God forms us through our experiences and His Holy Spirit

1. The Anvil
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2. Our concept
And we know that God causes all
things to work together for good to
those who love God, to those who are
called according to His purpose.
Romans 8:28 2

3. History Channel has a show called “Forged in Fire.”
Make weapons from scrap metal Three rounds
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4. It’s a process
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5. No good deed goes unpunished
As they were speaking to the people, the
priests and the captain of the temple
guard and the Sadducees came up to
them, being greatly disturbed because
they were teaching the people
Acts 4:1-3 5

6. No good deed goes unpunished (continued)
and proclaiming in Jesus the resurrection
from the dead. And they laid hands on
them and put them in jail until the next
day, for it was already evening.
Acts 4:1-3 6

7. What were they mad about?
Unauthorized teachers
Resurrection
7

8. Prophesied by Jesus
When they bring you before the synagogues
and the rulers and the authorities, do not
worry about how or what you are to speak in
your defense, or what you are to say; for the
Holy Spirit will teach you in that very hour
what you ought to say.
Luke 12:11–12 8

9. When they…
Don’t worry about it
Holy Spirit will inspire
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10. Following the pattern produces results
But many of those who had
heard the message believed;
and the number of the men
came to be about five
thousand.
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11. Sanhedrin
On the next day, their rulers and elders
and scribes were gathered together in
Jerusalem; and Annas the high priest was
there, and Caiaphas and John and
Alexander, and all who were
11

12. Sanhedrin (continued)
of high-priestly descent. When they had
placed them in the center, they began to
inquire, “By what power, or in what name,
have you done this?”
12

13. Day in court
text
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14. Holy Spirit filled Peter
Rulers and elders of the people, if we are
on trial today for a benefit done to a sick
man, as to how this man has been made
well, let it be known to all of you and to all
the people of Israel,
Acts 4:8-10 14

15. Holy Spirit filled Peter (continued)
that by the name of Jesus Christ the
Nazarene, whom you crucified, whom God
raised from the dead—by this name this
man stands here before you in good health
Acts 4:8-10 15

16. Holy Spirit wisdom
IF we are on trial
The charge?
Jesus is Messiah
What you did vs What God did
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17. Opportunity
He is the STONE WHICH WAS REJECTED by you,
THE BUILDERS, but WHICH BECAME THE CHIEF
CORNER stone. And there is salvation in no
one else; for there is no other name
under heaven that has been given among
men by which we must be saved.
Acts 4:11-12 17

18. Make the most of an opportunity
Used Old Testament on them
Proclaimed salvation
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19. Reaction from the high court
Now as they observed the confidence of
Peter and John and understood that they
were uneducated and untrained men, they
were amazed, and began to recognize
them as having been with Jesus.
Acts 4:13-15 19

20. Reaction from the high court (continued)
And seeing the man who had been healed
standing with them, they had nothing to
say in reply. But when they had ordered
them to leave the Council,
Acts 4:13-15 20

21. Amazing
Uneducated
Untrained
Confidence
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22. We are the hammer!
“What shall we do with these men? For the fact
that a noteworthy miracle has taken place
through them is apparent to all who live in
Jerusalem, and we cannot deny it. But so that it
will not spread any further among the people, let
us warn them to speak no longer to any man in
this name.”
Acts 4:16-17 22

23. The verdict
And when they had summoned them, they
commanded them not to speak or teach at
all in the name of Jesus.
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24. Right answer
Whether it is right in the sight of God to
give heed to you rather than to God, you
be the judge; for we cannot stop speaking
about what we have seen and heard.
Acts 4:19-20 24

25. What is right?
Speak what you know
Speak of your experience
Part of the quenching process
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26. What were they to do?
When they had threatened them further,
they let them go (finding no basis on which
to punish them) on account of the people,
because they were all glorifying God for
what had happened;
Acts 4:21-22 26

27. What were they to do? (continued)
for the man was more than forty years old
on whom this miracle of healing had been
performed.
Acts 4:21-22 27

28. Testimony??
When they had been released, they went
to their own companions and reported all
that the chief priests and the elders had
said to them.
Acts 4:23 28

29. Open with worship
And when they heard this, they lifted their
voices to God with one accord and said, “O
Lord, it is You who MADE THE HEAVEN AND THE
EARTH AND THE SEA, AND ALL THAT IS IN THEM,
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30. Worshipped
Rejoice always; pray
without ceasing; in
everything give
thanks; for this is
God’s will for you in
Christ Jesus.
1 Thessalonians 5:16–18 30

31. Prayed the scriptures
‘WHY DID THE GENTILES RAGE, AND THE PEOPLES
DEVISE FUTILE THINGS? THE KINGS OF THE EARTH
TOOK THEIR STAND, AND THE RULERS WERE
GATHERED TOGETHER AGAINST THE LORD AND
AGAINST HIS CHRIST.’
Acts 4:25-26 31

32. This shows understanding
The one who listens to you listens to
Me, and the one who rejects you
rejects Me; and he who rejects Me
rejects the One who sent Me.
Luke 10:16 32

33. Predestined?
For truly in this city there were
gathered together against Your holy
servant Jesus, whom You anointed,
both Herod and Pontius Pilate, along
with the Gentiles
Acts 4:27-28 33

34. Predestined? (continued)
and the peoples of Israel, to do
whatever Your hand and Your purpose
predestined to occur.
Acts 4:27-28 34

35. God
Your hand
Your purpose
He’s in charge of the forge, the
anvil and the hammer
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36. Their prayer requests
And now, Lord, take note of their
threats, and grant that Your bond-
servants may speak Your word with
all confidence,
Acts 4:29-30 36

37. Their prayer requests (continued)
while You extend Your hand to
heal, and signs and wonders take
place through the name of Your
holy servant Jesus.
Acts 4:29-30 37

38. Kingdom prayer requests
See our situation
Give us boldness
Perform the supernatural
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39. Refilling
And when they had prayed, the place
where they had gathered was shaken, and
they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and
began to speak the word of God with
boldness.
Acts 4:31 39

40. Our take-away
You need to be filled with the Spirit
God oversees the forge, the anvil and
the hammer
People don’t reject you, they reject
Jesus
Be Kingdom minded
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