KenTheExegete

The following is a sermon manuscript written and preached by me in the year of 2023 during my time at North Greenville University.

Acts 4:23-31

Introduction: Good morning/evening church, First I would like to thank the praise team for such an amazing time of worship, and I would like to thank you Pastor______ for allowing me to preach here at your church, it is truly a blessing to be here in the presence of God with the saints. I would like to invite you to open your Bibles to Acts chapter four, verses twenty-three through thirty-one. [Read the passage…] 

Opening Illustration:   Today, I want to talk to you about remaining faithful to God in times of trouble. At the center of a hurricane, there is an eye. The eye of a storm is a circular area of calm surrounded by winds. Although it is still dangerous, it is the calmest area of the storm anyone could be in. In the same way…we can remain faithful to God in times of trouble because we know that he is with us in the eye of the storm we are in, and whatever we are facing we can have peace and faith because he is right there with us. 

Historical Context:   In order to understand what’s going here in this passage, let’s look at the context of Acts chapter four. Peter and John were taken and arrested by the chief priests for their preaching of the gospel of Jesus Christ. They were tried and tested by the Sanhedrin, but they boldly proclaim to them what have done. They chief priests and the elders observed the boldness of Peter and John, so they released them and charged them to no longer preach the name of Jesus. 

Point of the Passage:  In this passage, we see that Peter and John remained faithful to God in times of trouble. They were just released from prison, put on trial, and commanded to stop preaching in Jesus’ name, but they remained faithful to God. 

Human Dilemma: Some of you here today are dealing with troubling times in your lives and you are searching for answers and wondering, how can I practically remain faithful to God in times of trouble?

Point of the Sermon: Today, we as believers can remain faithful to God in times of trouble     

Interrogative:  How can we as followers of Christ remain faithful in times of trouble? Our text gives us three ways we can remain faithful in times of trouble…    

Transition: First, we can remain faithful in times of trouble by…

Body Division  I. Crying out to God in Prayer! (v.24a)

Explanation Word Study: Look at the first part of verse twenty-four, the text says, “they raised their voices together to God with one mind”. Look at the word “raised” in the first part of verse twenty-four. What did Luke mean when he uses the word “raised? The Greek word “raised” means to lift up, take up, or draw up. Here in the context of this passage Luke is saying that they lifted their voices to God in unity. They raised their voices to God with praise. Luke is not implying that Peter and John openly offered this unifying prayer. Rather, Luke was expressing that the whole community of believers joined Peter and John in praising God. That’s what Luke means when he says, “with one mind”. Some translations say they raised their voices together “with one mind” or “with one accord”, what does Luke the author mean by this? Well, the Greek word that is used here in terms of them raising their voices to God with one mind, it is used to describe Peter and John’s togetherness in crying out to God in prayer. He uses this word to highlight Peter and John’s togetherness in praising God. Here in this verse, we see both Peter and John crying out to God in prayer in response to the trouble they were facing. Notice how Peter and John did not seek charge at the Sanhedrin or the chief priests. Instead, they turned to God and cried out to him in prayer in the midst of a critical situation where the preaching of God’s Word must be done in open violation of the highest legal authority of their nation during that time. They did not flinch, they remained faithful to God by lifting their voices to God in prayer in unity. 

Biblical Illustration:    Even Jesus our Lord and Savior dealt with some times of trouble when he was on earth. Remember in Matthew chapter twenty-six when Jesus was in the Garden of Gethsemane, he fell on his face crying out to God the Father in prayer knowing that he was about to face the most troubling time in his life. His soul was troubled because he was about to go to the cross and bare the sins of the who world, yet he cried out to God in prayer.

Scriptural Cross Reference: When you cry out to God in prayer, you are telling the Lord that no matter what I’m going through in my life right now, I give it all to you! James chapter five verse thirteen says “Is anyone among you in trouble? He should pray”. 

Application Descriptive: When was the last time you cried out to God in prayer when you faced  difficult times in your life? Maybe you’re dealing with some challenging times right now in your life as a follower of Christ, and you don’t know how to respond. Brothers and sisters when we don’t know what to do in times of trouble we can look at what Peter and John did as an example of what we should do in times of trouble by crying out to God in prayer. What does that look like in the lives of the believers? Maybe you’re a parent of two or more children and they are going through some challenges in school. Get with your children every night before they go to bed and before they go to school and pray that God will strengthen them to finish out the semester strong. Ask your friends to pray with you in unity like Peter and John did about something you’re going through in your life currently. Actively get on your knees and talk to the Lord about your current situations, whether it involves friend group drama or relationship problems etc. Fight your battles on your knees, and pray for courage to push 

Transition Statement:  Not only can we remain faithful in times of trouble by crying out to God in prayer, but also…

Body Division  II. By knowing who God Is! (v.24b-26)

Explanation Word Study: Look at the second part of verse twenty-four. When they cried out to God

they raised their voices saying, “Sovereign Lord, you are the one who made heaven and earth, and the sea, and everything in them.” Notice how they address God; they addressed him as the “Sovereign Lord”. Some translations say “Master” or “Lord”. The Greek word translated “Sovereign Lord” here in this verse means “an absolute ruler” or “sustainer”. Even while Peter and John were facing trouble from the elders and the chief priests, they remembered who God was. They knew that God is the Sovereign Lord who reigns and rules over all things. They knew in Genesis chapter one he is the one who in the beginning created heaven and earth as they said here in this verse. He’s the Lord and master. He is the God who cannot be defeated, notice verses twenty-five through twenty-six. They quoted from Psalm 2:1-2 which talks about how the kings of the earth and the rulers attempt to come against the Lord and His anointed. Here in verses twenty-five and twenty-six Peter and John saw this time of trouble they faced from the chief priests and the elders as a fulfillment of  David’s prophecy in Psalm chapter two. Herod represented the “kings of the earth” Pilate represented “the rulers” and Jesus Christ the “anointed of God”. He is the God who laughs at the threats of those who try to come against you for your faith in Christ. God is the one who created all things. He is the eternal God, who had not and has no end. He is the Sovereign Lord, who rains and rules over all things.

Personal Illustration:  This would be like when I’m home in Charleston, I know that I am not under my own roof, but my Dad’s roof. Therefore, my Dad is the ruler over the house. In the same way we should remember who God is in times of trouble in our lives, he’s the Sovereign Lord. 

Scriptural Cross Reference:  Psalms chapter forty-six verse one says, “God is our refuge and strength, a very ready help in trouble.”  

Application Descriptive:   When was the last time you reminded yourself of who God is? Whenever we face different trials and troubles as believers, it’s very easy to get discouraged and question God “Why am I dealing with this kind of trouble in my life?” Often our faith gets tested when we go through times of trouble. My friends, we can remain faithful and not get discouraged  because we know that as his children he is our refuge and strength in times of trouble. How do we know who God is? The scriptures, God’s word tells us about his character and his nature. Peter and John knew who God was despite their circumstances, they called him the “Sovereign Lord”. How can we as believers can practically remember who God is in times of trouble? By knowing the Word, read God’s Word, let it marinate in your heart. Practice memorizing scriptures that can be encouraging to you when you deal with certain situations. Prioritize the Word of God, know what the Bible says about God and how he is takes care of his children in times of trouble. God is so much bigger and better than you’re circumstances and situations. 

Transition Statement:  Finally, we can remain faithful in times of trouble by…

Body Division  III.  Knowing the power is in God’s Hands! (v.29-31)

Explanation Word Study: Here in these verses we see Peter and John requesting God to empower them to perform signs and miracles and to speak His Word with boldness. Notice how God’s powerful hand showed up after they prayed. Look at verse thirty-one, the text says when they had prayed, the place in which they were gathered was “shaken”. The action of the place being “shaken” that took place did not happen due to natural causes of the earth, it had to do with the showing of the omnipotent power in the divine presence of God. The shaking of the earth gave them a sense of God’s presence and His response to their prayer. Notice how they did not ask God to remove their enemies. Rather, they asked God for boldness to speak His Word while facing trouble from the chief priests and the elders. After they prayed, God immediately answered their prayer by filling them with the power of the Holy Spirit to preach the Word of God with boldness. They knew that they could not go back out and preach the Word of God confidently without trusting God’s power. They were put on trial, they were charged to no longer preach in Christ’s name anymore, yet they remained faithful because they knew the power was in God’s hands. They asked God in verse thirty, and they received. God responded by empowering them with the Holy Spirit to speak the Word with boldness. The power of God did not come to them automatically, but in answer to their expectant, believing prayer. The empowering of the Holy Spirit that happened here in verse thirty-one was not a part two of Pentecost, they had already received the Holy Spirit. Rather, it was a fresh refilling of the Holy Spirit so that Peter and John could stand before the Sanhedrin with boldness proclaiming the gospel.

Quotation Illustration:    One of my favorite preachers of all time Dr. Charles Stanley said this: “When trouble comes, focus on God’s ability to care for you”.

Scriptural Cross Reference:  Since the power is in God’s hands, we can keep on pressing on. Endure until the end as the author of Hebrews constantly emphasizes. Hebrews chapter six verse eleven says “endure until the end”.  

Application  Descriptive:   Some of you might be asking, what does it practically look like to rely on God’s powerful hand in my life when I am facing times of trouble? As followers of Jesus Christ, because we know that the power is in God’s hands we can continue to press on no matter what comes our way. Maybe some of you here today are dealing with health problems, or marriage problems, endure until the end, press on! There is hope in Jesus because he has all power, and he is with you at all times as his children. There is no issue that is too big for him to handle, he is the all-powerful God! Jesus defeated sin, death, hell, and the grave, there is nothing too difficult for him to handle! 

Conclusion:   So today, how will you respond to whatever you’re dealing with right now in your life? Whatever circumstance or situation you are facing as of now. I want to encourage you, to remain faithful to God in times of trouble. How can we as believers do that? By crying out to him in prayer, knowing who He is through his Word, and finally by knowing that the power is in His hands. Whatever you are dealing with or going through, take it to Jesus. He bore it all on the cross.

Let us pray…