The Bible is outlawed in over 52 countries

1. Demonstrating an Alive faithActs 4.1-22 Doug Brownaudio, pdf and power point available @ Karenvineyard.org

3. The Bible is outlawed in over 52 countries • The persecution of over 200 million Christians in at least 60 countries is the least publicized global human rights violation • An estimated 176,000 Christians were martyred from mid-2008 to mid-2009 • Based on current trends, by 2025 an average of 210,000 Christians will be martyred annually David B. Barrett, Todd M. Johnson, and Peter F. Crossing in their 2009 report in the International Bulletin of Missionary Research, 2009.

5. Acts 4.1-22 vss.1-4 Arrest Unabsorbed opposition vss.5-12 Interrogation Unstoppable proclamation vss.13-22 Authorities response Undisturbed focus

6. Unabsorbed oppositionvss.1-4 Arrest

7. To absorb opposition means that we chose to - • Be in conflict as well. Conflict is not between people, but in people. • Make it personal • Not exercise the fruit of the Spirit – love, joy, peace, self-control • Share in the toxic, poisonous attitudes of others

8. Sadducees • Political/religious rulers to whom a grateful nation had turned over all political and economic powers during the time of the Maccabean supremacy • stressed cooperation with Rome and maintenance of the status quo. • the Messiah was an ideal, not a person

9. Religious people • Protect themselves • Preserve themselves • Promote themselves

10. vs.2 Rulers greatly disturbed Peter and John were - • "teaching the people," an activity the Sadducean ranks saw as a threat to the status quo. • "proclaiming in Jesus the resurrection of the dead." – a doctrine which the Sadducees denied.

12. Unstoppable proclamationvss.5-12 Interrogation • Empowered by the Spirit • Reframed this as a Power Encounter • Implemented the power of Scripture • Pointed to Jesus

13. “They will deliver you to synagogues and prisons, and you will be brought before kings and governors, and all on account of my name. But make up your mind not to worry beforehand how you will defend yourselves. For I will give you words and wisdom that none of your adversaries will be able to resist or contradict" Luke 21.13-15

14. Peter puts the “authorities” on trial by • Exposing their hard hearts in the face of a miracle. vs.9 • Charging them with the death of Jesus the One who healed the lame man. vs.10 • Accusing them of having neglected the fulfillment of Scripture. vs.11

16. For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ. 2 Corinthians 10.3-5

17. Undisturbed focusvss.13-22

18. Understanding is the reward of faith. Therefore seek not to understand that you may believe, but believe that you may understand. Augustine • God does not expect us to submit our faith to him without reason, but the very limits of our reason make faith a necessity. Thomas Aquinas.

19. “these men had been with Jesus.” vs.13

20. A confused opposition • They were astonished. vs.13 • There was nothing they could say. vs.14 • “What are we going to do?” vs.16 • “They have done an outstanding miracle and we cannot deny it.” vs.16 • They could not decide how to punish them. vs.21

22. How Do we achieve and maintain an undisturbed focus?

23. Refuse to absorb into your souls the opposition from others. Decide that only Jesus defines you – tells you who you are. Understand the systems around you – work and home. Don’t worry about what you can’t control – Pray!

24. Pastor Li De Xian

26. “Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.” Romans 8.35 & 37