In Acts 15 Peter is preaching to fellow believers in Jerusalem, God's strategy for the spread of the Gospel message. His audience were mostly Jews and a few Gentile converts. They had been experiencing dissension and fractions among them over various rules and regulations. It seems like at times we are all attracted to legalism, wanting everyone else to follow the rules that we have picked out. We often lose the focus of our great comission here on earth.
In this sermon, Peter seems to be getting them to focus on the spread of the "Gospel message"...the grace of the Lord that he lavishes on us so freely. He seems to be saying...unless they hear the Gospel...it will not spread. That is so true even today. God expects us to proclaim the Gospel to those we encounter.
We must not be ashamed of our inabilities...but we must take great comfort in His Power to give us the words we will need. Yes it is through our mouths...but we so resist proclaiming the Gospel. "That's not my gift...God just wants me to demonstrate it through my life." These statements are not true, because witnessing to others is our privilege, our responsibility as an "ambassador of the Lord Jesus."
So I challenge you today...to speak the Gospel message boldly in the world where the Lord has put you. Tell of His mighty works in your life...not for your own glory...but for His Glory. Be His witness not only in deeds...but by word also. Those around you are desperate to hear the Gospel.
First 26 Weeks
Week 1- Week 26
And the Disciples were Filled with Joy and with the Holy Spirit
The Holy Spirit called and set apart Paul and Barnabas for His work. (v13:2)
When God calls us and sets us apart He will equip us with everything we need. And what is everything we need? Him. The Holy Spirit will fill us to the portion that we surrender to Him. So we are most effective when we are "filled" with the Holy Spirit.
When we are filled with God's Spirit...He enables us to speak boldly.(v13:46) Those around us will be divided into those attracted to the Gospel and those who will reject the Gospel. (v13:46) But despite their attraction...the word of God will spread(V13:49) to glorify God...and we will be filled with unspeakable joy(v13:52) for God is truly with us.
When God calls us and sets us apart He will equip us with everything we need. And what is everything we need? Him. The Holy Spirit will fill us to the portion that we surrender to Him. So we are most effective when we are "filled" with the Holy Spirit.
When we are filled with God's Spirit...He enables us to speak boldly.(v13:46) Those around us will be divided into those attracted to the Gospel and those who will reject the Gospel. (v13:46) But despite their attraction...the word of God will spread(V13:49) to glorify God...and we will be filled with unspeakable joy(v13:52) for God is truly with us.
But the Word of God Continued to Spread and Flourish
Jesus' purpose was to seek and save the lost...and so we are to be about His business, too....seeking and saving the lost....spreading the gospel to the ends of the earth.
Peter and the first century church were about this Kingdom business..."spreading this saving Gospel" throughout their world.
God will accomplish His business through His people. God's purposes can not be thwarted, whether by death...imprisonment...torture.....God did not deliver James from being killed...but He did deliver Peter from prison. We might not always understand everything that happens...but His Gospel marches on.... and this Gospel is still spreading...more so under oppression than under affluence.
We must be faithful to take the Gospel to our neighbors...to our countrymen...to the ends of the earth. And God will empower His Gospel to change lives. This Gospel can't be slowed down...or stopped. The word of God will continue to" spread and flourish"
Peter and the first century church were about this Kingdom business..."spreading this saving Gospel" throughout their world.
God will accomplish His business through His people. God's purposes can not be thwarted, whether by death...imprisonment...torture.....God did not deliver James from being killed...but He did deliver Peter from prison. We might not always understand everything that happens...but His Gospel marches on.... and this Gospel is still spreading...more so under oppression than under affluence.
We must be faithful to take the Gospel to our neighbors...to our countrymen...to the ends of the earth. And God will empower His Gospel to change lives. This Gospel can't be slowed down...or stopped. The word of God will continue to" spread and flourish"
Lord, Do not Hold this Sin Against Them
During his stoning at the end of Acts 7, Steven asks the Lord, "do not hold this sin against them." He was asking for forgiveness for his murderers...the very people attacking him with rocks. It reminds me of Jesus words in Luke 23:24 saying,“Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing."
Both Jesus and Steven were "full of the Holy Spirit." The Holy Spirit gives us just the right words and the heart attitude God expects from His children. God forgives us in the same way that we are to forgive others.
Are you holding something against someone...anyone....even an enemy? Steven and Jesus were concerned for their attackers...which means we should forgive everyone. Do you need to forgive someone, today?
Both Jesus and Steven were "full of the Holy Spirit." The Holy Spirit gives us just the right words and the heart attitude God expects from His children. God forgives us in the same way that we are to forgive others.
Are you holding something against someone...anyone....even an enemy? Steven and Jesus were concerned for their attackers...which means we should forgive everyone. Do you need to forgive someone, today?
Full of the Spirit and Wisdom
Fill me up with yourself...O God.
In this Chapter of Acts 6 there are several other traits/gifts that are mentioned along with being filled. It almost seems that theses traits are present when someone is full of the Spirit.
Full of Wisdom (v3)
Full of Faith (v5)
Full of God's grace (v8)
Full of God's power
When God's Holy Spirit lives in us, it is God's traits...not our traits that also begin to grow within us. The more we surrender to God...the more these gifts from God are manifest in us. Sin suppresses these gifts.
Surrender to God grows these gifts...and we become more like Jesus.
Is this something we can check off a list...I am full of the Spirit?
The answer lies in our relationship to God. It was not because the men did the tasks that they were noticed for being "Full of the Spirit". Rather it was the condition of their hearts. They were "all in." They were fully yielded to God's direction in their lives. They were obedient to God's still quite voice within them. Not seeking their own will...but seeking the will of their Heavenly Father.
Lord, fill me with your Spirit. Increase my faith in you. Give me abounding love for you and my fellow man. Let this heart of stone be turned into a heart of flesh....living and yearning for you. May your will be done...not mine. Fill me...that your Holy Spirit overflows into the marketplace. That your glory may shine.
Amen.
The Number of Men who Believed Grew to about Five Thousand.
Wow 5,000.....that's right...the number of men who believed, grew to 5,000 in the very short time from Pentecost just 2 chapters ago.
With those kind of conversions numbers....Peter and John must be the envy of modern day preachers. So what was their secret? Was it the crafting of slick sermons? Was it the use the latest PowerPoint presentation? It must have been their knowledge from years in seminary.
But it wasn't...the text says, "they were unschooled, ordinary men."
So what made the difference?
I think three things.
1. The text says, "they had been with Jesus." These were men who had been following Jesus...so they knew Him and His ways.
2. They were filled with the Holy Spirit. It was Gods power...not their power at work.
3. They were courageous and spoke boldly. They were not ashamed of the Gospel. They did not lay back...but boldly went into the market place in the name of Jesus.
This account of John and Peter preaching is a great lesson for us in following Jesus.
With those kind of conversions numbers....Peter and John must be the envy of modern day preachers. So what was their secret? Was it the crafting of slick sermons? Was it the use the latest PowerPoint presentation? It must have been their knowledge from years in seminary.
But it wasn't...the text says, "they were unschooled, ordinary men."
So what made the difference?
I think three things.
1. The text says, "they had been with Jesus." These were men who had been following Jesus...so they knew Him and His ways.
2. They were filled with the Holy Spirit. It was Gods power...not their power at work.
3. They were courageous and spoke boldly. They were not ashamed of the Gospel. They did not lay back...but boldly went into the market place in the name of Jesus.
This account of John and Peter preaching is a great lesson for us in following Jesus.
They were Filled with Wonder and Amazement...
I am like the crowd...filled with wonder and amazement when thinking about the lame man being healed. He was a lifetime invalid...unable to walk since birth...and now these Jesus followers helped him up and "instantly the man’s feet and ankles became strong."
He did not just walk away...He began jumping and praising God. He knew where the healing power came from....He was a new man...the lame man was gone...the new man had been set free to run and jump.
Is this not only a miraculous act of God...but a picture of God's grace extended to each of us. We are born spiritual handicapped by sin. It makes us less than what we were meant to be. God wants us to to be complete by accepting His offer to forgive us. When we accept Jesus...we becoming whole...we are healed from the sickness of sin and become one with the Father, again.
Let's all jump for joy. Thank you Jesus.
He did not just walk away...He began jumping and praising God. He knew where the healing power came from....He was a new man...the lame man was gone...the new man had been set free to run and jump.
Is this not only a miraculous act of God...but a picture of God's grace extended to each of us. We are born spiritual handicapped by sin. It makes us less than what we were meant to be. God wants us to to be complete by accepting His offer to forgive us. When we accept Jesus...we becoming whole...we are healed from the sickness of sin and become one with the Father, again.
Let's all jump for joy. Thank you Jesus.
"You Will Receive Power...You Will Be My Witnesses"
In Acts 1:8 Jesus promises "power when the Holy Spirit comes on you."
I think the power He speaks of...has to do with the rest of His sentence....Jesus says when the power comes on us...we will be his witness in 4 areas. In Jerusalem (in our own town/neighborhood) , in Judea (neighboring areas/states/countries), in Samaria (in hostile,rival,enemy territory) and to the ends of the earth (In every nook and cranny of the globe).
I think the power of the Holy Spirit is not for our self improvement...but for spreading the Gospel. How?
By us being witnesses, "This is how God has worked in my life"... The Holy Spirit shows us who to speak to...who to help...He empowers our testimony and the Word... with power.
Being a witness...is our responsibility given to us by Jesus. His power will fuel the fire of the Holy Spirit.
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