Wednesday Night Bible Study

Thank you so much for your giving. Thank you musicians for always leading us in worship. And greetings, welcome to Wednesday night worship in the word. I'm thankful that we have another opportunity to gather together and study God's word. Another prayer request that I would ask to put on your list. I'd like for our church family to be praying for special safety and spiritual blessings for Pastor and Sister Whitley and Easton. They are in Munich, Germany tonight at the European conference of the Assemblies of the Lord Jesus Christ. Brother Whitley is preaching in that conference and we're praying that God will give them souls for their labor. As Sister Jamie and I had the privilege of preaching in this conference a few years ago and what a marvelous marvelous opportunity it is. We have wonderful apostolic brothers and sisters around this world that are having church together and and the Lord is doing a work a worldwide through the outreach of this assembly as well as the Assemblies of the Lord Jesus Christ and I'm thankful that God gives us those opportunities. I join with the voice of Pastor Anthony welcoming all. So good to see you here. Good to see some of you back home from that fall break time and we've had some illness and folks back in the house of the Lord. So good to see every one of you here tonight. I want us to get back into our Bible study this month of October. Our curriculum is entitled Church and Community. And tonight we're going to uh go to another chapter of this study. Uh and I would call your attention for our key text tonight from Acts, the fourth chapter. We're going to begin reading at verse number 13. Acts 4, beginning at verse 13. Now, when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men, they marveled. And they took knowledge of them that they had been with Jesus. And beholding the man which was healed standing with them, they could say nothing against it. But when they had commanded them to go aside out of the council, they conferred among themselves saying, "What shall we do to these men? For that indeed a notable miracle hath been done by them is manifest to all them that dwell in Jerusalem, and we cannot deny it. But that it spread no further among the people, let us straightly threaten them that they speak henceforth to no man in this name." 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, ye judge." And our key text for tonight's study, we find in verse 20, "For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard." The title of our study tonight is His Church is marching on. Let's pray. Savior, I love you. I'm ever grateful to be in your presence, and thank you once again for the privilege of studying and preaching and teaching from your word. I pray that every individual in this room would receive all that you have for us. Let the power of the Holy Ghost be manifest mightily. Let it reach into our hearts. Give us direction, guidance, and strength. For all this we're grateful and thankful. In the name of Jesus we pray. Amen. Notice again it said, "For we cannot but speak the things which we've seen and heard." Eyewitness accounts are incredibly powerful in court and in testimony. There's a real difference in hearing a story and experiencing it for yourself. Many times we hear firsthand accounts of events and amazing things, both good and bad, but it's truly never quite as impactful to us as it would be if we witnessed it with our own eyes, or we heard it with our own ears. The stories we hear retold by those who experienced them experienced them can impact our lives. But the moment we experience personally, it changes us forever. The book of Acts is a great example of the church coming of age and being defined in the experiences and the miraculous works of the Holy Ghost that took place in the book of Acts. The Apostle Peter in his second letter explained it this way, "For we have not followed cunningly devised fables when we made known unto you the power and the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of his majesty. Peter saying, "What we're telling you now is something we heard or something someone made up. We are personal witnesses to what Jesus has done." Consequently, the book of Acts records signs, wonders, and miracles that God worked through his apostles. They were not just repeating things they'd heard from other people. They were eyewitnesses to the things that Jesus through the power of God had done. And in turn, then the disciples were used in the miraculous. When Jesus chose his disciples, he didn't choose them to just sit back and watch what he was doing. Instead, he chose them to get involved in the miracle works with him. For he only, and we talked about this last week, he would only be with them some 3 years to teach them and to train them and to touch their lives as his disciples. For he knew he was going away. His time on earth in flesh was limited. So, last week we talked about how he told them and prepared them as his apostles to do a great work. And you see, the first-century church that was birthed that we hear about in the books of book of Acts and as the gospel spread, it was stated in one passage of scripture in Acts 17, in fact, speaking of Paul and Silas and the household of Jason, he would Jason was one who took care of Paul and Silas in their journeys. In his household, it was said of them, "These This is in Acts 17:6. These that have turned the world upside down are come hither also." The disciples in that first generation of disciples and apostles and believers literally turned their world upside down. They understood what they had been assigned to do. Jesus had called them as disciples, not just to walk with him, but to continue his work after he was gone. This was their mission, and this is what they would do. And so, with this in mind, all 28 chapters of the book of Acts, we find men and women who chose to get involved in the work of God, and consequently, they would be witnesses, and they would have personal experiences with miracles, signs, and wonders. So, with this in mind, I want us to go back and see what brought us to the point that our scripture text was in Acts 4, that this notable miracle has taken place, yet the religious leaders of the day are calling them into question, yet they cannot refute this notable miracle for all have witnessed it. So, I'd take us back to the book of Acts, the third chapter, to get a little more detail, and and let us talk about the circumstances that brought us to our text. Acts 3:1 says this, "Now, Peter and John went up together into the temple at the hour of prayer being the ninth hour. And a certain man lame from his mother's womb was carried, whom they laid daily at the gate of the temple which is called beautiful to ask alms of them that entered into the temple. Who seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple asked alms. And Peter fastened his eyes upon him with John and said, "Look on us." And he gave heed unto them expecting to receive something of them. Notice, let me pause here. They were going through the I'll call it not a ritual, but more they were going through the habit of going to prayer. It was not an unusual day of prayer. It was just another day of prayer. You see, if you're going to prayer regularly there will eventually be a time where there's a special need for a move of God. The reason they were available to do a work is they had a regular schedule. They were going up the ninth hour of the day to pray. And there was the gate beautiful. It was a beautiful place, but there was an ugly situation there. For there was a man lame from birth who depended on others every day to take him to that gate called beautiful and to beg for the handouts that someone with pity might give him. But when he asked alms of Peter and John, Peter said, "Look at me." I want to make sure we're communicating here. Look up here at me. He said, "I I I I I I've got to tell you something." And it said the man gave heed. He responded. But he was expecting to receive alms. 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." Now, sadly, there's too many nowadays can say, "Silver and gold I've got plenty, but healing for you I don't have any." But you see, this would be the first notable miracle that would take place at the hands of the disciples that Jesus had commissioned and called. He commanded the name of Jesus, the all-powerful healing name. And he took him by the hand. Notice verse 7, "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 and entered with him into the temple walking and leaping and praising God." I'm here to tell you, when a miracle takes place, a notable miracle, sometimes it disturbs the norm. Sometimes it it messes up all of the religiosity, if I could coin the term, that is taking place. Yes, they were going for the daily prayer, but suddenly something had taken place. This lame man, it said leaping up stood, walking, and leaping. Now, I would say they hadn't had this kind of emotional display in the temple in a long time. Oh, and this was a place, I'm sure of, reverence, and a place of meditation and prayer. But all of a sudden there was a disturbance in the temple. Man, this dude goes walking and leaping. There was an emotional display that took place. Sometimes when God does something, there will be an emotional display. Some want to criticize the church for being emotional, yet you can be emotional in any other venue except the church in their eyes. Listen, being dead is not necessarily showing reverence to God. Yeah, there's times that we're going to be formal and quiet and listen, but there's going to be emotional displays because God is doing something in lives. Some Sometimes we're going to get loud. Sometimes we going to jump, we're going to leap, we're going TO STAND UP, WE'RE GOING TO SAY AMEN. THAT JUST SHOULD BE THE NORM. I remember my dad talking about couple ladies visiting a revival he was preaching and they went back after church and greeted those ladies and uh well, I hope you enjoyed the service and I believe the ladies' response was something like this would said, "Y'all got that loud kind, I got that quiet kind." Well, I I'm thankful that when Now, we let all things be done decently and in order. The house of God is not a place of disorder. It's not a place This man did not have this emotional display because he wanted everybody to look at him. He wasn't trying to show off. But it was a spontaneous emotional display because from his mother's womb this man was 40 years old for 40 years. He had been lame from birth. Can you imagine what it was like for him to for the first time ever experience what it was like to be able to walk on his own, to try out his own legs. He can leap. He can walk. He He just got excited. I remember someone using their imagination talking about what it might have been like. Someone trying to get a witness from that man said I that lame man did he get healed said I don't know I couldn't catch him, you know. I'm telling you there was excitement IN THE TEMPLE. PEOPLE WERE SEEING IT. IT had disrupted the norm of the day. Verse 9 says all the people saw him walking and praising God and they knew that it was he which sat for arms at the beautiful gate of the temple and they were filled with wonder and amazement at all that which had happened unto him. And as the lame man which was healed by healed held Peter and John, all the people ran together unto them in the porch that is called Solomon's greatly wondered. Now get this picture in your mind. All this has taken place. But now if we can for a moment, let's just imagine what went through Peter and John's mind. For this is the first notable miracle without Jesus being there that they had performed by calling on his name. Because Peter and John were flesh, Peter and John scripture revealed in verse in in chapter 4 rather that their pedigree was ignorant and unlearned. But let's put ourselves in their position for just a minute. How would we react if we called on the name of Jesus and a miracle took place? Now pause and think about it. Because there have been through the years those who have experienced this this notable miracle as we all have experienced the miracles of God. But you know how some would deal with it? Man, get me a bus and put my name on it. I'm a faith healer. I I get me on the healing circuit. I want to show everybody I am a healer. But you see, Peter and John knew that it was the power in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth that had done this work. There was no self-adoration. There was no uh trying to uh make everybody think they were special. Instead, as we follow scripture in Acts 3, you know what Peter did immediately? He started telling everybody about the miracle worker rather than the miracle. You see, the miracle is not nearly as important as the miracle worker because the miracle was simply healing a physical malady. Oh, but if we can INTRODUCE THIS WORLD TO THE MIRACLE WORKER, HE HAS THE ULTIMATE MIRACLE and that's the miracle of salvation. YOU SEE, FAR ABOVE ANY PHYSICAL MALADY, far above any healing of the flesh, HE SAID, "I NEED TO TELL YOU ABOUT JESUS CHRIST OF NAZARETH." I >> >> IT JUST OPENED THE DOOR. YOU SEE, THIS NOTABLE MIRACLE THAT EVERYBODY SAW COULD HAVE EASILY BEEN turned to self-adulation and aggrandizement of Peter and John. But, no. Peter would have immediately begin witnessing and telling about the saving power and the healing power in the name of Jesus. And you can read the rest of Acts 3 for yourself and see how it evolved for here's what begin to happen. When he started telling about what had taken place, the Pharisees and the Sadducees and all of the, uh, religious elite, the the miracle wasn't near as important to them as they could see that he was starting to influence the masses. telling them about Jesus. So, we zoom ahead to Acts 4 and 1, and we read this. And as they spake unto the people, the priests and the captain of the temple and the Sadducees came upon them being grieved that they taught the people and preached through Jesus the resurrection from the dead. They weren't near as worried about the miracle as they were about the message. Can you imagine that there would be those who would be grieved with this miracle taking place? But they were. For they realized that the power of the name of Jesus superseded any influence that they and their religiosity and their traditions of the Old Testament law could cover. The skeptics had a problem. They wanted to close their mouths, but they could not dispute the miracle that had taken place. So, they said, "Let's put them in jail overnight. We got to figure out what we're going to do with these guys. We We've got Now, I'm I'm telling you the church is marching on is our title tonight. You had this this lame man running and leaping in the temple, and everybody saw it. And these guys telling everybody about Jesus, the power of the name of Jesus caused this to happen. So, here's the chronology that took place. Verse five of Acts four, and it came to pass on the morrow that the ruler the rulers and elders and scribes and Annas, the high priest, and Caiaphas, and John and Alexander and as many as were of the kindred of the high priest were gathered together at Jerusalem. And when they had set them in the midst, they asked by what power or by what name have you done this? Don't ask a question that you don't know the answer to unless you want the truth. John didn't stutter. Peter didn't pause. They didn't say, "Did you see what we did? Well, my name's Peter and this is John. Did Did you see what we accomplished?" Well, here's what was answered. Then Peter, filled with the Holy Ghost said unto them, "Ye rulers of the people and elders of Israel He gave them their proper acknowledgement. If we this day be examined of the good deed done to the impotent man by which means he is made whole." Now, he clarified their question. Notice the beauty of the way this took place. He He's He's He's very careful to make sure that everybody understands I want to uh repeat the question. I I'm going to repeat it to you. I want to make sure that you understand what you're asking before I give you the answer. And And he So, he he he framed it again. He said, "Now, IF THIS DAY YOU'RE QUESTIONING US, you're examining us for this good deed, they didn't even refer to it as a miracle. They said it was a good deed. By what means he is made whole? He gave his answer, "Be it known unto you all and to all the people of Israel that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth And he had to give them a little shot. He said, "Who you crucified? And you're THE BUNCH THAT PUT HIM TO DEATH. BUT IT'S THE POWER OF HIS NAME. THAT'S WHAT I'VE BEEN DOING. I'VE BEEN PREACHING A RESURRECTED CHRIST. YOU ASKED THE QUESTION. NOW, HERE'S YOUR ANSWER. IT'S THE POWER IN THE NAME OF JESUS, THE ONE YOU CRUCIFIED, WHOM GOD RAISED FROM THE DEAD. EVEN BY HIM DOES THIS MAN STAND HERE BEFORE YOU WHOLE." HE TOOK ADVANTAGE OF THEIR QUESTION AND GOT THE CRUCIFIXION AND RESURRECTION message in. LET ME TELL YOU, EVERY TIME WE GET A CHANCE, WE NEED TO TELL THIS WORLD ABOUT JESUS. WE NEED TO TELL THEM ABOUT A RESURRECTED SAVIOR, FOR THAT'S WHERE THE SALVATION MESSAGE LIES. HALLELUJAH. HALLELUJAH. HALLELUJAH. OH, GLORY. The miracle only opened the door to talk and testify about the miracle worker and the power in his name. Peter suddenly addressed this religious audience. But they could not dispute what had taken place. Acts 4:11 says, "This is the stone which was set at naught of you the builders which is become the head the cornerstone. Neither is there salvation in any other. For there is none other name under heaven given among men whereby we must be saved. He preached the salvation message to everybody in the house. He said, "You asked the question, here's the answer." He did the healing he and he is the savior. The name of Jesus is the only saving name. I don't believe they were expecting that answer. But notice verse 13. Now, when they saw the boldness of Peter and John and perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant, allow me the latitude of the possibility that were in this instance refers to past tense. In other words, they used to be unlearned and ignorant men. It didn't say they are ignorant and unlearned men. It said they were unlearned and ignorant men. Allow me the latitude to at least interpret the possibility of that being past tense. What had they been? They'd been fishermen. They'd been common laborers. They had been probably the lower part of society. But suddenly these elite of the day have them before them. They've encircled them in their court of opinion and even a court that had legal power to cast them in prison and likely if they wanted to even take their life. And they questioned and instead of cowering down and avoiding the answer. With boldness, Peter answered with the salvation message. And here's what happened. He said they said These are These were unlearned and ignorant men. And it said they marveled. And they took knowledge of them. That they had been with Jesus. Let me tell you, it matters not your pedigree, where you came from, your education or lack thereof. When you've been with Jesus, he'll make you special. When you've been with Jesus, he'll give you boldness to testify. WHEN YOU'VE BEEN WITH JESUS, HE'LL GIVE YOU GUIDANCE AND DIRECTION. WHEN YOU'VE BEEN WITH JESUS, HE'LL GIVE YOU THE WORDS TO SAY. HALLELUJAH. THEY THEY KNEW WHAT THEY HAD BEEN, BUT NOW THEY'RE STANDING IN A COURT AMONG THE SPIRITUAL AND THE EDUCATED elite of the day. And boldly responding to their questions. He said, "There's a salvation message." And really the thing that they had done They had gathered together these religious elite wanting to do or limit do damage control over their reputation and their influence. Verse 15 says, "But when they had commanded them to go aside out of the council, they conferred among themselves." In other words, we've heard enough. Don't let him say another word. He Don't ask HIM ANY MORE QUESTIONS. GUYS, BUT, SEND THEM OUT. WE GOT TO discuss this thing. When they had commanded them to go out aside and out of the council, they conferred among themselves, saying, "What shall we do to these men?" I hope the world's asking that about that about us. "What are you going to do with these apostolics?" WELL, I I DON'T KNOW WHAT WHERE TO PUT THEM. WHAT WHAT DO YOU DO WITH THIS APOSTOLIC BUNCH? WHERE DO WE CLASSIFY THEM? IS IS THIS A A DENOMINATION? NO, SIR, IT'S A LIFESTYLE. IS IS THIS ANOTHER RELIGIOUS MOVEMENT? I TELL YOU NO, THIS IS GOD'S PEOPLE JUST FOLLOWING AS HIS DISCIPLES, AS THE FOLLOWERS OF JESUS CHRIST. WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO WITH THEM?" "WHAT SHALL WE DO to these men? For that indeed a notable miracle hath been done by them is manifest to all them that dwell in Jerusalem, and we cannot deny it. When God does a work, it cannot be denied. So, they said, "Well, here's here's what we're going to do. We're not going to deny this, but we're going to get them off to the side, and we're going to tell them uh just don't talk about it anymore." You know, the devil would just be satisfied we'd just shut up. We just close our mouth. Just don't do anything. I'LL LET YOU BE WHERE YOU ARE. IF Y'ALL just just don't say anything else. Just Just don't speak about it anymore. DON'T DON'T TALK ABOUT IT. SAID, "LET US STRICTLY THREATEN THEM THAT THEY SPEAK HENCEFORTH TO NO MAN IN HIS NAME." And they called them and commanded them not to speak at all nor teach in the name of Jesus. You see, as long as we'll remain, quote, mainstream, the world will be satisfied with us. As long as we will not talk so much about Jesus. You know, at one time our movement supposedly, in a demeaning way, had been has been referred to as a Jesus only movement. But I submit we're not Jesus only, we're Jesus everything. We're not Jesus only, we're Jesus everything. I I'M AMAZED AT THOSE THAT WOULD LABEL me as being Jesus only. If they want a healing, yeah, they'll call on the name of Jesus. If they want deliverance, THEY'LL CALL ON THE name of Jesus. IF THEY WANT TO BAPTIZE, THEY want a title. I'm here to tell you, we're Jesus everything. In our mode of baptism, in the way we do things, in the way we walk, in the way we talk, it all I want to be Jesus everything in everything we do. So, I would love for us to have the same testimony today that the world wants us just to be quiet about Jesus. So, when they gave them their threats and gave them their command, verse 19 says, "But Peter and John answered and said to them, 'Oh, no, they're going to give them another chance to talk.'" "Whether it be right in the sight of God to hearken or listen or obey unto you more than unto God, ye judge." Now, that's That's a pretty, uh, facetious statement or facetious question. Said, "Now, basically, they're saying, who do you think we're going to obey, obey you or God?" Let me ask you. Let's ask this world, who are we going to obey, the world or God? Who Who are we going to be influenced by, the world or God? He said, "But we cannot speak under things Now, let me read it again. This is our key verse, but we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard." In other words, the things we've witnessed. He said, "You witnessed it." So, WE'VE WITNESSED IT. THIS GUY'S HEALED. HE SAID, "THAT'S WHAT WE WILL SPEAK TO, the healing power of Jesus." He said, "Who do you think we're going to obey?" And scripture lets us know that after they threatened them, after they had uh charged them or commanded them, Acts 4:23 says, "And being let go, they turned them loose. They went to their own company and reported all that the chief priests and elders had said to them." They started giving a testimony of God's deliverance. And when they heard that, they speaking here of their company, their church, their community of believers, and when they heard that, they lifted up their voice to God with one accord and said, "Lord, thou art God, which has made heaven and earth and sea and all that in them is." And if you read the remainder of Acts the fourth chapter, Peter and John are recounting these events and they're celebrating the deliverance of God as well as the miracle-working power. This was their testimony to the church. This was the infancy, the beginning of the miracles in the church. But our title is the church is marching on. Let me ask you, did signs and wonders and miracles in the name of Jesus cease in the book of Acts? A thousand times, no. This was just the beginning. Acts 1 and 8 said, "Ye shall receive power after that the Holy Ghost has come upon you. And ye shall be witnesses unto me in Jerusalem, in Judea, and Samaria, and the uttermost parts of the earth." This was the beginning of miracles, of signs and wonders. So, I challenge us, the church of today, we still need to be a church of miracles and of signs and of wonders. And I submit to you, we are just that. Now, I can again in just the history of First Apostolic Church, we can start naming the notable miracles that God has done. If if we took the time, we've heard Bishop tell too many times the story of God miraculously providing the means to build concrete steps at the old location. That was a miracle, folks. It's an absolute miracle. The details and I will not go into all that again. Some of you that may be newer to the church, there'll be a time we'll repeat that story again. But suffice to say, God did a miracle in the infancy of this church. But it didn't stop there but Wilson on 123 West Columbia, he's continued to there's been healings and signs and wonders. God has done miraculous things in the church. I can take the time again and tell you the miraculous that he did in providing the brick and and the prices we got and and making the brick come out to the exact amount uh a time that Bishop McCool and I were praying in the office. There was an extreme financial need for finishing UP THE RESTROOM. WHILE WE WERE SITTING THERE, THE PHONE RANG AND A BROTHER GOD had laid IT ON HIS HEART. HE SAID, "I'M GOING" HE KNEW NOTHING of the need and IT WAS THE EXACT amount that was needed to DO THE WORK. GOD DID IT. I I DON'T HAVE TO READ ABOUT IT. I WAS THERE WHEN IT HAPPENED, SO I GUESS I OUGHT TO KNOW. I'M A WITNESS. IF I HAD A MIC PASS AROUND TONIGHT, A BUNCH OF YOU COULD DO MIC DROPS AFTER YOU TOLD WHAT GOD DID FOR YOU PERSONALLY. HOW HE'S HEALED YOUR BODIES. HOW HE'S PROVIDED FOR YOU WHEN IT SEEMED IMPOSSIBLE. WHEN HE'S HEALED RELATIONSHIPS. HE'S THE HEALER, miracle worker. But with all of that said, the greatest miracle in the house is everybody in this house. When you repented of your sins, when you were baptized in his name, and when he filled you with the Holy Ghost evidence with speaking WITH TONGUES, THAT'S THE GREATEST MIRACLE YET THAT'S TAKEN PLACE. You see today's church should not be void of miracles. John 14:12 said, "Verily, verily, I say unto you, he that believeth on me" Jesus speaking. "The works that I do also that the works that I do shall he do also. And greater works than these shall he do because I go into my father. Jesus let it let it be known that his followers, his disciples, and his church would do greater works. Miracles have not stopped. Hebrews called his people to assemble together. He called us in Hebrews 10 to provoke one another to love, not to forsake the assembling of ourselves together. You see, in that day he meant for the church to assemble and today he still means for us to assemble and be encouragers of each other. We need each other. We need the encouragement of each other. I'm thankful for apostolic doctrine, but I'm also thankful in this day for apostolic unity. There should be unity in in the church. And the church cannot be limited to the walls of this sanctuary of every believer, no matter what city or what country they're in, there should be apostolic unity. In this day, if you read the rest of of Acts 4, they got so excited, they begin to fellowship together and they gathered together and they pulled their resources together in the infancy of the church. And I'm thankful for a spirit of unity that we all can experience. But, I finally want to tell us this. Jesus also commissioned us not to keep it to ourselves. Just as Peter and John, Paul and Silas, and the other disciples performed miracles when there was a need. Their number one commission was to go to the world and preach the gospel. Mark 16:15 gives that same commission to everyone who's a disciple and a follower. If you're a follower of Jesus, here's what we're commissioned to do. Jesus said this, Mark 16:15, "Go ye into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature." I I feel scripture and Jesus himself was not anything but intentional when he used the word creature. And in this day and age the binocular, there's a lot of odd creatures we have to deal with. But did you know every one of those creatures need the gospel? They need the conversion. We should never find a supercilious attitude and look down our pharisaical nose at anybody. God's going to give us the opportunity to minister to every creature. He's going to give us the resources to do so. And when those doors are opened, when those questions are asked, we have the opportunity to tell people about Jesus. First verse 16 went on to say this, Jesus still speaking, "He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved. He that believeth not shall be damned. And these signs shall follow them that believe. There's too many people want to be signs followers than than have signs following. You see, that's what's important for us to understand. Peter and John, they weren't following signs. They were doing the work of the Lord and the sign followed them. And by name, that name of Jesus, shall they cast out devils. They shall speak with new tongues. They shall take up ser- serpents. And if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them. lay hands on the sick and they shall recover. That's not limited to New Testament. That's limited only till Jesus comes back for a new dispensation. Miracles, signs and wonders should follow the church. When there's a need for healing, healing's in the church. When there's a need for deliverance, deliverance is in the church. When there's a need for salvation, salvation's in the church. But the one common denominator is it's all in the name of Jesus. Would you stand with me? The only question we have is will we let God use us today? Will we as believers pray with faith? Will we still lay hands on the sick? We do. The miraculous power of the first century church is available to us today. All I can say is God help us to recognize that we are the continuation of the book of Acts church. And then we have covenant with Christ and there's no question his word stands forever. His truth prevails and he wants to work through us. Let's pray. Savior, I love you. I'm so grateful for the power of your word. Lord, I'm thankful that your name has never ceased to be the all-powerful, delivering, healing, saving name. Now, Lord Jesus, let us have holy boldness that when the opportunity arises that we do not elevate ourselves, but we lift you up. Lord, let us not be afraid or ashamed to witness the crucifixion, the resurrection, and the saving power of your name. Lord, now I pray that you'd go with us tonight with a fresh desire and a holy boldness to do all you've commissioned us to do. For all this, we're grateful and thankful. The precious name of Jesus we pray. Amen. Lord bless you. Please greet your brothers and sisters in Jesus' name. Be here Sunday morning expecting a great time in the Lord. You're dismissed.