"Building a Church Through Outreach"
More Than is Expected
-Part 2-
ELCOG 3/9/08
Text: Acts Chapter 4
This morning I began a story about Peter and John where they operated in a power that was more than expected. But I don’t want to end the story at chapter 3 of acts because it floods into chapter 4. A little more happened than what was expected. After this miracle occurred and the sermon was preached the religious people became a little offended and they hauled them off to prison. They began to question Peter and John and demanded by what sort of power or by what authority they did this miracle. They wanted to know where this power came from. How could these ordinary people do such extraordinary things?
Listen to verse 8:
Acts 4:8
8Then Peter, filled with the Holy Ghost, said unto them, Ye rulers of the people, and elders of Israel,
Acts 4:9
9If we this day be examined of the good deed done to the impotent man, by what means he is made whole;
Let me stop and say that it is important that you notice the condition of Peter while on this trial. Sometimes in life you are going to be put on trial for doing something good. Sometimes the unexpected happens to good people are put on trial for doing good. But when you are up against the trails it is important that you are filled with the Holy Ghost. We are a church that believes in the full gospel. We still believe in the power of the Holy Ghost. We need another outpouring of the Holy Ghost. We are living in a time where people will put our faith on trial and when we stand and answer we must have a stronger voice in our lives than our own. We must be filled with the Holy Ghost!
Acts 4:10
10Be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even by him doth this man stand here before you whole.
Acts 4:11
11This is the stone which was set at nought of you builders, which is become the head of the corner.
Acts 4:12
12Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.
The message stayed the same. The message did not change simple because they were being questioned. When people start to question your faith, don’t change your story. Stay true to your faith! Stay true to the message of the gospel of Jesus Christ.
Acts 4:13
13Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men, they marvelled; and they took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus.
The Holy Ghost provided these men with the boldness they needed and with the anointing they needed to operate in an unexpected way. They spoke with more wisdom and knowledge than they had been educated. The Holy Ghost is able to give them more than what is expected.
The last sentenced said they could tell that they had been with Jesus. These people noticed Peter and John was different because they had been with Jesus.
Can people tell that you have been with Jesus? Have you spent enough time with Jesus that you operate in a healing anointing and your words are full of boldness and power? Let us turn back to the prayer closet and have another contact with the almighty one. We must dwell in the power of his presence!
Acts 4:16
16Saying, What shall we do to these men? for that indeed a notable miracle hath been done by them is manifest to all them that dwell in Jerusalem; and we cannot deny it.
Acts 4:17
17But that it spread no further among the people, let us straitly threaten them, that they speak henceforth to no man in this name.
Acts 4:19
19But Peter and John answered and said unto them, Whether it be right in the sight of God to hearken unto you more than unto God, judge ye.
The threats came, but they said we will only do what is right in the sight of God. Are you at the point to where you will be obedient to God and disobedient to the ways of society and its leaders.
Verse 20 says: We can not help but to tell what we have seen and heard.
Then as you continue to read the believers celebrated that they were able to suffer for Christ.
Notice verse 29-31… this is more than what is expected
Acts 4:29
29And now, Lord, behold their threatenings: and grant unto thy servants, that with all boldness they may speak thy word,
Acts 4:30
30By stretching forth thine hand to heal; and that signs and wonders may be done by the name of thy holy child Jesus.
Acts 4:31
31And when they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were assembled together; and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they spake the word of God with boldness.
God wants to us to still speak the word with boldness and he still wants to stretch out His hand to heal. He still wants to do signs and wonders. He still wants to do the unexpected! We need to raise our expectations!
Verse 31: The place where they were assembled began to shake and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost. Boy, we need the unexpected. We need God to shake this church. We need this place to shake in the power of God. We need to be filled with the Holy Ghost.
Why do we need this power? The power causes us to speak His word with boldness and face persecution with courage. We need the Holy Ghost!
Let me begin to close… I’ve been talking about doing more than what is expected and this next verse is something we as a church must do:
Acts 4:32
32And the multitude of them that believed were of one heart and of one soul: neither said any of them that ought of the things which he possessed was his own; but they had all things common.
Acts 4:33
33And with great power gave the apostles witness of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus: and great grace was upon them all.
We need to raise the expectations of our church to be in a place of perfect unity. We need to be willing to witness the message of Christ in great power. We need to raise the expectations so that we can be all we can be for Jesus Christ.