Speaker: Senior Pastor Bill Hayden

Acts 4:1-13New International Version (NIV)
4 The priests and the captain of the temple guard and the Sadducees came up to Peter and John while they were speaking to the people. 2 They were greatly disturbed because the apostles were teaching the people, proclaiming in Jesus the resurrection of the dead. 3 They seized Peter and John and, because it was evening, they put them in jail until the next day. 4 But many who heard the message believed; so the number of men who believed grew to about five thousand.  5 The next day the rulers, the elders and the teachers of the law met in Jerusalem. 6 Annas the high priest was there, and so were Caiaphas, John, Alexander and others of the high priest’s family. 7 They had Peter and John brought before them and began to question them: “By what power or what name did you do this?” 8 Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them: “Rulers and elders of the people! 9 If we are being called to account today for an act of kindness shown to a man who was lame and are being asked how he was healed, 10 then know this, you and all the people of Israel: It is by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified but whom God raised from the dead, that this man stands before you healed. 11 Jesus is“‘the stone you builders rejected, which has become the cornerstone.”  12 Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved.”  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.

Applications
1. Truth is Disrupting
2. Truth is Revealing
3. Speaking the Truth is Costly.
4. To Live in the Will of God requires Truth.

Acts 3: 11-16  (NKJV)
11 Now as the lame man who was healed held on to Peter and John, all the people ran together to them in the porch which is called Solomon’s, greatly amazed.

12 So when Peter saw it, he responded to the people: “Men of Israel, why do you marvel at this? Or why look so intently at us, as though by our own power or godliness we had made this man walk?

13 The God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, the God of our fathers, glorified His Servant Jesus, whom you delivered up and denied in the presence of Pilate, when he was determined to let Him go.

14 But you denied the Holy One and the Just, and asked for a murderer to be granted to you,

15 and killed the Prince of life, whom God raised from the dead, of which we are witnesses.

16 And His name, through faith in His name, has made this man strong, whom you see and know. Yes, the faith which comes through Him has given him this perfect soundness in the presence of you all.

Applications:

1. Discern Your Opportunity To Share Jesus.
2. Seize The Moment God Gives You.
3. Speak The Truth In Love.
4. The Supernatural Resides Within You.

Acts 3: 1- 7  (NKJV)

Now Peter and John went up together to the temple at the hour of prayer, the ninth hour.

2 And a certain man lame from his mother’s womb was carried, whom they laid daily at the gate of the temple which is called Beautiful, to ask alms from those who entered the temple;

3 who, seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple, asked for alms.

4 And fixing his eyes on him, with John, Peter said, “Look at us.”

5 So he gave them his attention, expecting to receive something from them.

6 Then Peter said, “Silver and gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk.”

7 And he took him by the right hand and lifted him up, and immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength.

Applications:

1. Focus On What the Lord Reveals.
2. Carry Out Your Purpose.
3. Set People’s Expectation.
4. Speak With Expectancy.

Part 6 of 6
The Road to Pentecost

Acts 2: 1- 6  (NKJV)   

When the Day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all with one accord in one place.

2 And suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting.

3 Then there appeared to them divided tongues, as of fire, and one sat upon each of them.

4 And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.

5 And there were dwelling in Jerusalem Jews, devout men, from every nation under heaven.

6 And when this sound occurred, the multitude came together, and were confused, because everyone heard them speak in his own language.

Applications:

1. When We Pray and Believe We Receive
2. Seek God With Your Whole Heart.
3. Move From Observer To Participant.

Part 5 of a 6 Part Series
“The Road to Pentecost”

Acts 1: 5-8  (NIV)

5 “For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.”

6 Then they gathered around him and asked him, “Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?”

7 He said to them: “It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority.

8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”
 
Applications:
1. Learn to Listen With Your Heart.
2. Focus on the Things The Lord Has shared.
3. Experience God’s Presence…Follow Directions.
4. He Will Do What He Said, Always.

Part 4 of 6 Part Series on “The Road to Pentecost”

SERMON TEXT

Acts 1:1-5 (NIV)

1 In my former book, Theophilus, I wrote about all that Jesus began to do and to teach

2  until the day he was taken up to heaven, after giving instructions through the Holy Spirit to the apostles he had chosen.

3 After his suffering, he presented himself to them and gave many convincing proofs that he was alive. He appeared to them over a period of forty days and spoke about the kingdom of God.

 4 On one occasion, while he was eating with them, he gave them this command:  “Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about.

5 For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the

 Holy Spirit.”

Applications:

1. Obedience To Christ’s Command Is Not Optional

2. Waiting Is Contrary To Our Nature.

3. We Can’t Afford To Delay His Order.

4. We Are To Wait With Expectations.

Part 3 of 6 Part Series on “The Road to Pentecost”

John 21: 15-19 (NIV)

15 When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon son
of John, do you love me more than these?”

“Yes, Lord,” he said, “you know that I love you.”

Jesus said, “Feed my lambs.”
 

16 Again Jesus said, “Simon son of John, do you love me?”
 

He answered, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.”
 

Jesus said, “Take care of my sheep.”
 

17 The third time he said to him, “Simon son of John, do you love me?”

Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time, “Do you love me?”
He said, “Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you.”
 

Jesus said, “Feed my sheep.”
 

18 “ Very truly I tell you, when you were younger you dressed yourself and
went where you wanted; but when you are old you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will dress you and lead you where you do not want to go.”
 

19 Jesus said this to indicate the kind of death by which Peter would glorify
God. Then he said to him, “Follow me!”

Applications:

1. We Are At Our Best When Broken.
2. God Restores Us To Full Son Ship.
3. God Gives Us Opportunity To Be Restored.
4. Falling Short Does Not Make Us A Failure.

Part 2 of 6 Part Series on “The Road to Pentecost”

Luke 24: 44-47 (NKJV)

44 Then He said to them, “These are the words which I spoke to you while
I was still with you, that all things must be fulfilled which were written in
the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms concerning Me.”

45 And He opened their understanding, that they might comprehend the Scriptures.

46 Then He said to them, “Thus it is written, and thus it was necessary for
the Christ to suffer and to rise^[a] from the dead the third day,

47 and that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in His
name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.

Applications:

1. Understand God’s Plan for You.
2. Remember What He Has Said.
3. Accept What He Says Is True.
4. You Are Required To Share The Good News.

Part 1 of 6 Part Series on “The Road to Pentecost”

Luke 24:36-43 (NKJV)

36 Now as they said these things, Jesus Himself stood in the midst of them, and said to them, “Peace to you.”
37 But they were terrified and frightened, and supposed they had seen a spirit.
38 And He said to them, “Why are you troubled? And why do doubts arise in your hearts?
39 Behold My hands and My feet, that it is I Myself. Handle Me and see, for a spirit does not have flesh and bones as you see I have.”
40 When He had said this, He showed them His hands and His feet.
41 But while they still did not believe for joy, and marveled, He said to them, “Have you any food here?”
42 So they gave Him a piece of a broiled fish and some honeycomb.
43 And He took it and ate in their presence.
Applications:
1. Invite Jesus Into Your Circle.
2. Allow Love To Cast Away Your Fears.
3. Jesus Is Committed to Be With You.
4. Rejoice In His Presence Always.

Hebrews 10:24-25 (NKJV)

24  And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works,

25  not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of
     some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the
     Day approaching.

Applications:

1. You Are Following Jesus’ Example.

2. You Need to Be Reminded of Your Hope.

3. People Need You As Much As You Need Them.

4. It Is The Best Way To Grow.

5.Worship The Lord Whole Heartily