Reading
Acts 3:1-5:42
Drawing Near
As the early church grew, the new Christians were not always popular. Have you ever been disliked or laughed at for being a Christian? If so, how did it feel? How did you respond?
The Context
With the coming of the Spirit upon the followers of Christ, the church immediately began to grow. Now we see the impact of this new program in the eternal, unfolding plan of God.
The apostles Peter and John are the initial leaders of the church. A healing at the temple gives them an open door to declare plainly that Jesus, crucified and resurrected, is the long awaited Messiah who fulfills all the predictions of the prophets. Their preaching, however, quickly gets them in trouble with the Sanhedrin, the same authorities who arrested and killed Jesus, the dangerous rabbi from Nazareth. These religious leaders now seek to intimidate and silence His followers.
Undaunted, the believers pray for courage and continue living in such a way that the world sits up and takes notice. Those outside the church are startled to see believers care for one another and share with one another in extravagent ways. The apostles continue to boldly preach about Jesus right in the temple courts.
Still smarting from the apostles' refusal to heed their threats, and in light of the growing popularity of the church, the Jewish authorities clamp down. They arrest and jail Peter and his colleagues. When God miraculously frees His spokesmen in the night, the apostles march straight back to the temple and resume their preaching! Not even a severe beating at the hands of the council can dampen the fervor of the people of God.
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1 comment:
I've joined a moms of multiples group here in the area, and have attended some of their mom's night out dinners and a playdate. It has been eye opening...it's been a while since I've been around so many people with different worldviews. They are pretty "tolerant" of every view...but that can be frustrating (even if they aren't laughing at me as a Christian), because they in essence feel that there are many roads to Heaven. I do find that I get a little nervous (ok, very nervous) when they begin discussions about lifestyles or entertainments that are very much in opposition to God's standard of holiness. I want to share the Lord with them...know they need Him...but want to speak the truth in love. Christ lived and spoke in such a way that sinners were drawn to him. In Acts, we learn that the disciples and the believers in the early church did the same. I do want to watch for opportunities to "declare plainly that Jesus, crucified and resurrected, is the long awaited Messiah." I expect there will be opposition from those who do not appreciate the exclusivity of the Gospel. I loved Pastor Trill's message on Courage a few weeks ago, and have been praying for that in a couple of areas (this mom's group included).
I want my life in such a way that my family, this mom's group, and other moms from the boy's school will take up and take notice...wanting to know the personal God that I love and serve.
And I need to be praying for fervor that won't be dampened by opposition/criticism, keeping in mind Peter and John's words in Acts 4:20, "For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard."
I can take courage from Acts 4:33, "And with great power gave teh apostles witness of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus: and great grace was upon them all." Bring on the great grace! :)
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