1. The Awe of GodActs 5: 4b-5 “...You have not lied to men but to God." When Ananias heard these words, he fell down and breathed his last. And great fear came upon all who heard of it."a) God is Holy- The seriousness of sinb) God is All Knowing- The importance of a clear consciencec) God is Judge- The necessity of church discipline2. The Power of GodActs 5:12-16 "Now many signs and wonders were regularly done among the people by the hands of the apostles ... bringing the sick and those afflicted with unclean spirits, and they were all healed."a) Alarming (Persecution)- "No one dared join them"b) Appealing (even in Suffering)- "And more than ever believers were added to the Lord, multitudes"c) Active- Signs and wonders, healing and deliverance, proclamationConclusion:Acts 5:41-42 "Then they left the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer dishonor for the name. And every day, in the temple and from house to house, they did not cease teaching and preaching Jesus as the Christ"a) God is Holy, All Knowing, Judge- Repentance: Get right with God via Jesusb) The power of God:- Alarming? Appealing?c) The power if God: Active- Healing? Prayer?

1. What Happened to Elijah?2. Why did Elijah get Depressed?- Discouragement- Exhaustion- Emotions3. What was God’s Response to Elijah’s Depression?- Rest and Refreshment- Back to Basics

1. There Were Other Prophets at Work in the Nation2. Other Prophets Were Inspired, Emboldened and Released by Elijah’s Example

ELIJAH1.Faith and Obedience- James 5:16-18 - John 15:7 - 1 Kings 17:2-4 - Leviticus 11:13-15 - 1 Kings 17:8-92. Faith Grows- 1 Kings 17:12-14 - Jeremiah 48:11 3. God’s ProvisionTHE WIDOWThe Journey of Faith- 1 Kings 17:9 - 1 Kings 17:12 - 1 Kings 17:15 - 1 Kings 17:18 - 1 Kings 17:24

1. Political Change did not Signal a Change in Spiritual Outlook2. The Tedium of Evil3. Elijah – Who was he?4. Elijah – What motivated him?5. Elijah – What did he do?- Prayer- Proclamation

1. Giving: What/Who fills our heart?Acts 5:3 a) Our Heart?- The seat of... desires, feelings, affections, passions, intellect, meaningb) A Battle for our "Heart"- God or Money as Master... who do we serve? trust? treasure?c) Strongholds: Fear, Control, Greed, Corruption, Anxiety- Culture, Education, Family, Demonic

1. Giving: Kingdom Lifev 31 "And when they had prayed, the place in which they were gathered together was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and continued to speak the word of God with boldness."a) Jesus is Lord- We receive and become stewardsb) Holy Spirit Filled- Unity: "those who believed were of one heart and soul"c) Persecution- Reveals our oyalty2. Giving: Kingdom Mindsetv 32 "Now the full number of those who believed were of one heart and soul, and no one said that any of the things that belonged to him was his own, but they had everything in common."a) The "Tithe/Tenth"- Old Testament, New Testament, Todayb) Offerings- Overflow, Supernatural, Fun!c) Giving in Canada 2011- CRA, taxes, healthcare, EI, disability, pensions, etc3. Giving: Kingdom Principlesv 33b-35a "...and great grace was upon them all. There was not a needy person among them, for as many as were owners of lands or houses sold them and brought the proceeds of what was sold 35and laid it at the apostles’ feet..."a) We are under "grace" not law- Voluntary and not under compulsionb) Local Church First- My story and my practicec) TMP: Regular Giving/Offerings/Storehouse- Gift days May 2011: Smith's Sept-Dec and church planting

1. Radical... with a purpose in community togetherv2,13a) You will be a teacher...- We lead ourselves- We influence othersb) You will proclaim a message worth telling- A message of hope- Communicating the grace of Godc) You will have courage, boldness and ability to do it- Not if your own strength- Not alone- Initiated by the spirit2. Resistant... to postmodernism and pluralismv12a) You will be convinced- Of his work in your heart- That he has made all things new- That you are in Christb) As a result, you will be convincing- Not by what you are against, but by who/what you are for- In directing others to real peace, fulfillment, purposec) You will be prompted by the spirit- He will give you the words to say, fill your mouth- He will teach you, empower you- He will give you eyes to see3. Relational... with God and each otherv 1a) it was how they had been with Jesus- Peter, after the crucifixion- Peter after the resurrection- Peter after Pentecostb) Jesus sought out Peter, by name- Even after failures, Jesus seeks him out- Jesus loved Peter...- A two-way relationshipc) God calls us by name, by His Spirit- The result? Others will know there is a difference in our lives- We have closeness with out Father who loves us- For mission, for others... We cannot keep it to ourselves

1. Human PerspectiveActs 3:2 "Now a man crippled from birth was being carried to the temple gate called Beautiful, where he was put every day to beg from those going into the temple courts."a) Purpose- What is life all about? Survival? Success? God? Afterlife?b) Pain- How do I avoid it? deal with it? escape it?c) Pleasure- How do I get it? find it? keep it? increase it?2. God's PerspectiveActs 3: 12b-13a "Men of Israel, why does this surprise you? Why do you stare at us as if by our own power or godliness we had made this man walk? The God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, the God of our fathers, has glorified his servant Jesus."a) Purpose: God's Glory- Relationship/Community/Family/Workb) Pain: Paradise Lost- Sin... idols, separation, deathc) Pleasure: Knowing God- Worship (Adore/Devote)3. Transformed PerspectiveActs 3:18- 20a "But what God foretold by the mouth of all the prophets, that his Christ would suffer, he thus fulfilled. Repent therefore, and your sins may be blotted out, that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord"a) Purpose: Relationship- How? God's Part... Jesus sent, lived, died, rose againb) Pain: Jesus our Substitute- How? Our part... Repentance via believe, receive, followc) Pleasure: Refreshing- Restored relationships, Forgiveness of sins, Joy/Peace - Holy Spirit