20 May Be the Church | Part 2 “Get Over It and Get Active for the Gospel”
Key Verse: Acts 3-4 ESV
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BEGAN, DO, TEACH
The Book of Acts is so-called because it talks about action. This is where things happen. This book teaches us how God has chosen to work. First were the four Gospels: Matthew, Mark, Luke and John and then came Acts. The Gospels were just the beginning of what Jesus wanted to do and then it continued through the Church in Acts. We are the Church called to do great things to the glory of God. The Book of Acts is our guide as the Church.
The church is a place of God’s power.
In Acts chapter 3, a lame man gets healed and 2000 people get saved. Peter speaks boldly in front of the leaders and they threaten Peter and John, but that did not stop them. Instead of asking God to stop the threats, they prayed for God to override their threats with the power of the Holy Spirit. The lives of the 2000 mattered more than the threats of the leaders. Life is a fight. The Church is a ministry operation in the battle. Sometimes we get lost in the battle and forget about the one that needs to be saved. Real life change is experienced when your life matters to someone else.
Q. What can you share regarding someone experiencing real life change because they mattered to someone else? How has your life changed because you mattered to someone?
TO GET ACTIVELY INVOLVED IN THE MISSION OF THE GOSPEL:
1. GET OVER YOUR INCONSISTENCIES AND ACT IN THE MISSION OF THE GOSPEL.
We all have had some bad experiences being Christians. The bad experiences are opportunities.
The race is marked even though you are still sinning. Throw the inconsistencies out of the way and run the race. God’s grace carries you through.
Acts 3:1-6 ESV
You would think that John would have been the one to speak. John was the beloved disciple. He was close to Jesus. Peter, on the other hand, was always saying stupid things. Peter had character flaws but the power of the Holy Spirit overrides his inconsistencies. Regardless of his sinfulness, it was in Jesus’s Name that the lame man was healed. When we say ‘In Jesus Name’ it is not an incantation, it is a declaration of who God is and the healing is in His name, not ours. When we pray, we are not praying in our own name, but the name of Jesus.
Q. What inconsistencies or bad experiences have prevented you from getting actively involved in the purposes of God (i.e serving in some capacity etc.)? Do you believe that your prayers are not heard because of your sins and why?
PEOPLE WHO KNOW THEY ARE BAD ARE FAR MORE OPEN TO GOD’S POWER THAN PEOPLE WHO THINK THEY ARE GOOD.
Q. Peter messed up quite a bit, but he is living proof of the power of God to use someone who has inconsistencies, how has God used you and shown His power through you despite your inconsistencies?
2. GET OVER YOUR INSECURITIES AND ACT IN THE MISSION OF THE GOSPEL.
The gate was called Beautiful because it was the largest and most ornate. It was made of Corinthian Bronze. It shimmered in the sun and was meant to intimidate you with the glory of the temple. Peter and John, who were less than ordinary, below average men were walking in to Gate Beautiful. They did not let who they were in the flesh keep them from being used by the Holy Spirit. God can use you regardless of your background.
Acts 4:13 ESV
The people knew that these men were below average. Time spent with Jesus empowered them to get over their insecurities.
Q. What are some insecurities that have made you feel that God could not use you? Do you let your past keep you from moving forward in Christ and why?
3. GET OVER THE IMPORTANCE OF POPULAR OPINION AND ACT IN THE MISSION OF THE GOSPEL.
Get over the desire to be liked. The leaders in those days were Cesar, Herod and Caiaphas but time has a way of showing who the movers and the shakers were. Today, we name our children ‘Peter’ and ‘John’ and our dogs Cesar.
Q. Whose opinion gets in the way of your ability to to do what God wants you to do and why do you allow other’s opinions to keep you from what God wants to do through you and for you?
Let the Holy Spirit fill you.
This Is What Fulness of the Holy Spirit Looks Like:
1. Inconsistencies do not define us.
2. Insecurities do not restrict us.
3. Importance does not allure us.
Because God is with Us.
Pray for each other, the lost, your community, nation and leaders.
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