Power of God’s People — December 29, 2024: full transcript and answers

▶ 0:02 At this time we also want to remind you the scriptures say that his word is above his name so if you believe that the name of Jesus that is able to cast out. Demons if you believe that the name of Jesus is powerful that Jesus Christ who rose from the grave if you believe that name is powerful his word is even more powerful so at this time we’re always always giving ourselves over to maybe what we want or what somebody else wants this morning God wants our attention to his what. Word and so let’s give God his time this morning amen we’ve been talking about the power of God’s people God’s people have an authority we have a responsibility there is a freedom and a vulnerable ability in being God’s.

▶ 1:05 People last week or two weeks ago we were sharing about the power of God’s people and we were talking about how uh leaders come and sometimes we get focused and fixated on a leader and we forget that the power is really in us in you and in me amen. And so we want to look at the apostles real quick I want to help us frame in our minds what a leader should be some of the greatest leaders that we’ve had since Jesus Christ were the apostles and Jesus told us to listen to them James was one of the apostles in 44 ad he was beheaded by king Herod.

▶ 2:01 Phillip was an apostle in 54 ad 10 years after James he was crucified. Matthew in 60 ad 6 years after Philip was speared and killed James the l in 62 ad was thrown from the top of a temple and stoned and what was their crime they publicly proclaimed of Jesus as the messiah and the risen son of God in the eyes of the Jewish authorities it was seen as blasphemy and in the uh rome who ruled over them it was perceived as an act of defiance and so they were. Killed when James was. Killed during his trial his testimony impacted one of the people so much.

▶ 3:00 One of the people that accused him it impacted him so much that that accuser chose to be converted and killed with. James Philip he converted the wife of a roman proconsul he converted the wife of a government official he was not afraid to tell them no matter their position to tell them the gospel of Christ that their sin was going to take them to hell and if they didn’t. Repent that they could not find. Salvation so do we understand a little bit. Different picture of what a leader should. Be.

▶ 3:53 Peter who denied Christ was crucified upside down during the time of Nero Andrew was roped to an x-shaped cross for two days and as people walked by he was telling them about. Christ bartholomew was flayed. Alive Jude was stabbed in Persia and I know you guys can handle this because a lot of you because gladiator 2 is out a lot of people have seen. It and it has to do it it’s it’s a lot it’s many years after this time but they were doing similar things to God’s people go the Christians the apostles so simon the zealot was sa in. Two maias in 80 ad was stoned and beheaded and John was boiled in oil but he survived unharmed I don’t know if you guys know that he was exiled to the island of patmos and he died in 100 ad on the island of patmos John received the vision of Revelations and that’s why we have the book of Revelations at the end of your Bible you will find a book called Revelations and John received that book while he was on the island of patmos and exiled.

▶ 5:18 Before that he was boiled in oil that should have killed him I want you going to understand that you don’t just go boil let’s go to bo get boiled in oil today it’s a treatment for my skin no it’s a death sentence it’s meant to kill you but it did not harm. John just like the men in the fire were not harmed by the fire shadrach meshach and abeno just like uh Daniel was not eaten by the lions God protected John for a reason and so they banished him to. Patmos the this island where he couldn’t talk to anybody get them away from the people shut them up put them on an island today they want to cancel you if you are a Christian shut you down take away your livelihood take away your money sue you hurt.

▶ 6:19 You this is what the leaders were like and so they’re they set a high example for leaders today. And because of the land and the time they were living in they preached the gospel at the risk of their lives and people will say oh can’t you see that you do not have God’s favor can’t you see that you’re wrong because bad things are happening to you well what about these. Men they were killed were they wrong. No it’s another thing that when bad things happen to you because of your sin you know if you get a std because you were sleeping around that’s part of sin okay and the gospel says that and the scriptures say that but when you are preaching the gospel and you’re doing what’s right and you get hurt you it’s not because you’re doing something wrong.

▶ 7:24 Amen and I’m not saying you need to go get killed for preaching the gospel but we want to show that the early disciples were dedicated to Jesus at the threat of their lives they were not cowards they were not in for the money or success they were in it for the gospel they were in it for Christ and that is the same question we should ask ourselves what are we in it for I John your brother in Revelations 1:9 companion in the suffering and kingdom and patient endurance that are ours in Jesus was on the island of pmos so here talks about him being on the island of patmos because because say that with me. Because of the word of God and the testimony of Jesus. Christ so these disciples did exactly what Jesus told them to do Jesus said go and make disciples of all nations teaching them all things I have commanded you and I am with you.

▶ 8:31 Always were they persecuted because of their faith they were persecuted because they opened their mouth and spoke. What the word of God I don’t know if you guys know but they handed out uh yeah you guys got the papers great excellent acts chap 5 5: 28 did we not command you that you should not teach in his name and behold we have you have filled Jerusalem with your doctrine and intend to bring this man’s blood upon us so the apostles here the disciples Peter and the ones that got killed earlier as we showed uh they the the religious people the priests come up to them this hey we commanded you to shut.

▶ 9:25 Up we commanded you to stop teaching that. And you’ve filled Jerusalem with your doctrine then Peter said we ought to obey God rather than men we are his witnesses of these things and so also is the Holy Ghost whom God hath given to them who that obey them so we want to first see here that these guys even though they were commanded to shut up they did not listen why because teaching and preaching God’s word is right no matter what law is. Made against that preaching and teaching God’s word is right Peter and others said we ought to obey God rather than men that’s exactly what was going on they wanted to obey God rather than men we are his witnesses they said are we his witnesses today.

▶ 10:30 Have we witnessed an experience with Jesus Christ are we his witnesses do we uh act like him the word Christian how many of you guys are Christians this morning Christian means we act like Christ and that’s what a witness is we are what. Witnesses are we. Witnesses are we acting like Christ and are we speaking his truth or are we speaking our opinion when the world comes out with a new slogan for a while it was you only live once. Yolo what’s the new one give it to me hit me I don’t know what the new one. Is you only live once so live it up who cares what God says you only live once live it up.

▶ 11:30 Is that what is that a witness so also the Holy Ghost so is also the Holy Ghost whom God hath given to them that obey him I encourage you and I want to remind you that after you are water baptized and you’re baptized in water you need the Holy Spirit and the new covenant says that it is his promise his unbreakable promise that he will give you a new heart and put his what spirit in you and so the Holy Spirit is for us and he wants to change us with those new heart and that spirit that he puts into us but it says here Peter says God hath given it to them that what obey. Him and so if we want that Holy Spirit we’ve got to do some obeying.

▶ 12:26 God right you know what baptism is. Obedience Jesus said to be water baptized Peter says the apostle said to be baptized we do it because God said to well they’re tell me what to do nobody tells me what to do nobody tells me what to. Do let’s see. That’s powerful Hebrews chap 4:12 for the word of God is living and powerful is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart 2 Timothy 3:16 all scripture is God breathed and is useful for teaching rebuking correcting and training in righteousness so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work 2 Timothy 2:15 be diligent to present yourself approved to God a worker that does not need to be ashamed rightly dividing the word of truth first of all the word of God can be a living word it’s not dead if the if the word is dead to you that’s not God’s problem it’s yours the word of God is living and powerful when you read it when you put it into you it becomes.

▶ 13:50 Alive and if you you know if it’s not happening you could ask God and say hey God make this alive. To. Me 2 Timothy 3:16 all scripture is God breathe and useful for teaching rebuking correcting training it is important that we answer things with what the word of God the all scripture the Old Testament the New Testament is God breathe it’s useful for teaching rebuke and correc and training why are we giving out our opinion we want to give our answers from where the Scriptures the scriptures equip us 2 Timothy 2:15 a worker should be we should we be working.

▶ 14:47 No. Yes remember the scriptures say if you don’t work you shouldn’t eat one of the things that we do Christians do we work. You my wife said I don’t want to work I hear. That who does not be ashamed but rightly dividing the word of truth it’s so important for us when we read God’s word hear God’s word that we don’t just put in our opinion. We rightly divide the word of truth what is the truth saying does it confirm does do the apostles confirm each other does the Old Testament confirm this because we come out with things and we can hurt people by our uh not rightly dividing the word of truth.

▶ 15:57 The 12 summoned the multitude of the disciples and said it is not desirable that we should leave the word of God and serve tables this is how important the word of God is it is not desirable that we should leave the word of God to serve tables you see he’s putting a priority he’s putting a priority on the word of God over helping. People do you serving others here okay what he’s saying is hey the people that deal with the word need to be sharing the word the people that uh you know we can find some people that and you know who they found they found steven they found people like step to handle this and Stephen was full of the Holy Ghost he was full of faith and he could speak the word of God and he stood before the Sanhedrin and he spoke to them and he wasn’t even an apostle it’s time for God’s people the power of God’s people to start rising up and becoming strong.

▶ 16:59 Stephen was not even an apostle and he stood strong for Jesus. Christ he grew to a place where he had the Holy Spirit in him and he was doing mighty works gosh I want to be like that I want to be like. That 2 Timothy 4:2 preach the word be ready in season out of season convince rebuke exhort with all long suffering and teaching I got to have patience with. People 1 Timothy 4:13 give attention to reading to exhortation to doctrine ezra 7:10 he sought he said ezra had prepared his heart to seek the law of the Lord and to do it to teach statutes and ordinances in Israel should we be getting God’s word into us and doing what it says yes but michael this is in the Old Testament it’s all throughout the New Testament too to obey to listen to follow you know the ten commandments aren’t going to hurt you they’re definitely not going to hurt anyone else you know somebody’s not going to be hurt because you didn’t steal from them because you didn’t murder.

▶ 18:19 Them right just. Logic what we can’t keep the ten commandments Matthew 4:4 man shall not live by bread alone but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God Psalms 11 1911 your word I have hidden in my heart that I might not sin against you so it’s important that we not sin against God. Yeah are the Psalms all just a baloney now because the New Testament here no the Psalms are important we were singing a lot of them today and they’re still powerful and they still. Work and these scriptures are just reminding you how important the word of God is that’s all I’m try doing with this slide here the word of God is so important for your life oh responding to it is even more important putting it in your heart hiding it in your heart that will help you as a young person the scripture says in the Psalms 119 how can a young man cleanse his way by taking heed to the word of God.

▶ 19:31 If you want to take heed of the word of God you got to have the word of God first I encourage you every one of us you don’t have to wait for the pastor you don’t have to wait for the leader you don’t have to go down to the mega church or this church or you don’t have to go down to the evangelist you don’t have to go to greg the the harvest you know he’s doing a great work that’s wonderful you don’t have to go to him God is right here the kingdom of God is is. Here it is near. You it’s available to you Jesus is walking by he’s on the the the water and he’s walking by just like he did with the disciples Jesus is walking by he’s going to keep going unless you stop him grab a hold of him and say Jesus you’re not going anywhere.

▶ 20:31 And I got to paint the picture a little bit for those that need some you know help with the visuals are you going to be able to grab a hold of Jesus oh wait wait there he is he’s g I going to get him. No but you got to understand that Bible there are five billion copies of that word in this earth today maybe even more and that word is so powerful and it’s available to every one of us every one of you has a phone this morning and you can find the Bible on your phone and you can grab a hold and reach out to God every day you can get on your knees it doesn’t cost you any money it only costs your time it only costs you humbling. Yourself laying down your pride and giving your time to God kneeling opening up the Psalms reading a Psalm if you don’t know what to pray read what somebody else prayed there’s Psalms and there’s Proverbs you know Proverbs if you read them you might get some wisdom we might get some I need wisdom Psalms will tell you oh this is what David prayed oh yeah I’m kind of going through that right.

▶ 21:43 Now my pastor used to say a Psalm a day will keep the Devil aake and a proverb a day will keep your mind at. Bay it’ll keep you on track I encourage you do not let Jesus just walk. By Peter said Lord to whom shall we go you have the words of eternal life and Jesus has that word for us today Psalms 45 offer the sacrifices of righteousness and put your trust in the Lord Psalms 58 lead me oh Lord in your righteousness because of my enemies make your way straight before my face Psalm 5:12 for you oh Lord will bless the righteous with favor you surround him as with a shield I’m just showing these scriptures this morning because it’s important for us to understand a lot of people are saying that you don’t need to do good works your good works are not going to get you to heaven that’s true the scriptures say the next one I’ll show you that our righteousness is like what filthy rags but it is still what a sacrifice.

▶ 22:59 I feel like hurting that person over there can I hit him in the face please can I curse at them I just want to so bad no I’m not going to because it’s a sacrifice of what. Righteousness I really want to please my flesh I want to do those drugs I want to do the I want to commit some sexual im around man I just want to. It’s a what. Sacrifice it goes against what your flesh wants to do it goes against what your uh heart may want to do man I just want to hit that guy so. Hard lead me oh Lord in your righteousness lead me oh Lord in your in your faith.

▶ 23:53 Lead me in what your righteousness for you Lord will bless the what. Righteous he who practices righteousness is righteous a lot of you are going like there I can’t be righteous all the time it’s impossible well start. Practicing I can’t be in the military I can’t be a tennis player I can’t be good on the nfl team or okay we’ll start what practicing. How do you think they got on the field that’s. Right he who practices righteousness is righteous just as he is righteous put it in a low.

▶ 24:49 Practice Romans 12:1 present your bodies a living sacrifice holy acceptable to God which is your reasonable service sacrifice mean God’s going to kill me. No but what he’s saying is hey you may may have to sacrifice some things. Now. Sure present yourself acceptable to God your reasonable service God laid down his life for you he shed his blood it’s our reasonable service. Amen do not be conformed to this world but be transformed by the renewing of your mind that you may prove what is good and acceptable in the perfect will of God what don’t be conformed to who don’t be conformed to the world don’t let the world conform you to their message and to their truth.

▶ 25:49 It says be what transform there is a transformation that Jesus can do in your life if you will let him be transformed by the renewing of your mind what will renew your mind the word of God coming before him giving him praise thanks praying humbling yourself. Fasting we got to get back on the fasting Christmas was a big non-fast. Time so going back to the power of the people in Genesis 49:1 the scepter will not depart from Judah nor a lawgiver from between his feet until the say that with me the messiah comes and unto who unto him shall the gathering of the people be not to leaders not to the uh big important person not to the president of the united states not to the governor not to the great church leader but to who to Christ shall the gathering of the people be Luke 8:8 the one who has an ear let him hear what the spirit says to the churches it’s important for us to open up our ears our ears right now are being pulled so many different ways stop for a moment.

▶ 27:15 At that I’m realizing right now everybody has a phone right and our ears are being like this like every day that they’re being pulled like spiritually we have big ears because they’re being pulled so much with every doctrine every video everything that somebody says a lot of people are sharing their message trying to get you to their side. Amen but it says here that the one who has an ear let him hear what the spirit says to the churches and so we have to give the spirit an opportunity to speak to. Us and it’s not going to happen on youtube maybe if somebody’s sharing with you 1 Peter 2:5 you also as living stones are being built up a spiritual house a holy priesthood to offer up spiritual sacrific is acceptable to God through Jesus Christ Jesus Christ is building his church he is also making a way for you he says you’re a holy priesthood so that means that the Jews who thought they had the special position that they are special people you have to be born of Aaron to be a priest you have to be a a child of uh the the tribe of levi to be a priest that’s all gone now he’s saying you you you.

▶ 28:45 We are his what holy. Priesthood what an opportunity right God has a great opportunity that he’s giving. Everyone but that means now we also have the opportunity to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ we have that opportunity and we do not act on. It maybe we don’t. Know but we have that opportunity now now that door is open to every person on the planet if you are breathing you are you have an opportunity to be part of the priesthood amen the new covenant says.

▶ 29:42 That I shall know them from the least to the greatest amen amen. Acts 5:3 uh I don’t know if I put some verses on there yeah I know he Daniel 11:32 even surrounded by wickedness the people who knew their God who know their God shall be strong and they shall carry out great exploits and those of the people who understand shall instruct many we are reminding you this morning the power that you possess. When you know your God first of all this reminds us that we can know our God we have access and we have the opportunity again to know God every one of us as the new covenant says I.

▶ 30:45 Shall gosh man we keep forgetting it I will know them from the least to the greatest of them all of us have that opportunity even surrounded by wickedness california uh united states of America any other country you go to if there’s wickedness yes there’s wickedness in America it doesn’t matter you can be surrounded by wickedness wickedness and you can still know your God and you can be what. Strong you don’t have to be weak you don’t have to be on uh you know suicide watch or mental disability you can be. Strong you got guys back there are you hearing this young people today are are in dire straits some of them they got mental problems they got mental health.

▶ 31:39 Issues and God is presenting. Solutions the scriptures say in his presence is fullness of joy if we would get in his presence we would find some. Joy if we would give him praise and glory if we would give him thank thanks and praise it says he would beat back the enemy and the avenger in our life you know we want to know who’s bringing you trying to pull you down to darkness it’s. Satan and you’ve got to praise God you got to lift up your voice you got to open your mouth and praise. Him and he will fight for. You maybe we’re walking in thinking hell God needs his praise again today what does God need me to what is this this God up in heaven he made everything and he needs me to praise what is this.

▶ 32:37 Problem this God that you got is so prideful no it’s for. You when you humble. Yourself when you praise he will fight on your behalf Exodus 13:21 the cloud by day or the pillar of fire by night never left the people Exodus 32:7 the people have made themselves an idol and have bowed down to it and sacrificed to it and have said these are your gods you notice Exodus 13:13 is before Exodus what 32 so you see the presence of God came in a pillar of fire by night and a cloud by day as they walked through the wilderness from Egypt to the promised land and so they saw the presence of God all the time they’re walking around at night and they see this pillar of fire there’s the presence of God right.

▶ 33:36 There I mean. Geez talk about. Visuals talk about a miracle and people will say oh man if I could see God if there was a miracle if I could experience it if I they experience it every day and later on they made themselves an idol bowed down to it and sacrificed to an idol and we think I would never do that we could be doing it right. Now so the point is that having the presence of God is not the ultimate answer the presence of God is powerful the presence of God was here this morning if you praised him you could feel him because I know I was praising him and I could feel him. And I’ve been praising him a lot I’ve been praising him since I was a teenager he man if if you just start praising him it might be like w what is happening right now something wonderful would happen the presence of God could come but that’s not.

▶ 34:46 Everything it’s important for us to respond to his living word his truth in in Acts 5:3 Satan had filled the heart of ananas and saf they brought they had sold a property for let’s say $100,000 they bring in 50 and they’re like here this is all of our money from our property sale and Peter goes you’re. Lying why have you kept back part of the price of land was this property not yours before you get why didn’t you just say I brought in 50,000 part of the s you got to come in and act like you gave it everything you’re lying you’re lying why are you lying to the Holy Spirit that’s Peter talking to these people and ananas and safire both of them fell down.

▶ 35:43 Dead Revelation 21:8 all liars shall have their part in the lake of fire it’s important to understand that the that if you’re if you’re going to take on lying if you’re going to become a liar yeah the ultimate punishment for lying is the lake of fire okay you got to understand that is God going to strike you down the next time you lie no probably not but the but what we want to do is repent and turn from having a lying tongue this is what I’m talking about when we’re talking about doing what’s right following God’s word or not the ten commandments right one of them is do not bear false witness so we don’t want to put that behind us not do it. Amen acts chapter 5:12 through the hands of the apostles many signs and wonders were done among the people and they were all with one accord in Solomon’s porch yet none of them rest yet none of the rest dared join them so what this story is sharing and showing us is that there were a people that became very afraid when they heard that two people died from lying they got really.

▶ 36:54 Scared and there were two kinds of people one it says got in one accord with. Solomon’s uh they got in one accord with the apostles and another group did not dare join them and so here we see in the scriptures the responses and we have to make a response we have to decide how are we going to respond to God and to his word. Mark chapter 8:34 when he had called the people unto him with his disciples he said unto them whosoever will come after me let him deny himself take up his cross and follow. Me first of all what we are trying to understand here or seeing from Christ’s words this is red letters is that God is calling you God is calling me God is calling every one of us I’m not special.

▶ 37:58 I’m really I’m not special there the the the pastor down the road’s not special we’re all what God’s people and he’s calling all of us to come unto. Him. Whosoever your skin color doesn’t matter your rich or poor doesn’t matter it doesn’t. Matter male or female it doesn’t matter what matters is are we willing to deny our pride our fleshly desires take up our cross our burden that we have to bear and follow Jesus. Christ a lot of us have burdens that we’re bearing you know working is a burden you know every all everything that comes along with having a family is work it’s you have to carry it so you got to take up your what your c cross and decide am I going to follow him or not.

▶ 39:18 And so when leaders and the people come together we can make a big impact leaders are not going. Anywhere if they do not come to Christ and neither are the people you’re not going to go anywhere in your christianity and in your growth unless you come to Christ like he is calling you right here Mark 11:18 the chief priests and the teachers of the law begin plotting to kill Jesus but they were what they were say it with me afraid of who the people that’s us who were amazed at his what teachings at his miracles.

▶ 40:10 At his mighty. Works at his what say it with me. Teachings the people really responded to his teachings. The chief priests and the teachers of the law were afraid to mess with Jesus can you imagine can you imagine the government officials in America and california today being afraid don’t mess with the church don’t mess with that church they uh we are afraid they’re not afraid right now they’re not afraid to mess with God’s people Matthew 263 the chief priest and the elders gathered to plot Jesus’s death but they feared doing it during the Passover for fear of causing an uproar among the people.

▶ 41:06 So were they amazed at Jesus the show the showman was he a showman were they amazed at the spectacle or the concert the healing that he did the miracles no first of all it was his teaching they believed and they listen to the word of God it was alive to them as we said earlier and they would have fought for him and the religious people people feared. That and don’t we want to see government afraid to mess with God’s people for fear that the people will rise up and say. No and the church needs to become stronger in this.

▶ 41:55 Area Mark 15:11 the chief priests moved the people to crucify Jesus Pilate willing to content the people pleased the people released barabus unto them and delivered Jesus when he had scourged him to be crucified so as we learned earlier there were some people in uh in Acts 5 that responded to the apostles and there were people that were afraid and here we have the same thing there were people that followed Jesus and would stand up for Jesus but you had another people that wanted to kill him or wanted to please the religious. People you got to understand that religion today is not necessarily uh some re you know some church somewhere religious religion today has to do with a message it has to do with somebody’s putting out beliefs out there today and you can kind of see it in our time you can see it in messages in videos in songs they’re putting out a message they’re putting out beliefs that they want you to believe.

▶ 43:11 In they’re putting out statements that that oppose God’s identity for you they oppose God’s. Truth that is their religion and so you have to decide who you’re going to please who are you going to side with am I going to side with this religion or am I going to side side with the word of God and so I’m trying to make this very clear you had one people that would fight and stand up for Jesus and then you have this other people that were easily stirred to rise up and call for the crucifixion of Jesus Christ an innocent man who did no wrong but they because they didn’t like him because they didn’t like his word because they didn’t like what he spoke and what he said they wanted to kill.

▶ 44:19 Him and so God is asking us as worship team comes what people are we. Jesus said in Matthew 16:13 and he asked his disciples he said who do you say I am and Peter replied and he said you are the messiah the son of the living God and what is our response and maybe our response is yes you’re the messiah the son of the living God but are we listening and and and showing that he is by respecting that had. Authority John 10: 27 my sheep listen to my voice I know them they follow me I give them eternal life and they shall never perish no one shall snatch them out of my hand don’t you want to be a little sheepy like.

▶ 45:19 That yes someone who hears his voice who follows him who knows him who keeps his word he gives us eternal. Life isn’t it good to know that we can be in his hand into a place where we cannot be taken out he no one can snatch us out no one can pull you out of his hand when you are putting your trust your faith your commitment to him no one can p you out the scriptures say I will never leave you nor forsake you John. 18:36 Jesus answered and he said my kingdom is not of this world if my kingdom were of this world my servants would say it.

▶ 46:18 Fight my servants would what fight fight so that I should not be delivered to the Jews but now my kingdom is not from here and so God is saying and reminding us if we want to be in his kingdom the kingdom of heaven if I want this heaven that he is offering if I want this eternal life that he is offering it’s time that I stop fighting for the kingdom of darkness and start fighting for the living God Jesus Christ it’s time that I start fighting for his word it’s time that I start fighting and standing up for his truth. Amen and Christ is calling all of us to side with him to side with his word.