Unhindered: Unhindered From What Might Happen (Acts 4:1-4)

Series: Unhindered

Sermon: Unhindered From What Might Happen

Scripture: Acts 4:1-4

Date: February 17, 2019

 

He proclaimed the kingdom of God and taught about the Lord Jesus Christ - with all boldness and without hindrance!  (Acts 28:31, series verse)

Now as they spoke to the people, the priests, the captain of the temple, and the Sadducees came upon them, being greatly disturbed that they taught the people and preached in Jesus the resurrection from the dead.  And they laid hands on them, and put them in custody until the next day, for it was already evening.  However, many of those who heard the word believed; and the number of the men came to be about five thousand.  (Acts 4:1-4)

Are you willing to get in trouble with and for Jesus?

WEEKLY CHALLENGE: Decide that you are willing to get in trouble with and for Jesus.

We saw that being unstuck was about a life of repentance.

Here are three ways I think God will use to unhinder us from what might happen:

1. Prepare for the reality
   • The Jewish officials arrested Jesus.  They bound him and brought him first to Annas, who was the father-in-law of Caiaphas, the high priest that year.  Caiaphas was the one who had advised the Jewish leaders that it would be good if one man died for the people.  Simon Peter and another disciple were following Jesus.  Because this disciple was known to the high priest, he went with Jesus into the high priest's courtyard, but Peter had to wait outside at the door.  The other disciple, who was known to the high priest, came back, spoke to the servant girl on duty there and brought Peter in.  "You aren't one of this man's disciples too, are you?" she asked Peter.  he replied, "I am not."  It was cold, and the servants and officials stood around a fire they had made to keep warm.  Peter also was standing with them, warming himself.  (John 18:12b-18)
   • Annas the high priest was there, and so were Caiaphas, John, Alexander and others of the high priest's family.  (Acts 4:8)
   • Is Jesus worth being thought of as a "big" weird?
   • They had Peter and John brought before them and began to question them: "By what power or what name did you do this?"  (Acts 4:7)
   • Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them: "Rulers and elders of the people!"  (Acts 4:8)
   • "What's the difference in Peter now and Peter then before these guys?  Before, he was outside, warming himself at a fire, denying the Lord; and now he is inside, on fire, declaring the Lord."  -Skip Heitzig
   • Pray to be filled with the Spirit daily.
   • Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution.  (2 Timothy 3:12)
   • "This all started the day before when two ordinary men went to church on an ordinary day with an extraordinary God."  -Skip Heitzig
   • What might an extraordinary God do with an ordinary person?
2. Proclaim the resurrection
   • The only way to get unhindered from what might happen is to face it.
   • They had Peter and John brought before them and began to question them: "By what power or what name did you do this?"  (Acts 4:7)
   • If we this day are judged for a good deed done to a helpless man, by what means he has been made well, 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.  (Acts 4:9-10)
   • If you want to be unhindered from what might happen, do something good - something you think God wants you to do.
   • Saying, "What shall we do to these men?  For, indeed, that a notable miracle has been done through them is evident to all who dwell in Jerusalem, and we cannot deny it."  (Acts 4:16)
   • The greatest argument for the power of Christ is a changed life.
   • A person with a testimony beats a person with an argument any day.
   • This is the 'stone which was rejected by you builders, which has become the chief cornerstone.' Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved."  (Acts 4:11-12)
   • The stone which the builders rejected has become the chief cornerstone.  This was the Lord's doing; it is marvelous in our eyes.  This is the day the Lord has made; we will rejoice and be glad in it.  (Psalm 118:22-24)
   • But so that it spreads no further among the people, let us severely threaten them, that from now on they speak to no man in this name."  So they called them and commanded them not to speak at all nor teach in the name of Jesus.  (Acts 4:17-18)
   • But Peter and John answered and said to them, "Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you more than to God, you judge. For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard."  So when they had further threatened them, they let them go, finding no way of punishing them, because of the people, since they all glorified God for what had been done.  For the man was over forty years old on whom this miracle of healing had been performed.  (Acts 4:19-22)
   • What's the issue for Peter and John?  What is right.
   • We cannot speak or we cannot but speak.
   • A witness is what you have seen and heard!