BEEN WITH JESUS LATELY?

Acts 4:13-21

[13] “When they saw the courage of Peter and

John and realized that they were unschooled,

ordinary men, they were astonished and they

took note that these men had been with Jesus.

[14] But since they could see the man who had

been healed standing there with them, there

was nothing they could say.”

cont.

[15] “So they ordered them to withdraw from the

Sanhedrin and then conferred together.

[16] "What are we going to do with these men?"

they asked. "Everybody living in Jerusalem

knows they have done an outstanding miracle,

and we cannot deny it.

cont.

[17] “But to stop this thing from spreading any further

among the people, we must warn these men to

speak no longer to anyone in this name."

[18] Then they called them in again and commanded

them not to speak or teach at all in the name of

Jesus.

[19] But Peter and John replied, "Judge for yourselves

whether it is right in God's sight to obey you rather

than God. “ cont.

[20] For we cannot help speaking about what we

have seen and heard."

[21] After further threats they let them go. They

could not decide how to punish them,

because all the people were praising God for

what had happened.”

• Here in the middle of this story, a statement is made we cannot pass up…“They were astonished and took note that these men HAD BEEN WITH JESUS.”

• They had been with Jesus, walking and talking and learning from Him for three years!

• Having been with Jesus, they would never be the same!

* It should be the same for US!

* Could verse 13 be said of

you? And of me!

II Corinthians 3:18

“And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the

Lord's glory, are being transformed into his

likeness with ever-increasing glory, which

comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.”

• Being with Jesus will change…

(1)YOUR LOVE

• Coming to know Him, and then walking with Him, you will love….

* People, All People

* The Word of God

* The Church

* The Things of God

• Being with Jesus will change…

(2)Your Loyalty

-in Acts 4, their loyalty was put to the test. (cont.)

Acts 4:19,20

[19]“But Peter and John replied, "Judge for

yourselves whether it is right in God's

sight to obey you rather than God.

[20] For we cannot help speaking about

what we have seen and heard."

• You and I are tested every day, every hour, whether we will be loyal to our God.

* A faith that cannot be TESTED

cannot be TRUSTED.

• The devil doesn’t mind what goes on in here, in our assemblies; as long as we don’t take it out there!

* We’re the salt of the earth, and as

long as we keep the salt in the

shaker, we’re no real threat to

him!

• The Sanhedrin’s concern was that what Peter and John were preaching, not spread any further.

• The Sanhedrin decided to threaten and intimidate Peter and John – ‘Lets just scare them into keeping their mouths shut’.

* So they Outlawed Soul- Winning

• Question: Would that bother you and your lifestyle if it happened in Vallejo?

- Let us ask ourselves: When did

I break the law this week?

• We talk about the things which WE TRULY LOVE and which are of THE GREATEST INTEREST TO US.

*There’s no greater thrill than leading

another to Christ – and there’s no

way to do that unless we speak!

Acts 4:19,20

[19] “But Peter and John replied, "Judge for yourselves

whether it is right in God's sight to obey you rather

than God.

[20] For we cannot help speaking about what we have seen and

heard."

• This is the same Peter who denied the Lord prior to the Cross – but now, even under threat; “He couldn’t help but tell people about Jesus.”

• Being with Jesus will change….

(3)YOUR LIFE

• The idea that you can meet Jesus and it not affect your very lifestyle, is completely foreign to what the Bible teaches.

• When you spend time with Jesus, it will affect your spiritual aroma!

II Corinthians 5:17

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is

a new creation; the old has gone, the

new has come!”

II Corinthians 2: 14-16

[14] “But thanks be to God, who always leads us

in triumphal procession in Christ and

through us spreads everywhere the

fragrance of the knowledge of him.

[15] For we are to God the aroma of Christ

among those who are being saved and those

who are perishing.” cont.

[16] To the one we are the smell of death; to

the other, the fragrance of life. And who

is equal to such a task?

• If we’ve truly been with Jesus, we won’t have to wear a sign that will make people take knowledge that we have been with Jesus.

The CHANCE IN OUR LIFE

is the neon sign that will

make people know that we

have been with Jesus!

• How do you smell? What aroma comes from your presence?