2. 3. Refreshing & Restoration
Acts 3:11 – 4:4
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3. Prayer Disciples & early Christians – people of Prayer
Walking to prayer – encounter a crippled beggar.
Power of God is at work.

4. 1. Power It is what Jesus promised and predicted.
“You will be my witnesses” (Ac 1:8)
Sounds like a command.
It is not.
In the story things happen differently
Peter and John stumble onto a crippled beggar
Makes such a scene after he is healed – crowd gathers.
Peter has to explain.

5. Notice – there is nothing special about these disciples
1. Power . . .
Notice – there is nothing special about these disciples
They are two completely ordinary guys.
Man is healed - they become the centre of attention
Power first, then witness.

6. But the disciples were people of prayer and power
Caveats:
Good to do everything with excellence!
If it leads to succes s– fine.
We can totally serve God where we are, as we are.
Not suggesting say nothing until we have healed someone.
We are part of God’s rescue – invite others into the blessing
But the disciples were people of prayer and power
Thrown into witnessing to explain what was happening.

7. 2. Proclamation Peter points out how unspectacular they are (v 12)
God “glorified his servant Jesus: (v 13)
They had killed “the Author of life”
God had raise him up.
Not a complicated message. Just stating the facts.
Exactly as the prophets had foretold.

8. They should each “repent and turn back” (v 19)
2. Proclamation . . .
They should each “repent and turn back” (v 19)
Peter promises three things:
Sins may be blotted out
Times of refreshing may come from the Lord
He will send Jesus back to establish his kingdom.
It is a message that will resonate in our time!
It’s a good message. A positive message.

9. Some choices belong to God!
3. Persecution
Healing … proclamation … JAIL ! ! !
Proclaiming the Gospel will not make us popular.
It challenges how our culture defines humanity.
Family chat – the right of choice.
Right to choose is becoming the measure of everything.
BUT the Bible tells us:
Some choices belong to God!

10. 3. Persecution The Gospel will not always be well received
We proclaim it anyway.
The final word:
“many of those who heard believed …” (Ac 4:4)

11. Living It Prayer: Opposition … Persecution … Suffering
Only church in the city with a regular prayer service.
Opposition … Persecution … Suffering
Prophetic message of a suffering Messiah (anointed one)
Not easy to find (Isa 53)
It is in the lives of the faithful that the message of a suffering messiah (faithful servant) is carried - Heb 11:32-38
Lives of power and lives of suffering.