Next Part 3 - Unstoppable Mission, Unshakeable People

INTRODUCTION: The Church was never meant to STAY STILL, it was called to take the Gospel to the world, even in the face of OPPOSITION. In Acts 3, Peter and John encounter a man who had been lame from birth. What seemed like an ordinary day turned into a divine appointment. Through the POWER of Jesus' name, healing came, not just to his body, but to the hearts of all who witnessed it.

But the miracle didn’t go UNCHALLENGED. In Acts 4, the same POWER that brought healing also brought resistance. The apostles were threatened, told to stay silent, but they refused. Why? Because the MISSION didn’t stop at the temple gate. It didn’t stop at intimidation. It was, and still is, UNSTOPPABLE.

Today, we are that CHURCH. And the question before us is simple: What’s NEXT? Will we SHRINK BACK, or will we RISE UP with BOLDNESS, carrying the Gospel FORWARD no matter the cost?

3-BUILDING BLOCKS OF AN UNSTOPPABLE MISSION AND AN UNSHAKEABLE PEOPLE:

I. A BLESSING AT THE BEAUTIFUL GATE

a.  Church, the miraculous POWER of Jesus is still ALIVE and ACTIVE today.

      i. Acts 3:6-8 "Then Peter said, Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have give I thee: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk. And he took him by the right hand, and lifted him up: and immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength. And he leaping up stood, and walked..."

II. A BARRAGE OF BACKLASH 

a.  Backlash will always come when God MOVES. Even the RELIGIOUS leaders tried to silence the early believers.

    i. Acts 4:18-22 "And they called them and commanded them not to speak at all nor teach in the name of Jesus. But Peter and John answered and said unto them, whether it be right in the sight of God to hearken unto you more than unto God, judge ye. For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard. So when they had further threatened them, they let them go, finding nothing how they might punish them, because of the people: for all men glorified God for that which was done. For the man was above forty years old, on whom this miracle of healing was shewed.”

III.    A BOLDNESS THROUGH PRAYER, NOT PROTECTION

a.  The disciples prayed for COURAGE, not COMFORT.

        i.  Acts 4:23-31 "And being let go, they went to their own company, and reported all that the chief priests and elders had said unto them. And when they heard that, they lifted up their voice to God with one accord, and said, Lord, thou art God, which hast made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and all that in them is: Who by the mouth of thy servant David hast said, Why did the heathen rage, and the people imagine vain things? The kings of the earth stood up, and the rulers were gathered against the Lord, and against his Christ. For of a truth against thy holy child Jesus, whom thou hast anointed, both Herod, and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles, and the people of Israel, were gathered, For to do whatsoever thy hand and thy counsel determined before to be done. And now, Lord, behold their threatening’s: and grant unto thy servants, that with all BOLDNESS they may speak thy word, By stretching forth thine hand to heal; and that signs and wonders may be done by the name of thy holy child Jesus. And when they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were assembled; and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they spake the word of God with BOLDNESS.”