Sermon notes: 4/27/25

“Thank God For The Bridge!”

Pastor Albert Almore

“Then PETER said, “Silver or gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk.” Taking him by the right hand, he helped him up, and instantly the man’s feet and ankles became strong.”

Acts 3:6-7 NIV

“Nevertheless, more and more men and women believed in the Lord and were added to their number. As a result, people brought the sick into the streets and laid them on beds and mats so that at least PETER’S shadow might fall on some of them as he passed by.”

Acts 5:14-15 NIV

“Crowds gathered also from the towns around Jerusalem, bringing their sick and those tormented by impure spirits, AND ALL OF THEM WERE HEALED.”

Acts 5:16 NIV

“As Peter traveled about the country, he went to visit the Lord’s people who lived in Lydda. There he found a man named Aeneas, who was paralyzed and had been bedridden for eight years.”

Acts 9:32-33 NIV

““Aeneas,” Peter said to him, “Jesus Christ heals you. Get up and roll up your mat.” Immediately Aeneas got up.”

Acts 9:34 NIV

Wait a minute now…this can’t be the same Peter. This can’t be the same Peter in Luke 5:8 that told Jesus, 

“…“GO AWAY FROM ME, LORD; I am a sinful man!””

Luke 5:8 NIV

“But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, “Lord, save me!””

Matthew 14:30 NIV

“About an hour later another asserted, “Certainly this fellow was with him, for he is a Galilean.” Peter replied, “Man, I don’t know what you’re talking about!” Just as he was speaking, the rooster crowed.”

Luke 22:59-60 NIV

“THE LORD TURNED AND LOOKED STRAIGHT AT PETER. Then Peter remembered the word the Lord had spoken to him: “Before the rooster crows today, you will disown me three times.” And he went outside and wept bitterly.”

Luke 22:61-62 NIV

“In Joppa there was a disciple named Tabitha (in Greek her name is Dorcas); she was always doing good and helping the poor. About that time she became sick and died, and her body was washed and placed in an upstairs room.”

Acts 9:36-37 NIV

“Peter sent them all out of the room; then he got down on his knees and prayed. Turning toward the dead woman, he said, “Tabitha, get up.” She opened her eyes, and seeing Peter she sat up.”

Acts 9:40 NIV

“When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting.”

Acts 2:1-2 NIV

“They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them.”

Acts 2:3 NIV

“All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.”

Acts 2:4 NIV

“Amazed and perplexed, they asked one another, “What does this mean?” Some, however, made fun of them and said, “They have had too much wine.””

Acts 2:12-13 NIV

“THEN PETER STOOD UP WITH THE ELEVEN, RAISED HIS VOICE AND ADDRESSED THE CROWD: “Fellow Jews and all of you who live in Jerusalem, let me explain this to you; listen carefully to what I say.”

Acts 2:14 NIV

The one who once told Jesus get away from me, I’m a sinful man. The one who was once laughed at for taking his eyes off of Jesus and sinking. The one who had dealt with utter shame and remorse for publicly denying Jesus 3 times, as Jesus turned around and looked directly at him, is now standing up, raising his voice, boldly, unashamedly addressing the crowd. Boldly, unashamedly, addressing his fellow Jews, and all who live in Jerusalem. 

What changed? Acts 2:4 NIV….

“ALL OF THEM WERE FILLED WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT...”

Acts 2:4 NIV

Pre Holy Spirit—Get away from me, I’m a sinful man. Post Holy Spirit—In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, get up and walk. Pre Holy Spirit—I’m sinking Lord save me! Post Holy Spirit—people brought the sick into the streets and laid them on beds and mats so that at least PETER’S shadow might fall on some of them as he passed by. Pre Holy Spirit—Peter replied, “Man, I don’t know what you’re talking about! I don’t know Jesus. Post Holy Spirit—Then Peter stood up with the Eleven, raised his voice and addressed the crowd!

“ALL OF THEM WERE FILLED WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT...PETER WAS PART OF THE THEM!

PETER WAS ABLE TO STAND UP, BECAUSE THE HOLY SPIRIT STOOD UP INSIDE OF HIM. 

📝 The Holy Spirit is THE BRIDGE to it all. 

📝 The Holy Spirit is the bridge between who you THOUGHT YOU WERE, to who God SAYS YOU ARE. 

AND I SAY also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.

Matthew 16:18 KJV

Peter you’ve been listening to fear too long. You’ve been listening to guilt for too long. You’ve been listening to lack of self worth for too long—I SAY you are FORGIVEN! I SAY, you’re called. I SAY, you’re chosen. I SAY you’re mine. I SAY you’re going to be the foundation to this entire movement. 

Rewind…

“…“GO AWAY FROM ME, LORD; I am a sinful man!””

Luke 5:8 NIV

Fast forward…

“Then Peter said to them, “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive THE GIFT OF THE HOLY SPIRIT.”

Acts 2:38 NKJV

“And being assembled together with them, He commanded them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to WAIT FOR THE PROMISE of the Father, “which,” He said, “you have heard from Me; for John truly baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with THE HOLY SPIRIT not many days from now.””

Acts 1:4-5 NKJV

WHY WAIT?

The Holy Spirit is the bridge between who you THOUGHT YOU WERE, to who God SAYS YOU ARE. 

YOU’VE BEEN TRYING TO DO IT WITHOUT THE BRIDGE.

📝 It’s hard without THE BRIDGE (the Holy Spirit).

TODAY’S MESSAGE:

THANK GOD FOR THE BRIDGE 

They’re places in this world, you’ll never reach, without a physical bridge. 

📝 There are places INSIDE OF YOU, that you’ll never reach without the bridging of the Holy Spirit. 

Just ask Peter. Life is unbearable without the bridge. Life is unsustainable, exhausting, overwhelming without the bridge of the Holy Spirit. Why?

📝 You weren’t created to do it in YOUR OWN STRENGTH.

📝 “”But when THE HELPER comes, whom I shall send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who proceeds from the Father, He will testify of Me.”

John 15:26 NKJV

Now I say to you that you are Peter (WHICH MEANS ‘ROCK’), and upon this rock I will build my church, and all the powers of hell will not conquer it.

Matthew 16:18 NLT

THE HOLY SPIRIT WILL HELP YOU GROW FROM PETER TO THE ROCK. 

📝 The Holy Spirit will help you become THE GREATEST VERSION OF YOU.

Oh yes, you’ve seen glimpses of it, but you’ve been trying to get there in your own strength.

📝 • The Holy Spirit will help you OVERCOME.

📝• The Holy Spirit will help you PRODUCE.

📝• The Holy Spirit will help you SHARE.

We’ll unpack these 3 things in the weeks to come.

To your questions to God—Zechariah 4:6 is your answer…

📝 “So he answered and said to me: “This is the word of the Lord to Zerubbabel: ‘Not by might nor by power, but BY MY SPIRIT,’ Says the Lord of hosts.”

Zechariah 4:6 NKJV

📝 How many times have you said, “I got this!” Instead of you, “having it,” LET HIM HAVE YOU. 

HE WANTS TO HELP YOU.

“I will lift up my eyes to the hills— From whence comes MY HELP? MY HELP comes from the Lord, Who made heaven and earth. He will not allow your foot to be moved; He who keeps you will not slumber.”

Psalms 121:1-3 NKJV

“Behold, He who keeps Israel Shall neither slumber nor sleep. THE LORD IS YOUR KEEPER; THE LORD IS YOUR SHADE at your right hand. The sun shall not strike you by day, Nor the moon by night.”

Psalms 121:4-6 NKJV

“THE LORD SHALL PRESERVE YOU from all evil; HE SHALL PRESERVE YOUR SOUL. The Lord shall preserve YOUR GOING OUT AND YOUR COMING IN FROM THIS TIME FORTH, AND EVEN FOREVERMORE.”

Psalms 121:7-8 NKJV

FROM THIS TIME FORTH, ALLOW THE HOLY SPIRIT TO HELP YOU. 

“ALL OF THEM were filled with the Holy Spirit..”

Acts 2:4 NIV

ARE YOU ONE OF THE THEM?