REV. TIMOTHY L. MELTON, PASTOR
CHEROKEE PENTECOSTAL HOLINESS CHURCH
“Turn to Acts 4:8-31, if you will.”
“Then Peter, filled with the Holy Ghost, said unto them, ‘Ye rulers of the people, and elders of Israel,
‘If we this day be examined of the good deed done to the impotent man, by what means he is made whole;’
‘Be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even by him doth this man stand here before you whole.’’
Acts 4:8-9 (KJV)
(“The Sanhedrin asked Peter and John by what power they had healed the man and by what authority they preached… Through the help of the Holy Spirit, Peter spoke boldly before that council, actually putting the council on trial, by showing them Jesus, whom they had crucified, had risen again. Instead of being defensive, the apostles went on the offensive, boldly speaking out for God and presenting the Good News to these leaders.”—from NLT Study Bible.)
“The greatest tool of witnessing I have is my testimony. Jesus changed my ways, changed my habits. No one can argue with the results! They cannot deny what God has done,” emphasized Pastor Tim.
“Let me clearly state to all of you and to all the people of Israel, he was healed by the powerful name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene, the man you crucified but whom God raised from the dead.
“For Jesus is the one referred to in the Scriptures, where it says,’ Acts 4:10-11 (NLT)
‘The stone that you builders rejected has now become the cornerstone.’ Psalm 118:22 (NLT)
(“The cornerstone unites two walls at the corner of a building and holds a building together. Peter was saying the Jews rejected Christ but now Christ had become the cornerstone of the church. Without him there would be no church because it wouldn’t be able to stand.”—from NLT Study Bible.)
“‘There is salvation in no one else! God has given no other name under heaven by which we must be saved.’
“The members of the council were amazed when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, for they could see they were ordinary men with no special training in the Scriptures. They also recognized them as men who had been with Jesus.
“But since they could see the man who had been healed standing right there among them, there was nothing the council could say.
“So they ordered Peter and John out of the council chamber and conferred among themselves.”…
Acts 4:12-15 (NLT) (emphasis mine)
“Peter and John refused to allow anyone to intimidate them. They answered the Sanhedrin, ‘We can do nothing but speak of what God has done.’
“They were being the ‘salt’ Jesus told them they were to be. Salt will make a horse drink water. Make others thirsty and they will drink from the water—that living water that flows ‘out of the belly.’
“Now, it seems that the Jesus in me—they now even want to be me! If handled well, your trembling will yield your praise of God. For preaching the Name of Christ—He was accused. What’s shaken will have more value. Even fresh, warm, salted french fries can bless the rest at the bottom of the container.”
“For everyone was praising God for this miraculous sign—the healing of a man who had been lame for more than forty years.”
“As soon as they were freed, Peter and John returned to the other believers and told them what the leading priests and elders had said.”
“And now, O Lord, hear their threats, and give us, your servants, great boldness in preaching your word.
“Stretch out your hand with healing power, may miraculous signs and wonders be done by the name of your holy servant Jesus.
“After this prayer, the meeting place shook, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit. Then they preached the word of God with boldness.”
Acts 4:22-23, 29-31 (NLT)
“What you do in private will eventually be demonstrated publicly. This is why blessing and cursing should not ever come out of the same mouth. It is the moving of the Spirit that lights up the results of this. They were on their ‘Threshing Floor’. The place was shaken, and all were filled with the Holy Spirit. Great Grace was upon them all. If you are bold, so will the Lord be. Can you be? He’s the same yesterday, today and forever—Bold enough to be God!” stated Pastor.
