June 12, 2011 Acts 4:23-31 (with material adapted
from Dr.Charles Lake & Rev.Bill Richardson) Play AUDIO (32 kbps mp3)
THE CHURCH UNDER THREAT
• some go to church seeking transcendence; ‘tongues
of fire’ at Pentecost
• others succumb to consumerism, yet hearts feel empty
THE WONDERS OF GOD
• begin by prayer focussing on God’s wonderful
attributes
• God’s sovereignty in control of anything that
challenges us
THE WORD OF GOD
• interpret events in relation to Scriptural truth
• church prays for ability to speak God’s word boldly
- not protection or relief
• power of God’s word startles when intrudes into our
lives
THE WREST & RESOURCING OF GOD
• meeting-place shaken; believers filled with Holy
Spirit
• Lord divinely wrests from tension of situation what
He purposes to achieve
• Jacob wrestled with God about Esau: family
conflicts challenging
• new awareness of God’s backing allows church folk
to share freely with each other
OVERCOMING ALL PERILS – INCLUDING LICE
• God’s love deeper than the deepest pit (Corrie
TenBoom)
• heed God who in love pokes around inside us