Hey Vinelife Church!
In case you missed yesterday’s service, here’s a recap to keep you in the loop.
WORSHIP THEMES //
We engaged in a powerful time of worship. Feel free to listen to these songs again and worship the Lord today.
Check out Video Announcements on our YouTube Channel here!
Dance Extravaganza
Alright! I want to talk to you about the sixth annual dance extravaganza happening here at Vinelife on Saturday, October 7. Everyone ages 10 and up are invited to participate in an all day experience of extravagant praise and worship. The Dance extravaganza will be hosted by the Grace and Glory Sacred Dance Ministry from 12 noon to 5 pm this Saturday. Please bring your own lunch to allow more time for fellowship.
Prophetic Art Exhibition
Vinelife Church is hosting a special exhibition of Prophetic Artwork created by church member, Denise Vezza-Maggiore. Each one expresses a message of God’s Love, Peace, and Joy to the viewer. Some hold significance to this fellowship and this geographic area with a specific Word from the Lord. Come see and experience these unique images and take time to enjoy them in the Spirit on October 21-22. This will be the last time that these pieces will be shown together in Colorado. Denise will be available during the reception times to answer any questions you may have about her Spiritual Journey that that brought these pieces to life. Light snacks and beverages will be provided on Saturday, October 21 from 4-8 pm. A merchandise table will be available with special pricing on all cards and reproductions during the reception times as well. The second reception will be on Sunday, October 22 immediately following the service.
Resound
The Resound conference is coming back to Vinelife for their 10th anniversary conference on November 16-18th. Speakers and artists include Ray Hughes, Stephen Roach, Housefires, Loud Harp, Leeland, Fuego and Upper Room Dallas. Don’t miss a chance to sit under the heartfelt teaching of these men and women during breakout sessions and engage in incredible times of Spirit-led worship. Tickets are available at iResound.com.
MESSAGE //
Jenny Loveland continued our series on the book of Acts. You can listen to the message here and read her notes below:
Acts 4: Power and Witness
We have been working through the first few chapters of Acts together and looking at a new paradigm shift with Jesus ascending to Heaven and the Holy Spirit falling upon all flesh who call on and believe in the name of Jesus. Heaven and Earth have been joined through the person of Jesus and the promise of God to do mighty works, signs and wonders, for the glory of His name and the salvation of thousands is unfolding through the ministry of the apostles.
Last week we heard a powerful word from Mike Dudley on Acts 3 and the story of the lame man healed and how healing is not the end result, the end result is the testimony, praise, and saving power of Jesus. We can focus on our desire to see miracles, signs, and wonders, but if we don’t find ourselves rooted in the truth of God’s desire to turn his people towards Him, we can be disappointed or feel like we’ve missed the mark when they don’t happen. God is more concerned with the condition and posture of our hearts than He is in the outward flesh that will one day fade away.
So today we pick up in Acts 4 with this mission and look at the powerful name of Jesus to boldly witness, outside of our natural abilities, and build thriving communities as we join with Him in one spirit to bring His glory to all the earth.
Acts 3
In chapter 3 we left off with a man who could not walk since birth, being healed in the the incomparable name of Jesus in v. 16
Acts 3:16 NKJV
“And His name, through faith in His name, has made this man strong, whom you see and know. Yes the faith which comes through Him has given him this perfect soundness in the presence of you all.”
We begin to see the power of the name of Jesus
Mark 16:17, 18 Jesus said, “And these signs will accompany those who believe; in my name they will cast out demons; they will speak in new tongues; they will pick up serpents with their hands; and if they drink any deadly poison, it will not hurt them; they will lay their hands on the sick, and they will recover.”
Peter then delivers a powerful salvation call following this man’s testimony and we head into Ch. 4 where an audience begins to form listening to Peter’s teachings and about 5,000 men believe the word spoken.
This however is not maintaining public order and they are arrested.
The next day, 11 different authorities were gathered and demanded in v . 7 “By what power or by what name have you done this?”
And Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit replies in verse 9
Acts 4:9 NKJV
9 “If we this day are judged for a good deed done to a helpless man, by what means he has been made well, 10 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.”
Peter is reminding these authorities that the power comes from the name of Jesus who they rejected and put to death by a gruesome crucifixion
Acts 4:13,14
13 “Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated and untrainedmentheymarveled.And they realized that they had been withJesus .14 And seeing the man who had been healed standing with them, they could say nothing against it.
Here are non-rabbinic educated individuals, or the “unqualified”, who are speaking with power and boldness which these men can’t deny
So in fear they tell them to stop using that name
But there is one problem, it is the ONLY name and Peter and John tell them, you may be the authority here, but we’ll take our chances that it is better to listen to God because in v . 20, Peter says “For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard.”
The powerful name of Jesus is not just a song we sing, it is the truth, the light, and the life that will testify to His works and His saving grace, so that the whole earth shall be filled with His glory
When you have experienced first hand the mighty work of Jesus in your life or in the life of another, you can’t help but want to shout it from the rooftops
The boldness that is displayed in Peter, this unqualified, but Holy Spirit filled believer of Jesus, is so profound that even these men in their intimidation and accusation know that it must mean he has been with Jesus.
How many of us feel unqualified and intimidated sometimes in life to share the gospel or give testimony to the name of Jesus and what he has done deep within us?
The world will try to intimidate you or shut you up
But the good news and the power of the name of Jesus is that He doesn’t call the qualified, He calls the willing.
Peter being filled with the Holy Spirit is doing what is far beyond his capacity to do in normal circumstances
God will use us beyond our skills and giftings to make sure He gets the glory! Amen.
So Peter and John are let go and they head to a prayer meeting
Acts 4:23-28 NKJV
V24 “with one accord” - we see again the power of unity to come into one mind and purpose by the Holy Spirit to do what the Father is doing and they remind Him of Psalm 2 and how this is the foundation of His promise through the prophecy of Christ.
V25-28 They are standing on the word of God and declaring that these accusations and orders of silence are against the purpose of death and resurrection of Christ
Acts 4:29,30 NKJV They pray that God would give them even MORE BOLDNESS to speak His word and extend His hand to heal and do signs and wonders in the powerful name of Jesus!
The measure we had that got us in trouble, we want the full measure to go out and confess your name.
Acts 4:31-33 NKJV
With this unity, the place is shaken and they are filled with the Holy Spirit and went out to speak in boldness.
The multitude of believers again are of one heart and one soul and their community grows and thrives together.
One Heart in the original Greek means to be “in tune” or “in sync”
One Soul or one mind has a beautiful meaning of literally “to breathe”
When we get in tune with other believers our every breath inhales the goodness of God and exhales His power and grace
When a community gets in tune with each other it thrives in God’s provision and joy
The harmony of believers is a sound that silences the darkness
When we are in tune with each other we are like a huge resonator of the Holy Spirit, that sounds like the whole earth being filled with His glory! Power and Boldness to Witness in the name of Jesus
V33 the power to witness, or dunamis power is energy, great force, or great ability
Peter and the others saw that their boldness in the Holy Spirit was enough to witness in the face of intimidation and bring salvation to thousands. Now they are praying that God would turn up their boldness even more to proclaim His good news everywhere they went
They go on to spread the gospel in all of Asia despite being ordered not to preach in the name of Jesus.
Every place of opposition is met with an unrestrained group of believers who are in tune with the Holy Spirit.
Boldness is basically one step beyond convenience and not where we are comfortable, but where there is breakthrough
British Test pilot was taking up a plane and saw that a rat was on the plane chewing on a fuel line……
We need to go higher, we need to tune ourselves to His Spirit and kill the rat of circumstance
How many of us are 1 bold confession away from breakthrough? How many broken and lost people are needing 1 bold testimony to lead them to the saving arms of Jesus?
Let’s pray today, God Give us more boldness Lord!
Maybe you’re here today and you are 1 step away from confessing the name Jesus
You may be facing circumstances or know someone else who just needs the bold confession of faith that God can heal that, that God can free you from that bondage, that God can provide for that need
WORDS FOR HEALING PRAYER //
Every Sunday, our ministry team prays for physical conditions and we believe the God loves to heal our bodies. Here are some words for healing prayer from Sunday. If you would like prayer, feel free to post a prayer request as a comment on this topic.
- Problem with the roof of the mouth
- Recurring skin sores
- Elbow issues
- Knee problems
- Heart trouble
SERVING OPPORTUNITIES //
Vinelife Kids | We are looking for 3 volunteers to commit to serving one Sunday a month as they invest in the future of the children of Vinelife. Several positions are available. Teachers, teacher’s aids, a management team, etc. Please email Valerie@vinelife.com if you are interested and she can work with you to provide you with the support you need to get started!