While the man kept holding on to Peter and John, the whole crowd ran to them in amazement at the place known as Solomon's Porch. Peter saw that a crowd had gathered, and he said: Friends, why are you surprised at what has happened? Why are you staring at us? Do you think we have some power of our own? Do you think we were able to make this man walk because we are so religious? The God that Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and our other ancestors worshiped has brought honor to his Servant Jesus. He is the one you betrayed. You turned against him when he was being tried by Pilate, even though Pilate wanted to set him free. You rejected Jesus, who was holy and good. You asked for a murderer to be set free, and you killed the one who leads people to life. But God raised him from death, and all of us can tell you what he has done. You see this man, and you know him. He put his faith in the name of Jesus and was made strong. Faith in Jesus made this man completely well while everyone was watching.
My friends, I am sure that you and your leaders didn't know what you were doing. But God had his prophets tell that his Messiah would suffer, and now he has kept that promise. So turn to God! Give up your sins, and you will be forgiven. Then that time will come when the Lord will give you fresh strength. He will send you Jesus, his chosen Messiah. But Jesus must stay in heaven until God makes all things new, just as his holy prophets promised long ago.
Moses said, "The Lord your God will choose one of your own people to be a prophet, just as he chose me. Listen to everything he tells you. No one who disobeys that prophet will be one of God's people any longer."
Samuel and all the other prophets who came later also spoke about what is now happening. You are really the ones God told his prophets to speak to. And you were given the promise that God made to your ancestors. He said to Abraham, "All nations on earth will be blessed because of someone from your family." God sent his chosen Son to you first, because God wanted to bless you and make each one of you turn away from your sins.
Remember when the disciples wanted to stay on the mount of transfiguration? It was such a spiritual high that they didn’t want to lose it…as though staying was the answer. But, the real estate was irrelevant.
Often we respond the same way to Holy Spirit moments. We focus on the moment, as though that is the source of the power. We never want to leave. Have you been in worship services that you wished would never end? Exactly.
There are no Holy Spirit moments that exist for themselves. They exist to heal the relationship between God and man. Sometimes it’s about us and our heavenly Father. Other times it’s about unbelievers who need redemption. It’s never about “the moment”. That’s why Peter said “wait a minute…you don’t think this is about us, do you?”
Also…Holy Spirit moments are seldom preaching moments. Sometimes they are teaching moments. But, they are always healing moments. Peter understood that.
He did some teaching for the sake of clarity: “What you just witnessed was God…bringing honor to his Son Jesus. You shouldn’t be surprised. Samuel and all the other prophets spoke about this.”
He did a little bit of preaching for the sake of context: “Jesus is the one you betrayed. You turned against him…you rejected Jesus”
He offered a lot healing for the sake of Christ - “My friends, I am sure that you and your leaders didn't know what you were doing, but turn to God! Give up your sins, and you will be forgiven. Faith in Jesus made this man completely well while everyone was watching."
We know some folks listened. Others didn’t. Mostly, we know that results are not our responsibility. Some things the Holy Spirit keeps for himself. We are responsible however, to be the kind of people that make Holy Spirit moments possible…and then turn them into healing moments.
Live boldly out there today…
No comments:
Post a Comment