Why so enthusiastic?
- We live in remarkable times
- Lynsey Brown states that we are living in more remarkable times than during the reformation
- Global population: 7 billion
- Number of people groups in the world: 16'350
- Number of people groups with no testimony of Jesus: 6'645
- 40.6% of the population (c. 2.84 billion)
- Number of world languages: 6909
- Full Bible: 457
- New Testament: 1202
- Portion of Bible: 953
- Language project happening: 1363
- No current work in translation: 2252
- India is currently sending out the highest number of missionaries
- Africa: 7.5 million Christians in 1910, in 2010 - 500 million
- "The light that shines the brightest at home shines furthest"
- We are to shine where we are
- There is a lot happening in Britian today that might discourage us, but we are not to wish we were somewhere else
- The first steps of the church are in chapters 3-5
- The first steps are shaky
- They are under political, social and religious pressure
- An unstoppable group of people
- "For we cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard" - Acts 4:20
- "...they never stopped teaching and proclaiming the good news that Jesus is the Christ" - Acts 5:42
- Why so enthusiastic?
Changed Lives
- They saw the power of transformed lives
- The crippled man jumped up and went into the temple
- This transformation was physical
- Peter goes on to talk about the need for spiritual transformation
- They have spiritual paralysis as they crucified Jesus God - the way to transformation is through repentance and faith
- Transformation is a powerful thing - 3:10, 4:14
- 'Only God can change Africa'
- Example of changed lives in Moldova
- Living in a terrible institute where there is no food, medical care, safety or concern
- A Christian team are serving in the midst of this situation
- These people had a physical transformation and a spiritual transformation
Jesus is Lord
- Acts 4:9-12
- The religious authorities want to know how this miracle was performed
- The disciples make clear it is through the power of the Lord Jesus Christ
- Jesus is the truth and reality behind the power of transformation
- Example of people sharing in Iraq
- Today we live in a relativistic world
- People in Iraq and other places do not have this luxury
- They can either convert to Islam, leave the country or be killed!
- However, they hold fast as they believe that Jesus is Lord
God is Sovereign
- Acts 4:24-28
- The people, the religious leaders and the political leaders conspired together to crucify Jesus
- The disciples point out that even this act was ordained before hand
- God is omnipotent and sovereign
- Example of John Chrysostom in Istanbul
- Transcript between Chrysostom and the Emperor
- Chrysostom trusted in the sovereignty of God
The presence and the power of the Holy Spirit
- Acts 4:31 and 4:8
- Lots of advertisers are very clever
- They know our self-esteem and confidence is low
- They suggest that buying their product will help us to overcome and conquer difficulties in our lives
- In these passages we have lots of complicated people who face daily struggles
- These people were confident in God's Spirit that He was working in them and through them
- Example of a missionary family who struggled in their mission field
- The Holy Spirit was with them and helping them
- We cannot see the work of the Holy Spirit
"Go stand in the temple courts' he said 'and tell the people the full message of this new life" - Acts 5:20-21