Acts 4 – We Cannot Help But Speak

Hello Project Ezra!  I pray you are all doing well today, and that you will be able to join us in sharing God’s truth through the reading of His word this weekend.  This week’s suggested reading is Acts 4.  The outline is shorter than usual, and the normal section regarding the law has been left open.  I would encourage you to send some time in consideration and prayer regarding how you can share the law in humility.  Though we can never compromise on God’s law, or our rebellion against it, we need to be careful not to come across as self-righteous and hypocritical, which sadly what many expect from professing Christians.  I pray this outline is a blessing, and look forward to hearing your testimonies of God’s faithfulness.

All for His glory,

Dan

INTRODUCE YOURSELF AND THE PROJECT

READ ACTS 4

As God’s word says, there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven by which you must be saved than the name of Jesus Christ!

It may seem odd to many of you that someone would go to a public place and raise their voice to tell others about what they believe

I know this is considered by many to be politically incorrect, or even offensive

But just like the disciples, we cannot but speak of what we have seen and heard

In fact, it would be disobedient and hateful not to preach the truth of what God has done in Jesus Christ

Disobedient because God has called all his people to go and make disciples of all nations, to tell them the good news about Jesus Christ

Hateful because there is nothing that could be more hateful than seeing someone in deadly peril, knowing you could warn them or save them, and turning your back on them

And indeed, without Christ, you are in great danger

But we are not here out of hate or anger.  We are here because we care about you and want to see you saved!

And the only way you can be saved is through faith in Jesus Christ, and in Him alone.

But why Jesus Christ?  Why is it only through Him though you can be saved?

It is because only through Jesus Christ’s sacrifice on the cross can our sin be paid for

Romans 3 says all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God.  That means you and me.

When I look at myself in light of God’s law, I know that to be true

USE THE LAW IN SELF-REFLECTION – ONE OF THE GREATEST TOOLS WE CAN USE ON THE STREET (IF IT’S DONE WITH HONESTY AND NOT JUST FOR EFFECT) IS HUMILITY.  I’VE HEARD IT SAID THAT WE SHOULD PREACH THE GOSPEL TO OURSELVES EVERY DAY, AND I BELIEVE THAT.  SO PARTICULARLY WITH A TOUGH CROWD, OR IN A ONE-ON-ONE WITH A DIFFICULT PERSON OR A FAMILY MEMBER, TALK ABOUT HOW YOU CAME TO REALIZE YOUR OWN SIN THROUGH GOD’S LAW.  THE HOLY SPIRIT CAN AND WILL STILL BRING CONVICTION, EVEN IF YOUR STATEMENTS ARE NOT AIMED AT THEM.  SO GO THROUGH THE COMMANDMENTS AND LIST YOUR OWN SINS.  IT SHOULD BE DIFFICULT AND CONVICTING TO YOU TOO, AND THAT’S OK.  OFTEN, A BIT OF VULNERABILITY CAN BREAK DOWN BARRIERS.  JUST BE SURE YOU ARE APPROPRIATE.  THE FOCUS MUST NOT BE HOW BAD YOU WERE, BUT HOW GOOD GOD IS.

Looking at ourselves in light of God’s law can be difficult, and painful.  We have all broken God’s law, and rebelled against Him more times than we can count.

And because of our rebellion, we deserve God’s justice.   We deserve hell as the right punishment for our crimes

But His law is not meant to drive us to despair

It is meant to drive us to savior.

For Galatians 3 tells us the law was our guardian until Christ came, in order that we might be justified by faith

Though we could not keep the law, Jesus Christ, God in human flesh, kept it perfectly

Our creator humbled Himself and came to live among His creation.

His life was perfectly lived, and His death on the cross was the perfect sacrifice for sin, a sacrifice that once, for all, took the penalty for our sin.

Hebrews 10 says that Jesus offered for all time a single sacrifice for sin, and then sat down at the Father’s right hand

Now if we will come to Him, if we will trust in Him, and in His sacrifice for sin, then we will be washed clean

Isaiah says that though are sins are like scarlet, He will make them white as snow, and Psalm 103 says He will remove our sin from us as far as the east is from the west.

So come to Christ, and have your sins washed away

Trust in Him and be clean

Repent of your sin, and turn to Christ, and you will have true peace with God, a peace that is beyond 

all understanding.

Turn to Christ today and live!