Last week took a quick glimpse into the life of the church; not long after Christ’s death and resurrection. When Peter and John had gone to the Temple at the time of the afternoon prayer meeting, and things got a little crazy. Remember the crippled man that was placed near the pool near the entry called The Beautiful Gate. He was begging for money as he had done for many years. But that day was different from all his other days. And as far as we know, no one had given him a penny that day. But this was going to be his best day ever. On that day, God touched his life and the man who had been born crippled, could walk.
The area they were in was called Solomon’s Colonnade. Now it would hold a pretty good group of people. The people had heard all the screaming and shouting. And they were looking for the guys that had performed this miracle expecting to have a miracle of their own.
12 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? 13 The God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, the God of our fathers, has glorified His servant Jesus. You handed Him over to be killed, and you disowned Him before Pilate, though he had decided to let him go. 14 You disowned the Holy and Righteous One and asked that a murderer be released to you. 15 You killed the author of life, but God raised him from the dead. We are witnesses of this. 16 By faith in the name of Jesus, this man whom you see and know was made strong. It is Jesus’ name and the faith that comes through Him that has completely healed him, as you can all see.
I wonder if John was saying something to Peter like “easy bro…chill just a bit. They don’t know Jesus like we do.” But Peter didn’t chill. 17 “Now, fellow Israelites, I know that you acted in ignorance, as did your leaders. 18 But this is how God fulfilled what He had foretold through all the prophets, saying that his Messiah would suffer. 19 Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord, 20 and that He may send the Messiah, who has been appointed for you—even Jesus. 21 Heaven must receive Him until the time comes for God to restore everything, as He promised long ago through His holy prophets. 22 For Moses said, ‘The Lord your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among your own people; you must listen to everything He tells you. 23 Anyone who does not listen to Him will be completely cut off from their people.
Have you ever been with friends and they were being a little more spiritual than you wanted them to be around other people you probably didn’t know? Just a little too quick to share their faith, or opinion? Or have you ever been out with friends and they were embarrassed about the way you spoke about Jesus in your life? I’d be willing to bet there are more of the first than the second kind of followers. Perhaps this is why we don’t see God move as powerfully as He would like to in our lives. We know what we should do, but too often we don’t do it. We have been taught in our society that religious conversation and activity are taboo. We can talk about education, political problems, all kinds of diseases. We can talk about homosexuality, bisexuals, open marriages, transgenders, beastiology….But don’t say anything about God.” And TOO OFTEN WE DON’T.
In our society, You cannot talk about what is morally right and wrong in the workplace or in our schools.. We gave up on those ideas years ago. We all have our own ideas about God, and we should allow everyone their own understanding. I’m sure God will cheer on our open mindedness. There is a fallacy in our thinking.
(1) Thoughtlessness is not spiritual. If you haven’t considered what you are saying and how you are going to say it, just hold that conversation till you have thought about it a little more.
(2) If you can’t back it up scripturally, don’t say it.
(3) If you aren’t sharing for the other person’s benefit, don’t say it.
(4) If you have thought about it, if it is scriptural, and if it is a benefit to the listener…don’t miss the opportunity to share God’s word.
A warning to new believers. Don’t get goaded into a conversation in which you neither have experience and/or biblical training. These are usually useless conversations that exist only to make you look bad. But you are the experts as to your own lives. You only know what you know. I only know what I know. But God’s promise was delivered to us by Jesus…But when the Holy Spirit has come He will guide you into all truth. JOHN 16:13 One of those truths is in verse Acts 4:12…Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved.”
Did you read that? Take out your pen and write down all of the people and places you can be, or speak to, that can bring wholeness to your life. If you have written anything but Jesus Christ, you made a mistake. You failed the test Though I know we covered the subject. In fact, the only way you could have failed the test is by choice. You don’t like the answer. You think God isn’t a loving God. No, you’re wrong. He proved His love by sending His Son who died a horrible death so that we could have life through His sacrifice. It was His plan. His love. His life… that gives you the opportunity to have life; if you will humble yourself and accept His love and forgiveness for you.
NO, you don’t want that kind of God? You do get to make the call. It is your choice. Today I have set before you life and death… choose life! And the Spirit of God was with them and they began celebrating Him and what He was doing in their lives. The people were impressed, 5000 became followers of Jesus Christ. Peter and John were threatened and then freed and they went back to the other followers. Peter and John reported all that had happened. They started praying and it got louder and louder and louder. Now I know God isn’t hard of hearing, so what caused their loudness? The more they prayed the more the hearts soared toward God. It was an expression of joy and victory.Acts 4:31
After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly. You might think you’ve read that before. In Acts 1:8…But you will receive power after the Holy Spirit has come upon you and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and Judea, and in Samaria and to the ends of the earth. Acts 1:8
19 Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord, 20 and that he may send the Messiah, who has been appointed for you—even Jesus. Acts 3:19-20
Link to the sermon is below
https://www.facebook.com/FriendsCommunityChurchOrlando/videos/3560788694203913
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