Standing Firm! (Acts 4:1-22)

How to Stand Firm

These principles are drawn from the example of Peter and John in Acts 4:1-22. For the full sermon, check out the Fellowship Website. 

1. Know that Persecution WILL come!

2 Timothy 3:12 – all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted,

Romans 8:35 – …Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword?

James 1:2 – count it all joy when you meet trials of various kinds…

2. Be Devoted to the right things: Acts 2:42 

The Word of God

hearing, reading, studying, memorizing, & meditating

Fellowship

The Gospel

Prayer - Join us each Sunday morning at 9:00 in Room 113 for prayer.

3. Keep your Eyes Open

Always be ready for opportunities that the Lord brings you.

1 Peter 3:15

The question: how can we be silent?

How can we not be passionate about sharing the gospel with others?

Why are we not constantly thinking and planning and rehearsing sharing with others?

We need to be constantly strategizing how to weave the gospel into the rhythm of our daily lives. 

Thinking about the relationships the Lord has placed us in and how those can be leveraged for His purposes. 

4. Be Filled with the Spirit

Are you constantly saturating yourself in God’s Word? 

Are you making effort in all five areas of Scripture input?

You’ll never be “filled with the Spirit” unless you’re spending time at the Feet of your Master.

Luke 10:39 – Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet and listened to his teaching. ⁴⁰ But Martha was distracted with much serving.

5. Obey God first and foremost

We must obey God first. We are slaves, He is our Master.

Someone once said to DL Moody: “the world has yet to see what God will do with a man fully consecrated to Him.” His response was to strive with everything he had to be that man.

What is your level of commitment and loyalty to God?
Can you truly say “I must obey God rather than fear man?”

6. Confidence & Competence in the Gospel

We need to have full confidence that the gospels and Acts are accurate historical records of real events that really happened, written down by eye-witnesses. 

We also need to be competent in sharing the gospel. 

Remember: There’s a difference between your testimony and the gospel. Your personal story can be a powerful tool in evangelism.

A testimony is telling others what Jesus has done for you personally. 

Sharing the gospel is about telling others what Jesus has done for the world and how they can be saved from their sins

Acts 4:12 is the powerful message of the gospel

Acts 4:20 is the example that we must follow in the rhythm of our daily lives. 

We cannot but speak of what we have seen and heard!