Bold Faith: Standing Firm in Adversity
Summary
In today's message, we explored the theme "Can't Stop, Won't Stop," inspired by the boldness of Peter and John in Acts 4:13-22. Despite facing persecution and opposition from religious leaders, Peter and John remained steadfast in their mission to proclaim the gospel of Jesus Christ. This narrative challenges us to reflect on our own faith journey and the courage required to stand firm in our beliefs, even when faced with adversity.
The story of Peter and John highlights the reality of suffering for one's faith, a concept that may be unfamiliar to many of us. Yet, it is a reminder that as followers of Christ, we are called to endure trials and tribulations for the sake of the gospel. The apostles' unwavering commitment to their mission, despite being uneducated and untrained, serves as a powerful testament to the transformative power of the Holy Spirit. It is not our qualifications or credentials that determine our usefulness in God's kingdom, but our willingness to be used by Him.
Furthermore, the message emphasizes the importance of focusing on pleasing God rather than people. The Sanhedrin Council's attempts to silence Peter and John were futile because their allegiance was to God, not man. This is a crucial lesson for us today, as we navigate a world that often opposes the truth of the gospel. Our faith must be rooted in a deep relationship with Jesus, allowing His presence to be evident in our lives.
Ultimately, the message encourages us to trust in God's favor and His ability to use us despite our deficiencies. When we align our lives with His will, His workmanship through us will be undeniable. We are reminded that God's grace is sufficient, and His power is made perfect in our weakness. As we continue to walk by faith, we can be confident that God will provide, protect, and guide us in fulfilling His purpose.
Key Takeaways:
1. Enduring Suffering for Faith: As believers, we must be prepared to face trials and persecution for our faith in Jesus Christ. This suffering is not in vain but serves to strengthen our resolve and deepen our relationship with God. We are called to rejoice in these trials, knowing that they produce perseverance and character. [50:56]
2. God Uses the Unqualified: God often chooses to use those whom the world deems unqualified. Our past mistakes or lack of formal education do not disqualify us from being used by God. Instead, He delights in using broken vessels to display His glory and power. [56:17]
3. Pleasing God Over People: Our primary focus should be on pleasing God rather than seeking the approval of others. When we prioritize God's will, we can stand firm in our convictions, even when faced with opposition. This requires a deep trust in God's plan and a commitment to His truth. [01:14:38]
4. The Power of Discipleship: Spending time with Jesus transforms us and equips us for His work. Our relationship with Him should be evident to others, as His presence in our lives empowers us to boldly proclaim the gospel. This discipleship journey is essential for spiritual growth and effectiveness in ministry. [01:06:54]
5. Faith in Action: Walking by faith means trusting God even when circumstances are uncertain. It requires us to rely on His promises and believe that He will fulfill His purposes in our lives. This faith is not passive but active, compelling us to continue in the work He has called us to do. [01:21:16]
Youtube Chapters:
- [00:00] - Welcome
- [00:45] - Opening Prayer
- [02:30] - Scripture Reading: Acts 4:13-22
- [04:15] - Introduction: Can't Stop, Won't Stop
- [06:00] - The Reality of Suffering for Faith
- [10:30] - Peter and John's Boldness
- [15:00] - God's Use of the Unqualified
- [20:00] - Pleasing God Over People
- [25:00] - The Power of Discipleship
- [30:00] - Faith in Action
- [35:00] - Trusting God's Favor
- [40:00] - Closing Prayer and Invitation
- [45:00] - Offering and Announcements
- [50:00] - Ministry Connection Highlight
- [55:00] - Benediction and Dismissal
Study Guide
Bible Reading:
1. Acts 4:13-22
2. Galatians 3:28
3. Ephesians 2:14
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Observation Questions:
1. What was the reaction of the religious leaders to Peter and John's boldness, and what did they recognize about them? ([01:00:10])
2. How did Peter and John respond to the Sanhedrin's command not to speak or teach in the name of Jesus? ([01:15:40])
3. What were the two characteristics of Peter and John that the religious leaders noted, and how did these characteristics affect their perception of the apostles? ([56:17])
4. How did the sermon describe the role of the Holy Spirit in Peter and John's ministry? ([53:57])
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Interpretation Questions:
1. How does the narrative of Peter and John in Acts 4:13-22 illustrate the concept of enduring suffering for one's faith? What might this look like in a modern context? ([50:56])
2. In what ways does the sermon suggest that God uses those who are considered unqualified by worldly standards? How does this challenge common perceptions of leadership and ability? ([56:17])
3. How does the sermon interpret the idea of pleasing God over people, and what implications does this have for personal decision-making and priorities? ([01:14:38])
4. What does the sermon suggest about the transformative power of spending time with Jesus, and how is this evident in the lives of Peter and John? ([01:06:54])
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Application Questions:
1. Reflect on a time when you faced opposition for your faith. How did you respond, and what might you do differently in light of Peter and John's example? ([50:56])
2. Consider areas in your life where you feel unqualified. How can you allow God to use you despite these perceived deficiencies? ([56:17])
3. In what ways are you currently prioritizing the approval of others over pleasing God? What steps can you take to realign your focus? ([01:14:38])
4. How can you cultivate a deeper relationship with Jesus so that His presence is evident in your life? What specific practices or habits might help you in this journey? ([01:06:54])
5. Identify a situation where you need to walk by faith despite uncertainty. What promises of God can you hold onto as you navigate this challenge? ([01:21:16])
6. How can you use the story of Peter and John to encourage someone who feels inadequate or unworthy of being used by God? ([56:17])
7. What practical steps can you take this week to boldly proclaim the gospel in your community, even if it means facing opposition? ([01:16:45])
Devotional
Day 1: Embracing Trials as a Path to Growth
In the journey of faith, believers are often called to endure trials and persecution for their commitment to Jesus Christ. These challenges, though difficult, are not without purpose. They serve to strengthen one's resolve and deepen the relationship with God. The story of Peter and John in Acts 4:13-22 exemplifies this truth. Despite facing severe opposition from religious leaders, they remained steadfast in their mission to proclaim the gospel. This narrative invites believers to rejoice in their trials, understanding that such experiences produce perseverance and character. The courage to stand firm in faith, even when faced with adversity, is a testament to the transformative power of the Holy Spirit. [50:56]
1 Peter 4:12-13 (ESV): "Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice insofar as you share Christ's sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed."
Reflection: Think of a recent challenge you faced because of your faith. How did it impact your relationship with God, and what steps can you take to embrace future trials with joy and perseverance?
Day 2: God’s Power in Our Weakness
God often chooses to use those whom the world deems unqualified. The story of Peter and John, who were considered uneducated and untrained, illustrates this truth. Their unwavering commitment to their mission, despite their lack of formal education, serves as a powerful testament to the transformative power of the Holy Spirit. It is not our qualifications or credentials that determine our usefulness in God's kingdom, but our willingness to be used by Him. God delights in using broken vessels to display His glory and power, reminding us that our past mistakes or lack of formal education do not disqualify us from being used by Him. [56:17]
1 Corinthians 1:27-29 (ESV): "But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are, so that no human being might boast in the presence of God."
Reflection: Reflect on an area of your life where you feel unqualified or inadequate. How can you invite God to use your weaknesses for His glory today?
Day 3: Prioritizing God’s Approval
In a world that often opposes the truth of the gospel, believers are called to focus on pleasing God rather than seeking the approval of others. The Sanhedrin Council's attempts to silence Peter and John were futile because their allegiance was to God, not man. This narrative emphasizes the importance of prioritizing God's will, allowing believers to stand firm in their convictions even when faced with opposition. A deep trust in God's plan and a commitment to His truth are essential for navigating the challenges of life. [01:14:38]
Galatians 1:10 (ESV): "For am I now seeking the approval of man, or of God? Or am I trying to please man? If I were still trying to please man, I would not be a servant of Christ."
Reflection: Identify a situation where you are tempted to seek approval from others over God. What practical steps can you take to prioritize God's approval in this area?
Day 4: Transformation Through Discipleship
Spending time with Jesus transforms believers and equips them for His work. The relationship with Him should be evident to others, as His presence in their lives empowers them to boldly proclaim the gospel. This discipleship journey is essential for spiritual growth and effectiveness in ministry. The story of Peter and John serves as a reminder of the power of discipleship, as their boldness and courage were a result of their time spent with Jesus. [01:06:54]
2 Corinthians 3:18 (ESV): "And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit."
Reflection: Consider your current discipleship practices. How can you deepen your relationship with Jesus to allow His transformative power to be more evident in your life?
Day 5: Active Faith in Uncertainty
Walking by faith means trusting God even when circumstances are uncertain. It requires believers to rely on His promises and believe that He will fulfill His purposes in their lives. This faith is not passive but active, compelling believers to continue in the work He has called them to do. The story of Peter and John illustrates the power of active faith, as they boldly proclaimed the gospel despite facing persecution and opposition. [01:21:16]
Hebrews 11:1 (ESV): "Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen."
Reflection: Identify an area of your life where you are facing uncertainty. How can you actively trust God and step out in faith in this situation today?
Quotes
"We thank you, Lord for His hard work. Thank you so much for large places of our community that have to be able to be restored when we do need it. No matter what we are experiencing on this side of glory, You can do as the word declares Exceedingly abundantly above all That we could ever ask or think And so Father we thank you for your promises Your promise said you will never leave us Nor will you forsake us Your promise said that if we ask anything According to your will that you hear us And not only that you hear us But you grant the desires from which we have asked of you Father we have prayed prayers We have sung Zion's songs And now oh God we need to hear a word from you Would you clear the clutter of my consciousness Would you fill me with your Holy Spirit Would you give me preaching power on today We pray that your word will go forth That it may not be the same That it may not come back void That it will accomplish what you have set out for it to do For your glory It is for your glory For your glory We pray it actually all in the mighty name of our Lord And Savior Jesus Christ Come on let's stand this morning Just give God a hand clap of praise Just to be back in the house of the Lord one more time We are so grateful Thank you for your grace For your red Y 'all look wonderful on today If you would take your Bibles Your devices Turn to the book of Acts Chapter 4 Book of Acts chapter 4 For our episode and scene today We will be preaching from verses 13 through 22 But for the sake of our corporate reading I want us to look at the Bible Look at verse 19 and 20 19 and 20 When you get it shout Jesus You read the words of the Lord I'm reading from the New American Standard Greek New Testament Translation it reads But Peter and John Answered and said to them Whether it is right in the sight of God To give heed to you Rather than to God You will be the judge For we cannot stop speaking about what we have seen and heard That's enough You may be seated in the presence of the Lord But Peter and John answered and said to them Whether it is right in the sight of God To give heed to You rather than to God" [00:42:22]
"The grass withers Can't stop, won't stop Flower fades away But the word of the Lord endures Forever Can't stop Won't stop Church it is no secret That because of our human condition of sin And the brokenness that is within our world As a result of the inherited nature Of sin There is a truth that is applicable to all human beings Regardless of our age Regardless of our ethnicity Regardless of our education or economic status That truth is Is that all of us are susceptible To experiencing suffering within our lives All you and I have to do is Turn on the evening news And we become a part of it And we become witnesses Of what happened Because of sin within our world That becomes suffering within our communities And within peoples lives But church I want to look at another kind of suffering I'm talking about a suffering That if we are honest this morning Many of us are unfamiliar with this kind of suffering I'm talking about a suffering That is driven by the opposition to sin To our personal faith in the Lord Jesus Christ I'm talking about a suffering that When we examine this narrative in the book of Acts Particularly in Acts chapter 4 Through the lived experience of the Apostle Peter As well as the Apostle John Church it provides us a greater appreciation of insight Into what Peter's instructions were To a group of Christians who were dispersed in the Roman providence When they are suffering as Christians When he goes on and tells them Be beloved Do not be surprised At the fiery ordeals that come upon you That comes upon your testing As though some strange thing was happening to you He says to the degree that you share the sufferings of Christ And then he gave them a shock cue He says you ought to keep on rejoicing He says if you are reviled for the name of Christ There are two things You are blessed Because of the spirit of the glory and of God Rests upon you But then Peter says to make sure That none of us suffer as a murderer None of us suffer as a thief None of us suffer as a evildoer Or a troublesome meddler But if anyone Suffers as a Christian He is not to be ashamed But is to glorify God in that name Church the statement That Peter makes to these Christians Many years later Are a direct result of the lived experience That he has and that John has As they were empowered by the Holy Spirit To heal a lame man in need In the name of Jesus And therefore this acts of deliverance This process of deliverance Was not under their own power But through the power of Jesus name And because of this act It caused persecution And opposition from religious leaders Who saw Peter and John as a threat To their cultural and religious norms And so Peter and John Were given the authority To go underground To this world To go to hell And therefore Many of us Can't even fathom Even as those who" [00:46:21]
"Church, the religious leaders hated both the message as well as the messenger. But God did something great. Because God helped them. Elevated the message as well as the messengers. Because 5 ,000 people got saved after hearing Peter and John. Verse 8 is the key verse because the Bible says in chapter 4 that they begin to question. They say, by what power or in what name they healed the man. You see it, Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit. Peter, who has been empowered. By the Holy Spirit. Peter, who was controlled by the Holy Spirit. Begin to speak boldly and to let them know that the reason this man is healed is because of the name of Jesus, the Nazarene, who they crucified, but God raised from the dead. As a result of that power. As a result of that resurrection power. There is no salvation in no one else. And in no other name under the heaven that is given among men by what we must be saved. Therefore, the question we need to ask. Here it is. And answer. What can we learn from this episode?" [00:53:37]
"Church, this happens, hear me closely, write this down. This happens when our deficiencies does not eclipse our discipleship. Did you hear what I said? I said, here it is. When God's favor is upon us, this happens when our deficiencies do not eclipse our discipleship. One more, and again, they say three times, it's a charm. When our deficiencies do not eclipse our discipleship. You got your Bibles open? Let's walk through the text. Here it is. The text says that these religious leaders understood two characteristics that Peter and John possessed that would have, watch this now, disqualified them from being used by God based upon their own jealousy and bias. Because they are looking at the exclusion of these people, and they have understood that there are two characteristics about Peter and John. Can we lift them up there in your Bible? Notice the first characteristic is that they were uneducated." [00:56:03]
"Because what you got? You got to understand, church, that God can do whatever he wants to do to whomever he wants to do, whenever he wants to do. And ain't nothing like this because God has a way of using broken people for his glory. So you and I can't say we got here by ourselves. We will have to say that if it had not been for the Lord on my side. Listen, I'm saying that in light of my. I'm saying that in light of my resume. My resume ain't clean. It ain't pretty. It ain't nice. My resume is jacked up from the flow up. I'm the person that you didn't want to hang out with. I'm the person that did some sneaking and some dipping and some dipping and some sneaking. And I didn't care who you were. But thank God for his grace. Thank God for his mercy. Thank God for his kindness. That in spite of what religious folks say about you. God. Can steal you." [00:59:02]
"Thank you, Lord. And can I show you? Can I show you? Because God has a track record in doing that. Church. God will. Oh, thank you, Leo. God will make the unqualified qualify. Qualify. They said Abraham was. Oh, but God still use him. No, I was a drunk, but God still use him. No, Moses was a murderer and he had a speech impediment, but God still use him. Jacob was a liar and a cheater, but God still use him. Elijah was suicidal, but God still use him. Joe had a bankruptcy on his car, but God still use him. David was an adulterer, but God still use him. Sumerian woman was divorced, but God still use them. Peter was prideful and a coward because he denied Jesus three times, but God still used him." [01:01:50]
"these men didn't go to seminary they didn't matriculate through the formal rabbinic school church what they did though they matriculated and graduated through the school of hard knocks of the discipleship school of Jesus Christ they spent three years with Jesus and knew more scripture than the religious people did that was a word for somebody listen I'm one of those I believe in formal theological education but don't let your degree think you know you're going to be able to serve because you got letters in front or behind your name God has a way of making fishermen into fishers of men when you sit at the foot of Jesus and allow him to pour into your heart allow him to pour into your life allow him to pour into your mind because when you have spent time with Jesus Jesus will allow you to be a man of God you will be put on display and church that's a word for somebody in the building and those that's watching online don't let small minded people who are insecure and jealous to have you to think that God can't use you because you ain't been to school because you ain't been to Bible college because you ain't been to seminary listen as Elder Stansbury say just read what they read" [01:02:45]
"and you'll know what they know listen ma 'am listen sir God's favor and hand is upon your life and as long as you stay in the book as long as you stay on your knees the only thing that haters can do is to talk about you to somebody else to try to bring you down but every time they open up Facebook they open up Facebook every time they open up IG every time they open up X every time they open up Thread every time they open up TikTok they see God using you they see God elevating you they see God demonstrating to the world and to you that he is your workmanship created in Christ Jesus for his glory they see God elevating you and so what you and I got to learn to do we got to learn how to take that rhetoric of our haters to use it as fuel to keep us humble and knowing that if we humble ourselves under the mighty hand of God then he will exalt us in due time because the good news about what God is doing when you have favor in your life you don't have to walk around telling people about your favor" [01:03:34]
"you ain't got to walk around telling people what God is doing in your life no God will demonstrate to others what he is doing in your life all you and I have to do is stay in prayer stay in his words stay humble and watch God work right before your eyes yes they'll say that God can't use you yes they'll say that you ain't worthy to be in the position that you are yes they'll say you can't do this and you can't do that but in the words of Isaiah whose report shall you believe in church when they remind you of all the lack that you have in your life that you don't have the degrees but God is still using you your subject verb agreement your subject verb agreement don't match but God's still using you you have a laundry list of sins that if everyone knew about it they wouldn't follow you but God's still using you because when God's favor is upon our life watch this the deficiencies does not eclipse our discipleship" [01:05:28]
"and so here it is here it is so so so so we we got this uh our our watch this our deficiencies does not equip our discipleship but but the other part is his workmanship through us will always be known his his workmanship through us will always be known in other words god will not hide that his hands is upon you did you hear what i said god will not hide that his hands is upon you because verse 14 lets us know that this man who was evidence of god using them to heal him he was hanging out with them and notice he's hanging out with them they seeing the heel man standing with them and i love this this this had me cracked up the other day and they have nothing negative to say that that's in your bible verse 14 they ain't had a thing listen they've been talking all that noise but when they look over how god has used you to heal somebody else they ain't got nothing negative" [01:10:42]
"That's the Rankin translation. It ain't came out yet. It's coming out. Peter said, man, listen, is it better for me to please you? Or is it better for me to please God? Or is it better for me to please God? But the one thing. I know we can't stop and we won't stop. Verse 20. And church, this is the mantra that you and I need to have in the 21st century of life and ministry. That no matter what man says or what Satan says, you and I cannot stop telling people about Jesus Christ. Listen, we know we can open up our mouths because we're telling some folk about brunch later" [01:16:09]
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