Do YOU know what is “given by God to those who obey Him?”
Consider the difference between a living church and a dead church… or if you prefer, look to your left and to your right and in the mirror of your heart; then consider the difference between a LIVING CHRISTIAN and a dead christian.
Have you ever considered these differences in a 21st c. church?
What makes one group of worshipers (we call a church) different from another group gathered in a stone-cold building?
What makes one Christian different from another christian?
We often seem as sorry as the Apostles. We appear as great failures in the Presence of Jesus.
“When Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus’ knees, saying, “Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord!” – Luke 5:8 NKJV
How all of us seem like sinful and ineffective men by comparison to our Righteous Savior. Yet Peter at his calling to follow our Lord was just another guy, a lowly fisherman who thought he knew about fishing; then Jesus made him a fisher of men.
In fact, even at the campfire in the courtyard of the trials of Jesus, Peter could not obey Christ… then the cock crowed.
The Apostle Peter of the Acts of the Apostles, however, is quite a different man. He is a restored Peter. Peter has repented of his sin. Peter has finally become obedient. (Some of us are slow to obedience. Take me, for example. )
What changed Peter? Certainly witness of his friend and mentor, Jesus, had much to do with it; but the new boldness of Peter and the Apostles in Acts can be attributed to a gift of God much more Powerful.
Recall some of the source of Jesus’ Power in His three-year ministry and teaching prior to the Cross:
Luke 3: 21 One day when the crowds were being baptized, Jesus himself was baptized. As he was praying, the heavens opened, 22 and the Holy Spirit, in bodily form, descended on him like a dove. And a voice from heaven said, “You are my dearly loved Son, and you bring me great joy.”
Jesus, as you may recall, remained in constant close contact with the Third Person of the Trinity, The Holy Spirit.
Our Savior prayed to God the Father and the Holy Spirit of God guided the walk and Word of the Son of God on earth. After Jesus’ resurrection, this same Holy Spirit, as promised, was given to all of the Apostles.
Peter and the boys were now bold men of the Cross of Jesus: men on fire with the Holy Spirit of God. The Peter of Acts 5 is a man born again.
Acts 5:3 Then Peter said, “Ananias, why have you let Satan fill your heart? You lied to the Holy Spirit, and you kept some of the money for yourself.
15 As a result of the apostles’ work, sick people were brought out into the streets on beds and mats so that Peter’s shadow might fall across some of them as he went by.
18 They arrested the apostles and put them in the public jail. 19 But an angel of the Lord came at night, opened the gates of the jail, and brought them out.
29 But Peter and the apostles replied, “We must obey God… {31b} He did this so the people of Israel would repent of their sins and be forgiven.
“Acts 5:32 “We are witnesses of these things and so is the Holy Spirit, who is given by God to those who obey him.
- Are you different from some of the dead christians?
- Are you one of the dead in a stone-cold church?
IF (like me) you are slow to come to obedience to Jesus as your Lord, NOW is the time to give up your past life of sin.
“REPENT and be changed permanently by the Holy Spirit of God.
False christians will come up against you, as they opposed Peter and the Apostles, Jesus Christ, and the Prophets. IF we are bold in the Spirit for Christ Jesus, we will be on fire for the Lord. Hear the caution of Gamaliel, Pharisee mentor of Saul of Tarsus, the Apostle Paul:
Acts 5:38 “So my advice is, leave these men alone. Let them go. If they are planning and doing these things merely on their own, it will soon be overthrown.
39 But if it is from God, you will not be able to overthrow them. You may even find yourselves fighting against God!”
Are you fighting against God?
Do you claim Jesus Christ, while remaining disobedient to His leading?
Do you grieve the Holy Spirit?
“You cannot follow Christ YOUR way.
You must follow Christ HIS way.
Obey our Lord. Repent and receive the Holy Spirit, given by God to those who obey him.
