don't tell me what to do.
Don't worry, policeman.
I wasn't speeding that fast.
I wasn't really breaking the law.
Don't worry, doc.
You don't really need to tell me what to do.
I know how to take care of myself.
It's been fascinating watching people's response
to the medical recommendations
and directions about social distancing,
staying home, sanitizing hands, wearing masks.
Some people want to ignore everything.
It's that attitude of,
I don't care about your authority.
I don't want to wear a mask.
It's uncomfortable.
I want to make decisions for myself.
And there is a temptation to think
that these directives don't apply to me.
I'm the power and authority over my life.
I'll make up my mind when you show me the evidence.
And I feel this pull about whether I'll make up my mind,
whether I'll be the one that makes decisions for me.
I feel this battle.
But I'm wearing this mask not because I've done the study,
not because I have researched it
and found how helpful masks are,
but because I'm trusting other people
when they recommend that it is best to keep ourselves safe
and to protect other people.
Also, after shaving off my beard this week,
I've found the mask is actually really warm on my face.
It's been a little bit cold recently.
But we all know the temptation
of watering down Christianity to make it easier.
That says,
Jesus, I will follow some of your recommendations,
but I will pick and I will choose.
It makes it easier.
It makes it more palatable,
less confronting to other people around me.
I'll continue to be the one that makes the decisions
and has the power,
but Jesus, I'll allow you to advise me.
But when we make Jesus just one of the voices in our life,
Christianity gets watered down
to something that has no real value for us in our lives.
Here in chapter four of the book of Acts,
the apostles Peter and John are threatened
because Jesus is the power
and they are warned to water him down.
Give some authority over to the rulers of the time.
But Jesus has been given all of the power,
all of the authority over the universe,
over our culture,
over the Christianity,
and even over each of our lives.
And there is a very real battle that happened to them,
to Peter and John,
and a very real battle that happens to us now
in the life of the church and in our lives.
Who is in charge?
Is it Jesus or is it me?
Who will I submit to?
As we continue in our series
on looking at living in the new world,
today we're going to see what it means to have new loyalty,
what it means to be loyal to Jesus and to follow him.
First of all, we're going to see today,
we're going to look at Jesus' power and his authority
before we see the call to submit
and then we see the prayer for boldness in this life.
Please have your Bibles open on your phone
through the St. Paul's app in a physical Bible.
We're in chapter 4.
In chapter 3, at the end,
we saw Peter heal a lame man.
And then he preached to the crowd about repentance.
Repent so you can have times of refreshing
that come from following the Jesus
who was raised from the dead.
And at the start of chapter 4,
the Sadducees with the temple guard
hear Peter's preaching
and they don't think very much of it.
The Sadducees were a Jewish sect
who didn't believe in the resurrection of the dead.
And to deal with this problem,
they arrest Peter and John,
put them in prison because it was night,
and then deal with them the next day.
But despite this persecution,
God is doing amazing things.
Acts chapter 4, verse 4.
But many who heard this message believed,
so the number of men who grew to about 5,000.
But is only a three-letter, very small word.
But it is very big here.
Despite arrest and persecution,
despite the ruling religious authorities
disagreeing with the preacher and arresting him,
despite the apparent craziness
of believing in the resurrection of the dead,
thousands believe.
It's all because Jesus is working.
Peter and John have been arrested.
The ruling authorities gather the next day,
verse 6.
Annas, the high priest, was there,
and so were Caiaphas, John, Alexander,
and others of the high priest's family.
These are the people who saw Jesus put to death.
They did not acknowledge Jesus' position
and his authority as the Son of God,
and so they put him to death.
Verse 7.
They had Peter and John brought before them
and began to question them.
By what power or what name did you do this?
Now, this is more than asking about
how the lame man was healed.
This is a question of power and authority.
By what power or what name?
In the first century,
you didn't have gods that were considered
to be over the whole world
or the whole cosmos.
Gods were considered to be regional.
You had the god of war,
the god of agriculture,
the god of love.
There was the god of Ephesus,
the god of Corinth.
It was a system which said,
everyone is right.
Everyone can have their own regional god.
You can follow your god.
That is fine.
It's called religious relativism,
where there is no absolute power.
There is no one religion that is right.
But all of the regions,
they've got their own religion,
and they were all valid.
We see the apostle Paul fight this battle
in Acts chapter 19,
where the silversmith, Demetrius,
was against Paul
because he worshipped the god Artemis,
the god of fertility.
He was also worried about his job
as a silversmith.
But he was worried about this god
of the region in Ephesus.
Each religion had permission to preach.
They were licensed.
They had authority to preach
under the ruler Caesar.
And in one sense,
he was considered divine
because he was the one ruler
over all of these regions.
He was the one ruler
over all of these regional gods.
And so the religious leaders,
the Jewish leaders,
are questioning Peter and John,
likely with the thought
in the back of their minds
that the Romans didn't like them too much.
And they didn't want to see two upstarts
like Peter and John causing riots,
causing the Romans
to come down hard on them.
And so the question,
by what name,
by what power do you preach,
is much bigger
than just how did this happen.
It's a question of loyalty.
It's a question of who do you submit to?
How do we control you?
Peter, full of the Holy Spirit,
answers this question
of whose name and power
in verse 9.
It is by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth,
whom you crucified,
but whom God raised from the dead,
that this man stands before you healed.
Jesus is the stone
you builders rejected,
which has become the cornerstone.
Salvation is found in no one else,
for there is no other name
under heaven given to mankind
by which we must be saved.
It is the Jesus that you crucified.
Again,
this is the third time now
that Peter has laid the blame
at his listeners' feet.
He's done it with the crowds,
saying that they were responsible
for Jesus' death,
and they were.
But these
are the men
who orchestrated
Jesus' death.
They were the ones
who were worried
about their own position.
They were jealous
of the crowds
that Jesus was getting.
So these
were the very men
who were
the ones
who orchestrated it.
And so Peter says,
you crucified Jesus,
but God
raised him.
You threw him away
like a piece of garbage,
but God
has made him
the cornerstone.
The cornerstone
marks the
orientation
and location
of a building,
and everything
is built off it.
Jesus
is the first.
Everything
finds its place
from him
and in relation
to him.
And Peter
makes an exclusive
claim.
Salvation
is found
in no one else.
It's found
nowhere else.
He is
the way,
the only
way
to get saved.
And this might
seem like a really
offensive
and arrogant
claim,
but it is
more the
implication
of the resurrection
and his ascension.
If it is
really true
that Jesus
was raised
from the dead,
then he
has been
given power
above all
powers.
He is the
cornerstone.
He is the
only way
to be saved.
But this
absolute
and ultimate
claim
was offensive
to the Jewish
religious leaders.
It was
offensive
to the other
religious leaders
and to Caesar,
and it
certainly
continues
to be
offensive
to people
today
to say
that Jesus
is the
only
power,
the only
way
to be
saved.
Today
in our
2020,
that's the year
isn't it?
Today in 2020,
our culture
might not be
based on
regional gods
and regional
deities,
but their
claim to
absolute
truth
that Jesus
is the
only
power,
the only
way you
can be
saved.
That claim
is still
very offensive.
People will
say,
oh,
well,
look,
you can
believe in
your Jesus,
you can
worship him,
but not
this
cornerstone
all-powerful
version.
That's
intolerant
to other
people and
the way
of life
that they
follow,
to say
that you
must
follow Jesus
and he's
the only
way to
be saved.
That's
intolerant.
Can you
please just
water down
your view
of Jesus
until he
is the
nice and
kind prophet
of love
version of
Jesus?
That's much
more palatable,
that's much
nicer,
it's much
less offensive.
You have
your prophet
of love
version of
Jesus and
everybody else
can have
their own
view of
God and
it will
be fine.
There's just
one problem
with that.
That kind
of Jesus
doesn't
exist.
the
Jesus
we have
in the
Bible
is the
same
one
that
Peter
is
preaching
about.
Either
Peter
is
right
that
Jesus
is
the
name
above
all
names
and
he
has
all
the
power
or
there
is
no
one.
There
is
no
version
of
a
Jesus
in
history
who
was
just
a
prophet
of
love
and
peace
who
was
not
the
son
of
God.
The
rulers
hear about
this
Jesus
and
it's
interesting
because
they
actually
don't
argue
theology
instead
they
want
Peter
and
John
to
water
down
their
theology
they
want
them
to
submit
you
can
follow
your
Jesus
I
suppose
but
we
want
you
to
submit
to
our
authority
that's
our
second
point
today
don't
submit
to
another's
power
and
authority
verse
13
when
they
saw
the
courage
of
Peter
and
John
and
realized
they
were
unschooled
ordinary
men
they
were
astonished
and
took
note
that
these
men
had
been
with
Jesus
now
this
reads
like
a
dig
at
these
men
you're
not
educated
you're
not
smart
like
me
I
think
it
reads
like
that
for
me
in
particular
but
it's
more
like
they
could
tell
that
they
didn't
have
the
same
religious
education
and
yet
Peter
is here
debating
theology
he
is
calling
him
the
cornerstone
who
was
prophesied
about
they
don't
have
the
same
education
and
yet
they
somehow
are
educated
and
Peter
has
the
courage
to
stand
up
to
the
people
who
saw
Jesus
killed
and
what
they
realize
is
that
in
a
sense
they
have
been
taught
theology
they've
been
taught
by
Jesus
himself
and
they
couldn't
argue
they
couldn't
ignore
what
had
been
done
because
the
man
who
was
lame
was
right
there
and
he
was
over
40
and
Luke
makes
a
real
point
of
this
that
is
quite
significant
that
he
was
over
40
and
he
was
healed
I'm
five
years
off
that
so
I
I'm
kind
of
happy
to
joke
about
that
number
at
this
point
people
who
were
that
old
did
not
get
better
in
the
first
century
they
died
something
miraculous
must
have
happened
they
can
see
that
Jesus
name
has
power
and
authority
over
diseases
and
Jesus
wasn't
even
there
in
person
the
rulers
realized
that
they
have
no
case
against
these
men
to
stop
them
and
so
instead
they
just
try
and
bully
them
submit
to
our
power
verse
18
then
they
called
them
in
again
and
commanded
them
not
to
speak
or
to
teach
at
all
in
the
name
of
Jesus
I'm
going
to
command
you
not
to
speak
submit
to
us
you
follow
us
we're
the
religious
rulers
water
down
your
view
of
Jesus
and
don't
talk
about
him
anymore
he's
commanded
you
to be
a witness
of what
you
have
seen
and
what
you
have
heard
how
about
you
don't
if
you
know
what's
good
for
you
we
are
the
authority
here
instituted
by
God
in
the
line
of
Abraham
and
Moses
we
are
warning
you
very
seriously
to
stop
this
don't
submit
to
Jesus
submit
to
our
power
and
authority
be
loyal
to
us
first
and
then
follow
Jesus
second
there
are
many
countries
where
religious
freedom
is
limited
and
controlled
by
the
government
continues
on
today
where
people
are
considered
to be
criminals
for their
faith
locked
up
just like
Peter
and John
were
sent off
for
re-education
not because
they have
done
anything
wrong
but because
they follow
a religion
that says
that the
government
is not
the ultimate
power
Christianity
is threatening
to the
power of
governments
it was
true of
King
Herod
when
Jesus
was born
and it
continues
to be
true
today
Christians
that choose
to submit
to Jesus
first
and not
to the
government
are
dangerous
however
Christians
want to
seek
to
love
and be
peaceful
and
honouring
and not
just tear
down
like a
government
would be
concerned
but
ultimately
submit
to
Jesus
and it's
the same
question
that the
religious
leaders
put to
Peter
and John
who
will you
submit
to
it's
also
true
of
Sydney
not in
an
organised
government
way
necessarily
but in
our
culture
it's
not
politically
correct
to say
that
Jesus
has
an
exclusive
claim
on
salvation
it's
not
nice
people
don't
like
it
people
will
say
that
it's
offensive
it's
insensitive
it's
intolerant
people
say
be careful
if you
say
that
you
will
get
cancelled
and
harassed
remove
all
the
insensitive
aspects
of your
Christianity
water
your
Christianity
down
so it
can
fit
into
society
because
our
culture
believes
that
everyone
is
right
no
one
view
is
more
valid
than
all
the
others
our
culture
argues
your
version
of
truth
can't
be
right
because
it's
exclusive
my
view
of
truth
has
to
be
right
which
is
that
all
views
are
equal
but
the
only
problem
is
they're
arguing
against
a
truth
claim
with
a
truth
claim
they're
saying
you
can't
make
this
truth
claim
that
Jesus
is
the
power
you
have
to
believe
my
truth
claim
that
all
truth
is
valid
many
don't
like
Jesus
claim
that
he
is
God
because
it's
an
absolute
so
instead
replace
it
with
everyone's
view
Peter
and
John's
response
to the
power
played
by the
Jewish
leaders
shows
where
they
put
their
trust
and I
really
love
Peter's
response
here
verse 19
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
it is
so simple
and direct
we will
do what
God tells
us to
do
and how
could
these
religious
leaders
argue
with
that
Peter
has
proclaimed
Jesus
power
they
have
been
bullied
to
submit
but
now
they
pray
for
boldness
Peter
and John
are
amazingly
released
from
prison
and they
head
back
to this
young
church
that is
growing
but still
forming
and that
in itself
shows how
much
change
has
happened
in
Peter's
life
Peter
when he
was
questioned
about
whether
he
was
submitting
to
Jesus
at
Jesus'
trial
Peter
flees
now
after
Peter
has
been
put
on
trial
he
stays
and
he
goes
back
to
the
church
verse
24
he
prays
reflecting
God's
power
and
authority
sovereign
Lord
they
said
you
made
the
heavens
and
the
earth
and
the
sea
and
everything
in
them
you
spoke
by
the
Holy
Spirit
through
the
mouth
of
your
servant
and
father
David
why
do
the
nations
rage
and
the
people's
plot
in
vain
they
see
the
actions
of
the
people
around
them
as
no
surprise
but
that
God
is
still
in
control
what
would
what
would
you
would
you
pray
for
an
easy
and
quiet
life
would
you
pray
for
the
ability
to
worship
in
peace
to
be
left
alone
of
prying
eyes
of
those
who
were
against
you
as
a
church
that
is
attempting
to get
used
to
gathering
again
faced
with
constant
change
now
wearing
masks
do
we
just
ask
for the
government
to leave
us
alone
so
that
we
can
meet
in
peace
they
instead
prayed
lord
verse
29
consider
their
threats
and
enable
your
servants
to
speak
your
word
with
great
boldness
they're
not
worried
about
themselves
they're
not
worried
about
their
state
or
the
danger
of
persecution
they
know
that
God
is
sovereign
and
instead
they
pray
for
boldness
to
speak
God's
word
they
don't
ask
for
boldness
to
understand
how
to
fit
into
their
culture
how
to
water
down
Christianity
so
that
they
aren't
persecuted
there
isn't
a
question
of
God's
power
but
their
desire
to
see
Jesus
known
verse
31
after
they
prayed
the
place
where
they
were
meeting
was
shaken
and
they
were
all
filled
with
the
Holy
Spirit
and
spoke
the
word
of
God
boldly
they
just
prayed
that
God
would
help
them
to
speak
the
word
of
God
boldly
and
they
get
that
they
are
filled
with
the
Holy
Spirit
and
they
start
speaking
the
word
of
God
boldly
we
need
boldness
to
speak
God's
word
to
each
other
to
ourselves
to
the
people
on
our
front
lines
to
the
one
plus
one
plus
one
person
that
we
are
praying
for
because
we
want
to
see
people
saved
and
God
uses
us
to
speak
his
word
to
them
but
we
can
be
fearful
and
we
need
to
be
praying
for
God's
boldness
and
we
need
boldness
to
be
willing
to
say
that
Jesus
is
the
power
over
all
powers
regardless
of
the
cost
in
2005
a
cancer
patient
Georgia
Hayes
won
a
2.2
billion
dollar
court
settlement
against
her
pharmacist
because
her
pharmacist
had
been
diluting
her
chemotherapy
drugs
with
water
in
the
process
she
had
lost
her
best
chance
for
her
recovery
what
should
have
been
saving
her
life
the
chemotherapy
drugs
was
in
fact
doing
nothing
for
her
the
most
deadly
way
to
follow
Jesus
is
having
a
watered
down
gospel
following
a
politically
correct
prophet
of
love
in
offensive
version
of
Jesus
that
kind
of
Jesus
will
not
make
an
impact
on
your
life
or
the
world
we
live
in
that
is
not
the
Jesus
that
is
of
the
Bible
he
is
too
small
and
too
weak
he
is
irrelevant
and
the
church
that
follows
him
will
be
emaciated
and
impotent
unable
to
do
anything
but
huddle
together
that
is
not
the
picture
of
Jesus
we
see
in
the
Bible
the
church
dared
to
challenge
the
authorities
to
challenge
Jesus
is
powerful
he
has
died
for
us
he
has
been
raised
and
he
has
promised
that
he
will
raise
us
too
years
ago
while
I
was
training
in
martial
arts
I
was
sparring
with
my
master
at the
time
and
he
did
a
really
wonderful
kick
that I
just
did not
see
coming
and
it
went
straight
into
my
face
and
I
went
down
on
the
floor
and
had
to
go
to
the
GP
sent
me
to
a
specialist
and
it
turns
out
I
fractured
my
cheekbone
and
when
I
was
speaking
with
the
specialist
he
advised
me
you
might
have
some
nerve
damage
in
there
we
are
most
worried
about
your
eye
dropping
and
losing
your
vision
don't
worry
it's
okay
my eye
hasn't
dropped
it's
okay
I
can
see
the
shock
on
all
of
your
eyes
right
now
but
your
cheek
hasn't
been
fractured
that
badly
so
your
eye
hasn't
dropped
but
you
might
have
some
nerve
damage
but
it
won't
do
you
any
harm
so
we
could
do
some
surgery
if
you
like
to
fix
that
but
you
don't
need
it
and
it
left
me
thinking
what
do
you
mean
and
so
I
said
to
him
hang on
you're
the
specialist
you
tell
me
what
to
do
I
I'm
not
trained
to be
I haven't
trained
to be
a GP
and then
to have
specialized
look I
can go
and check
Google
that's
that'll
give me
some
helpful
medical
advice
I'm
sure
but
you
tell
me
what
I
need
God
has
made
us
humans
with
a
will
and
we
are
responsible
for
what
we
choose
but
let's
not
over
estimate
our
God
given
intellect
and
will
as
if
we
know
what
is
best
for
us
in
our
lives
let's
not
be
people
who
think
we
know
best
and
water
down
a
life
following
Jesus
the
best
life
he
has
for
us
but
to
know
that
Jesus
is
the
Lord
because
he
is
life
itself
let me
pray
dear
heavenly
father
Lord
I
thank
you
for
the
reminder
from
Peter
and
John
that
we
can
stand
firm
in
the
face
of
opposition
in
the
face
of
people
trying
to
persecute
the
church
and
Lord
I
ask
that
you
would
help
us
to
submit
to
you
like
Peter
and
John
did
and
father
we
ask
that
you
would
give
us
boldness
to
speak
your
word
father
we
long
to
see
people
come
to
know
and
love
you
we
thank
you
that
you
invite
us
to
be
your
servants
to
work
for
you
in
this
mission
Lord
father
help
us
to
witness
to
what
we
have
seen
to
witness
to
what
you
have
done
in
our
lives
through
your
son
and
help
us
to
boldly
proclaim
your
power
and
your
awesomeness
we
ask
this
in
your
son's
name
amen