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Welcome to the live big broadcast with Derek Greer. We believe this teaching from God's Word will empower you to live a full, impactful life in Christ. Let's dig in. We're gonna begin in Acts chapter 5 in verse 14. And some things in this chapter have already been said, and you can go home and read to get further context. But let's pick up here. So the church got to the place where in verse 14 it says, and believers were increasingly added to the Lord. So the church was growing and everything was good. But life is a lot like the Caribbean. We're either in the middle of a storm, coming out of a storm, or going into a storm. But if we let God help us build the right house, we could be at peace when the rest of the world has fallen apart. Jesus announced it this way in Matthew 7:24. He said, Whoever hears these sayings of mine and does them is not just enough to hear on Sunday, but what he's about to say is for those who hear, but also put in the work and does them. And then he says, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock. Here's a question. What would God liken you to if he chose a simile or a metaphor? Would he select something faithful and solid or something fickle and some timing? You know, I don't have many regrets in life, except all the time I spent caring about the opinions of the wrong people. And Jesus goes on to say something important because we could think that if we're in the will of God, that everything's going to be hunky dory. Is that really a word? I don't know. We think that everything is going to be tiptoe through the tulips and rose petals. But he's talking about this individual who built his or her life on the rock. And watch what he said. Even though they were listening to God's word and doing God's word, the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on the house. Have you ever felt like you were taking a beating in the middle of doing God's will? But don't miss the next clause. The rain came, the floods came, the winds blew, the house took a beating, but it did not fall. The rains may come, the winds may blow, and you might have to take a beating every now and then, but if you trust God, hang on to His Word, you will not fall. And then it explains, for it was founded on the rock. Back to Acts 5 and verse 14. And believers were increasingly added to the Lord. Multitudes of both men and women. Isn't it wonderful? We have a house that has both men and women in it. There's special grace on this place because I've been to churches where I was the only guy. But it's God's design to reach both men and women. So at this point, everything Jesus died to accomplish was coming to pass. But we're going to see in the next verse, sometimes people will wish you all the success in the world, but then hate you when you get it. But we have to learn like, you know, crabs in a barrel. Pulling someone else down never helps you up. So folks are coming to church, community's exploding, and so much was happening. So they brought the sick out into the streets and laid them on beds and couches that at least the shadow of Peter passing by might fall on some of them. God was using Peter in an incredible way. Peter was becoming a local superstar. But don't let the attention that others receive bother you, because God causes all of us to shine just a little bit differently. You know, I may not be the biggest star in the night sky, but the North Star was the most necessary star if you were traveling to freedom with Harriet Tubman. See, God doesn't require us to be big. He just wants us to be effective in whatever lane he's called us to run in. And by the way, if we're all on the same team, we all win together. Also, a multitude gathered from the surrounding cities in Jerusalem, the capital city, bringing sick people and those who were tormented by demons, unclean spirits, and they were healed. So the Jesus movement at this point and its supernova, who was Peter was shaking up the entire capital region. But how many of you know that it wasn't always this way? Remember when Peter denied Jesus? Remember when Peter cut off a guy's ear? Remember when Jesus called Peter Satan? Why does the Bible tell us Peter's story? To help us understand that flawed leaders are no excuse for us not to be part of a church. God uses flawed people because flawed people are the only people he has to use. Yeah, you're not so sure about that. Look in the mirror. He only has flawed people until we're glorified and shine bright like angels. We all have issues and flaws. And if you can't handle flawed people, you cannot be of service to the Lord. But also think about it. If God can't use someone else that's flawed, why should he use you? Then the high priest rose up and all those who were with him, which is the sect of the Sadducees. So all of the high priests at this time were Sadducees. And the Sadducees were the religious brokers of their day. But the Sadducees were like cessationists in our time. They did not believe in the present and active supernatural power of God. They didn't believe in heaven, they didn't believe in hell. They didn't believe in the resurrection of the dead. And not only that, they only believe certain portions of the Bible. And because of that, they only lived for this life. But like I said last week, even if you win the rat race, in the end, you are still just a rat. And they were filled, not just a little bit annoyed, they were filled, red faced, angry, frothing at the mouth. They were filled with indignation. Now, the word indignation is also translated jealousy in other places in the New Testament, sometimes even zealous. But the terms here are interchangeable because jealousy always results in anger. So what I've learned, if God is blessing my neighbor, not to get mad, but to rejoice. Because if he's blessing my neighbor, that means he's in the neighborhood. And if he did it for them, he could do it for me. If he did it for them, he can do it for me. And the Sadducees laid their hands. This was not a gentle, you know, laying on. This was, you know, snatched them up on the apostles and put them in a dirty or common prison. The Sadducees wanted to put the apostles in their place. He needed to remind them that they were not all that. But how many of you know, they incarcerated Nelson Mandela and he ended up being the father of a new South Africa. How many of you remember they incarcerated Lekwesa and eight years later he became the president of Poland. Denzel Washington commented, he said this. You will seldom be criticized by people doing more than you. You will always, almost always, be criticized by someone doing less. In other words, people will focus on what they think you're doing wrong or what's wrong with you because they're threatened by what's right about you. But then watch this. All these guys were doing was the will of God. They were just preaching the word. They were just minding their business, doing what Jesus told them to do. But at night, we will all go through nights when it looks like those who are trying to bring us down have succeeded. It looks like they won today. But treating people dirty may win the battle, but it will not win the war. Because what goes around comes around. And one Thing about them tables is they keep on turning. But at night, when it was dark, when they were locked into a situation that was unpleasant and difficult, the angel of the Lord opened the prison doors. People may try to shut you in or shut you out and throw away the key, but the Lord still knows how to open a door that no one can shut, and shut doors no one can open. And the Lord, The Lord's gonna bring you out. And the Lord. Now, you could talk about what the Sadducees did, but watch what God's about to do. We all got some enemies in our lives, and there'll be seasons where it looks like they're getting. They're getting away with the things they're. But the Lord or the angel of the Lord brought them out. If in one single day, God could take Joseph from a prison and bring him to a palace and seat him next to Pharaoh, if because of just the things that happened in one night, God could make sure that the men that threw Daniel into the lion's den were themselves eaten by the lions, If God could do that in a night and in a day, what can't God do for you to get you back on track after a setback? And the angel said, go. They tried to stop you, but I'm saying go. Stand. Square your shoulders. Don't be all slunched over. Stand up straight and go back into that temple which they took you from and speak to the people all the words of this life. But what I want you to see is that God broke them out of the prison order or so that they could continue the Lord's work. And if you just want rescue for the sake of rescue, what I'm talking about today may not work for you, but if you start to change your prayer, Lord, bless me so I could be a blessing. Lord, get me out of this mess so I can use my story to reach others. And if you would make it about more than yourself, God will pour you out a blessing you will not have room enough to receive. But if you want God to be your all, you must surrender all. And when they heard that, they obeyed. And their shoulders were squared and they walked right back. Miracles are corrections. They're designed to get you back to where you're supposed to be. They obeyed and entered the temple early in the morning. And what did they do? They started teaching again. If God set you free in the area that you wish for the most, what would you do? Would you receive it and just go back to average mediocre living? He heal your body, you're going to go back to misusing your body? Or would you use it to make a difference for the kingdom and in the lives of others? People only wrapped up in themselves make a very small package. But the high priest and those with him came and called the council together with all the children of Israel. And then they sent to the prison to have them brought. And let me tell you something. They can call as many as they want to criticize you, to talk about you, to condemn you. But if God before you, tell me, who can be against you? But when the officers came and did not find them in the prison, they returned and they reported. You see the trap that the Sadducees set for the disciples. They were in themselves. And since they had rejected the reality of the power of God still being at work in their day, they had no way to explain this. Proverbs 26:27 says this. It says, whoever digs a pit will fall into it. The New Testament says it this way, you will reap what you sow. Psalms 2 and 4 says, he who sits in heaven laughs. If we put that in modern day vernacular, we would say, karma is eventually pronounced ha ha ha. You will get the last laugh. And he who rolls a stone. This is the image of a stone being rolled up an incline or up a hill. This is an image of someone pushing against the facts. This is an image of someone pushing against the laws of nature. But when you do it, your plan will recoil and it will roll back on him. You see, sowing and reaping is a principle that works both for good and for evil. Sow weeds, seeds, you get weeds. So tomato seeds, you get tomatoes. Choose the seeds you sow. Choose the words you say, choose the choices you make. Choose who you will obey. Back to Acts 5:22. But when the officers came and did not find them in the prison, you see, you don't have to stay in the prison that the devil's locked you in. God knows how to get you out. They returned and reported saying, indeed, we have found the prison shut securely and the guards standing outside before the doors. But when we opened them, we found no one inside. Now this is why we have to be careful about trying to make God do things in the way we think he should do them. Now, do you guys remember when God delivered Paul and Silas at midnight, same thing at night? Here they were singing and worshiping God. So much so the other prisoners heard and God began to clap his hands, stomped his foot one time, and the prison shook. You know, earth shook and everything. And Doors were open, everyone was set free. But, you know, it was a loud, demonstrative act. So much so the jailer screamed, you know, how must I be saved? And he was. Everybody was terrified by what was happening. And sometimes we get one scripture and we think God has to do it. Always like that. But there are other scriptures in the Bible. There's more than one way to skin a cat. But this time, and in this situation, just like some of y' all right here, you're like, how come it's not phenomenal? How come it's not loud and boisterous? But in this situation, God's intervention was quiet and invisible to everyone but the disciples. We expect God to show up in spectacular ground shaking fashion. If the ground doesn't shake and the wind doesn't blow and the lightning doesn't flash, we're not sure that God really did anything. But often what God does is he just waits quietly for his turn to answer. Every time I have tried to put God in my little box, I am left sweeping up pieces of shredded cardboard for the box that God just blew up. Sound like y' all know what I'm talking about. Some of y' all are looking for a spouse, but you put God in such a box. I don't know why I said that. Somebody. That's for somebody. Okay, let me just say it. I want me a ten, but you a six. That's not in my notes. How about saying, lord, I want someone who I could be a blessing to. I want someone that can run with me for you. Huh? Let's go back. Now. When the high priest and the captain of the temple and the chief priests heard these things, they wondered what the outcome would be. They were left scratching their heads. It's funny how such highly educated people, religious people at that, could be so blind to what was obvious. So one came and told them, saying, look, the men who you put in prison are standing in the temple and teaching the people. It's important God does not perform miracles just for you to boast. Just for you to be able to tell your relatives, I'm a sign and I'm a wonder. I have a special relationship with God. He told the man sitting at the pool, take up your mat and walk. I have someplace for you to go. He does miracles so we could get back in the game. And he wants to do a miracle so you could get back in the game and get back to making a difference. Then the captain went, by the way, it's rude to point the finger. I'm sorry, I'M supposed to do like this. Then the captain went with the officers and brought them without violence, for they feared the people lest they should be stoned. You see, you don't. The reason God gave you favor is not just for you to be Mr. And Mrs. Wonderful. God wants to use that somehow for his kingdom and his glory. And in this case, the favor that they had shown particularly to Peter protected them. Jesus teaches us in Luke 6:26. And I'm going to paraphrase versus reading the scripture, but it should be on the screen. If everyone likes you, you have a problem. If nobody likes you, you have a problem. But when the right people like you, it makes all the difference in the world. I don't need every woman to think I'm all right. That woman needs to think I'm all right. Ladies, you don't need every man to think you all that. You need that one man. I'm going to meddlen. And when they had brought them, they sat down before the council and the high priest asked them, saying, did we not like. You know, they. The great we's, you know, they got these shining robes on and they're very, very wealthy men, very esteemed and honored. And I mean, you know, their servants had iron and stuff. And I mean, they're looking sharp and powerful. Not Only that, there's 70 of them and they're all standing there and they're like, did we not strictly command you, little you not to teach in this name? What they were doing was trying to intimidate the apostles. But I have discovered in my short life, everything that I've ever wanted has always resided on the other side of a fear. So when stuff gets scary, I just get ready to do something I've never done. Skip to 29. But Peter and the other apostles answered. And when people try to intimidate you, you gotta learn how to answer. You gotta learn how to speak up for yourself. Now let's pay attention though. Peter and the apostles didn't call anybody out of their name. They're not using any language that can't be written in the text. They just use some basic common sense. They're like, now I just finished worshiping and praying a big old God, and now little old you going to try to tell me what I should do? They said we ought to. I mean, it's common. Come on, guys. We ought to obey God rather than men. Generally. In scripture, Christians are called to obey human authorities. It's important that children obey their parents, unless the parents are sideways. It's important that we honor our government officials. Oops. It's even important that you honor your pastor every now and then, you know, with a yes, sir, instead of what we got. You know what I'm saying? We will all have moments, though, in life, though, where we will have to choose between following God and following the crowd. Einstein said. He said. He said, the person who follows the crowd never goes further than the crowd, if I could add. And that person tends to get lost in the crowd. So the apostles spoke up for themselves. And when the devil comes to your door trying to deliver a package you don't want, you need to speak up for yourself. And the apostles said we ought to obey God rather than man. The fear of man makes the strongest of us cowards. The fear of God makes the weakest of us heroes. The difference between a hero and everyone else is a hero just takes one step forward when other people take a step back. So here's my big question today. Is there anyone here willing to take a step forward for God? But the rest of the world's falling apart? The rest of the world's wringing their hands, complaining, losing sleep, not sure what they're gonna do in this moment. Are you gonna magnify what's happening in society, or are you gonna magnify God? Now, the Bible commands us to magnify the Lord. That text used to trouble me because I'm like, how could anyone magnify one who is the biggest of the big? And I began to realize it's not because he literally needs to be magnified. It's because circumstances, stuff makes me sometimes make him small in my heart and in my mind. And sometimes I got to take a little time out and say, no, no, God's bigger than that. God can do more than that. No, no, no. It stops right here. My God can fix this. My God can do this. And as I magnify God, the problems begin to shrink. When's the last time you didn't just sing a song, but you magnified the Lord saying, God, you are big, you are good, you are wise, you are powerful. And you got me. Is there anyone here today willing to take a step forward for God? Say, God, listen, I don't even need to understand it all. Everyone even doesn't even have to like it. Lord, if you're with me, that's all that matters. God, we gonna walk through this thing together. You don't even have to explain. If you got me, you got me. You could do it quietly, but it could be earthquake, it could be loud. Lord, you want to do it mid level, you know, so soft. No one knows. Or so loud. Everyone comes to my house. However, Lord, you want to, just do what you need to do for me. Don't let the Sadducees, don't let worldly religious people bind you up, talk you out of your miracle when you know God has one for you. So here's the question. Are you going to obey God? The Bible says, be anxious for nothing. But in all things, by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God. And then the peace that passes all understanding will guard your hearts and mind through Christ Jesus. Watch this. We talk about don't worry or don't be anxious, but to miss the part where he says to pray, to supplicate and be thankful. So when everyone else is losing their mind, find your knees and begin to talk to your God and watch him do what only God can do and say to God, everyone else can fall apart, Lord, but for me and my house, Lord, we gonna work, worship you. We're going to honor you. As long as you're with us, God, we're going to be all right. Give God a hallelujah. Come on, give him a shout. Every promise in him is yes and amen. He heard your prayer even before you prayed. Just find your knees until you could get up, knowing that you know God already has the answer. It wouldn't even be honest to say. It's on its way. It's already here. It's a little bit like when Moses. I'm sorry, Abraham came at one side of the mountain and he was going to sacrifice his son Isaac. He didn't know as he was coming up one side, there was a ram coming up the other side. And every step he took, the ram was probably going right there with him. And then he went to do what God said to do. He's gonna pull that knife down and do a deed. Got to stop. And he looked up and there was a ram in the bush. He didn't know about that ram. And some of you are anxious about, you know, what God wants you to do in this season. Because right now, you don't see the ram. But you're not supposed to see the ram. All you're supposed to do is obey. And at the right moment, he'll have you lift your head and you will see what was there for you all the time. Thank you for joining us. Until next time. Remember, you have what it takes in Christ to live big. We also invite you to partner with Derek Greer Ministries in bringing the life changing and impactful teachings of God's Word to the world. Get started by visiting Derekreer.com by clicking the link in the description.