ACTS 6:15 (8-15) Stephen - Owned by God!

SERIES: Acts #12
TOPIC: Consecration; Witness

TITLE: STEPHEN - Owned By God
TEXT: ACTS 6:15 (8-15)

And fixing their gaze on him, all who were sitting in the Council saw his face like the face of an angel.

[D. L. MOODY] Said …

“The world has yet to see what God can do with and for and through and in and by the man who is fully and wholly consecrated to Him.” [Desiring Life]

However, he was in error … the world has seen Enoch, Joseph, Joshua, Daniel, and John the Baptizer; all pre-Ascension.

But now Stephen, post-Ascension and sold out to God; he signed his pink slip over to God; he wanted nothing but God’s presence and pleasure.

FOUNDATIONAL INQUIRY: What in this passage confirms that Stephen was wholly owned by God?
CONCISE OUTLINE:

I. HIS GIFTS CONFIRM IT
II. HIS ENEMIES CONFIRM IT
III. HIS HEART CONFIRMS IT
IV. HIS HONOR CONFIRMS IT

TRUTH CLAIM/CONTEXT: Much like the Church today, the people of Israel hungered to personally experience God (8 in 10 Americans admit to such a hunger).

In spite of intense persecution by both civil and religious authorities, the new church prospered at every turn.

They were growing in numbers, in knowledge, and in the fear of the Lord and they were learning how to faithfully respond to threats … externally and internally!

One man, Stephen, first deacon and first martyr (i.e., witness), caught the attention of influential religious zealots, why? Because he was “full of faith and power” and “performing great wonders and signs among the people.” [v. 8]

Stephen followed closely in the footsteps of his Master and Savior; proclaiming the coming Kingdom to all with ears to hear. But their attention wasn’t healthy … again, why?

Because the zealots felt threatened and “they were unable to cope with the wisdom and the Spirit with which he was preaching.” [v. 10] You see, God owned Stephen … lock, stock, and barrel.

FOUNDATIONAL INQUIRY: What in this passage confirms that Stephen was wholly owned by God?
EXPANDED OUTLINE:

I. HIS GIFTS CONFIRM IT

Among them were – Spirit and wisdom [3]; faith and Holy Spirit [5]; grace and power with signs and wonders [8]; and evangelical eloquence [10]

These are all (charisma) gifts and effects (energẽma) of the Holy Spirit …

“But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually just as He wills.”

1 Corinthians 12:11 [1-11]

“For He whom God has sent speaks the words of God; for He gives the Spirit without measure.”

John 3:34

II. HIS ENEMIES CONFIRM IT

“A disciple is not above his teacher, nor a slave above his master. It is enough for the disciple that he become like his teacher, and the slave like his master.

“If they have called the head of the house Beelzebul, how much more will they malign the members of his household! Therefore do not fear them, for there is nothing concealed that will not be revealed, or hidden that will not be known.”

Matthew 10:24-26

Stephen’s (and Christ’s) enemies began with argumentation [9,10]; failing, they incited a fabrication [11]; failing, they move to provocation [12]; then, to ensure the desired result they employed …

– Abduction [12]
– Falsification [13]
– Then Misrepresentation! [13-14]

Two things were operative on this day:

1. the Light of Truth walked in the shadow of Mount Moriah in Jerusalem
2. the fight to darken that Truth skulked in the shadows of evil, fearing the Light
   

“There are six things which the LORD hates, Yes, seven which are an abomination to Him: Haughty eyes, a lying tongue, And hands that shed innocent blood, A heart that devises wicked plans, Feet that run rapidly to [do] evil, A false witness who ut-ters lies, And one who spreads strife among brothers.”

Proverbs 6:16-18

Notice Stephan confounded his persecutors with wisdom and Scripture.

They failed both intellectually and spiritually … so they abused the Law to justify stoning him.

Historically, if a powerful movement’s followers appear to turn from the movement’s teachings, to adopt the teachings of another, these leaders are confronted with three choices:

– turn with them
– turn from them
– or turn upon them

III. HIS HEART CONFIRMS IT

Jesus said,

“… store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in or steal; for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”

Matthew 6:20-21

Can there be any question about what is stored up in Stephen’s heart?

IV. HIS HONOR CONFIRMS IT

Stephen highly honored God in his last moments. [7:1-53]

God highly honor him by gifting him more abundantly than others.

This was done that his mirror of righteousness might reflect God’s Shechinah glory.

It was not Stephen’s flesh which glowed as an angel, it was the righteousness of God being reflected in him and from him.

APPLICATION: Bottom-line -

In the egocentric and humanistic courts of fallen man, with man's version of truth, the calm but confident spirit of a man owned by “this Nazarene, Jesus” [6:14] will trump a thousand tanks and a multitude of defense attorneys.

I believe, to some degree, we’ve allowed Moses’ veil to again slip down before our eyes.

I believe we are not truly owned by the Father! Have we accepted Jesus as Savior? Yes! But not Lord! He owns us but we've held back the owner's slip.

In view of our claims, unbelievers say they are unimpressed

“You are our letter, written in our hearts, known and read by all men; being manifested that you are a letter of Christ … written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts. Such confidence we have through Christ toward God. [vv. 2-4]

We are not adequate in ourselves to consider anything as coming from ourselves, but our adequacy is from God, who also made us adequate as servants of a new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter [law] kills, but the Spirit gives life. [vv. 5-6]

But if the ministry of death, in letters engraved on stones, came with glory, so that the sons of Israel could not look intently at the face of Moses because of the glory of his face, fading as it was, how will the ministry of the Spirit [life] fail to be even more with glory? For if the ministry of condemnation has glory, much more does the ministry of righteousness abound in glory. For indeed what had glory, in this case has no glory because of the glory that surpasses it. For if that which fades away was with glory, much more that which remains is in glory. [vv. 7-11]

Therefore having such a hope, we use great boldness in our speech, and are not like Moses, who used to put a veil over his face so that the sons of Israel would not look intently at the end of what was fading away. But their minds were hardened; for until this very day at the reading of the old covenant the same veil remains unlifted, because it is removed in Christ. But to this day whenever Moses is read, a veil lies over their heart; but whenever a person turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away. [vv. 12-16]

Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as from the Lord, the Spirit. [vv. 17-18]

2 Corinthians 3:1-18

CHALLENGE: Our job is to understand the spiritual mechanics of this martyr (i.e., “witness”) Stephen … and be inspired by him.

God owns us ...

“For you have been bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body.”

1 Corinthians 6:20

And ...

“You were bought with a price; do not become slaves of men.”

1 Corinthians 7:23

Plus ...

“... false prophets also arose among the people, just as there will also be false teachers among you, who will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them, bringing swift destruction upon themselves.”

2 Peter 2:1

And for those in leadership … church leaders didn't purchase the sheep; the were paid for by the Lord's shed blood ... we don't own you.

“Be on guard for yourselves and for all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood.”

Acts 20:28

God owns us all!

The church must once again find ways to let the world know our homes (i.e., “hearts”) have a new Owner.

Acts, Christianity, Expository, Homiletics,
Outlines, Preaching, Sermons, Stephen

ACTS 6:7 The Bride's Wedding Preparations!

SERIES #11: ACTS OF THE APOSTLES - Witnesses to Jerusalem
TOPIC: Bride (of Christ); church health, church growth, faithfulness, persecution, Satan

TITLE: Bride’s Wedding Preparations - Satan’s Playpen!
TEXT: Acts 6:7 (1-7)

“The word of God kept on spreading; and the number of the disciples continued to increase greatly in Jerusalem, and a great many of the priests were becoming obedient to the faith.”

[H. A. Ironside] In chapter six “we see … vividly Satan's two master methods by which … he has endeavored to hinder the progress of the work of God.

“In the first half … we see him endeavoring to hinder by inward dissension; in the other half by outward persecution (Stephan’s martyrdom) ….

“When dissension is checked within, then Satan's work is hindered without, and the work of God goes on in great power and blessing.” [Lectures on the Book of Acts, p. 151, 158]

[John R. W. Stott] “We’ve now seen … three tactics which the devil employed … to destroy the church.

“First, he tried through the Jewish authorities, to suppress it by force

Secondly through the married couple Ananias and Sapphira, to corrupt it by hypocrisy; and

Thirdly through some … widows to distract it … from prayer and preaching, and so expose it to error and evil.

“If he had succeeded in any of these attempts, the new community of Jesus [might] have been annihilated in its infancy.” [The Spirit, The Church, and The World, p. 124]

FOUNDATIONAL INQUIRY: How do we see the Bride's responses to the three tactics mentioned by Stott?
CONCISE OUTLINE

I. DURING THE PERIOD OF FORCE AND INTIMIDATION
II. DURING THE PERIOD OF CORRUPTION BY HYPOCRISY
III. DURING THE PERIOD OF INTERNAL DISSENSION

TRUTH CLAIMS/CONTEXT: Verses 1-6 describe a simple controversy within the bridal party. Verse 7 is the first of six supplemental postscripts proclaiming the bride’s vitality.

Before the arrival of the devil’s fiery darts there had been one other event worthy of note.

The Lord’s commission to the Bride in chapter one, verse eight …

“you shall be My witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and even to the remotest part of the earth."

The question, from the beginning, is the faithfulness of the Bride to the Bridegroom ...

How did she do in the time following:

“but you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you” [1:8a]

“These all with one mind were continually devoting themselves to prayer” [1:14]

Then Peter preached and about 3000 were added that day [2:41]

Then Scripture says …

“They were continually devoting themselves to the apostles' teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Everyone kept feeling a sense of awe; and many wonders and signs were taking place through the apostles.…

“And the Lord was adding to their number day by day those who were being saved.”

Acts 2:42-43, 47b

FOUNDATIONAL INQUIRY: How do we see the Bride's responses to the three tactics of the devil mentioned by Stott?
EXPANDED OUTLINE

I. DURING THE PERIOD OF FORCE AND INTIMIDATION

First, the devil tried to use the Jewish authorities, to suppress her by force and intimidation (i.e., intimidation by civil and religious leaders).

Then arrives the intense persecution of Peter, John, and the lame beggar [Ch. 3, 4].

Satan looked to his bench and saw all of the religious leaders of the Temple and the City of Zion [3:5-6].

There's no question, great damage has been done to the Bride by the manhandling of religious leaders and civil authorities; but, in the end, it’s all about how the Bride responded to threats.

When I think of contemporary church leadership, it’s hard to get by those who’ve fallen this past year or two, or get beyond those preaching a perverted, powerless gospel.

A gospel without grace, shed blood, repentance, hell, and a risen Savior - this is not Good News!

It’s not just themselves who are hurt but their flocks and their families who suffer … innocents abound. Friends the Bride must be vigilant concerning her leaders …

So how did the "Authentic Church" do under this threat?

“But many of those who had heard the message believed; and the number of the men came to be about five thousand.”

Acts 4:4

II. DURING THE PERIOD OF CORRUPTION BY HYPOCRISY

Secondly the devil tried to stop the Bride through Ananias and Sapphira; attempting to corrupt her by hypocrisy.

The whole world watches the Bride to see how she deals with issues and people; this was not less watched; the viper “hypocrisy” has buried not a few churches and church leaders.

How did things turn out for her?

“And great fear came over the whole church, and over all who heard of these things.”

“And all the more believers in the Lord, multitudes of men and women, were constantly added to their number …”

Acts 5:11, 14

The Bride is “in the world, but not of the world”; yet today she continues to become more and more like the world ... and in the process less and less powerful (unlike the authentic church in Acts).

Consider the two hypocrites, Ananias and Sapphira, here, holding back from the Lord; then consider the 3% to 10% reality of the Bride’s current tithing habits. Is our holding back any less condemning than theirs?

We are all deserving of a death sentence; remember, it’s all about the Bride’s response to threat.

III. DURING THE PERIOD OF INTERNAL DISSENSION

Thirdly the devil attacked through some Hellenist widows to distract her leaders … from prayer and preaching, and so expose her to error and evil.

How successful was he?

“The word of God kept on spreading; and the number of the disciples continued to increase greatly in Jerusalem, and a great many of the priests were becoming obedient to the faith.”

Acts 6:7

Probably the most painful and damaging of all the devil’s devices are those “who spreads strife among brothers” [cf. Proverbs 6:16-19].

From Genesis to today we see Satan plying his trade in duplicity, backbiting, tale-bearing, guile, deceit, disbelief, dissemblance, gossiping, politics, manipulation, apostasy, and heresy.

In spite of the lessons of the history of the engagement period we see generation after generation of Christians walking in denial – NIMC ("Not In My Church"; a play on the colloquial acronym NIMB - "Not In My Backyard").

Well folks, these people belong to somebody’s church ... remember it’s all about how the Bride responds.

APPLICATION: In closing out his comments on this passage, Ironside asked his people …

“My brethren, is there not something here that ought to speak to every one of our hearts? Are you praying for a revival and blessing in the Church of God? Do you ever go into the presence of God and say, ‘Lord, revive me; is there something in me that hinders a revival; has this mouth of mine been working overtime to hinder the work of the Spirit of God?’

“If we have, we may all say, ‘God, give me grace to judge it in the presence of the Lord, that the Holy Spirit may have free course and the Word go forth with great power.”

More to the point, let’s contextualize this …

• Are there not “Hellenists” among us?
• Are there not needs here, in San Carlos, at this time, in this place with these people?
• Shouldn’t we “select from among [ourselves] men of good reputation, full of the Spirit and of wisdom, whom we may put in charge of [these tasks]”?

Your elders and deacons will be looking for you to answer that question!

“is [it] desirable for [your leadership] to neglect the word of God in order to serve tables”?

CHALLENGE: The entire scope of today's message deals with the Bride’s preparation for the day her Bridegroom will come to take her to His Father’s house. And the question that must be answered is this: We know how she responded in the to those who would disrupt her preparations for that great day in the records of the early church - how is she responding today?

In every case, the Bride is seen growing in numbers, in strength, and in the fear of the Lord.

The record shows she had no need for revival, for every day she was living in real-time revival … ever wonder what that’s like? I do!

Acts, Bride, Christianity, Expository,
Homiletics, Outlines, Preaching, Sermons

ACTS 4:23-31 - NOTICE THEIR THREATS

SERIES #6: Acts of the Apostles; Witnesses to Jerusalem [1-7]

TOPIC: Power; Church, Testimony, Witness

TITLE: NOTICE THEIR THREATS - Prerequisite for Speaking with Boldness!
TEXT: Acts 4: 29-30 [23-31]

"And now, Lord, take note of their threats, and grant that Your bond-servants may speak Your word with all confidence, while You extend Your hand to heal, and signs and wonders take place through the name of Your holy servant Jesus."

CONCISE OUTLINE
INQUIRY: How did the disciples react to the threat of persecution by the Jewish leaders?

I. THE THREAT MADE THEM PROCLAIM GOD … !

A. Their faith in God

1. Openly
2. Enthusiastically

II. THE THREAT MADE THEM PRAISE GOD … !

A. Loudly!
B. Unanimously!

III. THE THREAT MADE THEM PETITIONED GOD … !

A. Powerfully

TRUTH/CONTEXT: By now we should remember …

First that the Acts of the Apostles is outlined in chapter 1 verse 8 … and second that there are three themes revealed in its contents …

1. The preeminence of the Living Lord,
2. The prominence of the Holy Spirit, and
3. The power of the authentic church

We’ll be in Jerusalem through chapter 7; we’ll then enter Judea and Samaria until chapter 13, when we begin a journey to “the remotest part of the earth.”

Last week we saw that the authentic church can’t stop speaking about what is know to be true … unless it has allowed calluses to build up on its heart, or unless it, like the church in Laodicia, has lost its first love. [Revelation 2:4]

This week we’ll see how persecution results in a fearless voice, a unified voice, and a powerful voice all working together for God’s Glory.

EXPANDED OUTLINE
INQUIRY: How did the report of persecution by the Jewish leaders affect believers?

I. THE THREAT MADE THEM PROCLAIM GOD – Fearless Voice!

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. [27]

A. Jesus
B. By faith
C. Openly
D. Enthusiastically

1. Considered it an honor to suffer for His name
2. Unconcerned about the consequences
3. Hungered more

E. Didn’t suggest a retreat, criticize or question the apostle’s motives, suggest they go easy, stop going to the temple, propose appeasement, or send others so they could stay home.

II. THE THREAT MADE THEM PRAISE GOD – Unified Voice!

“And when they heard this, they lifted their voices to God with one accord.” [24a]

A. When the disciples reported on the threat the combined response was unified. [24]
B. Praised God

1. Loudly
2. Unanimously
3. About

a) His creative POWER! [24]
b) About His providential care! [25,28]
c) About His word and its truth! [25,26]

C. Gave God the glory

1. … here called “Sovereign Lord” …
2. recognized He is greater than “nations … peoples … kings … and rulers” [despõtes]

III. THE THREAT MADE THEM PETITIONED GOD … Powerful Voice!

"And now, Lord, take note of their threats, and grant that Your bond-servants may speak Your word with all confidence, while You extend Your hand to heal, and signs and wonders take place through the name of Your holy servant Jesus." [29, 30]

A. As a result they prayed boldly to God …

1. to consider the threats of His enemies
2. to grant them all confidence to proclaim the Good News
3. to continue …

a. His healing … not just the flesh but the spirit.
b. His signs and wonders …

E. Notice the use of Scripture in their worship of God [24b,25b,26]
F. Notice they don’t hesitate to call a “spade” a spade [27,28]
G. Notice they don’t cower but rather

1. Requested God would humble His enemies and
2. make bold His witnesses. [29]

H. Notice they don’t ask for boldness selfishly but rather for the benefit of others and for the glory of God! [30]
I. And notice God answered their prayers and released them with power … but for many it meant dispersion, tribulation, and death! [31]
J. Notice the request is not for power to afflict God’s enemies with His wrath but rather to extend His mercy “through the name of Your holy servant Jesus.” [30]

We should covet the same.

APPLICATION:

[COMMAND] During WWII the North African Campaign was in a mess and General Montgomery was sent to clean it up. I’m told his first order was as follows: “The orders of the Commander-in-Chief will no longer be open to interpretation ... just action.”

God will not bully or threaten those He has chosen. No gun will be put to their head; they will not be drug kicking and screaming into the streets.

We may choose to obey or disobey. Yet there are those who insist they’re obedi-ent and but clearly are not! Such is the problem of the twentieth century.

Were I chosen to write the epitaph for the church of this century, I would write:

GREAT PROCLAMATION;
PROCLAMATION UNPROCLAIMED

The POWER of the church (for certain THE AUTHENTIC CHURCH) was reflected in the events that followed:

1. Immediate answer to prayer … [4:31]
2. Community … [4:32-35]
3. Barnabas … [4:36,37]
4. Ananias & Sapphira [5:1-16]
5. Followed by more persecution [5:17ff.]

CHALLENGE: The AUTHENTIC but contemporary church should expect, if it has committed itself into His hands, to be …

1. shaken
2. filled and
3. made bold.

[ARMY] A few years ago the U.S. Army unveiled a new recruitment slogan recently. The “Be All You Can Be” line, a cultural icon since the 1980s, was re-tired and replaced with “An Army of One.”

According to reports, the Army hopes the slogan will appeal to a genera-tion less attracted to military service than its predecessors.

Paul says the church has had that slogan for 2,000 years …

“There is one body and one Spirit, just as also you were called in one hope of your calling; one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all who is over all and through all and in all.”

Ephesians 4:4-6

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 4:31

Thus we know and proclaim, “I am an army of One in Christ Jesus … undefeated and unbeatable; overcoming and victorious!”

Acts, Christianity, Expository, Homiletics,
Outlines, Preaching, Sermons, Sermons Series

ROMANS: Full Sermons

6:4-7

DISCIPLESHIP: It’s A Relationship, Not A Religion!

6:19

OUR OBLIGATION - To Die, Live, Serve, and Be United to God!

Christianity, Expository, Homiletics,
Outlines, Preaching, Romans, Sermons

ACTS 4:19-20 [13-22]: Whether It Is Right!

SERIES #6: Acts of the Apostles; Witnesses to Jerusalem [1-7]

TOPIC: Boldness (testimony); apologetics, authenticity, experience, faith, reality
TITLE: WHETHER IT IS RIGHT: We are compelled to speak out following an experience with God!

TEXT: Acts 4:19-20 [13-22]

TRUTH/CONTEXT: If you take your relationship with God seriously you’ve spoken about that relationship to others; if you’ve spoken often, you’ve been in the apostles’ place on more than one occasion.

Our text is …

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; for we can’t stop speaking about what we have seen and heard."

• And so it should be when we have knowledge of the Truth (haven’t we been set free by it).
• The apostles’ boldness confounds their accusers; after all they’re just lay people … uneducated.
• Those dealing with lies often use intimidation to silence their enemies, not to bring light into the darkness but to perpetuate the darkness and prevent the Light!
• Sadly, their intimidation often raises doubt, even in the mind of a believer.
• Yet when something is known with certainty, nothing can changes the fact or truth; like the apostles … “we can’t stop.”
• The apostles and the lame man knew what they had seen and heard and nothing would silence them.

You would agree with me that the disciples in the book of Acts had a real experience with God, wouldn’t you? You would also agree that that experience gave them boldness, wouldn’t you?

[REALITY] A friend and I were discussing something on TV the other day … they hadn’t seen what I had seen on the clip. There was no replaying it. (“Who’s telling the truth, you or my lying eyes?”) I personally knew what I had seen and heard but I quickly realized it was fruitless to push the fact be-cause the other party clearly had not seen and had not heard what I had heard.

The disciples, therefore the Church, are still in Jerusalem … they have yet to move their witness to Judea and Samaria (beginning at chapter 8) … the rest of the world must wait until chapter 13 ... which is the overview of the book.

We’ve also highlighted what we believe are the three major themes of the book.

1. Preeminence of the Living Lord!
2. Prominence of the Holy Spirit!
3. Power of the Authentic Church!
   

OPTION: Read the passage [4:13-22] while allowing for commentary …

Verse 13– "Now as they observed the confidence of Peter and John, and under-stood that they were uneducated and untrained men, they were marveling, and be-gan to recognize them as having been with Jesus."

Notice: we don’t have to be ANYTHING or know ANYBODY in order to be a confident witness of the Living Lord and effect on people – notice the preeminence of the Living Lord and the potential for power in the authentic Church.
Notice also: the authentic Church is clearly recognized as having been with Jesus … it demonstrates Holy Spirit power.

Verse 14 – "And seeing the man who had been healed standing with them, they had nothing to say in reply."

Notice: facts are not easily denied, even by the corrupt … especially miracu-lous facts.

Verses 15-18 – "But when they had ordered them to go aside out of the Council, they began to confer with one another, 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. But in order that it may not spread any further among the people, let us warn them to speak no more to any man in this name.’ And when they had summoned them, they commanded them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus.”

Verses 21-22 – "And when they had threatened them further, they let them go (finding no basis on which they might punish them) on account of the people, be-cause they were all glorifying God for what had happened; for the man was more than forty years old on whom this miracle of healing had been performed."

Notice: in spite of the facts, corrupt men will go on doing corrupt things.

Verse 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;"

Notice: every man has two choices: either God’s way or man’s way … the Christian life is a road with a fork at every turn … fear prevents godly action [lures us down the wrong path], faith promotes godly action [luring us down the appropriate path] … a war of worldviews rages.

Verse 20 – "for we cannot stop speaking what we have seen and heard."

Notice: genuine encounters with God always compels a public response … we cannot stop speaking” what we know to be true … believers are compelled to speak.

Notice: when the authentic believer experiences an act of God or God Himself with his own senses (sight, smell, hearing, taste, touch, etc.) a GREAT thing is required to cause them to deny that experience.

FOUNDATIONAL INQUIRY: How did they acquire the certainty and boldness they now demonstrate?
EXPANDED OUTLINE
I. BY HAVING A REAL EXPERIENCE WITH GOD!”

A. What does “real” really mean
B. true; not nominally or apparently true (the real reason for an act)
C. existing or occurring as fact; actual rather than imaginary, ideal, or ficti-tious (a story taken from real life)
D. being an actual thing; having objective existence; not imaginary (the events you will see in the film are real and not just made up)
E. being actually such; not merely so-called (a real victory)
F. genuine; not counterfeit, artificial, or imitation; authentic (a real an-tique; a real diamond; real silk)
G. unfeigned or sincere; not feigned (real sympathy; a real friend)

II. BY HAVING A PERSONAL EXPERIENCE WITH GOD!

A. Even if something is real or true, It must be personally real or true
B. An experience with God cannot be inherited, purchased, borrowed, adopted, or learned
C. It must be personal and personally acquired
D. And these three men qualified

III. BY HAVING AN UNDERSTANDING OF EXPERIENCES WITH GOD!

A. a nominal experience with God would result in a nominal salvation … the recipient of such an experience is claiming to have met a savior that is nominally Jesus, but not the real Jesus
B. an apparent experience with God requires an apparent rebirth … the recipient would apparently be on Glory Road … not appealing at all
C. a fictitious experience with God could only result from a fictitious Gospel … without the Good News there is no hope, without hope there is desperation … as many have learned to their detriment there is no satis-faction in fictitious living
D. an imaginary experience with God is a denial of Christ’s atoning blood-sacrifice … since there is no remission of sin with imaginary blood there can be no be no setting free from sin and death
E. a so-called experience with God would mean a so-called victory over sin … we’d remain in our sins and my so-called preaching would be vain
F. an artificial or imitation experience with God could only hold an artifi-cial promise for the masses … what person would give their wife or mother artificial flowers on their death bed … the world is on its death bed; what father or grandfather would make imitation promises to their grandkids
G. a feigned experience with God would necessitate a feigned forgiveness of sin … there is no feigning forgiveness of sin
H. And all are without the boldness exhibited by the three men in our text.

APPLICATION: No one knowingly receives or endures abuse or persecution for a lie; reality brings with it the courage to speak of that reality …

• Peter and John wouldn’t speak boldly of an imaginary Jesus!
• They wouldn’t jeopardize their well-being over a fictitious salvation!
• They wouldn’t risk their lives for an apparent justification!
• They wouldn’t boldly preach a so-called Gospel in the presence of people they knew!

Nor could I feign a sermon for an imitation deity!

We are warned about the last days …

"Many will say to Me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many miracles?' And then I will declare to them, 'I never knew you; DEPART FROM ME, YOU WHO PRACTICE LAWLESSNESS.' Therefore everyone who hears these words of Mine and acts on them, may be compared to a wise man who built his house on the rock."

Matthew 7:22-24

This is one of my great concerns; there are those who either have had no real ex-perience with God or those who’ve concocted an experience with God.

Neither can boldly proclaim the truths concerning the faith; the former don’t care, the latter can only pretend.

No one knowingly receives or endures abuse or persecution for a lie.

Reality brings the courage to speak of that reality (and bear the consequences) …

• Peter and John wouldn’t speak boldly of an imaginary Jesus!
• They wouldn’t jeopardize their well-being over a fictitious salvation!
• They wouldn’t risk their lives for an apparent justification!
• They wouldn’t boldly preach a so-called Gospel in the presence of people they knew!

Nor could I feign a sermon for an imitation deity!

It is commonly believed one of the richest mission fields in the Western World is in our churches on Sunday morning.

I pray you will examine yourself …

• Is your experience with God as real as the apostles?
• Is your experience a truly personal one?
• Do you understand the implications of a feigned relationship?

Could this explain the lack of boldness in the Western Church today?

Acts, Christianity, Expository, Homiletics, Outlines,
Preaching, Sermons, Sermons Series

1 PETER: Full Sermons

The following are links to full sermons, preached at FBC La Verne in Southern California or at San Carlos Community Church (SCCC) in San Carlos, Sonora, Mexico ...

2:24

Link - THE TAPESTRY OF ATONEMENT - What it means to us!

1 Peter, Christianity, Easter, Expository,
Homiletics, Outlines, Preaching

ACTS: Full Sermons

The following are links to full sermons, preached at FBC La Verne in Southern California or at San Carlos Community Church (SCCC) in San Carlos, Sonora, Mexico ...

1:4-8

FAITH OF OUR FATHERS - How a Few Nobodies Turned the World Upside Down!

2:22-24

WONDERFUL WORKS OF GOD - First Fruits!

3:6

GIVE WHAT YOU HAVE – Serving God In Power!

3:16, 22-23

TO HIM YOU SHALL GIVE HEED – Living Faith Comes From Hearing Him!

4:12 (1-12)

OF MICE AND MEN - And Their Greatest Laid Plans

4:19-20 [13-22]

WHETHER IT IS RIGHT - We are compelled to speak out following an experience with God!

4:29-30 [23-31]

NOTICE THEIR THREATS - Prerequisite for Speaking With Boldness!

5:1-11

THE GREAT PRETENDERS - The cost of doing business with Satan!

5:20 [12-21a]

TAKING A STAND – What the Authentic Church Is Expected to Do!

5:21b-42

CONTINUING DAILY – The honor in dishonor for His Name’s sake!

6:7 (1-7)

BRIDE'S WEDDING PREPARATIONS - Satan's Playpen!

6:8 (1-15)

STEPHEN - Owned By God!

7:58-60

THEY CAST STONES - He Cast Eyes On Heaven!

8:4-5 (1-8)

A GREAT DAY - Being Blown Around a Corner for God's Glory!

8:9-24

A MAGIC ACT - There's Nothing Magical About This Treasure!

Acts, Expository, Homiletics, Outlines,
Preaching, Sermons, Sermon Series

FAITH OF THE FATHERS: How a Few Nobodies Turned World Upside Down!

SERIES: Acts #1

TOPIC: Early Church; Ecclesiology, Obedience, Priorities, Resurrection, Witness, World
TITLE: FAITH OF THE FATHERS: How a Few Nobodies Turned World Upside Down!
TEXT: Acts 1:4-8

Gathering [the apostles He had chosen] together, [Jesus] commanded them not to leave Jerusalem, but to wait for what the Father had promised, "Which," He said, "you heard of from Me; for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now." So when they had come together, they were asking Him, saying, "Lord, is it at this time You are restoring the kingdom to Israel?" He said to them, "It is not for you to know times or epochs which the Father has fixed by His own authority; but you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be My witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and even to the remotest part of the earth."

FOUNDATIONAL INQUIRY: What themes are conspicuous in the Acts of the Apostles?
CONCISE OUTLINE

I. The Preeminence of the Living Lord!
II. The Prominence of the Holy Spirit!
III. The Power of the Authentic Church!

Asked another way …

1. What was preeminent in that church’s life? [That is, what was clearly the most important thing to the leaders and people of their fellowships?]
2. What was prominent in the ministries of that church? [That is, does any factor stand out over all others?]
3. What power was exhibited? [That is, if their ministries were effective, what energized them?]

TRUTH/CONTEXT: The book may be divided into three distinct sections based on the outline of 1:8b ...

“… you shall be My witnesses both in Jerusalem (Chapters 1-7), (8-12), and in all Judea and Samariaand even to the remotest part of the earth (13-28).”

If someone were to want to know what an authentic Christian community looked like, it would probably be best to look at a definition near the time of Christ … aka: the “early church.”

In looking one would have to look at the whole community of believers because the “local” church was not a known entity. Where would one look? The Book of Acts … the Acts of the Apostles!

SUCCINCTLY: The Great Commission of the Gospels [Matthew 28:16-20] is commenced in the Book of Acts.

EXPANDED OUTLINE
FOUNDATIONAL INQUIRY: What themes are conspicuous in the Acts of the Apostles?

I. THE PREEMINENCE OF THE LIVING LORD!

A. The context was the three decades after the death of Jesus …
B. J. Vernon McGee said Christ’s ministry after the resurrection was more important than that during His three years the Gospels write about. Think about that! Why?

1. Because He’s alive … He was dead now He is alive! That proves everything!
2. All Christ’s promises were now be seen in that light.
3. The church could now look forward to those promises future with great confidence that they too would be fulfilled … absolutely!

C. This knowledge caused the name of Jesus be the first thing on their mind when the awoke, the last thing on their mind when they laid down to sleep, and every moment in between … nothing else seemed im-portant in the light of Christ Jesus the Lord.
D. Christ opens the book, Paul closes the book preaching Christ dead, buried, resurrected, ascended and coming again at the end. Everything in between is too!
E. Stephen is martyred in that name; Peter and John are persecuted because of that name.

II. THE PROMINENCE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT!

A. “‘… IT SHALL BE IN THE LAST DAYS,' God says, 'THAT I WILL POUR FORTH OF MY SPIRIT UPON ALL MANKIND … ’” [Acts 2:17]
B. This spirit was “the promise of the Father” mentioned in 2:23.

1. In the book we have the promise of the Holy Spirit by Jesus in 1:5 & 1:8!
2. We have His coming as a “mighty rushing wind” (2).
3. People speaking in unknown tongues (2).
4. Persecution but Holy Spirit power (4).
5. Lied to (5).
6. Philip sent to and carried away from the Ethiopian Eunuch (8).
7. Paul on the road to Damascus (9).
8. Cornelius (10).
9. Conversion of the Gentiles.

C. Paul's Macedonian vision (16).
D. His shipwreck and snakebite (19).
E. The baptism of John’s disciples (28).
F. And the overall scriptural truth of Zechariah 4:7 ["not by might nor by power but by My Spirit says the Lord"].

III. THE POWER OF THE AUTHENTIC CHURCH!

A. Ten days following the ascension we have Pentecost. This is the beginning of what the church has known as Pentecostal power.
B. Pentecost follows the Feast of Fruits by 50 days …
C. Passover = death (no seed falls to the ground, no fruit.
D. Feast of First Fruits = Resurrection (new life)
E. Pentecost = full fruition (the church harvest)
F. Churches: Damascus (9); Antioch (11); Cyprus (13); Perga (14); Galatia (14,16); Philippi (16), Thessalo-nica (17 + Berea and Athens); Corinth (18); Ephesus (18); and etc. Even to Roman officials and cities with Paul.
G. In slightly less than 30 years the Good News is preached “to the remotest part of the earth.”
H. Prophetic fulfillment: “He says, ‘It is too small a thing that You should be My Servant To raise up the tribes of Jacob, and to restore the preserved ones of Israel; I will also make You a light of the nations So that My salvation may reach to the end of the earth.’” [Isaiah 49:6]

APPLICATION: What would the witness of the early church have been IF there was no “rushing wind,” IF the thousands were not saved, IF no healing of the lame, IF no healing of the blind, IF no churches planted because there were no Stephens, no Philips, no Pauls, no Apolloses, no Pricillas or Aquilas?

Why in this day and age do we not see Pentecostal power in the church? Why is the Holy Spirit only seen in the third world?

CHALLENGE: Is Jesus alive to you? Or is He still dead and buried? Oh? You say, "He is risen indeed!" But is He coming again in judgment?

Were all of those promises that were fulfilled in His resurrection for a bunch of old Jews and Gentiles too distant to identify with or can you feel the power of His resurrection course in your veins? He's alive! He is alive!

FEEL HIS POWER TODAY … NOT WHEN YOU ARE READY FEEL HIM NOW! KNOW HIM PERSONALLY!

Acts, Apostles, Ascension, Christianity,
Early Church, Ecclesiology, Obedience, Religion, Witness