Good News for All is Bad News to Some

Acts 4:1 ¶ And as they spake unto the people, the priests, and the captain of the temple, and the Sadducees, came upon them, ² Being grieved that they taught the people, and preached through Jesus the resurrection from the dead. ³ And they laid hands on them, and put them in hold unto the next day: for it was now eventide. ⁴ Howbeit many of them which heard the word believed; and the number of the men was about five thousand. ⁵ ¶ And it came to pass on the morrow, that their rulers, and elders, and scribes, ⁶ ¶ And Annas the high priest, and Caiaphas, and John, and Alexander, and as many as were of the kindred of the high priest, were gathered together at Jerusalem. ⁷ And when they had set them in the midst, they asked, By what power, or by what name, have ye done this? ⁸ Then Peter, filled with the Holy Ghost, said unto them, Ye rulers of the people, and elders of Israel, ⁹ If we this day be examined of the good deed done to the impotent man, by what means he is made whole; ¹⁰ Be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even by him doth this man stand here before you whole. ¹¹ This is the stone which was set at nought of you builders, which is become the head of the corner. ¹² Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.

The Gospel brings division (1-4)

-          The religious leaders were upset, but thousands of the people were happy

-          Man who thanked me and decided not to kill himself, woman who thanked me and gave me money (so that she wouldn’t buy crack with it), cussed at, “Satan loves me”, etc.

-          Do not expect to be celebrated by everyone (Sadducees didn’t accept doctrine of resurrection)

-          Proclaim the full message everywhere

The Gospel brings scandal (5-12)

-          Poor and unknown people exercise power through the Gospel (5-7)

o   In Jesus’ name!

-          Jesus works through them just as he promised (8)

o    Luke 21:14 Settle it therefore in your hearts, not to meditate before what ye shall answer: ¹⁵ For I will give you a mouth and wisdom, which all your adversaries shall not be able to gainsay nor resist.

-          Precisely the one the leaders did not want was the One God had chosen – Jesus (9-11)

o    Psalm 118:22 The stone which the builders refused is become the head stone of the corner.

-          Only one way to God – Jesus (12)

In what ways have you seen people react negatively and positively to the Gospel?

Have you ever endured persecution because you presented the Gospel?

Why do you suppose people resist the Gospel?

Have you ever personally resisted the Gospel? Have you ever resisted other light?

Why is it that so many poor and lowly people accept the Gospel?

Is the promise Jesus made in Luke 21:14 for us today?

What does salvation mean? (v. 12 sozo)

What does it mean to say that Jesus is the only source of salvation? 

The Name of Jesus

Acts 3:11-26

Peter preaches another powerful sermon. The message is about Jesus.
The name of Jesus is: 

Rejected
The Jewish people and their leaders rejected Jesus. He was the Prince of Life but they chose instead a murderer, Barabbas. What an unthinkable rejection! By rejecting the name of Jesus they were rejecting life. And still many would rather choose the one who comes to "kill, steal, and destroy" than the Prince of Life. Those who choose to follow Jesus bear the rejection that comes with the name. Jesus told his disciples not to be surprised if they were hated and rejected.

Exalted
But God has raised him up! Jesus was approved of God by many signs and wonders. Finally, he was ultimately approved by his resurrection from the dead. Jesus now sits at the right hand of God the Father almighty, reigning with him. So it is with everyone who takes Jesus as their own, obediently following him. Even if they are despised and rejected by humans they will finally be vindicated and exalted by God himself.

Powerful
None other could do the miracles Jesus did. Then he departed, taken into Heaven. Now the same signs follow those who believe and exercise faith in his name. There is no other name that brings healing to those born crippled -- only the name of Jesus.

Predicted
Jesus was promised from the beginning. He fulfilled the predictions of the prophets. His suffering was a crime against all that is right and good. Yet it was all part of God's plan. Jesus was God's answer to human needs.

Authoritative
Moses spoke of a prophet to whom all must either give heed or perish. That prophet is Jesus. His name is the name at which every knee shall bow. Everyone will confess that he is Lord. By the authority in the name of Jesus we continue, just like Peter and the other Apostles, to command people to repent. Jesus still has authority to forgive sins and will judge humanity in the last day.

Jewish 
Jesus is seed promised to Abraham. His name is a Jewish name, Joshua (or Yeshua), meaning Savior. He was sent to save his people from their sins. He was sent first to the Jews. Peter's sermon was preached to Jews. Jesus is a Jewish name. But also a human name. Jesus is the One in whom all the nations of the earth are blessed.

Saviour
Jesus was sent to bless us. How was he to bless us? By turning us away from our iniquities. Jesus came to "save his people from their sins." We do well to remember that the wonderful grace of Jesus is grace that brings repentance. His name is powerful enough to enable you to quit sinning.

Miracle at the Gate

Acts 3:1 ¶ Now Peter and John went up together into the temple at the hour of prayer, being the ninth hour. ² And a certain man lame from his mother's womb was carried, whom they laid daily at the gate of the temple which is called Beautiful, to ask alms of them that entered into the temple; ³ Who seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple asked an alms. ⁴ And Peter, fastening his eyes upon him with John, said, Look on us. ⁵ And he gave heed unto them, expecting to receive something of them. ⁶ Then Peter said, Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have give I thee: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk. ⁷ And he took him by the right hand, and lifted him up: and immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength. ⁸ And he leaping up stood, and walked, and entered with them into the temple, walking, and leaping, and praising God. ⁹ And all the people saw him walking and praising God: ¹⁰ And they knew that it was he which sat for alms at the Beautiful gate of the temple: and they were filled with wonder and amazement at that which had happened unto him.

An amazing miracle

This wasn’t just any old miracle. The apostles performed many miracles (Acts 2:43). This was a particularly miraculous sort of miracle. This was the healing of someone born with a defect. Did the man even dare to hope that he would one day be able to walk?

When Jesus healed the man born blind it was said that no one had ever heard of something like that ever taking place in the history of humanity (John 9:32). Now the followers of Jesus had just performed an equally marvelous miracle. A man born lame was instantly healed!

As we witness, through Luke’s testimony, the healing of this man born lame we are inspired to worship our miracle-working God. Certainly we are left with questions. Why didn’t the apostles spend their lives traveling around healing everyone? Why don’t we see more of these healings today? Have you ever known or even heard of someone born lame that began to leap and walk suddenly? Ultimately our questions will not be answered in this life. What is certain is God’s goodness and power. He is worthy to be praised!

Were it not for God’s goodness no one would ever be healed, Jesus would never have walked amongst us healing those who were sick and oppressed of the devil, and we would have no hope that our prayers for healing and deliverance would find answers. God’s goodness is beyond question.

This most miraculous of miracles also leaves us without doubt that God has unlimited power. That means that no matter how dark the night there is reason for hope. In this miracle we see a glimpse of God’s good plan for all of creation. What has been crippled and broken for thousands of years will soon be restored, revitalized, made new.

Not just for one man at one gate

What God did for that man outside of the gate called Beautiful was truly unique. Yet, it wasn’t. This apostolic miracle is strikingly similar to the activities Jesus had been performing during his days in the flesh. The work Jesus began on Earth is continuing through his church.

Jesus came to save his people from their sins. But that’s not all he came to do. He cared for our physical needs. He healed physical bodies. He gave food to the hungry. This man begging outside of the temple could count on the generosity of the Jewish people. He could count on their generosity because they had been taught by God to take care of the poor. This gives us a glimpse of God’s agenda. God intends to meet our needs both physical and spiritual. These days he largely accomplishes this through his people.

A beauty yet to be seen

The gate called Beautiful was likely a gate known as the Corinthian gate. Unlike the other temple gates, which were made of gold and silver, this gate was fashioned from bronze. This gate was considered to be the most beautiful gate of all because of its amazing artwork.

Somehow this beggar’s life was like that gate, made more beautiful, in spite of its smallness, than the silver and gold lives that surrounded. This was a life tried by fire. This was a life fashioned through terrible suffering. This was a life marked by a degree of thankfulness that could not be realized in the more comfortable lives around him.

Michelle, a young woman known by the church, spent her life crippled. She suffered from Spina Bifida. Not once did she get to play like a normal little girl. She never ran and skinned her knee. She never learned to ride a bicycle. She never skipped or jumped rope. Boys never lined up at her door to court her. Don’t get me wrong, she lived a good life. She loved her family and her family loved her. She graduated high school and went on to college. But she needed constant care from her supportive family. This October, at the young age of 40, she left us.

Michelle waits. We wait. We live by faith in this in between time. Jesus is Lord. Yet, we pray that his will will be done here on earth as it is in heaven. Jesus is King. But we wait to crown him King of kings and Lord of the lords. His kingdom has come and yet his kingdom has not fully arrived. It’s as though we live in a land where two maps overlap. We see hints in shadows, or rather in bright spots – like the healing of this lame man, of how things should be, how things will be. Michelle waits. We wait.

We wait in authority. Just as the Apostles performed miracles in the authority of the name of Jesus, so can we. Signs and wonders still follow those who believe. We wait in faith.

Isaiah 35:6 Then shall the lame man leap as a deer, and the tongue of the dumb sing: for in the wilderness shall waters break out, and streams in the desert.

Hour of Prayer

Praise & Worship – 15 minutes

Praise God for the things he has done. Worship God for who his acts reveal him to be.

Examination & Confession – 5 minutes

We fall short. It is good for us to recognize our faults and sins. Confessing our failures helps us to grow. Ask God to reveal sins that you don’t know about. Prayerfully read Scriptures such as Romans 12, Galatians 5, Ephesians 5, Colossians 3, James, and 1 John.  You may not need to read much. Allow God to show you where you can improve. Confess your sins and ask for more grace to grow to full Christian maturity.

Intercession – 20 minutes

Prayer changes things. Make lists. Pray freely.
Pray for governments, universities, cities, nations, family, spiritual needs, physical needs, just pray.
Scripture and experience reveal that
prayer changes things.

Personal Petitions – 5 minutes

God enjoys giving good gifts to his children. Pray confidently.

Thanksgiving – 5 minutes

Express thanks for what God has done. Give thanks for what you expect he will do in response to prayer.

Praise, Sing & Listen – 10 minutes

Delight in God’s presence. Make sure to take time to be quiet in his presence. God still speaks.

Jesus the Stranger

John chapter 1


He made the world. Yet, it considered him a stranger. 


Everyone wants to go where "everybody knows your name." But Jesus came where he knew there would be no room for him, where he would be considered a stranger. 

We do well to remember that he was unrecognized and be careful not to miss him 

• He is still met in the stranger 
• His people are still strangers, still rejected 

 Is there room in your heart for the stranger?

Lust or Purity?

 Lust or Purity

1 Thes 1:1-8

Purity is God’s will for you (1-3)

-          Sanctification (holiness) not fornication (sexual sin)

-          Society today and in biblical times is dirty (incest, homosexuality, bestiality, adultery)

o   If lust ended our economy would take a nosedive

o   Russian man who built a special coffin to take his porn with him.

o   A growing number of divorces from porn addiction

o   Most children have been exposed to pornography by age 10

§  Phil Burress: Found a pornographic magazine when he was young. "For 25 years, he says, his waking hours were dominated by the need to view pornography. It destroyed his ability to be a loving husband, cost him financially and kept him emotionally estranged from people who should have been close." Twice-divorced. Now free!

-          Sex is not unholy. The marriage bed is honorable

-          Please God by being pure

Satisfaction is God’s will for you (4-5)

-          God doesn’t want you to be ruled by passionate lusts

-          God created sex

o   Unconditional love in marriage is the goal of our natural desire for physical union

o   Married people are more satisfied with sex (statistically)

o   Selfless union is to overflow into new life (babies)

o   Lust replaces the natural desire for love

o   Lust is selfish rather than selfless

o   Lust is "love" without selflessness

o   Lust can never produce the unconditional love marriage is about

§  Wilt Chamberlain (basketball star) said he slept with 20,000 women but said he’d trade them all for one woman that he wanted to stay with forever.

-          An itch that the more you scratch it the worse it gets

o   Perpetuates the division created at the fall

o   Addiction happens quickly and easily

-          Satisfaction in purity is God’s plan for your life

God will punish lust (6-8)

-          Do not cross the lines!

o    Matthew 5:28 But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart.

o    Looking intentionally lustfully, let alone touching, crosses the line.

o    Intentionally attracting looks of lust crosses the line.

-          Tape loses its stickiness and hurts when removed – sex is like that tape

-          This message is from the Lord and carries his authority

-          God has called you to be clean

o   Guard your children – filter your internet

o   No private internet access

o   Careful about movies

o   Avoid chat rooms

o   Books

o   Xxxchurch.com/x3watch

Wounded to be Healed and Separated to be United

Acts 2:37 ¶ Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do? 38 Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. 39 For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call. 40 And with many other words did he testify and exhort, saying, Save yourselves from this untoward generation. 41 Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls. 42 And they continued stedfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers. 43 ¶ And fear came upon every soul: and many wonders and signs were done by the apostles. 44 And all that believed were together, and had all things common; 45 And sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all men, as every man had need. 46 And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart, 47 Praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.

A wounding message
On the day of Pentecost Peter preached a wounding message. The word of God penetrated human hearts, causing pain. It was a good pain, the pain of the great Surgeon’s knife. He cut through layers of self-righteousness and self-justification to expose a deadly cancer – sin.

God is still doing this sort of work, a work only he can do. Human wisdom can persuade us, bringing us to the place of mental assent. Without the convicting power of the Spirit there is no salvation. God cuts us to the heart, hurting our hearts so that he can heal us.

God’s victims, the ones he had wounded, did not seek to explain away their guilt. They responded in the only fitting way. They asked, “What shall we do?”

Called to separation
The answer was repentance, and baptism in water and Spirit. Repentance was to be demonstrated by obedience, confessing the Lord Jesus Christ and being baptized in water. The promise of the Father, the gift of the Spirit was to follow. This gift of the Spirit must not be confused with the gifts of Spirit. All of God’s people are promised the Spirit himself – gifts will follow. The initial sign of his coming is speaking in new tongues (Acts 2, 10, 19).

No one could repent and receive the gift without cutting ties with their evil generation. The call to discipleship is a call to separation.

Joined to a new community
Every day God is adding people into his new community. The Christian life begins with separation. It ends in matchless unity. When we look at the Pentecostal church we see a church in love. This new community gives us a glimpse of what we could, should, and eventually will be forever – a selfless community ruled by love for God and neighbor. No envy, no greed, no mean jokes, no backbiting, no hatred, no pride, no fear, no poverty, just love. Who wouldn’t want to be a part of this?