ACTS 4:1-12: Of Mice and Men

SERIES: #5 Acts of the Apostles – Witnessing to Jerusalem

TOPIC: Salvation; Boldness, Forgiveness, Power, Preeminence, Regeneration
TITLE: OF MICE AND MEN - And Their Greatest Laid Plans!
[John Steinbeck by way of Robert Burns' famous poem, To a Mouse, which is often quoted as: "The best-laid plans of mice and men go oft awry (or astray)."]

TEXT: Acts 4:12 (1-12)

“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.”

[E-MAIL] My first e-mail address was acts_412; I choose that address because of what this verse means to me personally.

You see because of my background I identified with Peter and Paul … you know “the Foot ‘n’ Mouth” twins.

TRUTH/CONTEXT: Series Reminders – A Book of three acts 1) Jerusalem [1-7], 2) Judea & Samaria [8-12], 3) remotest parts of the earth [13-28]; A Book of three themes 1) Preeminence 2) Prominence 3) Power of Authentic Church

Several things to notice …

• Notice the arrested; not only Peter and John were arrested but the healed man as well. [v. 10]
• Notice the reason; speaking to “the people” disturbed the authorities. [v.1]
• Notice the taboo;

the apostles were preaching “the resurrection (of) the dead”

the Sadducees did not believe in an afterlife. [vv.1, 2]

• Notice the power; “in Jesus.” [v.2]
• Notice the fruit; “men … five thousand.” [v.4]
• Notice the arrogance; “they began to inquire, ‘By what power, or in what name, have you done this?’” … no concern for the man or the miracle
• an acknowledgement the miracle took place. [v.7]
• Notice the preacher; … he’s the same one who denied Christ three times …
• Notice the answer; Peter’s third sermon in a few days [vv. 8-12; ]
• Notice the attitude; they were Spirit-filled but courteous, guided in truth and power
• Notice the apostle threw the issue back in the accusers laps …
• Notice Peter’s Sermon

1. “if we are on trial today for a benefit done to a sick man”
2. “by this name … this man [was] healed.”
3. “let it be known to all of you, and all the people of Israel”
4. It was “this name”…

• “whom you crucified.”
• “whom God raised from the dead.”

• Draws from the OT: “He is the stone …”, notice the tense and the change to a definite pronoun

1. Psalm 118:22 –

[He is ] The stone which the builders rejected Has become the chief corner stone.

2. a known psalm
3. a temple song
4. written during temple construction
5. quoted 6x in New Testament …
6. 3x by Jesus Himself [cf. Mark:12:10; Luke 20:17]

• Notice; also that builders rejected, not merchants or artisans or farmers or shepherds … a clear slap at those responsible for building
• Notice: the punctuation ending verse 12! A mark to end all marks! “by which we must be saved”

Bottom-line –

1. the power that delivered the man from his affliction came not from man but from God … all agree because it was universally understood such power could only be from divine;
2. by definition, deliverance from sin and from hell requires an even greater power … that power is still ours! It comes with some stipulations - courtesy, honesty, etc.

FOUNDATIONAL INQUIRY: What should be learned from the experience of Peter and John?
EXPANDED OUTLINE

I. WE SHOULD LEARN - WHEN GOD USES US AS HANDS OF HEALING

A. We might be apprehended for it
B. And we might be detained because of it
C. Whether legal and illegal

II. WE SHOULD LEARN - WHEN GOD USES US AS FEET TO THE LOST

A. We might be interrogated

1. We must be prepared to answer
2. We must use God’s Word to answer

B. And we might be persecuted

1. We must be prepared to respond
2. We must be prepared to suffer

III. WE SHOULD LEARN WHEN GOD USES US AS VOICES OF DECREE

A. We must nor fear to confirm

1. His calling
2. His decree

B. And must know who is to be proclaimed

1. There is “no one else”
2. There is “none other name”
3. “by which we must be saved”

APPLICATION: What can we expect in times like ours? Are our times that much different than the times of our text?

We can expect when we approach life in that name …

1. Efforts to silence us! [v.1]
2. Efforts to stir-up those with an opposing worldview! [2]
3. Yet we should expect abundant fruit … if Christ is preached! [4]
4. Arrogant, intolerant, and hypocritical treatment by those who disagree! [7b]
5. Yet we should expect the same power in us if we will just “give heed to Him” [8a; also a theme of series message #4]

How are we to respond? Keep quiet and take the politically correct route or …

[NEW SHERIFF] The Six Shooter was an extremely popular western, broadcast on NBC radio from 1953-54. Jimmy Stewart starred as Britt Ponsett, a Texas plainsman who was know as The Six Shooter.

On one broadcast (“The New Sheriff”; 6/10/54) Britt called a bully’s bluff … even though his gun was several feet away on a dresser. In his signature style, Stewart (as Ponsett) told the tough he could draw his gun anytime he wanted. The surprised crook stammered, “B-b-b-but you a-a-a-ain’t got your six-shooter.” Ponsett stepped toward the thug and drawled, “Things might not work out the way you think they will.” The Six Shooter’s bold confidence made the two-bit thug turn and run.

[DUEL AT LOCKWOOD] From the same program a tee-aged killer went after The Six Shooter in a town called Lockwood … he bragged to everyone if he ran into Ponsett he’d kill him. Well Britt showed up one day and he heard the quiet gunman had come to town, so he sent a messenger to warn Ponsett he was on his way. Ponsett didn’t wait … he rode out on the trail and waited for the kid on the trail.

The gunman found Ponsett sitting on his horse waiting for him; he asked, “Who are you?” He said, “Britt Ponsett” and laid a shotgun over his saddle as the tough started to draw. And he drawled slowly, “Why are you stopping? Go ahead, draw!”

Fantasies concerning life and its living are common to all people … one of mine is stepping toward the next illogical, irrational, relativistic humanist or atheist and saying, “Things might not work out the way you think they will.”

Only in my vision the rascal doesn’t turn and run; instead he comes under conviction, drops to his knees and pleads of God’s forgiveness.

CHALLENGE: Clearly, there is a present need for more boldness amongst the Body of Christ. Jesus didn’t die in order for us to become doormats for every godless heathen we encounter. After all, Jesus was not always the easy-going man popular mythology pictures! [Luke 19:45-47; John 2:13-17]

But I declare a truth to you; our fears are not due to obedience but disobedience … a greater fear of man than of God, a greater concern for the horizontal rather than the vertical.

I fear many of our brothers and sisters have become so fearful of the world and its minions they’ve been rendered stingerless in the battle for souls.

In spite of that we must also be …

1. Courteous! [8b]
2. Honest! [10]
3. Bold! [9,11]
4. Biblical! [11]
5. But powerful
6. And fearless! [12]

Somehow, we must train up men and women of greater courage Who will ignore political correctness and shun

• The lust of the flesh
• The lust of the eyes
• And the boastful pride of life

While we were yet sinners ...

Christianity, Expository, Homiletics,
Outlines, Preaching, Sermons

CHRIST DOES NOT PRAY: How We Should Relate to Our Ingathering!

TOPIC: Death; Ingathering
TITLE: CHRIST DOES NOT PRAY - How We Should Relate to Our Ingathering! [Outline and some text adapted from: Spurgeon’s Morning & Evening, "Morning", May 2]

TEXT: John 17:15

I do not ask You to take them out of the world, but to keep them from the evil one.

TRUTH CLAIM/CONTEXT: "It is a sweet and blessed event which will occur to all believers in God's own time – the going home to be with Jesus."

Spurgeon comes to terms with the sheep's weariness from life's tribulations and the selfishness of a spiritual-philosophy that says, "Let me out of here. I can't take it any more!"

FOUNDATIONAL INQUIRY: Why does the Lord hold back our ingathering?

I. BECAUSE WE ARE NOT YET READY

A. WE HAVE WORK YET TO DO

We can say with Spurgeon that “in a few more years the Lord's soldiers, [those] who are now fighting ‘the good fight of faith,’” and that they

1. “will have done with conflict and”
2. will “have entered into the joy of their Lord”

But that time is not yet … “although Christ prays that his people may eventually be with him where he is, he does not ask that they may be taken at once away from this world to heaven. He wishes them to stay here”

B. WE ARE NOT YET RIPE FOR THE HARVEST

Spurgeon says,

1. “Yet how frequently does the wearied pilgrim put up the prayer, ‘O that I had wings like a dove! For then would I fly away and be at rest’
2. but Christ does not pray like that, he leaves us in his Father's hands, until, like shocks of corn fully ripe, we shall each be gathered into our Master's garner”

II. BECAUSE OTHERS ARE NOT YET READY

A. THINK OF OTHERS [Philippians 2:3-4; Christ's love]

1. “Jesus does not plead for our instant removal by death”
2. “for to abide in the flesh is needful for others if not profitable for us”

B. ABSTAIN FROM EVIL [1 Thessalonians 5:22; our witness]

1. “He asks that we … be kept from evil”
2. “But he never asks for us to be admitted to the inheritance in glory till we are of full age”
3. We must not hide our light from the lost

APPLICATION/CHALLENGE: “Christians often want to die when they have any trouble. Ask them why, and they tell you, ‘Because we would be with the Lord.’

“We fear it is not so much because they are longing to be with the Lord, as because they desire to get rid of their troubles; else they would feel the same wish to die at other times when not under the pressure of trial. They want to go home, not so much for the Savior’s company, as to be at rest.

“Now it is quite right to desire to depart if we can do it in the same spirit that Paul did [Philippians 1:21], because to be with Christ is far better, but the wish to escape from trouble is a selfish one. Rather let your care and wish be to glorify God by your life here as long as he pleases, even though it is in the midst of toil, and conflict, and suffering, and leave him to say when ‘it is enough.’”

Death, Testing, Trials, Tribulations, Troubles

ACTS - Seed Archive

Acts 1:4-8

TOPIC: Trinity

TITLE: The Book of Acts in One Message!
FOUNDATIONAL INQUIRY: What themes are conspicuous in the Acts of the Apostles?

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), and in all Judea and Samaria (8-12), and 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.”

Acts 1:14

TOPIC: Unity

TITLE: WITH ONE ACCORD – Biblical Co-operation!
[Concept from "The Acts of the Apostles," Thomas Walker; Moody (1965) p. 14]

ADDITIONAL TEXT: Romans 15:6 [Plus Various]

TRUTH CLAIM:

The Greek word used for our English “with one accord” is a compound word meaning “with a united heart and mind and spirit”; indicating perfect unanimity of feeling, desire, and purpose. It occurs only once outside of Acts [in Romans 15:6].

FOUNDATIONAL INQUIRY: What does God reveal about the unanimity of the original first century church?

I. They were with one accord in supplication! [1:14]
II. They were with one accord in convocation! [2:46]
III. They were with one accord in exaltation! [4:24]
IV. They were with one accord in devotion! [5:12]
V. They were with one accord in inspiration! [15:25]

And in this and many other ways the early church exhibited their unanimity over and over!

Acts 2:22-24

TOPIC: Father & Son [Foreknowledge; Gospel; Redemption; Will of God]

TITLE: UP WAS THE ONLY PLAN GOD HAD FOR HIS SON!
FOUNDATIONAL INQUIRY: Prior to sending Him, what was the Father's plan for His Son?

I. The Father Lifted Up the Son! [v. 22 - "Jesus the Nazarene, a man attested to you by God."]
II. The Father Delivered Up the Son! [v. 23 - "this Man, delivered up by the predetermined plan and foreknowledge of God."]
III. The Father Raised Up the Son! [v. 24 - "God raised Him up again."]

Acts 2:37-39

TOPIC: Good News; Early Church, Evangelism, Fruit, Power, Proclamation

TITLE: WHAT SHOULD HAPPEN WHEN THE GOOD NEWS IS PROCLAIMED FEARLESSLY!

FOUNDATIONAL INQUIRY: What happened to the people who heard Peter's first proclamation of the Good News?

I. They Had a Great Conviction! (v. 37a - "they were pierced to the heart.")
II. They Asked a Great Question! (v. 37b - "they asked, 'what shall we do?'")
III. They Received a Great Response! (vv. 38,39 - "repent" and "receive.")

Acts 3:12-26

TOPIC: Faith; falsehood, fearlessness, hearing, lies, power, truth

TITLE: LISTEN TO HIM!
FOUNDATIONAL INQUIRY: What can we learn from Peter’s reaction to the people running to John and him?

I. WE MUST … [12-15]

A. KNOW THE TRUTH
B. IF WE ARE TO SEE THE LIE

II. WE MUST … [16-21]

A. BOLDLY CORRECT THE LIE

1. WITHOUT FEAR
2. WITHOUT HESITATION
3. WITHOUT CONDEMNATION

III. WE MUST … [22-26]

A. KNOW SCRIPTURE WELL
B. IF WE ARE TO SEIZE

1. THE MOMENT
2. AND OPPORTUNITY TO PROCLAIM

Acts 9:1-25

TOPIC: Encountering God; regeneration, relationship (with God)

TITLE: DEALING WITH A SINNER – Encountering the Living God!

FOUNDATIONAL INQUIRY: What did Saul experience in his encounter with Jesus?

I. HE SAW (was blinding)!
II. HE HEARD (was convicting)!
III. HE REVEALED (was challenging)!
IV. HE DID (was amazing)!
V. HE BECAME (was startling/miraculous)!

Acts 9:1-31

TOPIC: Encountering God; regeneration, relationship (with God), Saul’s conversion

TITLE: COOPERATIVE MISSIONS - Saul’s encounter with God!
FOUNDATIONAL INQUIRY: What missions points do we see in this passage?

The extended passage before us (1-31) shows–

I. The Lord dealing with an outspoken sinner! (1-9)
II. The Lord directing a faithful servant! (10-19)
III. And Saul declaring a living Savior! (20-31)

Acts 27:13-14

TOPIC: Suffering; Trials, Tribulation

TITLE: EURAQUILON - Driven By Life’s Violent Winds!
FOUNDATIONAL INQUIRY: In what way is this text similar to the life of the child of God?

I. We often have a false sense of security!
II. We ignore warnings! [vv.9,10]
III. We listen to the wrong sources! [vv.11,12]
IV. We let “too little” result in “too much”! [v.13]
V. We are often caught by surprise!
VI. Violent winds always “rush” in! [v.14]
VII. Violent winds always drive us along! [v.15]

But, We Are Never Far From Shore!

Acts, Ecclesiology, Homiletics, Outlines,
Preaching, Sermons, Trinity