Armed and Dangerous with the Holy Spirit

Notes: Valor - Armed and Dangerous
October 28, 2014
Harvest OC - Valor Mens Study
John Collins
Acts 4

John is talking about going out with a buddy buying a real fast boat and then taking that boat out on the water, it was called Armed and Dangerous.

He is talking about how the first century Christians were like that boat. They were explosive with faith. We get to witness the original Jesus Christ Movement in Acts.

Acts 4:1-4 NKJV
[1] Now as they spoke to the people, the priests, the captain of the temple, and the Sadducees came upon them, [2] being greatly disturbed that they taught the people and preached in Jesus the resurrection from the dead. [3] And they laid hands on them, and put them in custody until the next day, for it was already evening. [4] However, many of those who heard the word believed; and the number of the men came to be about five thousand.

The church is exploding with believers.

1. The Danger of Sound Doctrine

The secret to church growth is preaching the whole accurate description of Jesus Christ.

Many people have a hard time with sound doctrine.

It was said all wrong behavior stems from all wrong belief in God.

These believers taught who Jesus Christ was and verified it with the Old Testament scriptures.

Isaiah 9:2-7 NKJV
[2] The people who walked in darkness Have seen a great light; Those who dwelt in the land of the shadow of death, Upon them a light has shined. [3] You have multiplied the nation And increased its joy; They rejoice before You According to the joy of harvest, As men rejoice when they divide the spoil. [4] For You have broken the yoke of his burden And the staff of his shoulder, The rod of his oppressor, As in the day of Midian. [5] For every warrior's sandal from the noisy battle, And garments rolled in blood, Will be used for burning and fuel of fire. [6] For unto us a Child is born, Unto us a Son is given; And the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. [7] Of the increase of His government and peace There will be no end, Upon the throne of David and over His kingdom, To order it and establish it with judgment and justice From that time forward, even forever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this.

People had a hard time believing this. Yet disciples stayed true to the message of the truth of the resurrection.

In 1998 there was a study that many Protestants did not believe in the Virgin Birth of married.

John says is there any doubt of why churches are failing..

Acts 4:5-7 NKJV
[5] And it came to pass, on the next day, that their rulers, elders, and scribes, [6] as well as Annas the high priest, Caiaphas, John, and Alexander, and as many as were of the family of the high priest, were gathered together at Jerusalem. [7] And when they had set them in the midst, they asked, "By what power or by what name have you done this?"

2. The Danger of Religion

These men were asking who's power were they acting under. They were implying that they didn't have authority. These men had been making themselves powerful under the Roman rulers. From a religious perspective they were acting in their duties, but it was in politics that they derived their power.

Karl Marx said that religion is the opiate of the masses.

Religion is not a walk with God. It as actions, you need a relationship with God.

Religion can blind you from the relationship that you are seeking.

It was said by someone, they wanted three dollars of God. They wanted ecstasy not transformation. He doesn't want a living breathing God he wants a plastic one that he can put in the corner.

Religion is a toy replica of the real Jesus Christ and that is what these leaders were like in the first century.

A living vibrant faith is not an exercise in religion, it is a relationship.

Acts 4:8-14 NKJV
[8] Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, "Rulers of the people and elders of Israel: [9] If we this day are judged for a good deed done to a helpless man, by what means he has been made well, [10] let it be known to you all, 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 stands here before you whole. [11] This is the 'stone which was rejected by you builders, which has become the chief cornerstone.' [12] Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved." [13] Now 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. [14] And seeing the man who had been healed standing with them, they could say nothing against it.


3. The Danger of Truth

These leaders were not looking for truth, they were avoiding the consequences of the truth.

That would mean they would need to be converted. Jesus Christ was crucified by these men.

The more these men had tried to quench the story of Jesus Christ the more it spread.

They were in the midst of a political storm.

You can do many things but you can not divert from the truth.

John was talking about the mayor in Texas wanting to subpoena pastors to see if their messages spread hate towards homosexuals. He said men can do many things but we must protect the truth that God had written.

John 1:14 NKJV
[14] And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.

Acts 4:15-22 NKJV
[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." [18] So 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.

4. The Danger of Compromise

You can not compromise in the Word of Jesus Christ.

Men that did not compromise in their faith have had a great impact on the world.

He is speaking about Martin Luther how he would not recant anything that he had written because he would not follow anything that contradicted the scriptures of the Bible.

Peter always leaned on scripture for his authority. The devil can do miracles, so it is scripture we must turn to.

Acts 4:23-31 NKJV
[23] And being let go, they went to their own companions and reported all that the chief priests and elders had said to them. [24] So when they 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, [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.' [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. [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." [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.

5. The Danger of Asking God to Fill You with the Holy Spirit

There is power in the Holy Spirit. Its what gives us the boldness and the authority to spread the word of Jesus Christ.

It was said, do not pray for easy lives, pray for the strength to face life.

We need to ask the Lord to fill us with the power to demonstrate the love of Jesus Christ.

The best defense against this corrupt world is to be bold in the Holy Spirit.

We are all called to do the work and to bring the Gospel of Jesus Christ.