"Courgage In Public Witness"
Notes
Transcript
Intro: Greg sharing at a city-wide lock in and not prepared. Me in public speaking class writing 30 minutes before class and sang the National Anthem.
You might be wondering what in the world these stories have to do with anything. There is a need for us as believers to not just know the name of Jesus, but what the name of Jesus can and does do.
The truth is I only did well in my speech because I had enough knowledge base of the subject matter, and confidence in speaking in public. But what about when it comes to Jesus?
How many of us are ready to proclaim Him? I’m not talking about just being a believer and saying you love Jesus, but ready to allow the name of Jesus to lead your convictions in this life.
Last week we ended with Peter and John being asked, very directly, by what name they were doing these things, these things being acts of healing.
These things were referring to the healing of the lame man, but also the growing church taking place in large masses.
I said last week that, "There will be times that you will be called to proclaim the name of Jesus and it will be so painfully obvious."
I then followed that with, "That being said, it may also bring about angst and fear." I am sure that Peter and John had some of this in them as well, but they proclaimed the name of Jesus anyway.
Today we will see their response and we will continue to see the theme of courage played out. Read Passage: Acts 4:8-12
8 Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, “Rulers of the people and elders,
9 if we are being examined today concerning a good deed done to a crippled man, by what means this man has been 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, whom God raised from the dead—by him this man is standing before you well.
11 This Jesus is the stone that was rejected by you, the builders, which has become the cornerstone.
12 And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.”
It is important for all of us as believers to remember that no other name brings about salvation than that of the name of Jesus.
It is because of this that there will be times that we will be called to proclaim the name of Jesus in some of the most difficult of situations.
In our passage this morning we will see three clear ways that we can have courage in our faith life. When we embrace courage in these areas, we will have the strength of the Holy Spirit to carry them out.
The first way we show courage is when we show...
1. Courage to speak (v. 8)
Read: Acts 4:8
Let's not skip over the first words that Luke shares here, "Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit...". This term, "filled", almost always is pointing to a special empowerment of the HS in the person who is speaking or doing an act.
This brings us back to what Jesus had promised his apostles, a supernatural power that allowed them to speak with great boldness as his witness. This is the way that Peter is addressing his audience here. Acts 1:8
8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”
A natural inclination for many of us is to try to speak to people on the basis of our own strength. But when we leave out the power of the Holy Spirit we only set ourselves up for failure.
It is almost always futile and unfruitful when we try to do these things on our own strength. No conversion I have been a part of had anything to do with me other than the willingness to be a vessel for Jesus.
Illus: John allowed the HS to lead him to ask Judith Gross if she wanted to be baptized last week. He was nudged by the HS, was willing to ask, and she followed though.
I don't want to dismiss the importance of Peter replying. Not simply his boldness but because he had an answer to begin with.
In 1st Peter 3:15, Peter speaks of this very thought. He said, "Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you."
I believe that this was a situation where Peter probably thought back to when he wrote that. Any of us should be more than willing and jump at the chance to proclaim.
Proclaim is not just shouting from the mountain tops, but the willingness to speak to people about our testimony to how God has changed our lives, especially when asked about it.
With that being said, we must never try to use our thoughts or story as a changing agent, but let our testimony, coupled only with the power of the HS, bring about the conviction of hearts.
That is how we speak with courage. Here we have Peter, a humble fisherman, courageously getting ready to share the truth of what had taken place.
He was not accustomed to public speaking but now was getting ready to speak very defying and defining words to those who could take his life away.
We are called to be people of courage and that begins with us having the courage to speak. The next way we can show courage is in the things that we speak of.
When we see God actively healing people then I believe that we must have the....
2. Courage to proclaim healing (vv. 9-11)
Read: Acts 4:9-11
Peter and John are called to account which shows us that there is somewhat an official trial or proceeding taking place. Peter addresses this head on by questioning what really is taking place here.
He calls them out by reminding them that this is somewhat a trial taking place, not for crimes, but because an act of kindness and healing took place.
He is showing them that they have perverted their authority, and they have no real ground to stand on. But just as important to see is that he did not stop proclaiming what had taken place.
He proclaimed that healing had taken place and that it came in the name of Jesus. They tried to squelch the name of Jesus, but gave Jesus more power when they crucified Him.
Peter addresses them with respect but made sure to let them know that they were in great error in trying to stop the name of Jesus. He reminded them that God raised Him from the dead and nothing could stop that message.
Illus: My tumor healed and the Dr. dismissed it as mechanical error.
Once again, we come to that phrase, "the name of Jesus", and not that Peter reiterating the same thing that he had shared to the crowds just the day before. "It is the name of Jesus that healed this man."
It would have been easy for Peter and John to answer, "God did it." That would have been the politically correct statement to make. But take note that they refused to dismiss Jesus.
In that statement they proclaimed that Jesus is cornerstone and capstone, the beginning, and the end of all things. Now that they have brought Jesus back into the picture, the whole demeanor of the situation has changed.
The issue no longer revolves around the healing of the lame beggar, but around the authority of Jesus Christ. This leads us to the final way that we can show courage and that is to have the...
3. Courage to tell the truth (v. 12)
Read: Acts 4:12
The courage to tell the truth is important for every believer. In a day and age where political correctness is more prevalent than truth, we must stand in the truth.
Peter made no mistake here. When Peter said "in no one else", he removed all authority of the religious leaders. He made it clear that they had no ability and no power. He made it clear that they offered no hope to Israel.
God is the One who defines power and authority and this verse and statement from Peter reiterates the exclusivity of power in Jesus alone.
God is the one who determines all things and Peter was very clear and decisive when he made this statement.
Just as strong as the idea that they had no power, Peter was also reminding them that there was not power in Moses or Abraham either.
While he did not say that outright, if there is no other name than Jesus then he was saying it without saying it.
This would have been infuriating and shocking to them. The line is drawn in the sand and the proclamation is clear.
God ordained this, and Jesus is the only answer. Jesus is the answer to mankind's needs. He is the only way, the only plan, there is no plan B.
The beggar received both physical and spiritual salvation and it was because of the name of Jesus. Now the religious leaders needed to trust Jesus as well.
This is the only way they are going to be able to know acceptance and forgiveness. It was no longer wrapped up in their traditions. It was no longer anything that they could simply recite.
The leaders needed to be saved, all humans need to be saved and there is no other way than through Jesus Christ.
We see the church on the rise here. We see where through boldness and proclamation, the name of Jesus is spreading!
Here the church is facing it's first bout of opposition and it remains strong and continued to grow.
Yes, the church had to adapt to the ever-changing landscape, but through trusting the power of the HS the church was able to boldly proclaim the name of Jesus in public with great courage.
You may never be put in a place to proclaim with courage outside of your immediate surroundings, but will you be willing to public witness no matter where God places you to do it?
We cannot anticipate where God will call us to have courage in our faith, but the question is, will we bloom where we are planted?
This is what we must do brothers and sisters. We must be bold in our public witness wherever he has placed us to be.
Don't try to and create an ideal place to be courageous but choose to be courageous wherever God has placed you.
Be faithful to the message of Christ. Be faithful even where there is opposition. Be faithful and watch His power work in and through you.
Over the next few weeks, we will see what that looks like. It looks dyer here. Peter and John are not in a good position, but their faithfulness proves, once again, that God is bigger than all circumstances.
God, please increase our faith and courage so that, like these early believers, we may learn to pray and witness in the name and power of Jesus. Amen.