The Fire Fueled

Acts: To the Ends of the Earth  •  Sermon  •  Submitted   •  Presented   •  43:39
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7 Ways Spirit filled saints face persecution. By...

1. Willingly Putting Themselves in Danger (1-4)

Acts 4:1–4 NASB95
1 As they were speaking to the people, the priests and the captain of the temple guard and the Sadducees came up to them, 2 being greatly disturbed because they were teaching the people and proclaiming in Jesus the resurrection from the dead. 3 And they laid hands on them and put them in jail until the next day, for it was already evening. 4 But many of those who had heard the message believed; and the number of the men came to be about five thousand.
Sadducees were the ruling class. They did not believe in the resurrection because they didn’t see it in the books of Moses.
possibly 20,000 disciples now in a few short weeks.
120 feeble disciples hiding in an upper room is an annoyance, but 20,000 Spirit filled, sign producing, authority challenging followers of Jesus is a threat to the leadership of Israel.
They were more concerned with the souls of the 5,000 people who needed the gospel than their own life or liberty.
7 Ways Spirit filled saints face persecution. By being...

2. Completely Surrendered to the Spirit of God (5-8)

Acts 4:5–8 NASB95
5 On the next day, their rulers and elders and scribes were gathered together in Jerusalem; 6 and Annas the high priest was there, and Caiaphas and John and Alexander, and all who were of high-priestly descent. 7 When they had placed them in the center, they began to inquire, “By what power, or in what name, have you done this?” 8 Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, “Rulers and elders of the people,
[Senator Christopher Dodd, Democrat senator from Connecticut until 2010. I picked him up at the airport Wed. night. When I saw him coming off the plane, I greeted him as Senator.]
This was a family affair of power.
In the center - Just as they had our Lord Jesus.
Matthew 10:19 NASB95
19 “But when they hand you over, do not worry about how or what you are to say; for it will be given you in that hour what you are to say.
7 Ways Spirit filled saints face persecution. By...

3. Boldly Proclaiming the Gospel (9-12)

Acts 4:9–12 NASB95
9 if we are on trial today for a benefit done to a sick man, as to how this man has been made well, 10 let it be known to all of you and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead—by this name this man stands here before you in good health. 11 “He is the stone which was rejected by you, the builders, but which became the chief corner stone. 12 “And there is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among men by which we must be saved.”
Gospel contained: Positive result of Christ’s power, Glory to the name of Christ, indictment of the murder of Jesus, resurrection, credit to Jesus for the good work, rebuke to them for rejecting Jesus, conclusion that Jesus is the Savior.
7 Ways Spirit filled saints face persecution. By being...

4. Confident of Their Position in Christ (13-17)

Acts 4:13–17 NASB95
13 Now as they observed the confidence of Peter and John and understood that they were uneducated and untrained men, they were amazed, and began to recognize them as having been with Jesus. 14 And seeing the man who had been healed standing with them, they had nothing to say in reply. 15 But when they had ordered them to leave the Council, they began to confer with one another, 16 saying, “What shall we do with these men? For the fact that a noteworthy miracle has taken place through them is apparent to all who live in Jerusalem, and we cannot deny it. 17 “But so that it will not spread any further among the people, let us warn them to speak no longer to any man in this name.”
Peter and John were not formerly educated. They didn’t fit into these leader’s idea of what spiritual leaders should be. The leaders were arrogant and looked down on these simple men. They underestimate them because they underestimated Jesus and misunderstood the working of the Holy Spirit.
Jesus saw these men much differently. Where they saw ignorance, Jesus saw wisdom. Where they saw lowliness, Jesus saw men highly exalted rulers.
People may try put you down, make fun of you, think less of you because you don’t fit into their narrative of what an “enlightened” person should be, or call you names. To them you may be simple because you believe in the “crutch” of religious belief, To them you may be unscientific because you don’t believe in evolution. To them you may be bigoted because you you believe their is only one truth that comes from God through His word.
But, to Jesus highly esteemed, you are faithful, you are wiser than even your teachers, and you are righteous. It only matters how our Lord Jesus sees us.
7 Ways Spirit filled saints face persecution. By...

5. Esteeming Christ Above Any Man (18-22)

Acts 4:18–22 NASB95
18 And when they had summoned them, they commanded them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus. 19 But Peter and John answered and said to them, “Whether it is right in the sight of God to give heed to you rather than to God, you be the judge; 20 for we cannot stop speaking about what we have seen and heard.” 21 When they had threatened them further, they let them go (finding no basis on which to punish them) on account of the people, because they were all glorifying God for what had happened; 22 for the man was more than forty years old on whom this miracle of healing had been performed.
7 Ways Spirit filled saints face persecution....

6. With The Encouragement of Other Believers (21-23)

Acts 4:21–23 NASB95
21 When they had threatened them further, they let them go (finding no basis on which to punish them) on account of the people, because they were all glorifying God for what had happened; 22 for the man was more than forty years old on whom this miracle of healing had been performed. 23 When they had been released, they went to their own companions and reported all that the chief priests and the elders had said to them.
Acts 4:21–28 NASB95
21 When they had threatened them further, they let them go (finding no basis on which to punish them) on account of the people, because they were all glorifying God for what had happened; 22 for the man was more than forty years old on whom this miracle of healing had been performed. 23 When they had been released, they went to their own companions and reported all that the chief priests and the elders had said to them. 24 And when they heard this, they lifted their voices to God with one accord and said, “O Lord, it is You who made the heaven and the earth and the sea, and all that is in them, 25 who by the Holy Spirit, through the mouth of our father David Your servant, said, Why did the Gentiles rage, And the peoples devise futile things? 26 The kings of the earth took their stand, And the rulers were gathered together Against the Lord and against His Christ.’ 27 “For truly in this city there were gathered together against Your holy servant Jesus, whom You anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, along with the Gentiles and the peoples of Israel, 28 to do whatever Your hand and Your purpose predestined to occur.
7 Ways Spirit filled saints face persecution. By...

7. Understanding Their Union with Christ (24-31)

Acts 4:29–31 NASB95
29 “And now, Lord, take note of their threats, and grant that Your bond-servants may speak Your word with all confidence, 30 while You extend Your hand to heal, and signs and wonders take place through the name of Your holy servant Jesus.” 31 And when they had prayed, the place where they had gathered together was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak the word of God with boldness.
Acts 4:1–31 NASB95
1 As they were speaking to the people, the priests and the captain of the temple guard and the Sadducees came up to them, 2 being greatly disturbed because they were teaching the people and proclaiming in Jesus the resurrection from the dead. 3 And they laid hands on them and put them in jail until the next day, for it was already evening. 4 But many of those who had heard the message believed; and the number of the men came to be about five thousand. 5 On the next day, their rulers and elders and scribes were gathered together in Jerusalem; 6 and Annas the high priest was there, and Caiaphas and John and Alexander, and all who were of high-priestly descent. 7 When they had placed them in the center, they began to inquire, “By what power, or in what name, have you done this?” 8 Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, “Rulers and elders of the people, 9 if we are on trial today for a benefit done to a sick man, as to how this man has been made well, 10 let it be known to all of you and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead—by this name this man stands here before you in good health. 11 “He is the stone which was rejected by you, the builders, but which became the chief corner stone. 12 “And there is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among men by which we must be saved.” 13 Now as they observed the confidence of Peter and John and understood that they were uneducated and untrained men, they were amazed, and began to recognize them as having been with Jesus. 14 And seeing the man who had been healed standing with them, they had nothing to say in reply. 15 But when they had ordered them to leave the Council, they began to confer with one another, 16 saying, “What shall we do with these men? For the fact that a noteworthy miracle has taken place through them is apparent to all who live in Jerusalem, and we cannot deny it. 17 “But so that it will not spread any further among the people, let us warn them to speak no longer to any man in this name.” 18 And when they had summoned them, they commanded them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus. 19 But Peter and John answered and said to them, “Whether it is right in the sight of God to give heed to you rather than to God, you be the judge; 20 for we cannot stop speaking about what we have seen and heard.” 21 When they had threatened them further, they let them go (finding no basis on which to punish them) on account of the people, because they were all glorifying God for what had happened; 22 for the man was more than forty years old on whom this miracle of healing had been performed. 23 When they had been released, they went to their own companions and reported all that the chief priests and the elders had said to them. 24 And when they heard this, they lifted their voices to God with one accord and said, “O Lord, it is You who made the heaven and the earth and the sea, and all that is in them, 25 who by the Holy Spirit, through the mouth of our father David Your servant, said, Why did the Gentiles rage, And the peoples devise futile things? 26 The kings of the earth took their stand, And the rulers were gathered together Against the Lord and against His Christ.’ 27 “For truly in this city there were gathered together against Your holy servant Jesus, whom You anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, along with the Gentiles and the peoples of Israel, 28 to do whatever Your hand and Your purpose predestined to occur. 29 “And now, Lord, take note of their threats, and grant that Your bond-servants may speak Your word with all confidence, 30 while You extend Your hand to heal, and signs and wonders take place through the name of Your holy servant Jesus.” 31 And when they had prayed, the place where they had gathered together was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak the word of God with boldness.
Acts 4:1 NASB95
1 As they were speaking to the people, the priests and the captain of the temple guard and the Sadducees came up to them,
Acts 4:24–31 NASB95
24 And when they heard this, they lifted their voices to God with one accord and said, “O Lord, it is You who made the heaven and the earth and the sea, and all that is in them, 25 who by the Holy Spirit, through the mouth of our father David Your servant, said, Why did the Gentiles rage, And the peoples devise futile things? 26 The kings of the earth took their stand, And the rulers were gathered together Against the Lord and against His Christ.’ 27 “For truly in this city there were gathered together against Your holy servant Jesus, whom You anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, along with the Gentiles and the peoples of Israel, 28 to do whatever Your hand and Your purpose predestined to occur. 29 “And now, Lord, take note of their threats, and grant that Your bond-servants may speak Your word with all confidence, 30 while You extend Your hand to heal, and signs and wonders take place through the name of Your holy servant Jesus.” 31 And when they had prayed, the place where they had gathered together was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak the word of God with boldness.
acts 4
acts 4 22
We are the hands and feet of Jesus Christ and people can see Him through us, but the opposite is true also. When men persecute us, the Father sees that persecution as if they were persecuting His beloved Son. We are in Christ. How someone treats us is how they treat Jesus.
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