Middlebelt Baptist Church
April 12, 2026
  • Song
  • Trading My Sorrows
  • The Call

      • Zechariah 9:9CSB

  • What A Beautiful Name
  • Beautiful Name - Appendix
  • I Call You Faithful

      • Acts 4:13–21ESV

  • Intro:

    Why does the resurrection matter?
    Illustration of a linchpin holding together a scooter or bicycle.
    1 Corinthians 15:16–17 CSB
    16 For if the dead are not raised, not even Christ has been raised. 17 And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is worthless; you are still in your sins.
    The resurrection of Jesus is the central foundational linchpin of the Christian Faith, holding together all other doctrines, including His deity, sinless life, and substitutionary sacrifice. If the resurrection did not occur, Christianity is regarded as futile and void of hope, whereas it being true confirms Jesus' claims and offers assurance of eternal life
    The Foundation of our Faith-Without the Resurrection faith is useless
    Validation of the Deity of Jesus-It validates the claim that Jesus is the Son of God
    Hope for the Believers-It acts as a promise of resurrection and eternal life for the believers transforming death from a finality to a temporary state
    Central Message-it was the core message of the early church and remains the central theme of the Gospel(The Good News)
    Historical Validation-Lee Stobel comments that returning to life after being dead is the compelling confirmation of Jesus truthfulness
    The “linchpin” indicates that if the event is removed the entire structure of the Christian Faith collapses.

    Then

    John 20:19 CSB
    19 When it was evening on that first day of the week, the disciples were gathered together with the doors locked because they feared the Jews. Jesus came, stood among them, and said to them, “Peace be with you.”
    (19) on the evening of Jesus resurrection Sunday the disciples were in a locked room in fear. They were scared, disappointed, and confused.
    Three days prior in a courtyard the lead disciple Peter denied he even knew Jesus.
    There faith and understanding has been totally obliterated. These men had exorcised Demons, they had watched Jesus stand toe to toe with the Religous leaders and walk away like a boss when he clowned them, and they walked right after him.
    There life had been in danger multiple times:
    John 10:31 CSB
    31 Again the Jews picked up rocks to stone him.
    John 10:39 CSB
    39 Then they were trying again to seize him, but he escaped their grasp.
    But now Jesus best friends are locked in room hiding from the Religous Leaders.
    About 40 days later here they are preaching and firing away. What happened???
    Always:

    I. The Message

    Acts 4:5–12 CSB
    5 The next day, their rulers, elders, and scribes assembled in Jerusalem 6 with Annas the high priest, Caiaphas, John, Alexander, and all the members of the high-priestly family. 7 After they had Peter and John stand before them, they began to question them: “By what power or in what name have you done this?” 8 Then Peter was filled with the Holy Spirit and said to them, “Rulers of the people and elders: 9 If we are being examined today about a good deed done to a disabled man, by what means he was healed, 10 let it be known to all of you and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified and whom God raised from the dead—by him this man is standing here before you healthy. 11 This Jesus is the stone rejected by you builders, which has become the cornerstone. 12 There is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to people by which we must be saved.”
    Who were the questioner?
    Acts 4:5–6 CSB
    5 The next day, their rulers, elders, and scribes assembled in Jerusalem 6 with Annas the high priest, Caiaphas, John, Alexander, and all the members of the high-priestly family.
    (EXP)(5-6) “The next day!” Saints this phrase is not a filler just to add to the narrative. There is intentionality in this statement. Luke wants us to be aware of the circumstances that brought this portion of the narrative about. Let’s take a look at what happened to precipitated this confrontation from the religious leaders.
    Lets see what got the disciples in trouble!!!!!
    Acts 3 CSB
    1 Now Peter and John were going up to the temple for the time of prayer at three in the afternoon. 2 A man who was lame from birth was being carried there. He was placed each day at the temple gate called Beautiful, so that he could beg from those entering the temple. 3 When he saw Peter and John about to enter the temple, he asked for money. 4 Peter, along with John, looked straight at him and said, “Look at us.” 5 So he turned to them, expecting to get something from them. 6 But Peter said, “I don’t have silver or gold, but what I do have, I give you: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, get up and walk!” 7 Then, taking him by the right hand he raised him up, and at once his feet and ankles became strong. 8 So he jumped up and started to walk, and he entered the temple with them—walking, leaping, and praising God. 9 All the people saw him walking and praising God, 10 and they recognized that he was the one who used to sit and beg at the Beautiful Gate of the temple. So they were filled with awe and astonishment at what had happened to him. 11 While he was holding on to Peter and John, all the people, utterly astonished, ran toward them in what is called Solomon’s Colonnade. 12 When Peter saw this, he addressed the people: “Fellow Israelites, why are you amazed at this? Why do you stare at us, as though we had made him walk by our own power or godliness? 13 The God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, the God of our ancestors, has glorified his servant Jesus, whom you handed over and denied before Pilate, though he had decided to release him. 14 You denied the Holy and Righteous One and asked to have a murderer released to you. 15 You killed the source of life, whom God raised from the dead; we are witnesses of this. 16 By faith in his name, his name has made this man strong, whom you see and know. So the faith that comes through Jesus has given him this perfect health in front of all of you. 17 “And now, brothers and sisters, I know that you acted in ignorance, just as your leaders also did. 18 In this way God fulfilled what he had predicted through all the prophets—that his Messiah would suffer. 19 Therefore repent and turn back, so that your sins may be wiped out, 20 that seasons of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, and that he may send Jesus, who has been appointed for you as the Messiah. 21 Heaven must receive him until the time of the restoration of all things, which God spoke about through his holy prophets from the beginning. 22 Moses said: The Lord your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among your brothers. You must listen to everything he tells you. 23 And everyone who does not listen to that prophet will be completely cut off from the people. 24 “In addition, all the prophets who have spoken, from Samuel and those after him, have also foretold these days. 25 You are the sons of the prophets and of the covenant that God made with your ancestors, saying to Abraham, And all the families of the earth will be blessed through your offspring. 26 God raised up his servant and sent him first to you to bless you by turning each of you from your evil ways.”

    The Three Components of the Gospel in this Sermon

    The Diagnosis: Yall murder an innocent man, and not just any man. The source of life!

    Acts 3:12–15 CSB
    12 When Peter saw this, he addressed the people: “Fellow Israelites, why are you amazed at this? Why do you stare at us, as though we had made him walk by our own power or godliness? 13 The God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, the God of our ancestors, has glorified his servant Jesus, whom you handed over and denied before Pilate, though he had decided to release him. 14 You denied the Holy and Righteous One and asked to have a murderer released to you. 15 You killed the source of life, whom God raised from the dead; we are witnesses of this.
    Sidenote: Peter calling Jesus the source of life is an affirmation of his deity. One can need life from someone else while at the same time being the source for everyone else. Jesus like God is non-contigent he is self sustaining. His resurrection was a triune act.
    Peter tells the audience “yall messed up now its time to fess up!” You will notice that Peter did not put the onus on the Roman soldiers but the Jewish people and religous leaders.

    The Remedy:

    Acts 3:16–18 CSB
    16 By faith in his name, his name has made this man strong, whom you see and know. So the faith that comes through Jesus has given him this perfect health in front of all of you. 17 “And now, brothers and sisters, I know that you acted in ignorance, just as your leaders also did. 18 In this way God fulfilled what he had predicted through all the prophets—that his Messiah would suffer.
    What does this verse tell us?
    (16) Peter says this man who could not walk and receive both spiritual life and physical vitality receive it by faith in the name of Jesus the risen savior.
    (17-18) Peter our Lord is giving you grace for you acted in ignorance but now you know you killed the promised Messiah spoken of by the prophets.
    Diagnosis: You are messed up and in an impossible situation
    Remedy: Place your faith in Christ who is able to Save you!!!

    The Outcome: Decision Time

    Acts 3:19–20 CSB
    19 Therefore repent and turn back, so that your sins may be wiped out, 20 that seasons of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, and that he may send Jesus, who has been appointed for you as the Messiah.
    (19-20) Based on the information you just recieve. Peter calls for a decision. Peter preach this message with power and conviction.
    What has gotten into the man who just 40 days prior denied even knowing Jesus?
    He is standing in front of thousand many of whom voted to murder Jesus. He does not know if the sermon will cost him his life. He does know the founder of his faith was just murder on a tree for his message. Now as his follower he is preaching the same message in front of the enemies of Jesus.
    The Outcome: is decision time. Are you willing? Are you ready to make the decision for surgery? are you ready to get married to Jesus? Are you ready to hire Jesus as your personal trainer? Are you ready to become the Bond-Servant of Christ.
    Transition: This is the reason Peter and his boys got in trouble with the Religious Elite. Luke then gives more detail about a certain faction of the crowd “the Sadducees”
    Acts 4:1–4 CSB
    1 While they were speaking to the people, the priests, the captain of the temple police, and the Sadducees confronted them, 2 because they were annoyed that they were teaching the people and proclaiming in Jesus the resurrection of the dead. 3 So they seized them and took them into custody until the next day since it was already evening. 4 But many of those who heard the message believed, and the number of the men came to about five thousand.
    Who were the Sadduccees?
    The Sadducees, sometimes historically called “Zadokites” or “Tzedukim,” are thought by some to have been founded by a man named Zadok (or Tsadok) in the second century BC. Another school of thought is that the word Sadducee is related to the Hebrew word sadaq (“to be righteous”). The Sadducees were an aristocratic class connected with everything going on in the temple in Jerusalem. They tended to be wealthy and held powerful positions, including that of chief priests and high priest, and they held the majority of the 70 seats of the ruling council called the Sanhedrin. The Sadducees worked hard to keep the peace by agreeing with the decisions of Rome (Israel at the time was under Roman control), and they seemed to be more concerned with politics than religion. Because they were accommodating to Rome and were the wealthy upper class, they did not relate well to the common man, nor did the common man hold them in high opinion. The commoners related better to those who belonged to the party of the Pharisees. Though the Sadducees held the majority of seats in the Sanhedrin, history indicates that much of the time they had to go along with the ideas of the Pharisaic minority, because the Pharisees were more popular with the masses.
    The Sadducees Beliefs
    1.The Sadducees were extremely self-sufficient to the point of denying God’s involvement in everyday life. 2. They denied any resurrection of the dead (Matthew 22:23; Mark 12:18–27; Acts 23:8). Due to this belief, the Sadducees strongly resisted the apostles’ preaching that Jesus had risen from the dead. 3. They denied the afterlife, holding that the soul perished at death and therefore denying any penalty or reward after the earthly life. 4. They denied the existence of a spiritual world, i.e., angels and demons 
    (EXP)(1-4) These verse tells us the richest and most influential group of the Religious Hierarchy were annoyed that the disciples were preaching about the resurrection. Notice what (2) says: “they were annoyedthat they were teaching the people and proclaiming in Jesus the resurrection of the dead”
    This was a serious enough offense to them that they locked up Peter and the disciples.
    Notice the results of the gospel sermon he preacher. 5000 got saved. Yall remember the bible often only list the men. It does the same in the feeding of the 5000. But it safe to assume most of these 5000 men were married with at least three children. The would leave the number closer to about 15,000 people who were either saved or now their family was being lead by someone who was saved. This was a cataclysmic revival service.
    This made the Religious establishment annoyed because they thought by murdering Jesus so violently it would dissolve the movement, but just the opposite happened the movement grew.
    In a rush to quell the unrest they arrest the disciples.
    What inferences can we draw from this narrative?
    Preaching Christ and him crucified will get you into trouble.
    Living a resurrected life will lead you into the spiritual battles.
    Oh what a difference the resurrection makes!!!! Peter new life was not rooted in his own self-confidence anymore. It was rooted in the reserection of his Lord and Savior. This new reality gave him the confidence to stand in front of Thousands and declare: Fellow Israelites! The God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, the God of our ancestors, has glorified his servant Jesus, whom you handed over and denied before Pilate, though he had decided to release him” Now repent and believe him so that your sins may be wiped away!”
    Open the doors of the church

    Preaching the Resurrection will get you into trouble!

    Acts 4:5–12 CSB
    5 The next day, their rulers, elders, and scribes assembled in Jerusalem 6 with Annas the high priest, Caiaphas, John, Alexander, and all the members of the high-priestly family. 7 After they had Peter and John stand before them, they began to question them: “By what power or in what name have you done this?” 8 Then Peter was filled with the Holy Spirit and said to them, “Rulers of the people and elders: 9 If we are being examined today about a good deed done to a disabled man, by what means he was healed, 10 let it be known to all of you and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified and whom God raised from the dead—by him this man is standing here before you healthy. 11 This Jesus is the stone rejected by you builders, which has become the cornerstone. 12 There is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to people by which we must be saved.”

    Intro:

    The Call of Jeremiah
    Jeremiah 1:1–10 CSB
    1 The words of Jeremiah, the son of Hilkiah, one of the priests living in Anathoth in the territory of Benjamin. 2 The word of the Lord came to him in the thirteenth year of the reign of Josiah son of Amon, king of Judah. 3 It also came throughout the days of Jehoiakim son of Josiah, king of Judah, until the fifth month of the eleventh year of Zedekiah son of Josiah, king of Judah, when the people of Jerusalem went into exile. 4 The word of the Lord came to me: 5 I chose you before I formed you in the womb; I set you apart before you were born. I appointed you a prophet to the nations. 6 But I protested, “Oh no, Lord God! Look, I don’t know how to speak since I am only a youth.” 7 Then the Lord said to me: Do not say, “I am only a youth,” for you will go to everyone I send you to and speak whatever I tell you. 8 Do not be afraid of anyone, for I will be with you to rescue you. This is the Lord’s declaration. 9 Then the Lord reached out his hand, touched my mouth, and told me: I have now filled your mouth with my words. 10 See, I have appointed you today over nations and kingdoms to uproot and tear down, to destroy and demolish, to build and plant.
    2 Corinthians 4:3–7 CSB
    3 But if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing. 4 In their case, the god of this age has blinded the minds of the unbelievers to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. 5 For we are not proclaiming ourselves but Jesus Christ as Lord, and ourselves as your servants for Jesus’s sake. 6 For God who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of God’s glory in the face of Jesus Christ. 7 Now we have this treasure in clay jars, so that this extraordinary power may be from God and not from us.
    Review:
    Why does the resurrection matter?
    Illustration of a linchpin holding together a scooter or bicycle.
    1 Corinthians 15:16–17 CSB
    16 For if the dead are not raised, not even Christ has been raised. 17 And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is worthless; you are still in your sins.
    The resurrection of Jesus is the central foundational linchpin of the Christian Faith, holding together all other doctrines, including His deity, sinless life, and substitutionary sacrifice. If the resurrection did not occur, Christianity is regarded as futile and void of hope, whereas it being true confirms Jesus' claims and offers assurance of eternal life
    The Foundation of our Faith-Without the Resurrection faith is useless
    Validation of the Deity of Jesus-It validates the claim that Jesus is the Son of God
    Hope for the Believers-It acts as a promise of resurrection and eternal life for the believers transforming death from a finality to a temporary state
    Central Message-it was the core message of the early church and remains the central theme of the Gospel(The Good News)
    Historical Validation-Lee Stobel comments that returning to life after being dead is the compelling confirmation of Jesus truthfulness
    The “linchpin” indicates that if the event is removed the entire structure of the Christian Faith collapses.
    Always: The message of the gospel preached correctly will cost you!

    I. The Message

    Acts 4:5–12 CSB
    5 The next day, their rulers, elders, and scribes assembled in Jerusalem 6 with Annas the high priest, Caiaphas, John, Alexander, and all the members of the high-priestly family. 7 After they had Peter and John stand before them, they began to question them: “By what power or in what name have you done this?” 8 Then Peter was filled with the Holy Spirit and said to them, “Rulers of the people and elders: 9 If we are being examined today about a good deed done to a disabled man, by what means he was healed, 10 let it be known to all of you and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified and whom God raised from the dead—by him this man is standing here before you healthy. 11 This Jesus is the stone rejected by you builders, which has become the cornerstone. 12 There is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to people by which we must be saved.”
    (EXP)(5-6) There was a coalition of people that conspired against the disciples.
    (1), (5-6) The Priest, The Captain of the temple Police, The Sadducees, The rulers, elders, scribes, Then it named four people specifically: Annas the high priest, Caiaphas, John, Alexander and all the members of the high-priestly family. These are all the members group of the powerful Sanhedrin.
    Annas is the high priest in title alone. He held the title and sway of the position, but his Son-in-Law Caiaphas did the work of the high priest. We see both of these individuals in another part of the gospel narratives in John 18:12-14
    John 18:12–14 CSB
    12 Then the company of soldiers, the commander, and the Jewish officials arrested Jesus and tied him up. 13 First they led him to Annas, since he was the father-in-law of Caiaphas, who was high priest that year. 14 Caiaphas was the one who had advised the Jews that it would be better for one man to die for the people.
    This is a description of those involved in the trial of Jesus. The whole of the Sanhedrin. Starting with Annas the Father in Law of Caiaphas who was the current high priest.
    This same group of individuals who participated in and led the false accusation against Jesus are the same ones leading the charge against the disciples.
    Jesus was hung on the cross around 9am. The sun began to rise around 6am. Jesus official time of death was 3pm.
    During his crucifixion a great earthquake happened and dead resurrected saints came out of the graves. It also went dark for the six hours Jesus was on the cross.
    Can you imagine being so spiritually undiscerned that you could not understand killing this man might not have been the best idea? no introspection? no examination? no evidence to convict!!
    Listen to them after the resurrection. Matthew 28:11-13
    Matthew 28:11–13 CSB
    11 As they were on their way, some of the guards came into the city and reported to the chief priests everything that had happened. 12 After the priests had assembled with the elders and agreed on a plan, they gave the soldiers a large sum of money 13 and told them, “Say this, ‘His disciples came during the night and stole him while we were sleeping.’
    (11-13) The Chief Priest, this would be Annas and Caiaphas and all of the Sanhedrin. The Roman Soldiers reported to them the body is not in the tomb. So they bribe the Soldiers to say the disciples came during the night and stole him. To this day this is still one of the theories to explain the empty tomb. (stolen body theory) This conspiracy says something very important:
    The Chief Priests believed the resurrection happened because there is no earthly theory they could come up with to dispel it so that fabricated a story to explain it away. Matthew 28:1-4
    Matthew 28:1–4 CSB
    1 After the Sabbath, as the first day of the week was dawning, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to view the tomb. 2 There was a violent earthquake, because an angel of the Lord descended from heaven and approached the tomb. He rolled back the stone and was sitting on it. 3 His appearance was like lightning, and his clothing was as white as snow. 4 The guards were so shaken by fear of him that they became like dead men.
    It’s possible to believe the resurrection intellectually, but still be unsaved.
    One must submit to the resurrection not just mentally but willfully.
    Acts 4:5–6 CSB
    5 The next day, their rulers, elders, and scribes assembled in Jerusalem 6 with Annas the high priest, Caiaphas, John, Alexander, and all the members of the high-priestly family.
    (5-6) The same men who witnessed the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus are feverishly trying to shut the movement down by silencing the disciples. Saints this is what “spiritual reprobation”looks like. When you get to this point “truth” could be staring you in the face but you still don’t see it.
    40 days prior the disciples were running from these men! Now they are standing before them with the confidence of a group of Lions!!!
    Look what happens:
    Acts 4:7 CSB
    7 After they had Peter and John stand before them, they began to question them: “By what power or in what name have you done this?”
    The Religious officials ask the disciples a very interesting question: “By what power or in what name have you done this?”
    We might phrase it like this: “Who are you working for?” “Who’s team are you on?” “Where do your loyalties lie?”
    The disciples had performed an undeniable miracle. They showed that they have supernatural power. The Sanhedrin wants to know where did you get this power from?
    Listen to the disciples response:
    Acts 4:8–10 CSB
    8 Then Peter was filled with the Holy Spirit and said to them, “Rulers of the people and elders: 9 If we are being examined today about a good deed done to a disabled man, by what means he was healed, 10 let it be known to all of you and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified and whom God raised from the dead—by him this man is standing here before you healthy.
    (8) “Then Peter was filled with the HS and said to them” the writer Luke wants us to know the difference in Peter now and Peter 40 days prior in Matthew 26:31-35
    Matthew 26:31–35 CSB
    31 Then Jesus said to them, “Tonight all of you will fall away because of me, for it is written: I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock will be scattered. 32 But after I have risen, I will go ahead of you to Galilee.” 33 Peter told him, “Even if everyone falls away because of you, I will never fall away.” 34 “Truly I tell you,” Jesus said to him, “tonight, before the rooster crows, you will deny me three times.” 35 “Even if I have to die with you,” Peter told him, “I will never deny you,” and all the disciples said the same thing.
    Peter is strong and confident right here, but all of his confidence is rooted in his own power, strength, courage and spiritual fortitude. Yall know what happened. Peter invariably turn his back on Jesus and ran away in fear.
    Look at him now!!! Luke is communicating to us the difference in Peter now verses then. Luke is a companion of the disciples. He has watched the transformation of Peter from self confident, masculine, alpha male to weak, fearful, scared, anxious, and timid. Then Back to courageous, bold and passionate. And the only difference is that now he is being led by the spirit and not by the flesh!!!!
    Look at his response to the Religious leaders Acts 4:8-10
    Acts 4:8–10 CSB
    8 Then Peter was filled with the Holy Spirit and said to them, “Rulers of the people and elders: 9 If we are being examined today about a good deed done to a disabled man, by what means he was healed, 10 let it be known to all of you and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified and whom God raised from the dead—by him this man is standing here before you healthy.
    (9) If all yall want to know is who gave us the power. Who’s team are we on? Where our loyalties lie? let it be known to all. That by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom yall crucified and whom God raised from the dead-By him this man is standing here before you healthy.
    Peter is preaching yall. Peter says I want to make it clear in front of everyone who’s team we are on!!! Now recognize these same men just murder your leader 40 days prior. So this statement Peter is about to make could have dangerous implications. Peter says I know yall know this man and that he could not walkhe’s been lame since birth. You saw that we by the power of God gave him activity in his limbs. We were able to do this by the power not just of “God” in general. But by Jesus Christ of Nazareth. The one yall murder, but also the one who got up out the grave!!!!!!!
    Peter is out here stepping on toes!!! Peter is preaching recklessly!! Peter is preaching dangerously!!!! Peter is preaching convictional.
    You know that word “cut them to the heart!” Yall tried to stifle his ministry by silencing him on the cross!!! But his strongest words where not spoken in a sermon but demonstrated in an action!!! “He rose from the grave!” What you meant for Evil God turn it around for our Good!!!
    Then Peter in 1st century prose!!!! Reminds them that he was also taught by a famous rabbi!!!!
    Acts 4:11 CSB
    11 This Jesus is the stone rejected by you builders, which has become the cornerstone.
    You see good rabbinical teaching always reached back into the OT to validate it’s claims. Any new teaching had to fit within the confines of the OT. It could not contradict any OT principle. Peter then quotes an OT Scripture in Psalm 118:22
    Psalm 118:21–23 CSB
    21 I will give thanks to you because you have answered me and have become my salvation. 22 The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone. 23 This came from the Lord; it is wondrous in our sight.
    Peter says the humble, uneducated, carpenter from the Hood yall rejected, threw away, and despised has become the chief cornerstone. He is the stone that all the other stones are measured against. He is the one holding up the whole building. he is the one that everyone leans on. He is the one that everyone must answer too. Then Peter puts the nail in the coffin. Acts 4:12
    Acts 4:12 (CSB) 12 There is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to people by which we must be saved.”

    Conclusion

    (12) This is the message yall this Easter Sunday!!!! listen to Paul in Colossians 2:13-15
    Colossians 2:13–15 CSB
    13 And when you were dead in trespasses and in the uncircumcision of your flesh, he made you alive with him and forgave us all our trespasses. 14 He erased the certificate of debt, with its obligations, that was against us and opposed to us, and has taken it away by nailing it to the cross. 15 He disarmed the rulers and authorities and disgraced them publicly; he triumphed over them in him.
    Paul tells us why his name is the only name!!!
    When you were dead in your sins(couldn't do anything for yourself) a miracle happened (he made you alive together with him) you were spiritually resurrected.
    How did he do it? Your sins cause you to die spiritually but God forgave you of your sins and erased the debt you have accrued with all of it’s obligations by nailing it on the cross. (He himself bore our sins in the cross)
    What was the result? “he disarmed the rulers and authorities(Satan and his demons) and disgraced them publicly, he triumphed over them in him(when he rose from the grave)!!!!! We can say now what Paul says in Phil 2:5-11
    Philippians 2:5–11 CSB
    5 Adopt the same attitude as that of Christ Jesus, 6 who, existing in the form of God, did not consider equality with God as something to be exploited. 7 Instead he emptied himself by assuming the form of a servant, taking on the likeness of humanity. And when he had come as a man, 8 he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death— even to death on a cross. 9 For this reason God highly exalted him and gave him the name that is above every name, 10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow— in heaven and on earth and under the earth— 11 and every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
    Acts 4:12 CSB
    12 There is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to people by which we must be saved.”
    We preach him and him only because he is the only one that can save!!!!!
    Open the doors of the church

    II. The Response

    Acts 4:13–21 CSB
    13 When they observed the boldness of Peter and John and realized that they were uneducated and untrained men, they were amazed and recognized that they had been with Jesus. 14 And since they saw the man who had been healed standing with them, they had nothing to say in opposition. 15 After they ordered them to leave the Sanhedrin, they conferred among themselves, 16 saying, “What should we do with these men? For an obvious sign has been done through them, clear to everyone living in Jerusalem, and we cannot deny it. 17 But so that this does not spread any further among the people, let’s threaten them against speaking to anyone in this name again.” 18 So they called for them and ordered them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus. 19 Peter and John answered them, “Whether it’s right in the sight of God for us to listen to you rather than to God, you decide; 20 for we are unable to stop speaking about what we have seen and heard.” 21 After threatening them further, they released them. They found no way to punish them because the people were all giving glory to God over what had been done.

    III. The Prayer

    Acts 4:23–31 CSB
    23 After they were released, they went to their own people and reported everything the chief priests and the elders had said to them. 24 When they heard this, they raised their voices together to God and said, “Master, you are the one who made the heaven, the earth, and the sea, and everything in them. 25 You said through the Holy Spirit, by the mouth of our father David your servant: Why do the Gentiles rage and the peoples plot futile things? 26 The kings of the earth take their stand and the rulers assemble together against the Lord and against his Messiah. 27 “For, in fact, in this city both Herod and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles and the people of Israel, assembled together against your holy servant Jesus, whom you anointed, 28 to do whatever your hand and your will had predestined to take place. 29 And now, Lord, consider their threats, and grant that your servants may speak your word with all boldness, 30 while you stretch out your hand for healing, and signs and wonders are performed through the name of your holy servant Jesus.” 31 When they had prayed, the place where they were assembled was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak the word of God boldly.

      • 1 Corinthians 15:16–17CSB

      • John 20:19CSB

      • John 10:31CSB

      • John 10:39CSB

      • Acts 4:5–12CSB

      • Acts 4:5–6CSB

      • Acts 3CSB

      • Acts 3:12–15CSB

      • Acts 3:16–18CSB

      • Acts 3:19–20CSB

      • Acts 4:1–4CSB

      • Acts 4:5–12CSB

      • Jeremiah 1:1–10CSB

      • 2 Corinthians 4:3–7CSB

      • 1 Corinthians 15:16–17CSB

      • Acts 4:5–12CSB

      • John 18:12–14CSB

      • Matthew 28:11–13CSB

      • Matthew 28:1–4CSB

      • Acts 4:5–6CSB

      • Acts 4:7CSB

      • Acts 4:8–10CSB

      • Matthew 26:31–35CSB

      • Acts 4:8–10CSB

      • Acts 4:11CSB

      • Psalm 118:21–23CSB

      • Colossians 2:13–15CSB

      • Philippians 2:5–11CSB

      • Acts 4:12CSB

      • 2 Timothy 4:1–8CSB

      • Acts 4:23–31CSB

      • 2 Corinthians 6:2bESV

Middlebelt Baptist Church
7347283838
7 members • 1 follower