United in Power

Let’s remember where we are, this is the beginning of life of the church without Jesus were if within months of Jesus his resurrection and ascension to the father's right hand. And Peter and John have in this new church maintain their Jewish customs work all day and ask chapter 3 that they are going to the temple because that is their custom. And on their way to the temple they see a man who is paralyzed, he has never walked, sitting there at the gate of the temple begging. He has no wayof supporting himself. And as such he relies upon the goodness of strangers in the mercy of those attending the temple services for his arrival.

And as such he relies upon the goodness of strangers in the mercy of those attending the temple services for his arrival.

Acts 4

And ask Peter and John passed him at the temple they see him they hear his calls for mercy for silver and gold to survive. They realize that they have nothing tangible to offer. So they look at this man and they say silver and gold we do not have a what we have we given to you in the name of Jesus stand and It happens this man not only begins to stand not only begins to walk but were told he is running, leaving, and praising God. And last week we talked about and we looked at the sermon that Peter begins to Proclaim and the one single message that he has for the people. The message of Peter is that salvation comes through Jesus. That there is hope because there was a savior who came into this world was crucified and was resurrected. And that they can have forgiveness because they are united in faith.

Acts 4:1–12 CEB

While Peter and John were speaking to the people, the priests, the captain of the temple guard, and the Sadducees confronted them. They were incensed that the apostles were teaching the people and announcing that the resurrection of the dead was happening because of Jesus. They seized Peter and John and put them in prison until the next day. (It was already evening.) Many who heard the word became believers, and their number grew to about five thousand. The next day the leaders, elders, and legal experts gathered in Jerusalem, along with Annas the high priest, Caiaphas, John, Alexander, and others from the high priest’s family. They had Peter and John brought before them and asked, “By what power or in what name did you do this?” Then Peter, inspired by the Holy Spirit, answered, “Leaders of the people and elders, are we being examined today because something good was done for a sick person, a good deed that healed him? If so, then you and all the people of Israel need to know that this man stands healthy before you because of the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene—whom you crucified but whom God raised from the dead. This Jesus is the stone you builders rejected; he has become the cornerstone! Salvation can be found in no one else. Throughout the whole world, no other name has been given among humans through which we must be saved.”

Acts 4:1–12 CEB

While Peter and John were speaking to the people, the priests, the captain of the temple guard, and the Sadducees confronted them. They were incensed that the apostles were teaching the people and announcing that the resurrection of the dead was happening because of Jesus. They seized Peter and John and put them in prison until the next day. (It was already evening.) Many who heard the word became believers, and their number grew to about five thousand. The next day the leaders, elders, and legal experts gathered in Jerusalem, along with Annas the high priest, Caiaphas, John, Alexander, and others from the high priest’s family. They had Peter and John brought before them and asked, “By what power or in what name did you do this?” Then Peter, inspired by the Holy Spirit, answered, “Leaders of the people and elders, are we being examined today because something good was done for a sick person, a good deed that healed him? If so, then you and all the people of Israel need to know that this man stands healthy before you because of the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene—whom you crucified but whom God raised from the dead. This Jesus is the stone you builders rejected; he has become the cornerstone! Salvation can be found in no one else. Throughout the whole world, no other name has been given among humans through which we must be saved.”

It happens this man not only begins to stand not only begins to walk but were told he is running, leaving, and praising God. And last week we talked about and we looked at the sermon that Peter begins to Proclaim and the one single message that he has for the people. The message of Peter is that salvation comes through Jesus. That there is hope because there was a savior who came into this world was crucified and was resurrected. And that they can have forgiveness beca

. Rome would do anything to remain peaceful and religious leaders of the day were placed into their offices by the Torti of Cesar in order to keep the peace. As long as there was peace they could continue in their job. Can you imagine for a second if our denominational leaders today or appointed by the federal government. To remit to keep peace in the churches so that there was no uprising against the government can you imagine Matt. That is essentially what it look like in Jerusalem at this time. So whenever the uprising is happening this chaos that has been caused by this amazingly wonderful development. Noticed that it's over now their numbers are about 5000 === Maye came into connection with the early church because of this event that took place and because of peters preaching afterwards. And the religious leaders see their power leaving them. Their power remains as long as they keep the bees. Peter and John were known to be disciples of Jesus the one who was killed to keep the peace and keep the power of the religious leaders. This is trouble. There's a second strain that we have to realize of why they are so concerned particularly the heart === They are speaking to. Remember that the the high priest hood was the elite of the Jewish faith and families they were family status they were a family of Means they were wealthy all because Rome had given them power one thing you may not realize is that they were also for members of the group called the Sadducees. The Sadducees have a believe that there is no such thing as a resurrection fact that it's not possible for life to happen after death. You see where this may be causing a problem why the name of Jesus been mentioned is such an issue. The disciples have claimed that Jesus === Another year after Easter we are in the season of Easter because we are in the season of celebrating and it knowledge Ing how life took place after the resurrection. And Kyra fifth and his father and his whole family the ones who we are named names here are the religious leaders and they are Sadducees and they cannot put up with this her radical teaching that there is a resurrection from the dead. So there's two strains of the anxiety that is in our story today two reasons why there is such contempt for these two men John and Peter who have made a Manuel by the speaking of the name of the resurrected a man named Jesus. === Peace and it's putting a stop to it teaching at the fine reprehensible. So let's keep that in mind as we continue looking at the story of what God is doing through themUnited in ONE Name

Has begin looking at the scripture I find it really interesting to note that the cause and the concern has changed. At first it seemed as if you would think that they would be so upset with Peter and John because this man has been healed and yet now it seems like that's not a concern. The question that is asked of them is not why did you heal this man. The question asked of them is in whose name where you able to heal this man. I find it really funny when you when you see how Peter begins to address the Sanhedrin. He says them are we being arrested or we being questioned because of the goodness in === Bagger. I want us to realize here for a second that I see a lot of opposites in our scripture today let's realize that the people who Peter is talking to are the wealthiest of that society. They are the ones with silver and gold. They are the ones who had drop their coins in this beggars pot so that he can survive for the last decades. Peter and John on the other hand were told have nothing no silver no gold. And the mercy they showed was not silver and gold the mercy there === He ability to walk. So the question is are we being tried for showing kindness. The reality is they were not being tried for showing kindness they're being tried for speaking of the name of the one who was not to be mentioned the name of Jesus. As they stand before the Sanhedrin they stand before the Sanhedrin with him with the reality that is the name of Jesus is where their power comes from and they are standing in one name under one name the name of Jesus. Plus realize something for a second this === Jesus was the one whom they hated they despised him they crucified him they wanted to put an end to him and he showed them my cousin his followers now claim that he was resurrected from the dead the very theological debate that this body that Peter and John are seen before debated at nausea him and those who are ruling believe is an impossibility and they are heretics for even claiming that resurrection is possible. So to say that the way that they were able to show mercy to this man something amazing is in the name of a man who was resurrected is a slap in the face of the Jewish leaders. === In chapter 3 were told acted out of ignorance. Not knowing truly for Jesus was the Messiah. The one to Peter and John is they preach there in the temple courts said that anyone could find forgiveness by calling on this one name. The church was united because the church had one name to call upon it was the name of Jesus and we're all power came from where all Grace came from where on mercy came from they are united in one name the very powerful and awesome name of the resurrected Jesus. So as we are living through what it means to be the Easter church what's realize that wouldn't === The one who was resurrected

So, we know that the church was united in one name they were united as the church under the name of Jesus Christ the Messiah who came sacrificed his life was nailed to a Roman cross and was laid in the tomb, but the term was found empty the resurrected Jesus was alive. Peter now tells us that there is only one salvation the early church was united in one salvation. In that one salvation comes only through Jesus see how old these things are connected. The power of God is through Jesus in the name of Jesus is what gives power to the believers in him and the name of Jesus is what gives salvation. If you remember last week we talked about that the early church was united in one message. === I was crucified the Jesus Christ was laid in the tomb that Jesus Christ was the resurrected Savior of this world and that this Jesus Christ gives salvation gives forgiveness of sins. That is what unified the churches that message. The very core of that message is that Jesus is the only way to find salvation. Remember who he is talking to hear Peter is not talking to some other world religions peters talking to his own world religion. He's talking to Jewish leaders who should have seen and known the messiah but because of their ignorance or their unwillingness to follow what God was doing, they missed it. === But you still have a chance to find salvation. You still have a chance to no forgiveness. But it only comes through the name and the power of Jesus Christ. All mercy all glory all forgiveness all Grace comes through the name of Jesus. There is no other way. I'm amazed by this. Because Peter is the one who just three months earlier deny Jesusto the High priest because he was fearful of his life. Yet, now he stands boldly before not the servant girl of the high priest but the high priest and the high priest father and off the former high priest and all the family members of the high priest and he boldly tells them there's only one way for forgiveness from God there's only one way forward. And that one salvation is the salvation given through the grace of Jesus Christ. Which means they have a choice to make they can no longer claim ignorance because the story has been laid out for them are they going to choose , Or are they going to choose themselves. Where will they find salvation. Peter and John now, the early church knows, that salvation is only found through Jesus. And right now outside of the walls of the temple there are 5000 people who have found salvation. That's amazing because it's only been a few months in the first account we have is there's 120 gather together on Pentecost so from 120 people knowing Jesus as their Savior we now today in our scripture have 5000 knowing Jesus as their Savior Because they know the one salvation, because they know the name that gives them hope. They are a church united in one salvation

As Peter and John are standing here before the thrillers play staying here because they are united in one power we already talked about that they the power came from the use of the one name of the man named Jesus. And that this power came to them through the one salvation that they had. And it was Peter and John are wrapping up this this sermon in the fence of their lives knowing that their lives are in jeopardy for the words that they speak. They are definitely === With boldness because the man in the room with them want their lives. But they realize that there is so much power in the name of Jesus that they can have bonus in standing before the most powerful man in their religion remember that at this point in time at this point in history Peter and John are Jewish. Remember that this account began to chapters ago with Peter and John going to the Jewish temple because it was their custom. They are speaking face-to-face with the religious leaders and they are proclaiming something that is conch === OK. There is power in this new movement called the church of Jesus Christ. The power is that the name of Jesus is the name above all names the name of Jesus is the name by which sinful humanity finds its relief it's it is the name of Jesus that is more powerful than these religious leaders. And it is the name of Jesus the power of Jesus given to his church even today that today right here we can proclaim in the name of Jesus powerful and wondrous things. It is by the name of Jesus that we have been saved this is by the name of Jesus that we === Wish to do us harm it is by the name of Jesus and we have confidence to speak to the nurse holy God of this universe this is the one power that has united the church through the generations. This is the one power that has not changed throughout history. Other great rulers have come and gone the Roman empire that Peter and John are standing in fear of on this day cease to exist at every great power has fallen. But one power remains it is the power of the name of Jesus I hate this for you.proclaim

United in Power

Introduction

A Little Background

United in ONE Name

UNITED in ONE Salvation

UNITED in Power

UNITED in Power