IS JESUS REAL TO YOU
Illustration: 2 College kids with very smart friend
Key Phrase: Unless Jesus is real to us we have nothing to say to the world.
Passage Acts 4:1-22
They took note these men had been with Jesus. They took note that Jesus was real to them. Can the same be said of us by what the world sees in us?
When Jesus is real:
1. The Impact of a life where Jesus is real is NOTICEABLE:
A. The Rulers of Israel noted it Acts 4:23 C 4:13 When they saw the courage of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished and they took note that these men had been with Jesus.
B. The crowds noticed it (Acts 5:12-16) AC 5:12 The apostles performed many miraculous signs and wonders among the people. And all the believers used to meet together in Solomon’s Colonnade. 13 No one else dared join them, even though they were highly regarded by the people. 14 Nevertheless, more and more men and women believed in the Lord and were added to their number. 15 As a result, people brought the sick into the streets and laid them on beds and mats so that at least Peter’s shadow might fall on some of them as he passed by. 16 Crowds gathered also from the towns around Jerusalem, bringing their sick and those tormented by evil spirits, and all of them were healed.
C. When people see that Jesus is real to us they too may come. They will want us to pray for them, counsel them, or console them, but they will come.
When Jesus is real we should expect RESISTANCE:
A. Jesus tells us “They hated me, they will hate you”
B. Peter and John are told AC 4:18 Then they called them in again and commanded them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus
C. They are accused of making they who are innocent guilty of Jesus blood. Acts 5:28 28 "We gave you strict orders not to teach in this name," he said. "Yet you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching and are determined to make us guilty of this man’s blood."
We should also expect RESULTS
1. Many came: Acts 2:41 (3000) Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day.
Acts 2:47 And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.
Acts 4:4 But many who heard the message believed, and the number of men grew to about five thousand.
Lives are impacted with the gospel.
A. Story of Atheist doctor
B. Herman Bottema
Is Jesus Real to us?
Does our life show it?
Little girl with umbrella. The town was being overcome with drought. The crops were dying, the livestock was thinning out, fresh water supplies were severely diminished. The town decided to gather at the church house and pray for rain. That night as the preached entered the church building he was pleased to see so many gathered for this event, yet he was overjoyed as he went to the front, for there in the front row was a little girl, and she had her umbrella with her.
Show Jesus to the world by acting in faith.
