Power To Face Persecution
Acts 4:1-13
John 15:18-21 NIV
"If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first. 19 If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you. Remember the words I spoke to you: 'No servant is greater than his master.' If they persecuted me, they will persecute you also. If they obeyed my teaching, they will obey yours also. They will treat you this way because of my name, for they do not know the One who sent me.
2 Timothy 3:12 NIV
In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted.
1st I will not fear opposition
Acts 4:1 ESV
And as they were speaking to the people, the priests and the captain of the temple and the Sadducees came upon them
Acts 4:2 ESV
greatly annoyed because they were teaching the people and proclaiming in Jesus the resurrection from the dead.
Acts 4:4 ESV
But many of those who had heard the word believed, and the number of the men came to about five thousand.
2nd I will proclaim the resurrection
Acts 4:2 ESV
greatly annoyed because they were teaching the people and
proclaiming in Jesus the resurrection from the dead.
Acts 4:9 ESV
If we are being examined today concerning a good deed done to a crippled man, by what means this man has been healed, let it be known to all of you 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 is standing before you well.
1 Corinthians 15:14 NIV
If Christ has not been raised, our preaching is useless and so is your faith.
Romans 10:9 NIV
If you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.
3rd I will perform signs and wonders in Jesus’ name
Acts 4:9-10 NLT
Are we being questioned today because we've done a good deed for a crippled man? Do you want to know how he was healed? Let me clearly state to all of you and to all the people of Israel that he was healed by the powerful name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene, the man you crucified but whom God raised from the dead.
Acts 3:16 NIV
By faith in the name of Jesus, this man whom you see and know was made strong. It is Jesus' name and the faith that comes through him that has given this complete healing to him, as you can all see.
John 14:12-14 NIV
I tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing. He will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father. And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Son may bring glory to the Father. You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it.
John 15:16 NIV
You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit — fruit that will last. Then the Father will give you whatever you ask in my name.
John 16:23-24 NIV
In that day you will no longer ask me anything. I tell you the truth, my Father will give you whatever you ask in my name. Until now you have not asked for anything in my name. Ask and you will receive, and your joy will be complete.
Acts 8:6 NLT
Crowds listened intently to Philip because they were eager to hear his message and see the miraculous signs he did.
Acts 8:12 NLT
But now the people believed Philip's message of Good News concerning the Kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ. As a result, many men and women were baptized.
4th I will be filled with the Holy Spirit
Acts 4:3-8 NIV
They seized Peter and John, and because it was evening, they put them in jail until the next day. The next day the rulers, elders and teachers of the law met in Jerusalem. Annas the high priest was there, and so were Caiaphas, John, Alexander and the other men of the high priest's family. They had Peter and John brought before them and began to question them: "By what power or what name did you do this?" Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them: "Rulers and elders of the people!
Matthew 10:19-20 NIV
But when they arrest you, do not worry about what to say or how to say it. At that time you will be given what to say, for it will not be you speaking, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you.
Acts 1:8 NIV
But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth."
Acts 4:24-31 NIV
They raised their voices together in prayer to God. "Sovereign Lord," they said, "you made the heaven and the earth and the sea, and everything in them. Now, Lord, consider their threats and enable your servants to speak your word with great boldness. Stretch out your hand to heal and perform miraculous signs and wonders through the name of your holy servant Jesus." After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly.
5th I will tell people that Jesus is the only way to be saved
Acts 4:12 NIV
And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved."
John 14:6 NKJV
Jesus said to him, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.
6th I will spend time with Jesus
Acts 4:13 ESV
Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated, common men, they were astonished. And they recognized that they had been with Jesus.
Mark 3:14 NIV
He appointed twelve — designating them apostles - that they might be with him and that he might send them out to preach...
