TEXT:  Acts 4:13-18

INTRODUCTION:

A.      PETER AND JOHN ON TRIAL.  Briefly recap the circumstance.

B.      OBVIOUS CONTRAST:  SOCIAL ELITE AND TWO REGULAR FOLKS.

C.      TRUTH:  P&J HAD SUPERIOR KNOWLEDGE – THEY HAD THE HOLY SPIRIT

          AND THEY HAD BEEN WITH JESUS.

D.      NOT LIKE THE INTELLECTUAL ELITE (Eph. 4:17-18;  1 Cor. 1:26-29).

I.      WE ARE TO LIVE WITH JESUS.

A.      LIVING WITH JESUS MEANS BEING UNITED WITH HIM.

          1.  We are united with Jesus in his death (Rom. 6:3-4).

          2.  That we might be joined with him in life (Rom. 6:5;  Col. 3:1).

B.      LIVING WITH JESUS INVOLVES SOME THINGS:

          1.  Study and Meditation.

                   a.  The blessing of the words of Jesus (John 12:49;  John 6:63, 68).

                   b.  Meditation does us good (Psa. 1:1-2;  Phil. 4:8;  Rom. 7:22).

                   c.  The gospel reveals both the deeds and mind of Christ (1 Cor. 2:16).

          2.  Worship.

                   a.  We are to worship God (Matt. 4:10;  John 5:22-23;  Luke 24:52).

                   b.  Expressing our love for Jesus in Prayer and Song constitutes fellowship with him.

                   c.  The Lord’s Supper is communion with him (1 Cor. 10:16).

          3.  We live with him by imitating him (John 8:12;  1 Cor. 11:1).

C.      TOO MANY DON’T HAVE TIME FOR JESUS.

          1.  Love and care of the world (1 John 2:15;  Matt. 13:22).

          2.  Where is your heart? (Luke 12:16-21;  Matt. 6:19-21).

          3.  TAKE TIME TO BE HOLY.

II.     CHARACTER IS SHAPED BY LIVING WITH JESUS.

A.      AGAIN, IMITATE HIM AND FOLLOW HIS TEACHING(John 8:12;  1 Pet. 2:21).

B.      WE ARE EFFECTED BY OUR ASSOCIATIONS (1 Cor. 15:33;  Psa. 1:1).

C.      THE CONVERSE IS TRUE (Acts 2:42-47;  Matt. 26:73-74).

D.      JESUS IS THE BEST FRIEND WE CAN HAVE.

          1.  Courage and Conviction (Eph. 6:10, 19;  1 Pet. 4:16;  ie. Matt. 15:6-12).

          2.  Purity of heart.

                   a.  Necessary for us (Matt. 5:8;  1 Tim. 5:22;  Heb. 12:14).

                   b.  Jesus was pure (1 Pet. 2:21-22).

          3.  Forgiveness (Luke 23:34;  Matt. 6:12-15;  Eph. 4:32).

          4.  Unselfishness and sacrifice.

                   a.  Indispensable (Rom. 12:1;  2 Cor. 8:2;  12:15;  Matt. 16:25).

                   b.  2 Cor. 8:9;  Phil. 2:5-8.

E.      2 Pet. 3:18.  WE KNOW BETTER BY ASSOCIATING (participating).

III.    THE WORLD WILL SEE!

A.      THE IMPORTANCE OF OUR ASSOCIATIONS (1 Cor. 15:33;  Psa. 1:1).

          1.  True for young and old.

          2.  What do we put in our lives and minds (Phil. 4:8;  Rom. 12:9-11;  Phil. 2:19-20).

B.      THE WORLD WILL TAKE KNOWLEDGE.

          1.  Peter’s speech (Matt. 26:73-74;  Col. 4:6).

          2.  Our works (1 Pet. 2:11-12).

C.      THERE IS TO BE A DIFFERENCE (Matt. 5:13-16;  Rom. 12:2).

CONCLUSION:

A.      WE ARE TO LIVE WITH CHRIST.

B.      CHRIST IS TO LIVE IN US (Gal. 2:20).

C.      WE ARE TO DO ALL THINGS FOR THE GOSPEL’S SAKE (1 Cor.. 9:23).

D.      DO PEOPLE SEE JESUS LIVING IN US.