These notes accompany the sermon found here.

Today’s texts:  Acts 4:5-31; Psalm 2; Isaiah 46:8-10.

God’s People Choose Faithfulness

• Hebrews 11:1 “1 Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.” Greek:  πίστις = faith; πιστεύω = I believe.
• Faithfulness can be thought of as the consistent acting out of one’s faith (beliefs).
• Persecution was predicted by Jesus: Matthew 10:16-25; John 15:18-21, 16:33; Acts 14:22; Revelation 1:9.
• The faithfulness of the disciples: Acts 4:19-20, 5:29; John 6:68; Luke 19:11-27; Matthew 24:36-25:46.

God’s Opponents Choose Vanity

• See Psalm 2.
• Understand the myth of neutrality. Luke 9:49-50, 11:14-23; Ephesians 2:1-3.
• Understand the motives of the evil one. John 8:44, 10:10, 12:31, 14:30, 16:11; Matthew 4:1-11, 13:39; Acts 5:3; 1 John 3:8, Ephesians 2:2, 6:12; Revelation 12:9-10, 20:10;  1 Peter 5:8;

God Executes His Plans

• Acts 4:24-30.
• See Psalm 2, 18:50, 20:6, 45:7, 89:20 about the Anointed (Messiah) of the line of David and *His* inevitable success!
• See also Isaiah 46:8-10.

Encouragements

• Be encouraged that God is in control.
• Be with Jesus.
• Pray for boldness.
• Trust in Jesus Christ.