How can we impact lives while silencing critics? Gods word not only provides wisdom, it also offers examples.
Acts 4:4, 8-10, 12-14
”Howbeit many of them which heard the word believed; and the number of the men was about five thousand.”
1. Be filled with the Holy Spirit.
“Then Peter, filled with the Holy Ghost, said unto them,”
2. Do ministry in the name of Jesus.
“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,”
3. Teach the pure Gospel.
“whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead,”
4. Provide testimonies of changed lives.
“even by him doth this man stand here before you whole.”
5. Teach the exclusivity of Jesus being the ONLY way to Heaven.
“Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.”
6. Make sure your daily time with the Lord is evident.
“Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men, they marvelled; 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.”
LESSON - Debate is not God’s preferred means of changing minds. Mere human reason will not convert a soul. Only the word of God has the power to change lives and silence the critics. When we simply present the truths which are found in God’s word, He uses this along with pure testimonies and examples of transformed lives serving as backdrops to effect change. In this passage of scripture, 5000 people were saved in one day because the Gospel was proclaimed and one man was forever changed. Be that changed life and go teach the Gospel!
~Mike