Acts Chapter 4:13-24

Religion have always male.

But what really twisted as most people think Christianity plaintiff on that is that that we can reach up to God.

People get beat. They get in situations and they want to come to Jesus we start giving him a little. We got a new you do that can't look like that can act like this you can't do this when the simple thing that we need to do is take her hand and put it in the hand for this is Jesus. This is my Savior.

This is a change me and he'll make a difference in your that's what we need, but so often we try to start placing the wall between people in Jesus, why can't really have access while they should be have access. I got this and I got to do that. I got so glad now and not religious, but I have a relationship with Jesus is a different welcome to cross the bridge with David McGee. David is the senior pastor of the bridge in Kernersville, North Carolina. Today we have DA Brown one of David Mickey's associate pastors and were glad to have bring us some insight right before you know there's a difference between religion and the relationship with God today.

Positive take his time to explain the difference and why it's important to understand as he continues the book of acts chapter 4 good brother. So here's David McKinney with his teaching boldness when acts chapter 4 verse 13. Got a bring up to speed Peter and John have been used by God to heal the lame man and so now the religious authorities or, in an uproar, and they've told John and Peter that they need to come before them and explain what happened and explain how they did it and so this is what's going on with Peter and John and the Sanhedrin, the Council, the Jewish religious authorities and they brought Peter and John not to congratulate him not to encourage them but actually to rebuke him to really see some parallels in our lives in life today to this time and so will see once again that this book has incredible applications were alive today (we thank you for this book.

Thank you for the Bible and I thank you for each and every person that's here this morning and asked that you would speak to speak to them through your words speak to him and that still small voice because Lord, we know that you desire to speak to your people Lord I asked that not only would we hear what you were saying, but it would go to our hearts, and that it would change us, and we know that you have the ability you have the strength to changes and we can walk out differently than we walked in your that's her prayer. That's the cry of our day you open our hearts to your word and open your words are hearts in Jesus name. Everybody said amen payment so when acts chapter 4 will pick it up in verse 13 says now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John and perceive that they were uneducated and untrained men, they marveled, and they realize that they had been with Jesus is interesting verse we see and hear that God is using Peter and John, Jesus is using Peter and John, but what these rabbis in these spiritual religious leaders understood was that they had not been to the rabbinical school there were Jewish schools of that day there called yeshivas.

We talked about this a little bit before basically, some went through elementary.

They took the best of those they allowed him to go to the equivalent of the junior high and then they took the best of those and then those went to the senior you will and they took the best of those. Some of those were invited to be trained by Rabbi Peter and John were we see that because they were following Rabbi when Jesus came up to him tonight.

Follow me now.

This is important to understand because in this day and age. Somehow we've gotten to the point once again as they were here that only people who are highly trained and highly specialized can share the word of God with us and that happens on two fronts number one it happens in the pulpits that we think well you know the guy has a doctorate in eight minutes.

Go 19 years, man. That's impressive. He's really ready to teach the word of God. But the question is has he been with Jesus.

That's the question to because all across America. Pulpits are filled with people not been with Jesus. Now I'm not anti-education study about for years and years. I will continue to study the Bible. While there is breath in my body but I think when we get to a point of saying okay, this guy is of God because he has a degree, this guy is not of God because he does not have the great and when we flipped off the track been with Jesus for three years Jesus who wrote the book they had some answers. They had some things to share. And they've been with Jesus is so important you have to spend time with Jesus, you get to spend time with maybe don't have the time of the opportunity pray several hours every day, but spend time with the Lord.

Maybe driving to work or drive in from work or standing in line at Walmart or at a stoplight. You can take time to spend time with the Lord that so important, so important, because then you have something to share and even easier untrained in theology. You still can share the love of God how he's changed your life and it's interesting that he's the past tense. They realize they had been with Jesus. There's no one gave Jesus is right. Don't you know he's looking for ease. He's the one that work through Peter and John and healed this man and you know that at that moment, your Jesus, then back that's my boy. Do you know he had some problems. He messed up a bit with what he's doing now so they got thrown in jail.

We saw the first part of chapter to be honest, I'm thinking that what Peter first time in jail.

I'm just going out on a limb just guessing here, but just watching the brashness of Peter and understanding of fishermen then have that good of a reputation that at that time and you know the sad thing here again is because I got thrown in jail.

Peter and John would've been disqualified from leadership in our churches that can have him leave New Jersey a bit and J while I mean think they slowly think about Peter disqualified from leadership in the church should and we do miss praise God. God change his life. A man verse 14 and seeing the man who had been healed standing with them I could say nothing against Sears that you can't argue with spiritual fruit. You cannot, here's a guy that used to not be able to walk and now I can walk and you can't argue with that many can you look silly and is also this is the man. This is standing with them like that because the manager got healed he didn't think I like you before the Jewish authorities not think I can't make this meeting.

Hope it works out, but he stood with so important because as Christians we need to stand with each other, even when there's a problem, even when there's a trial even when somebody falls or fails standing with a man with standing with praying for you of doing that once because Christianity is not supposed to be with their be filled with fair weather friends.

Standby people in ministry through disagreements and even when you're in trouble.

Verse 15 but when he commanded them to go outside, go aside out of the council, they conferred among themselves. Verse 16 St. what shall we do to these men.

For indeed a notable miracle has been done through them is evident to all who dwell in Jerusalem, and we cannot deny notice something their unbelief has nothing to do with it. There is a man that used to not be able to walk the canal and they still are not believing what I mention this well. I think sometimes we mistakenly believe we can academically talk somebody in to accept Jesus as their Savior. You can deal with objections, but you cannot get somebody to cross that line simply by dealing with their object. We should have a discussion we should encourage discussion but understand unbelief comes from the hardness of the heart of man, she because we realize that at the moment we say we do believe then we are required to take action. I do believe in God, that Jesus came to die for me on the cross. Locate what you do with that and so unbelief has to do more with heart of man, then with the presentation of the fact understand God could come to this earth and demonstrate his love to people in a in a physical way and they would still say I still reject the mere fact he did just that he came to the earth in the form of his son demonstrated his love for us by dying for us. And there still people that reject not for lack of evidence because the hardness of heart, we need to understand heart human heart wants to run from God not run to God. Verse 17 but so that it spreads no further among the people. Let us severely threaten them from now only speak the no man than this name house that you see how twisted religion gets me look at this. These guys were supposed to be the purveyors that the people who are giving true and it presented with true thing. Okay, how do we cover this up.

That's how twisted religion gets understand how to find religion different than Christianity. Christianity is that God has reached down to man in the form of Jesus Christ in the form of the cross so that man can have access to God religion. On the other hand, tries to gain access to God do their own good works in their own strength in their own power. Religion has always failed. But what's really twisted as most people see Christianity by the fund that is that we can reach up to God first. Life lesson. Religion is the worst thing that ever happened. Christianity pastor what you mean by people get beat. They get in situations and they want to come to Jesus and we start giving them a rulebook.

We got to do this you do that can't look like that can act like this you can't do this when the simple thing that we need to do is take her hand and put it in the hand of Jesus, so this is Jesus. This is my Savior. This is a change me and he'll make a difference in your life. That's what we need to do, but so often we try to start placing walls between people in Jesus, why can't really have access they shouldn't be having access and I got to do this they got to do that. I gotta do the other so glad I now will not religious, but I have a relationship with Jesus. There's a difference that's interesting here because notice were inside the meeting, just a little side bit here were inside the meeting how we know what's going on inside this meeting.

An interesting Luke, who wrote the book of acts also wrote the gospel of Luke.

We believe that he did that part.

A lot of scholars believe that he did that in part for the defense of Paul in front of Roman authorities.

See not only put together history of Jesus, but also the history of the early church and there's pretty good evidence for this. So how did he gather. This was Luke in this meeting.

No Luke would not of been in this meeting, Luke was a Gentile. He was a not a Jewish person, but when Luke was writing the book of acts, as well as the gospel. He went around interviewing people and in writing stuff down who would be of interview to get this information was too real good possibilities.

One is Nicodemus.

Remember Nicodemus is the guy that came to Jesus in John chapter 3, asked me what the deal wasn't.

Jesus said you must be born again and then another very likely candidate is Joseph of Arimathea we know that Joseph was on the Council because were told in Mark 1543 that he was on the Council that he would've been on the inside scoop and probably would've told what was going 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 saved. 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 virtual here on cross the bridge with Pastor David McGee. We can pray 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 loved ones. What an awesome way to bring love once 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 got. 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.

That verse 18 the call back and so they called them and commanded them not to speak at all, or teach in the name of Jesus. To be really effective in man, you can keep these guys quietly filled with God's word are filled God's love their filled with God's power and he can't keep a godly man or woman down you can say anything and understand as you look at this. Maybe, maybe in some way like this during the pastor and I just don't know if I'm ever going. Gotta ever use me to heal laymen maybe will maybe wall he does desire to use you to accomplish the greatest miracle. The greatest miracle is when someone doesn't know Jesus comes to saving faith in Jesus and not just their legs are healed. Partner shoulder healed. To me that's a far greater miracle. The far greater miracle we have the opportunity to do that. Gotta give us the boldness to do that. Verse 19 but Peter and John answered and said to them, whether it is right in sight of God to listen to you more than the God you just touch, for we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard what you know something Peter and John are very respectful of the authorities yesterday while you pointed out well.

I want you to notice they're going to disobey that they're not going to obey with these guys set in their disobedience they are respectful why appointment out because occasionally I hear of a ministry or another believer who sings the major in bashing other ministries are bashing the government are bashing the president like you really want to be doing.

Is that really what we take in our time and energy to do when they do it.

There's a real disrespect for authority, and I don't think that's biblical.

I know it's not biblical. Bellamy may say this is the president or anybody any man sent me an email or give me a phone call and said you gotta quit telling people about Jesus. Guess what I am going to disobey the bill.

Respectfully but I will disobey it so you can dissipate and at the same time, be respectful, and I think that's what we are to do.

We see them doing any system we can speak the things which we seen and heard Jesus sometimes when he healed people with talent tally by saving a standard and every time I see him saying that the people one told now Jesus told us to tell people and we sit there quietly. Don't say anything anybody and that's wrong we think of sin in terms of the things that we do but send sometimes is what you don't. And if you're not sharing your faith if you're not telling other people about Jesus and love your wrong.

If something were supposed to be doing now.

I've heard all the rebuttals and arguments in the debate will Pastor David know mine is a silent witness. I don't say anything. I just prefer to let my light shine bright before people yet. The only problem that is honey underlining that right. I mean even Jesus himself used word used word, guess what we should probably be doing using words and I don't see anywhere in the Bible. This theological proof text for a silent witness final binder that used to be your excuse. I just pulled the chair out from in love with the silent witnessing biblical biblical God will give you the boldness and scares verse 21 swimming further threatened, but let them go, finding no way of punishing them because of the people, since they all glorify God for what is been done.

Again, look out twisted their hearts as in the worst fruit. There understand any time God is working in the midst of a situation there's going to be people with stand off to the side I call naysayers and you know and and and say will this is what's wrong with that and this is what's wrong with it and that's what's wrong I can stand beside Appletree and I'm telling you is not an Appletree but you look over there and there's apples all over the tree. Guess what you're gonna as Appletree and it seems interestingly enough that there is those that God will use an incredible way.

And then there's those that stand off to the side and pointer fingers and point out what's wrong with what God is doing point this out because obviously God is using this fellowship to accomplish incredible things and were always going to have naysayers. Don't be surprised when you have some meaning in getting it but you know that will always be that will always happen that when God does something spiritually significant, with a people group that will be people standing off to the side that nothing of significance spiritually is going on. The pointer fingers back and say all… You doing it wrong you're doing it wrong. Be careful. Verse 22 talks about the manse is for the man was over 40 years old on him. This miracle healing up and over 40 years old again. We talk before that this man had been at that game for that long.

For most of those years Jesus probably walks through that game didn't healing what it was in his time, God has time and seasons.

He has appointments in God, the foreman Jesus walked past this meant knowing that at some point in the future.

This man would not only be healed but would be healed to bring glory to the God the glory to God to give power to the early church you're waiting on a healing or waiting for God to do something in your life. Be patient because it's his time, not your, it's his time. The sad thing about it is looking at these leaders are so close.

So far there talking with Peter and John who spent years with Jesus.

They could've just as easily said, looking at what we think we been wrong about this.

Tell us what we need to tell us how we need to follow Jesus and it's heartbreaking to consider that some people come here so close. Turn around and walk out. May that always break our hearts.

May that always saddens you know they got so caught up in their formality and the rituals and forgot what it was all about. You know those looking to this chapter of thought meant how different Judaism would be today had they accepted Jesus as the Messiah, but there was a dividing come into Judea and let me let me be clear, I have tremendous respect for my Jewish roots. Christianity was buried in Jewish roots. I was like 20 some years old before I realize that Jesus was actually a Jew.

I grew up just been told that the Jews were people killed Jesus so much to my amazement, you're Jew Jesus was born into a Jewish family was a Jewish man discovered a lot of truths going back and looking into the Hebrew Scriptures and look into the great traditions. But if a Jewish person rejects Jesus as the Messiah are not going to have their not going to happen and what they're doing here in this Mets is they are rejecting Jesus, but lists pride enter in understand there's a lot of churches today that reject the salvation. Jesus said that is true.

Verse 23. This is being let go.

They went to their own companions and reported all that the chief priests and elders had said to how I think they go back to the companions.

The company that's a good thing going back to touch base with those who probably been praying for touching base. When you get in trouble when you hit a snag. That's what you should do to touch base with people you care about help you build relationships with people here, so that if and when you hit a snag.

There's that relationship already established you want to be born into people as well as the warrant back to you. I think a lot of times we had snacks because we just expect people keep born into is born into is born into is born into. Whenever offered a poor background that is not a healthy Christian relationship. Verse 24 so when they heard that they raise their voice to God with one accordance of the Lord your God made heaven and earth and the sea and all that is in them. While an interesting response to notice what they did not do probably get raised up on some toes together and say well we need to make some picket signs. We need to march around the Sanhedrin and do this and do that.

The other date praying while what was the one thing they could do to make the biggest scene we need to be careful that we don't get distracted by all the other side trails and remember what has eternal significance. Prayer has eternal significance. Sharing your faith has eternal significance. Friend, you know for sure that your sins have been forgiven. You can know right now only Jenna 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 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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Thank you so much ODA before we go.

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