SPIRIT-EMPOWERED WITNESSING
We trust today’s message encouraged and guided you in your journey of following Jesus. These notes are meant to help you remember and reflect on the message, help you go deeper into study on the subject, or be used for a sermon group discussion.
Sermon Title: Spirit-Empowered Witnessing
Main Scripture: Acts 4:1-22
If you’re going through this discussion with a community group this week, consider reading the provided scripture to catch everyone up!
Summary:
Acts 1-3 Recap
Jesus resurrected and before He ascended Jesus promised the Holy Spirit would come and fill them in Jerusalem. All the believers gathered for prayer were filled and God used that moment to birth the spirit-empowered church. Immediately, God’s people were witnessing, leading people to Christ, and the faith community grew in numbers. As Peter and John were living life they encountered a lame man since birth. They healed this man in the name of Jesus which turned into a launching pad for Peter to preach the gospel in Solomon’s colonnade of the temple. This beautiful healing and preaching to the crowds caused the religious Jewish leaders of their day to arrest them. What appears to be a troubling moment becomes yet again another opportunity for the Apostles to be powerful witnesses…but this time, witnesses to their antagonists.
Notes:
Acts 4:1-12 Peter and John arrested
Confronted by the priests…Temple guard…Sadducees… (also known as the Sanhedrin)
The Sanhedrin was the 70-member “supreme court” of ancient Israel, comprised of members from both the Sadducees and the Pharisees. The Pharisees and the Sadducees were two religious groups within Judaism during the time of Christ. Both groups revered Moses and the Law and had a degree of political power.
Sadducees did not believe in any form of a resurrection, the Pharisees did. Either way, this would be troubling for both because they just crucified Jesus and believed he was dead.
Imagine being arrested today for teaching that Jesus is alive...
Isn’t it interesting that certain people can be so dogmatic in their particular doctrine that it blinds them from appreciating a legitimate miracle or seeing Jesus truly at work? This still occurs today.
But many people who heard their message believed it…now…5000.
Now, just in men alone, there were 5000 believers. This does not count the women and children. The church is growing rapidly.
The message and ministry of the gospel (healing, miracles) are working hand in hand to open hearts and to confirm the truth of the gospel. *Not everyone needs a miracle to believe they just need to hear what Christ has accomplished for them through His life, death, and resurrection and the Holy Spirit will do the convincing work in their hearts.
Acts 4:5-12 The Holy Spirit advocates for the apostles
The council of all the rulers, elders, and teachers of religious law met in Jerusalem (5-7).
This intensifies the climate in the situation. These men are the key leaders and heads of authority for the Jewish people in Jerusalem. They don’t take it lightly when other teachers are encroaching on their circles…“By what power, or in whose name, have you done this?”
But they are about to find out that when you confront these apostles, you’re confronting God!
Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them…(8-12)
Ladies and gentlemen, the wonderful counselor, the wise advocate, the mighty helper, the come alongside to guide and defend you, the Paraclete, the Holy Spirit!!
John 14:15-17; 26 AMP “If you [really] love Me, you will keep and obey My commandments. 16 And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper (Comforter, Advocate, Intercessor—Counselor, Strengthener, Standby), to be with you forever— 17 the Spirit of Truth, whom the world cannot receive [and take to its heart] because it does not see Him or know Him, but you know Him because He (the Holy Spirit) remains with you continually and will be in you…26 But the Helper (Comforter, Advocate, Intercessor—Counselor, Strengthener, Standby), the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name [in My place, to represent Me and act on My behalf], He will teach you all things. And He will help you remember everything that I have told you.
He was healed by the powerful name of Jesus Christ…
The leaders of the council asked them by what authority or in whose name have they done this? In the name of Jesus…the man you crucified, but God raised from the dead.
*WOW! That was Peter and John’s opportunity to de-escalate and escape any coming consequence but instead, they doubled down!
“The stone that you builders rejected has now become the cornerstone.”
Cornerstones are the most important stones in a building structure at that time.
(A reference to Israel in Psalm 118:22). In the eyes of the world, Israel is just a small stone, incapable of importance. But in God’s plan, from Bethlehem and Nazareth, in Israel, Jesus is the most important stone in His kingdom, the chief cornerstone!
Jesus quoted this scripture as well to show how the Jews would not accept him. He wasn’t the stone they were looking for.
Peter prophesies using the words of Psalm 118:22 to say these leaders have rejected the very stone God is using to save Israel from their sins and later make a new Jerusalem.
V.12 There is salvation in no one else! There is no other Messiah, you rejected and crucified the one we’ve waited for. Ouch! Oof! Wow!
Acts 4:13-22
The members of the council were amazed…
I am shocked by their response. It could be fury but it’s not. I can’t help but believe that the Holy Spirit helped Peter’s words land gracefully on the council's ears to quell any fury and grant them release.
Unschooled ordinary men…
Unschooled doesn't mean they had no education. They most likely attended their local synagogue as was custom for boys. But they were not professional, trained teachers or speakers. Ordinary laymen did not speak with authority like this.
Certainly, they resembled Jesus, in their healings and demeanor.
To further strengthen their position, the healed man is still in their presence (maybe nervously waving his hand, “Hello everyone…”). Their healings even resembled Jesus
They are warned not to speak to anyone in Jesus’ name again…
The council couldn’t do much except a verbal warning. The cloud of witnesses was too great against them and they couldn’t deny they had performed a miraculous sign.
God would no doubt use this event to rattle in their heads and hearts for some time and get them thinking…
We cannot stop talking about everything we have seen and heard.
They were not hearsay witnesses. They were firsthand witnesses (see 1 John 1:1,3). As He had for Jeremiah, the Holy Spirit made the truth like a fire in their hearts and within their bones, so they could not stop (Jer. 20:9; cf. Amos 3:8). Because they were filled with the Spirit, they were fulfilling Jesus' command to be His witnesses (Acts 1:8). As Turner points out, "The Spirit is the God who cannot be gagged." -Horton, Stanley ACTS, pg. 108
To be silent is to dishonor God and all He has done for them and for their community. To be silent is to deny objectionable facts and truth. To be silent is to not be themselves and to suppress who they are, they are apostles, sent ones, martyrs, people who testify as witnesses. To silence God’s people from sharing and doing the work of the gospel would be like telling the sun not to rise or set tomorrow.
Takeaways:
Witness out of abiding with God
What happens from being in the presence of God (including Jesus and the Holy Spirit)?
Miracles, signs, and wonders
Proclaiming the gospel with authority
Wise, spirit-led responses to opposition
Effective witnessing. You may argue though but Peter and John walked, ate, slept, and lived right beside Jesus for over 3 years, of course, they are going to be effective witnesses. Well, this may be true but it says here they needed the Holy Spirit too. We have the gospels which means we have the example of Christ. We have the examples of the Apostles in the remaining books of NT. We have the Holy Spirit as well. We can witness to what God has done in our lives, the examples he has done in the past 2000 years, and witness to what he has done in others. Of course, there is one particular thing that needs to take place for any of this to potentially happen, we have to live life on mission for Christ. Remember they were being sent to be witnesses according to Acts 1:8, filled and empowered by the Holy Spirit. If we don't see ourselves as the sent ones in this life then yeah we probably won't study, prepare, and utilize all the things that help us witness because we don't have intentions of needing them. Remember, chapter 4 is happening because Peter and John were living life on mission for Jesus, it led them to heal a man and testify about the gospel and now they have to defend themselves and the gospel. I think we all need to decide if our lives are going to live on mission for Christ or focus on our own mission. That decision drastically changes how we view and see people in our day-to-day lives.
A lasting and impactful testimony
Present the gospel in every way possible
Share the gospel in word, deed, and power. First, they healed, then testified about Jesus and the gospel, then defended the gospel, and emulated Christ. Every way you could share the gospel they did!
They demonstrated the gospel through a miracle of healing.
The audience not only heard the gospel that day but also noticed they had been with Jesus. The content and character were the same Spirit as Jesus. They had been so close to Jesus that they resembled him. We can be the same way for those who are aware of Jesus. But now we live in a world where people don’t even know Jesus so we have to literally tell people and even encourage them to read about the life of Jesus.
They didn’t preach or say anything elaborate…everything said was in scripture. We may not present the gospel in perfect order, but the Holy Spirit will help take what we share and make it stick.
Expect spiritual warfare but don’t let it keep you from being a bold witness
It doesn’t take long for the enemy to show himself and push back on the church through these religious leaders. We can expect that but let me punctuate something here. There are so many opportunities and there is freedom (right now) to speak and share about Jesus to our community. There isn’t a religious sect trying to come and stop us and the government can’t stop you from sharing your faith on a sidewalk. Let’s be bold, discreet, and wise witnesses now where the opposition is more our fear than anything else.
God plants seeds in moments of opposition. Let’s have an eternal and redemptive perspective on opposition. Amid trouble, God uses the gospel and our witness of it to shine into the hearts of those who come against us. The gospel thrives even amid conflict. Persecutors and evil-doers can’t escape the message or demonstrations of the gospel. God wants to give them a chance to repent and be saved.
Peter and John planted seeds in a “storm” if you will. Try to remember this because as we keep reading in the Book of Acts we see that these same priests begin to believe and convert to faith in Christ. It took hard and scary times like these to reach and reap enemies of the gospel.
I thank God that Dr. Rev. MLK Jr didn’t run away in fear and instead courageously spoke the truth amid threats, intimidation, and conflict! His courage has impacted and reverberated in our nation and even touched my own family and this church. Thank the Lord that men and women of God have stood up to speak the truth!
The Holy Spirit witnesses with you
You’re not alone. As Paul told Timothy (2 Tim 1:7), God has not given us a spirit of timidity (cowardly fear), but "of power, of love, and self-discipline." Politely, Peter addressed them as "rulers [official members of the Sanhedrin] and elders." Horton, Stanley ACTS, pg 102.
Discussion:
What did God use in this sermon to speak to your heart or situation?
What part of the scripture stuck out to you and why?
Why would it be best for us to be witnesses from a place of healthy abiding (fellowship) in God?
How can we tell the apostles had God’s help in Acts 3 and 4?
How has this sermon encouraged or inspired you to be a witness for Jesus?
What other notes did you highlight or write down that you would like to share?
The most important decision you will ever make!
If you’re ready to trust in Jesus for salvation and eternal life we encourage you to process this decision with a strong believer and when you’re ready say a simple prayer like this from your heart: Dear God, I acknowledge and admit I have sinned. I see my need for Jesus Christ. I believe in Jesus as my Lord and Savior. I believe I am forgiven and cleansed of my sin by His death. I also believe I have eternal life because of His resurrection from the dead. I repent, I turn away from my old ways and I choose to live my life to worship you and follow Jesus, Amen!
We would love to know if you decided to accept Jesus as your Lord and Savior. Let us know here.
Pray Together
We hope you found this AFTER THE SERMON discussion helpful for your walk with Jesus. We pray you can find ways to apply it this week!
