We Must Obey God Rather Than Men

Witness: Book of Acts Series - Part 15

Acts 5:17-42  

“But the high priest rose up, and all who were with him (that is, the party of the Sadducees), and filled with jealousy ¹⁸ they arrested the apostles and put them in the public prison.  ¹⁹ But during the night an angel of the Lord opened the prison doors and brought them out, and said, ²⁰"Go and stand in the temple and speak to the people all the words of this Life."  ²¹ And when they heard this, they entered the temple at daybreak and began to teach. Now when the high priest came, and those who were with him, they called together the council and all the senate of Israel and sent to the prison to have them brought.  ²² But when the officers came, they did not find them in the prison, so they returned and reported, ²³ "We found the prison securely locked and the guards standing at the doors, but when we opened them we found no one inside."  ²⁴ Now when the captain of the temple and the chief priests heard these words, they were greatly perplexed about them, wondering what this would come to.  ²⁵ And someone came and told them, "Look! The men whom you put in prison are standing in the temple and teaching the people."  ²⁶ Then the captain with the officers went and brought them, but not by force, for they were afraid of being stoned by the people.  ²⁷ And when they had brought them, they set them before the council. And the high priest questioned them, ²⁸ saying, "We strictly charged you not to teach in this name, yet here you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching, and you intend to bring this man's blood upon us."  ²⁹ But Peter and the apostles answered, "We must obey God rather than men.  ³⁰ The God of our fathers raised Jesus, whom you killed by hanging him on a tree.  ³¹God exalted him at his right hand as Leader and Savior, to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins.  ³² And we are witnesses to these things, and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey him."  ³³ When they heard this, they were enraged and wanted to kill them.  ³⁴ But a Pharisee in the council named Gamaliel, a teacher of the law held in honor by all the people, stood up and gave orders to put the men outside for a little while.  ³⁵And he said to them, "Men of Israel, take care what you are about to do with these men.  ³⁶ For before these days Theudas rose up, claiming to be somebody, and a number of men, about four hundred, joined him. He was killed, and all who followed him were dispersed and came to nothing.  ³⁷ After him Judas the Galilean rose up in the days of the census and drew away some of the people after him. He too perished, and all who followed him were scattered.  ³⁸So in the present case I tell you, keep away from these men and let them alone, for if this plan or this undertaking is of man, it will fail; ³⁹ but if it is of God, you will not be able to overthrow them. You might even be found opposing God!" So they took his advice, ⁴⁰ and when they had called in the apostles, they beat them and charged them not to speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go.  ⁴¹ Then they left the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer dishonor for the name.  ⁴² And every day, in the temple and from house to house, they did not cease teaching and preaching Jesus as the Christ.”

Eternity & Missions

Stand Alone Message

Genesis 12:1-3

“Now the LORD said to Abram, "Go from your country and your kindred and your father's house to the land that I will show you. 2 And I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing. 3 I will bless those who bless you, and him who dishonors you I will curse, and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed."

A Revival in the Persecution - Part II

Witness: Book of Acts Series - Part 14

Acts 5:12-16  

“Now many signs and wonders were regularly done among the people by the hands of the apostles. And they were all together in Solomon's Portico.  13 None of the rest dared join them, but the people held them in high esteem.  14 And more than ever believers were added to the Lord, multitudes of both men and women, 15 so that they even carried out the sick into the streets and laid them on cots and mats, that as Peter came by at least his shadow might fall on some of them.  16 The people also gathered from the towns around Jerusalem, bringing the sick and those afflicted with unclean spirits, and they were all healed.”

A Revival in the Persecution - Part I

Witness: Book of Acts Series - Part 13

Acts 5:12-16  

“Now many signs and wonders were regularly done among the people by the hands of the apostles. And they were all together in Solomon's Portico.  13 None of the rest dared join them, but the people held them in high esteem.  14 And more than ever believers were added to the Lord, multitudes of both men and women, 15 so that they even carried out the sick into the streets and laid them on cots and mats, that as Peter came by at least his shadow might fall on some of them.  16 The people also gathered from the towns around Jerusalem, bringing the sick and those afflicted with unclean spirits, and they were all healed.”

Jesus, The Resurrection and the Life

Easter Service

John 11:1-6, 21-27, 38-47

"Now a certain man was ill, Lazarus of Bethany, the village of Mary and her sister Martha.  2 It was Mary who anointed the Lord with ointment and wiped his feet with her hair, whose brother Lazarus was ill.  3 So the sisters sent to him, saying, "Lord, he whom you love is ill."  4 But when Jesus heard it he said, "This illness does not lead to death. It is for the glory of God, so that the Son of God may be glorified through it."  5 Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus.  6 So, when he heard that Lazarus was ill, he stayed two days longer in the place where he was.... 21 Martha said to Jesus, "Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.  22 But even now I know that whatever you ask from God, God will give you."  23 Jesus said to her, "Your brother will rise again."  24Martha said to him, "I know that he will rise again in the resurrection on the last day."  25 Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, 26 and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?"  27She said to him, "Yes, Lord; I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, who is coming into the world…. 38Then Jesus, deeply moved again, came to the tomb. It was a cave, and a stone lay against it.  39 Jesus said, "Take away the stone." Martha, the sister of the dead man, said to him, "Lord, by this time there will be an odor, for he has been dead four days."  40 Jesus said to her, "Did I not tell you that if you believed you would see the glory of God?"  41 So they took away the stone. And Jesus lifted up his eyes and said, "Father, I thank you that you have heard me.  42 I knew that you always hear me, but I said this on account of the people standing around, that they may believe that you sent me."  43 When he had said these things, he cried out with a loud voice, "Lazarus, come out."  44 The man who had died came out, his hands and feet bound with linen strips, and his face wrapped with a cloth. Jesus said to them, "Unbind him, and let him go."  45 Many of the Jews therefore, who had come with Mary and had seen what he did, believed in him,  46 but some of them went to the Pharisees and told them what Jesus had done. 47 So the chief priests and the Pharisees gathered the Council and said, "What are we to do? For this man performs many signs.”  

Let Us Run With Endurance

Good Friday Service

Hebrews 12:1-3

“Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 2 looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God. 3 Consider him who endured from sinners such hostility against himself, so that you may not grow weary or fainthearted. “

The Spirit’s Work & Satan’s Work in the Church

Witness: Book of Acts Series - Part 11

Acts 4:23-31

“When they were released, they went to their friends and reported what the chief priests and the elders had said to them.  24 And when they heard it, they lifted their voices together to God and said, "Sovereign Lord, who made the heaven and the earth and the sea and everything in them, 25 who through the mouth of our father David, your servant,1 said by the Holy Spirit, "' Why did the Gentiles rage, and the peoples plot in vain?  26 The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers were gathered together, against the Lord and against his Anointed'1 - 27 for truly in this city there were gathered together against your holy servant Jesus, whom you anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, along with the Gentiles and the peoples of Israel, 28 to do whatever your hand and your plan had predestined to take place.  29 And now, Lord, look upon their threats and grant to your servantsto continue to speak your word with all boldness, 30 while you stretch out your hand to heal, and signs and wonders are performed through the name of your holy servant Jesus."  31 And when they had prayed, the place in which they were gathered together was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and continued to speak the word of God with boldness.”

When the Persecuted Church Prays

Witness: Book of Acts Series - Part 11

Acts 4:23-31

“When they were released, they went to their friends and reported what the chief priests and the elders had said to them.  24 And when they heard it, they lifted their voices together to God and said, "Sovereign Lord, who made the heaven and the earth and the sea and everything in them, 25 who through the mouth of our father David, your servant,1 said by the Holy Spirit, "' Why did the Gentiles rage, and the peoples plot in vain?  26 The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers were gathered together, against the Lord and against his Anointed'1 - 27 for truly in this city there were gathered together against your holy servant Jesus, whom you anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, along with the Gentiles and the peoples of Israel, 28 to do whatever your hand and your plan had predestined to take place.  29 And now, Lord, look upon their threats and grant to your servantsto continue to speak your word with all boldness, 30 while you stretch out your hand to heal, and signs and wonders are performed through the name of your holy servant Jesus."  31 And when they had prayed, the place in which they were gathered together was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and continued to speak the word of God with boldness.”