They Had Been With Jesus

I. Introduction: Acts 4:13: When Peter and John came before the Jewish leaders, the leaders were amazed at their boldness and ability. The Sanhedrin realized that the change was a result of their time spent with Jesus.

II. The change of Moses.

A. Before we study the change of Peter and John in depth, let us look back at another changed man, Moses.

B. Moses was very privileged to spend much time with God.

1. He was on Mt. Sinai for 40 days receiving the law of God, Exodus 34:27-35.
2. When he descended the mountain, his face physically shone, reflecting the glory of God.

C. His life also changed from being with God.

1. At the burning bush, when God first called him to lead the people, Moses offered many excuses for why he was unqualified to lead God’s people.
2. However, God made Moses the leader and he grew in confidence yet remained exceedingly humble.
3. From the beginning of his work, Moses drew near to God, Exodus 20:20-21.

D. Moses had a constant relationship with God, Exodus 33:11.

1. There was no favoritism, however, for Moses could not enter the Promised Land because of a sin that he committed, Numbers 20:10-12.
2. However, Moses received a greater reward from God, Hebrews 11:27-28.

E. Moses had been with God and it transformed who he was, how he lived, and the impact he made on others.

III. The change of the apostles.

A. The apostles were not trained religious leaders, but common people from among the Jews.

1. Peter and John were both fishermen, Matthew 4:18-22.
2. Peter realized that he was a sinner, Luke 5:4-8.
3. John had a bad temper, Luke 9:51-55.

B. Jesus molded them into great men of faith, transforming them into His own image.

1. Peter became a leader among the apostles and a great preacher who preached the first sermon on the Day of Pentecost when the church was established.
2. John was transformed from a “son of thunder” to an apostle of love.

C. Through Jesus, they gained boldness in the face of opposition.

1. In the garden of Gethsemane they all fled from Jesus, Mark 14:50.
2. Peter even denied the Lord when it was obvious that “he had been with Jesus,” Mark 14:66-72.
3. The change was obvious to the people in the courtyard who knew that he was a disciple and Peter had to curse and swear to convince them that he had not been with Jesus.

D. After the resurrection, they gained confidence the risen Christ and began to proclaim the gospel boldly.

1. They were brought before the Sanhedrin, the Jewish leaders, to be punished for preaching the gospel.
2. Acts 4:1-22
3. It was obvious that Peter and John had been with Jesus and it transformed who they were, how they lived, and the impact they made on the world.

IV. There should be a visible change in our lives.

A. Changed appearance.

1. We will not have a face that shines with light as did Moses, but our appearance should change.
   • Our language will be seasoned with good speech, not filthy language, Colossians 3:8.
   • Our tempers will be in control, Colossians 3:8.
   • We will dress modestly despite the world’s standards, 1 Timothy 2:8-10.
   • People should see the glory of Christ in our lives.

B. Changed attitude and focus.

1. Like Peter and John we can have confidence in spiritually trying times, Hebrews 10:19-25.
2. We will respect God, His name, and His commands and obediently serve Him.
3. We will have a penitent heart that is willing to repent when wrong,

C. Our lives should be such that others can see us and say, “He/She has been with Jesus.”

V. How can we be with Christ so that we can have this change?

A. Realize that Christ wants to be with us.

1. John 14:23-24 – Dwell with believers
2. John 12:27-32 – He died so that we could come to Him.

B. Galatians 3:26-29 – We begin the relationship by putting on Christ.

C. As Christians we work daily to develop a deep and lasting relationship with Christ

1. Make God’s word live within us – 1 John 2:3-6
   • When the word abides in us, and we keep the commandments of God, we are allowing God to shape us into the image of His son.
   • We can know more about God by meditating on His word not seeking proof texts, but the God who is behind all of the word.
2. Prayer – We are able to talk with God, share ourselves with Him and be mindful of his presence in our lives.
3. Holy living and godly service
   • Titus 2:11-14
   • By living as Christ lived, enduring suffering and tribulation, knowing the joy of the blessings of daily life, and being zealous for Jesus, we can draw closer to Christ.

D. If we are with Christ, Christ will be with us.

VI. It should be obvious that we have been with Jesus and that He is transforming who we are, how we live, and the impact we make on the world.