- Christian leadership (and discipleship) must be powered by the Holy Spirit
Acts 4:12 - "And there is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among men by which we must be saved."
We are made for more than the American dream.
The question isn't, why aren't there more ways? It's the truth - there is a way, one and only one way, and it's Jesus!
The Father ordained salvation.
The Son accomplished salvation.
The Spirit applies salvation.
Praise be to our Triune God!
Pride thinks too little of God's Word and its authority, and chooses unbelief. We need to humble ourselves, let God be big, believe in Jesus alone, for salvation.
2. Spirit-empowered leaders/disciples exemplify that Jesus changes people.
Acts 4:13 - "Now as they observed the confidence of Peter and John and understood that they were uneducated and untrained men, they were amazed, and began to recognize them as having been with Jesus."
Peter went from denying Jesus to bold and courageous proclamation of Jesus.
Why are people different? Because they have been with Jesus.
A Christian leader is someone who follows Jesus and helps others follow Jesus.
3. Spirit-empowered leaders/disciples endure opposition for their faith in Jesus.
Acts 4:3 - "And they (the priests, captain of the guard, and the Sadducees) laid hands on them (Peter and John) and put them in jail until the next day..."
Acts 4:15-18 - "But when they had ordered them to leave the Council, they began to confer with one another, saying, 'What shall we do with these men? For the fact that a noteworthy miracle has taken place through them is apparent to all who live in Jerusalem, and we cannot deny it. But so that it will not spread any further among the people, let us warn them to speak no longer to any man in this name.' And when they had summoned them, they commanded them to speak no longer to any man in this name."
Peter and John take the threats.
4. Spirit-empowered leaders/disciples do not compromise the message or the mission of Jesus.
Acts 4:19, 20 - "But Peter and John answered and said to them, 'Whether it is right in the sight of God to give heed to you rather than to God, you be the judge; for we cannot stop speaking about what we have seen and heard."
Peter answers - What is right in the sight of God? What does God say about this? We will obey God, not you.
Never stop talking about Jesus. If we stop talking about Jesus, people will not get saved.
When we come broken to Jesus over our sin - we receive forgiveness. If we remain prideful - we will be crushed by God's wrath.
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