Acts 4 reveals that not everyone is happy about the man who was healed and the message about Jesus that came up because of the miracle. They get arrested, not for the miracle, but for the message. This world likes the miracles of Jesus, but not the message of Jesus. The rulers didn’t like the teaching. To the Jews who did not believe that Jesus was the Messiah, Peter and John’s message sounded like heresy. What we see here is this: Ever since the beginning of the church, if the gospel truth about sin and Jesus Christ is accurately communicated, it will be an offense to most people in the world and not popular with most people in the world.
I. What You Can (1-12)
- Something keeps us from really witnessing, and the #1 cause is .
- Jesus challenges us to be of men, but we seem content to be of the aquarium.
- Expect .
- The minute that you open your mouth and begin to speak , you risk attack, retaliation, rejection, being judged, , or ostracized.
- Expect .
- Peter and John saw this as an opportunity, not an .
- We must not on salvation being through the name of Jesus Christ only.
- Expect .
- We fear men more than we are with God’s power. Ask Him for it! He’ll give it!
- You see, fear sees the obstacles, but sees the opportunities!
II. What It Should (13-22)