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The weird world of unbelief. Acts 4:15-20:

15 So they ordered them to withdraw from the Sanhedrin and then conferred together. 16 ‘What are we going to do with these men?’ they asked. ‘Everyone living in Jerusalem knows they have performed a notable sign, and we cannot deny it. 17 But to stop this thing from spreading any further among the people, we must warn them to speak no longer to anyone in this name.’18 Then they called them in again and commanded them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus. 19 But Peter and John replied, ‘Which is right in God’s eyes: to listen to you, or to him? You be the judges! 20 As for us, we cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard.’ NIV

A story is told about a man who was totally convinced that he was dead. He was taken to see various health professionals, but no-one could persuade him otherwise; he was dead and he knew it. Eventually, someone managed to persuade him to admit that dead men don’t bleed. Immediately, they took a pin and pricked his finger. As soon as the blood began to seep out, this man looked horrified and exclaimed, ‘So dead men do bleed after all!!’  There is a strange logic to unbelief. When it cannot deny the evidence, it tries to bury it, one way or another; to prevent its spread; to ‘’suppress’’ it (Romans 1:18). This is not the Sherlock Holmes method! Holmes would meticulously follow the evidence to see where it leads – wherever that may be. I venture to suggest that we will not face any situation in life the Bible does not cover in some form. God’s Word would say to us that no matter how clearly, powerfully and bravely we speak about Jesus, there will be those who are so blind that they will not see. This should not surprise us.

By the way, you should live as a good citizen of the nation God has put you in, and obey the laws of the land. But if such obedience such ever entail disobeying God, then our duty is clear (20). We have to choose God over men every time.

One final thing, every Christian with a full to bursting heart will understand (20). Out of the overflow of the heart…

Acts 4:13, 14: Never been to be Bible College.(click for passage)

I like a comment C.H. Spurgeon made in one of his sermons that there is a ‘secret something’ about a believer- a sweet savour emitted from his life.

There was that certain something about Peter and John. There were things about them which just didn’t add up. They’d had no formal rabbinical training. This is what is meant by the expression: ‘’unschooled, ordinary men’’ (13).They had never been to Bible College. Nevertheless Peter spoke powerfully in public. The two men had obvious natural limitations, but there was a certain something about them. There was no getting away from this. ( It was a little bit like the burning bush Moses saw that captured his attention.) Furthermore, the only explanation the enemies of the church could find lay in their connection with Jesus, about Whom the apostles kept speaking.

Those who walk in the company of Jesus carry something of His fragrance. They ‘smell’ of Him. The religious leaders ‘’saw’’ something that impressed them. They didn’t like it, but it held their attention captive, and it made them think about Jesus.

May we live in such a way that our critics are silenced (14).

‘’Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us’’ (1 Peter 2:12).

‘’For it is God’s will that by doing good you should silence the foolish talk of ignorant men’’ (1 Peter 2:15).

Acts 4:9-12: No other name (please click for passage)

For multiplied years I have longed for a powerful ministry. I still do. But why? Why do I covet this? Why do you want the ‘anointing’ – if you do? You can want a good thing for a bad reason; want God’s blessing for the sake of your own name.

Although Peter and John lived powerful, power-filled lives, they did not take the glory to themselves. They pointed to Jesus; they preached Jesus, and that is what we must do also.. He must increase and we have to decrease. (Look at the repetition of the word ‘’name’’ in verses 7, 10 and 12; and see also 17, 18, 30/3:6 and 16. The theme of ‘’the name’’ runs like a thread through Acts chapters 3 and 4). I seem to remember John Stott saying something like this, that we who preach need to remember that the ministry is about the glory of the Name of Jesus, and not about our own small names.

As we saw in yesterday’s reading, the Holy Spirit gave them an answer; he gave them a kind and courteous tone. But He also gave them courage (13). Once again, as previously, Peter turned the screw (10; see 3:13-15; 2:23, 24). He did not fail to say that which needed to be said.

In an age of pluralism, the message of (12) is not popular, but it is necessary. Let there be no loss of nerve when it comes to saying that Jesus is the only way. The Holy Spirit will give us the necessary courage.

PRAYER: Lord, I know I can be so cowardly. Please forgive me, and make me bold. In your Name I ask it.

Acts 4:5-8: The scent of the supernatural.(please click for today’s passage)

It was recognised that ‘’power’’ was at work through the apostles (7; see also 14, 16 and 22).Lives which are ‘naturally supernatural and supernaturally natural’ are great adverts for the gospel; people who cannot be explained in purely natural terms capture attention. There is a scent of the supernatural about them. They provoke questions. There is something mysterious about the Spiritual person (John 3:8).

In (8) the power is identified – it is the power of ‘’the Holy Spirit’’. We need His power for every aspect of the Christian life, including answering questions.

Note, they answered the question asked and that is important. It shows respect for the questioner. You’re not just trying to push your own agenda. You have to scratch where people itch.

Also they answered ‘’with gentleness and respect’’ (1 Peter 3:15-17). When Peter later wrote these words in a letter, perhaps he was thinking back to this very moment. He was asking of the believers what he and John had done when similarly under pressure.In this sermon Peter again shows courage, but he never lacks courtesy. There is a perfect balance.

PRAYER: Lord, I want to be so full of your Holy Spirit that my life raises questions which you enable me to answer.

Acts 4:1-4: Creating a disturbance.(click for todays passage)

Have you ever been interrupted while preaching? It happened to me on one occasion when speaking at a youth meeting. The young man who began to talk back to me was either a new Christian or very close to becoming one. It threw me for a moment. I wasn’t used to that sort of thing. Hopefully I handled it okay! Frank Boreham, in his wonderful autobiography, ‘My Pilgrimage’, tells how his basic training as a preacher took place on the streets of London, as an open air preacher. If you could hold a crowd there, you could probably pull it off just about anywhere. You certainly had to be nimble on your feet in responding to hecklers etc.

Here’s another question: have you ever been interrupted by the police when preaching? Well, I can’t own up to that one, but in many parts of the world Christians still experience intimidation, arrest, imprisonment. I think every preacher should ask himself, or herself, ‘What is there about my preaching which disturbs? Is there anything at all?’ Some preaching doesn’t cause even the tiniest ripple on Lake Conscience. But one preacher said he saw it as his job to ‘comfort the afflicted, and afflict the comfortable’. A Biblical ministry will at times profoundly disturb, and that may lead to an angry backlash, even among professing Christians.Some people get angry when their deeply-cherished prejudices are challenged. That’s how it was with the ‘’Sadducees’’ (1). They didn’t believe in the resurrection, and so were deeply upset about it being preached and believed (2).

When preaching disturbs, it may lead to an angry reaction leading to violent action (3). Yet persecution will never stop the church (4). God’s Word is not bound (2 Timothy 2:8,9). They can put the preachers of the Word behind bars, but they can’t confine the Word there. The message was already out there, doing its work in people’s hearts.

Early this morning, Jilly and I watched the day gradually dawn. But while it was still dark, just a little way across the field, we saw a light. It could not be hidden. The fact that it was dark was just no match for the light. The darkness could not overcome it. This gives me great encouragement for our witness. If we will just be who we are – be real – we will have an effect in and on the darkness. We will shine and our light will not be quenched.

 Acts 3:17-26: Brand new start.(please click for the passage)

Although you are reading these notes during the second week of the new year, I am writing them on new year’s eve. At this time, our thoughts tend to turn instinctively to new beginnings and clean starts. How many of us can remember the feel of receiving a brand new jotter at school, and the determination to look after it; to keep it clean and neat? But as with life in general, we quickly began to fall short of our best intentions.

Well, I think these words from Acts 3:19 are a wonderful text for the new year:

‘’Now it’s time to change your ways! Turn to face God so he can wipe away your sins…’’ The Message.

 The last verse in the chapter speaks about the ‘blessing’ of such repentance (26) ‘’as you turn, one by one, from your evil ways.’’ The Message. Although Peter was preaching to a great crowd, he knew that there had to be an individual, personal response, and he spelled that out. He also was quick to say that there are grave consequences for people who reject Christ (23). This must never be forgotten. We must not allow it be sieved out of our preaching. As already noted, the early sermons in ‘Acts’ share certain common characteristics. In addition to the ones previously mentioned, we also find in today’s reading the note of fulfilment. God’s great purpose to bless people with forgiveness of sins centres in Jesus; and He, in coming into the world, has brought to pass numerous prophecies. Furthermore, He will come again. We can be sure that if all the prophecies concerning His first coming have proved accurate, the remaining ones that concern His second advent will. ‘’For the time being he must remain out of sight in heaven until everything is restored to order again…’’ The Message. It’s only for ‘’the time being’’. It’s like you’re watching a play, and the Star has left the stage for a time. But He is still there in the wings – out of sight, but very much there – and He is preparing for the last act, when He will return to centre-stage for the blockbusting conclusion, and a tumultuous (eternal) ovation.

PRAYER: Lord, may I live this new year as a new person in you.

 Acts 3:11-16: The unvarnished truth.(please click for passage) 

It is understandable that the formerly lame man still held on to Peter and John, but he didn’t have to. Similarly, we can perhaps become too heavily dependent on people; on leaders who have had a strong influence in our conversion for example. There is, of course, a right kind of dependence on other members of the body of Christ, but it’s important to understand that we can look to and lean on people in unhealthy ways.

Certainly, Peter wouldn’t permit the crowds to think more highly of him and John than they ought. Everyone knew this man and what a total ruin he had been. There was no hope for him, humanly speaking. Now they were all witnesses to a remarkable transformation. ‘But we didn’t do this’, Peter says. ‘Let’s be clear, Jesus did it. He’s alive.’ Peter and John would not steal any of the glory – not a morsel of it.They knew it all belonged to Jesus. There are many points of similarity between this sermon and the one we’ve just read in Acts 2. One of them concerns the boldness of Peter’s preaching: ‘’You…you…You…you…You…’’ (13-15). Peter laid it on the line; he gave them the unvarnished truth; he took aim with a steady arm and his arrow did not miss the target. Although they ‘’acted in ignorance’’ (17), they had killed Jesus – ‘’killed the author of life’’ (15) – but He was now back from the dead. The formerly crippled man was exhibit A in Peter’s case. Here was the evidence – the living proof! The man’s healing was strategic and gave the apostles the opportunity to preach the gospel to many.

In evangelism, let’s talk about Jesus; keep the focus on Jesus. He is the central issue.

Acts 3:6-10: What is that in your hand? (click here for the passage)

I believe that it was reading this story that prompted me to start praying some years ago for ‘strategic’ conversions. I saw how one person can become the key to many others hearing the gospel (10). We see the same thing in the story of the woman Jesus met by the well (John 4:27-42). Many others came to believe in Him because of her testimony. When people see the ‘’used to’’ element in a life (10) it carries an impact. People cannot miss the reality of change and it causes them to question how it came about.

Whatever God gives you; whatever He entrusts to you; whatever He places in your hand, are you prepared to use it, to give it? Don’t worry about all you don’t have, but be prepared to give/share what you do have ‘’In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth…’’(6). His power accompanies the gifts He gives to us. ’Then the LORD said to him, ‘’What is that in your hand?’’ ‘’A staff,’’ he replied’ (Exodus 4:2).This extract from the call of Moses resonates with our Acts passage. God will take what is in your hand, what He placed in your hand, and use it – if you are willing.

It is said of certain people that they are so heavenly minded they are of no earthly use.Peter did not fall into this category (7). He wasn’t so captivated by the miraculous power he was exercising that he forgot the practical needs of the man in front of him. I love the attentiveness; the thoughtfulness expressed in the words: ‘’Taking him by the right hand, he helped him up…’’ (7). In fact it appears that in the action of helping him the miracle occurred. As you go about your business on this ordinary day, look for the people in your path who you can ‘help up’, using the blessings God has poured into you, and relying completely on His power. Don’t live life in a closed off, isolated, disinterested kind of way. Someone said that the true measure of a life is not in its duration but its donation. Live for God and live for others. Live to serve and give.

‘The smallest parcel I ever saw was a man wrapped up in himself.’

PRAYER: Lord God, help me to have eyes to see this day the people you place in my way so that I can help them. May I not be someone who passes by on the other side.