When We’ve been with Jesus

When We’ve been with Jesus

“When We’ve been with Jesus”

(Acts 4:13-31)

Series: The Church on Fire!

Rev. Todd A. Linn, PhD

First Baptist Church, Henderson KY

(8-5-07) (PM)

 

  • Open your Bibles to Acts, chapter 4.

 

We are making our way through the Book of Acts in a series of messages entitled, “The Church on Fire!”  We’re studying about the expanding growth of the early church and learning principles about growth that apply to us today.

 

Using the name of Jesus, the Apostles Peter and John had healed a crippled man at the gate of the Jewish temple.  For that the Jewish authorities arrest the two, put them into jail and bring them out the next morning to face the high priest and the 70-member Jewish council known as the Sanhedrin.  Peter has just told the council that it is the power of Jesus’ name that has made this healing happen and Peter adds that there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.

 

So we pick up now in verse 13 and while we will go through verse 31 this morning I will read just the first verse, verse 13, to get us started; just verse 13 before we pray.

 

  • Please stand in honor of the reading of the word of God.

 

13 Now when they (the Sanhedrin) 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. 

 

  • Pray.

 

Introduction:

 

Sometimes when we meet with people we can tell where they’ve been recently.  Sometimes without they’re even saying anything we can reasonably conclude where they’ve gone recently or what they’ve been doing.  I love Mexican food: nachos, quesadillas, huevos rancheros, I love it all.  But if I go and eat Mexican food for lunch and then come visit you, you will know where I’ve been.  The aroma of Mexican food stays in the clothing for many, many hours.  It just gets into everything on us.  It permeates the entire person.  Chinese food is like that, too.  You just can’t eat Mexican or Chinese food without letting everybody else in on it.  People will know where you’ve been.  The aroma gives you away.

 

In another context (2 Corinthians 2:15), the Apostle Paul talks about how Christians have the “aroma of Christ;” an aroma that has a delightful effect upon others who are being saved.  There is a certain quality among the committed followers of Jesus Christ that is immediately recognizable by others.  Some Christians walk into a room and there’s an “aroma” about them that permeates their entire bodies; it’s in everything.  And you can tell where they’ve been.  The aroma gives them away.  They’ve been with Jesus.

 

That was the conclusion made by the high priest and the 70-member Jewish council of the Sanhedrin regarding Peter and John.  The Bible says in verse 13 that “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.”

 

So I want to talk to you this morning about what our lives are like when we’ve been with Jesus.  Number one, when we’ve been with Jesus…

 

I.  We’ll Radiate the Presence of God (13-22)

 

Like Moses!  You remember from the Book of Exodus; Exodus 34, how Moses came down from Mount Sinai, after spending a few hours in the presence of God.  The glory of God was still with him and radiated from his face.  So powerful was the shining brilliance of God’s glory that the Bible says Moses had to veil his face from others.  It blinded them!  You could tell where Moses had been.  He had been with God.

 

Verse 13 tells us that Peter and John had the aroma of Christ all over them.  The Sanhedrin perceived that Peter and John were “uneducated” and “untrained” men and they marveled.  Peter and John had not been schooled in the Jewish teachings as had they and so they marveled at them realizing “that they had been with Jesus.”

 

Just months earlier, the Jewish council was being confounded by a certain carpenter; Jesus of Nazareth.  Jesus would talk with Jewish leaders, reasoning in such a way that they were left speechless.  And now this powerful Jewish council recognizes the same quality exists in these two uneducated, local fishermen.  Verse 14:

 

14 And seeing the man who had been healed standing with them, they could say nothing against it. 

15 But when they had commanded them to go aside out of the council, they conferred among themselves, 

16 saying, “What shall we do to these men? For, indeed, that a notable miracle has been done through them is evident to all who dwell in Jerusalem, and we cannot deny it. 

17 “But so that it spreads no further among the people, let us severely threaten them, that from now on they speak to no man in this name.” 

 

It’s amazing, really: the Jewish leaders cannot doubt that a miracle has occurred and that it has happened through the name of Jesus, yet their conclusion is: “So that it spreads no further, let’s severely threaten Peter and John and tell them to speak no more in the name of Jesus.”  This is evidence of the spiritual battle that rages in our hearts until we at last say yes to Jesus as Lord.  The Holy Spirit convicts us of our sin and convicts us of the truth of Christ.  It is undeniable and yet we force ourselves to deny Christ until finally God overrides our wills and softens our hearts that we might finally give-in and surrender to Christ.  Well, this council is not ready to surrender to Christ.  Verse 18:

 

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

 19 But Peter and John answered and said to them, “Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you more than to God, you judge. 

20 “For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard.” 

21 So when they had further threatened them, they let them go, finding no way of punishing them, because of the people, since they all glorified God for what had been done. 

22 For the man was over forty years old on whom this miracle of healing had been performed. 

 

So after conferring among themselves, the Sanhedrin brings Peter and John back in to stand before them and they “command” them not to speak or teach in the name of Jesus.  What effect would that command have had upon you?  I mean, Peter and John are standing before the very council that turned Jesus over to be crucified.  What would you do if you were commanded not to speak the name of Jesus?  Would it have any effect at all?  Would it bother you?  I hope it would.

 

I’m afraid there are far too many people who call themselves Christians who never mention the name of Jesus at all.  They’ll talk about sports.  They’ll talk about politics.  They’ll talk about their arthritis or their sinus condition or their boyfriend or girlfriend or favorite musical group or movie star, but they won’t mention the name of Jesus.  Some can even talk for hours on end about “religious things,” the church building, whether they like the new floor or the carpet color or the air conditioning system or the stained-glass windows and never once mention the name of Jesus.  I like to be around people who talk about Jesus.  I like to talk to people who are reading their Bibles and they say, “Hey, let me share with you what God showed me in His word.”  They radiate the presence of God.

 

The early disciples were commanded not to speak the name of Jesus.  They were putting pressure on Christians to not speak the name of Jesus.  Today we have to put pressure on people to speak the name of Jesus.

 

Peter and John have been told by the authorities not to “speak at all nor teach in the name of Jesus.”  They believe in obeying the authorities and so do we.  Paul tells us in passages like Romans 13 to be submissive to the authorities, but we are not to submit to the authorities when they tell us to do something that goes against something God tells us to do.  Jesus had told the disciples back in Acts 1:8 that they were to be His witnesses to the ends of the earth so they say “we cannot but speak the things we have seen and heard.”  We are Christ’s witnesses!  You know, “Sign us up for the next semester of FAITH evangelism.  We cannot but speak the things we have seen and heard!”

 

There is an intrinsic boldness that comes from being in the presence of God.  When we’ve been with Jesus we’ll radiate the presence of God.  If we get up each day and spend time with Jesus, reading His word, talking to Him in prayer, then we can step out the door and fear nothing.  Whether you’re walking down the halls of an unfamiliar school, or an uncertain job situation, or facing a medical procedure, or some other challenge, see how easier that is when you’ve spent time in the presence of God.  Others will note, too, and they’ll say, “He’s been with Jesus.  She’s been with Jesus.”

 

When we’ve been with Jesus we’ll radiate the presence of God.  Number two, when we’ve been with Jesus…

 

II.  We’ll Rest in the Providence of God (23-28)

 

All the council could do to Peter and John was to threaten them further and let them go.  They couldn’t do anything else because the people all around the temple there are glorifying God and the man who was formerly crippled is up leaping, walking, and praising God.  So the council lets Peter and John go.  Pick it up in verse 23:

 

23 And being let go, they went to their own companions and reported all that the chief priests and elders had said to them. 

 

Their first thing Peter and John do is to find other believers and share with them what had happened.  Solomon says in Proverbs 13:20, “He who walks with wise people becomes wise himself, but a companion of fools suffers harm.”  You become like the people you hang with so hang out with people who love Jesus.  That’s one of the strengths of the gathered body of Christ.  You and I encourage one another by our presence here this morning.  So Peter and John share with the other believers what had happened.

 

24 So when they (that is, the other believers, the other Christians) heard that, they raised their voice to God with one accord and said: “Lord, You are God, who made heaven and earth and the sea, and all that is in them, 

 

The Christians praise God for His sovereign providence.  Apparently one is doing the praising and the others are saying “amen” in agreement.  That’s what I do when someone is leading in corporate prayer.  I try not to daydream while they’re praying.  I’m praying with them.  I’m praying so that we’re all “with one accord.”  But the Christians are praising God for His sovereign providence, for His control over all things.  People can tell you’ve been with Jesus when you rest in the providence of God.  You don’t take persecution personally.  You know that God is in control of all the details.  The early church knew this of God.  By the way we’ll see this truth again this evening in 1 Samuel when we read of God’s selecting David to be king of Israel.  God is in control of the details of our lives.  That’s the point these Christians make here in verses 24 and following.  You are sovereign, O Lord.  You created everything.  Verse 25:

 

25 “who by the mouth of Your servant David have said: ‘Why did the nations rage, And the people plot vain things? 

26 The kings of the earth took their stand, And the rulers were gathered together Against the LORD and against His Christ.’ 

 

There is a quote from the first two verses of Psalm 2.  These first Christians made it a point to study the Scriptures, reading what they say, determining what they mean and how they apply.  They understood Psalm 2 as a messianic psalm, a psalm that speaks prophetically of the days of Jesus Christ.  Psalm 2:1-2 speaks of those who gathered together to take their stand against the Lord Jesus Christ.

 

27 “For truly against Your holy Servant Jesus, whom You anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles and the people of Israel, were gathered together 

28 “to do whatever Your hand and Your purpose determined before to be done. 

 

So the apostles rest in the providence of God here.  They recognize that the death of Jesus Christ was no accident.  God took it upon Himself to come to us in the person of Christ, to live for us, to die for us, and to be raised from the dead for us.  That’s the point of these verses here.  They say, “Everyone was gathered against Jesus—Herod, Pontius Pilate, the Gentiles, the Jews—everyone had a hand in it.  They’re all guilty yet, at the same time, you were working through their actions to bring about a perfect providential plan of salvation for all who believe.  That’s the point of verse 28.  Herod, Pontius Pilate, the Gentiles, the Jews, everyone was acting in keeping with “whatever Your hand Your purpose determined before to be done.”

 

When we’ve been with Jesus we’ll rest in the providence of God.  Nothing will rattle us.  Nothing will shake us.  We will acknowledge that God is in control of everything.  Do you live that way?  Start resting in the providence of God and you’ll sleep better at night.  Start resting in the providence of God and you won’t take rejection personally and you won’t fear persecution.  You’ll be like these first Christians, understanding that God is sovereign and in control of everything.

 

Quit worrying about that thing!  You know what it is.  God is in control.  Just ask Him for wisdom.  Ask Him to grow you through the experience and trust in Him.

 

When we’ve been with Jesus, we’ll radiate the presence of God and we’ll rest in the providence of God.  Thirdly, when we’ve been with Jesus…

 

III.  We’ll Rely on the Power of God (29-31)

 

Watch how the early church relies on the power of God.  They’ve been praising God.  Now they pray to God.  And their prayer request is for the power of God.

 

29 “Now, Lord, look on their threats, and grant to Your servants that with all boldness they may speak Your word, 

30 “by stretching out Your hand to heal, and that signs and wonders may be done through the name of Your holy Servant Jesus.” 

 

The disciples say, “Okay, Lord.  You’re sovereign.  You’re in control of everything and nothing takes you by surprise.  You know these threats the Sanhedrin have made.  You know that they have commanded us not to speak the name of Jesus.  So here’s our request, ‘Give us boldness to speak the name of Jesus! We rely on You to give us the power to heal, to do signs and wonders through the name of Your holy Servant Jesus!’”

 

By the way, God delights in answering prayers that are prayed according to His will.  You pray for something God tells you to do and He’ll equip you to do it!  God says in Matthew 6, “Do not worry.”  So you start praying, “God, give me wisdom not to worry” and you know what God does?  He answers that prayer in a powerful way and you find yourself worrying less.  God says in Proverbs 3:5, “Trust in Me with all of your heart.”  So you start praying, “God, give me wisdom to trust in You with all my heart” and you know what God does?  He answers that prayer in a powerful way and you find yourself trusting God more.  God says in Acts 1:8, “Be my witnesses to the ends of the earth.”  So you start praying, “God give me boldness to be Your witness” and you know what God does?  He answers your prayer in a powerful way and you find yourself witnessing more.  Oh, God delights in answering prayers that are prayed according to His will!

 

The first church is praying here according to God’s will and God delights in answering their prayer.  They’ve asked for boldness in their witness, relying on the power of God.  Verse 31:

 

31 And when they had prayed, the place where they were assembled together was shaken; and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and they spoke the word of God with boldness

 

God answered their prayer in a powerful way.  As a sign that His power is coming the place where they were assembled together was shaken.  Would God shake our assembly today!  The power of God comes and the Bible says “they were all filled with the Holy Spirit” and what was the sign that they were Spirit-filled?  Did they act like a bunch of crazy people?  No.  “They spoke the word of God with boldness.”

The same will happen to you and me.  We pray, “Spirit of God within, fill me completely.  Take complete control of my being.  Enable me to speak the word of God with boldness” and God will answer that prayer in a powerful way.  Watch God do great things in you and through you.

 

When you meet people this week will they know where you’ve been?  Will they detect the aroma of Christ upon you?  Will they say, “He’s been with Jesus.  She’s been with Jesus.”  Get alone with Jesus every day and then radiate the presence of God, rest in the providence of God, and rely on the power of God.

 

  • Stand for prayer.

Being with Jesus begins by coming to Jesus.  Come to Christ today and receive Him as your Lord and Savior . . .

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