Unstoppable - Two Things that Destroy God's Work in Our Lives, Part 2

There are two things that will kill the grace of God in your heart and life in our last broadcast talk about the first it's hypocrisy today. We'll talk about that second thing that can destroy God's work in your life.

Stay with this edition of living will be with your finger through the mission of these daily programs is to intentionally disabled persons.

The Bible thanks for joining us this trip wraps up a series of unstoppable God's agenda for planet Earth, including you, as we learned last disciples of the early Christian church received a harsh warning about a minute to pick up where he left off breaking down why an inauthentic disastrous to her testimony.

Just before we get started. If you missed any part of the series along the way, you can catch up anytime LivingontheEdge.org or by downloading the chip Ingram okay let's get going with part two of his message, grace, stompers, two things that destroy God's work in our life from acts chapter 5 hypocrisy kills the authenticity of the message and the credibility of the messenger hypocrisy when people poke around and say what you doing and where you going. Can you can do this thing or that thing you say yes or no. Based on this is what I can afford or not afford what my mouth and my time and my energy and money they need to be saying the same thing that perfection but hypocrisy posing closing like I love God, posing like I'm devoted posing like I really care about people I meet deeply. I mean like, to the point that I'm sacrificially giving 1.3% of my income to really help others. They mean a lot right here. Stay with the same now I know this is a hard message to hear but do you now understand why the church is anemic to understand why some people don't get specific powerful answers to prayer you understand why marriages and kids that have issues and relationships that you want to come together God uses and always will finances to direct our energy and our priorities in the Old Testament. When people were just totally out of whack. He said in a something you're doing your own thing and neglecting my stuff and that's why you have a person has holes in it. That's why you plant seeds but you know then the blight comes I will keep frustrating you in this area because when he has our finances, he has our attention right. This is in alignment or God wants our hearts directed and really what the issue is, will you trust me, would you believe that when I say I'll take care of you. I'll take care of you notice what happened as a result of this we pick up the story it says a great fear seized those in the church and I mean this is Mormon to talk a little bit about fear in just a second, but noticed there was a sense of will. Oh this is unlike Jesus is my body and I think will do whatever we want, and I hope things work out and help my life work out. I mean, this is like serious and the notice what happens. The apostles performed many miracles and signs and wonders among the people.

All the believers used to meet together in Solomon's colony.

No one else dared join them, even though they were highly regarded by the people I love that Christians were highly regarded, they weren't weird they were people screaming on TV for people's money. They were hypocrites. The people said I want to join that group is okay what you better be for real authentic person he might die but and they love each other there for real they so reflect that person. They say they follow came back from the dead Jesus.

As a result, people brought their sick in the streets and lay them on beds and Matt so that Lisa Peter shadow might fall on some of them as they passed by crowds gathered also from the towns all around Jerusalem, bringing their sick and those tormented by evil spirits and all of them were healed Circle the word call all of them were healed now very carefully here don't think that the Bible's teaching that God heals all people all time. Notice how much faith all these people had by the way, if 100% of people healed see it doesn't say healing and faith is and was necessarily go together three times in all of biblical history. You see miracles as the norm. When the law is given under Moses. When the prophetic ministry of restoring Israel. Elijah and Elisha and Jesus and the apostles. Every time God gives new revelation.

The law from Sinai. Then there's a season of miracles miracles miracles miracles miracles parting of the Red Sea, the man of the quail why to say that God's truth is here and you can believe it, and then there is also when people take the first steps of disregard there's a very harsh initial judgment that this is for real. The same thing with Elijah and Elisha a great season were miracles were the norm. The same thing here with the apostles. Now, God still does miracles, God still does the supernatural.

He still wants to, but he does it. As he chooses and according to his will and here's what I want to see there was a great fear. We have a lot of misguided thinking about fear. I've heard people talk about will the fear of the Lord what it just means it's reverential all animate what set me all I mean I I get what they're saying because the problem is you don't want to be afraid of God is your father. So how do we get the picture. This help me imagine if you will being right on the edge of a tabletop out on the Grand Canyon or lack of half Dome and when you get near to that edge and when you look down it's like thousands of feet down and you can be 20 feet back and you can see it all reverential all majestic, amazing, beautiful, and then when you get closer what what you what you instinctively do pay guys when you guys went to grandma Bell here will I want to see over there anyone get that close to get real close okay you got my go my leg get my way to get my leg okay hold on really tight and when you get near the edge.

It is not reverential.

All you are scared to death in your hearts: it gets even worse if you say in a little daredevil and you want to really get the experience you guys hold my belt to lean forward and they hold your belt out over it and as they do.

There's a lot of reverential awe and tear.

Listen carefully, toes or rights. By the way, where there is no fear of God people sent what the psalmist said the wicked sin, because there's no fear of God in their heart. Toes wrote in the old days men were said to walk in the fear of God and to serve the Lord with fear, however intimate their commune with God. However bold their prayers at the base of the religious life was a conception of God is awesome and dreadful. The idea of God's transcendence runs to the whole Bible gives color and tone to the character the Saints. This fear of God is more than the natural apprehension of danger. It was a nonrational dread and acute feeling of personal insufficiency in the presence of God the Almighty. We forgotten, Scott, what would it be like to come near the presence of someone whose energy speaks a word, and galaxies come into existence. You don't walk up with hands on him.

Hey, would you give me will help. That's how we treat God, you would walk up and say I know there's you know the salad bar commandments had to go up a 246 night nine and seven days that I don't think be very fulfilled. I do those he goes on to say, we never got appeared to men in Bible times, results were the same and overwhelming sense of tear and dismay a wrenching sensation of sinfulness and guilt. When God spoke to Abraham. Abraham stretched himself upon the ground to listen when he spoke to Moses he saw the burning bush, he hid his face and could look upon them when Isaiah saw a vision of God he wrung out the cry. Woe is me.

I am undone. I'm a man of unclean lips Daniels encounter with God was probably the most dreadful and wonderful them all. The prophet lifted up his eyes and saw the appearance of lightning in his eyes like lamps of fire in his arms and his feet like color, polished brass, and the voice of his words were like the sound of a multitude of waters in Daniel alone, solid vision, and afterwards he said for the men that were with me did not see the vision, but a great quickening fell upon them so they fled and they hid themselves, and I was left there alone and I saw this great vision and all my comeliness went out of me and I turned to me to corruption and then I heard the voices words and it was. I went into a deep sleep on my face and my face was toward the ground. That's a different God than targeting a Mellow bit. I don't feel like doing that today toes or later rights in balance to this which is so encouraging. Once you get a honest holy fear of God. The cross becomes so rich and so beautiful because through the blood of Christ. I am invited in his righteousness to come boldly before the throne of that God, in my time of need to find mercy and grace. And this God who is that fearful and awesome and holy and powerful, though exalted in majesty, is eager to be your friend. He's transcendent eminent.

He's tender. He's compassionate. He's the one that says to the woman who's had five husbands, and living with a guy sin no more. He's the one that says when you're when you've blown it and you realize that there is hypocrisy and sin and addiction and you said things and you have an honest honest time with God and you feel so wretched inside and so unacceptable in that moment, you said God I bring nothing to the table.

How can anyone love me and you will be flooded with grace because he is near to those who have a humble and contrite spirit, and those who tremble at his word, he esteems see we just we don't take the time to get honest and because you're not honest and I'm not honest.

You don't experience God.

That's where the powers the church is devoid of power because of the hypocrisy that we learn not only to live with but to give one another. A pass on so that because no one really lives it out to any significant degree, we say well I'm just like everyone else. I assure you, the Pharisees and the Sadducees in Jesus day were convinced they were not hypocrites and they knew their Bible and they were religious and Jesus spoke the harshest words that have ever come out of the creator's mouth. What happened posing second attack begins in verse 17 when the high priest. This is from about and all of his associates were, and members of the party. The Sadducees were filled with jealousy, there rest of the apostles.

Now is not just John and Peter.

It's all of them in the public put them in public jail.

But during the night. An angel of the Lord opened the doors and he brought them out and he said go stand in the temple courts and tell the people the full message of this new life and so in daybreak.

They entered the temple courts as they been told and they began to teach the people. When the high priest and his associates arrived they called together the Sanhedrin, the full assembly, the elders of Israel I sent to the jail for the apostles but on arriving at the jail. The officers didn't find them there so they went back and they reported we found the jail securely locked.

The guards were standing at the doors. But when we open them without no one inside. On hearing this report, the captain of the temple guard and the chief priests were puzzled, wondering what could come of this. There scratching their head. Then someone came and said look the menu put in jail are standing in the temple and their teaching the people This. The captain went with his officers and brought the apostles and they didn't use force because they feared that the people would stone them. Having brought the apostles. They made them appear before the Sanhedrin to be questioned by the high priest and just imagine this. This is like this is like going into downtown Wall Street Ivy League. I mean, these are the power players. This is walk into the Oval Office in their day. This is the most powerful educated rich people in the world who call the shots. And these basic blue-collar workers, with the exception of a couple are being called in and this whole place is filled in your own trial and we've already told you once to stop doing this. So before you get these guys as he rose to just get a step up and do the right thing. I want you to imagine the emotions that they were going through. Having brought the apostles and they made him appear before the Sanhedrin and they question them, and here's what they said you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching and you're determined to make us guilty of this man's blood and Peter and the other apostles replied we must obey God rather than men, the God of our fathers raised Jesus from the dead, whom you had killed by hanging them on a tree. God exalted him to his right hand as Prince and Savior that he might give repentance and forgiveness of sins to Israel. These are the most educated people about the Bible and none of them have asked the question. I wonder if maybe were off on number four in our comfort zone. I wonder if maybe all those Old Testament passages that we have memorizing all the Mishnah and all the law and all religious stuff. I wonder if maybe this could be the guy. I mean there's a lot of miracles going on here you know what they don't have any interest in hearing God they have interest in controlling their position, their perception by people in their power. And by the way when they do that or would we do that we do not experience God.

Notice what Peter says God wanted to give repentance. God wants to forgive people God wants to love people and he doesn't through his son who erased from the dead. We are witnesses of these things and so is the Holy Spirit whom God is given to those who may never see saying we saw him with our own eyes, and by the way, all these miracles, Peter say this is me. When Barnabas gave Barnabas that was a spirit of God, prompting him to just act on that good impulse and allow the life of Christ in them.

When Peter steps up and is pulled in front of all these high-powered people is not Peter. This is the spirit of God flowing through an ordinary human being just like you and just like me and in his yielding this the spirit of God gives in this boldness, the response is pretty negative when I heard these things were furious and wanted to kill him, but the scene changes a Pharisee name Emilio, a teacher of the law who was honored by all the people stood up and Sanhedrin in order that the men be put outside for just a while, then he addressed the men of Israel, consider carefully what you do with these men some time ago.

Thetis appeared claiming to be somebody in about 400 men rallied to him and he was killed and his followers disappeared and all came to nothing.

And after him. Judas the Galilean appeared in the days of the census and he led a band of people in revolt.

He too was killed in his followers were scattered. Therefore, in this present case, I advise you leave these men alone let them go for if their purpose or activity is from human origin. It will fail. But if it's from God. You will not able to stop these men you will only find yourselves fighting against God's write up the series title unstoppable. God's grace is unstoppable. His purposes are gonna happen they can happen in this nation in this world is purposes are unstoppable, and he has an agenda. The only issue is whether you will ride that wave of grace and be a part of what he purpose for you or whether you stand on the sidelines out of fear and control and say you know what I think I'm I'm more concerned about my gender than God's.

This is scary stuff is, it requires faith in a big God. And I'm glad these guys had his speech persuaded them to call the apostles in that have been flogged so that they coming on them. If this isn't like stuff log is it like in a slap on the wrist you saw the movie the passion. This is a a pole, multi-lines of leather steel balls in the middle and some pieces of glass or bone on, and it's got 12 guys hold on to Paul's and get the back ripped up suggest what we this stuff that's been passed around for the last 20 years that if you do exactly what God what you do. Everything will go your way, you have a big house you make a lot of money and prosperity gospel is absolutely false. These people obeyed to the point and what happens to them to get flogged when you do the right thing. What you get is the joy of Christ. Great spiritual reward fulfilling God's purpose for love in your heart and what money can't buy. But it doesn't mean that circumstances can be great. The apostles left the Sanhedrin rejoicing because they been counted worthy of suffering disgrace for the name day after day in the temple courts and from house to house, they never stop teaching and proclaiming the good news that Jesus is Christ the nation has rejected the Savior. They flogged the disciples and here's the reason courage in the face of persecution authenticates the validate validity of the message and the credibility of the messenger courage. The temptation is to compromise purity is a prerequisite for power. Courage is a prerequisite for impact compromise is a temptation we all have to say it a little lighter to say little softer to sort a step out but not really step out when people see courage in the face of persecution. It authenticates both the message and the messenger. I think the last, I don't know, maybe 20, 25 years with so wanted to identify with people and and and let them know that you know you can be a Christian but really be pretty hip and pretty cool and they be really hip and really cool that somehow we we never get around to telling people the truth. And so we got so near the culturally fallen into. Now you can't tell a difference anymore. People say I love God and their behavior and their values.

People say I do love God. Their behavior the rise.

These people are coming up. I've no interest in it. Guy don't look any different than me.

Your marriage is Artie better than mine. You'll tell the truth any more than I do. All you do is you get this religious stuff and say what were forgiven well doesn't work from its phony posing and compromise the heart of power that's gonna the results of these men's courage is what power perseverance, joy, joy was Choi. This was for real. There was joy there was a connection with God is unexplainable. That said, I am fulfilling what I was made to do all the earth and the price was high but there's something that occurred and that's what God wants for us living on the right is application. This message re-stoppers from a series unstoppable.

God's agenda for planet Earth, including you, ships teaching through the first five chapters of the book of acts revealing God's plan to rescue this lost world were learning how God raised up the early church and the apostles to carry out this mission, and more than 2000 years later we're continuing that assignment through the series chip highlights the growing pains and hardships of the first Christians explains what we can learn from them to be better Christ followers and disciple makers today to check out all the resource details for unstoppable go to LivingontheEdge.org or call AAA 333-6003 Apple listeners simply tap special offers will chip this series is about the unstoppable wave of grace that brought thousands and thousands of people to faith in Christ.

They were rubbing shoulders with people who'd seen Jesus and heard him teach. We don't have those advantages today.

So what are we doing to help people share their faith and help others were new in their faith. That's a great question, Dave and I have to tell you it is why Living on the Edge exists. We want to help people connect with God to grow in their faith to learn to get from God's word and in relationships with one another and so we have books and videos small group studies, devotionals, courses they can take online and we even have an app where everything on it is free where they can literally listen to messages or actually do a video study and I will meet with them personally, mentor or disciple them and then those who share their faith in some happens. God works and someone comes to faith. I mean, you're in a coffee shop and they prayed to receive Christ and you say now what I do what we want to help people get off to good start and we want to help them grow and so we've developed a great resource to help them grow in their faith.

It explains what happens when a person trusts Christ and then there's really basic answers to important Bible questions every believer needs to know it's a very quick download from our website. And here's the deal. We have 2000 years of great history of the living Jesus by means of the Holy Spirit and Living on the Edge is here to help you grow and help new believers get off to great start. Check it out. Thanks. Chip well.

Whether you're a new believer or you're just curious what Christianity is all about. Let me encourage you to check out this resource. This new believers tool is absolutely free and will help you gain a clear biblical understanding of what it means to put your faith in Jesus. That's her whole mission here at Living on the Edge helping Christians really live like Christians. So let us put this useful resource into your hands today.

You can requested by calling AAA to 333-6003 or by visiting LivingontheEdge.org and then clicking on the new believers button that's LivingontheEdge.org or call AAA 83336003 as we close today's program and the whole series unstoppable. It's really about God's tsunami wave of grace. He birthed the church and it's forcefully making its way through history.

Now you know let's be honest here. There's times where you know the church really has been characterized by pointless tradition or hypocrisy in compromise and an apostasy when we see.

Certainly, just a lot of that in America today, but I will tell you that this unstoppable grace of God. No matter what happens in any culture and history in any century, it is unstoppable. God is at work people's lives are changing some of the difficulty and the pain. In fact, some of even the terrible things that are happening in America are causing people to wake up and to be dependent and live like never before and just a ministry that we seen at Living on the Edge in in recent times we have spent considerable time in China and the Middle East, and I can tell you I was in the Middle East and I was with a pastor who told me the story of a young man who was 17 and Isis was coming through and as Isis was coming through a very kind Muslim neighbors said once you have your son George 217 but if you have him come over to our house and will calling Mohammed will say he's a part of our family and they'll leave them alone and his mother was pretty excited and went over to tell her 17-year-old son George. You know, we are going to be okay. George turned to his mother. Now think of the 17 he said mother. I remember when Jesus said if you deny me before men all deny you before my father in heaven, and he literally stood his ground and had the grace to literally say I won't deny the Lord and as he did that Isis came through and they shot him in front of his mother and in the midst of these tragedies. What I can tell you is, the church is exploding, God will give you and give me what ever we need in the midst of losing a job rejection difficulty. Here's the question as we close this series are you going to ride the unstoppable wave of God's grace are you going to be faithful are you to be willing to be his man or his woman in your arena of relationship, regardless of the cost and I will tell you your reward will be very great. Just before we close. I want to say thank you to those who make this program possible through your generous financial support. If you found today's program helpful but have never supported us financially. There's never been a better time than right now. When you give a gift to Living on the Edge it will be matched dollar for dollar, thanks to some very generous friends of the ministry making a donation is easy just go to LivingontheEdge.org Donate on the app or give us a call at AAA 83336003 on behalf of Chip and everyone here.

Thank you in advance for your generosity: selects time for everyone here.

This is the very thing thanks for listing for this Edition of Living on the Edge