The Word and the Spirit

Acts - The Gospel in the City PART 7
20 January 2013
Dr. Timothy Keller

Acts 4:23-37
23 On their release, Peter and John went back to their own people and reported all that the chief priests and elders had said to them.  24When they heard this, 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.  25You spoke by the Holy Spirit through the mouth of your servant, our father, David:

"'Why do the nations rage and the people plot in vain?
26The kings of the earth take their stand
and the rulers gather together against the Lord
and against the Anointed One.'

27Indeed Herod and Pontius Pilate met together with the Gentiles and the people of Israel in this city to conspire angainst your holy servant Jesus, whom you anointed.  28They did what your power and will had decided beforehand should happen.  29Now, Lord, consider their threats and enable your servants to speak your word with great boldness.  30Stretch out your hand to heal and perform miraculous signs and wonders through the name of your holy servant Jesus."

31After 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.

32All the believers were one in heart and mind.  No one claimed that any of his possessions was his own, but they shared everything they had.  33With great power to the apostles continued to testify to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and much grace was upon them all.  34There were no needy persons amont them.  For from time to time those who owned lands or houses sold them, brought the money from the sales 35and put it at the apostles feet, and it was distributed to anyone as he had need.

36 Joseph, a Levite from Cyprus, whom the apostles called Barnabas (which means son of Encouragement), 37sold a field he owned and brought the money and put it at the apostles' feet.

Sufficient signs of Real Christians

SERVING GOD CONSISTENTLY
--especially during suffering.
--Stay true to God when cost of serving Him is hard.
--In the Book of Job, Satan accuses him of serving God only because are going well.
--v.29 Apostles don't ask for to destroy enemies, but for courage to continie serving through tough times.

KNOWING GOD DELIBERATELY
--Personal relationship that meets him individually.
--Jesus died for me--we pray to Him, but we also need to listen.

EXPERIENCING GOD PERIODICALLY
--v.31; they were filled with the Holy Spirit.
--Taking what you know in your mind about God and make it real.
--Spotlight on Jesus Christ.
--Heightening of the assurance of God's grace.
--Not just based on emotions, but a glimpse of what's possible.

EXHIBITING GOD GENEROUSLY
--Give money generously.
--The earth shook when Jesus died and when he was resurrected.
--Jesus was shaken to pieces so we don't have to be.