HOPE AnD HELP
SCRIPTURE: ACTS 4:1-37
SUNDAY, OCTOBER 18, 2026
Tim Wolfe
THE BIG IDEA
God gives us power to share hope and give help.
1 PRESSURE
Acts 4:1-22
2 PRAYER
Acts 4:23-30
3 POWER
Acts 4:31
4 PROOF
Acts 4:32-37
1 PRESSURE
Acts 4:1-22 | Anchor 4:18
Sent people feel the pull to go quiet or go safe.
The story starts right after something wonderful. In chapter 3, Peter and John healed a man who had been lame, at the temple gate, and the whole city saw it. Then Peter started talking about Jesus. And that is when the trouble began.
They were greatly disturbed because the apostles were teaching the people, proclaiming in Jesus the resurrection of the dead. (Acts 4:2)
"By what power or what name did you do this?" (Acts 4:7)
Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them: "Rulers and elders of the people! If we are being called to account today for an act of kindness shown to a man who was lame and are being asked how he was healed, then know this, you and all the people of Israel: It is by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified but whom God raised from the dead, that this man stands before you healed." (Acts 4:8-10)
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. (Acts 4:13)
Spurgeon from his sermon - Christ’s People – Imitators of Him
: Behold! what a change divine grace will work in a man, and in how short a time. That same Peter, who so lately followed his master afar off, and with oaths and curses denied that he knew his name, is now to be found side by side with the loving John, boldly declaring that there is salvation in none other name save that of Jesus Christ, and preaching the resurrection of the dead, through the sacrifice of his dying Lord.
"Everyone living in Jerusalem knows they have performed a notable sign, and we cannot deny it. But to stop this thing from spreading any further among the people, we must warn them to speak no longer to anyone in this name." (Acts 4:16-17)
Then they called them in again and commanded them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus. (Acts 4:18)
“Cheap grace is the preaching of forgiveness without requiring repentance, baptism without church discipline, Communion without confession… Cheap grace is grace without discipleship, grace without the cross, grace without Jesus Christ, living and incarnate” Dietrich Bonhoeffer in his book Discipleship.
Said in a much shorter way “If you want the benefits of Christ without Christ himself, you will get neigher” Tim Keller from his book The Prodigal God: Recovering the Heart of the Christian Faith.
But Peter and John replied, "Which is right in God's eyes: to listen to you, or to him? You be the judges! As for us, we cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard." (Acts 4:19-20)
But here's the question: how do you stand like that when the pressure is real? They didn't have a strategy. They had a prayer. Pressure. Now Prayer.
2 PRAYER
Acts 4:23-30 | Anchor 4:29-30
They asked for boldness to speak and for God to act.
On their release, Peter and John went back to their own people and reported all that the chief priests and the elders had said to them. When they heard this, they raised their voices together in prayer to God. "Sovereign Lord," they said, "you made the heavens and the earth and the sea, and everything in them." (Acts 4:23-24)
Three things I want you to notice before we get to the request.
First, they go to their own people. Sent people are not solo. If you are trying to live on mission alone, hear this: God never designed you to do it by yourself.
Baptize (baptizo = to immerse)
What are we supposed to immerse them in?
The name (onoma = it means both the character of someone AND it means the surname) of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
The hearer of this would have known that Jesus was saying that He wants us to go out and immerse nonbelievers in the family of God – i.e. The Church - i.e. THAT’S US!!
Pastor Mark Dever -“teaches that the Great Commission (Matthew 28:18–20) is fundamentally tied to the life and ministry of the local church rather than just individual or freelance Christian activity”.
Second, they pray together. They raised their voices together.
Third, they start with who God is. Sovereign Lord.
"'Why do the nations rage and the peoples plot in vain? The kings of the earth rise up and the rulers band together against the Lord and against his anointed one.'" (Acts 4:25-26)
"Now, Lord, consider their threats and enable your servants to speak your word with great boldness. Stretch out your hand to heal and perform signs and wonders through the name of your holy servant Jesus." (Acts 4:29-30)
3 POWER
Acts 4:31 | Rom. 8:9; Eph. 1:13, 5:18
God fills, and the power is supplied, not stored.
After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly. (Acts 4:31)
“That’s because they were speaking God’s words and not their own. There’s some solid advice right there”. - Thom Mozloom
And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, they do not belong to Christ. (Romans 8:9)
When you believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit. (Ephesians 1:13)
We push when God intends us to depend.
We strive when God intends us to surrender.
The Christian life was never meant to be pushed.
It was meant to be powered by the Spirit of God.
[Credit: Adrian Rogers, "How to Have a Spirit-Filled Life," Love Worth Finding.]
Supplied, not stored.
"Holy Spirit, I belong to Jesus. Have all of me today."
4 PROOF
Acts 4:32-37 | Anchor 4:33-34
People heard the hope and saw the help.
All the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that any of their possessions was their own, but they shared everything they had. With great power the apostles continued to testify to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and God's grace was so powerfully at work in them all that there were no needy persons among them. For from time to time those who owned land or houses sold them, brought the money from the sales and put it at the apostles' feet, and it was distributed to anyone who had need. (Acts 4:32-35)
People heard the hope and saw the help.
Joseph, a Levite from Cyprus, whom the apostles called Barnabas (which means "son of encouragement"), sold a field he owned and brought the money and put it at the apostles' feet. (Acts 4:36-37)
PUTTING IT TOGETHER
Let's put it together.
PRESSURE
Sent people feel the pull to stay quiet or stay safe.
PRAYER
God's people ask for boldness and for God to act.
POWER
God fills His people.
PROOF
People hear the hope and see the help.
Sent people pray. God supplies the power. People experience hope and help.
Hope to share. Help to give. In the strength God supplies.
RESPONSE
1 PRAY
Lord, give me boldness to speak and show me where to help. Fill me again.
2 SPEAK
One word of hope this week to your one.
3 SERVE
One act of help for the same person, meeting a real need.
COMMITMENT
Acts 4:29-30 | John 20:21
NAME IT
Ask yourself two honest questions. First: which one do I default to? Hope without help, talking about Jesus but rarely serving? Or help without hope, serving but rarely saying why?
Second: what is the fear or the excuse behind it? Just name it to God. He already knows.
PRAY
Sovereign Lord, you made the heavens and the earth and the sea. You are bigger than my fear. Consider my fears and my excuses. You see them.
Enable me to speak your word with boldness to the person you've put in front of me. Show me where to help, and give me open hands for the need in front of me. Stretch out your hand, and do what only you can do, through the name of Jesus.I yield. Take control of my words and my hands. Fill me again. I can't do this on my own strength. I need the strength you supply. Amen.
TAKE ONE STEP
Write three things
My one: the name of the person God has put in front of you.
A word of hope I will speak: an invitation, how can I pray for you, or share the gospel.
An act of help I will give: something real, something specific, something this week.
COMMISSION
"As the Father has sent me, I am sending you." (John 20:21)
God gives us power to share hope and give help.
1 PRESSURE
Acts 4:1-22
2 PRAYER
Acts 4:23-30
3 POWER
Acts 4:31
4 PROOF
Acts 4:32-37
1 PRESSURE
Acts 4:1-22 | Anchor 4:18
Sent people feel the pull to go quiet or go safe.
The story starts right after something wonderful. In chapter 3, Peter and John healed a man who had been lame, at the temple gate, and the whole city saw it. Then Peter started talking about Jesus. And that is when the trouble began.
They were greatly disturbed because the apostles were teaching the people, proclaiming in Jesus the resurrection of the dead. (Acts 4:2)
"By what power or what name did you do this?" (Acts 4:7)
Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them: "Rulers and elders of the people! If we are being called to account today for an act of kindness shown to a man who was lame and are being asked how he was healed, then know this, you and all the people of Israel: It is by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified but whom God raised from the dead, that this man stands before you healed." (Acts 4:8-10)
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. (Acts 4:13)
Spurgeon from his sermon - Christ’s People – Imitators of Him
: Behold! what a change divine grace will work in a man, and in how short a time. That same Peter, who so lately followed his master afar off, and with oaths and curses denied that he knew his name, is now to be found side by side with the loving John, boldly declaring that there is salvation in none other name save that of Jesus Christ, and preaching the resurrection of the dead, through the sacrifice of his dying Lord.
"Everyone living in Jerusalem knows they have performed a notable sign, and we cannot deny it. But to stop this thing from spreading any further among the people, we must warn them to speak no longer to anyone in this name." (Acts 4:16-17)
Then they called them in again and commanded them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus. (Acts 4:18)
“Cheap grace is the preaching of forgiveness without requiring repentance, baptism without church discipline, Communion without confession… Cheap grace is grace without discipleship, grace without the cross, grace without Jesus Christ, living and incarnate” Dietrich Bonhoeffer in his book Discipleship.
Said in a much shorter way “If you want the benefits of Christ without Christ himself, you will get neigher” Tim Keller from his book The Prodigal God: Recovering the Heart of the Christian Faith.
But Peter and John replied, "Which is right in God's eyes: to listen to you, or to him? You be the judges! As for us, we cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard." (Acts 4:19-20)
But here's the question: how do you stand like that when the pressure is real? They didn't have a strategy. They had a prayer. Pressure. Now Prayer.
2 PRAYER
Acts 4:23-30 | Anchor 4:29-30
They asked for boldness to speak and for God to act.
On their release, Peter and John went back to their own people and reported all that the chief priests and the elders had said to them. When they heard this, they raised their voices together in prayer to God. "Sovereign Lord," they said, "you made the heavens and the earth and the sea, and everything in them." (Acts 4:23-24)
Three things I want you to notice before we get to the request.
First, they go to their own people. Sent people are not solo. If you are trying to live on mission alone, hear this: God never designed you to do it by yourself.
Baptize (baptizo = to immerse)
What are we supposed to immerse them in?
The name (onoma = it means both the character of someone AND it means the surname) of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
The hearer of this would have known that Jesus was saying that He wants us to go out and immerse nonbelievers in the family of God – i.e. The Church - i.e. THAT’S US!!
Pastor Mark Dever -“teaches that the Great Commission (Matthew 28:18–20) is fundamentally tied to the life and ministry of the local church rather than just individual or freelance Christian activity”.
Second, they pray together. They raised their voices together.
Third, they start with who God is. Sovereign Lord.
"'Why do the nations rage and the peoples plot in vain? The kings of the earth rise up and the rulers band together against the Lord and against his anointed one.'" (Acts 4:25-26)
"Now, Lord, consider their threats and enable your servants to speak your word with great boldness. Stretch out your hand to heal and perform signs and wonders through the name of your holy servant Jesus." (Acts 4:29-30)
3 POWER
Acts 4:31 | Rom. 8:9; Eph. 1:13, 5:18
God fills, and the power is supplied, not stored.
After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly. (Acts 4:31)
“That’s because they were speaking God’s words and not their own. There’s some solid advice right there”. - Thom Mozloom
And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, they do not belong to Christ. (Romans 8:9)
When you believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit. (Ephesians 1:13)
We push when God intends us to depend.
We strive when God intends us to surrender.
The Christian life was never meant to be pushed.
It was meant to be powered by the Spirit of God.
[Credit: Adrian Rogers, "How to Have a Spirit-Filled Life," Love Worth Finding.]
Supplied, not stored.
"Holy Spirit, I belong to Jesus. Have all of me today."
4 PROOF
Acts 4:32-37 | Anchor 4:33-34
People heard the hope and saw the help.
All the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that any of their possessions was their own, but they shared everything they had. With great power the apostles continued to testify to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and God's grace was so powerfully at work in them all that there were no needy persons among them. For from time to time those who owned land or houses sold them, brought the money from the sales and put it at the apostles' feet, and it was distributed to anyone who had need. (Acts 4:32-35)
People heard the hope and saw the help.
Joseph, a Levite from Cyprus, whom the apostles called Barnabas (which means "son of encouragement"), sold a field he owned and brought the money and put it at the apostles' feet. (Acts 4:36-37)
PUTTING IT TOGETHER
Let's put it together.
PRESSURE
Sent people feel the pull to stay quiet or stay safe.
PRAYER
God's people ask for boldness and for God to act.
POWER
God fills His people.
PROOF
People hear the hope and see the help.
Sent people pray. God supplies the power. People experience hope and help.
Hope to share. Help to give. In the strength God supplies.
RESPONSE
1 PRAY
Lord, give me boldness to speak and show me where to help. Fill me again.
2 SPEAK
One word of hope this week to your one.
3 SERVE
One act of help for the same person, meeting a real need.
COMMITMENT
Acts 4:29-30 | John 20:21
NAME IT
Ask yourself two honest questions. First: which one do I default to? Hope without help, talking about Jesus but rarely serving? Or help without hope, serving but rarely saying why?
Second: what is the fear or the excuse behind it? Just name it to God. He already knows.
PRAY
Sovereign Lord, you made the heavens and the earth and the sea. You are bigger than my fear. Consider my fears and my excuses. You see them.
Enable me to speak your word with boldness to the person you've put in front of me. Show me where to help, and give me open hands for the need in front of me. Stretch out your hand, and do what only you can do, through the name of Jesus.I yield. Take control of my words and my hands. Fill me again. I can't do this on my own strength. I need the strength you supply. Amen.
TAKE ONE STEP
Write three things
My one: the name of the person God has put in front of you.
A word of hope I will speak: an invitation, how can I pray for you, or share the gospel.
An act of help I will give: something real, something specific, something this week.
COMMISSION
"As the Father has sent me, I am sending you." (John 20:21)