Focus
There is so much incredible stuff happening in Acts chapter five that I have never caught verse 12-14. The believers were gathering but no one else dared to join them even though they were highly regarded. These early believers could have easily been discouraged about what God was not doing. No reputable person was willing to join them. When you have an event or lead a small group and certain people don’t show up it is easy to get discouraged. But the early church just kept on keeping on and God added to their number daily. They didn’t focus on what God was not doing they kept their eyes on what He was doing.
Acts 5:12-13 The apostles performed many miraculous signs and wonders among the people. And all the believers used to meet together in Solomon’s Colonnade. 13No one else dared join them, even though they were highly regarded by the people. 14Nevertheless, more and more men and women believed in the Lord and were added to their number.
One would think that after the Ananias and Sapphira incident the church would have a hard time finding converts, people wanting to join their number. Yet, “more and more men and women believed in the Lord and were added to their number.” For sure, you had the miraculous wonders and signs done by the apostles. That will, certainly, attract a crowd. But, the purpose of the miracles was to confirm that the apostles were from God and giving the people God’s message. That message is that God is serious about sin but, even more, serious about forgiving sin. When we proclaim Jesus, we have to proclaim that God is serious about sin. Most churches don’t practice church discipline in a open, Biblical way. The world knows that God is all about sin. We need to be about what God is about. Forgivenss, sure. Righteousness, more so. If we preach and practice God’s full message, we will have more and more added to our number.
Good stuff Richard!
Theudas was killed; his men grew weary and dispspersed. Judas the Galilean perished and his adherents scattered. Gamaliel advised the Sanhedrin to leave Peter, John and these men alone for fear that they may be fighting against God himself. Here we are 2000 years later. That says it all. It does make me wonder where the Gamaliels are in Washington these days.
Do we suffer for Jesus? It is “human nature” to prefer not to suffer; however, in Acts 5 the apostles counted suffering for Jesus as joy. Maybe as Christians, we should be concerned if we don’t suffer. Christ called us to be like him and He certainly suffered. In I Peter 4:12 and following, we are advised not to be surprised when trouble comes our way, but to be happy knowing that the glorious Spirit is with us, knowing that we will be happy and full of joy when Christ comes again. What is the point of suffering? I Peter 5:10 states that through suffering God will make us strong, support us, and keep us from falling. Wow! This is hard. How do I pray that I will be given the opportunity to suffer?
Oh my, how many times have we had things go wrong and say why isn’t God helping me…or doing this or that. To be silent and look at what he has done and is doing. I look at what is going on in my life now and find strength, I am walking forward. With this, I feel patience and am humbled.
I also like Act 4:38 & 39; “So my advice is, leave these men alone.. If they are teaching and doing these things merely on their own, it will soon be overthrown. But if it is of God, you will not be able to stop them. You may even find yourselves fighting against God.”
By the way I love these lessons, I am in the Word every day. I look forward to the next. I am also finding, as I learn more, I am applying it to my life. Thank you Jimmy.
Right on time. Thanks Jimmy
Stephen was an awesome Christian. In the sixth chapter of Acts we are told his attributes. He was a man of great faith and full of the Holy Spirit. He was richly blessed by God and given the power to do great miracles and signs. The Spirit helped to him to speak with wisdom and his words were so strong that no one could argue with him. His face looked like the face of an angel. What a great example for us today. I look forward to reading more about this man in the next chapter.
I get discouraged when some of my sunday school kids don’t show up or are shy, but I keep on keepin on too!! I love kids and to be able to serve for God with children is truly a blessing. I didn’t find out about God’s unconditional love and forgiveness until I was older so I want these kids to know the love He has for us rather than how bad we are because of our sin. I really like what you had to say Richard!! I also think God is working soooo much in this church through Jimmy and all of the rest of us too!! I love this church!!