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Friday, December 30 2011
Introduction: The week before last, we learnt that there were still some mind-sets and doctrines still being unconsciously practised by this generation of believers that we need to, like Stephen, correct. We also learnt that we should seek to live consistently impactful lives full of God's determined and already established purpose. Today, we look at the concluding part of Stephen's message; comparing it with Peter's, the outcomes and his circumstances around his death. Verses 37 - 62 Reading through these verses, we see that Stephen responded to the allegations tailored against him by reviewing the call of Abraham and God's promise to him and the nation of Israel. He then described how God used Moses to deliver Israel from Egyptian bondage and led them for forty years through the wilderness. Yet Israel rebelled against Moses, through whom God gave the Law. Not only in the incident involving the golden calf, but throughout their wilderness wanderings Israel continued to worship false gods (Amos 5:25-27). Turning to the matter of God's dwelling place, Stephen acknowledged the role of the tabernacle of Moses and the temple of Solomon, but contended that God does not dwell in temples made with hands (Isa 66:1-2). He concluded by charging the council of resisting the Holy Spirit just like their ancestors, for as their fathers persecuted and killed the prophets who foretold the coming of the Just One (Christ), so they became His betrayers and murderers. Indeed, they were the ones who have not kept the Law. What can we learn from Stephen? How does his response relate to Peter's message and Jesus' lifestyle? 1. He capitalised on the opportunity to preach. He must have been "born ready" (Vs. 1-53) 2. He was bold! (Vs. 2, 2:14) 3. His Message
He was quoting from Deuteronomy (18:15, 18), to Exodus (19), Jeremiah (19:13), Amos (5:25-27), Isaiah (66:1-2)
He must have learnt from our man Peter! 4. The Outcome His message brought conviction (verse 54) "Now upon hearing these things, they [the Jews] were cut to the heart and infuriated, and they ground their teeth against [Stephen]." From all indications, conviction met with pride in the Jews because it led to guilt and anger Verse 57 But they raised a great shout and put their hands over their ears and rushed together upon him. 5. His Character - A Disciple like his Master (Verses 55 - 60) Like Jesus, Stephen · Was full of the Holy Spirit and controlled by the Holy Spirit (Vs. 55a, Luke 4: 1) "But he, full of the Holy Spirit and controlled by Him" "THEN JESUS, full of and controlled by the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led in [by] the [Holy] Spirit" · In agony, he prayed (Vs. 59, Luke 23:46) "And while they were stoning Stephen, he prayed, Lord Jesus, receive and accept and welcome my spirit!" "And Jesus, crying out with a loud voice, said, Father, into Your hands I commit My spirit! And with these words, He expired." · Had a heart of compassion (you will know from his prayer) (Vs. 60, Luke 23:34) "And falling on his knees, he cried out loudly, Lord, fix not this sin upon them [lay it not to their charge]! And when he had said this, he fell asleep [in death]." "And Jesus prayed, Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do. And they divided His garments and distributed them by casting lots for them." · Did not retaliate (Vs. 60, 1 Peter 2:23) "And falling on his knees, he cried out loudly, Lord, fix not this sin upon them [lay it not to their charge]! And when he had said this, he fell asleep [in death]." "When He was reviled and insulted, He did not revile or offer insult in return; [when] He was abused and suffered, He made no threats [of vengeance]; but he trusted [Himself and everything] to Him Who judges fairly."[AMP]
CONCLUSION Stephen was a man just like you and I; what made him stand out was the Holy Spirit in Him that is in you and I. However, he allowed the Holy Spirit to control him; well, I wish I could say the same of us. Are we genuinely controlled by the Holy Spirit? Or are we our own masters? We have also learnt a few other things from the life of Stephen - taking opportunities as they come, his message (Word based, delivered without fear or favour), his heart (loving and compassionate) - a disciple like his Master. And the Master stood for him! Can He do the same for us? Good news? We can be like Stephen if we allow the Holy Spirit
Friday, December 30 2011
Introduction Last week, we learnt that there were still some mind-sets and doctrines in some churches still being unconsciously practised by this generation of believers that we need to stand up to and correct like Deacon Stephen did in his days. We also learnt that we should seek to live consistently impactful lives full of God's determined and already established purpose. Today's text is an introduction into the second aspect of the doctrine of the Jews that Stephen challenged. Reading through the text, I discovered that the verses do not particularly relate to our purpose for the study of the Acts of the Apostles. And I felt it would be an opportunity to carry out a review of what we have studied of the Acts of the Apostles so far.
WEEK 1 Overview of Acts of the Apostles In the overview, we learnt that the book of Acts was written by Luke to Theophilus; we also looked at the Importance and purpose of the Book of Acts - the record of the beginnings and development of the early church.
WEEK 2 - Text: Acts 1:1-14 In the second class - "Dissertation of the book of Acts", we learnt about whom the men and women were, what their accomplishments and failures were, how they ended and what was expected of us.
WEEK 3 - Text: Acts 1: 15 - 26 The Preparation for Pentecost, we learnt that we can experience Pentecost and the workings of the Holy Spirit as it was in the days of the early church. But that we have to be prepared for it; not just in words of mouth but in the things we do. We have to put our house in order - let's do what is right whatever it takes. We have to, work in unity (agreeing to the fundamentals), and live in absolute obedience to the word of God; not tradition and religion), pray in righteousness (effectual and fervent).
WEEK 4 - Text: Acts2: 1 - 13 On day four we saw how the advent of the Holy Spirit; the conditions that were met for Him to come as well as that the Holy Spirit coming at Pentecost was all orchestrated by God Himself.
WEEK 5 - Text: Acts2: 14 - 39 The Pentecostal sermon, in these verses, we saw the transformation that can happen to an ordinary person filled with the Holy Spirit (Timid Peter changed to bold peter). We learnt that every one of us can change for the better by the help of the Holy Spirit. We also learnt the how a message should be delivered. They should carry hope to the world, not tales, but a message that is relevant, delivered without fear or favour. A message that offers solution to life's questions; preached by our very lives!
WEEK 6 - Text: Acts2: 40 - 47 Believers' fellowship: Pathway to Growth; here, we learnt the vital rudiments to the growth of the first century church; Steadfastness, dedication of everyone in the ?fold', like-mindedness, unity, continuity, and love. All these existing amongst apostles made it possible for them to receive favour from all the people. It inspired and convicted many to salvation and eventually led to numerical increase in the church.
WEEK 7 - Text: Acts 3: 1 - 10 Let the Acts Begin, this study taught us lessons and wisdoms from the lifestyles of the as well as the crippled man at the gate. The lifestyle of seeking God's face in prayers and fellowship, the diligence of the crippled man - going daily to the temple, as well as that he was expectant of something. The Apostles remembered the promise of Jesus and dared to go further and the result was a miracle!
WEEK 8 - Text: Acts 3: 11 - 26 The Second Sermon, here we saw Peter's blueprint for impactful messages. Consistency, relevance, delivered without fear or favour and one that offers solution to the hearers. He was also very careful not to take or share God's glory.
WEEK 9 - Text: Acts 4: 1 - 22 The Commission, Mission, Unction, Oppositions and Persecution; in this study we saw the first opposition the church received from the religious rulers by attempting to threaten and intimidate the apostles and the boldness and wisdom with which they apostles handled them.
WEEK 10 - Text: Acts 4: 23 - 37 In this study, we saw the first opposition the apostles and the church experienced and their reaction. We learnt from them what we should do should we face similar oppositions; they went back to God in prayer and asked for boldness to preach the word. Their prayers caused a shaking and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they spoke the word of God with boldness and with power, they wrought miracles. The opposition also caused them to draw even closer, they were in one accord and had all things common with people selling their belongings and bringing them to the apostles so that no one lacked.
WEEK 11 - Text: Acts 5: 1 - 21 Satan's intrusion in the Camp; here, we saw Ananias and Saphira's failed attempt to lie to the Holy Spirit and the consequences - negative (death of the couple) and positive (sanity in the church). We also discovered that the Sanhedrin weren't upset because they felt like the One True God was being profaned or because they felt like the apostles were heretics. They were simply jealous! Hence the attack they launched out against the apostles.
WEEK 12 - Text: Acts 5: 22 - 42 In The Face of Challenge; in this study, we see the apostles' response in the face of challenge. They chose to obey God; they didn't fight back or protest; instead they took suffering in Jesus' name with dignity and they were consistently relentless. And once again Peter's message - consistent! We also learnt that when Conviction meets with Pride, it amounts to Guilt but when Conviction meets with Humility, it leads to Repentance
WEEK 13 - Text: Acts 6: 1 -15 Challenges of Growth; in this study we learnt that with growth come challenges both from within and without. We saw how the apostles handled the challenge WITHIN - Nepotism (they did not ignore the problem or reduce its importance, they identified what their duties were; they didn't interfere and become side tracked, they allowed the people choose for themselves (but with criteria) they did not lord it over the people and they let the people know what the game plan was - no secrecy, no deceit. They were transparent. WITHOUT - Opposition & Conspiracy against Stephen that will lead to his death but in his trial, we saw his boldness. He was armed with the word of God he couldn't be argued down!
WEEK 14 - Text: Acts 7: 1 - 22 Living with Purpose, in this study we saw how Stephen, through the anointing of the Holy Spirit, was set to ask the Jewish leaders to re-think change their views and perspectives concerning God. To shift focus from the things they erroneously held dear; one of which was the Land. We also learnt that like Stephen & Esther we should know the reason why we are alive and be ready to die for our beliefs. We should always endeavour to tell the truth and not trade with it!
Friday, December 30 2011
Introduction Last week, we gained insight into an impending distraction which was wisely avoided by the Apostles through prioritising their functions. We also learnt how this distraction (complaints by the Hellenistic Jews on overlooking their widows in the daily distribution of foods) resulted in the selection of seven (7) Deacons and the astounding works of one of them - Stephen. This week, we will be looking at the trial of Deacon Stephen in the light of the knocking down the foundations of the first century Judaism and also focusing on the man himself and lessons that can be learnt from this encounter in the portion of Acts 7 that will be the focus of our study today.
Background Leading To the Trial of Stephen
Acts 6: 8-15 reveals the person of Stephen. He was not your usual ordinary Christian. He knew what he had been called to do (Daniel 11:32). Although ordained a Deacon, Stephen operated in "gifting" and "unction" that far outweighed his title. Acts 6: 10 confirmed the words of Jesus Christ; "Therefore settle it in your hearts not to meditate beforehand on what you will answer; for I will give you a mouth and wisdom which all your adversaries will not be able to contradict or resist." (Luke 21:14-15) The accusations levied against Stephen were;
1) Speaking of Blasphemous words against Moses and God. (Acts 6:11) 2) Blasphemous words against The Holy Place (Temple) and The Law. Although far from the truth, (as men were induced to testified against him), Stephen will go on to seize the opportunity to knock down the three 3) Main Pillars of Judaism which are;
a) The Land b) The Law c) The Temple This summarises the preaching of Stephen in Acts 7. For today however, we shall be looking at how Stephen, through the anointing of the Holy Spirit, was set to ask the Jewish leaders to re-think who God is, looking at Him differently from the way they have been used to. In a nutshell, for them to change their views and perspectives concerning God. The Land The Jews held the pillars of The Land so dear. This is very important to the Jews because (to them), it is an evidence of God's faithfulness to His promises. Remember that the book of Joshua chronicles the division of lands (inheritances) to the different tribes. The tribes were looking forward to their respective Promised Land inheritances. Even the prophets of old will always threaten that if the children of Israel mess up, God will throw them out of the land. They held the pillar of land so dearly to their hearts.
What Does The Land Mean to The Jews? Stephen had been waiting for this opportunity, little wonder that he did not hesitate to start his message at the question of "Are these things so?" by the High Priest. (Acts 7:1). Please note that Stephen was not defending himself, we will look at some lessons that we can learn from the attitude of Stephen later on in the study. ...........The God of glory appeared to our father Abraham when he was in Mesopotamia, before he dwelt in Haran, and said to him.......... (Vs 2) The first century Jews believed that the Glory of God can only be seen in the Promised Land. The verse above counters this belief. That God would have appeared to Abraham outside of the Promised Land is unimaginable. The Pillar of Land makes the Jews believe that they are special to God and that He will only meet with them at a special place. They serve a Geographical God! As if this was not enough, .................. "And the patriarchs, becoming envious, sold Joseph into Egypt. But God was with him and delivered him out of all his troubles, and gave him favour and wisdom in the presence of Pharaoh, king of Egypt; and he made him governor over Egypt and all his house. God was also with Joseph in Egypt? Blasphemy!!!
Lessons to Learn
The Promised Land to some believers (even as believed by the first century Jews) represents a place of Stability, Comfort, and Security. In other words, we restrict God's presence to places where we are more comfortable or put in another way, in our own perfect state of being. We have indirectly cultivated the attitude of God can only work when I have put my acts together. Quite a number of us suffer from Separation Anxiety. The feeling that God has left us simply because we don't feel His presence or because we have not been in our perfect state lately. We can not escape His presence. He doesn't leave us; we are the ones that leave Him!
The law requires that we only get God's favour or presence only when we have done things right. Grace (The New Testament) requires that we can only be perfect or upright by accepting God's love first, even in our fallen state! Please God = Win God's Acceptance & Love (The Law) Accept God's Love = Effortlessly Please Him [Mention examples]
Deacon Stephen - Lessons To Learn Have you heard the saying; "If you don't live for something, you will die for nothing"? In the book of Acts 13: 48, every one of us, like Stephen have been appointed to eternal life. Stephen knew he had a reason for living and like Esther in Esther 4:16, he was ready to die for his beliefs. He was also armed with the truth and was, by the help of the Holy Spirit, able to speak with all boldness before the Highest Jewish Authority - Sanhedrin. We must learn to search the truth always on our own. This is very important. Quite a number of us live on what we have been taught only. This is not enough, we need to search ourselves. "Now these [Jews] were better disposed and more noble than those in Thessalonica, for they were entirely ready and accepted and welcomed the message [concerning the attainment through Christ of eternal salvation in the kingdom of God] with inclination of mind and eagerness, searching and examining the Scriptures daily to see if these things were so". [Acts 17:11 - Amp] 1) In Acts 17: 2, Stephen addressed the gathering with a relational tone, Brethren and Fathers....... One, he was not rude in his tone and conduct and Secondly, he was able to identity with them as fellow citizens of Israel and not castaways. We owe the people we are closed to the Truth, always! A lot of us feel more comfortable telling people we are not too close to the truth than the ones we are closed to for fear of favour being taken away from us. This is not godly! We should always endeavour to tell the truth and not Trade with it! 2) Stephen, like Jesus Christ lived a very short life. He must have been a young man compared to Deacon Philip who had four Daughters (Acts 21:8-9). However, he lived a purposeful life like Jesus. His life was impactful! In fact, when he was to be selected, he had a testimony of a man of good reputation! We need to seek (with everything in us) to live a life of purpose, that will impact our generation for good. This is what the Lord desires from us and it is pleasing to Him. Let us strive to Impact this community and transform lives. Let us desist from playing church and the participating in her politics. Conclusion There are still some mindsets and doctrines in some churches (and also being unconsciously practised) by this generation of believers that we need to stand up to and correct like Deacon Stephen did in his days. The church is the ground and pillar of all truth (1 Tim 3:15). We should also seek to live a consistently impactful lives full of God's determined and already established purpose. "Known to God from eternity are all His works". [Acts 15:18]
Friday, December 30 2011
Introduction Last week, we looked at how the apostles responded in the face of challenge. They chose to obey God; they didn't fight back or protest; instead they took suffering in Jesus' name with dignity and they were consistently relentless. We learnt that When Conviction meets with Pride, it amounts to Guilt but when meets with Humility, it leads to Repentance [Acts 5:33, 2:37] THE CHALLENGES The first verse reveals growth. Not just in believers but disciples! "In those days when the number of disciples was increasing," Acts 6: 1a A disciple is a follower, one who accepts and assists in spreading the doctrines of another But with such increase comes challenges. Let's look at what challenges the apostles faced and the wisdom they applied in tackling the challenges. Once again, these are steps worthy of emulation. CHALLENGE 1 FROM WITHIN- Nepotism (Favouritism shown or patronage granted to relatives) Acts 6:1b "The Hellenistic Jews among them complained against the Hebraic Jews because their widows were being overlooked in the daily distribution of food." The Hellenistic Jews were Greek speaking believers while the Hebraic Jews were the Hebrew speaking believers. It is not different from what we experience today; people come into the church and they are segregated indirectly because we tend to stick only to those we know (either by tradition or affiliation) and become insensitive to the needs of others. RESOLUTION Verses 2-4 2 So the Twelve gathered all the disciples together and said, "It would not be right for us to neglect the ministry of the word of God in order to wait on tables. 3 Brothers and sisters, choose seven men from among you who are known to be full of the Spirit and wisdom. We will turn this responsibility over to them 4 and will give our attention to prayer and the ministry of the word." What can we learn from this move?
The Outcome For the people - Satisfaction (they felt responsible and went ahead and did the task) Verses 5-6 "This proposal pleased the whole group. They chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit; also Philip, Procorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolas from Antioch, a convert to Judaism. They presented these men to the apostles, who prayed and laid their hands on them." For the work - Further Growth (Ground breaking growth!) Even Priests were giving their lives to Christ! Verse 7 "So the word of God spread. The number of disciples in Jerusalem increased rapidly, and a large number of priests became obedient to the faith". CHALLENGE 2 FROM WITHOUT - Opposition & Conspiracy (scriptures fulfilled) Verses 8-15[MSG] "Stephen, brimming with God's grace and energy, was doing wonderful things among the people, unmistakable signs that God was among them. But then some men from the meeting place whose membership was made up of freed slaves, Cyrenians, Alexandrians, and some others from Cilicia and Asia, went up against him trying to argue him down. But they were no match for his wisdom and spirit when he spoke. So in secret they bribed men to lie: "We heard him cursing Moses and God." That stirred up the people, the religious leaders, and religion scholars. They grabbed Stephen and took him before the High Council. They put forward their bribed witnesses to testify: "This man talks nonstop against this Holy Place and God's Law. We even heard him say that Jesus of Nazareth would tear this place down and throw out all the customs Moses gave us." As all those who sat on the High Council looked at Stephen, they found they couldn't take their eyes off him?his face was like the face of an angel!" Conclusion I have underlined some parts of the scripture above; we will conclude with looking at them
Why? He was armed with the scriptures; he knew what he was talking about (Read 2 Timothy 1:13, Col 4: 5-6)
If it happened to Jesus, we should get ready. With growth comes a lot of challenges; handling these challenges properly leads to satisfaction and further growth. Though the challenges may be very difficult, Christ has promised never to leave us alone.
Friday, December 30 2011
Introduction Last week, we looked at "Satan's intrusion in the Camp"; Ananias and Saphira's failed attempt to lie to the Holy Spirit and the consequences. We also discovered that the Sanhedrin, (the ruling power over the Jewish nation) were making the rules as they went along. There was originally no laid down rule about the preaching of the name of Jesus. We also discovered their motives: they were jealous of the apostles' popularity and their power. Notice there is no mention of there being religious reasons for their upset and anger. They weren't upset because they felt like the One True God was being profaned or because they felt like the apostles were heretics. They were simply jealous! This week's study is not as eventful as the previous weeks (the spotlight only rested on the apostles on three occasions) we shall look at them closely. First a few pointers that from today's verses. Verse 27 - 28 "And when they had brought them, they set them before the council: and the high priest asked them, saying, did not we straitly command you that ye should not teach in this name? And, behold, ye have filled Jerusalem with your doctrine, and intend to bring this man's blood upon us." [NIV] Another reason they were making laws about preaching in Jesus' name was guilt. In Matt 27:25, the high priest himself, along with other Jewish leaders and Jewish people, had said "His blood be on us and on our children." The blood of Jesus was on their heads. They just didn't like the way the apostles were rubbing it in at every opportunity. (Acts 2:23, 3:17-18, 4:10-11) Bold Response in the face of challenge In verses 27-28, the Jewish leaders, ignoring the truth and the miracles tried to intimidate the apostles but their response in the face of challenge was resolute. Verse 29 "Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said, we ought to obey God rather than men." Verses 30 - 32 "The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom ye slew and hanged on a tree. Him hath God exalted with his right hand to be a Prince and a Saviour, for to give repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins. And we are his witnesses of these things; and so is also the Holy Ghost, whom God hath given to them that obey him." You did not need to be told. It was "your man" Peter preaching! He did not miss the opportunity, he was consistent, he was not diplomatic or apologetic (whom ye slew and hanged on a tree) - rubbing it in! He preached Jesus, (Him hath God exalted with his right hand to be a Prince and a Saviour, for to give repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins) and introduced the Holy Ghost (and so is also the Holy Ghost, whom God hath given to them that obey him). Verses 33 - 39 "When they heard that, they were furious and wanted to kill them on the spot. But one of the council members stood up, a Pharisee by the name of Gamaliel, a teacher of God's Law who was honored by everyone. He ordered the men taken out of the room for a short time, then said, "Fellow Israelites, be careful what you do to these men. Not long ago Theudas made something of a splash, claiming to be somebody, and got about four hundred men to join him. He was killed, his followers dispersed, and nothing came of it. A little later, at the time of the census, Judas the Galilean appeared and acquired a following. He also fizzled out and the people following him were scattered to the four winds. "So I am telling you: Hands off these men! Let them alone. If this program or this work is merely human, it will fall apart, but if it is of God, there is nothing you can do about it?and you better not be found fighting against God!" [MSG] Their guilt overwhelmed them and the same indignation that led them to killing Jesus took them over again and they wanted to kill the apostles but for Gamaliel's intervention. Learning points When Conviction meets with Pride, it amounts to Guilt [Verse 33] When Conviction meets with Humility, it leads to Repentance [Acts 2:37] Verse 40 -41 "And to him they agreed: and when they had called the apostles, and beaten them, they commanded that they should not speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go. And they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for his name." They didn't fight back or protest; instead they took suffering in Jesus' name with dignity. Matt 5: 10-12, 1 Peter 4:13 Verse 42 "And daily in the temple, and in every house, they ceased not to teach and preach Jesus Christ." They were consistently relentless; they did not allow the threats of the Jewish leaders deter them from doing what they were called to do. Notice that the Jewish leaders did not prevent them from meeting at the temple. Conclusion Once again, we are faced with some truths and lessons to learn; we see the apostles' response in the face of challenge. They chose to obey God; they didn't fight back or protest; instead they took suffering in Jesus' name with dignity and they were consistently relentless. And once again Peter's message - consistent!
Friday, December 30 2011
IntroductionOur last study saw the new believers selling their properties and bringing the proceeds to the apostles. A sense of awe is resting upon everyone. But something happens that is going to bring a new dimension to the new covenant community, and to Jerusalem at large. Satan is going to make an appearance, and he will attempt to do it from within the ranks of believers. Let's see what effect this will have on the furtherance of the gospel of Jesus Christ. Let us continue with our Acts studies. This next study is going to have its serious side.Ananias and Sapphira Vs. 1,2: "But a man named Ananias, with his wife Sapphira, sold a piece of property, and kept back some of the price for himself, with his wife's full knowledge, and bringing a portion of it, he laid it at the apostles' feet." Why did Ananias and Sapphira decide to involve themselves in a deception? It may be that the esteem given to Barnabas caused envy to rise up in their hearts. Notice that Ananias did exactly what Barnabas did, "He laid it at the apostle's feet." As we look at the Scriptures under study, I want to share two considerations with regard to this issue of deception. One will address whether Ananias and Sapphira were ever believers. The other will address the issue of how Satan tries to plant among believers, someone who is actually working for him. Vs. 3,4: "But Peter said, 'Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and to keep back some of the price of the land? While it remained unsold, did it not remain your own? And after it was sold, was it not under your control? Why is it that you have conceived this deed in your heart? You have not lied to men but to God." Some Powerful Lessons Let deal with our first consideration as to Ananias and Sapphira being believers. There are some powerful lessons to be had here. Notice. (1) It is Satan who has filled Ananias heart to lie. James tells us how a temptation works in a believer's life. In reading what James has to say, I will provide some fill in with the use of brackets [ ]: James said, "Let no one say when he is tempted [a solicitation to evil], 'I am being tempted by God' [Or, God is in this]; for God cannot be tempted by evil, and He Himself does not tempt anyone [with evil]. But each one is tempted when he is carried away and enticed by his own lust. [personal sinful longings.] Then when lust [personal sinful longings] has conceived [the temptation is in full control], it gives birth to sin [sin is acted on]; and when sin is accomplished [completes its act], it brings forth death [something always dies where sin gives birth]. Do not be deceived [don't be fooled. It works this way, every time], my beloved brethren [addressed to believers]." (James 1:13-16) What James says may fit Ananias and Sapphira. With this couple, the sinful leaning appears to be envy, or pride. But any sinful leaning can become an opportunity for Satan to gain an advantage over that area. This is why believers should not flirt with sin. And as for temptation, we are told both to flee from temptation, but also to pray that we not enter into temptation. 1 Thessalonians 5:22, Matthew 26:41 Listen again to what Peter says to Ananias; "Why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit ... Why is it that you have conceived this deed in your heart? You have not lied to men but to God." Do you see it? This is exactly the way James lays it out. Here's the crux. If a temptation can gain full control over a believer, that person loses all sense of moral bearing. The believer's discernment gets muddy. White becomes black. Evil becomes good. And who is going to be hurt doesn't become part of the picture. In fact in a temptation of this sort, Satan paints a picture of everyone ending up happy. So while Ananias was thinking about how to get honour from the apostles, the idea of death and destruction, or the idea of actually lying to God didn't enter the picture. Planted By Satan? Now let's take the second consideration, in which Ananias and Sapphira were never true believers to begin with, but had been planted by Satan. When Peter said that Satan had filled their heart. The Greek term for filled is 'pleroo', which means to make full. It carries the idea of totality. It can only mean that their entire inner being had been filled with a lie. This speaks of Satan being fully in charge. Is this a case of a sinner being empowered by Satan in an attempt to destroy the work of God? John seems to think so. He says, "By this the children of God and the children of the devil are obvious: anyone who does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor the one who does not love his brother. (1John3:10) Notice the language used of Judas: "The chief priests and the scribes were seeking how they might put Him to death; for they were afraid of the people. And Satan entered into Judas who was called Iscariot, belonging to the number of the twelve. And he went away and discussed with the chief priests and officers how he might betray Him to them." (Luke 22:2-4) The scene appears much the same. But what is the lesson we need to learn? The lesson is that the greatest damage Satan can afflict among believers will always be to get someone into a position or leadership. This is true whether it is be someone he is able to plant, or if he somehow can get a believer misled in this area. In any event, Satan has made an intrusion. The Judgment of God Vs5: "And as he heard these words, Ananias fell down and breathed his last; and great fear came over all who heard of it." Notice that it doesn't say that Peter pronounced a death sentence on Ananias. This was God's doing. But Peter took his cue from the Holy Spirit, and did pronounce the death sentence on Sapphira. Let's take verses 6-10 as a whole. There is little comment to be made. Vs. 6-10: "The young men got up and covered him up, and after carrying him out, they buried him. Now there elapsed an interval of about three hours, and his wife came in, not knowing what had happened. And Peter responded to her, 'Tell me whether you sold the land for such and such a price?' And she said, 'Yes, that was the price.' Then Peter said to her, 'Why is it that you have agreed together to put the Spirit of the Lord to the test? Behold, the feet of those who have buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out as well.' And immediately she fell at his feet and breathed her last, and the young men came in and found her dead, and they carried her out and buried her beside her husband." Very often we as believers are unable to conceive of God bringing such an awesome judgment upon anyone. We are so use to preaching love and grace. But keep in mind that Satan is always looking for a place to work among God's people. And in this case it was crucial that such a serious offence be dealt with quickly. And this judgment would ultimately serve to advance the gospel. Bad Things ... Good People? Note: There is a form of teaching today that leaves the impression that if anything bad ever happens to a believer, it has to be Satan's doing, and the believer simply needs to rebuke the enemy. Not only is that form of teaching none Biblical, it can do damage to the walk of a believer. It allows for the no true repentance. The fact is that because God does love us so much, He will introduce a punitive judgment in our life to bring about a correction or repentance where it is needed. The apostle carefully spells this out. Paul says ... "For this reason many among you are weak and sick, and a number sleep. But if we judged ourselves rightly, we would not be judged. But when we are judged, we are disciplined by the Lord so that we will not be condemned along with the world." (1Co11:30-32) What is the result of this incidence of Ananias and Sapphira? Note: Vs11: "And great fear came over the whole church, and over all who heard of these things." Now a new element is involved. Not that this will take away from the joy and rejoicing of believers. Rather, it will help produce the true fruit of repentance, both among believers who may be erring, and among those who are turning to the Lord. In completing this portion of our studies, I want to point out something about the fear of the Lord. The fear of the Lord refers to an awesome respect and love for our heavenly Father, and for His truths. It is a healthy fear. When the prophet describes the attributes of Messiah, this is what is said, "And He will be the stability of your times, a wealth of salvation, wisdom and knowledge; the fear of the LORD is his treasure." (Isaiah 33:6) How about it? Would you not like to have the same treasure? Think about it. Apostolic signs and wonders Vs12: "At the hands of the apostles many signs and wonders were taking place among the people; and they were all with one accord in Solomon's portico." The word sign 'semeion' speaks of something that serves as a pointer or an aid in perception or insight. Semeion carries the idea of a distinguishing characteristic, such as a miraculous event that serves to confirm something. In this case the 'signs' confirmed the apostolic ministry. The word wonders 'teras' is similar. It speaks of something that is so unusual that it causes wonderment among the peoples. The purpose of these would be to establish the spiritual authority of the apostles of the Lamb. The apostles are the witnesses of Jesus. Vs13: "But none of the rest dared to associate with them; however, the people held them in high esteem." Who are these who dare not associate themselves with the apostles? These are Jewish people who have not come to the place of accepting Jesus openly, or fully as Messiah. Why are they so fearful of associating with the believers? There could be multiple reasons, but one reason would simply be to recall the story of Ananias and Sapphira. Vs14: "And all the more believers in the Lord, multitudes of men and women, were constantly added to their number ... " We might have expected a decrease among believers after Ananias and Sapphira, but the ranks of believers are swelling. God is pulling to Himself a people. And the apostles of the Lamb are ministering right under the nose of Caiaphas and the high priestly authorities. The Shadow of Peter Vs15,16: "... to such an extent that they even carried the sick out into the streets and laid them on cots and pallets, so that when Peter came by at least his shadow might fall on any one of them. Also the people from the cities in the vicinity of Jerusalem were coming together, bringing people who were sick or afflicted with unclean spirits, and they were all being healed." Notice that these awesome healings and miracles are taking place through the apostles. Some are being healed when Peter's shadow passes over them. We didn't even see this with Jesus. Perhaps these are some of the 'greater things' He said the disciples would do. Have you seen anything like that? Have you even heard of anything like that? These awesome miracles are for one purpose --- not only the spread the gospel of Jesus Christ, but they served to validate the apostles of the Lamb as His witnesses. And to give them their rightful place in laying the foundation for the Church. (Remember people taking handkerchiefs or aprons from Paul's body and demons and diseases left the peoples.) Also keep in mind that it is these apostles alone who have the full right to determine what true doctrine is to be. They had particular authority that would be given to no other person. And this is why that any Church tradition that disannuls the writings of the apostles is a tradition that can be considered a false doctrine. This brings is to a most important Scripture. Paul said, "So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints, and are of God's household, having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus Himself being the corner stone, in whom the whole building, being fitted together, is growing into a holy temple in the Lord..." (Eph2:19-21) A Second Encounter With Temple Authorities. Vs. 17, 18: "But the high priest rose up, along with all his associates (that is the sect of the Sadducees), and they were filled with jealousy. They laid hands on the apostles and put them in a public jail." Notice that the driving force is jealousy. The high priest and his associates was use to receiving honour as the highest authorities in Israel. Now the honour is passing to the apostles. You see, jealousy is never rational. It is a consuming power that destroys anything that gets in its path. The Ministry of Angels Vs. 19-20: "But during the night an angel of the Lord opened the gates of the prison, and taking them out he said, 'Go, stand and speak to the people in the temple the whole message of this Life. Upon hearing this, they entered into the temple about daybreak and began to teach. Now when the high priest and his associates came, they called the Council together, even all the Senate of the sons of Israel, and sent orders to the prison house for them to be brought. '" Angels are servants of the kingdom. And they have special concern for believers. Heb1:14. You can be sure that the angel who was sent to release the apostles, came directly from the throne of God. What was the message to be given? The angel said, "Go, stand and speak to the people in the temple the whole message of this Life." And so the apostles head right back to the temple. The message of eternal life in Jesus Christ to be spoken to the heart of the Jewish nation. In conclusion Sign and wonders are to confirm the message of the kingdom, but we must understand that the enemy will always be upset with anything that glorifies the name of Jesus Christ. In the face of any opposition to the preaching of the gospel the Angels of the Lord are always available to help us as we trust in the Lord always. Friday, December 30 2011
Introduction Last week, we studied from Acts 4:1-22. We saw the first persecution of the Church as a result of the healing of a certain man lame from his mother's womb in Chapter 3. Peter preached a message which led to the salvation of about five thousand souls in one day. This led to their overnight detention. We saw the boldness of Peter in the face of opposition from the council of religious leaders. 1. Their response to Persecution. Acts 4:23, 24 (And being let go, they went to their own company, vs. 23) The Church must have been concerned about the fate of Peter and John in the hand of the highest religious court in the land, the same court that condemned Jesus to death. The moment they came out of detention, they met with the rest of the Church. Persecution or adverse situation should unit us with our brethren rather than isolate us. * The reaction of the Church: When they heard this, they raised their voices to God with one mind . Vs 24 The Church did not react to the report of persecution with fear and perplexity but resorted to prayer. A major challenge of the Church of today is the Prayer life of the Church. Persecution and every other problem within and without the Church will melt away as the temperature of prayer rises in the Church. (The incident of praying Christian in Westford in 1793) 2. The Prayer Focus of the Church: Acts 4:24-30 A. They declared the sovereignty of God over all .Lord, thou art God, which hast made heaven, and earth...vs. 24 The praise offered up by the church is grounded in Scripture. They cite from two of the Psalms. The church first praises God as the Creator in Psalm 146:6. The primary biblical truth that sustains them is a realization that God is sovereign, even in their suffering. B. They quoted the scripture in prayer ..Who by the mouth of thy servant David hast said, Why did the heathen rage... Vs. 25-28 They quoted from Ps.2: 1-4. The saints spoke of Jesus as God's "servant" (Acts 4:27). Surely this is a reference to Him as the "Suffering Servant" of Isaiah. Once again the opposition of wicked men to Jesus is seen as part of God's sovereign plan, accomplishing what He had foreordained long beforehand (Acts4:27,28). C. They expressed overwhelming desire to preach the word of God despite the threatening. And now, Lord, behold their threatenings: and grant unto thy servants, that with all boldness they may speak thy word.vs 29 The saints did not ask for God's vengeance upon their opponents. Neither did they ask to be delivered from all suffering and adversity. Instead, they prayed for boldness to proclaim the gospel. We must never be vengeful in our reaction to opposition, but rather pray for our enemies. Matt. 5:43-48 d. They asked for the manifestation of signs, wonders and healing in the name of Jesus. .By stretching forth thine hand to heal; and that signs and wonders may be done by the name of thy holy child Jesus. Vs 30 Signs and wonders are normal in the preaching of the gospel. Mark 16:17, 18. We must place a demand on heaven like the apostles for the manifestation of sign and wonders. 3. The Result of prayer.. And when they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were assembled together; and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they spake the word of God with boldness.Vs 31 a. The Holy Ghost manifested among them; they were all filled with the Holy Ghost vs 31 b. They spoke the word of God with boldness vs 31 c. There was uncommon unity, sacrifice and love among them vs 32 d. They gave witness of the Lord Jesus' resurrection with great power vs 33 e. Great grace was released upon all of them. Vs 33 f. Every need among them was met by uncommon giving. Vs 34 g. Submission to the Apostles' leadership vs 35 In conclusion, there was the story of a Church in America that was on the decline when the leaders no longer see the importance of prayer meeting and giving the word their priority. Suddenly, thing began to change for the better, the pastor was asked about his secret for such turn around. He said; "BENT KNEES" "WET EYES" and "BROKEN HEARTS" "If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land." 2 Chron. 7:14 If we come together to pray as a Church, the Enemies will never be able to stop the advancement of the Church.
Friday, December 30 2011
Introduction In the past few weeks of our studies of the book of Acts, we have seen a catalogue of fulfilled prophesies. Pentecost came, and the Spirit came in great power. Peter's preaching in Acts 3, produced 3,000 converts. As a result of the healing of the man who was lame from his mother's womb, Peter took the opportunity to preach the gospel to those who gathered. Content of Peter's message: (a) Evidence of the miracle (b)Preparation of their hearts (addressing their ignorance) (c) The suffering of Christ (d) Their roles (e) The need for repentance and conversion (f) The impact of the blood (g) The hope of resurrection and the lifting of the risen Lord. Acts 4: 1-4 (As they spake unto the people ...) Peter filled with the Spirit. His message as usual, was always characterised with facts from the scripture with simplicity and boldness, not of fables and endless genealogies. He did not preach a message of condemnation. He recognised the fact that, what Christ suffered was as a result of ignorance of the people and as well as their leaders, Acts 3: 17-19. He pointed it out painstakingly that God Has revealed it through the mouth of the prophets that Christ should suffer; However, he didn't indulge them with subtlety, that ignorance was an excuse. His message was "Repent and be converted that your sins may be blotted out". Similarly, he reminded them of their heritage in Abraham , Acts 3: 25. This is hope, and God's prerogative of mercy placing them first in blessing that will come through the risen Saviour. Therefore, it was very important for them to turn from their iniquities if they have thoroughly repented. The results of the message - (Audacity of faith and hope of resurrection): Generated greater conversion of 5,000 souls in spite of opposition against 3,0000 souls without. Unruffled by the animosity of the religious leaders (the Sadducees came upon them) Acts 4 begins with a strong and sudden reaction, especially from those who were Sadducees. This is the first instance of opposition and persecution in the book of Acts. It should not, however, come as a surprise, to us or to the apostles. Jesus had forewarned the disciples that persecution was coming. Men would react to the apostles and their teaching because they had rejected Jesus and His teaching in; John 15: 18-21; Luke 12: 11-12;21: 12-15 The Priests, the commander of the temple guard and the Sadducees all ?'came up to them'' ?'greatly annoyed because the apostles were teaching the people and proclaiming in Jesus the resurrection of the dead''. The Sadducees did not believe in the resurrection of the dead. Two things ?'greatly annoyed'' these Sadducees: (i) Unauthorised men were teaching the people in the temple precincts. (ii) They were distressed because the resurrection of the dead was being taught. The implication of this was staggering to those Sadducees who had rejected Jesus and taken part in His death. Consequently, Peter and John were jailed. A challenge and a Bold Response in the face of Opposition. Acts 4: 5-12 In Acts 2 and 3, the gospel was proclaimed in the open. In chapter 4 it was a closed door confrontation (Acts 4: 15-17). Here Peter and John are brought before the Sanhedrin to give account for their preaching. Peter spoke boldly regardless of the calibre of people present. These are the very same men who, just a couple of months earlier had Jesus, tried and demanded that He be executed. (Mat 26: 57-59; Mark 15: 1; Luke 22: 66-23:1; John 18: 12-28 Peter's preaching was so powerful and so skilful that they would not have known he was not trained in a religious school. They seemed shocked to learn who Peter and John were. Power of Religion; Approach and Antics (i)The religious leaders had greater authority. Therefore, to maintain their statuses, they tried to intimidate and threaten Peter and John so as to silence them permanently. As they did in John 7: 11-13; John 9:20-23; John 12: 42; John 19:38. (ii)Carefully crafted Questions- ?'(By what power or by what name did you do this?'' (Vs 7). They carefully avoided naming the miracle or the mention of Jesus (vs. 14-16) with the hope that Peter and John will get the message of keeping silent, thereby killing their mission. (iii)Why the fear? The link between the power of the Apostle, healing of the lame man in the name of Jesus and that Jesus had been raised from dead. Boldness and Wisdom of God Exemplified. Acts 4: 10- 22 Fear was dismantled. Courage turned the table in favour of the Apostles. Peter identified the incongruity between their actions and the religious leaders' reaction. "When did it become a crime to do something kind for one in need?" "Why the need to be brought for trial before an esteemed group?" In vs. 8 Peter acknowledged they were leaders, to make their guilt greater. They rejected Jesus as the Messiah and saw to His death. Vs 10-11. Peter draws upon the prophecy of Psalm 118:22. This Jesus is the stone that was rejected by you, the builders, that has become the cornerstone. Mission Accomplished; Vs. 12 ?'And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among people by which we must be saved''. Truth or Consequences? Vs. 13-22; Peter and John had no intention of being silent. CONCLUSION: ?'Men don't fail to believe for lack of evidence; they refuse to believe in spite of the evidence''. Rom 1: 18-23. ?'But if our Gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost: In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God should shine unto them''.2 Corinthians 4: 3-4.
Friday, December 30 2011
Introduction: Last week's study titled: "Let the Acts Begin" taught us lessons in the lives of Peter, John and the crippled man. We learnt that we should develop the lifestyle of seeking His face in prayers and fellowship, consider it an opportunity for great joy when we go through troubles, and we should act in faith. Today, we shall be looking at Peter's second sermon (quite like deja vu), the circumstances surrounding his message and the make-up of the message. A popular proverb says: "Four things come not back: the spoken word, the shot arrow, the past life and the neglected opportunity." Things to learn from these verses
The first thing Peter did was disabuse the people's mind; if you notice in verse 11b, ". . . All the people ran together to them in the porch which is called Solomon's, greatly amazed." They were amazed, what usually follows next is some sort of reverent awe for the "miracle worker" but Peter checked that immediately before it goes to his head, he gave the glory to God. That's a check for every one of us. How do we respond when people walk up to you and say "that message was powerful", "praise and worship" was awesome, etc.? See "When Peter saw this, he said to them: "Fellow Israelites, 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?" Verse 12 (NIV) "It is Jesus' name (not his) and the faith that comes through him (not his own power or ability) that has completely healed him, as you can all see. "Verse 16b (NIV) (Emphasis mine)
"Our man Peter" seems to have the knack for seizing opportunities. Let's cast our minds back to Acts 2:14-41; there was an opportunity to preach and Peter seized it! Here again in verse 12a, we read "Peter saw his opportunity and addressed the crowd." (NLT). Read Matt. 26:41 He first made sure the people were not going to idolize them and then straight into the message. He wasn't going to miss it. Peter must have been born ready!
"What is good for the goose is good for the gander". Matt 5:37, Proverbs 11:1 A close look at Peter's message (though short this time) will reveal absolute consistency. 1. He preached the Word of God; not fables or stories He referred to the prophets: "But those things which God foretold by the mouth of all His prophets, that the Christ would suffer, He has thus fulfilled." Verse 18 2. He preached Jesus! The Crucifixion, Resurrection and the Power of the Risen Lord Verses 14-15 He referred to Jesus with names the people would identify; (a) As "His (God's) servant Jesus" (vs. 13) see Isaiah 42:1-3. (b) He is "The Righteous One" (vs.14) see Isaiah 9:7 and Jeremiah 23:5 (c) "The Prince of Life" (vs. 15) see Isaiah 9:6; Daniel 9:25 3. He offered direction (solution); "And His name, through faith in His name, has made this man strong, whom you see and know. Yes, the faith which comes through Him has given him this perfect soundness in the presence of you all." Verse 16 4. He was not diplomatic or apologetic; Peter was not afraid, he accused the people of doing worse than Pilate. They handed Jesus over to Pilate, and then when Pilate wanted to release Him they had demanded His death (vs. 13). 5. He supported his message with the scriptures: He quoted the scriptures: "The LORD your God will raise up for you a Prophet like me from your midst, from your brethren. Him you shall hear," (Verse 23). See Deuteronomy 18:15 "And in your seed all the families of the earth shall be blessed." (Verse 25b) see Genesis 22:18; 26:4; 28:14
Conclusion Peter was alert! He would be someone who prays but also watches out for opportunities. He showed consistence in his message which was relevant, delivered without fear or favor. He was careful not to take or share God's glory and once again, his message offered solution to the hearers.
Friday, December 30 2011
Introduction: Last week, we all saw and gained insight into the power of the fellowship of like-minded believers, having all things in common. Steadfastness and continuity became their watchword and constant practises. They just couldn't imagine a life without each other anymore. Though with different backgrounds (since some have just been added to the 120 that tarried in Jerusalem in Acts 2:1), they have become inseparably united in purpose, vision and zeal. Today, the journey takes an interesting turn as we examine the very first physical manifestation of God's healing power in this book of study (".....Signs on the earth beneath" - Acts 2:19) that He has pre-ordained for this particular time in the life of the Apostles, at the particular place and the particular time in the life of the receiver! Practical Application: The book of Acts is a record of practising Christianity under the power of the Holy Spirit. It teaches believers how to live together in meaningful Christian fellowship, sharing freely with one another. Conversely, Acts also shows that Christians inevitably will have disagreements (As we will see in subsequent chapters), but that God gives wisdom and grace to settle differences in order to remove any impediment to the flow of His power through unity. Even though the early church had its share of strong personalities (Peter and John for example), there was still a willingness to listen and to submit to one another. Probably the most prominent characteristic of the early Christians was their spiritual power. They fasted and prayed fervently and their faith released miracle-working power of God. In today's reading, we trust God by His grace for boldness to be able to do what Peter and John did at the Beautiful Gate. Remember, Jesus Christ (the Messiah) is (always) the same, yesterday, today, (yes) and forever (to the ages). Heb 13:8 Lessons and Wisdoms from the Lifestyle of the Apostles (Acts 3:1-10) & The Man at The Centre of This Verse Enters Peter and John (Acts 3:1) Last week, we read in Acts 2: 46 that the believers have developed a very strong habit of regularly assembling in the temple with united purpose. So, Peter and John were observing this culture and lifestyle of seeking His face in prayers and fellowship. Another lesson in this verse is that they were going at the hour of prayer. Little did Peter and John know that God has specially prepared the day for them. This prayer meeting was not going to be as usual. God is set to bring his word in Mark 16:17 to pass in their lives. Let's prologue John (1 John 1: 1-4) and Peter (Matt. 16:18, John 21: 3, 7, 15-17) And The Man That God Created To Show Forth His Glory (Acts 3:2) Great timing! This man, who has been crippled from birth was being carried along, who was laid each day at the gate of the temple which is called Beautiful. The man in question had not walked for over 40 years (Acts 4:22) of his life! Knowing this informs us that he was a young lad when Jesus was born. It's amazing though that he never got his healing when the Lord walked through the face of the earth. God must have reserved him for this day for His works to be revealed in him (John 9:3). You know, that situation and mountain that has lingered thus far may be for His works to be revealed in you so that His Glory may be manifested through you! This man's state of health is the direct opposite of his location. This doesn't matter to God; after all, his state was going to finally agree with his location. Patience is key (James 1: 2-4) And their Paths finally crossed........ (Acts 3:3) So when he saw Peter and John about to go into the temple...... This man has been diligent in going to the Beautiful Gate. I can imagine the people who have been carrying this man to this gate. They must have been his friends, maybe family members. May have been a combination of both doing shifts between themselves. Same with Peter and John. If they have been lazy (Rom 12:11 NLT), they would have missed the opportunity to make history! (2 Tim 2:15). His Experience Has Taught Him (Acts 3: 4-5) Years of begging has taught the man to expect to get something! This man must have been tired of his pitiful situation and life at some point in time. He never knew that he has become a master in expecting to get something! This is key to his receiving his miracle. That is why James encourages us to consider it an opportunity for great joy when we go through troubles! (James 1:2b NLT) They must have remembered (Acts 3:6) Peter and John must have remembered the very words of Jesus in Mark 16:17 as soon as they saw the man. Remember, this is the very first miracle of its kind recorded in the book of Acts. Can you imagine us doing same in Clanbrassil? Peter (as usual) must have spoken with boldness. Gen 1: 1-3 comes to mind. He spoke light into the dark world of the man! They Dared to Go Further (Acts 3:7) Let me mention that the Book of Acts is otherwise called the Book of The Acts of The Holy Spirit. Everything was made possible by the power of the Holy Spirit. These believers have been filled and they continued to be filled with the Holy Spirit. Believing in the power and the anointing of the Holy Spirit, Peter took hold of the man's right hand with a firm grip and raised him up! By this Act of Faith in both the giver and receiver, immediately his feet and ankle became strong and steady! Mission Accomplished (Acts 3:8-10) He had never walked for over 40 years and can now do for the first time in his life. Can you imagine how happy this man would have been? He was not learning to walk, he was leaping!(Isaiah 35:3-6). He must have been doing his leaping in a very profound way so much that all the people saw him leaping and praising God!!!. This is exactly why this man has been healed (through the working of the Holy Spirit in the lives of Peter and John) at this time by the sovereign God. All the people recognised him. Can you imagine the multitude of people that witnessed this first hand? No one could doubt the miracle. It happened right there while people were by the Beautiful Gate! There must have been commotions everywhere. He has stayed begging at that spot too long for him not have been noticed! Our God is awesome. Through this single miracle, all the people gathered to hear Peter's preaching in the subsequent verses. End of the beginning Many opportunities like the one described above still abounds all around us. Little did Peter and John know that this was not going to be the "usual" prayer meeting. They have been diligent and consistent in what they were doing and God decided to honour their commitments. That service that you have been rendering selflessly that seems not to be noticed is someday going to be rewarded with the Mighty Acts of the Holy Spirit that nobody can deny. However, for this Acts to be experienced in our time, we need to move into the neighbourhood just like Peter and John (And the rest of the believers) did. They were merely doing what their Master did; "The Word became flesh and blood, and moved into the neighbourhood...."John 1:14a (The Message) The neighbourhood is where the opportunities abound. There are many lame men out there waiting for the earnest manifestation of the sons of God. Can God count on you?
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