Sermon Notes 08-03-08

August 3rd, 2008 “Let It Be Known”
Acts 4:8-13
“8Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them: “Rulers and elders of the people! 9If we are being called to account today for an act of kindness shown to a cripple and are asked how he was healed, 10then know this, you and all the people of Israel: It is by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified but whom God raised from the dead, that this man stands before you healed. 11He is ‘the stone you builders rejected, which has become the capstone. 12Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved.” 13When they saw the courage of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished and they took note that these men had been with Jesus.”

1. In recent years tragedies such as that at Columbine High School have stunned and saddened our nation. I remember when drive-by shootings shocked the nation, making the headlines. Over time they became so common, no one seemed to notice anymore. Then, young people began killing their classmates in school. Remember your amazement when you heard of the shootings in Jonesboro, Paducah, and other places? We are no longer surprised when they occur.
In April of 1999 we discovered not only did students kill other students on that tragic day in Littleton, Colorado, but Christian students were singled out for their faith. For the first time in American history, young people died as Christian martyrs. Surely nothing worse could happen, could it?
Last Sunday: July 27th 2008: KNOXVILLE, Tennessee-- A man accused of fatally shooting two adults and wounding seven others at a Knoxville church told police the church's liberal teachings prompted him to attack, according to court papers.What will it take to awaken God’s people? We are in a battle for the heart of America!

2. In our postmodern culture, the question most un-churched people ask about Christianity is not, “Can you prove it?” It is, “Can you live it?”

3. Peter and John had a decision to make: They could be quiet and just live the rest of their life in the comfort of the pew or they could speak out!

Peter and John were called before the Jewish officials in Acts 4:13, because of their bold preaching about Jesus. Acts 4:13 (NKJV): “Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated and untrained men, they marveled. And they realized that they had been with Jesus.”

Points to Ponder:
1st Their Boldness Was Apparent!

A. Acts 4:13 “When they observed the boldness of Peter and John . . .” They observed.”
The word “observed,” does not comes from the common term for a casual glance, but from theoreo, which denotes the idea of a close investigation.
Unbelievers are the ones doing the observing. People are watching you and me, inspecting us. And, they have a right to do so. When they do, what do they see?

Three Observations:
A lost person can tell in a short period of time three things about you and me:
1. If we care about them—people do not care how much you know until they know how much you care.
2. If we believe what we share—the reason some do not believe in Jesus is that they are not sure whether we really believe in Him!
3. If God is actively at work in our lives—people can tell if God’s presence is a consistent reality in your life.

A Teacher said: “During a break in a class a student came to me with tears in his eyes. I had encouraged the class to share their conversion testimony with three people, and he had faithfully done the assignment. So why the tears? “One of the people I shared with was my neighbor of seven years,” he told me. “The man claimed to be a confirmed atheist. I shared my testimony, and he listened politely. When I finished, I simply said, ‘This is the greatest thing that has ever happened to me.’” The student began to weep. “What happened?” I asked. “My neighbor asked me this question after I gave my testimony,” the student continued. “If Jesus Christ is the greatest thing that ever happened to you, why has it taken you seven years to tell me?’”

Acts 4:13 (NKJV): “Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John,”
“Boldness”—what a gift, only the Holy Spirit can help someone who was afraid, like Peter, to be bold and speak up! ðỼçóßá par-rhay-see'-ah; all out spoken-ness or frankness!

Illustration: In the movie “The Passion of the Christ;” by Mel Gibson, we see the tragedy of Jesus being made to carry His cross down the Via Delarosa to the place called the Skull. Where He will be placed on a cross and executed for the sins of man. No one steps forward to confront the procession! Not even His disciples, not one! Peter had said: Matthew 26:33 “33Peter replied, “Even if all fall away on account of you, I never will.” 34“I tell you the truth,” Jesus answered, “this very night, before the rooster crows, you will disown me three times.” “Boldness” had been deafeningly—SILENCE!

Points to Ponder:
1st Their Boldness Was Apparent!
2nd Their Lives Were Transparent!

Acts 4:13 “Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated and untrained men, they marveled".
A. Their perception of Peter and John was clear “. . . and realized that they were uneducated and untrained men, . . .”
The perception people have of us comes not from how we act on Sunday morning, but from how we live each day.
BOLDNESS! Acts 4:13“Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated and untrained men, they marveled.

B. The Religious leaders had miss-understood who Peter and John were! Their perception indicates what they saw as significant about Peter and John!
They the religious leaders “…perceived that they were uneducated and untrained men, they marveled.
The term uneducated means they had no training in rabbinical law. No seminary training, these were merely fishermen.

The Greek word for “untrained” is literally the word idiot. It means they were just common folk, nothing special.
1. Note this: the most remarkable aspect of Peter’s and John’s lives was that their lives seemed so unremarkable!
2. Jesus uses nobodies with a passion for Him!
3. The key to sharing Christ in our day is to be real.

Unremarkable people can share Christ remarkably. I took my took my youth out to share Christ on the streets of Seattle. They amazed unsaved people by simple acts of kindness such as a free car wash. When asked why we offered such services, we simply responded, “We are showing the love of Jesus in a practical way.”

On another occasion I went with a layman who had never led anyone to Christ except his daughters. In a little over an hour at a Laundromat, he led two adults to Christ! Nothing terribly impressive, simply being kind, can open the door to witnessing in a postmodern world.

Points to Ponder:
1st Their Boldness Was Apparent!
2nd Their Lives Were Transparent!
3rd Their Focus Was Significant!

A. Acts 4:13 “. . . they marveled, and realized that they had been with Jesus.”
The Religious leaders were amazed at what they saw.
When people meet us, how long does it take for them to realize we have been with Jesus?
I remember when I came to Christ. A factor in my conversion was the radical change I saw occur in the lives of a group of hippies who met Jesus in 1970— bona fide Jesus Freaks! I define a Jesus Freak as someone who loves Jesus more than you or me!

B. We have seen examples of young people so passionate for Jesus that they were willing to die for Him. Rachel Scott and Cassie Bernall, the young ladies at Columbine High School in Littleton, Colorado, suffered a martyr’s death because of their passion for God.

1. Their deaths have not caused Christian teens to hide their faith; instead, thousands have a renewed passion for the Lord because of these precious young ladies.
2. The Boston Globe reported that two days before her savage, unexpected death, Cassie Bernall wrote a poem signifying her passion for God:

“Now I have given up on everything else, I have found it to be the only way To really know Christ and to experience The mighty power that brought Him back to life again, and to find Out what it means to suffer and to Die with him. So, whatever it takes, I will be one who lives in the fresh Newness of life of those who are Alive from the dead.”

C. Cassie Bernall was ready to die, because she had determined to live for God with a passion. Most of us will not be martyrs. The question for us is not, will we die for Jesus? The question is, will we live for Him?
May God give us such passion to live for Jesus and to reach a world so desperately in need of Jesus.
Peter and John’s Focus was significant! Acts 4:13 “. . . they marveled, and realized that they had been with Jesus.”
Everyone will know when you really have been with Jesus!