TOPIC: Faith; Error, Good News, Proclamation, Unsaved, Witness
TITLE: TO HIM YOU SHALL GIVE HEED – Living Faith Comes From Hearing Him! [Romans 10:17]
TEXT: Acts 3:16 [& 22-23 (12-26); cf. Deuteronomy 18:15ff]
[Peter said to them, “You miserable seekers after signs] – on the basis of faith in His name, it is the name of Jesus which has strengthened this man whom you see and know; and the faith which comes through Him has given him this perfect health in the presence of you all.”FOUNDATIONAL INQUIRY: What can we learn from Peter’s reaction to the people running to John and him?
[And] Moses said, ["You stubborn and stiff-necked people, who grumble at anything] THE LORD GOD WILL RAISE UP FOR YOU A PROPHET LIKE ME FROM [amongst] YOUR BRETHREN; TO HIM YOU SHALL GIVE HEED to everything He says to you. And it will be that every soul that does not heed that prophet shall be utterly destroyed from among the people.”
CONCISE OUTLINE
I. WE MUST … [12-15]A. KNOW THE TRUTHII. WE MUST … [16-21]
B. IF WE ARE TO SEE THE LIEA. BOLDLY CORRECT THE LIEIII. WE MUST … [22-26]1. WITHOUT FEARB. WITHOUT CONDEMNATION
2. WITHOUT HESITATIONA. KNOW SCRIPTURE WELL
B. IF WE ARE TO SEIZE1. THE MOMENT
2. AND OPPORTUNITY TO PROCLAIM
TRUTHCLAIM/CONTEXT: All of this is supported “by the faith given by way of the Name.”
Let’s rehearse our context briefly –
OBEDIENCE TO THE GREAT COMMISSION CONTINUES …
• Three sections in this book …FOUNDATIONAL INQUIRY: What can we learn from Peter’s reaction to the people running to John and him?• Three conspicuous themes … [message #1]
- “In Jerusalem” (1-7)
- “In Judea & Samaria” (8-12)
- “In the remotest part” (13-28)
• Three things God did with Jesus to inaugurate the Church … [message #2]
- PREEMINENCE of Christ Jesus (Living Lord)
- PROMINENCE of the Holy Spirit prominence
- POWER of the Authentic (True) Church
• Three things we must face concerning our possessions … [message #3]
- He LIFTED UP the Son
- He DELIVERED UP the Son
- He RAISED UP the Son
• Three key factors about role models …
- We don’t have everything
- What we do have we must share with those who don’t
- We must be willing to be involved in this process
• Christ Jesus must be our Role Model!
- We are known by the company we keep [“Do not be deceived: ‘Bad company corrupts good morals.’” 1 Corinthians 15:33]
- Inappropriate role models beget inappropriate behavior
- Appropriate role models beget appropriate behavior
• We have also agreed that three things seem to happen when a person REALLY “hears” the Good News …
- they come under GREAT CONVICTION [“they were pierced to the heart”; 2:37a]
- they ask a GREAT QUESTION [“what shall we do?”; 37b]
- they received a GREAT RESPONSE [“repent” of your sins & “re-ceive” the Lord Jesus Christ; 3,39]
EXPANDED OUTLINE
PETER KNEW THE TRUTH; therefore ...
I. WE MUST … [12-15]APPLICATION/CHALLENGE: Peter prevented the excited people from slipping into the error of false worship … worshiping the creature rather than the Creator … turning their eyes toward Jesus Christ.A. KNOW THE TRUTHII. WE MUST … [16-21]B. TO SEE THE LIE
- Jesus is “the Truth” know Him
- Jesus is “the Word” know Him
- God gets all the glory
- Only God has piety and power
- Jews are seekers of signs [John 4:48, 12:37; 1 Corinthians 1:22]
[FALSE] How are we to discern the counterfeit unless we know the authentic; a crooked wall screams for attention adjacent to a true wall
- Man receiving glory is wrong
- Man has no piety or power
- These people were seeking after signs
- Peter saw their behavior and understood their amazement was at man the instrument not at the doctor, the Healer
- He knew the staring was at man not God; he knew they thought Peter and John had some divine powers
- Peter wants them to know the truth
- by what power the man was healed
- and by what righteousness the lameness left his body
- When they had the chance the chose the lie and disowned the truth [v. 14, 15]
- The power of God allows him to speak bluntly; accusing them of murder and crimes against God … “you did this” and “you did that”!
- He understood their culpability in the context of ignorance … avoiding a condemning message.
- He proudly and boldly proclaims the resurrection! [v.15]
- We must live like this!
A. BOLDLY CORRECT THE LIE
- Without intimidation
- Without hesitation
- Without condemnation
III. WE MUST … [22-26]
- He glorifies the Father by directing the people’s praise away from the instrument to the POWER!
a) through the name of Jesus,“But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name!”
b) through faith in the name!John 1:12
- Peter took popular scriptures and individuals, well known to his audience, and turned them to his advantage.
- He preaches of Abraham & uses him to point to “Abraham’s seed.” [13, 25]
- He preaches Moses and the prophets in order to direct their attention to a greater prophet. [18-24]
- Here is the message of the Baptizer and Jesus … “repent for the Kingdom of God is at hand.”
- We must live like this!
A. KNOW SCRIPTURE SKILLFULLYB. USE SCRIPTURE EXTENSIVELY
- If we are to ...
a. Seize moment
b. and opportunity
- To address this present age
- and to proclaim the one to come
He remembered that it was not their piety or power but God’s that wrought the miracle of healing in the lame man.
He challenged them to remember they’d seen others rise from the dead.
He asked them why they were amazed that a lame man was healed.
Note in all of this – the preeminence of Christ Jesus, the prominence of the Holy Spirit, and the power demonstrated bt the authentic church!
We must ask, “What happens to those who do not hear?” Who do not “listen”? It’s unspeakable to reject the Gospel [read v.23] … you reject God Himself.
WHAT CAN MAN DO TO KNOW THEY’VE HEARD?
1. Ask themselves if they believe that …Political, ecclesiastical and familial ties will not benefit a single soula. Jesus is the promised seed of Abraham.2. Ask themselves if they have …
b. Jesus is the promised prophet of Moses
c. it is Jesus who will bring in the time of refreshing, the time of restoration of Israel
[REFRESH] My browser … it needs refreshing once in awhilea. repented of their sins [v.19]3. Ask themselves if they sense …
b. been converted [turning from their “wicked ways,” v.26]
c. given heed to Him [v.22].a. the forgiveness of their sins [v.19]
[BLACK BEAN STAIN] my first effort at black beans and ham
b. the hope in Christ’s coming again [v.19]
c. the promise of everlasting life [v.21]
A man may have Abraham or Bill Graham as his father according to the flesh yet have the devil according to the Spirit
A man may be a member in good standing of the First Missionary Lighthouse of the Baptized in the New Blood in Christ Pentecostal Church of the Latter Day Redeemed in God and still not have a single letter of His name recorded in the Lamb’s Book of Life
A man may be the son of a third generation deacon, a son of the founding pas-tor of the church he attends, and have an aunt and uncle who are missionaries to Zimbabwe but not be related to the Son of David
If a man is not turned from his wicked ways he will not be found on the Way of Jesus of Nazareth
Clearly the intent of God (in recording the book of Acts) was more than establish-ing an historical record.
Clearly His purpose was to …
Today’ message was titled “TO HIM YOU SHALL LISTEN!” This is a cornerstone of our Good News.
- show the POWER of His people in a.) the spread of the Good News and b.) the growth of the church, the Body of Christ
- reveal the hardships frequently encountered in absolute obedience;
- demonstrate the greater need for such hardship;
- glorify Himself!
On the Mount of transfiguration:
“Then a cloud formed, overshadowing them, and a voice came out of the cloud, ‘This is My beloved Son, listen to Him!’”We’re not to listen to the voices of men, but the voice of God! And Jesus is God!Mark 9:7
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