WEBVTT 00:00:01.679 --> 00:00:04.080 Welcome to the Awakening Church podcast. 00:00:04.240 --> 00:00:08.960 We pray this message encourages you and provides the hope and light of Jesus Christ. 00:00:09.199 --> 00:00:10.720 Thanks for tuning in. 00:00:12.240 --> 00:00:13.919 Welcome to Awakening Church. 00:00:14.000 --> 00:00:14.800 My name's Ryan. 00:00:14.880 --> 00:00:17.519 We're so glad to have you join us today. 00:00:17.679 --> 00:00:21.519 And we're in this series, we're in part three of what we're calling Future Church. 00:00:21.600 --> 00:00:28.800 We've been wrestling with this question as we emerge out of our COVID realities and worlds. 00:00:29.120 --> 00:00:31.679 What is the future of the church? 00:00:31.839 --> 00:00:37.520 Or maybe a better question, how do we return to God's design for his church? 00:00:37.840 --> 00:00:44.240 What does it look like for us to be God's church the way he originally intended it? 00:00:44.399 --> 00:00:49.679 And so we said to answer that question, we actually are going back to the very beginning to how the church began. 00:00:49.840 --> 00:00:59.200 We're studying the book of Acts and how the church began to really discover what it means for us today to be the church. 00:00:59.439 --> 00:01:02.079 And here's what we said, at least about the church. 00:01:02.240 --> 00:01:12.879 We said that the church is the spirit-empowered community of Jesus on mission to invite the entire world into new life in the kingdom of God. 00:01:13.280 --> 00:01:15.840 That's what we are as believers in Christ. 00:01:16.000 --> 00:01:21.359 The church isn't a building, the church isn't a place, the church isn't a gathering, though we gather. 00:01:21.599 --> 00:01:25.680 The church is the spirit-empowered community of Jesus. 00:01:25.840 --> 00:01:29.120 It's all about him, it's all because of him, it's all for him. 00:01:29.519 --> 00:01:38.079 And we are on mission or on purpose to invite the entire world into a new life, into the kingdom of God. 00:01:38.239 --> 00:01:41.120 And really, how do you do that? 00:01:41.439 --> 00:01:43.840 What does that look like practically? 00:01:44.640 --> 00:01:49.439 Maybe said, another way is how do we be a church with lasting impact? 00:01:50.480 --> 00:01:57.200 How do we actually have an impact in our city, in our community, in the lives of those around us? 00:01:57.359 --> 00:01:58.799 Like, what does that look like? 00:01:58.959 --> 00:02:05.359 Or maybe personally, how do you live a life of eternal significance? 00:02:07.120 --> 00:02:13.360 Like your life, when you look back on it, it has meaning. 00:02:13.680 --> 00:02:20.479 And you go, like, what the what I gave my life to had the weight of eternity to it. 00:02:21.039 --> 00:02:24.159 How do we be a part of something like that? 00:02:24.400 --> 00:02:34.000 Well, last week we left off with the arrival of the Holy Spirit and the birth of the church, and this new community formed. 00:02:34.719 --> 00:02:51.199 And today, uh Luke, the writer of Acts, now begins to zoom in on Peter and on John and on really what is an ordinary day that turns into an extraordinary moment of impact. 00:02:51.599 --> 00:03:05.360 Peter and John, they're in Jerusalem, uh, it's where the church began, and uh they're pastoring and ministering to the believers, about 3,000 strong at the time, and they're doing what they do on a daily routine. 00:03:05.520 --> 00:03:14.560 Uh, a good Jewish person or devout Jew would actually take three times a day to pray um in the morning and afternoon and the evening. 00:03:14.719 --> 00:03:19.039 And and for them, if you're in Jerusalem, you do that at the temple. 00:03:19.280 --> 00:03:21.439 And so it's around 3 p.m. 00:03:21.680 --> 00:03:23.360 and they're on their way to pray. 00:03:23.520 --> 00:03:24.639 This is what they do. 00:03:24.800 --> 00:03:28.240 This is just a part of normal life. 00:03:28.479 --> 00:03:40.800 And on their way in front of the temple gate, it's this gate called beautiful because it's this magnificent, beautiful, huge 75-foot archway with this incredible bronze covering. 00:03:40.960 --> 00:03:42.319 It's just magnificent. 00:03:42.560 --> 00:03:51.360 As they're walking here, there is this beggar, beggar by the side, looking, calling. 00:03:51.919 --> 00:03:53.840 Now he was strategically placed. 00:03:53.919 --> 00:03:56.240 He's a not only just a beggar, but he's lame. 00:03:56.319 --> 00:03:58.080 He had to be carried there. 00:03:58.319 --> 00:04:07.360 And he's strategically placed because in Judaism, one of the, you know, great practices was giving to the poor. 00:04:07.599 --> 00:04:15.439 And so he was right at the temple when people would be thinking about this practice and asking, you know, hey, could you spare some change? 00:04:15.599 --> 00:04:17.519 Hey, could you could you help me out? 00:04:17.680 --> 00:04:21.759 And day after day, this man had been there, you know, lame for 40 years. 00:04:21.839 --> 00:04:24.480 He's been begging in this temple for a long time. 00:04:24.639 --> 00:04:27.360 He was a known person and he's begging. 00:04:27.519 --> 00:04:28.720 He's asking. 00:04:29.040 --> 00:04:46.639 And then um Peter hears him and he looks at the man and he says, Look at me, which is amazing because I think so often we don't want to look at you know, those that are hurting or those that, you know, just make us feel uncomfortable. 00:04:46.720 --> 00:04:49.439 He says, Look at me, and he's taking them in. 00:04:49.680 --> 00:04:57.920 And what I love is that uh Peter and John had eyes to see those God had put along their path. 00:04:58.000 --> 00:05:09.199 They're on the way to pray, but this man's calling out for help, and he says, Hey, look at me, and the man looks up at him and listen to what Peter says. 00:05:09.360 --> 00:05:19.680 He says, Then silver and gold I don't have, but what I do have, I give to you in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth. 00:05:20.160 --> 00:05:20.959 Walk. 00:05:21.360 --> 00:05:28.879 And then taking him by the right hand, he helped him up, and instantly the man's feet and ankles became strong. 00:05:29.040 --> 00:05:38.160 It was one of those full miracles where he was now, he was never walking before, and now the muscles are fully brought back into function. 00:05:38.639 --> 00:05:46.639 And he's walking and he's jumping around and he's so excited, and they begin to walk into the temple together. 00:05:46.879 --> 00:05:47.439 Think about this. 00:05:47.519 --> 00:05:59.199 This is something this man had never done before in his entire life, ever walked or gone into the temple area, and he walked with Peter and he's praising God and he's holding on to them. 00:05:59.920 --> 00:06:08.240 You see, Peter and John had eyes to see those that God put along his path. 00:06:09.040 --> 00:06:10.879 You know what's interesting? 00:06:12.319 --> 00:06:16.480 This miracle, this incredible moment. 00:06:18.160 --> 00:06:28.160 This miracle moment happened in the middle of a mundane moment in life, an everyday moment in life. 00:06:29.600 --> 00:06:35.040 Peter and John weren't hosting a revival, you know, uh service. 00:06:35.439 --> 00:06:38.000 It wasn't some big extraordinary moment. 00:06:38.240 --> 00:06:43.120 They were just going about their daily routine and they had an awareness. 00:06:43.199 --> 00:06:54.000 They saw someone calling out for help, and then they responded in that moment to him, and God showed up. 00:06:54.480 --> 00:06:59.120 You see, I think we miss miracle moments all the time in our lives. 00:06:59.839 --> 00:07:04.319 I think we miss miracle moments because we're distracted. 00:07:05.120 --> 00:07:11.759 You're you're ever at the store or maybe ever, you know, walking about and and you're on your phone the entire time. 00:07:11.920 --> 00:07:18.879 How many times are we walking around with our heads down and we don't ever see the people that God put along our path? 00:07:19.920 --> 00:07:23.040 I think we miss our miracle moments because we're busy. 00:07:23.680 --> 00:07:25.279 My wife and I have talked about this. 00:07:25.519 --> 00:07:29.759 We're like, how is it that we're still so incredibly busy? 00:07:29.920 --> 00:07:32.000 So much of our life has been cut out. 00:07:32.160 --> 00:07:41.600 We're not taking kids to sports and all sorts of things, and yet life's full, and we're not stopping to see others around them. 00:07:41.920 --> 00:07:47.839 I think we miss some of the miracle moments in our lives because we're focused on what we do not have. 00:07:48.000 --> 00:07:49.920 I love that line, by the way. 00:07:50.319 --> 00:08:00.000 Silver and gold, we do not have, but what we do have, we miss out because we're like, I don't, you know what, I don't, I don't have enough. 00:08:00.079 --> 00:08:03.600 I I don't I don't even know how what I would do in this. 00:08:04.720 --> 00:08:08.639 It feels impossible and feels overwhelming. 00:08:09.120 --> 00:08:11.199 And we're focused on what we don't have. 00:08:11.279 --> 00:08:13.680 And Jesus says, just bring what you do have. 00:08:13.839 --> 00:08:19.519 And by the way, 1 Peter 1 3 says this about you and about me, about what we do have. 00:08:19.680 --> 00:08:28.959 It says his divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who's called us by his own glory and goodness, his divine power. 00:08:29.199 --> 00:08:32.080 You have everything you need. 00:08:32.960 --> 00:08:38.639 Miracle moments often happen in the mundane moments of life. 00:08:38.799 --> 00:08:42.000 And we need and we have to be aware. 00:08:42.159 --> 00:08:53.679 See, a life of eternal significance, uh, a church of lasting impact simply loves those along their path in the name of Jesus. 00:08:54.080 --> 00:09:00.559 Peter, John, they had eyes for this man that everyone else passed by. 00:09:00.879 --> 00:09:09.039 And they were on their way to pray, and they stopped and they met him right where he was at. 00:09:10.960 --> 00:09:16.480 Well, as they headed into the temple court, as you can imagine, a crowd gathered. 00:09:16.639 --> 00:09:20.960 I mean, uh, this man's leaping up and down, and people are recognizing him. 00:09:21.039 --> 00:09:27.200 They've they've seen him, they've seen him day after day, uh, you know, begging, and all of a sudden he's walking. 00:09:27.440 --> 00:09:31.840 Legs that were atrophied are now developed, and he's jumping. 00:09:32.000 --> 00:09:36.159 And the text literally says that he's hanging on to Peter. 00:09:36.480 --> 00:09:43.279 Uh, and just, I mean, you can only imagine the joy and what they um this man must have felt. 00:09:43.360 --> 00:09:51.600 And and the crowd's amazed, and they're they're leaning in, they're looking at Peter and John and going, like, okay, who are you? 00:09:51.840 --> 00:09:55.519 You're amazing, you're incredible. 00:09:55.840 --> 00:09:58.720 We want to know who you are, what's going on. 00:09:58.879 --> 00:10:06.879 And here's what's amazing Peter and John shifted the focus off of themselves and on to Jesus. 00:10:08.639 --> 00:10:13.279 They shifted the focus off of themselves and on to Jesus. 00:10:13.519 --> 00:10:18.399 They had a crowd crammering around them, wanting to know who they were. 00:10:18.559 --> 00:10:30.879 And the first thing Peter does is he goes, guys, what do you why are you talking to us about like acting like we're somehow so godly that we could perform this miracle? 00:10:31.200 --> 00:10:32.159 Come on. 00:10:32.799 --> 00:10:35.759 And then he does what Peter does so often. 00:10:36.000 --> 00:10:41.120 He seizes the opportunity to share about Jesus. 00:10:41.279 --> 00:10:48.879 And he begins to tell the gospel just like he did last week and sharing, sharing about this salvation through Jesus alone. 00:10:48.960 --> 00:10:52.720 And he's like, it's not about us, it's all about Jesus. 00:10:53.039 --> 00:10:58.480 And in fact, as he's sharing the gospel, he he says this you killed the author of life. 00:10:58.639 --> 00:11:01.360 Well, that's a little intense, uh, but it was true. 00:11:01.519 --> 00:11:03.600 But God raised him from the dead. 00:11:03.759 --> 00:11:11.679 What an incredible line! And he's saying, We're witnesses of this, we've seen this, and then he's gonna explain how this miracle happened. 00:11:11.919 --> 00:11:19.440 By faith, how in the name of Jesus, this man who you see and know was made strong. 00:11:19.679 --> 00:11:25.519 It is Jesus' name, and faith that comes through him that has completely healed him. 00:11:26.000 --> 00:11:29.200 You all can see this. 00:11:30.960 --> 00:11:43.039 Peter and John shifted the focus off of themselves and onto Jesus, off of themselves and onto Jesus, off of themselves. 00:11:44.639 --> 00:11:54.879 I don't know about you, but I think COVID is just been one of those seasons where it's so easy for the focus to get up to be on to ourselves. 00:11:56.159 --> 00:12:01.679 It's life's hard, I'm anxious, I'm tired, I don't I don't know what, and it's it's about me. 00:12:01.759 --> 00:12:07.679 And he's like, get your focus off of yourself and on to Jesus. 00:12:10.559 --> 00:12:12.399 The point of life, think about this. 00:12:12.559 --> 00:12:18.000 The point of life is to point people to Jesus, the author of life. 00:12:19.679 --> 00:12:21.600 Like for us, for you. 00:12:22.960 --> 00:12:32.960 Like the weight of eternity to live in a out of a life of impact is simply to point people to Jesus. 00:12:33.039 --> 00:12:34.240 It's that simple. 00:12:35.200 --> 00:12:36.559 It's like my life. 00:12:37.279 --> 00:12:40.559 It's simply how can I point you to Jesus? 00:12:41.200 --> 00:12:45.519 The author of life, the one who gave me life. 00:12:46.480 --> 00:13:11.919 You see, when people see, if you're a believer, when people see your compassion in the face of what's perceived of the other's cruelty, when people see your love in the face of hate, when people see your your gentleness in in the face of hardship and your perseverance in the face of difficulty, your joy. 00:13:14.159 --> 00:13:15.679 Who gets the credit? 00:13:17.360 --> 00:13:18.799 Who gets the glory? 00:13:21.519 --> 00:13:31.519 You see, Peter took this moment when everybody else was looking at him and going, Wow, and he said, No, no, no, let me tell you about wow. 00:13:32.639 --> 00:13:42.720 Wow, isn't here, wow, is your heavenly father who sent his only son, Jesus, and it's by Jesus that this man was saved. 00:13:42.879 --> 00:13:46.559 It's like John the Baptist uh how he said it about Jesus. 00:13:46.799 --> 00:13:50.159 He must increase and I must decrease. 00:13:50.399 --> 00:14:00.799 And life works fast, not when you are the main point, but when Christ is the point that you're pointing everybody else to. 00:14:10.559 --> 00:14:14.080 You know, I was thinking about it this way: it's like a website. 00:14:14.240 --> 00:14:19.759 You ever had one of those like websites that you click on and then it redirects you to another site? 00:14:20.080 --> 00:14:20.960 You know what I mean? 00:14:21.120 --> 00:14:25.840 Like you click on it and then it takes you to a new page. 00:14:26.720 --> 00:14:29.039 Like that's what we're supposed to be. 00:14:29.279 --> 00:14:30.960 That's how we're designed. 00:14:31.120 --> 00:14:34.399 Like that brings meaning and purpose in life. 00:14:34.480 --> 00:14:36.320 That's that's who we're called to be. 00:14:36.480 --> 00:14:45.519 Like, like my website might be Ryan Ingram.whatever, but when you click on Ryan Ingram, it should take you directly to Jesus, Savior. 00:14:45.919 --> 00:14:53.039 Maybe the website says dad or mom or coach or employee or coworker or employer. 00:14:53.200 --> 00:15:01.600 And when they click on that website, when they click on the website of your life, it just takes them straight to Jesus. 00:15:03.039 --> 00:15:08.879 Does your life, does your life point people to Jesus? 00:15:09.200 --> 00:15:16.399 See a life of eternal significance, lasting impact, just loves those along the path. 00:15:16.960 --> 00:15:21.679 And then it points people to Jesus. 00:15:21.919 --> 00:15:28.720 Well, Peter gave this sermon, and it says the total number of believers now was about 5,000. 00:15:28.879 --> 00:15:37.120 A lot of people uh believed in that moment, and they saw the healed man, and people are celebrating, but not everybody was celebrating. 00:15:37.360 --> 00:15:40.960 Not everybody was really happy about this. 00:15:41.120 --> 00:15:44.240 In fact, there were some people that were not happy at all. 00:15:44.320 --> 00:15:54.159 And here's what's incredible is in the midst of a miracle moment, in the midst of like this wow, and everybody's celebrating, Peter and John immediately experienced opposition. 00:15:55.279 --> 00:15:56.080 Like, can you? 00:15:56.159 --> 00:16:03.919 I mean, they're celebrating, it's cool, and there's people like coming to Christ and whoo! And then boom, they get hit with opposition. 00:16:04.240 --> 00:16:08.720 Look at what the text says right at the beginning of Acts chapter four. 00:16:08.799 --> 00:16:16.799 It says, the priest and the captain of the temple guard, the captains like the second in command to the high priest and the Sadducees. 00:16:17.200 --> 00:16:25.360 Well, the Sadducees were an elite group of ruling religious people in Judaism. 00:16:25.679 --> 00:16:29.360 There's only a few of them, but they were incredibly powerful. 00:16:29.519 --> 00:16:36.720 They actually, you know, cuddled up with Rome, and uh, and so they were interested in keeping their own power. 00:16:36.879 --> 00:16:39.279 And they had this belief, by the way, the Sadducees. 00:16:39.519 --> 00:16:44.159 Uh, they had the belief that there was no resurrection from the dead. 00:16:44.320 --> 00:16:46.720 And so they were sad, you see. 00:16:47.360 --> 00:16:49.679 Bad pastor joke right there. 00:16:50.240 --> 00:16:54.480 But they came up to Peter and John while they were speaking to the temple. 00:16:54.639 --> 00:16:55.919 They were greatly disturbed. 00:16:56.000 --> 00:16:56.240 Why? 00:16:56.399 --> 00:17:00.559 Because the apostles were teaching people, proclaiming in Jesus what? 00:17:00.879 --> 00:17:03.679 The resurrection of the dead. 00:17:03.919 --> 00:17:13.440 And so they seized Peter and John, and because it was evening, they put them in jail until the next day. 00:17:15.039 --> 00:17:29.039 And so they go from this incredible high to being put in a jail and waiting and wondering what's going to happen next. 00:17:30.160 --> 00:17:43.279 And friends, if you're really gonna follow Jesus, if you really want to live a life of significance and impact, you're gonna face opposition. 00:17:44.880 --> 00:17:45.519 You will. 00:17:46.640 --> 00:17:50.640 You and I will face opposition. 00:17:51.119 --> 00:17:56.960 In fact, Jesus didn't come to make your life or my life comfortable, but to make it meaningful. 00:17:57.839 --> 00:18:03.039 And we retreat to comfort as a value or safety. 00:18:03.440 --> 00:18:06.640 In fact, safety is not a biblical value. 00:18:07.200 --> 00:18:09.839 There's nothing wrong with being safe, by the way. 00:18:10.400 --> 00:18:13.039 But it has become an American idol. 00:18:13.359 --> 00:18:15.359 See, there's nothing wrong with being safe. 00:18:15.519 --> 00:18:36.079 Safe is a good thing, but when it becomes an ultimate thing, and that is what it has become in America, and it has been uh even more so through this pandemic, when safety becomes an idol, uh it or expressed as an ultimate value, fear then becomes the operating system of our lives. 00:18:36.799 --> 00:18:38.880 I can't do anything until it's 100% safe. 00:18:38.960 --> 00:18:39.759 I can't do this. 00:18:39.920 --> 00:18:49.519 Nothing is 100% safe, and we live in this fear because we can't control everything around us. 00:18:49.680 --> 00:18:57.519 And our desire for comfort and safety causes us to retreat from meaning and purpose and significance. 00:18:58.640 --> 00:19:01.039 Following Jesus is not safe, friends. 00:19:01.279 --> 00:19:09.200 It's not, it is very best, it's filled with adventure, and you see God work, but it isn't safe. 00:19:09.279 --> 00:19:23.680 That's why uh the apostle Paul in uh 1 Timothy 1 7 said it this way: uh, for God did not give us a spirit of fear or timidity, but a spirit of power and of love and of self-discipline. 00:19:23.920 --> 00:19:30.880 Like when I see fear beginning to operate in my life, I have to go, okay, why am I afraid? 00:19:31.039 --> 00:19:32.880 Where is that coming from? 00:19:33.200 --> 00:19:43.920 And there's some legitimate fears, so I'm not saying that, but a lot of times our fear builds upon itself and we become afraid of things, uh, or afraid of fear itself. 00:19:44.160 --> 00:19:47.440 Fear paralyzes us, faith propels us. 00:19:47.759 --> 00:19:54.000 In a life of significance, a church of impact, it expects opposition. 00:19:54.640 --> 00:20:03.440 Expects that as we as we step out and do what God calls us to do, it there's gonna be some people that go, Man, I'm out to get you. 00:20:04.079 --> 00:20:11.519 And this is why Jesus would say, and I said it last week in our in-person service, in this world, you'll have trouble. 00:20:12.160 --> 00:20:13.519 But take heart. 00:20:13.759 --> 00:20:16.319 I have overcome the world. 00:20:16.960 --> 00:20:22.960 So, whatever trouble the world can bring you, Jesus has already overcome the world. 00:20:23.119 --> 00:20:28.160 And so, since he is overcoming the world, we can have confidence to move forward. 00:20:28.480 --> 00:20:34.400 See a church of impact, a life of significance. 00:20:34.640 --> 00:20:40.559 It simply loves those along your path, points people to Jesus. 00:20:40.799 --> 00:20:43.759 It does, it does, however, expect opposition. 00:20:43.839 --> 00:20:46.960 It knows that not everybody's gonna love what you're doing. 00:20:47.119 --> 00:20:54.400 Well, Peter and uh John, they they spent the night in jail, and the next day they're brought before the Sanhedrin. 00:20:54.799 --> 00:20:58.799 Now, the Sanhedrin, it's like the Jewish Supreme Court. 00:20:59.039 --> 00:21:06.319 It's mainly made up of Sadducees, some Pharisees, and they and they're coming before this Sanhedrin. 00:21:06.400 --> 00:21:18.720 Now, I want you to realize this is the same group that tried Jesus and sentenced him to death, and they sent him to Rome to have him executed. 00:21:19.039 --> 00:21:27.680 This is the same group that when Peter, you know, uh walked uh, you know, to follow Jesus as he was going to be tried before them. 00:21:27.839 --> 00:21:33.920 Um he wasn't even, you know, courageous enough to step up into that moment. 00:21:34.240 --> 00:21:39.599 He stood on the outskirts, and even a servant girl was asking, Aren't you one of the ones who was with Jesus? 00:21:39.680 --> 00:21:41.200 And he denied them. 00:21:41.920 --> 00:21:43.440 This is this moment. 00:21:44.240 --> 00:21:52.640 And in this moment, Peter and John responded with unflinching boldness for Jesus. 00:21:53.039 --> 00:21:59.759 It says the text says, and Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, began to declare the gospel. 00:22:01.920 --> 00:22:04.480 Peter, he steps up into this moment. 00:22:04.640 --> 00:22:05.920 I mean, you can only imagine. 00:22:06.000 --> 00:22:07.759 There's there's 70 Sanhedrin. 00:22:07.920 --> 00:22:09.039 How intimidating of that? 00:22:09.200 --> 00:22:13.359 And there's other people all around, and there's two, Peter and John, and they're standing there. 00:22:13.519 --> 00:22:17.599 And then there's the man who was healed standing next to them. 00:22:17.759 --> 00:22:23.359 And they're, you know, they're trying to begin to speak. 00:22:23.599 --> 00:22:31.200 And Jesus promised, He promised them through this power of the Spirit, when you face moments like these, I'll give you words to say. 00:22:31.519 --> 00:22:36.559 See, the deposit spirit of God in you will empower you, will enlighten you, will speak through you. 00:22:36.720 --> 00:22:39.039 And so you don't have to worry about what to say. 00:22:39.200 --> 00:22:42.480 You just step up into the moment and he'll give you words to say. 00:22:42.559 --> 00:22:43.920 And Peter's like, you know what? 00:22:44.079 --> 00:22:46.640 I've seen the resurrected Jesus. 00:22:46.880 --> 00:22:49.680 I have experienced the power of the Spirit in my life. 00:22:49.839 --> 00:22:52.960 I've already seen him bring thousands of people to Christ. 00:22:53.200 --> 00:22:54.720 70 is no problem. 00:22:56.319 --> 00:23:04.480 And he speaks boldly, knowing that his very life could hang in the balance. 00:23:04.559 --> 00:23:07.279 And you know what he says as he's preaching the gospel? 00:23:07.440 --> 00:23:08.640 Look how bold this is. 00:23:08.799 --> 00:23:09.599 This is awesome. 00:23:09.920 --> 00:23:20.960 Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved other than Jesus. 00:23:23.680 --> 00:23:24.319 Wow. 00:23:26.160 --> 00:23:30.000 Peter steps into the moment. 00:23:30.559 --> 00:23:37.920 Not by his power, not by his cleverness, but by the power of the Spirit of God. 00:23:38.480 --> 00:23:43.039 And before we go on, I just want to make just a little highlight for you. 00:23:43.440 --> 00:23:45.920 Because we hear this and I want about the gospel. 00:23:46.000 --> 00:23:48.240 And I've been talking about the gospel the last few weeks. 00:23:48.400 --> 00:23:55.200 The gospel, the good news of Jesus, it's inclusive, meaning it is an invitation for all people. 00:23:55.680 --> 00:23:58.720 Anyone who would come and believe, all are welcome. 00:23:58.960 --> 00:24:01.119 The gospel meets us where we are at. 00:24:01.200 --> 00:24:08.559 It does not leave us where we're at, it transforms and changes our lives, and we become more and more like Christ. 00:24:08.720 --> 00:24:14.400 The gospel is inclusive, it's for all people, but the gospel is also exclusive. 00:24:14.720 --> 00:24:18.960 Only by Jesus can one be saved. 00:24:19.119 --> 00:24:23.200 There are not many roads that lead to God. 00:24:23.440 --> 00:24:26.640 It's Jesus and his name alone. 00:24:26.799 --> 00:24:29.279 And for some, you're like, that's a hard word. 00:24:29.440 --> 00:24:37.680 And I want to only say that because I want you to know him and experience life itself. 00:24:38.640 --> 00:24:59.200 Well, the Sanhedrin, when they saw Peter and John, and as they were talking, then when they saw the courage of Peter and John and realized they were unschooled, not trained, ordinary men, they were astonished and took note of this, that these men had been with Jesus. 00:24:59.920 --> 00:25:15.119 Even our opponents, friends, a church of impact, even those who hate us, who dislike us, who don't want anything to do or want to undermine whatever Jesus is doing, man, may they always notice that we had been with Jesus. 00:25:15.680 --> 00:25:21.759 I mean, James and John, they're they're fishermen, blue car workers. 00:25:22.079 --> 00:25:26.000 Never had really that formal rabbinic training. 00:25:26.240 --> 00:25:31.920 And they're standing before the Stanford MIT Harvard Supreme Court. 00:25:32.799 --> 00:25:37.839 And by the power of God, they were astonished. 00:25:39.440 --> 00:25:43.599 And they didn't even know what to do with Peter and John. 00:25:45.119 --> 00:25:47.680 They weren't exactly sure how to move forward. 00:25:47.920 --> 00:25:50.720 The man whom they healed is standing next to them. 00:25:50.960 --> 00:25:55.359 He just preached this gospel saying, is in the name of Jesus, and he's healed because of this. 00:25:55.599 --> 00:25:56.880 What do we do with that? 00:25:57.039 --> 00:26:02.799 And so they conferred with each other, they talked with one another, and then they eventually came up with this bright plan. 00:26:02.960 --> 00:26:05.440 Let's tell them not to talk about Jesus anymore. 00:26:05.759 --> 00:26:07.839 Let's just tell them, hey, you know what? 00:26:08.160 --> 00:26:14.079 You are commanded not to talk about this Jesus or resurrection anymore. 00:26:14.319 --> 00:26:18.640 But Peter and John replied, which is right in God's eyes? 00:26:18.960 --> 00:26:22.960 To listen to you or to him, you be the judges. 00:26:23.119 --> 00:26:33.359 As for us, we cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard, which is right in God's eyes. 00:26:34.240 --> 00:26:35.599 The church today. 00:26:36.640 --> 00:26:38.480 These godly men and women. 00:26:42.880 --> 00:26:54.480 Who live with courageous lives of conviction based on God's word, not compromising to the pressures of the world. 00:26:55.759 --> 00:27:04.720 See, the call for you and for me is to live for God's approval above all else, not to appease others, not for the applause of others. 00:27:06.319 --> 00:27:20.400 And what happens today, and this is not just in the church, this is all across the board, is the minute anyone pushes back, the minute anyone says something, the minute it feels like we retreat. 00:27:20.880 --> 00:27:22.240 We take a step back. 00:27:23.039 --> 00:27:24.000 We change. 00:27:27.039 --> 00:27:32.160 We cave to the pressure and the demands of the world. 00:27:33.440 --> 00:27:38.640 Maybe we should begin to ask, which is right in God's eyes? 00:27:40.799 --> 00:27:43.359 God, I'm not asking what's right on social media. 00:27:43.519 --> 00:27:45.599 I'm not asking what's right on political correctness. 00:27:45.680 --> 00:27:48.559 I'm not asking what's right depending on your political party. 00:27:48.720 --> 00:27:51.279 I'm not asking what's right, whatever. 00:27:51.599 --> 00:27:58.799 God, what is right according to your word and whatever that is, that's what I'm gonna do, regardless of the cost. 00:27:59.279 --> 00:28:10.480 Peter and John had no idea how the story was going to end, and they lived for God's approval above all else. 00:28:11.599 --> 00:28:17.039 Church of Impact loves those along their path, points people to Jesus. 00:28:17.200 --> 00:28:24.480 They expect opposition and then seeks the approval of God alone. 00:28:24.799 --> 00:28:26.079 An audience of one. 00:28:27.039 --> 00:28:31.200 So about all about you, it's all because of you, it's all for you. 00:28:31.680 --> 00:28:36.319 Well, after this, they release John and Peter. 00:28:37.119 --> 00:28:39.680 You can only imagine, I'm sure, the relief they felt. 00:28:39.839 --> 00:28:46.799 And and they they went back to the believers and they started to share all that had happened in the last 24 hours. 00:28:47.039 --> 00:28:54.000 I can only imagine for them how stressed out and how anxious and worried, and they've been praying for them and wondering what's gonna happen. 00:28:54.160 --> 00:28:59.680 We're only a few days into this movement, and we just believed, and our leaders just got arrested. 00:28:59.839 --> 00:29:03.359 Well, they show up, they're sharing uh what happened. 00:29:03.440 --> 00:29:12.799 And I want us, I want you to notice the response of the believers because as we close, this is our response today. 00:29:13.119 --> 00:29:14.319 They prayed. 00:29:14.640 --> 00:29:19.519 And they prayed three specific things, and this is what I'm gonna ask you to do this week. 00:29:20.559 --> 00:29:24.960 They prayed, and the first thing they did, listen to what it says. 00:29:26.400 --> 00:29:38.000 It says, on their release, Peter and John went back to their own people and reported all that the chief priests and the elders had said to them, when they heard this, they raised their voice together to pray to God. 00:29:38.319 --> 00:29:44.079 Sovereign Lord, they said, You made the heaven and earth and sea and everything in them. 00:29:44.960 --> 00:29:57.279 The first step, if we want to lean in, love those along our paths, point people to Jesus, expect opposition and seek God's approval is we have to look up at God's sovereignty. 00:29:57.440 --> 00:29:59.599 Look up and see God for who he is. 00:29:59.759 --> 00:30:08.799 Stop looking at the circumstances, stop looking even then inside, and you look up and you get a big, high, and holy picture of God. 00:30:09.599 --> 00:30:10.960 You made it all. 00:30:11.359 --> 00:30:12.880 You're sovereign. 00:30:13.839 --> 00:30:17.759 You are God, and there is no other. 00:30:18.880 --> 00:30:24.559 They looked up at God's sovereignty, and then they zoomed out at God's providence. 00:30:24.720 --> 00:30:25.920 Notice it goes on. 00:30:26.160 --> 00:30:30.720 You spoke by the Holy Spirit through the mouth of your servant, our father David. 00:30:30.880 --> 00:30:33.440 Why do the nations rage and the peoples pot in vain? 00:30:33.680 --> 00:30:38.319 The kings of the earth rise up and the rulers band together against the Lord and against his anointed. 00:30:38.480 --> 00:30:49.279 And then it goes on indeed, Herod and Pontius Pilate met together with the Gentiles and the people of Israel in this city to conspire against your holy servant Jesus, whom you anointed. 00:30:49.440 --> 00:30:55.359 They did what your power and will decided beforehand should happen. 00:30:55.599 --> 00:30:56.400 Zoom out. 00:30:56.559 --> 00:31:13.359 This persecution, this opposition, zoom out, is operating within the providence of God, what he is orchestrating and working and moving all of human history to its final conclusion and end when he brings the renewal of all things. 00:31:13.680 --> 00:31:16.160 Zoom out and go, God, you're in the middle of this. 00:31:16.480 --> 00:31:18.319 I can't see how it's all gonna work out. 00:31:18.480 --> 00:31:23.759 I can't see what is all going on, but you are providentially working. 00:31:23.920 --> 00:31:33.039 Romans 8 tells us that that God works all things together for the good of those who love him, who are called according to his name. 00:31:33.359 --> 00:31:43.680 That is God's providence at work in your life, in my life, even when we can't see it or even understand it. 00:31:43.839 --> 00:31:49.440 Look up God's sovereignty, zoom out, God's providence, and then move forward. 00:31:49.680 --> 00:31:51.759 And they prayed for boldness. 00:31:51.920 --> 00:31:53.839 Notice this stretch. 00:31:54.640 --> 00:32:00.400 Now, Lord, consider their threats and enable your servant to speak your word with great boldness. 00:32:00.559 --> 00:32:08.480 Stretch out your hands to heal and perform signs and wonders through the name of your holy servant Jesus. 00:32:09.279 --> 00:32:19.680 When you look up God's sovereignty, when you zoom out, understand that even in opposition, God's providence is not thwarted. 00:32:19.920 --> 00:32:23.759 In fact, he's working, then you pray a prayer of God, give boldness. 00:32:25.039 --> 00:32:26.799 You know what they didn't pray? 00:32:28.720 --> 00:32:33.440 God, stop the persecution, take out these men. 00:32:34.480 --> 00:32:37.519 I don't know that that's a bad prayer to pray. 00:32:37.839 --> 00:32:39.759 It's just not what they prayed. 00:32:40.079 --> 00:32:48.880 They didn't pray for protection or safety, they prayed for power and for boldness for God to work powerfully and for boldness to proclaim it. 00:32:49.039 --> 00:32:51.119 And would you do that this week? 00:32:51.440 --> 00:33:00.960 Would you zoom or look up, zoom out, and then move forward and begin to have eyes to see those God puts along your path. 00:33:01.519 --> 00:33:03.440 How can I point them to Jesus? 00:33:03.680 --> 00:33:09.039 Expecting opposition, but living for an audience of one. 00:33:10.160 --> 00:33:17.599 The conclusion says this after they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken. 00:33:20.799 --> 00:33:26.559 And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly. 00:33:26.640 --> 00:33:29.599 And so let me pray for you, Heavenly Father. 00:33:29.839 --> 00:33:43.680 I pray for my friends right now, just that the place where they're at, the circumstances that they're in, the feelings and overwhelmness of anxiety or depression or discouragement right now would be shaken in the name of Jesus. 00:33:44.319 --> 00:33:52.960 God, would you fill our church with your Holy Spirit and may we speak boldly in the name of Jesus. 00:33:53.200 --> 00:33:57.119 There's no other name by which we can be saved. 00:33:57.599 --> 00:34:02.559 May we live with the awareness of those you put along our path. 00:34:02.720 --> 00:34:04.880 May we be that kind of church. 00:34:05.759 --> 00:34:11.360 May we live with eternal significance for your name's sake and your glory. 00:34:11.519 --> 00:34:12.880 In Jesus' name. 00:34:13.199 --> 00:34:13.840 Amen. 00:34:15.840 --> 00:34:18.159 We hope you are blessed by this message. 00:34:18.400 --> 00:34:23.360 Please subscribe to our podcast for access to every episode as they're uploaded. 00:34:23.599 --> 00:34:25.920 And hey, we'd love to connect with you. 00:34:26.079 --> 00:34:32.159 Take a next step by filling out our virtual connection card at awakeningchurch.comslash cards.