the empire strikes back

The Empire Strikes Back

Acts 2 to Acts 4

Monday, June 11, 12

The Kingdom InvadesActs 2:1-4: Heavenly Power Strikes Earth

2:5-13: Shock and Awe

2:14-41: 3000 POW’s released!

2:42-47: The Real Church Begins

3:1-10: Kingdom Proclaimed in Healing

3:11-26: The Kingdom Proclaimed in Words

4:1-22:The Evil Empire Retaliates

4:23-37: Kingdom Prayer & Kingdom Love

Monday, June 11, 12

Kingdom Proclaimed in Words: 3:11-26

Words clarify Who the King of the Kingdom is Who did the healing and what He wants

Healing & words bring in the harvest: 5000 more! (4:4). Need both. This is how Jesus did it.

Show & Te&! Works & Words of the Kingdom

Monday, June 11, 12

Words clarify the works of GodWorks validate the word of GodJesus did both to win souls. So should we.

Newton's Third Law of Motion

To every action there is always an equal and opposite reaction: or the forces of two bodies on each other are always equal and are directed in opposite directions

Monday, June 11, 12

Words clarify the works of GodWorks validate the word of GodJesus did both to win souls. So should we.

The Evil Empire Retaliates: 4:1-22

Revival is an invasion of enemy territory!

Last move of God persecutes the new move: e.g.--OT vs. NT leaders

St. Augustine 1565: Spanish Catholics execute 240 French Protestant Huguenots for faith.

Monday, June 11, 12

Empire retaliatesMy close calls, flood, family issues during mission trips, Vineyard 1st Sunday, home attacks 1989

Revival Is Always Opposed by Some

Moses! The OT Prophets! Jesus! Paul! Apostles

Early Reformers (1300-1400): Wycliffe & Hus

Protestant Reformation (1517-1800): Catholics vs Protestants, Presbyterians vs. Anabaptists

Anglicans vs John Wesley (1700’s)

Monday, June 11, 12


Breaking the RulesWesley Preaches to Weeping Coal Miners

Monday, June 11, 12

Revival Is Always Opposed by Some

Anglicans in Hampton Roads (1700’s)

Evangelicals vs Pentecostals ( 1906)

Pentecostals vs Charismatics (1970’s)

Evangelicals vs Jesus People Movement

Many vs Toronto Blessing, Brownsvi&e

Monday, June 11, 12


Jesus Was Opposed.

By His Neighbors: Mark 6:1-3, Luke 4:21-30

By Jewish Religious Leaders

He promised that we would be, too:

Monday, June 11, 12


Followers of Jesus Will Be Opposed

John 15: 18-21: “If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated Me first...You do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you...If they persecuted Me, they will persecute you also...They will treat you this way because of My name...”

Monday, June 11, 12


Followers of Jesus Will Be Opposed

"Yes, and a& who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus wi& suffer persecution" (2 Timothy 3:12)

Monday, June 11, 12


Expect Counterattack

Division among leaders is main one: Azusa St

“Gold, glory and the girls”: Sin tries to defile

Elitism and pride become greater temptations

Enemy wi& try to exploit any weakness we have: physical, emotional, spiritual, relational

Monday, June 11, 12

Empire retaliatesMy close calls, flood, family issues during mission trips, Vineyard 1st Sunday, home attacks 1989. Death of Beth’s parents after 1994 Catch the Fire. Beth sick this week.

Soldiers expect opposition. We need to and be prepared to respond as Jesus did: trusting in God, not fighting those who oppose, returning good for evil, forgiving always, staying accountable to each other, humble, child-like before God, willing to suffer if the Lord wills, and standing with each other in prayer and love.

We Need One Another

Leaders must be more accountable to others

A& must be honest about how we are doing

Sin must be dealt with quickly

A& wi& need more mercy *om each other

Prep for emergencies as a church family

Monday, June 11, 12


Kingdom Prayer & Love: 4:23-37

Bless what God is doing even if it brings opposition & personal loss.

Bless those who persecute us. Give good for evil

Expect to be fi&ed over and over by the Spirit

Generous love reveals the Kingdom

Monday, June 11, 12

Kingdom Prayer and Love

Opposition Leads to Greater Blessings

Yet Jesus said, "Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake. Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you" (Matthew 5:10–11)

Monday, June 11, 12


Psalm 103:1-18

Bless the Lord, O my soul,And all that is within me, bless His holy name.

2 Bless the Lord, O my soul,

And forget none of His benefits;3

Who pardons all your iniquities,Who heals all your diseases;

4 Who redeems your life from the pit,

Who crowns you with lovingkindness and compassion;5

Who satisfies your years with good things,So that your youth is renewed like the eagle.

Monday, June 11, 12


Psalm 103:1-18(8)

The Lord is compassionate and gracious,Slow to anger and abounding in lovingkindnessFor as high as the heavens are above the earth,

So great is His lovingkindness toward those who fear Him.12

As far as the east is from the west,So far has He removed our transgressions from us.

13 Just as a father has compassion on his children,

So the Lord has compassion on those who fear Him.14

For He Himself knows our frame;He is mindful that we are but dust.

Monday, June 11, 12


Psalm 103:1-1817

But the lovingkindness of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting on those who fear Him,

And His righteousness to children’s children,

18

To those who keep His covenantAnd remember His precepts to do them.

Monday, June 11, 12


Come Holy Spirit...Let’s pray for one another....

Monday, June 11, 12

the empire strikes back

Spiritual