Power To Last

Power 

To Last

You and I have gone through many fads and trends 

In the church and in the world

Some of us get stuck in those fads and trends and never move on

Make sure Jesus Christ is not a fad or a trend in your life

Gamaliel was right 

 For if their purpose or activity is of human origin, it will fail. But if it is from God, you will not be able to stop these men; you will only find yourselves fighting against God."

Acts 5:38-39

Power to Last

How long does the power on your cell phone work?

Fads and trends

Remember Pogs, 1991 to 1995?

Crocks the ugly shoe came out in 2002,

 reached a $6bn valuation in October, 2007.

 

Beanie Babies from 1993 to the next 20 years

dominated until the cute critters struggled

with the booming virtual gaming market.

50 years the troll dolls were the successful

fad making 3 peaks in that time.

   

How about the ability to

stick with something like a diet.

Did you know the cost to lose a pound

with the most popular diet programs is…

Maybe it is not will power that is lacking

but financial power to lose weight.

Have you every researched your family tree?

How far back were you able to go and

what is lasting of those forefathers?

For many religion is a fad as well

as many religions have been a fad.

If you went to church as a child and are

over 50, you have seen many fads in church.

From the way of worship and the dress

of the Sunday best, as well as, the place of

worship from stain glass to store fronts.

With all these fads and the way we as

humans get tired of the same thing so

quickly, how do we find what is lasting.

There were 400 years between

the Old and New Testament.

When we read our New Testament we read

about two Jewish political and religious movements.

The Pharisees and Sadducees who came

to being about 150 years before Christ.

It is clear that Jesus took issues with the

Pharisees and Sadducees, with their perversion

of God and they crucified Jesus Christ.

 After the death of Jesus Christ the

disciples of Jesus Christ grew quickly.

In Acts 5, we see Peter and the apostles arrested by

the Sadducees for teaching in the Name of Jesus.

Peters famous words…

 "We must obey God rather than men!”

defied the authority and power for the Sadducees.

Peter set the record straight as to their message…

The God of our fathers raised Jesus from the dead —

whom you had killed by hanging him on a tree.

God exalted him to his own right hand as Prince and Savior

that he might give repentance and forgiveness of sins to Israel. 

We are witnesses of these things, and so is the Holy Spirit,

whom God has given to those who obey him."

Acts 5:30-32

It infuriated the Sadducees that they would say

God had exulted Jesus Christ to His right hand.

When the Sadducees wanted to put them to

death a respected Pharisee named Gamaliel

stood up in the Sanhedrin and pointed out…

 

Other groups had come and when

the leader died the group soon faded.

 In closing Gamaliel said…

Therefore, in the present case I advise you:

Leave these men alone! Let them go!

For if their purpose or activity is of human origin,

it will fail. But if it is from God,

you will not be able to stop these men;

you will only find yourselves fighting against God."

Acts 5:38-39

Jesus Christ is not a fad.

He is the same yesterday, today and tomorrow.

  

Although the way people worship God changes

and the places where they worship changes…

The traditions of leaders who claim

God is their God change…

Jesus Christ never changes.

He is who He was before the creation of the world.

He is the Creator and Savior

who will rule forever and forever.

All the fads and trends change and fade away.

But Jesus Christ has the everlasting power.

You and I have gone through many fads and trends.

 

Some of us get stuck in those fads

and trends and never move on.

Make sure Jesus Christ is not a fad or a trend in your life.

Gamaliel was right…

 

 For if their purpose or activity is of human origin,

 it will fail. But if it is from God,

you will not be able to stop these men;

you will only find yourselves fighting against God."

Acts 5:38-39

Scripture Reading

Acts 5:29-39 NIV

29 Peter and the other apostles replied: "We must obey God rather than men! 30 The God of our fathers raised Jesus from the dead — whom you had killed by hanging him on a tree. 31 God exalted him to his own right hand as Prince and Savior that he might give repentance and forgiveness of sins to Israel. 32 We are witnesses of these things, and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey him."

33 When they heard this, they were furious and wanted to put them to death. 34 But a Pharisee named Gamaliel, a teacher of the law, who was honored by all the people, stood up in the Sanhedrin and ordered that the men be put outside for a little while. 35 Then he addressed them: "Men of Israel, consider carefully what you intend to do to these men. 36 Some time ago Theudas appeared, claiming to be somebody, and about four hundred men rallied to him. He was killed, all his followers were dispersed, and it all came to nothing. 37 After him, Judas the Galilean appeared in the days of the census and led a band of people in revolt. He too was killed, and all his followers were scattered. 38 Therefore, in the present case I advise you: Leave these men alone! Let them go! For if their purpose or activity is of human origin, it will fail. 39 But if it is from God, you will not be able to stop these men; you will only find yourselves fighting against God."