Acts Chapter 4:1-11

Often we give more glory to Babel like myself that of the Lodge living things into me.

This is weird because I much rather hear and grandmother set up with 85 of the document of the Lord eight years old up and walking with them almost 80 years of much of what was coming that that's an awesome and sometimes we get that turned.

Let me encourage you as you're talking the people you can say you want and whatever your situation makes maybe you have used drugs may need to have you stop calling and deliver you from nursing help people that because they can't argue maybe struggle to maintain strong religious legalist helping God sent me. I struggle lonely. God I struggle with depression argue welcome to cross the bridge with David McGee. David is the senior pastor of the bridge in Kernersville, North Carolina today and we have DA Brown, one of the McKees associate pastors and were glad to have him bring us some insight right before Bob Brault looking to see how we can be affected. What's our place. Why are we here God has those answers. You also talk about those answers with you directly today. I hope he states in sounds good brother. Now here's David McGee with his teaching. No other name when asked chapter 4 verse one is that as I spoke to the people of the priest, the capital of the temple and the Sadducees came upon being greatly disturbed that they talk to people and preached in Jesus the resurrection from the dead understand the sadness he did not believe in the resurrection. That's why was that you see so little way to remember that they were sad they didn't believe in the resurrection, I believe you have a man that had been killed publicly and then was walking around and you don't believe in the resurrection got a big problem and they had a big problem they were trying to figure out what we knew about this now.

This season two main parties that you season the Pharisees, the Sadducees actually were in more power than the Pharisees at this point, the high priest was a sad to see his family kept rotating in and out of priest that at this point was a job that was open for bidding with the Roman government was a sad to see a lot of the leaders were sad to see the light of the Sanhedrin, the upper-class you see, and they began to get away from the word of God. In acts chapter 5 or 17 were told the high priest is Susan the high priest rose up all those that were with them, which is the sect of the Sadducees and they were filled with indignation not interesting that we have a move of God and who steps up against the religious leaders tell novel and new that is different though.

It's not an end.

Keep in mind to. At one time the Sanhedrin was they were godly people. What happened was they had ceased to leave the people made have become actually hindrances the God and understand it can happen any leader. That's not careful to keep pointing to Jesus and keep me in transparent you can quit being a spiritual leader and actually become a hindrance so it's you, makes you feel warm and fuzzy to stand often plaintiff. The Pharisees are pointed this at the Sadducees would understand that possibilities with all of us PCs were also very liberal.

That's why they did not the resurrection. That's why they did not.

A lot of the supernatural power and there were also very materialistic, so it's interesting again as we see those things creeping into the church liberalism of people denying the resurrection of Jesus Christ and get involved in all kinds of materialism and God's blessing God, but he doesn't want you focused on material goods that was reversed three and they laid hands on them and they put them in custody until next day was already evening knowing they would put them in jail in jail overnight because the Sanhedrin it was illegal for them to meet at nine.

They could not meet the mayor fact they stop very much at 4 o'clock just so they would make sure that they did meet at night if you know much about the Bible.

Your remembering that the trial of Jesus was old that was in the legal trial. That trial should never have been held like what's more is when somebody was up for capital punishment when they could be executed to be a unanimous vote, and it had happened.

Thanks a lot of ways that Jesus was railroaded in verse four.

However, many of those who heard the word believed in the number of the men came to be about 5000. It's interesting we think of the mega church from the as a modern phenomenon and obviously it's not you have the number 5000 mentioned here, you have the number 3000 mentioned previously, so the church in Jerusalem was running about 8000 people. Now some people say that that's a cumulative total of 3000 2000 more total 5000. I don't think that also mentions 5000 men. So when you admin when you have women and children is a huge numbers of big church under and there were people that were in the church at that moment just got where would they go. There's only one church at this point there's no. What's amazing is look at this. You understand what is causing all this.

One lane man one lane man. This is an amazing thing. Do you understand the potential for you to impact the world.

I think a lot of times we think well I can't really impact the world. I don't see a lot of well studies would suggest that you can impact around 200 people yourself but one of you chose to one day a week impact one other person intentionally is not within the 200 guess what begins to happen. You begin impact, about 10,000 people year. Think about that as you encourage people you speak to people and she talked about their faith. You never know what happened. You never know the life lesson here. Never underestimate how God can use you. Never underestimate how God can use you. You could be talking to Sharon well the next fill in the blank Billy Graham.

The next Michael W Smith the next Greg Laurie, you just never know. But the thing is that you have to begin to share and to encourage one another at this point the population in Jerusalem was somewhere between 40 and about 100,000 now. I got real big Passover and the other fees we think of as big as 2 million people during this time. Think about this church 8000 in town or possibly small as 40,000 people have a serious and I don't understand how we think of something as small and stagnant that it spiritual.

I don't bother living things grow.

That's what living thing to do. It came to pass on the next day that the rulers, elders, and scribes as well as Annas the high priest Caiaphas, John, and Alexander and his many as one of the family of the high priest, were gathered together Jerusalem. And when the and set them in the midst, they asked about what power by what name have you done this please allow your mind to picture this is Peter and Peter that struggled just about 55 days 60 days ago and not only do they put him in this interrogation process, but these at this point. These are some of the most powerful religious leaders in the world, if not the most powerful religious leaders in the world and that's what this is.

Set them in the mid-they surrounded them. They met in the circle and they put them in the middle and then they begin the question and understanding the Sanhedrin when we think of it as we read and adjust. My goal is that people we we didn't start out that the roots of the Sanhedrin were in the 70 elders that were pointed back in the day of Moses. It started out as a good thing, but what happened again.

They quit believing, and they began to be hindrances to people knowing the Lord and discovering them for think that's a lesson.

It can happen to any people they can happen to anybody that's willing to get out of God's word and get off track. That's why we have to be careful to stay in the word knees on the ground, those in the book.

Now again noticed something that moved against the ministry of Jesus more than any other people, religious leaders, to the point that he was railroaded and then executed. It was after religious leaders. Now the church is coming forth. Who is most adamantly and strongly against the church, religious leaders, while the same is true no religion has gotten in the way so much damage has been done by people name and religion and put people in bondage in telling the got this ago to do that. I got to do this that note before they can be safe. And you know what I notice a lot of times these people are involved in in what looks like noble endeavor, get ready to step on some toes here, but that's okay I do in love the Lord calls us fishers of men.

Fishers of people he never told us that we were supposed to be keepers of the aquarium and he never told us that we were supposed to go clean up the fish, but some Christians think that's what were here to do. You know, paint picket signs and stand up and do this do that to this and you know I'm sorry.

I'm not sure let's ever change the life sharing Jesus with people given on the good news is change many lives and is our enemy can distract us from fission to cleanup the fishpond don't you think he's going to do that, you know there's fish, and maybe even fish as well.

Tell me about this candidate is clean and we messed an opportunity to do what we really supposed to be no guy never told us to cleanup the fishpond is that mean that were never involved civilly or politics, or anything doesn't mean that that means the priority has to be telling people about Jesus telling people about Jesus. We need to be involved in things are going to happen. Each journal and you're listening to Pastor David McGee on cross the bridge will be right back with more just a moment, but I want to remind you of the free resources available to you on cross the bridge.com there's a team of hundreds of people that will pray for somebody to be safe. You have a loved one that needs to know Jesus as Savior. You need people to pray for you need someone to present God's word to them every day were present in God's were to appear on cross the bridge with Pastor David McGee. We can play for them as well. Just by simple going to cross the bridge.com and click on the pray for the lost button. All you need to do is put in the first names of the people you love, that need to know Jesus as Savior. Click on submit and immediately hundreds of people begin praying for your lost love ones awesome way to bring your love ones to Jesus. Here's a word from associate pastor DA Brown want to take just a couple minutes to pray for some cities in our listening audience specifically to caccia Durrant, Edmund Oklahoma City whispered in Woodward Oklahoma, Lord, thank you for the people in these cities. Thank you that we get the broadcasts in these areas.

God, I pray that you would plug people in Bible believing churches or to pray. People haven't put their trust in you yet that today would be the day we pray for the city leaders. The mayor, the police chief fire marshal father all those in government, low acid you give them wisdom and discernment and they would look to your word for advice on how to lead and how to serve the people and their communities in God. We pray that your Holy Spirit will be poured out on the cities and that many people would be changed forever. In Jesus name, amen, amen. Thank you brother now get back to David McGee as he continues teaching verse by verse verse eight then Peter felt with the Holy Spirit so that rulers of the people and elders of Israel. It will either stay or judge for good deed done to a helpless man, by what means he is been made well now this is cool is Peter, begins attorney and he respectfully says you guys are the leaders, but then he says okay here we are being judge for good deed done to help out. You know what skill is this man was standing in the midst anything you know what happened was a good thing this thing that you have me on trial for his good thing and it points out the irony of it and impart into Peter's going turn the tide on them and and he and reality is not the one on drop she's people that are accusing you understand sometimes when you share your faith. You may feel like your own trial you're not you know Jesus. If you've accepted Jesus you're finished with your trial.

You been declared and Jesus is not representing you. But as you share your faith, the person its own trial, not you personally are shared so you can walk in the boldness and the assurance that your own trial, but that this person impart his own trial. Now what part do you play well you're here, you really more their defense attorney than anything else, not necessarily their judge, not necessarily prosecuting attorney.

But you're trying to get them to allow you and Jesus to represent them before the Lord changes the dynamics of it because sometimes we we feel like we need to be the judge. We get a weird wig in the robe and in the gavel.

Somebody and got some linen and and and and that's fireplace is not your place. Verse 10 Peter continues, let it be known to you all and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead, by him this man stands here before you whole. Peter continues to give God the glory is so important as God uses you as God uses us that we keep giving God the glory and not taken bowels for herself and will you know started for many years and did and we do this so we do this so suddenly. Sometimes some. I can come up and go did you hear so-and-so that say will praise the Lord. I've been praying for them. We just tell that person that is surely settlement is when they got say because I'm grateful. Is that giving God the glory not, we need to be careful in this area because the glory belongs to God. Again, Peter mentions nieces this man stands here before you whole way. In terms of the trial. Peter got some serious evidence that the God that was lying and he's standing here next life lesson change. Life is one of the best proofs of the gospel. I changed life is one of the best proofs of the gospel.

My life is been changed many lives here been changed and those things verify and validate the power the gospel and often times when you're talking to somebody, you know, you begin to share your testimony will listing the flipside, you begin to argue about historical facts or scriptural facts and you oftentimes that's something to do the thing to do is share your testimony. Now let me assure about the word testament. Now the Greek word used for testimony as much your it means evidence given that's what testimony means in. In the Greek evidence given. It's not the way we've twisted the word weekly really got twisted the words he your testimony is that you walk with God today and this is so important because testimonials and an idiot and use drugs and alcohol and did all these things been in jail rather than a way come back only that's not my testimony. Why is this important because especially if you're young person in this church and you hear something like that. You may think all I got to go out and get me a testimony I got to go out and do some stupid thing linen it the most beautiful testimony is that somebody came the Lord at a young age 6, seven or eight and is been walking with the Lord and love in the Lord all her life is a beautiful test and often we give more glory to people that like myself things into me. This is weird because I much rather hear a grandmother stand up was 85 came to know the Lord eight years old up and walking with them almost 80 years of learning about the timing. That's that's an awesome testimony and sometimes forget that turn the rail but let me encourage you as you're talking to people you can say you want and whatever your situation makes maybe you have used drugs.

Maybe you have used alcoholics and God delivered you from nursing help people that because they can't argue that maybe I mean didn't struggle those things maybe struggle with religious pride in legalism. Tell people struggle religious pride. God set me free of ice struggle with loneliness. God set me free. I struggle with depression. God set me free of they can't argue Thursday and that's why it's so important to share those things with others. Now Peter points out, you know what you you crucified this guy and again he mentions that you know he's not being what you would term seeker sensitive because let me remind you again mostly audience is sad. You see, those who don't believe in the resurrection. So let's read verse 10 again let me know you all and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead case you missed it the first Mr. sad to see. He says again the resurrection is important element of Christianity is important in order for somebody to do nothing supernaturally needs to occur. People die every day involving natural events old-age accidents was but for somebody to not be dead after three days that involve some serious supernatural power. And it's interesting because in this day and age. Some of the churches are moving away from this well it will talk about the resurrection. Why will this just is hard to believe hard for people's wallets. It's a supernatural event that happened we can't back away from that second Timothy 35 system having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away what happens often in churches that begin the backoff of the resurrection, and then they begin the backoff of the inerrancy of Scripture, then they begin the backoff that Jesus is the only way, and pretty soon a powerless they don't have anything in there babbling from the pulpits are not seen anything of any spiritual significance. Verse 11.

This is the stone which was rejected by you builders, which is become the chief cornerstone. Peter points out that in the Hebrew Scriptures. It was predicted and prophesied about the Messiah, that's interesting. Great tradition, historic tradition suggests that when they were building the temple that they got ready to to lay the foundation I can find a cornerstone and then later they found it in the Valley of Gahanna because nobody could figure out what to do. This cornerstone and they actually rejected the corners. That's a neat story. I don't know it's true but it's a neat store lot because they rejected Jesus you is that rock this is Peter and I got a guy get Peterson crap here. Why well because you and I gave a hard time in the gospel. Me, Peter. I mean, he was fairly easy target.

To be honest I mean Peter in the Gospels always referred to them as ready fire aim Peter because he was always stuff that what the good thing to say. You and I remember you start talking about his crucifixion and Peter go then Peter took him to the side begin rebuking… So Jesus and Jesus you behind me Satan and then in the upper room Jesus go out of the washer feeding leaders is not the Lord Wash my feet just as well in your new apartment one homebody don't sleep here been looking for speed look at this Peter God changes people to God can give us the boldness to share our faith is reading this morning.

Paul talking about ministering in second Corinthians, and he sat on the outside. There was fighting on the inside were fears I just read over that verse. A couple times get when I think of Paul I don't think of Paul being afraid but yet in the Bible policy. There was fear inside but see again that fear didn't control his action.

He felt afraid, but he did it anyway a lot of time to think well I'll share my faith and I'm not afraid if you're not afraid there's something wrong with you probably there's a fear encourage it share even even if your freight let that hold you back while well there's I don't know. You can see him there's trusses that are in the ceiling here and and they joined together. I think every church as they joined together want to hold the way. Because if there's just a single trust hardly owns anything at all. And as we join together we hold more weight friend you know for sure that your sins have been forgiven. You can know right now only just a short simple prayer simply telling God you're sorry and asking him to help you to live for him.

Please pray this prayer with me out loud right now. Dear Jesus, I believe you died for me that I could be forgiven and I believe you were raised from the dead that I could have a new life not done wrong things I have sent and I'm sorry.

Please forgive me of all those things. Please give me the power to live for you. All of my days in Jesus name, amen friend.

If you prayed that prayer according to the Bible you've been forgiven you've been born again, so congratulations for you just made the greatest decision that you will ever make. God bless you, if you pray that prayer with David for the first time we'd love to hear from you. You can visit cross the bridge.com to receive our first steps package with helpful resources to help you begin your walk with Christ. Or you can write to cross the bridge at PO Box 12, 515 Winston-Salem, NC 27117 and share how God is working in your life you're the Bible tells us that the free gift of God is eternal life in Jesus Christ our Lord.

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What are some ways that we can bless our listeners each day.

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