Peter's Miraculous Escape - Acts 12

12 It was about this time that King Herod arrested some who belonged to the church, intending to persecute them. ² He had James, the brother of John, put to death with the sword. ³ When he saw that this met with approval among the Jews, he proceeded to seize Peter also. This happened during the Festival of Unleavened Bread. ⁴ After arresting him, he put him in prison, handing him over to be guarded by four squads of four soldiers each. Herod intended to bring him out for public trial after the Passover.

⁵ So Peter was kept in prison, but the church was earnestly praying to God for him.

⁶ The night before Herod was to bring him to trial, Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains, and sentries stood guard at the entrance. ⁷ Suddenly an angel of the Lord appeared and a light shone in the cell. He struck Peter on the side and woke him up. “Quick, get up!” he said, and the chains fell off Peter’s wrists.

⁸ Then the angel said to him, “Put on your clothes and sandals.” And Peter did so. “Wrap your cloak around you and follow me,” the angel told him. ⁹ Peter followed him out of the prison, but he had no idea that what the angel was doing was really happening; he thought he was seeing a vision. ¹⁰ They passed the first and second guards and came to the iron gate leading to the city. It opened for them by itself, and they went through it. When they had walked the length of one street, suddenly the angel left him.

¹¹ Then Peter came to himself and said, “Now I know without a doubt that the Lord has sent his angel and rescued me from Herod’s clutches and from everything the Jewish people were hoping would happen.”

¹² When this had dawned on him, he went to the house of Mary the mother of John, also called Mark, where many people had gathered and were praying. ¹³ Peter knocked at the outer entrance, and a servant named Rhoda came to answer the door. ¹⁴ When she recognized Peter’s voice, she was so overjoyed she ran back without opening it and exclaimed, “Peter is at the door!”

¹⁵ “You’re out of your mind,” they told her. When she kept insisting that it was so, they said, “It must be his angel.”

¹⁶ But Peter kept on knocking, and when they opened the door and saw him, they were astonished. ¹⁷ Peter motioned with his hand for them to be quiet and described how the Lord had brought him out of prison. “Tell James and the other brothers and sisters about this,” he said, and then he left for another place.

¹⁸ In the morning, there was no small commotion among the soldiers as to what had become of Peter. ¹⁹ After Herod had a thorough search made for him and did not find him, he cross-examined the guards and ordered that they be executed.

King Herod is now searching for and arresting the leaders of the church so he can persecute them and execute them.  Up until now it has been the religious leaders in Jerusalem, now it is the government.  This King Herod is the grandson of the King Herod that tried to kill Jesus as a child (Agrippa I).  This persecution of the Christians is met with approval by the Jewish leaders which makes Herod more popular. 

Festival of Unleavened Bread – Seven-day festival after Passover.  It involves removing yeast from the home for seven days.  Bread is to made without it.  When the Hebrews were leaving Egypt, they were told by God to take everything and go, don’t even let the bread rise.  Just bake it and go.  Yeast less bread is called Matzo.  Then God told them to commemorate this event by removing the yeast from the home for seven days.  (The yeast represents sin.  Once yeast has entered bread, it is impossible for man to get it out.  Therefore, the yeast has to be removed before it enters the bread.  Like sin in our lives, it is impossible to get sin out of our life by ourselves.  The bread we make has sin in it, but the Bread of Life, Jesus, is perfect and without sin.  The feast reminds Christians that we can’t get the sin out and only God through Jesus can remove sin.)

Paul wrote concerning this: Don’t you know that a little yeast leavens the whole batch of dough? ⁷ Get rid of the old yeast, so that you may be a new unleavened batch—as you really are. For Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed. ⁸ Therefore let us keep the Festival, not with the old bread leavened with malice and wickedness, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth. – 1 Corinthians 5:6-8

Sixteen soldiers are guarding Peter.  That’s a lot of soldiers for one person.  Especially one that hasn’t killed anyone and isn’t violent.  There are guards at the entrance to his prison and he is personally bound to two guards.  This is a very tight security for this one person.

Verse 5 is the best verse in this passage.  “Peter was kept in prison, BUT the church was earnestly praying to God for him.”  That’s a big sentence.  What does earnest prayer look like?  There are many things that happen to many of our members, BUT do we earnestly pray for them?  What victories do we have as a church?  Where is the victory wall where we share how God answered prayers for the encouragement of one another? 

Why did God miraculously save Peter but allow James to be martyred?  It is God’s sovereign will.  He is in control of life and death, we are not.  If God were to ask me, I am sure I would have different views of who should stay alive and who should be killed; of who should be healed and who should not be healed; of who should be allowed to have children and who should be barren.  But He doesn’t ask me because I would get it wrong.  Only God knows what is best for the world as a whole and what leads to the proper end of His design.  However, we are encouraged to pray for the earnest prayers of His children are a perfume to God and He has changed things over compassion for His own.  

Peter is in prison and will certainly be killed, and as bad as that is it does not compare to this, the church is earnest praying to God for him.  The church praying to God for Peter overcame Peter’s jail sentence because God intervened.  We must become praying people who earnestly pray for one another.

Peter gets to experience an angel and have a miraculous escape.  His hands either pass through the shackles or the shackles just pop open.  It’s a miracle escape and they just walk out right in front of the guards.  No one wakes up.  It is truly a miracle.  Why does the angel tell Peter to get dressed?  Because he thinks it’s a dream.  He would have just walked out with the angel.  He is safely out before he realizes what has happened.  Peter was really blessed with the ability to sleep in any circumstance.  To be able to sleep between two men in a prison fully aware that you’ll be killed tomorrow.  He had a comforting faith that kept his mind at peace.  It’s such a miracle that the people praying for him don’t believe it is actually him at the door.  They are earnestly praying for him and then he shows up and everyone is surprised.  They don’t believe it is him.  In fact, they think it is his spirit (angel) and he is already dead.  Why?  Why do we not pray expecting a miracle?  Why do we not pray trusting God with our prayer?

The term “no small commotion” is a dramatic understatement to say that there was a massive investigation among the guards and search for Peter.  Herod has all the guards executed.  Wow.  That’s a violent response to a miraculous escape.  He does this to show that Peter has escaped because of human error, not because of some divine miracle. 

What are you praying for today?  Are you afraid to expect it to be answered in a miraculous manner by the living God?  

They are Christians - Acts 11

¹⁹ Now those who had been scattered by the persecution that broke out when Stephen was killed traveled as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus and Antioch, spreading the word only among Jews. ²⁰ Some of them, however, men from Cyprus and Cyrene, went to Antioch and began to speak to Greeks also, telling them the good news about the Lord Jesus.²¹ The Lord’s hand was with them, and a great number of people believed and turned to the Lord.

²² News of this reached the church in Jerusalem, and they sent Barnabas to Antioch. ²³ When he arrived and saw what the grace of God had done, he was glad and encouraged them all to remain true to the Lord with all their hearts. ²⁴ He was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and faith, and a great number of people were brought to the Lord.

Barnabas went there and became their pastor.  What a wonderful thing it is if we could all be called good, full of the Spirit and faith.  He was leading this church in growth.  Antioch has become the second center of the early church and many people believe it takes over as the main center of the early church.

²⁵ Then Barnabas went to Tarsus to look for Saul, ²⁶ and when he found him, he brought him to Antioch. So for a whole year Barnabas and Saul met with the church and taught great numbers of people. The disciples were called Christians first at Antioch.

Maybe Barnabas needed an associate pastor and he knew just where to find one.  Or maybe he was being lead to go get Saul.  As an encouraging person who had stood by Saul in Jerusalem, maybe he was wondering what he was doing and why he wasn’t teaching.  Whatever the reason, Barnabas goes and finds him and puts him to work.

The term Christian means Christ follower.  There in Antioch, someone coins the phrase and it has stuck.  It should be a description of every believer.  It should be the why behind our actions.  I once asked a guy professing to be a Christian who was pushing for a divorce if Jesus was leading him to do that; I asked another caught up in pornography is Jesus was leading him in that; I asked another who had become an alcoholic if Jesus was leading him to drink.  In each case, they had stopped following Christ and were following their own wants or desires.  We are to be a people who follows Christ.  When we get distracted, we should be willing to be confronted, seek repentance and start following again.  The world should so see Jesus the Christ directing our actions that they would call us Christ followers even if that term was not being used today.

²⁷ During this time some prophets came down from Jerusalem to Antioch. ²⁸ One of them, named Agabus, stood up and through the Spirit predicted that a severe famine would spread over the entire Roman world. (This happened during the reign of Claudius.) ²⁹ The disciples, as each one was able, decided to provide help for the brothers and sisters living in Judea. ³⁰ This they did, sending their gift to the elders by Barnabas and Saul.

There is evidence of this famine in history.  The worst of this famine was felt in Jerusalem.  The church in Antioch helps the church in Jerusalem with support.  We are very familiar with this type of help having hurricanes and such in our region.  I’m excited to say the church to this day reaches out to help one another in such times.  It is a testimony of the church as it follows the example presented here in the early church.

The Message to the Gentiles - Acts 10

³⁴ Then Peter began to speak: “I now realize how true it is that God does not show favoritism ³⁵ but accepts from every nation the one who fears him and does what is right. ³⁶ You know the message God sent to the people of Israel, announcing the good news of peace through Jesus Christ, who is Lord of all. ³⁷ You know what has happened throughout the province of Judea, beginning in Galilee after the baptism that John preached— ³⁸ how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and power, and how he went around doing good and healing all who were under the power of the devil, because God was with him.

³⁹ “We are witnesses of everything he did in the country of the Jews and in Jerusalem. They killed him by hanging him on a cross, ⁴⁰ but God raised him from the dead on the third day and caused him to be seen.⁴¹ He was not seen by all the people, but by witnesses whom God had already chosen—by us who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead. ⁴² He commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that he is the one whom God appointed as judge of the living and the dead. ⁴³ All the prophets testify about him that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name.”

Peter says in the beginning here that he has figured out the vision he had been given and his purpose for being there.  God does not show favoritism but accepts those who fear Him and serve Him.  For Peter to say that, he has overcome everything he has been taught, aside from his time with Jesus, and is willing to continue to follow the Spirit above the world.  This is the essence of growing in the Spirit.  Following wherever He leads and re-learning priorities.  We must abandon the traditions of the world and the teaching of the world regarding who is important and what is valuable.  Peter has learned that all people are important and God values them enough to pass His message to them.

But consider the thought that God does not show favoritism.  Do we really believe that?  This tells us that God considers every single person as equally deserving of a chance to know Jesus and be saved.  Every single one.  The Pope, Billy Graham, Mary the mother of Jesus, Peter himself, Paul, Stephen, David, my mother, my brother, my sons, my wife, myself - all equal?  Yes.  Without God, all people are lost and God does not favor any particular person.  He might call them and have a great work for Him to do through them once they choose Him, but if any decide not to choose Him or answer that call, then God will call another. Everyone gets the same choice and no one is favored when they must personally decide if Jesus is real and if He is the Gift of God that came, died, and was resurrected.

A few aspects of his message:

1. We are witnesses.  Are you a witness for what Jesus has done in your life?  Do you have a testimony of God in your life?  
2. Jesus was resurrected.  There isn’t a single gospel message in Acts that omits this fact. This has been foretold.  
3. The prophets all testify about Him.  This is a plan of God for people. 
4. Everyone who believes receives forgiveness through Jesus.  This is the Good News to all people.

It’s a simple message format that we can replicate.  Jesus physically lived.  He died.  He has risen.  Whoever believes in Him will receive remission of sins. …  That’s it. 

The Holy Spirit came to Cornelius and all who heard the message.  All of his family and close friends all receive the Spirit.  Peter and the other believers are astonished that God has poured Himself into these Gentiles.  But, Peter is quick to acknowledge that they should not stand in the way of their baptism. 

This conversion is about a man following God very closely and overcoming traditions and teachings to pass along the gospel to people he had been told his whole life not to associate with.  It is also about God ‘s clear intention to reach out to everyone who will believe that He is the only God and Jesus is the Way.  The Message is for all people of all time in all places. 

Because of the great barrier between the Jews and the Gentiles, this is going to be really hard for the Jews to accept.  They are not going to believe the Message is for the Gentiles even though Jesus told them that it was.  

Do you believe that the Message is for everyone?  What about the homeless person?  What about the person who is against you at work?  What about the bi-, tri-, pan-, or who knows what else sexually confused person?  What about the person in prison?  Is the Good News of Christ for them too?  If any part of you has doubt, then you need to pray earnestly for God to clean your heart and mind so you can follow Him correctly.

Following God to places we Don't Want to Go - Acts 10

The next day Peter started out with them, and some of the believers from Joppa went along. ²⁴ The following day he arrived in Caesarea. Cornelius was expecting them and had called together his relatives and close friends. ²⁵ As Peter entered the house, Cornelius met him and fell at his feet in reverence. ²⁶ But Peter made him get up. “Stand up,” he said, “I am only a man myself.”

It’s hard not to like Peter’s reaction to this man of influence, this centurion, who falls on his knees.  In fact, I get the impression he is quick to lift him up.  What a great humble response for someone God is using mightily to heal and even raise people from the dead! 

Why do you think some believers went along with Peter?  Was he scared and asked them?  Or were they curious at the simultaneous leading of the Spirit of Peter to go and wanted to help or watch God work a new miracle?  Maybe it was just encouragement and prayers for Peter.

Cornelius had such a respect for the way he had been asked to send for Peter and hear his message that he has his whole family with him and his close friends.  Whatever message this is, it must be a significant one and he so loves all of them that he wants them all to hear it.  Do we love our families and close friends that much?

²⁷ While talking with him, Peter went inside and found a large gathering of people. ²⁸ He said to them: “You are well aware that it is against our law for a Jew to associate with or visit a Gentile. But God has shown me that I should not call anyone impure or unclean. ²⁹ So when I was sent for, I came without raising any objection. May I ask why you sent for me?”

³⁰ Cornelius answered: “Three days ago I was in my house praying at this hour, at three in the afternoon. Suddenly a man in shining clothes stood before me ³¹ and said, ‘Cornelius, God has heard your prayer and remembered your gifts to the poor. ³² Send to Joppa for Simon who is called Peter. He is a guest in the home of Simon the tanner, who lives by the sea.’ ³³ So I sent for you immediately, and it was good of you to come. Now we are all here in the presence of God to listen to everything the Lord has commanded you to tell us.”

Peter’s first words must have been insulting to those in the home.  He is basically saying, “I’m only here because God told me to come.  I’m not supposed to associate with you people.  You are unclean and impure.”  I think most people would consider that offensive.  Cornelius’s servants and maybe his wife had certainly cleaned the home and prepared it for Peter’s arrival and the first thing he says is you people are dirty.   

Was it against the Jewish law for a Jew to associate with a Gentile?  No.  There is no written law.  It was the religious custom however, not to do so.  The understanding was that all Gentiles were idol worshippers and would corrupt a Jew.  Therefore, have nothing to do with them and do not lend yourself to corruption.  Gentiles were considered 2^nd class citizens of the world to Jews.  They are unholy.  One prominent teacher at that time said of gentiles, “The best of gentiles kill it, the best of snakes cut its head, the most pious of women is prone to sorcery.”  This extreme position could have been because of the strong persecution of the Romans over them during this time.  However, it is important for all who reads this to understand how much Peter is having to overcome of what he has been taught since youth and his habits and experience have led him to know.  Yet, God is leading him to the house of a Gentile and HE FOLLOWS GOD EVEN THOUGH HE DOESN’T UNDERSTAND WHAT GOD IS DOING.  In fact, he probably disagrees with it.

Peter had been asked by Jesus, “Do you love Me?”  Peter had answered, “Lord, You know I do”.  Jesus had responded with the instruction, “Feed My sheep.”  Peter did not know and would not have conceived that the sheep extended beyond the people of Abraham.

We must thank God for His message that is for everyone.  Otherwise, we would be outcast today.  And we must be thankful for those who overcame all they understood to follow God and tell whoever would listen about the gift of Jesus and God's plan of salvation.  May we be willing to follow in their footsteps.

Surrendering What We Know - Acts 10

At Caesarea there was a man named Cornelius, a centurion in what was known as the Italian Regiment. ² He and all his family were devout and God-fearing; he gave generously to those in need and prayed to God regularly. ³ One day at about three in the afternoon he had a vision. He distinctly saw an angel of God, who came to him and said, “Cornelius!”

⁴ Cornelius stared at him in fear. “What is it, Lord?” he asked.

The angel answered, “Your prayers and gifts to the poor have come up as a memorial offering before God. ⁵ Now send men to Joppa to bring back a man named Simon who is called Peter. ⁶ He is staying with Simon the tanner, whose house is by the sea.”

⁷ When the angel who spoke to him had gone, Cornelius called two of his servants and a devout soldier who was one of his attendants. ⁸ He told them everything that had happened and sent them to Joppa.

Cornelius is a centurion.  He is a professional officer in the Roman military.  Centurions were to originally command 100 legionary soldiers, but that number varied over time.  Different Caesars changed that number and it could have been double.  In this day and time, that is a formidable local force.  

The previous mention of a centurion is with Jesus in Matthew 8:5-13.  ⁵ When Jesus had entered Capernaum, a centurion came to him, asking for help. ⁶ “Lord,” he said, “my servant lies at home paralyzed, suffering terribly.”

⁷ Jesus said to him, “Shall I come and heal him?”

⁸ The centurion replied, “Lord, I do not deserve to have you come under my roof. But just say the word, and my servant will be healed. ⁹ For I myself am a man under authority, with soldiers under me. I tell this one, ‘Go,’ and he goes; and that one, ‘Come,’ and he comes. I say to my servant, ‘Do this,’ and he does it.”

¹⁰ When Jesus heard this, he was amazed and said to those following him, “Truly I tell you, I have not found anyone in Israel with such great faith. ¹¹ I say to you that many will come from the east and the west, and will take their places at the feast with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven. ¹² But the subjects of the kingdom will be thrown outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”

¹³ Then Jesus said to the centurion, “Go! Let it be done just as you believed it would.” And his servant was healed at that moment.

Jesus indicated that this particular centurion, this Gentile, had more faith than anyone He had encountered in Israel, among God’s chosen people.  This would have been a terrible insult to the people of Israel and to His own disciples.  Surely Peter was there at the time Jesus spoke those words, yet now it is Peter who has more faith and will lead the centurion Cornelius.

Jesus foretold that Gentiles would be saved.  Cornelius is considered to be the first of the “many who will come from the east and the west”.  An important aspect of this is that God has to overcome Peter before His Message can reach Cornelius.  

We are too often the same as Peter.  We know the truth, but we are unwilling to offer it to someone who has hurt us previously; we don't want to speak to those who hate us; we don't want to be around those that make us uncomfortable.  Often, that doesn't even include teaching the gospel message, but being a Godly character person and letting His Spirit be more than our own in a moment or in moments.  Peter had to surrender what he knew and had been taught by society to follow the Spirit and do God's will, we should be willing to do the same.

Peter Raises a Woman from the Dead - Acts 9

³² As Peter traveled about the country, he went to visit the Lord’s people who lived in Lydda. ³³ There he found a man named Aeneas, who was paralyzed and had been bedridden for eight years. ³⁴ “Aeneas,” Peter said to him, “Jesus Christ heals you. Get up and roll up your mat.” Immediately Aeneas got up. ³⁵ All those who lived in Lydda and Sharon saw him and turned to the Lord.

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⁴⁰ Peter sent them all out of the room; then he got down on his knees and prayed. Turning toward the dead woman, he said, “Tabitha, get up.” She opened her eyes, and seeing Peter she sat up. ⁴¹ He took her by the hand and helped her to her feet. Then he called for the believers, especially the widows, and presented her to them alive. ⁴² This became known all over Joppa, and many people believed in the Lord. ⁴³ Peter stayed in Joppa for some time with a tanner named Simon.

The healing miracle of Aeneas has the effect of all in Lydda and Sharon turning to the Lord.  Everything the apostles are doing is for the glory of Jesus and to magnify His name.  To witness for Him.  Peter specifically says to the paralytic, “Jesus Christ heals you.”  This is done for the witness and testifying of Jesus and who He is.  

A note about Tabitha is that she helped the poor.  In chapter 10, we will read something similar about Cornelius.  This is used to show that the person was not selfish but sacrificed for others and had a sincere heart for others.  Unlike Saul, who breathed murderous threats and sought to persecute people, Tabitha was enduring and kind.  It is a stark contrast.  Yet both had to be brought to life.  One spiritual and one physical.  Both type of resurrections can be done by Jesus.

Peter is at a different level of living in the Holy Spirit than perhaps anyone in the history of the church.  He is able to walk so closely with God that Jesus is doing miracles through his hands and at his words.  Peter is following Jesus and Jesus is doing the same type of miracles He did when He was physically walking with Peter through Peter.  Jesus heals a man who is paralyzed through Peter.  And Jesus raises another person from the dead through Peter.  A lot is made of Jesus raising Lazarus from the dead, but this is more significant to me.  Jesus uses a person, a person who has sinned but is saved through belief in Him, to raise someone from the dead. 

Oh, how we are so far from living like this today!  We are so far removed from this type of walking with God that I’m not sure we know how to get there anymore.  The church truly needs a revival and a renewance to find this type of living once again among the body of believers and to be able to teach leaders how to follow Jesus in this way.

Many believe we live in a time when such signs are unnecessary because we have the Word of God.  At that time they didn’t have the Word of God so sign gifts were very important to show that the power of God was with the believers.  Today the Word of God is with believers and that is the power of God.  I have not been shown that this is true.  In books of martyrs and/or missionaries they give accounts of miracles of escaping prisons and such.  I believe that should a person so completely believe that Jesus is God and they are able to completely shed all of their life to only live where He leads that such a person might be able, if God directs to be used as these believers were with miraculous signs and wonders. 

It is incumbent upon the church to pray for closeness to the Holy Spirit; that all obstacles and obstructions be cleared so they can follow His leading and do His work.

Saul - Acts 9

³ As he neared Damascus on his journey, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him. ⁴ He fell to the ground and heard a voice say to him, “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?”

⁵ “Who are you, Lord?” Saul asked.

“I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting,” he replied. ⁶ “Now get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.” - Acts 9:3-6

After the stoning of Stephen, the church went underground and spread to surrounding areas.  Saul is intent on rooting them out and crushing them.  Saul is very diligent and intense about his persecution of the church and the high priest are eager to support him in his efforts.  

There was just one problem that Saul didn’t know, Jesus is real and He is Lord.

Jesus confronts Saul with Himself.  And it is all the confrontation Saul needs to become a new believer.  Everyone will eventually kneel before Jesus and proclaim Him as Lord, it's just a matter of when.  The best time to do that is now.  I urge anyone and everyone not to wait until they have no choice but to realize it and they have chosen a forever without Him.  

Saul has been a man in high regards with the highest council in Jerusalem.  Now, he is a humble man, face in the dirt, kneeling before Jesus.  We all either have been or will be in the same position one day.  When it is your turn, do it gladly, loving the Lord, eager to serve and proclaim His Kingship.

The NIV Bible version leaves out a phrase that the KJV and others have in this conversation.  In verse 5, other versions add, “it is hard for you to kick against the pricks” or “it is hard for you to kick against the goads.”  Jesus took control of Saul and let him know his rebellion against God was a losing battle. Saul’s actions were as senseless as an ox kicking “against the goads.” Saul had passion and sincerity in his fight against Christianity, but he was not heading in the direction God wanted him to go. Jesus was going to goad (“direct” or “steer”) Saul in the right direction.

Many theologians believe Saul had already figured out that Jesus was the Messiah because he was so learned in the law.  He knew the ancient texts.  He had heard the gospel from Peter, John, and Stephen.  He just wasn’t willing to accept it, but he might have been under some conviction already that it was likely true and he was angry about it.  He, like all the Pharisees, had an expectation of how and what the Messiah was to be and Jesus wasn’t that expectation.  So, he kicked against it until he was confronted with Jesus directly.

There is a powerful lesson in the ancient Greek proverb. We, too, find it hard to kick against the goads.  Solomon wrote, “Stern discipline awaits him who leaves the path” (Proverbs 15:10).  When we choose to disobey God, we become like the rebellious ox—driving the goad deeper and deeper.  “The way of the unfaithful is hard” (Proverbs 13:15).  How much better to heed God’s voice, to listen to the urgings of His Word!  By resisting God’s authority, we are only punishing ourselves.

Saul lost his religion that day and gained salvation.  In Philippians 3 Paul writes that he counts all of the religion that he had as worthless.  He was working hard for his salvation within the theocracy he had been born into prior to this moment.  It is when he is confronted by Jesus that all that gets put into its proper place.

Saul was a sinner from the crown of his head to the heels of his feet.  Just like all of us are.  All of his religion and previous actions were of no value.  His new life would start at this moment.  He is a great example of becoming a new creature.  This wasn’t just an emotion high moment and Saul remained Saul.  He was forever changed in this instant.

The Scattered & Underground Church - Following the Spirit - Acts 8

⁴ Those who had been scattered preached the word wherever they went.⁵ Philip went down to a city in Samaria and proclaimed the Messiah there. ⁶ When the crowds heard Philip and saw the signs he performed, they all paid close attention to what he said. ⁷ For with shrieks, impure spirits came out of many, and many who were paralyzed or lame were healed. ⁸ So there was great joy in that city. -Acts 8:4-8

From someone in the church at that time, this must have seemed like a disaster.  The church is being scattered through persecution.  I can imagine the burdened prayers going up to God praying for God to save their church.  Was God answering that prayer?  Yes.  But, unless the church was filled with the Spirit, they would not have known God was answering that prayer and just accepted it.  They would have been in despair believing the church was being crushed and living in fear. 

When things happen at our church or in our lives today, do we react confidently in the Spirit or in fear?  We had this homeless debate among the whole church some time ago in our community.  Were people working in the Spirit or in fear?  This is a difficult thing for the members of the church because people don’t have signs over them that let you know if they are walking in the Spirit or in fear.  I believe half the church was in fear and the other half in the Spirit.  The result was confusion and a bunch of unhappy people.  The church has to be of one accord, all in the Spirit.  When it is, it becomes dynamic in all areas.

I believe that the church is afraid to pray for the Holy Spirit.  We are afraid that the Spirit will come in and change everything.  We won’t have control of our church anymore.  It won’t be ours.  The church isn’t supposed to be ours!  It is the body of Christ!  We are members of His body.  He is the head; He determines the direction; we follow Him as the body.  Jesus used persecution to grow the first church while they followed Him through the Spirit.  What will happen to our churches today if we become filled with the Spirit and follow Him?  We don’t know, but we need to learn to trust God completely and turn the control of the church over to Him.  Otherwise, we need to go fishing on Sunday, we are wasting our time in this social club.

What would happen in our lives if we would pray for the Holy Spirit to fill us and we would follow His leading?  People are afraid they will lose their life!!  They might not get to do what they want to do.  They don't want to be seen as a fanatic.  I believe they have made their choice.  They choose the world.  They choose themselves as their own god.  If you claim to be a Christian, it's time to pray for the Holy Spirit to fill you and become alive again!

The people of this first church are scattering to surrounding areas.  Yet, God is using this to spread the gospel.  Those who scattered preached the gospel wherever they went.  Do we do that today?  Is this true of the church members in our church?  During the week, do you preach the gospel?  Or do you hope that nobody can figure out that you’re a Christian?

Approving Murder - Acts 8

And Saul approved of their killing him. - Acts 8:1

This is such a damning statement.  This is an accountability statement.  If you have an accountability partner, someone who will hold you accountable to live the Christian life and pray for you, but who is willing to tell you directly when you don’t live correctly, this is the type of statement you should be getting when you mess up.  They tell you what you did, then they tell you that you approve of it.  Such a thing will cut your heart out and cause you pain, but it is necessary to hopefully cause you to repent and turn back to God.  This statement is like that.  Saul approved the killing of Stephen.  He approved murder.

There is no subjection in Saul here, it was the good duty to perform and he approved the stoning of Stephen.  Paul addresses this in 1 Timothy 1:12-17:

¹² I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has given me strength, that He considered me trustworthy, appointing me to His service. ¹³ Even though I was once a blasphemer and a persecutor and a violent man, I was shown mercy because I acted in ignorance and unbelief. ¹⁴ The grace of our Lord was poured out on me abundantly, along with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus.

¹⁵ Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners—of whom I am the worst.¹⁶ But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his immense patience as an example for those who would believe in Him and receive eternal life.¹⁷ Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory for ever and ever. Amen.

Saul’s description of himself is that he was a blasphemer, yet he killed Stephen for blasphemy.  How can he have been a blasphemer?  It is because once he met Jesus, he realized all the things he said that were against the living Christ.  It was he and the Sanhedrin who were the blasphemers, not the apostles and first church who were proclaiming the gospel.  He was a persecutor and a violent man.  Yes, we have an written record in Stephen, but I’m sure there were many more.

But, even so, Jesus poured His grace upon him.  He came to save sinners.  That was His purpose.  Of all the sinners, Saul says he was the chief, the worst.  How could he feel differently?  He had pursued believers, convicted believers, oversaw the death of believers, and approved all of it.  He had killed the very people who were preaching the gospel and who were full of the Holy Spirit. The same people who would later befriend him, protect him, and encourage him.

The fact that Saul did so much AFTER his salvation is amazing and should be a testament to us about how God can use us even after we have sinned.  We are not good for nothing just because we sinned and were lost.  Once we’ve repented and turned back to God, God has a purpose for us.  It is incumbent upon us to follow Him closely, like Saul did.  To love Him forever, for His grace, and to be grateful forever, for His mercy.  We are not lost because we sin, but we are lost if we don’t seek repentance before our Savior, Jesus.  Repentance is not seeking God on our terms, but on His.

Paul also understood that everything he was before being saved was worthless.  He said in Philippians 3:4-9, If someone else thinks they have reasons to put confidence in the flesh, I have more: ⁵ circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; in regard to the law, a Pharisee; ⁶ as for zeal, persecuting the church; as for righteousness based on the law, faultless.

⁷ But whatever were gains to me I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. ⁸ What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ ⁹and be found in Him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ—the righteousness that comes from God on the basis of faith.

Paul lists seven reasons why the world would consider him noteworthy, a person of value, a person to be respected.  All the single ladies wanted him for a husband.  He was in the news and received awards and honors for being a person of honor.  He would have had the most followers on Twitter and Instagram.  He was that guy.  Yet, he considers all of that he was as a natural man garbage, good for nothing as it was apart from Jesus.  It was worthless because the worth or value of Jesus is so great that any thing we can do as humans is so small by comparison that it is of no value, infinitesimal, not worth counting. 

Saul would have probably been able to do a good job of convincing people that all that he was doing was for the benefit of others.  His work was a good work.  As sinners, we can justify any action.  I am sure he was able to justify the murder of Stephen and the persecution of others.  Yet every "good" action he believed he was doing for everyone else, he later saw as of no value.  

Today, we would do well to have this same understanding.  Whatever we knew or were before we knew Jesus is of no value.  Whatever we do now without Jesus or without following the Spirit is worthless and of no value.  There is no pride or accomplishment to be had except being used by God as we follow His guidance to act and speak His message and care for people He loves.  Preaching and teaching the gospel message is the greatest act of love for others. 

Stephen - A Pure Heart - Acts 6

⁸ Now Stephen, a man full of God’s grace and power, performed great wonders and signs among the people. ⁹ Opposition arose, however, from members of the Synagogue of the Freedmen (as it was called)—Jews of Cyrene and Alexandria as well as the provinces of Cilicia and Asia—who began to argue with Stephen. ¹⁰ But they could not stand up against the wisdom the Spirit gave him as he spoke.

(The Synagogue of the Freedman is considered to be a Greek speaking Jewish synagogue in Jerusalem.  These would be Hellenistic Jews that were not converted to the faith.  Some think that this could have been a synagogue of Jews who had formerly been in captivity or slaves in other parts of the world who united into a synagogue, but it might just have been Jews that had lived in other parts of the world and who spoke Greek.  Evidence of a 1^st century Greek speaking synagogue was discovered by Archaeologists.)

Note that the frustration is that the wisdom from the Spirit through Stephen is too much to overcome.  Rather than accept the truth, they choose to destroy.  This is always the first effort of Satan.  Remove the Word of God so truth can’t be heard.  He always misquotes God for his own benefit, then works to remove the Words of God altogether and replace them with confusion and lies (often man's wisdom is enough).

¹¹ Then they secretly persuaded some men to say, “We have heard Stephen speak blasphemous words against Moses and against God.”

¹² So they stirred up the people and the elders and the teachers of the law. They seized Stephen and brought him before the Sanhedrin. ¹³ They produced false witnesses, who testified, “This fellow never stops speaking against this holy place and against the law. ¹⁴ For we have heard him say that this Jesus of Nazareth will destroy this place and change the customs Moses handed down to us.”

¹⁵ All who were sitting in the Sanhedrin looked intently at Stephen, and they saw that his face was like the face of an angel.

What do they do since they can’t overcome the truth?  They replace it with lies.  They did the same to Jesus.  They brought false witnesses against Him. 

Something different happens here than had happened to Peter, John or the other apostles.  Stephen’s face is different.  I don’t know what they saw, but I assume they saw a man who appeared as a type of glowing grace, peaceful and blameless, with confidence in his eyes.  We must remember that Stephen was a man full of God’s grace and power and had performed great wonders and signs (v8), just as the apostles were doing, yet he wasn’t one of the Twelve.

We all often know when looking at people when they are guilty or lying.  I imagine that everyone was looking intently at him and only saw an innocent man who spoke the truth.  And the false witnesses would have appeared quite the opposite by comparison.  This is a way of saying, the Sanhedrin saw no fault in him.

The Scriptures tell us that God looks upon our heart.  He knows when we are living in a lie and confusion or when we are living in His truth, Jesus.

When God look upon your heart, are you peaceful and blameless as Stephen was, full of the Holy Spirit?  Or, do you look quite the opposite?

Repent and be at peace with God today.  Start following His Word and not your own today.

Are You Counted Worthy to Suffer? - Acts 5

⁴¹ The apostles left the Sanhedrin, rejoicing because they had been counted worthy of suffering disgrace for the Name. ⁴² Day after day, in the temple courts and from house to house, they never stopped teaching and proclaiming the good news that Jesus is the Messiah. - Acts 5:41-42

How often do we consider being persecuted a reason for celebration?  I do not believe that I have ever felt that way.  This tells me that there is something wrong with my heart.  We should be joyous when someone rejects us for standing on God’s Word.  Just as Christ was rejected by His own people, we are rejected on account of Jesus.  While it is very difficult not be defeated for such a thing, rejoice just as the apostles did, because you have “been counted worthy of suffering disgrace for the Name”.  At least it is clear to Whom you belong.

Are we counted worthy to suffer today?  How about yesterday?  What about tomorrow?

Has following Jesus and His Word cost you anything?

Do you rejoice when you are counted worthy to suffer disgrace as a follower of Jesus?  

Persecution - Acts 5

²⁷ The apostles were brought in and made to appear before the Sanhedrin to be questioned by the high priest. ²⁸ “We gave you strict orders not to teach in this name,” he said. “Yet you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching and are determined to make us guilty of this man’s blood.”

²⁹ Peter and the other apostles replied: “We must obey God rather than human beings! ³⁰ The God of our ancestors raised Jesus from the dead—whom you killed by hanging him on a cross. ³¹ God exalted him to his own right hand as Prince and Savior that he might bring Israel to repentance and forgive their sins. ³² We are witnesses of these things, and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey him.” - Acts 5:27-32

Peter and John have already been through this once before.  Peter and John had been told to not preach the gospel anymore.  This time it is all the apostles who are brought in after miraculously being brought out of jail during the night and who were found preaching the gospel in the temple courts.

The first time Peter and John responded asking the Sanhedrin a question, “But Peter and John replied, 'Which is right in God’s eyes: to listen to you, or to him? You be the judges!  As for us, we cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard.' (Acts 4:19-20).”  This time, they answer the question for the Sanhedrin.  "We must obey God rather than human beings."  

Each time Peter preaches the gospel message and the counsel members are unwilling to receive it. 

For me, an interesting human occurrence is happening.  Both sides believe they are doing the right thing for the same God.  The apostles believe they are following God’s directions through the divine intervention of the Holy Spirit.  The Sanhedrin believe they are doing the right thing in following their interpretation of God’s law and protecting the society and traditional church.

The difference here, to me, is actions.  God is with the apostles and it is evidenced by what is happening around them.  The first time they were brought to the Sanhedrin they had healed a lame man who had been that way since birth.  Now, there are many signs, wonder, and healings surrounding what they are doing.  People are bringing all the sick to them for healing.  A miraculous jail break has occurred under the authority of the Sanhedrin.

On the Sanhedrin side of things, nothing of note has occurred.  There are no spectacular or wondrous events happening.  

The sin here is idol worship.  The Sanhedrin idolize their own goodliness and value their intelligence and “clean” walk according to the laws.  They believe that because of THEIR actions they are more important and valuable than others.  If any of us humans ever believe that we are not the same humans as everyone else, but better in some way, then we must believe that somehow, we are gods, a partial god, or a super hero of some kind.  I sincerely doubt anyone ever thinks of themselves in this way, but it is their reality.  Either way, it is idol worship.

This is the original sin and the root of all sin, to be like God.  “’You will not certainly die,’ the serpent said to the woman.  ^‘For God knows that when you eat from it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.’” (Genesis 3:4-5).  The Sanhedrin believed they knew good and evil, but they did not see that they were evil and only God is good.  Jesus taught this.  A young ruler called Him “good teacher” while asking a question.  Jesus responded saying, “’Why do you call me good?’ Jesus answered. ‘No one is good—except God alone.’” (Luke 18:19).

If we believe we are good, then we are as evil as the Sanhedrin.  We are sinners and if God wasn’t in our life we’d be sinning for our own benefit even now.  We are men and women and we are sinners.  God is Lord and we are not.  We are dependent upon His mercy to love us and His grace so provide a way to Him, and that way is Jesus.

Isaiah wrote (30:1) “’Woe to the rebellious children,’ says the Lord, ‘Who take counsel, but not of Me, and who devise plans, but not of My Spirit, that they may add sin to sin … (9-10) this is a rebellious people, lying children, children who will not hear the law of the Lord; who say to the seers, “Do not see,” and to the prophets, “Do not prophesy to us right things; Speak to us smooth things, prophesy deceits.’”

The Sanhedrin is taking counsel, but with one another.  They make plans, but apart from the Holy Spirit.  We are told multiple times that the apostles have the Holy Spirit upon them.  They are making plans in accordance with the Holy Spirit.  The Sanhedrin is telling the prophets, the ones performing signs, healing people, and proclaiming witness to Jesus to not speak the truth.  They fit the description from Isaiah of rebellious children, devising plans, and not hearing the law of the Lord.

((On a person note: Such things happen in relationships.  Two different sides with both sides thinking they are correct.  Often, both sides think they are spiritually right.  It causes very difficult circumstances.  However, it seems like it is possible to look at the spiritual walk of people at least somewhat.  We will never truly know their heart, but what they take pride in, what they value on social media, and what their actions are help us to "see" or figure out who is following God and who is following themselves.  Answering questions such as, How has the Spirit of God led you to do (name an action they have done)" is very helpful when trying to resolve if someone is following their own actions or not.  This type of question is also very helpful when doing analysis on your own actions.))