Acts Chapter 4:18-37

Not Lord help us escape lords in the somewhere else where there's not a moment like this. Bill told to be quiet, not more.

Get us out of this trial, God gives no I believe the Lord long for us to pray that for God gives his bones as he understands that sometimes it's a fearful thing to share. So as you ask God to give me power and boldness to share. Sometimes I get weak sometimes I'm not strong and can't give you that very often.

You know, pray for God to lighten our load when we need to be praying for strong virtual welcome to cross the bridge with David McGee. David is the senior pastor of the bridge in Kernersville, North Carolina to deal with this DA Brown, one of McGee's associate pastors thank you brother for being with the program Bob God wants us to be contagious, not contagious with the cold contagious with the gospel of Jesus Christ and the more we follow Jesus, the more excited we are about telling others listen to this. Listen your passion fired up to tell other people about that sounds good.

DA as we do that will impact the lives of those around us in ways that we can even imagine. So now here's David McGee with part two of his teaching focus. Peter and John up and used by God to heal the lame man and so now the religious authorities are in an uproar, and they 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 see some parallels in our lives in life today to this time and so will see once again that this book has incredible applications for life today so were in acts chapter 4 will pick it up in verse 18. So they called them and commanded them not to speak at all, teach in the name of Jesus. This is going through. To be really effective in verse 19 but Peter and John answered and said to them, whether it is right in the 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. 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 it been done for the mammals over 40 years old on him. This miracle healing of been performed. 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 probably been praying for touching base to see what they do with all this going on. 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 your you are God, you might want to wear Web server. You start by reminding God it is God and you gonna remind him that he created the heavens and their you think that was to remind God not to greatly start.

You remind yourself that you're talking to God he created everything, created everything and then when you ask him to do something to change your life. It's in the context you created heavens and earth under Sask energy changes when life I know you can do that because you made the heavens and the earth that was go ahead and talk about that God made the heavens and the earth in the beginning God created the heavens and the year 201 clearly resilient in the beginning God created the heavens and we think that means it means God created the heavens and their liking salmon because most of us were taught in public school, but that's not how it happened, taught that evolution was how we came to be you saying you don't believe in evolution, let me qualify something because some Christians say I absolutely reject any type of evolution when used when you look in animals and whatnot.

You do see some natural selection okay so I don't hold skill, reject evolution, reject evolution is the origin of man we qualify that we understand there's a difference okay so you know that the notion that we went from two to soothe you. I reject that that is not biblical. It's not biblical.

And now you got evolutionists that are saying doesn't work it doesn't work and now they're coming up with all these alternative theories which are right there, highly obtaining you, one of them is that what happened was an alien came down to earth anything diverse with humanity, and that's all we all came to be written off Genesis is all are doing and there's highly educated trying that we got some videos in the in the bookstore. The community has a PhD physicist, geologist, talk about creation and they believe in creation cut off reason to believe in creation.

You have to cut off reason to believe in evolution.

I have a watch this watch apart, but in the back and shook it up using Intermec to watch. No circuit for a long time millions and millions of years someone turned back into a watch CNS. The flaw of the thinking of the evolution you now much more complex you are than this watch credibly more complex and you think you just came together. Even the notion part of the theory that like the Big Bang.

There was nothing and then it exploded ever in your life. If you have nothing explode before. Usually there's something in the water problem with evolution, even when you introduce millions and millions of years or billions and billions of years soon as it were.

You can't get a complex organism from the process that's described in bleep on by evolution. So I believe the book. The book says God created the heavens and the earth that works that works so we should be praying we should be praying and then we should do something.

I'm not saying we just sit around all we do is print as Augustine said prey is in everything as if everything depends upon God and an act as if everything depends upon you, so we should be active, but we should be in prayer first verse 25 by the mouth of your servant David has said, why did the nations rage people plot a vain things and kings of the earth took their stand and the rulers were gathered together against the Lord and against his Christ.

This is a prophetic passage prophesying the coming of Jesus is rejection verse 27. For truly against your holy servant Jesus, whom you anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles and the people of Israel were gathered together and notice it includes includes the Gentiles in the execution. Pontius Pilate was a Gentile women soldiers were Gentiles. It is just not an accurate statement to say the Jewish people killed Jesus.

When you get right down to the thing to kill Jesus was our sin. He looked at her struggling under the burdens of her send at any killing and he would he say get he made a decision that he would rather see us suffer under that burden. That's what Jesus verse 28 to do whatever your hand in your purpose determined before to be done so as a fulfillment of prophecy is. Crucifixion wasn't just happenstance wasn't just the conspiracy was a plan plan of God so that we could be in fellowship with him. We could have the opportunity to be forgiven of our sales and be in right standing with him. Now I see what they asked for verse 21. The Lord look on their threats and grant to your servants that with all boldness they may speak your word while not Lord help us escape Lord send somewhere else where there's not a moment like this hotels to be quiet, not Lord, get us out of this trial. God gives boldness. It was bold. I believe the Lord longs for us to pray that prayer give this boldness because he understands that sometimes it's a fearful thing to share our faith, so as you ask God to give me power give me boldness to share. Sometimes I get we sometimes are not strong in God give you that boldness very often. You know work were praying for God to lighten our load when we need to be praying for stronger shoulders.

Sometimes we pray we forgot to lighten our load when we should be asking for stronger show verse 30 continues to stretch out your hand to heal and the signs and wonders may be done to the name of your holy servant Jesus, when they had prayed, the place where they were assembled together was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and they spoke the word of God with boldness. They prayed and God gives boldness versus later, guess what they got boldness not God doesn't always answer prayers that quickly, but he does sometimes he does sometimes also notice that this is a prayed place they were assembled was shaken, they were filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God with some people say what that day of Pentecost there that that's never supposed to happen again. Ointment were just two days away from it we see a building shaken them get filled with the spirit again. Someone, probably for the first time speaking the word of God with boldness and you know this. There's a real lack of regard in terms of them. Something is a God make sure we don't get in jail again. That was just that Jill was a horrible place. Just make sure we don't go to jail.

God give me boldness give me boldness the life lesson here is we should have the same thing. Our main concern should be the spread of the good news. Our main concern should be the spread of the good news in teaching others how often were very concerned with other things and not spreading the good, but we see in Peter and John and the other disciples. Here is a real lack of regard for themselves as they continue to spread the word and care about jail and care about the fact that they were being civilly disobedient to the authorities. They just wanted to get the word out. May God grant us that your member talks about the power Holy Spirit tieback to acts chapter 1 verse eight says, but you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you shall be witnesses to me in Jerusalem and all Judea and Samaria and to the end of the year really come back that works over and over again as we look to the book of acts because what we see is a fulfillment because now there filled with this boldness, where in Jerusalem.

Later, when elected see that there filled with boldness and the surrounding area. Judea and Samaria, and then finally to all parts of the world will be right back with more from David McGee on cross the bridge right now.

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, Louis, 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, verse 32 of those who believed were of one heart and one soul, neither did anyone say that any of the things he possessed was a result they had all things in common love and one another and they showed love to one and we should be showing love to one another being divisive in the body of Christ is a horrible thing being divisive, speaking against church speaking against leadership or whatever is a spiritual leader of come to see how destructive division is and for no other reason because of occasionally we hear sunlight as being divisive here saying things that neither are true or just just run in the mouth.

Then we have to take time as leaders now calico dress to trigger the person say like you can't really do that you gotta probably go to some I can help you work through the problem or be a problem with something that were doing and in you see a better way to do it. We want here take some I can help you work through our address and our problems might be in the vise and guess what were not doing not doing reach out to people, teaching people. It's interesting when there is division in your body. We have some pretty strong words for knowing when part of your body starts working against the rest of your body been vice one awards was used for cancer. Cancers dealt with in strong fashion and says that they will lose her divisive and strong work in another kind of form that is parasite strong words seek division can be really destructive to the body of Christ. One of the reasons I think this early church was so effective is a research unity. The research unity of God that with the vision interesting like working within the next chapter, but you know when encourage you guys again. If you got a problem, there's a biblical way to handle that you go to somebody leadership and sit down well and you work through and then you grow we grow and it's a great thing, but being divisive is not a good thing is not for you, not for the church. Notice again. They are praying the train in this thing and end so I can pray you disagree with. Some pray about.

Pray for the church pray for leadership. Pray for me. I love you and notice again that the naysayers are not having that big fat verse 33 and with great power the apostles gave witness to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. And great grace was upon them all like the fact that has great power and great grace the same verse we should have great grace towards one another love each other through stuff and also be walking great, verse 34.

Nor was there anyone among them who lacked for all possessors of lands or houses sold them about the proceeds of the things that were sold and laying them at the apostles feet, and they distributed to each as anyone who had me and José, who was also named Artemis by the apostles which is translated son of encouragement, a Levite of the country of Cyprus, Barnabas that were introduced to hear ends up to be a major player in the book of acts.

Barnabas ends up to team up with Paul and in many of us have heard of Paul prep you've not heard environments where you will as we go through the book back. But what a beautiful thing because God knew all would need as we go to the book back to see all the stuff that Paul went through you is beat me with thrown in jail.

What a blessing it must've been Barnabas with Barnabas. I get the okay ball working will get out. Maybe you know you get beat up and Barnabas is like God's all right, even if they kill us.

We don't have is a great will recover were not dead yet is such a good thing to have an encourager around you.

Can you imagine for a moment. If all of us, that responsibility serious and started encouraging people around us started encouraging people in this fellowship little that cost you to go so I got a man is so good to see you here today. I do say something and been praying for you. Happy are you getting plugged in here happier servant and encouragement cost you like dinner for things that semiregular will will differ ministry my ministry is the ministry of discouragement whether plaintiff people the world that is not a gift it is an extremely cheap gift, we should be encouraging one another. Once encouragement means the filter literally what it means I can say things the unit fill you with coverage like just a moment ago start about your inviting people. That's awesome things of God is actually male need to be filled person like encourage one something so easy to do and so missing in the body of Christ. I need encouragement you need to go well.

I need encouragement not rated giving by often encouragement need encouragement. You know there's been times in my life that I need encouragement you about before became known to me, need encouragement happens bizarrely enough, oftentimes somewhat across my path that is discouraged as well and I encourage them and guess what happened I walk away. Encourage, encourage Semite it was discouraged and I walkway filled with courage. See how beautiful it worked. Should I just wait to fill me with no money, go to encouragement. Look for Semite encourage you encouraging my else you get encourage wonderful things awesome spiritual truth in it. We can do that we can begin to do that if you can make it a point encouraging your Bible jot down on the bulletin encourage there's not enough on something science might encourage watch how your life begins biblical saying I give you some scriptures run through them quickly. Romans 112 says I'm eager to encourage you in your faith, but also want to be encouraged by years. In this way, each of us will be a blessing to the words this is Paul talking you encourage me encourage you and will be encouraged by each other and as were filled with courage. Guess what will do great things for God.

Romans 12 eight starts out says if your gift is to encourage others to do skip the rest of verse with second Corinthians 1311 dear brothers and sisters. I close my letter with these last words rejoice change your ways encourage each other live in harmony and peace in the God of love and peace will be with you versus -48 so comfort and encourage each other with these words % 511 so encourage each other, build each other up, just as you are already doing see how often this is happened in Scripture verse this one is 514 brothers and sisters.

We urge you to Warner's related lazy encourage those who are timid.

Second Peter four Tutsis preach the word of God.

Be persistent. Whether the time is favorable not patiently correct, rebuke and encourage her people with good teaching is to be doing is encouraging you guys that says rebuke occasionally undo that occasionally I issue a correction may be in the form you talk about silent witness. You can't just be us. I was kind of a correction, but now encouraging you and in its interesting new living translation. You find the word, encouraging there about 36 defined the word rebuke 22 times tells me should be encouraging more and more rebuke you encouraging people in Hebrews 1020 forces. Think of ways to encourage one another outburst of love and good deeds to create person not perform acts of random kindness, no encourage one another outburst of loving good if you do this, I guarantee you it will be like change, promise you pastor. My wife is just been filled with all sorts of garbage trash is just hard to have any encouragement you have a wonderful thing about God. You can take garbage and trash and you can add three elements warmth lights moisture and you can grow things that we call the compostable would take throwaway items.

We had water and maybe like the water in the word we had God's light. God's work may be God's love and things begin to grow in what used to be a trashy and if God can do that with a compost pile man he can do with your life because he's able, he is able to do this, verse 37 having land, sold it, brought the money and laid it at the apostles feet, Barnabas does this fact, TE is not he's doing his faith. He's live in his faith is encouraging others.

He's taken this step. This simple act of generosity and servant will lead Barnabas the great things while the Bible says he was faithful in small things will be faithful, big thing times in our lives we we kick back with a well all I will do some big for God's will for God, maybe you sooner go I will be next Billy Graham or Greg Laurier Pastor David government but is something I want to teach on Sunday morning knew someone to someone you know I just ask you to encourage Semite and how easy that is so easy and is your faithfulness. Small things, God will raise you up, just like he raised up Barnabas to be Paul's partner and change in the world. Barnabas poured in the Paul Reseda find somebody important, encourage them, pray for them finalize less if you help the disciple others, your faith will have a bigger impact. If we take this to heart truly encourage one another to be amazed at what God will continue to do and 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. But it does cost for us to come and bring that message to you and to others in your neighborhood radio through 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 through 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 with his 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, cross the bridge.com. Thanks again for listening and join us next time.

As David McGee continues teaching verse by verse in the book of acts