Faith Exercised

 DEVOTION

THE ACTS OF THE APOSTLES

FAITH EXERCISED

Acts 5:12-16

12 The apostles performed many miraculous signs and wonders among the people. And all the believers used to meet together in Solomon's Colonnade. 13 No one else dared join them, even though they were highly regarded by the people. 14 Nevertheless, more and more men and women believed in the Lord and were added to their number. 15 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. 16 Crowds gathered also from the towns around Jerusalem, bringing their sick and those tormented by evil spirits, and all of them were healed.

NIV

There is power in the name of Jesus. Yet it appears that even as Peter passed by and his shadow fell upon sick people, they were healed. How is that possible? Was it because  Peter was filled with the Holy Spirit? We are not told that Peter did anything, but we must believe that he touched the sick using the name of Jesus of Nazareth. No man can miraculously, supernaturally heal or drive out evil spirits by his own power. When the crippled man at the gate was healed, Peter invoked the name of Jesus. Nevertheless, all the sick and anyone tormented by evil spirits were healed. This power comes directly from the Lord God Almighty because Peter had used the name of Jesus. We are also told that the early church was filled with so much power that people were in awe of them; they were highly regarded, as we are told no one else dared to join them because the apostles performed many miraculous signs and wonders among the people. We wonder whether the church today generates the awe that keeps people from joining because of all the signs and wonders happening. That cannot be it, because we do not see any miraculous signs and wonders, nor do all the sick people get healed. Why? Do we not have the same name or ability to use the name of Jesus? Is our faith not faith at all, but just pretending to have faith? Do we really not believe the sick can be healed? Maybe we are just doing church without being the church. Maybe that was just for then and not applicable to today. But why is this recorded for us? Are we meant to just look at it as historical, or are we supposed to learn something from these truths? We know the name of Jesus has the same power as it always has, for God never changes. We have witnessed miracles, evil spirits driven out, healings, yet has anything changed? Do we lack that early faith, or have we just settled into the routine of Christianity, not expecting God to do anything, or not expecting any power in the name of Jesus? We know about routines and how they can become ruts, just plodding along, until that ruth become a grave. But there is still power in the name of Jesus; we serve a risen Savior, and God is still in the business of Salvation, doing the supernatural. Have we allowed our faith to become weak, crippled, and useless? Restore and strengthen our faith, Lord, so we can have faith exercised.  

Searched

 DEVOTION

THE ACTS OF THE APOSTLES

SEARCHED

Acts 5:1-11

5:1 Now a man named Ananias, together with his wife Sapphira, also sold a piece of property. 2 With his wife's full knowledge he kept back part of the money for himself, but brought the rest and put it at the apostles' feet. 3 Then Peter said, "Ananias, how is it that Satan has so filled your heart that you have lied to the Holy Spirit and have kept for yourself some of the money you received for the land? 4 Didn't it belong to you before it was sold? And after it was sold, wasn't the money at your disposal? What made you think of doing such a thing? You have not lied to men but to God." 5 When Ananias heard this, he fell down and died. And great fear seized all who heard what had happened. 6 Then the young men came forward, wrapped up his body, and carried him out and buried him. 7 About three hours later his wife came in, not knowing what had happened. 8 Peter asked her, "Tell me, is this the price you and Ananias got for the land?" "Yes," she said, "that is the price." 9 Peter said to her, "How could you agree to test the Spirit of the Lord? Look! The feet of the men who buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out also." 10 At that moment she fell down at his feet and died. Then the young men came in and, finding her dead, carried her out and buried her beside her husband. 11 Great fear seized the whole church and all who heard about these events.

NIV

What a sad story to include in the Acts of the Apostles, except that it does demonstrate two truths. First, the sadness of the kind of thinking of Ananias and Sapphira. Selling their land was a good idea because the proceeds were intended for the church's general fund, so those in need could be helped. However, they could also have told the Apostles they had sold the land for 100 and had decided to give 80 of it to the church. That would have been truthful, and all would have been well. But they were deceptive about the money they received for their land, lying to the Holy Spirit. It cost them both their lives. That was harsh, but it does show that truthfulness is the way of life for believers. Why would we lie about how much money we have, or about how much we give in our tithe or offerings? Why are we so deceptive about how much wealth we have? True, it is nobody's business how much or how little we have, as most people, if not all, are guarded about their money. Our giving is recorded for several reasons. Some churches develop a budget based on the average yearly income from Tithes and offerings. Some churches require monthly reports sent to districts. Then, yearly statements are sent to each giver for tax reasons. But to lie about money was the offense that cost Ananias and Sapphira. The second truth is how Peter knew about the deception. It was revealed to him by the Holy Spirit. This is one of those gifts of the Spirit, labeled "discernment," or it could have been a "Word of knowledge". However, Peter became aware through the Spirit's revelation that both Ananias and Sapphira were being deceptive. We should learn to depend more on the Spirit, who leads us into all truth. It would be to our advantage as believers to listen carefully to the Spirit before making any decisions, including those concerning our church and personal affairs. When both Ananias and Sapphira were searched by the Lord and struck down, great fear seized the whole church. Surely, we should not live seized with great fear of the Lord, but at the same time, we should not take his grace for granted. The Lord is due our respect and our devotion. He is due all our thanks and praise. He is due all we have, if he should require it, for everything we have has come from his hand. Let us live humbly before our Lord, seeking his leadership, listening to his voice, with the knowledge that he knows our hearts.  We ask the same as David did, "Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting."

 

Great Power

 DEVOTION

THE ACTS OF THE APOSTLES

GREAT POWER

Acts 4:32-37

32 All the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that any of his possessions was his own, but they shared everything they had. 33 With great power the apostles continued to testify to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and much grace was upon them all. 34 There were no needy persons among them. For from time to time those who owned lands or houses sold them, brought the money from the sales 35 and put it at the apostles' feet, and it was distributed to anyone as he had need. 36 Joseph, a Levite from Cyprus, whom the apostles called Barnabas (which means Son of Encouragement), 37 sold a field he owned and brought the money and put it at the apostles' feet.

NIV

The New Testament church was far different than any church we are aware of today. First, to think that all of us believers are of one heart and mind is outlandish. We have so much division between the hundreds of Christian denominations that it would be nearly impossible for us to agree on all the same interpretations and doctrines. Then we have to consider just within one denomination and one local church.  Are we one in heart and mind? It is said that if two Jewish men were in a room, there would be three opinions. However, within a local congregation, the number of members would equal the number of opinions. However, we must all agree on some basic truths. We believe in the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. We believe Jesus lived among us, went to the cross to pay the price for our sins, was crucified and buried, and on the third day God raised him from the dead, and forty days later he ascended back to sit at the right hand of the Father, the place of honor. We believe Jesus is coming back for us. That is it in a nutshell, the truth of the gospel. It is hard to imagine that the New Testament church referred to in this portion of scripture had developed any further doctrines or rules and regulations, as churches today have done. We do not live in the same manner as this new church, because we claim possessions as our own. We do not share everything we have either, although some of us do tithe so our church can function, pay its bills, pay staff, support some missionaries, and keep to some form of a budget. We wonder whether we even avail ourselves of the great power the apostles had when they testified to the Lord's resurrection. How can we sell our lands and houses? When they sold their houses, where then did they live? It seems strange to think, but maybe they were thinking Jesus was coming right back, and they did not need anything, but just sat around worshipping together, waiting for Jesus. Yet they did share with each other; that is all we know is true. They loved each other; we know that was true. They loved Jesus and believed he was the Christ; we know that was true. Can we do any less? We love the Lord with our whole being, and we love each other. However, we still need the power to testify about the resurrection of Jesus. We tell each other, we hear it from the pulpits, we think the missionaries we support are testifying about the resurrection of Jesus, but are we telling the story in the streets where we live? Give us the power, Lord, anoint us with the Holy Spirit and fire that we might proclaim, testify with great power, the resurrection of Jesus. 

Boldly

 DEVOTION

THE ACTS OF THE APOSTLES

BOLDLY

Acts 4:23-31

23 On their release, Peter and John went back to their own people and reported all that the chief priests and elders had said to them. 24 When they heard this, they raised their voices together in prayer to God. "Sovereign Lord," they said, "you made the heaven and the earth and the sea, and everything in them. 25 You spoke by the Holy Spirit through the mouth of your servant, our father David:

"'Why do the nations rage and the peoples plot in vain? 26 The kings of the earth take their stand and the rulers gather together against the Lord and against his Anointed One.'  

27 Indeed Herod and Pontius Pilate met together with the Gentiles and the people of Israel in this city to conspire against your holy servant Jesus, whom you anointed. 28 They did what your power and will had decided beforehand should happen. 29 Now, Lord, consider their threats and enable your servants to speak your word with great boldness. 30 Stretch out your hand to heal and perform miraculous signs and wonders through the name of your holy servant Jesus." 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.

NIV

There is something to be said for praying the scriptures, as we see here, when the believers quoted from one of David's Psalms. However, we know that God already knew David's words, since it was the Holy Spirit who spoke through David, as well as every word that has ever been recorded in the scriptures; in fact, we believe God could quote every word he has spoken. This would include all that the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit have ever said, or that is recorded of what they said. However, although they included the words spoken by David, the key request of their prayer is for them to speak with boldness, and for the hand of God to be stretched out to heal and perform miraculous signs and wonders through the name of Jesus. We know God answers prayer, and that makes us wonder why we are not praying for boldness to speak out about Jesus, about the free gift of God, salvation. We also wonder why we have not asked the Lord, the maker of heaven and earth, the one to whom everything in the earth belongs, to stretch out his hand and heal, and to perform miraculous signs and wonders. The question that is before us is whether we truly believe God will do all that. We call ourselves Christians, but are we believers? Those who were there with Peter and John were new to their faith in Jesus, and they had already seen a lame man healed by the power of Jesus' name. Have we accepted living as crippled Christians? Why should we? Because there is power in the name of Jesus, and we can both go boldly out and speak the truth of God, and go before him asking for his healing and for miraculous signs and wonders. Can we even imagine what the world would think of us if God were doing mighty things for us, in us, and through us? Can we fathom what our lives would look like, being filled with the Holy Spirit and speaking the word of God boldly? 

Not Shutting Up

 DEVOTION

THE ACTS OF THE APOSTLES

NOT SHUTTING UP

Acts 4:13-22

13 When they saw the courage of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished and they took note that these men had been with Jesus. 14 But since they could see the man who had been healed standing there with them, there was nothing they could say. 15 So they ordered them to withdraw from the Sanhedrin and then conferred together. 16 "What are we going to do with these men?" they asked. "Everybody living in Jerusalem knows they have done an outstanding miracle, and we cannot deny it. 17 But to stop this thing from spreading any further among the people, we must warn these men to speak no longer to anyone in this name." 18 Then they called them in again and commanded them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus. 19 But Peter and John replied, "Judge for yourselves whether it is right in God's sight to obey you rather than God. 20 For we cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard." 21 After further threats they let them go. They could not decide how to punish them, because all the people were praising God for what had happened. 22 For the man who was miraculously healed was over forty years old.

NIV

How could they refute a miracle when the man, who was forty years old, which meant he had been lame for forty years, and now stood before them? In this case, seeing is believing; however, at the same time, these men of the Sanhedrin thought more highly of themselves than they should have. Peter and John were unschooled, ordinary men, yet they had been with Jesus. Annas, the high priest, Caiaphas, Alexander, John, and the rest of the Sanhedrin were schooled, educated men in the law, but had no personal experience with Jesus, or Yahweh, the LORD whom they say they serve. They had to confess that Peter and John had done an outstanding miracle, but they could not allow this to continue, warning Peter and John not to speak or teach in the name of Jesus. This great statement of Peter is the way of life for believers. When you have a personal experience with Jesus and are filled with the Holy Spirit, how could you remain silent, no matter what others say? When they say we are too narrow-minded or intolerant and have no right to judge their behavior, basically, they want us to shut up and not speak about Jesus or the power in the name of Jesus. The men of the Sanhedrin feared losing their influence in society, so they did not want "The Jesus influence" spreading. We may be in a similar situation because the liberal society we live in is opposed to "The Jesus influence." Peter told them that to judge what was right in God's sight, they should obey them rather than God. We cannot do any less. Because we have experienced Jesus, we cannot remain silent. We need to speak up, tell our story, believe in the power of the name of Jesus, and live accordingly, expecting miracles. We will not shut up. 

The Cornerstone

 DEVOTION

THE ACTS OF THE APOSTLES

THE CORNERSTONE 

Acts 4:1-12

4:1 The priests and the captain of the temple guard and the Sadducees came up to Peter and John while they were speaking to the people. 2 They were greatly disturbed because the apostles were teaching the people and proclaiming in Jesus the resurrection of the dead. 3 They seized Peter and John, and because it was evening, they put them in jail until the next day. 4 But many who heard the message believed. The number of men grew to about five thousand. 5 The next day the rulers, elders and teachers of the law met in Jerusalem. 6 Annas the high priest was there, and so were Caiaphas, John, Alexander and the other men of the high priest's family. 7 They had Peter and John brought before them and began to question them: "By what power or what name did you do this?" 8 Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them: "Rulers and elders of the people! 9 If we are being called to account today for an act of kindness shown to a cripple and are asked how he was healed, 10 then know this, you and all the people of Israel: It is by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified but whom God raised from the dead, that this man stands before you healed. 11 He is "'the stone you builders rejected, which has become the capstone.'   12 Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved."

NIV

Why were these religious men greatly disturbed when the apostles taught about the resurrection of the dead? We know the Sadducees did not believe in the resurrection of the dead, which is confusing because they were supposed to believe in God. They had all the words of the Prophets who foretold the Messiah, and Jesus fulfilled that role. But as Peter told them, they rejected Jesus, yet He became the capstone, or cornerstone, as he quoted the Psalm. In the days when buildings were made of stone, the builders would set the cornerstone, and everything would be built square to it. The cornerstone is the foundation of the whole building. That is what Peter was telling Annas the high priest, Caiaphas, John,Alexander, and all the other men of the high priest's family. Jesus is the cornerstone; everything is built on him. There is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved. Salvation is found only in the name of Jesus. There is no Jesus plus anything, and because it was proven by eyewitnesses that Jesus was raised from the dead, and that after appearing to many over forty days, he ascended right before their eyes into the cloud. In the name of Jesus is where everything is. Jesus is the only way, the only truth, the only life. He is the Light who shines into the darkness, leading people to eternal life. We cannot add anything to Jesus for salvation. We cannot earn it by doing anything good, for there is only One who is good. We cannot accept Jesus as our Lord and Savior and think we must do more to be a "Good Christian", because there is only One who is good, for that is what Jesus told that rich young man who wanted to know what good thing he must do to have eternal life. In the name of Jesus is the only way. There is no other way. Jesus is the prime number; nothing can be added or subtracted from a prime number. If we added or subtracted from a prime number, it would no longer be prime. We cannot add or subtract from Jesus. How can we do anything to add to Jesus? The truth of the message is that when we confess with our mouth Jesus is Lord, and believe in our hearts that God raised him from the dead, we are saved, period, end of story. That is what Peter was telling them, as he was filled with the Spirit. All power, all healings, all miracles, everything is done through the name of Jesus. He is our cornerstone. "My hope is built on nothing less than Jesus' blood and righteousness; No merit of my own I claim but wholly lean on Jesus' name. On Christ, the solid rock, I stand; all other ground is sinking sand. 

Listen

 DEVOTION

THE ACTS OF THE APOSTLES

LISTEN

Acts 3:17-26

17 "Now, brothers, 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 Christ 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 Christ, who has been appointed for you — even Jesus. 21 He must remain in heaven 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 among his people.'  24 "Indeed, all the prophets from Samuel on, as many as have spoken, have foretold these days. 25 And you are heirs of the prophets and of the covenant God made with your fathers. He said to Abraham, 'Through your offspring all peoples on earth will be blessed.'   26 When God raised up his servant, he sent him first to you to bless you by turning each of you from your wicked ways."

NIV

We looked at this portion and considered the wonderful truth that our sins have been wiped out. There is another truth that we also need to deal with. Peter quoted what 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. Anyone who does not listen to him will be completely cut off from his people." Peter was warning the people that if they did not accept Jesus and everything he said, they would not see the kingdom of God, for they would be cut off, separated, and be on the outside without ever being able to get inside. The question before us is whether we listen to everything Jesus said. We have our Bibles, and we read most of them; some aim to read through the Bible in a year. When a believer has used that reading plan for over fifty years, they have read the Bible through fifty times. The question that would still be before them is whether they are listening to everything  Jesus said. If we listen to what Jesus said, our lives will reflect his teaching. There is another thought that Jesus said every word within the complete Bible. That the men who penned the words were inspired, and indeed they were, as all scripture God breathed and is profitable for rebuking, correcting, teaching, and training in righteousness, so that we will be thoroughly equipped for every good work. So then we should not just read the word, but listen to it, invest in it, and digest it so that we not just hear it, but listen. We want God to listen to our prayers, our requests; should we not listen to him? If we do not give an audience to his every word, understanding what he is saying to us, and learning from the mouth of the teacher of all truth, we will be cut off. That is a harsh thought, but it is the truth. Let us listen, let us learn, let us comprehend, let us reflect the words spoken into our hearts. Then we can be assured we will not be cut off.