Acts Chapter 4:8-12

I changed life is one of the best cruise of the gospel. My life is been trained many lives here been changed and those things verify and validate the power of the gospel and oftentimes when you're talking to somebody, you know, you begin the share your testimony for the sake of what thought you you begin to argue about historical facts or scriptural facts, and oftentimes I something to do the thing to do assures us welcome to cross the bridge with David McGee. David is the senior pastor of the bridge in Kernersville, North Carolina.

Why is the resurrection so important and you realize what your impact on the world would be if he told others about it today in the studio. We have DA Brown, one of the keys associate pastors and were glad to have him bring us some insight right before Mickey teaches brother to gay where can we get the boldness to share our faith Bob testimony of a rock star is also the testimony of a normal person living like just like we are very powerful to this important that we recognize that our story is important to God, and it will be a blessing to the people around us, we will have to fear sharing God's going to do amazing things to brother let's stop him.

As David McGee continues with part two of his teaching. No other name. So in chapter 4 verse eight Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit said that the rulers of the people and elders of Israel. It will either stay or judge for good deed done to help us plan by what means he is been made well now this is cool this 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 you know what skill is this man was standing in the midst anything you know what happened was a good thing. The thing that you have me on trial for is a good thing and it points out the irony of it and impart into Peter's going turn the tide on an he in reality is not the one on drop people.

Q understand sometimes when you get or 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. Jesus is now representing you. But as you share your faith, the person that's on trial not you personally are shared with 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 feel like we need to be the judge. We get the weird wig in the robe and in the gavel.

Somebody and Gottesman and and and and and that's my blanks 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 what they got say because I'm grateful is giving God the glory.

No see. 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 guy that was lying and he's standing here next life lesson I changed life is one of the best cruise of the gospel. I changed life is one of the best cruise of the gospel. My life is been changed many lives here been changed and those things verify and validate the power the gospel and oftentimes when you're talking to somebody, you know, you begin to share your testimony or listing the flipside, you, you begin to argue about historical facts or scriptural facts, and oftentimes I something to do the thing to do is share your testimony. Now let me share about the word testament that the Greek word used for testimony as much your it means evidence given that's what testimony means and, in in the Greek evidence given.

It's not the way we've twisted the word lately really got twisted to work something out. When he told about what used to be one of beautiful testimony away in a minute.

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.

That's not my testimony. Why is this important because especially if you're a young person in this church can 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 then and 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 testimony 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 coming that's that's an awesome testimony and sometimes forget that turn the rail. Let me encourage you as you're talking to people you can say you want and whatever your situation, make 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 lot and legalism tell people struggle religious product, God set me free of ice, struggle and 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 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. Eusebius 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. said you see, he says the resurrection is important element of Christian support in part because in order for somebody to do nothing supernaturally needs to occur.

People die every day involving natural events, old-age accidents, is but for somebody to not be dead after three days.

That involves some serious supernatural power.

And it's interesting because in the staining. Some of the churches are moving away from this well it will talk about the resurrection while well 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 back off of the resurrection, and then they begin the back off of the inerrancy of Scripture, then they begin the back all that Jesus is the only way, and pretty soon the powerless. They don't have anything in there babbling from the pulpits are not seen anything of any spiritual 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 them.

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 simply 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 loved ones to Jesus. Here's a word from associate pastor DA Brown hey guys want to take just a minute to pray for some cities in our listening audience. Specifically, Ashland Oregon and Baker city Brookings Canyon Ville Cave Junction, Cloverdale, and Colton Lowy. Thank you for the cities and everyone listening. We pray that you would pour out your spirit on these broadcast audiences. Father we pray that pastors would have wisdom in the cities and how to love their communities. Lord I pray that people would put their trust in you.I pray that you would give the governmental leaders wisdom and discernment that you would protect the city's father there be peace in the cities and Lord, that your word would be high and lifted up in Jesus name, amen, amen. Thank you brother and now get back to David McGee as he continues teaching verse by verse, 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 passes all repeaters and you know it's like it's high living. It's going towards offensive go go go go. Run menaces appear that did not Jesus just a couple months before now. Stemming from these powerful men don't get crucified and then you need to get say here's a prophecy 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 the body can figure out what to do with this cornerstone and they actually rejected the course of the neat story. I don't know it's true but it's a neat store because they rejected Jesus you is that this is Peter. I got a guy get Peterson here. Why well because you are dumb in the gospel mean Peter I mean he was fairly easy target to be something Peter in the Gospels always referred to them as ready fire aim Peter because he was always a good thing to say you know you remember you start talking about his crucifixion and Peter go then Peter took him to the side and began rebuking all not so do you mind me saying and then in the upper room Jesus go out of the washer feeding leaders is not the Lord can't wash my feet just as well in your new apartment one body don't hear but now looking to speed this Peter God changes people to life lesson God can give us the boldness to share God can give us 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 in 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 mean there is something about us is all goes well this goes. There's a fear I get in some situations where fear comes on me and I actually do this whole thing where I know I know for sure. I know for sure you're not sure that I share 32 countdown bizarre, but sometimes I have to do that encourages share even even if your freight to let that hold you back. While there is no be concealed.

There's trusses that are in the ceiling here, they joined together want to hold the weight because if there's just a single trust hardly holds anything at all.

And as we join together we hold more weight when the world are you talking to you and from Sheriff ate the building. Here's the thing.

If this is your home. We are in a partnership. We are in a partnership there certain things that you can do I can't do there certain things that we can do more effectively than possibly you can't.

What I mean not well inviting your friends to church. I can't do that I can't even say he will give me a list of phone numbers I'll call. I mean I could, but they wouldn't listen to me hello are you today I'm not talking but if you invite him. That's much more effective now.

Once you bring them here.

I can assure you there to hear the good news to hear the gospel in a setting this very powerful and very effective. The hear music talks about the Lord.

It talks about the good news. See this is how work was to be part think this is you need to leverage your relationship for the kingdom of God. I need you to do that God desires for you to do any of you sitting here this morning. I don't do that and you know what I don't know here in the right church. If you can look around your circle of friends and think whether I come that God or not, shut wrong with partner wishes you to reach those people. You can even here's a great if you if there's an unbeliever in your life that you know I like free to come to church with me.

I want you to point out what's wrong with the church I go to. That's bold, but you know what it works in some your friends might go will aiming point out what's wrong with your church and I'm just curious what you think would be wrong with our churches, check it out and you can tell me what's wrong with get their attention get their attention. Now I understand that your and maybe you know you're here this morning and some are invited to your center going all great on some spiritual experimenters now understand if somebody invited you somebody risk rejection and failure to invite you this place. You have some money probably really cares about you that invited you to this place that was willing to be inconvenienced. If you will to invite you to this church. Jesus was willing to be inconvenienced when Luke 1910 says for the Son of Man is come to seek and save that which was lost.

That which was lost and somehow we got away from this week.

We forget this one I told you right now that there was people in this room that filling the boys that were out partying last night.

The smoke dope last night they were out drinking last what is that because you think you think I wish I knew they were using praise God. The latter is more latitude to Jesus. That's the attitude of Jesus. The church got to know if you been here two years and use my boat was that we need to okay you got me. You are supposed to be growing again maybe letting go.

Others, like but if you're in a troubled place right now in your struggle and this is the place to be. This is the place to be. Don't know Ron let the Lord reach out to you and you need to hear the good news, Peter says, you know, this is the stone. Why is that important. While some people gotten fairly confused of what Peter said earlier, and when the Gospels when he's talking to Jesus and Jesus is upon this rock I will build my church. Some people think we built it on Peter and some people built their church on Peter and shows hit I mean the church to be built on Jesus was to be built on Jesus.

What Jesus this is the snow is what Peter is he, himself, do is talk about Jesus. Now verse 12, nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved. We remind you that Peter speaking to the Jewish people I respect my Jewish roots. I love studying the Jewish roots, but we need to understand the Jewish people. If they reject the Messiah are not say they're not saved, it was greediest the Jim Baker a few years ago was on Larry King and made the statement that all the Jews that died during the Holocaust are going to I think he did more damage with that statement than he did with the fiasco meatus to be a that's simply on biblical this is what Peter says this is what the Bible teaches the life lesson. There is no other way to be forgiven, except through Jesus. And it's not being politically correct when we say to people in other religions are good as long as your ear, why in the world is know if you you sincerely want to go to New York and you head out out of Kernersville and you're heading south to New York, you're going to Florida.

It doesn't matter how sincere you are. You're going the wrong way to go the right way to get there.

And guess what the right way is the right way is presented in Scripture as through Jesus and without Jesus. Jewish people are lost in their sins.

Muslims are lost in their sans Catholics are lost in the sense without Jesus Christians are lost in yourself that matter. They go to church doesn't matter clear member of the church without Jesus there lost your sense and lingers the simple truth your God loves you. You have send Jesus died for you. You can be forgiven through faith and he will give you the power to live from. How does this happen, you ask and you ask him to forgive you of yourself have had some people say we don't dwell on repentance enough when you say that you send your admitting that you've done something wrong, you can admit that you've done something wrong without understanding that you don't need to do it again. God is interested in our frail promises that whenever you mess up again. There's an empty vein promises but as you say Lord forgive me of my send your confessing your sins and also admitting if you will you're sorry for your sin, do the work in your heart and then begin to draw you closer to him.

But see if you accept Jesus, you're accepting that somebody else made a payment for your sense. It's in his name Matthew chapter 1 verse 21 and she will bring forth a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sin and high shoe Hebrew name saved from our sins. God is our salvation. So when you say I believe in Jesus.

Do you, do you believe that he will save you from yourself, then you are all the track to be insane. The only thing left is free to ask him to be sick. Nothing else only a belief in Jesus can save you. So the question is do you know I don't mean you know about them. I mean do you really know Jesus. Do you know what his name really means, and in his personal and I guess the other part of that is if you do know are you sharing your faith. You know you wake up in the morning think I just just give me one person one person to share my faith with one person to encourage the look toward you look to you, be faithful to do and then you look for those opportunities to assure maybe you brought some people here make they have questions about what I've said and be willing and open to answer the questions without being weird or perhaps you're here this morning and you never asked Jesus to forgive you. Maybe even churchgoer all your life and you saw that as long as you work a good person you went to church occasionally. You're hoping that at the end of your life are good outweighs the bad will ever have that he who is good, Jesus cannot way your back if you ask guys, there's no other way. There's no other name by what you say and you know for sure that your sins have been forgiven. You can know right now Legion 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 of you prayed that prayer according to the Bible you've been forgiven you've been born again. So congratulations bring 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.

But it does cost for us to come and bring that message to you and to others in your neighborhood radio to the Internet and through the mobile technologies that God has gifted us to be able to use so if you like to support this ministry. Please go to cross the bridge.com. Click on the donate button and ask God how much you would have you give either on a one-time basis or continuing basis each month to help ensure that the teaching of God's word continues to go out to cross the bridge. Thank you so much ODA before we go. What are some ways that we can bless our listeners each day. You can wake up with encouragement from Pastor David to the word of God is email devotional life lessons to consider daily reading plan and the thought to meditate on throughout your day. From the heart. The David McGee those are terrific and it's easy and it's free so folks sign up today@crossthebridge.com. Thanks again for listening and join us next time. As David McGee continues teaching verse by verse in the book of acts