Vinelife Church Monday Morning Recap – October 2, 2017

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 untrained​​men​​they​​marveled.​​​​And​​ they ​​realized​​ that​​  they ​​had ​​been ​​with​​Jesus .​​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