MARKS OF A SPIRITUALLY HEALTHY LIFE

STANDING UP TO THE WINDS OF CULTURE

ACTS 4:12-22

12 Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved.” 13 When they saw the courage of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished and they took note that these men had been with Jesus. 14 But since they could see the man who had been healed standing there with them, there was nothing they could say. 15 So they ordered them to withdraw from the Sanhedrin and then conferred together. 16 “What are we going to do with these men?” they asked. “Everyone living in Jerusalem knows they have performed a notable sign, and we cannot deny it. 17 But to stop this thing from spreading any further among the people, we must warn them to speak no longer to anyone in this name.”

18 Then they called them in again and commanded them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus. 19 But Peter and John replied, “Which is right in God’s eyes: to listen to you, or to him? You be the judges! 20 As for us, we cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard.” 21 After further threats they let them go. They could not decide how to punish them, because all the people were praising God for what had happened. 22 For the man who was miraculously healed was over forty years old.

• “The greatest adversary to Christianity is religion.” -DR. CHARLES SWINDOLL

• “Religion can be the enemy of God. It’s often what happens when God, like Elvis, has left the building.” – BONO

MARKS OF A SPIRITUALLY HEALTHY LIFE

1. “Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them: ‘Rulers and elders of the people …’” (v. 8)

   “When they saw the courage of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished and they took note that these men had been with Jesus.” (v. 13)

2. “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, ‘Which is right in God’s eyes: to listen to you, or to him? You be the judges! As for us, we cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard.’ After further threats they let them go.” (vv. 18-21)

3. “When they saw the courage of Peter and John …” (v. 13) “But Peter and John replied …” (v. 19)4 

4. “If we are being called to account today for an act of kindness shown to a man who was lame and are being asked how he was healed …’ But since they could see the man who had been healed standing there with them, there was nothing they could say.” (vv. 9-14)