Sunday, November 24, 2013

Today´s Sermon



2013.11.24                                    Acts 4: 1- 13
                Persecution?  It´s a Good thing!
In our continuing study of the early church, we have come to the first persecution of the church…….
The book of Acts records for us the life and times of the early church……  Acts Chapter 4: 1- 13 will be our passage for this  morning…... We are dealing with the subject of persecution….. We should remind ourselves that the people hated Jesus….. Jesus showed them their sin and rebellion……. He shined the light of truth into their dark hearts…….. Some repented…… some hardened their hearts….. Those who refused to repent……. Hated Jesus…. They cried out for his crucifixion…..
Jesus told us that we would also be hated….  
Jesus warned that there would be hatred of the church and His followers….. It is inevitable….. And so it begins in the very early days of the church…… We have already studied the first 2 great sermons of Peter…..
The Holy Spirit filled his mouth with the Words of Life…. Many of those who heard the Good News…. Repented and were born again….. The church grew rapidly…  And by the time we come to Chapter 4: 4…. There were now many people in the early church…..
5,000 men…... Plus women and children…. By now the threat to the Jewish establishment is very serious….. They tried to get rid of Jesus Christ by killing Him…. Now His followers are going all over everywhere… proclaiming that He rose from the dead….. And it isn't a handful anymore…. There are by now thousands of them that are doing this in Jerusalem….. The Jewish rulers don´t know what to do….They're scared…… The begin to persecute the followers of Jesus….
The event that started the persecution is recorded in Chapter 3……. You remember that Peter and John went to the temple for prayer….. and entering through the gate called Beautiful…. They came across a man who  had been lame from birth…. He was probably carried there every day….   He was instantly and miraculously healed by the Power of God… He went into the Temple jumping and leaping and  praising God…… This wonderful miracle was used by the Holy Spirit to draw a huge crowd into the courtyard…..
Peter preached another great sermon on the Lord Jesus Christ……. Peter proclaimed that their Messiah truly was Jesus of Nazareth….. He reminded them that they had rejected their own Messiah and killed Him….. And he condemned them for that…... And then offered them salvation through the grace of God…… He pleaded with them to flee to the Lord Jesus for refuge…. Because the killed Jesus in ignorance…. Peter told them to repent and believe the Gospel…. As we pick up the text…. the leaders arrested them…. And the persecution of the church begins… They wanted to stop them…. They planned to beat and punish them…… They were violently angry at them…. Physical abuse and death is often what we think of when we think of the word Persecution…. But sometimes the kind of persecution that gets to your heart and mind…. may be more severe than that which gets to your body….. The kind that hits you in the area of acceptance or attacks your pride…… or makes you afraid of destroying your reputation…… may be the most subtle and devastating of all…..
Sometimes we Christians are afraid talk about Jesus as we ought to….. because of the fear that somebody might not like us……. Or the fear of being fired from a job…….
And if I'm honest in examining my own heart….. I think fear of man is what sometimes gets me to keep my mouth shut….Listen to what Paul wrote to Timothy…
2 Timothy 3:12              NKJV   Schlachter 2000
12 Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution.
12 Und alle, die gottesfürchtig leben wollen in Christus Jesus, werden Verfolgung erleiden.
It's just a fact…. If you live for Christ in the face of the world….. you're going to have people react angrily to you….. maybe even hate you….…… The apostle Paul recognizes this and in Philippians 1:29 he says this….
Philippians 1: 29,30   NKJV    Schlachter 2000
29 For to you it has been granted on behalf of Christ, not only to believe in Him, but also to suffer for His sake, 30 having the same conflict which you saw in me and now hear is in me.
29 Denn euch wurde, was Christus betrifft, die Gnade verliehen, nicht nur an ihn zu glauben, sondern auch um seinetwillen zu leiden, 30 so daß ihr denselben Kampf habt, den ihr an mir gesehen habt und jetzt von mir hört.
Well this is interesting….. Paul says that it has been granted to us…… 2 things….. to believe and to suffer…. That's part of being a Christian…… That's the world´s natural response to the Christian who really lives for his Lord…...
Paul says look…. If you're doing what I'm doing….. Proclaiming the Good News….  then suffering is a part of it….. Paul says…. Don't avoid the persecution…… It´s part of the Christian life…. Tribulations teach patience…
As we live out our faith in the Lord Jesus, there will be seasons of trial and difficulty….. It can almost seem that somehow God has forgotten to help us….. Of course that is not true….. But our feelings can often seem more real than our faith…...But our faith must be tested.... not to destroy it, but to prove its character……. For faith to grow, it must be put to the test…. These tests are like weights we use when seeking to strengthen our muscles…...All of the hard times in our lives are used by our loving Heavenly Father…. for our good and His Glory…. Look at what Paul wrote in Romans 5…v3…
Romans 5: 3-5                   NKJV
3 And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; 4 and perseverance, character; and character, hope. 5 Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us.
Romans 5: 3-5                   Schlachter 2000
3 Aber nicht nur das, sondern wir rühmen uns auch in den Bedrängnissen, weil wir wissen, daß die Bedrängnis standhaftes Ausharren2 bewirkt,4 das standhafte Ausharren aber Bewährung, die Bewährung aber Hoffnung;
5 die Hoffnung aber läßt nicht zuschanden werden; denn die Liebe Gottes ist ausgegossen in unsere Herzen durch den Heiligen Geist, der uns gegeben worden ist.
This is excellent….. v2 we rejoice in Hope in the Glory of God and v3… we Glory in tribulations… The greek word for (tribulations) can also be translated trials and sufferings…. Hard times are used by God to produce good things in us…. Because ultimately they produce perseverance, character and hope in us….. Sickness, heart ache, persecution, and even death….. can be used by God to make us more mature…..
If handled right… persecution is a blessed experience….. turn to James 1…. v2…
James 1:2-4                             NKJV  
My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.
James 1:2-4                           Schlachter 2000
2 Meine Brüder, achtet es für lauter Freude, wenn ihr in mancherlei Anfechtungen geratet,
3 da ihr ja wißt, daß die Bewährung eures Glaubens standhaftes Ausharren bewirkt.
4 Das standhafte Ausharren aber soll ein vollkommenes Werk haben, damit ihr vollkommen und vollständig seid und es euch an nichts mangelt.
When you have problems… whether persecution or any other sort of difficulty…..  consider it a great joy…... Why? Knowing this at the trying or the testing of your faith works patience……
God has a plan….. He wants to make you patient…... Patient in persecution…… and patient in all other forms of trials and difficulties too…
James says…. Don´t escape from the difficult times….. God's going to bring you to maturity through the hard times………
Let it have it's perfecting work in you….. God has a plan…. His desire is to bring you to maturity…..
There are really two things that bring you to maturity. Number one is the Word of God…… 1Peter 2:2….. this is what makes you grow……. But number two…. God uses trials…..  and under the area of trials, persecution, suffering, problems, whatever, these two things are to bring you to maturity…... And so you must allow for persecution it's part of the process of spiritual growth…... If you're going to grow in grace and in the knowledge of the Lord Jesus….. You need to study his word…. And you need to suffer through hard times and difficult circumstances….. As a believer…. you're going to be persecuted for your trust in the Lord Jesus……
That's part of growing…… You don't run away from it…. you accept it as from the hand of the Lord…. Because we´re still in James 1… look at v12….
James 1: 12         NKJV   Schlachter 2000
12 Blessed is the man who endures temptation; for when he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him.
12 Glückselig ist der Mann, der die Anfechtung erduldet; denn nachdem er sich bewährt hat, wird er die Krone des Lebens empfangen, welche der Herr denen verheißen hat, die ihn lieben.
So what do we learn from James? We learn that persecution….. or any other form of suffering and hard times….. Persecution…. 
1 Persecution brings maturity…...
2 Persecution brings reward…..
Maturity and reward……  
We were called to suffer for our own Good….. and God´s Glory….. Here in our text today we see the first Persecution….

Peter and John and this man who was healed….. become the first Christians to be persecuted for the cause of Christ…..
look at Peter´s attitude about suffering for the Lord Jesus Christ….1 Peter 4: verse 12, 13
1 Peter 4: 12-14                 NKJV
12 Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you; 13 but rejoice to the extent that you partake of Christ’s sufferings, that when His glory is revealed, you may also be glad with exceeding joy. 14 If you are reproached for the name of Christ, blessed are you, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you.[ On their part He is blasphemed, but on your part He is glorified.
1 Peter 4: 12-14                 Schlachter 2000
12 Ihr Lieben, lasst euch durch die Hitze nicht befremden, die euch widerfährt zu eurer Versuchung, als widerführe euch etwas Seltsames,
13 sondern freut euch, dass ihr mit Christus leidet, damit ihr auch zur Zeit der Offenbarung seiner Herrlichkeit Freude und Wonne haben mögt.
14 Selig seid ihr, wenn ihr geschmäht werdet um des Namens Christi willen, denn der Geist, der ein Geist der Herrlichkeit und Gottes ist, ruht auf euch.
Isn't that wonderful…. When you are persecuted…..  The Spirit of Glory and the Spirit of God rests on you…… Glory is connected with persecution…... You want to really experience glory, persecution brings it…..
And so he simply says if you suffer….. Be happy because You have a reason to Glorify God….
Peter goes on to say in verse 16….
1 Peter 4: 16               NKJV   Schlachter 2000
16 Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in this matter.
16 wenn er aber als Christ leidet, so soll er sich nicht schämen, sondern er soll Gott verherrlichen in dieser Sache!
So what do we learn? Persecution is wonderful…… It brings growth, it brings glory, it brings joy and it brings reward….. Terrific…..  
 Peter says in 1 Peter 5:10…
1 Peter 5: 10                  NKJV   Schlachter 2000
10 But may the God of all grace, who called us to His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a while, perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle you.
10 Der Gott aller Gnade aber, der uns berufen hat zu seiner ewigen Herrlichkeit in Christus Jesus, er selbst möge euch, nachdem ihr eine kurze Zeit gelitten habt, völlig zubereiten, festigen, stärken, gründen!
Here  glory is again connected with suffering…… All through Peter´s writings….. He connects glory with suffering…….. First comes the suffering then the glory…….
You see that's part of maturity…..
To go through persecution can be a wonderful experience…... It's growth, it's glory…... It's joy….. It's reward….  
Paul also had lots to say about suffering….. He suffered very much for the Gospel….. We won´t look at the list of trials and hard times this morning but the list is long…. 2 Cor 11…. Is a great place for you own quiet times…. Let´s look at Philippians 2….. Listen to the reason!
Philippians 2: 17,18       NKJV   Schlachter 2000
17 Yes, and if I am being poured out as a drink offering on the sacrifice and service of your faith, I am glad and rejoice with you all. 18 For the same reason you also be glad and rejoice with me.
17 Wenn ich aber auch wie ein Trankopfer ausgegossen werden sollte über dem Opfer und dem priesterlichen Dienst eures Glaubens, so bin ich doch froh und freue mich mit euch allen; 18 gleicherweise sollt auch ihr froh sein und euch mit mir freuen!
That is fantastic….   Paul didn't suffer for his own sake…. He said…. If my life is a sacrifice, if I have to die to reach you with the Gospel…. It´s a great thing….. I rejoice…. And I want you to rejoice with me…
Paul considered persecution a blessing…… because he was getting persecuted in order that others might hear about Jesus…… He'd go into town and he'd preach Jesus…… People get saved and they'd throw him in jail….. And he'd say, you know something, I got thrown in jail for preaching Jesus and people got saved….. Boy I ought to do more of this…..
It is not because we get joy in the suffering…..it is because we know that we´re suffering  so somebody else can know Jesus….. That's a blessing…..
There is a second reason that Paul suffered and this is beautiful….. Colossians 1:24….
Colossians 1: 24               NKJV    Schlachter 2000
24 I now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up in my flesh what is lacking in the afflictions of Christ, for the sake of His body, which is the church,
24 Jetzt freue ich mich in meinen Leiden, [die ich] um euretwillen [erleide], und ich erfülle meinerseits in meinem Fleisch, was noch an Bedrängnissen des Christus aussteht, um seines Leibes willen, welcher die Gemeinde ist.
Paul says this, "I rejoice in my sufferings for you." And as I suffer for you…. I fill up in my flesh what is lacking in the afflictions of Christ, for the sake of His body, which is the church…..
Paul says……
1      I suffer for you….. I suffer for your sake…….
2      I fill up in my flesh the afflictions that are meant for Christ…..
Since the world began to persecute Jesus they haven't stopped…... Today the world is still hating Jesus…... And you know what it is about you and me that the world hates? It is not us, it is Jesus…...   So that when we are persecuted,   they are really persecuting the Lord Jesus Christ……
 So persecution is a good thing….. We are allowed the wonderful privilege of taking in the arrows that  Satan meant for Jesus….. Paul said this Philippians 3:10…
Philippians 3: 10             NKJV   Schlachter 2000
10 that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death,
10 Ihn möchte ich erkennen und die Kraft seiner Auferstehung und die Gemeinschaft seiner Leiden und so seinem Tode gleich gestaltet werden,
Listen my friends….. Part of knowing Jesus….. Part of true fellowship (kioninia)…. Is experiencing the fellowship of His sufferings….. The believer who is totally committed to the Lord Jesus…. can experience great joy and true fellowship when we suffer for His sake…. Just like He suffered for our sake…. So for the Christian persecution is a wonderful thing….. It produces growth….. It produces glory….. It produces reward….. It produces joy….. It produces blessing…... It produces salvation and encouragement to those hear and repent….. And it produces the privilege of identification with the Lord Jesus Christ…..  As we fill up the sufferings that are meant for Him…... Now maybe you don't love Jesus enough to want to do that…… but Peter and John did…. and so did Paul….. And so here as we look at Acts Chapter 4, we see this kind of spirit…… Peter shows us how to handle persecution when it comes…. Here´s an outline for this morning…
How to Handle persecution
1  Be submissive and wait on the Lord ….…. V1-7
2… Be filled with the Holy Spirit and proclaim the Good News…… v8-13         
3… Be obedient to God at all costs…. V 14-22
Let´s look at the  first section and the first point…
1  Be submissive and wait on the Lord ….…. Acts 4….. v1-7
Acts 4:1- 7                     NKJV
1 Now as they spoke to the people, the priests, the captain of the temple, and the Sadducees came upon them, 2 being greatly disturbed that they taught the people and preached in Jesus the resurrection from the dead. 3 And they laid hands on them, and put them in custody until the next day, for it was already evening. 4 However, many of those who heard the word believed; and the number of the men came to be about five thousand.
5 And it came to pass, on the next day, that their rulers, elders, and scribes, 6 as well as Annas the high priest, Caiaphas, John, and Alexander, and as many as were of the family of the high priest, were gathered together at Jerusalem. 7 And when they had set them in the midst, they asked, “By what power or by what name have you done this?”
Acts 4: 1- 7                        Schlachter 2000
1 Während sie aber zum Volk redeten, kamen die Priester und der Hauptmann des Tempels und die Sadduzäer auf sie zu.
2 Sie waren aufgebracht darüber, daß sie das Volk lehrten und in Jesus die Auferstehung aus den Toten verkündigten.
3 Und sie legten Hand an sie und brachten sie ins Gefängnis bis zum folgenden Morgen, denn es war schon Abend.
4 Aber viele von denen, die das Wort gehört hatten, wurden gläubig, und die Zahl der Männer stieg auf etwa 5 000.
5 Es geschah aber am folgenden Morgen, daß sich ihre Obersten und Ältesten und Schriftgelehrten in Jerusalem versammelten,
6 auch Hannas, der Hohepriester, und Kajaphas und Johannes und Alexander und alle, die aus hohepriesterlichem Geschlecht waren.
7 Und sie stellten sie in ihre Mitte und fragten sie: Durch welche Kraft oder in welchem Namen habt ihr das getan?
They were arrested….  They were not afraid…. They were full of the Holy Spirit….. They were willing to trust that God knew what he was doing with the situation….
They were there because they were obeying the Lord Jesus´ call to proclaim the Good News….. They were certain that He would help them now…. As we continue to study the Book of Acts we will see that none of the Early Church resisted with physical means the persecutions… When the earth quake destroyed the Philippian jail…. Paul didn´t take off…. He knew that God had a plan…. Paul waited until he understood what the Lord wanted him to do…. That´s the first principle…. 1 Be submissive and wait on the Lord…. They got persecuted….. They got thrown in jail….. They were having a great time singing songs in there….. The place got destroyed by the quake….. Everybody   panicked…… The man was going to fall on his sword…… Paul introduced the and his whole family to Jesus…… and it all came about because of persecution…...
Paul´s patient trust in the middle of this very hard time resulted in the salvation of the jailer and his family….
2… Be filled with the Holy Spirit and proclaim the Good News…… v8-13         
Acts 4: 8-13                            NKJV    
8 Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, “Rulers of the people and elders of Israel: 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. 11 This is the ‘stone which was rejected by you builders, which has become the chief cornerstone.’ 12 Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.”
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.
Acts 4: 8-13                    Schlachter 2000
8 Da sprach Petrus, vom Heiligen Geist erfüllt, zu ihnen: Ihr Obersten des Volkes und ihr Ältesten von Israel,
9 wenn wir heute wegen der Wohltat an einem kranken Menschen verhört werden, durch wen er geheilt worden ist,
10 so sei euch allen und dem ganzen Volk Israel bekanntgemacht, daß durch den Namen Jesu Christi, des Nazareners, den ihr gekreuzigt habt, den Gott auferweckt hat aus den Toten, daß dieser durch Ihn gesund vor euch steht.
11 Das ist der Stein, der von euch, den Bauleuten, verworfen wurde, der zum Eckstein geworden ist.
12 Und es ist in keinem anderen das Heil; denn es ist kein anderer Name unter dem Himmel den Menschen gegeben, in dem wir gerettet werden sollen!
13 Als sie aber die Freimütigkeit von Petrus und Johannes sahen und erfuhren, daß sie ungelehrte Leute und Laien seien, verwunderten sie sich; und sie erkannten, daß sie mit Jesus gewesen waren.
The leaders were amazed at Peter and John…. For sure they had been with Jesus… Peter let the Holy Spirit fill his mouth with the words of life…. He boldly proclaimed Jesus to the leaders of Israel…. Think of this….  Peter and John could have never arraigned a personal audience with the high Priest and the Sanhedrin….. That's how to handle persecution…. 1 be submissive….. 2 be Spirit filled and boldly use it as an opportunity to proclaim the GOOD NEWS…
The persecution was used by God to give these who killed Jesus another chance to repent and believe the Gospel…… Our job is only to be filled with the Holy Spirit and boldly proclaim the Good News….. God does the real work of causing the New Birth and convicting the heart…… He alone brings genuine repentance….. Well they were shocked at their words and the boldness of these men….
in verse 13, I love this, "They took knowledge of them that they had been with Jesus."
Beginning with this event Persecution breaks out…... They remained obedient no matter what the costs…. Many of our brothers and sisters have paid for the Gospel with their lives….. Of the Apostles only John died a natural death….
No threats whether mental or physical…… no punishment….  Should ever make us disobey or betray our Lord Jesus Christ…... And if we really live Godly lives in this world…. We´re going to have the opportunity of getting persecuted…. When it happens… It will not be easy….. But the Lord Jesus will see us through those hard times…… We will be blessed…. We will make a difference in this lost and dying world….

Sunday, November 10, 2013

Today´s Sermon



2013.11.10                            Acts 3:11-end
              Peter preaches again…. Repent
In our study we come to Peter's second sermon….. at least it's the second one recorded in the book of Acts…. the church has been born… the church has been properly equipped to finish the work that Jesus began to do…..
They were with Jesus during His earthly ministry….. They saw Him….. they heard His words of life……… They knew that he is the eternal one…. Sent from the Father… John wrote in his letter about being an eyewitness of the Lord Jesus…. He explains that we as believers are all one in Him…. We have fellowship with each other and with the Father…. He writes about koininia and joy…..1 John 1:1
1 John 1: 1-4                      NKJV
1 That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, concerning the Word of life— 2  the life was manifested, and we have seen, and bear witness, and declare to you that eternal life which was with the Father and was manifested to us—
3 that which we have seen and heard we declare to you, that you also may have fellowship with us; and truly our fellowship is with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ. 4 And these things we write to you that your joy may be full.
1 John 1: 1-4                      Schlachter 2000
1 Was von Anfang war, was wir gehört haben, was wir mit unseren Augen gesehen haben, was wir angeschaut und was unsere Hände betastet haben vom Wort des Lebens
2 — und das Leben ist erschienen, und wir haben gesehen und bezeugen und verkündigen euch das ewige Leben, das bei dem Vater war und uns erschienen ist —,
3 was wir gesehen und gehört haben, das verkündigen wir euch, damit auch ihr Gemeinschaft mit uns habt; und unsere Gemeinschaft ist mit dem Vater und mit seinem Sohn Jesus Christus.
4 Und dies schreiben wir euch, damit eure Freude vollkommen sei.
They had been with Jesus….. They had heard His words of Life…… They knew Him….. They had been filled with the Holy Spirit on the day of Pentecost… Just like these early believers….
We have also been equipped to proclaim the Good News to a lost and dying world….…...
The church has been given all the tools we need  to preach and to teach…..  Remember… Jesus said as he was preparing to go to heaven….. All authority in heaven and earth has been given to me….. Go ye and preach the Gospel to all creatures…. Mark 16: 15….  All true believers are called to proclaim the Good News….. Peter had a special assignment…. Peter was directly called to go to the Children of Israel and proclaim the Good News…
In the early portions of the book of Acts the apostle Peter is the one doing most of the talking……
He had already preached one great sermon on the day of Pentecost and we studied that in Acts chapter 2….. The Holy Spirit had gathered the crowd….. Then Peter Proclaimed the Good News of the Lord  Jesus Christ……. And in his preaching……. He did the two things that all effective preaching does….. He first of all exalted the Lord Jesus Christ….. And secondly shows the hearers that they stand guilty and comdemned because of their sin and rebellion…..
If we're going to evangelize, we must do two things……. We must present Jesus Christ…  and secondly we must solemnly warn all men who reject Him……  
 As a result of that first sermon threethousand people believed…… They were added to the church and formed the first fellowship of believers….. and from there they went out to Proclaim the name of the Lord Jesus Christ…. They met in the Temple daily…. Their lives were transformed and energized by the Holy Spirit…..
And so Peter…. as we now see him….. is the first preacher of the name of Jesus….. Today we stand in the great tradition of those who name the name of Jesus……
As we have seen…. the Holy Spirit put His stamp of approval on the preaching of Peter by miracles and signs…… This was to confirm that the message was indeed From God…...
In Acts 2 you remember that on the day of Pentecost….  the Spirit of God appeared in a wonderful miracle of tongues…. Flames of fire on their heads….. and furious sound and noise like a mightly wind….  and they all began to speak in other languages the wonderful works of God…… The Holy Spirit drew a huge crowd of people who were ready and willing to understand what had happened….
Then  Peter preached the name of Jesus Christ……
Then as we  came to Acts 3 last week….  the Holy Spirit uses the same pattern again….. Before Peter ever gets up to preach and announce the name of Jesus Christ….. They heal a lame man in the name of Jesus Christ…..   God with this great miracle again gathers the crowd….. They are amazed…. They want to know what had happened…..
Peter then preaches his message…… It was  confirmed in their minds as True and from God because  of that astounding miracle…… This man who had never walked….. Is walking and leaping and praising God in the Temple…..
This is exactly what the letter to the Hebrews said that God would do….. confirm the Word by signs, wonders, and miracles and gifts of the Holy Spirit….. Hebrews 2:4….
Now as we come to the message of Chapter 3, verses 11-26….  The Holy Spirit gives power and works the miracle  and He gives Peter every word that Peter speaks…... It's a production presented by the Holy Spirit….. Peter and John are simply around to be used….. Availability is the #1 ability in the body of Christ…. Turn with me to Acts3….. we will pickup the text at verse 11…
Acts 3: 11- 26                      NKJV
11 Now as the lame man who was healed held on to Peter and John, all the people ran together to them in the porch which is called Solomon’s, greatly amazed. 12 So when Peter saw it, he responded to the people: “Men of Israel, why do you marvel at this? Or why look so intently at us, as though by our own power or godliness we had made this man walk?

13 The God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, the God of our fathers, glorified His Servant Jesus, whom you delivered up and denied in the presence of Pilate, when he was determined to let Him go. 14 But you denied the Holy One and the Just, and asked for a murderer to be granted to you, 15 and killed the Prince of life, whom God raised from the dead, of which we are witnesses.

16 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.17 “Yet now, brethren, I know that you did it in ignorance, as did also your rulers. 18 But those things which God foretold by the mouth of all His prophets, that the Christ would suffer, He has thus fulfilled. 19 Repent therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord,
20 and that He may send Jesus Christ, who was preached to you before, 21 whom heaven must receive until the times of restoration of all things, which God has spoken by the mouth of all His holy prophets since the world began. 22 For Moses truly said to the fathers, ‘The Lord your God will raise up for you a Prophet like me from your brethren. Him you shall hear in all things, whatever He says to you.

23 And it shall be that every soul who will not hear that Prophet shall be utterly destroyed from among the people.’ 24 Yes, and all the prophets, from Samuel and those who follow, as many as have spoken, have also foretold these days. 25 You are sons of the prophets, and of the covenant which God made with our fathers, saying to Abraham, ‘And in your seed all the families of the earth shall be blessed.’
26 To you first, God, having raised up His Servant Jesus, sent Him to bless you, in turning away every one of you from your iniquities.”

Acts 3: 11- 26                      Schlachter 2000
11 Da sich aber der geheilte Lahme zu Petrus und Johannes hielt, lief alles Volk voll Erstaunen bei ihnen zusammen in der sogenannten Halle Salomos.
12 Als Petrus das sah, wandte er sich an das Volk: Ihr Männer von Israel, weshalb verwundert ihr euch darüber, oder weshalb blickt ihr auf uns, als hätten wir durch eigene Kraft oder Frömmigkeit bewirkt, daß dieser umhergeht?
13 Der Gott Abrahams und Isaaks und Jakobs, der Gott unserer Väter, hat seinen Knecht2 Jesus verherrlicht; ihn habt ihr ausgeliefert und habt ihn verleugnet vor Pilatus, als dieser ihn freisprechen wollte.
14 Ihr habt den Heiligen und Gerechten verleugnet und verlangt, daß euch ein Mörder geschenkt werde;
15 den Fürsten des Lebens aber habt ihr getötet! Ihn hat Gott aus den Toten auferweckt; dafür sind wir Zeugen.
16 Und auf den Glauben an seinen Namen hin hat sein Name diesen hier stark gemacht, den ihr seht und kennt; ja, der durch Ihn [gewirkte] Glaube hat ihm diese volle Gesundheit gegeben vor euch allen.
17 Und nun, ihr Brüder, ich weiß, daß ihr in Unwissenheit gehandelt habt, wie auch eure Obersten;
18 Gott aber hat das, was er durch den Mund aller seiner Propheten zuvor verkündigte, daß nämlich der Christus leiden müsse, auf diese Weise erfüllt.
19 So tut nun Buße und bekehrt euch3, daß eure Sünden ausgetilgt werden, damit Zeiten der Erquickung vom Angesicht des Herrn kommen
20 und er den sende, der euch zuvor verkündigt wurde, Jesus Christus,
21 den der Himmel aufnehmen muß bis zu den Zeiten der Wiederherstellung alles dessen, wovon Gott durch den Mund aller seiner heiligen Propheten von alters her geredet hat.
22 Denn Mose hat zu den Vätern gesagt: »Einen Propheten wie mich wird euch der Herr, euer Gott, erwecken aus euren Brüdern; auf ihn sollt ihr hören in allem, was er zu euch reden wird«.
23 Und es wird geschehen: Jede Seele, die nicht auf diesen Propheten hören wird, soll vertilgt werden aus dem Volk.
24 Und alle Propheten, von Samuel an und den folgenden, so viele geredet haben, sie haben auch diese Tage im voraus angekündigt.
25 Ihr seid Söhne der Propheten und des Bundes, den Gott mit unseren Vätern schloß, als er zu Abraham sprach: »Und in deinem Samen sollen gesegnet werden alle Geschlechter der Erde«.
26 Euch zuerst hat Gott, als er seinen Knecht Jesus erweckte, ihn gesandt, um euch zu segnen, indem7 ein jeder von euch sich von seiner Bosheit bekehrt!
Let´s take a closer look…. v11…
Acts 3: 11,12           NKJV    
11 Now as the lame man who was healed held on to Peter and John, all the people ran together to them in the porch which is called Solomon’s, greatly amazed. 12 So when Peter saw it, he responded to the people: “Men of Israel, why do you marvel at this? Or why look so intently at us, as though by our own power or godliness we had made this man walk?
Acts 3: 11,12              Schlachter 2000
11 Da sich aber der geheilte Lahme zu Petrus und Johannes hielt, lief alles Volk voll Erstaunen bei ihnen zusammen in der sogenannten Halle Salomos.
12 Als Petrus das sah, wandte er sich an das Volk: Ihr Männer von Israel, weshalb verwundert ihr euch darüber, oder weshalb blickt ihr auf uns, als hätten wir durch eigene Kraft oder Frömmigkeit bewirkt, daß dieser umhergeht?

The people were amazed….. but they were looking at Peter and John… we didn´t do this…. Peter wisely takes advantage of the opportunity to proclaim the Gospel…. but he knew that miracles  bring no one to Jesus…. Although they were greatly amazed…. they weren't saved yet!
Peter knew that saving faith comes by hearing….  hearing   the word of God……    Romans 10:17….
Peter clearly says that this miracle has nothing to do with their power or with their Godliness…. It´s Jesus….
Many so called "healers" today who would never claim to heal in their own power…… But they gladly and proudly still give the impression that healing happens because they are so spiritual….. or so godly…... Peter knew that it was all about Jesus….. and nothing but Jesus…
Look at verse 13- 18….
Acts 3:13- 18                NKJV
13 The God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, the God of our fathers, glorified His Servant Jesus, whom you delivered up and denied in the presence of Pilate, when he was determined to let Him go. 14 But you denied the Holy One and the Just, and asked for a murderer to be granted to you, 15 and killed the Prince of life, whom God raised from the dead, of which we are witnesses.
16 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.
17 “Yet now, brethren, I know that you did it in ignorance, as did also your rulers. 18 But those things which God foretold by the mouth of all His prophets, that the Christ would suffer, He has thus fulfilled.

Acts 3:13- 18                Schlachter 2000
13 Der Gott Abrahams und Isaaks und Jakobs, der Gott unserer Väter, hat seinen Knecht2 Jesus verherrlicht; ihn habt ihr ausgeliefert und habt ihn verleugnet vor Pilatus, als dieser ihn freisprechen wollte.
14 Ihr habt den Heiligen und Gerechten verleugnet und verlangt, daß euch ein Mörder geschenkt werde;
15 den Fürsten des Lebens aber habt ihr getötet! Ihn hat Gott aus den Toten auferweckt; dafür sind wir Zeugen.
16 Und auf den Glauben an seinen Namen hin hat sein Name diesen hier stark gemacht, den ihr seht und kennt; ja, der durch Ihn [gewirkte] Glaube hat ihm diese volle Gesundheit gegeben vor euch allen.
17 Und nun, ihr Brüder, ich weiß, daß ihr in Unwissenheit gehandelt habt, wie auch eure Obersten;
18 Gott aber hat das, was er durch den Mund aller seiner Propheten zuvor verkündigte, daß nämlich der Christus leiden müsse, auf diese Weise erfüllt.
Peter says this is the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob……. He has Glorified His Servant Jesus by doing this miracle….
Peter is taking them back to Jesus….. God´s suffering servant……. Jesus crucified on the cross…. The greatness of Peter's sermon is that it is all about Jesus…..
You delivered up God´s servant…. The Messiah…. you delivered up and Crucified the Lord of Glory….
The Holy Boldness of Peter here is proof of the Presence of the Holy Spirit in Peter´s life….  These are some of the very people who killed Jesus….. He is filled with the Holy Spirit and God´s grace has flooded and restored his life and testimony…. Peter was not afraid to confront their sin….  One commentator says that the miracle of Peter´s bold and powerful sermon is  far more wonderful…..   than the miracle of this healed man....
Peter continues….. You killed him….. You  Asked for a murderer to be granted to you instead of Jesus…..
Peter is boldly confronting this audience!
You killed the Prince of life…..
And through faith in His name…… has this man been made strong….. You know how crippled he was……. The Name of Jesus has done this miracle….
This means more than Peter said, " in Jesus´ name…..
 It means that Peter consciously did this in the authority and power of Jesus….. Peter will not even take credit for the faith that was exercised in the healing of this man….. He says the Faith is also from the Lord …..
Peter says that even Jesus´rejection and crucifixion was part of God´s plan….. Everything has happened exactly according to the prophets…. Despite all the evil they did to Jesus….. it did not change God's plan….. God can take the most horrible evil and use it for good…… Joseph could say to his brothers….. "you meant evil against me; but God meant it for good."  Genesis 50:20….. The same principle was at work in the crucifixion of Jesus…… and is at work in our lives…. Romans 8:28……..
v17….
Acts 3:17          NKJV    Schlachter 2000
17 “Yet now, brethren, I know that you did it in ignorance, as did also your rulers.
17 Und nun, ihr Brüder, ich weiß, daß ihr in Unwissenheit gehandelt habt, wie auch eure Obersten;
Powerful truth here….  Peter recognizes they called for the execution of Jesus in ignorance of God's eternal plan…..
He says, now I know you did it through ignorance….. You just didn't know what you're doing…… remember…
Jesus on the cross said….
 "Father, forgive them for they don't know what they're doing."
Peter says….. You Killed the Messiah….. Murder…… But you didn´t know what you were doing…… God in His mercy has provided a place where you too can flee……. When Peter did that, he opened the door open to the city of refuge…. Do you remember in the Old Testament, Numbers 35 talks about them….. that for Israel's sake they were provided certain cities called cities of refuge…… And if an individual killed somebody by accident or in ignorance or in a fit of fury……. it would be classified as manslaughter, not as first degree murder in our terms…… And the person who committed the manslaughter could run to the city of refuge and could be safe there…… and he was safe as long as the high priest lived……  
 Now this is fantastic……. This is exactly what God is offering to these guilty sinners through Peter…. Peter is saying….. People You and I know that you did this horrible crime….  but God in His grace is accounting it as manslaughter not first degree murder….. He knows you did it through ignorance and thus he cracks the door to the city of refuge….. Flee to your only hope…. The Holy one of Israel…. Our great High Priest…. The Lord Jesus Christ….. He lives forever…..
God is willing to treat you not as a murderer….. but as one guilty of manslaughter….. because of their ignorance…. Unwissenheit ….  Peter says flee for refuge…. It´s not too late….. Frau Neidzilla…
As long as the high priest lives you can be safe…… And how long does our high priest live? Forever, forever…… So he cracks the door and says come on into the city of refuge, we've got an eternal high priest and you're okay…… You say, well, I'd like to get in that thing…… Peter then tells them in v18….
Acts 3: 18                NKJV   Schlachter 2000
18 But those things which God foretold by the mouth of all His prophets, that the Christ would suffer, He has thus fulfilled.
18 Gott aber hat das, was er durch den Mund aller seiner Propheten zuvor verkündigte, daß nämlich der Christus leiden müsse, auf diese Weise erfüllt.

Peter says even the cross and their rejection of the Messiah was part of God´s plan…. Jesus is the suffering servant of Isaiah and everything has happened exactly according to God perfect plan…. Flee to the city of refuge….. It´s not too late…. How do I get to the city of refuge…? Look at verse 19…..

Acts 3: 19     NKJV   Schlachter 2000
19 Repent therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord,
19 So tut nun Buße und bekehrt euch, daß eure Sünden ausgetilgt werden, damit Zeiten der Erquickung vom Angesicht des Herrn kommen
 Repent and cry out to God for mercy…..    God knows you did it in ignorance and God's willing to forgive….  Repent And your sins will be blotted out….
 Blotted out has the idea of wiping ink off of a document.
The Greek word is erased…... Not covered over, erased……
Forgiveness is yours and so Peter says there's grace…… there's refuge…… There is refuge and mercy and forgiveness in the Name of Jesus…. He is the Christ….. the Messiah…..
 Christ simply means Messiah…… It's just a Greek word for Messiah…... And Peter wraps up by saying…… "He's your Messiah….. And He's been declared to be your Messiah by fulfilled prophesies regarding His suffering…….
"Repent therefore and be converted….
 Now that's really the point of his message…… The most important part of this chapter is the statement at the beginning of verse 19…..
This is God's grace in action…... God is lovingly patient and God is forgiving…… and that´s what Peter says in  2 Peter 3: 9…..
"He is not willing that any should perish…… But that all should come to repentance….  
Our loving Heavenly Father….. remember 2 Cor 1…. From last week…… He is the Father of mercies and the God of all comfort…. God Himself tenderly calls men to repent and cry out to him for forgiveness… even men who have killed their redeemer…. The Messiah…..
 And God is making the same offer He has always offered….. He promised a redeemer….. a savior…. The message is still the same….. Repent…. The Kingdom of heaven is at hand….
God spoke it through the mouth of Jesus just like every prtophet that ever lived….  That´s what Peter is saying here….
Repent that your sins may be blotted out when the times of refreshing shall come…. That's the kingdom….. The message really hasn't changed….. Even though the Messiah had been rejected and killed….. God's grace is extended to Israel and the continued offer of the kingdom is still given here in Acts chapter 3…...v 20….
Acts 3:20- 26                     NKJV
20 and that He may send Jesus Christ, who was preached to you before, 21 whom heaven must receive until the times of restoration of all things, which God has spoken by the mouth of all His holy prophets since the world began. 22 For Moses truly said to the fathers, ‘The Lord your God will raise up for you a Prophet like me from your brethren. Him you shall hear in all things, whatever He says to you.
23 And it shall be that every soul who will not hear that Prophet shall be utterly destroyed from among the people.’ 24 Yes, and all the prophets, from Samuel and those who follow, as many as have spoken, have also foretold these days. 25 You are sons of the prophets, and of the covenant which God made with our fathers, saying to Abraham, ‘And in your seed all the families of the earth shall be blessed.’ 26 To you first, God, having raised up His Servant Jesus, sent Him to bless you, in turning away every one of you from your iniquities.”
 Acts 3:20- 26                     Schachter 2000
20 und er den sende, der euch zuvor verkündigt wurde, Jesus Christus,
21 den der Himmel aufnehmen muß bis zu den Zeiten der Wiederherstellung alles dessen, wovon Gott durch den Mund aller seiner heiligen Propheten von alters her geredet hat.
22 Denn Mose hat zu den Vätern gesagt: »Einen Propheten wie mich wird euch der Herr, euer Gott, erwecken aus euren Brüdern; auf ihn sollt ihr hören in allem, was er zu euch reden wird«.
23 Und es wird geschehen: Jede Seele, die nicht auf diesen Propheten hören wird, soll vertilgt werden aus dem Volk.
24 Und alle Propheten, von Samuel an und den folgenden, so viele geredet haben, sie haben auch diese Tage im voraus angekündigt.
25 Ihr seid Söhne der Propheten und des Bundes, den Gott mit unseren Vätern schloß, als er zu Abraham sprach: »Und in deinem Samen sollen gesegnet werden alle Geschlechter der Erde«.
26 Euch zuerst hat Gott, als er seinen Knecht Jesus erweckte, ihn gesandt, um euch zu segnen, indem7 ein jeder von euch sich von seiner Bosheit bekehrt!
Back in verse 19 we Saw Peter´s  conclusion…… He calls upon them to do two things….. repent and be converted…... One is active; one is passive…… If they will turn around….. if they will turn away from their sin and rebellion….. God will forgive them….. then comes the passive part…. God  will transform them…. He will give them a heart of flesh….. and they will love and obey Him…. We see this in Ezekiel 36,37….
This text says that God will convert them for His own great names sake……… God the Father promised to give them a new Heart of flesh….. The NLT translation says…. A tender and responsive heart to obey me…. Our great God….. The Father of mercies….. the God of all comfort…. 2 Cor 1… God himself goes on to promise the Holy Spirit to fill them and to lead them….. And most importantly….. He promised to finish the work that he began in them…. Philippians 1: 6….
So Peter cries to Israel from the bottom of his heart….. and from the depths of the heart of God the Father…. He reminds them that they are the People of God…. He reminds them that what he is saying is exactly what the scriptures promised…… This Jesus…. is the one that Moses prophesied….. You must hear and obey Him…… Jesus…. or you will perish in your sins….. He says …. These are not my words….. Moses said these words…. The Christ is come to redeem and to bless you…. And through you…. All of the peoples on the face of the earth….. cry out to Him….. v26….
Acts 3: 26    NKJV   Schlachter 2000
26 To you first, God, having raised up His Servant Jesus, sent Him to bless you, in turning away every one of you from your iniquities.”
26 Euch zuerst hat Gott, als er seinen Knecht Jesus erweckte, ihn gesandt, um euch zu segnen, indem7 ein jeder von euch sich von seiner Bosheit bekehrt!
God's plan to bless us and to do good for us…… First and most importantly…..  includes His desire to turn us all away from our sins…
Close
The Lord God would say to us today….. Change your mind about Jesus….. You cannot be a fan of Jesus…. You cannot put Him on you t-shirt or wear Him around your neck…. Our sin and rebellion has separated us from our God…… and we stand condemned because of our sin and rebellion…. But God….  God is still gracious and the Father of mercy…..  even though you've murdered His Son….. change your mind and repent and be converted…... I know that many of us are already believers……. And yet we are often far from Him in our daily lives….. We often act just like unbelievers…… We act like we can´t trust God to know what´s best for us….. We try to take control of our own lives….. Isaiah had said God can blot out our sins….. and then Isaiah said in the next chapter 44…… God will blot out our sins….
 and here we find in the coming of Jesus Christ….. God´s provision for that blotting out….. And Peter says, if you'll only change your minds about Jesus you can have your sins blotted out….. Our sins totally forgotten by God…… He said I'll remember them no more……. What a promise, total forgiveness…….
In Col. 2:13 the Bible says He has forgiven us all our trespasses…… Total forgiveness…… That´s something the Old Testament believer never knew……. They never had   freedom from guilt…… They never had   freedom from the besieging problem of sin…… because as soon as they offered a sacrifice they'd go out and sin again and they'd be in the same boat again…… There was no liberty….. There was none of that great freedom that we have without the burden of bearing the guilt of sin…… So he says you can have your sins forgiven if you'll turn to Jesus….. That's the first thing…… Repent the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand….. If you have never repented and cried out for mercy and forgiveness…. Today is the day…. Cry out to Him…. Do you know Him…. God is a forgiving God….. He willingly forgives all those who come to Him…..  
Most of us here this morning have already repented of our sins…… Jesus has forgiven us and given us a new heart….. We have been born again….. But we tend to forget that we have been saved for a reason….. God has purpose in everything He does….. When He saved us…. It was for His great Names sake….. so that we would Glorify Him in our lives….
Paul told the Ephesian believers the very same thing…. Look at Eph 2… v1….
Ephesians 2:1- 10    NKJV
1 And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins, in which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience, among whom also we all once conducted ourselves in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, just as the others.
But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast. 10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.
Ephesians 2:1- 10         Schlachter 2000
1 — auch euch, die ihr tot wart durch Übertretungen und Sünden,
2 in denen ihr einst gelebt habt nach dem Lauf dieser Welt1, gemäß dem Fürsten, der in der Luft herrscht, dem Geist, der jetzt in den Söhnen des Ungehorsams2 wirkt;
3 unter ihnen führten auch wir alle einst unser Leben in den Begierden unseres Fleisches, indem wir den Willen3 des Fleisches und der Gedanken taten; und wir waren von Natur Kinder des Zorns, wie auch die anderen.
4 Gott aber, der reich ist an Erbarmen, hat um seiner großen Liebe willen, mit der er uns geliebt hat,
5 auch uns, die wir tot waren durch die Übertretungen, mit dem Christus lebendig gemacht — aus Gnade seid ihr errettet! —
6 und hat uns mitauferweckt und mitversetzt in die himmlischen [Regionen] in Christus Jesus,
7 damit er in den kommenden Weltzeiten den überschwenglichen Reichtum seiner Gnade in Güte an uns erweise in Christus Jesus.
8 Denn aus Gnade seid ihr errettet durch den Glauben, und das nicht aus euch — Gottes Gabe ist es;
9 nicht aus Werken, damit niemand sich rühme.
10 Denn wir sind seine Schöpfung, erschaffen in Christus Jesus zu guten Werken, die Gott zuvor bereitet hat, damit wir in ihnen wandeln sollen.
Verse 7 reminds us that we are trophies of God´s grace…… We are living proof of the grace of God…. God the Father is Active and working miracles….. saving sinners like us…. Like me…..and verse 10 reminds us that we are His Workmanship….. He is the potter and we are his cracked clay pots…… transformed and created for Good works….. Which God planned beforehand….. We also need to repent this morning of our….. Let´s pray….