Evidence With PowerThe Evidence Series

Acts 1:7-8 He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or epochs which the Father has fixed by His own authority;

but you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be My witnesses…”

Evidence With Power

•Don’t worry about ‘epochs’

In other words

•“Be the witnesses you are!”

Which means

Acts 1:8 “you shall be My witnesses…”Means:

“We preach Christ crucified, to Jews a stumbling block and to Gentiles foolishness.” 1 Cor. 1:23

but to those who are the called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. 1 Cor. 1:24

Evidence With Power

•It Ain’t Easy!

The Point

•POWERFUL!

BUT

The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds.

We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ. 2 Cor. 10:4-5 (NIV)

Evidence With Power

“…power to demolish strongholds.” Entrenched Evil: holding humans

captive.

Evidence With Power

•Why can’t we educate people away from it?

Drug Abuse

•Why can’t we counsel people away from it?

Broken Families

“…power to demolish strongholds.” Entrenched Evil: holding humans

captive. Pride: “every lofty thing raised up

against…God”

Evidence With Power

“…power to demolish strongholds.” Entrenched Evil: holding humans

captive. Pride: “every lofty thing raised up

against…God” Self-Sufficiency Competency: is His Design For Us Apart From God is the Illusion

Evidence With Power

“…power to demolish strongholds.” Entrenched Evil: holding humans

captive. Pride: “every lofty thing raised up

against…God” Reinforced By ‘Plausible’ Arguments:

“we demolish arguments…”

Evidence With Power

‘Condoms for Kids!’

‘Less taxes!’

‘More taxes!’Largely irrelevant, considering…

“…power to demolish strongholds” MEANS:1. Able to reason with evidence.

Evidence With Power

“We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God…”

“…power to demolish strongholds” MEANS:1. Able to reason with evidence.2. Truth that captivates every thought

Capturing the ‘philosopher’ with the Gospel.

Thus destroying the ‘philosophy’

Evidence With Power

and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to

Christ

Captive…to Christ

Not this-for-that

Piercing

“we take captive every thought…”

Dim

en

sio

ns

Length• From birth

to death

Breadth• Interests,

experience, knowledge

Depth• Purpose,

significance, GOD

THIS

HURTS

“…power to demolish strongholds” MEANS:1. Able to reason with evidence.2. Truth that captivates every

thought. Capturing the ‘philosopher’ with the

Gospel.

Evidence With Power

All our knowledge brings us nearer to our ignorance,

And all our ignorance brings us nearer to death,

But nearness to death no nearer to God.Where is the life we have lost in living?

T.S. Elliot, The Rock

“…power to demolish strongholds” MEANS:1. Able to reason with evidence.2. Truth that captivates every

thought. Capturing the ‘philosopher’ with the

Gospel.

Evidence With Power

Complaint against C.S. Lewis“It is most disconcerting to have one's case against Christianity well in hand, only to find

that Lewis doesn't give the answers we expect to refute.”

“…power to demolish strongholds” MEANS:1. Able to reason with evidence.2. Truth that captivates every

thought. Capturing the ‘philosopher’ with the

Gospel.

Evidence With Power

Deep calls to deep…Psalms 42:7

2 Corinthians 10:5 …every thought captive..

“…power to demolish strongholds” MEANS:1. Able to reason with evidence.2. Truth that captivates every

thought. Capturing the ‘philosopher’ with the

Gospel.

Evidence With Power

2 Corinthians 10:5 …every thought captive..

“…power to demolish strongholds” MEANS:1. Able to reason with evidence.

Speaking the Truth, with…2. Truth that captivates every

thought.Love Authority: Piercing the Heart

Evidence With Power

2 Corinthians 10:5 …every thought captive..

“…power to demolish strongholds” MEANS:1. Able to reason with evidence.

Speaking the Truth, with…2. Truth that captivates every

thought.Love Authority: Piercing the Heart

Evidence With Power

2 Corinthians 10:5 …every thought captive..

How to acquire ‘love authority’?

In the Body

Eph.4:15

The Holy Spirit engineers this great work.

The Holy Spirit’s Role: With Power

but you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be My witnesses…”

The Holy Spirit engineers this great work.

He has prepared a great harvest

The Holy Spirit’s Role: With Power

“I tell you, open your eyes and look at the fields! They are ripe for harvest!” John 4:35b

The Holy Spirit engineers this great work.

He has prepared a great harvest. This is His primary work.

The Holy Spirit’s Role: With Power

John 16:8-11 “And He, when He comes, will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment…”

The Holy Spirit engineers this great work.

He has prepared a great harvest. This is His primary work:

1. Convicting the indifferent.

The Holy Spirit’s Role: With Power

John 16:8-11 “…Concerning sin, because they do not believe in Me…”

The Holy Spirit engineers this great work.

He has prepared a great harvest. This is His primary work:

1. Convicting the indifferent.

The Holy Spirit’s Role: With Power

John 16:8-11 “…Concerning sin…”

Our Task

The fact of history

Folly of unbelie

f

Folly of religion

As I walked about the city I could see that you people here are “very religious”. You have altars erected everywhere and I even found one erected to “the unknown god.” I want to talk to you about that God. He is the God in Whom we live and move and have our being.

Acts 17:22-23

The Holy Spirit engineers this great work.

He has prepared a great harvest. This is His primary work:

1. Convicting the indifferent.2. Convincing the troubled.

The Holy Spirit’s Role: With Power

John 16:8-11 “…and concerning righteousness, because I go to the Father and you no longer see Me…”

How can a righteous God permit this kind of activity?

The Holy Spirit engineers this great work.

He has prepared a great harvest. This is His primary work:

1. Convicting the indifferent.2. Convincing the troubled.3. Comforting the defeated.

The Holy Spirit’s Role: With Power

John 16:8-11 “…and concerning judgment, because the ruler of this world has been judged.”

The Holy Spirit engineers this great work.

He has prepared a great harvest. This is His primary work:

1. Convicting the indifferent.2. Convincing the troubled.3. Comforting the defeated.

The Holy Spirit’s Role: With Power

The onlypeople youwill everwitness to.

1. Convicting the indifferent.2. Convincing the troubled.3. Comforting the defeated.

The Holy Spirit’s Role: With Power

Evidence

Love Authority

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