Stand Your Ground by Pastor Phil Derstine

Sermon notes:

The Acts of the Apostles – Acts 4:13-20

• Acts 4:3 “They seized Peter and John, and because it was evening, they put them in jail until the   next day.  But many who heard the message believed, and the number of men grew to about five thousand.”
• 6:13 “Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may   be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.”

4 THINGS RESULT when you STAND YOUR GROUND:

1. BOLDNESS – Not a FRUIT or GIFT of the Spirit, but an ACT of our WILL

• Exercises faith to release the Power of God
• “Note…these men had been with Jesus.”
• II Tim. 1:7 “For God hath not given us the spirit of fear;

          but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.”

2. MIRACLES – God’s response to our boldness (act of faith)

• A “notable miracle” could not be denied!
• I Cor. 14:22 Tongues: a sign to unbelievers
• Heb. 2:4 “God also testified to it by signs, wonders and various miracles, and gifts of the Holy Spirit distributed        according to His will.”

3. CONFLICT – World’s response to our boldness (persecution)

• II Tim. 3:12 “Yea, and all that will live Godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.”
  Phil. 1:29 “Unto you it is given…not only to believe on Him, but also to suffer for His sake.”
  Mark 10:30 “Hundred fold blessings…with persecutions.”

4. TESTIMONY – Fruit of our lives when we are SPIRIT FILLED

• Acts 1:8 “But ye shall receive power… and ye shall be witnesses unto me…”
• Acts 4:18-20 “Then they called them in again and commanded them not to speak or teach at all in the            name of Jesus. But Peter and John replied, Judge for yourselves whether it is right in God’s sight to obey you rather than God, For we cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard.”
• Luke 21:13 “And it shall turn to you for a testimony.”
• I Pet. 3:15 “Be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you…”

Acts 4:31 “After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken.  And they were all filled                       with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly.” (32) All the believers were one in heart  and mind…”