Christ over kings: Don’t be intimidated to not share the Gospel

S: Acts 4

18 They called them, and commanded them not to speak at all nor teach in the name of Jesus.

19 But Peter and John answered them, “Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you rather than to God, judge for yourselves, 20 for we can’t help telling the things which we saw and heard.”

21 When they had further threatened them, they let them go, finding no way to punish them, because of the people; for everyone glorified God for that which was done. 22 For the man on whom this miracle of healing was performed was more than forty years old. 

23 Being let go, they came to their own company and reported all that the chief priests and the elders had said to them. 24 When they heard it, they lifted up their voice to God with one accord, and said, “O Lord, you are God, who made the heaven, the earth, the sea, and all that is in them; 25 who by the mouth of your servant, David, said,

‘Why do the nations rage,
    and the peoples plot a vain thing?
26 The kings of the earth take a stand,
    and the rulers take council together,
    against the Lord, and against his Christ.’ (Psalm 2:1-2)

27 “For truly, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles and the people of Israel, were gathered together against your holy servant, Jesus, whom you anointed, 28 to do whatever your hand and your council foreordained to happen. 29 Now, Lord, look at their threats, and grant to your servants to speak your word with all boldness, 30 while you stretch out your hand to heal; and that signs and wonders may be done through the name of your holy Servant Jesus.”

31 When they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were gathered together. They were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and they spoke the word of God with boldness.

O: When we think of the Holy Spirit coming down and shaking the apostles and send them out with boldness, we usually think of the 2nd chapter of Acts – Pentecost. But here we have another similar occurrence, and it happens right after they did another bold act – to stand up to the Sanhedrin telling them not to preach the Gospel.

We usually think of this as an example of when it is correct to disobey the properly constituted authorities above us – when man’s law goes against God’s law. But I hadn’t thought about how the Holy Spirit then came down in power again on them and led them out with boldness, and many more came to know Jesus as a result.

A: They quoted Psalm 2, to remind themselves that God is more powerful than the earthly authorities. The Bible generally tells us to be good citizens, obeying the authorities. But we usually are willing to defy the authorities in small matters – e.g. speeding – but then are wary of even going against popular opinion or feeling intimidated to share with our friends and family the hope that is in us. We need to be empowered by the Holy Spirit and be bold in sharing the love that Jesus has given us. Most of the time, in most situations, this isn’t even illegal. We merely feel intimidated. So, we need to overcome that feeling of intimidation.

P: Father, may I be bold in sharing your Gospel with my friends and family. May I do it in a winsome way, that draws people to you, rather than offends them and pushes them away, but help me to overcome any feelings of intimidation. In Jesus’ name, amen.

The Power of God, not our own power

S: Acts 3

12 Why do you fasten your eyes on us, as though by our own power or godliness we had made him walk?

19 Repent therefore, and turn again, that your sins may be blotted out, so that there may come times of refreshing from the presence of the Lord, 20 and that he may send Christ Jesus, who was ordained for you before, 21 whom heaven must receive until the times of restoration of all things, which God spoke long ago by the mouth of his holy prophets.

O: Peter and John had mighty power, but it wasn’t their own power—it was the power of Jesus! This is the power that saves. Therefore all must repent and turn and be saved.

A: I confess that I know this in my head, but I often don’t know it in my heart. I lack faith, and yet, Jesus said, “if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.” Lord, I believe; help my unbelief!

P: Lord, help me to trust in you. Grow my faith. Let me see your miracles and grow more and more like Jesus. In Jesus’ name, amen.

There is a power,
Absolute authority that you possess
For all who receive him,
Those who will just say "yes"
Wake up!
It's time for you to realize just who you are
You're no more a stranger,
You are a shining star

Stand by the power,
The power of his light
Now is the hour
For you to stand by the power

Greater, stronger that any strength the world can find
Greater than light
Shining from deep inside
Rejoice! Lift your voice for victory already won
Eternal champions,
Power to overcome

Stand by the power,
The power of his light
Now is the hour
For you to stand by the power

Stand by the power, power of his light
Now is the hour for you to stand by,
Stand by, stand by the power.

Holy Spirit Afire!

S: Acts 2 2 Suddenly there came from the sky a sound like the rushing of a mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. 3 Tongues like fire appeared and were distributed to them, and one sat on each of them. 4 They were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and began to speak with other languages, as the Spirit gave them the ability to speak. 5 Now there were dwelling in Jerusalem Jews, devout men, from every nation under the sky. 6 When this sound was heard, the multitude came together and were bewildered, because everyone heard them speaking in his own language. 7 They were all amazed and marveled, saying to one another, “Behold, aren’t all these who speak Galileans? 8 How do we hear, everyone in our own native language? 9 Parthians, Medes, Elamites, and people from Mesopotamia, Judea, Cappadocia, Pontus, Asia, 10 Phrygia, Pamphylia, Egypt, the parts of Libya around Cyrene, visitors from Rome, both Jews and proselytes, 11 Cretans and Arabians: we hear them speaking in our languages the mighty works of God!”

38 Peter said to them, “Repent, and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39 For the promise is to you, and to your children, and to all who are far off, even as many as the Lord our God will call to himself.”

O: The apostles were encouraged by the resurrection and had regathered as we saw in Acts 1. But it wasn't until the Holy Spirit came in power that they were energised to go out and evangelise, and 3,000 people were saved the same day.

A:  We need to be filled with the Holy Spirit. When we get saved, we have been indwelt by the Holy Spirit as the seal of our salvation, but we might still be on the throne of our own lives.

We need to surrender every part of our lives to God, and put Jesus on the throne.

Otherwise, we will remain carnal Christians and lack the abundant and fruitful Christian life. Just like we received Christ by faith, we receive the fullness of the Holy Spirit by faith. Here is a web page from Cru.org explaining how.

P: Father, I confess again to You my sins and invite Your Holy Spirit again to fill me and keep filling me, so that I can walk in Your power. In Jesus' name, amen.

In that room upstairs when we met to pray
And it all began I'll never forget the day
The fire fell, The Spirit came
And nothing will ever be the same.

The fire fell, The Spirit came
And nothing will ever be the same.

Your sons and daughters are prophesying
in the streets,
Get ready!
Your young are seeing vision and your old
are dreaming dreams.
Get ready!
This is the beginning of the ending,
The day before the Day of the Lord!
Get ready for the day that God is sending,
When the sun is gone and the moon has turned to blood!

Hear the Spirit shoutin' good news from heaven today!
Get ready!
He is reaching out to rescue all who call upon His name!
Get ready!
This is the beginning of beginnings,
The day that brings the mercy of God.
Get ready for the grace the Lord is sending,
While he offers you salvation through His blood.

For God has sent a mighty Man among you
To save you from The Judgement with His life;
And this same Jesus who was crucified,
He is risen! He is Lord! His is Christ!
Yes, this same Jesus who was crucified,
His is risen! He is Lord! He is Christ!
He is Christ!

Jesus worldwide

S: Acts 1

8“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you. You will be witnesses to me in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the uttermost parts of the earth.”

O: Acts 1:8 is Luke’s version of the Great Commission of Matthew 28:18-20. As we are empowered by the Holy Spirit, we will be witnesses to bring Jesus’s message throughout the world.

A: So let us be his witnesses. We are his ambassadors to everyone we meet. “The Gospel according to you.”

The Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John
Are read by more than a few,
But the one that is most read and commented on
Is the gospel according to you.

You are writing a gospel, a chapter each day
By the things that you do and the words that you say,
Men read what you write, whether faithless or true,
Say, what is the gospel according to you?

Do men read His truth and His love in your life,
Or has yours been too full of malice and strife'
Does your life speak of evil, or does it ring true'
Say, what is the gospel according to you?

- Arthur McPhee

P: Lord, make my life a prayer to you. I wanna do what you want me to. No empty words, and no white lies. No token prayers, no compromise. I wanna tell the world out there, you’re not some fable or fairy tale that I’ve made up inside my head — you’re God the Son, you’ve risen from the dead.

Ikan bakar and Chapati breakfast chat with Jesus

S: John 21

O: It seems as if the disciples went back to their old careers in Galilee after all that happened. And there was Jesus, repeating his first miracle with Peter, to throw the nets on the other side of the boat, which triggered their recognition.

And this resulted in the Jesus making ikan bakar and chapati for them for breakfast 😁. 

Then the famous triple affirmation for Peter, after Peter’s triple denial at the chief priest’s house, “Do you love me?” And triple commandment: “Feed my sheep.”

A: Jesus reaffirmed Peter, then had a task for him to do. Likewise, Jesus affirms us, but we are to then follow him. If we love him, we should keep his commandments. Feed his sheep. Be his ambassadors to a lost and dying world who desperately needs him.

P: Father, just like Peter, I mess up, but father, just like Peter, you restore me and call me back to service. May I obey your call faithfully. In Jesus’ name, amen.

He’s alive!

S:John 20 30 Therefore Jesus did many other signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book; 31 but these are written, that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in his name.

O: Jesus’ resurrection was the culmination of his life and death. Jesus died for our sins, then rose from the dead, so now we can believe the son of God, and in believing, we have life in him!

A: As we have died with him, let us live with him.

P: Father, may I live in you, walk in your ways, follow your paths. In Jesus’ name, amen.

 

The Passion of the Christ

S: John 19

O: And can it be that I should gain an interest in the saviour’s blood? Died he for me, who caused his pain. For me, who him to death pursued? Amazing love! How can it be that thou, my God, shouldst die for me?

A: In gratitude for Jesus dying for me, I should live for him.

P: Father, help me to remember your great love and sacrifice when I am tempted to sin. Amen.