Acts 3:11-26, Peter Speaks in the Temple

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…

Acts 3:1-10, Peter and John Heal a Lame Man

The time of prayer was about three o'clock in the afternoon, and Peter and John were going into the temple.  A man who had been born lame was being carried to the temple door. Each day he was placed beside this door, known as the Beautiful Gate. He sat there and begged from the people who were going in.


The man saw Peter and John entering the temple, and he asked them for money. But they looked straight at him and said, "Look up at us!"


The man stared at them and thought he was going to get something. But Peter said, "I don't have any silver or gold! But I will give you what I do have. In the name of Jesus Christ from Nazareth, get up and start walking." Peter then took him by the right hand and helped him up.


At once the man's feet and ankles became strong, and he jumped up and started walking. He went with Peter and John into the temple, walking and jumping and praising God. Everyone saw him walking around and praising God. They knew that he was the beggar who had been lying beside the Beautiful Gate, and they were completely surprised. They could not imagine what had happened to the man.

I remember a person telling me once “I don’t witness…I’d set the kingdom back 20 years!” We all recognize that for what it is. He doesn’t want to do it. Not so with Peter and John. Once they were filled with the Holy Spirit their lives seemed to be on autopilot. They did and said things they would never have imagined. I’m not even sure I’d call it obedience. Obedience implies alternative choices.

I don’t think what we see in Peter and John is “choice”. I think its reflex… an involuntary and nearly instantaneous movement in response to a stimulus (the Holy Spirit). It’s a sure sign of how fully we are surrendering to the Spirit.

I’ve wanted to say it many times…“In the name of Jesus Christ from Nazareth, get up and start walking." But it’s so risky. Most of the time I convince myself I’d only be embarrassing myself and putting God on the spot. And, of course, nobody gets up and walks.

Can you imagine the conversation?
“I don’t know, Peter…do you think God wants us to say that?”
“ John…dude! I can do this…I walked on water!”
“Not exactly Peter…you were soaked when you got back in the boat.”
“But…I think Jesus would have…”

And then the opportunity is gone…

I think one of the things that make life in the Spirit so powerful is its reflexive nature. The Divine impulse isn’t watered down or compromised by human reason. Flash! Bang! It’s done. And wow! Can you believe what just happened?

When was the last time our mouths were agape at what we just saw the Holy Spirit do through us? That should tell we the last time we were filled with the Spirit.

Do we want people to walk? Fine. We can be careful about it, analyze how best to approach the situation…or we could open our mouths. I know, it scares me too.

Live boldly out there today…

Acts 2:43-47, Life among the Lord's Followers

 ⁴³Everyone was amazed by the many miracles and wonders that the apostles worked. ⁴⁴All the Lord's followers often met together, and they shared everything they had. ⁴⁵They would sell their property and possessions and give the money to whoever needed it. ⁴⁶Day after day they met together in the temple. They broke bread ^[d] together in different homes and shared their food happily and freely, ⁴⁷while praising God. Everyone liked them, and each day the Lord added to their group others who were being saved.

The Holy Spirit wants all of us…every nook and cranny…every insignificant detail. This is how he works. And, the evidence is clear as we continue to see the results of the Holy Spirit empowering the disciples.

First it was Pentecost, accompanied by undeniable natural power (fire, wind and tongues). Next, it was Peter’s sermon saturated with unbelievable spiritual power (3,000 people saved). Today we witness a personal transformation that is just as amazing.

The world is filled with reluctant servants…who comply only because the situation demands it. They are not happy people but they get by. Many people view the Christian life this way. It’s not what they want to do but…they know who the boss is.

It’s quite another thing to find a life that has been transformed to the point it loves everything about servant hood.  When we see it…it’s a mark of the Holy Spirit. We see it here with the first church. As their daily lives began to take shape a remarkable personality shift became evident. The focus among the believers shifted from personal needs (always our default position) to communal needs (always God’s default position).  But, that’s not what’s amazing. Most amazing is the attitude with which this change occurred. They sacrificed freely and happily…

Occasionally I can sacrifice freely and happily. Most often I feel diminished. I’m best at it when people tell me how wonderful I am for doing it. When the Holy Spirit is behind it we quit paying attention and just enjoy it. After all, we don’t need to keep score. The outcome is already settled.

Live boldly out there today…

Acts 2:14-42, Peter explains to the Crowd

¹⁴Peter stood with the eleven apostles and spoke in a loud and clear voice to the crowd:

   Friends and everyone else living in Jerusalem, listen carefully to what I have to say! ¹⁵You are wrong to think that these people are drunk. After all, it is only nine o'clock in the morning. ¹⁶But this is what God had the prophet Joel say,

 ¹⁷"When the last days come, I will give my Spirit to everyone. Your sons and daughters will prophesy. Your young men will see visions, and your old men will have dreams.  ¹⁸In those days I will give my Spirit to my servants, both men and women, and they will prophesy.  ¹⁹I will work miracles in the sky above and wonders on the earth below. There will be blood and fire and clouds of smoke.  ²⁰The sun will turn dark and the moon will be as red as blood before the great and wonderful day of the Lord appears.   ²¹Then the Lord will save everyone who asks for his help."

 ²²Now, listen to what I have to say about Jesus from Nazareth. God proved that he sent Jesus to you by having him work miracles, wonders, and signs. All of you know this. ²³God had already planned and decided that Jesus would be handed over to you. So you took him and had evil men put him to death on a cross. ²⁴But God set him free from death and raised him to life. Death could not hold him in its power. ²⁵What David said are really the words of Jesus,

  

 "I always see the Lord near me, and I will not be afraid with him at my right side.  ²⁶Because of this, my heart will be glad, my words will be joyful, and I will live in hope.  ²⁷The Lord won't leave me in the grave. I am his holy one, and he won't let my body decay.  ²⁸He has shown me the path to life, and he makes me glad by being near me."

 ²⁹My friends, it is right for me to speak to you about our ancestor David. He died and was buried, and his tomb is still here. ³⁰But David was a prophet, and he knew that God had made a promise he would not break. He had told David that someone from his own family would someday be king.

    ³¹David knew this would happen, and so he told us that Christ would be raised to life. He said that God would not leave him in the grave or let his body decay. ³²All of us can tell you that God has raised Jesus to life!

    ³³Jesus was taken up to sit at the right side ^[b] of God, and he was given the Holy Spirit, just as the Father had promised. Jesus is also the one who has given the Spirit to us, and that is what you are now seeing and hearing. ³⁴David didn't go up to heaven. So he wasn't talking about himself when he said, "The Lord told my Lord to sit at his right side, ³⁵until he made my Lord's enemies into a footstool for him." ³⁶Everyone in Israel should then know for certain that God has made Jesus both Lord and Christ, even though you put him to death on a cross.

    ³⁷When the people heard this, they were very upset. They asked Peter and the other apostles, "Friends, what shall we do?"

    ³⁸Peter said, "Turn back to God! Be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ, so that your sins will be forgiven. Then you will be given the Holy Spirit. ³⁹This promise is for you and your children. It is for everyone our Lord God will choose, no matter where they live."

    ⁴⁰Peter told them many other things as well. Then he said, "I beg you to save yourselves from what will happen to all these evil people." ⁴¹On that day about three thousand believed his message and were baptized. ⁴²They spent their time learning from the apostles, and they were like family to each other. They also broke bread ^[c] and prayed together.

I like Peter's explanation..."you're wrong...we're not drunk".

Then, he immediately credited the source. “This is what God had the prophet Joel say: "When the last days come, I will give my Spirit to everyone". Neither God nor Peter wanted this phenomenon to be recorded in history as evidence of “El Nino”.  This was, unmistakably, God.

God isn’t into ostentatious displays of power…for power’s sake. This was leading somewhere. I think we know where. When all the pieces were in place…the power, the disciples, the Holy Spirit, and Jesus Christ…a context was created that was undeniably clear:

It’s all about Jesus…

And then…another power…more amazing than natural authority over wind and fire showed up. 3,000 people believed and were saved and baptized.  This doesn’t happen without some help. God just demonstrated his power over the human spirit.

And we know it was God. As precise as Peter was, I've read this sermon several times and it's not particularly compelling to me. In fact, it feels more like a lecture. He's wasn't exactly Ravi Zacharias. But that wasn’t the point. Paul says in Romans "I am not ashamed of the Gospel of Christ for it is the power of God unto salvation." When the Holy Spirit does stuff the results are inexplicable.

So here's the first practical evidence of the Holy Spirit's presence in Peter's life. The listeners were convicted. They asked Peter and the other apostles, "Friends, what shall we do?"  How does this constitute evidence? Simple...Jesus told us in John 14 that the Holy Spirit convicts us of sin. Here we have it.

So, we learn that when we allow the Holy Spirit free reign in our lives profound things happen. Not only does nature bow to the Holy Spirit, but so does the human heart. I want it. I pray for it. It doesn't always happen. That’s hardly the Spirit's fault. He can only work with what I give him.

It's a choice we make every day.

Live boldly out there today...

Acts 2:1-13, The Holy Spirit comes at Pentacost

1 When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. 2 Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. 3 They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. 4 All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them. 5 Now there were staying in Jerusalem God-fearing Jews from every nation under heaven. 6 When they heard this sound, a crowd came together in bewilderment, because each one heard them speaking in his own language. 7 Utterly amazed, they asked: "Are not all these men who are speaking Galileans? 8 Then how is it that each of us hears them in his own native language? 9 Parthians, Medes and Elamites; residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, 10 Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya near Cyrene; visitors from Rome 11 (both Jews and converts to Judaism); Cretans and Arabs--we hear them declaring the wonders of God in our own tongues!" 12 Amazed and perplexed, they asked one another, "What does this mean?" 13 Some, however, made fun of them and said, "They have had too much wine. "

"They're drunk!"

So this is what the Good News of Jesus actually looks like when it is activated by Spirit-filled disciples? I think we can all agree this is a pretty superficial explanation. Which, of course, is nearly always the case when we're faced with situations we don't understand. We lose all sense of perspective.... 

But we have to admit...it was pretty amazing stuff. The real story is that God declared Himself  with a natural power rarely seen. Wind and fire and miraculous speech. I tried to learn Norwegian. I was a miserable failure. I should have let the Holy Spirit teach me.

He could have sent his Holy Spirit in a more subtle manner. Why didn't he? As my dad used to say in speech class, "the attention step is crucial. If you don't capture your audience there...you don't get them". Which was probably the point of God doing it this way. Either way, the power of the holy Spirit would have been there, but this way it was undeniable.

So this event is all about equating the holy Spirit with absolute power. Raw, natural power. The wind obeys. Fire obeys. Is there anything the Holy Spirit can't do?

Want to see it again? I do...or at least something similar. When the Holy Spirit manifests itself its both exciting and confusing. Like a sanctified Woodstock!

Live boldly out there today...

Acts 1:12-26, Matthias Chosen to Replace Judas

12 Then they returned to Jerusalem from the hill called the Mount of Olives, a Sabbath day's walk from the city. 13 When they arrived, they went upstairs to the room where they were staying. Those present were Peter, John, James and Andrew; Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew; James son of Alphaeus and Simon the Zealot, and Judas son of James. 14 They all joined together constantly in prayer, along with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brothers. 15 In those days Peter stood up among the believers (a group numbering about a hundred and twenty) 16 and said, "Brothers, the Scripture had to be fulfilled which the Holy Spirit spoke long ago through the mouth of David concerning Judas, who served as guide for those who arrested Jesus-- 17 he was one of our number and shared in this ministry." 18 (With the reward he got for his wickedness, Judas bought a field; there he fell headlong, his body burst open and all his intestines spilled out. 19 Everyone in Jerusalem heard about this, so they called that field in their language Akeldama, that is, Field of Blood.) 20 "For," said Peter, "it is written in the book of Psalms, " 'May his place be deserted; let there be no one to dwell in it,' and, " 'May another take his place of leadership.' 21 Therefore it is necessary to choose one of the men who have been with us the whole time the Lord Jesus went in and out among us, 22 beginning from John's baptism to the time when Jesus was taken up from us. For one of these must become a witness with us of his resurrection." 23 So they proposed two men: Joseph called Barsabbas (also known as Justus) and Matthias. 24 Then they prayed, "Lord, you know everyone's heart. Show us which of these two you have chosen 25 to take over this apostolic ministry, which Judas left to go where he belongs." 26 Then they cast lots, and the lot fell to Matthias; so he was added to the eleven apostles.
 
Would we say Matthias "won the lottery?" Good thing they were in an "upper room". My dad would have said "don't you dare bring those dice into my church!"

And...nobody would ever have heard of Matthias.
But, is it gambling if the Holy Spirit does it? Hardly...it's a "sure thing". So, if the Holy Spirit want me to win Powerball...?

I wonder how many angels can dance on the head of a pin...

OK, what's my point? Simply this. We tend to confuse strategy with tactics. In warfare, the "strategic" is essential (what "must" be accomplished to achieve our goal). The "tactical" is expedient (what "seems" to be an effective plan). If our strategy fails we lose the war. If our tactics fail we adapt and fight another day. Moshe Dayan lost 1,000 tanks on the first day of the "Six Day War" (1967). When asked how he suffered such casualties General Dayan responded "The first casualty of war is the plan. We were never able to execute our plan".

A war, by the way, which Israel won handily. I expect he changed tactics.

We tend to get confused about the distinction. We think Holy living is tactical (expedient) while establishing a "praise service" is a strategic (essential). We're curious about the "casting lots" tactic without remembering it was premised upon a critical strategy. Their goal was to appoint another disciple. The strategy was ingenious. In their own wisdom they could easily select another Judas. So...have God decide. They prayed "Lord, you know everyone's heart. Show us which of these two you have chosen".

Tell me how the Holy Spirit might have otherwise revealed God's will. "Eeny, meeny, miney, mo?" How is this substantively different from casting lots? The "godly" alternative is secret ballot I suppose. This is how our churches make every decision. It's nearly sacramental when the elders get together to vote.

Trust me...casting lots as a lot safer. I say this because I suspect Peter didn't want any hint of human influence in the result. Polling the disciples meant human preference would be insinuated into the process...bringing uncertainty to the result. Only God controls the "roll of the dice". If we are to make a difference we must be strategic thinkers (have God decide) with a tactical plan. Any plan that serves our strategy will be effective.

 
The Great Commission is our grand strategy...with four strategic pillars
"Lord, show me where you want me to go" ("I want you to go into all the world")

"Lord, show me what you want me to do"  ("I want you to make disciples")
"Lord, show me what you want me to say" ("I want you to tell them to obey me")
"Lord, show me how you want it done" ("I want my Spirit to do it through you")


What might a good tactical plan look like? I suggest that the life of Christ (as recounted in the Gospels)provides a great tactical roadmap for achieving this strategy. The Imitation of Christ (Thomas a' Kempis) is another great source. After all, if it worked for Jesus...

Then again, I've known saints who do little more than impede strategic ends. If we only live like Christ so we can feel better about ourselves we run the danger of being inconsequential...even harmful...to the grand strategy.  You know..."so heavenly minded we are of no earthly good"

The work is a strategic work. Unfortunately some folks simply cannot think strategically. We will always find folks eager to question our tactics...even condemn them at times. Don't listen to them. We evaluate our tactics in light of our strategy, not human opinion. The Holy Spirit is the only evaluator we need.

Live boldly out there today...

Acts 1:1-11, Jesus taken into Heaven

1 In my former book, Theophilus, I wrote about all that Jesus began to do and to teach 2 until the day he was taken up to heaven, after giving instructions through the Holy Spirit to the apostles he had chosen. 3 After his suffering, he showed himself to these men and gave many convincing proofs that he was alive. He appeared to them over a period of forty days and spoke about the kingdom of God. 4 On one occasion, while he was eating with them, he gave them this command: "Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about. 5 For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit." 6 So when they met together, they asked him, "Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?" 7 He said to them: "It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority. 8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth." 9 After he said this, he was taken up before their very eyes, and a cloud hid him from their sight. 10 They were looking intently up into the sky as he was going, when suddenly two men dressed in white stood beside them. 11 "Men of Galilee," they said, "why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven."

After spending time with the Gospel (Good news of Jesus) we now have the opportunity to observe what it actually looks like when it is activated by Spirit-filled disciples. The "Acts of the Holy Spirit" is an historical application of the teachings of Christ. In this respect, it may be one of the most important of the 66 books.

And so, it all begins with this command: "Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about. For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit."  I think about the disclaimers in some automobile commercials... "professional driver on a closed course. Do not attempt this at home". In this same spirit Jesus is saying "don't even think about making disciples until I send you some help!"

I suggest we are given this injunction because we are neither smart enough nor talented enough without the Holy Spirit. This, of course is a huge "downer" because we love the notoriety that spiritual power brings. Unfortunately, these two...our ego and God's Spirit...cannot co-exist. As our ego increases spiritual power decreases.This injunction rarely prevents us from trying. We have countless Christians running around like whirling dervishes trying to emmulate the activities of the Holy Spirit without activating the power. They generally make a huge mess of things. Why is that? If we go back to the very beginning, God said "don't eat that". Almost reflexively, the devil said "really?" You and I have been trying to distinguish between these two voices ever since.

We understand the reason. The devil cannot countenance the use of heavenly power in his kingdom. Application of such power spells certain defeat for him. His only option is to fight us at every turn, Unless, of course, we launch out without the Holy Spirit's power. Then the devil gives us free reign because he knows the results will be dismal. Conversely, when we tune out Satan and tune in to the Holy Spirit the results are magical. "You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth."

And so, our lives have become the battleground for creation's two superpowers...God and Satan. The good news is God has implemented a "law of armed conflict" that prevents Satan from using a "scorched earth" policy intended to destroy us. The limit of Satan's influence is his ability to neutralize us.

Surely we can anticipate the question..."do our lives witness to the saving power of Jesus Christ or has the devil neutralized us? If so, we know the remedy.

Live boldly out there today...