly

"We are "We are notnot a Christian a Christian nation."nation."

This hatred of God and Christianity is wide-spread and growing year by year.

The proof of the PowerPower of the Lord, Jesus Christ to change liveschange lives is evident all over the world.

ChurchesChurches are full of people whose lives have been changedhave been changed.

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If people wantedwanted their lives changed, they would comecome to Jesus and obeyobey His Word.

But -- we must give them that choice.