Acts 5 - 10.9.23
Scripture
Acts 5:29 NLT
“But Peter and the apostles replied, “We must obey God rather than any human authority.”
Observation
Peter and the rest of the apostles were arrested and put in jail because of the jealousy of the high priest and his officials. The high priest warned the apostles prior to not go around town and preach the name of Jesus. But the apostles knew Who had the higher priority in their lives. They knew that God’s instructions supersede anything else going on. So, despite the warning from the high priest, the apostles continued to preach the name of Jesus everywhere they went.
Application
Have a heart that wants to please God above anything else.
Believe it or not, we live in a world that can be quite similar to the world the apostles were living in back then. I mean, most people around us cringe when we even bring up the name of Jesus in a conversation. They give us the eye rolls 🙄. They look at us and will even label us as a “Jesus Freak” or “Super Christian” as they try to ridicule us for our faith behind our backs.
But we as Christians have been given a responsibility. We have been given a mission from God to share the Good News about Jesus everywhere we go. And like the apostles ran into obstacles, (like the high priest and his officials trying to silence the apostles from preaching the name of Jesus), we too will run into obstacles when trying to share about Jesus. We will have bosses at work or teachers at school telling us that we can’t talk about that stuff. We will have people on the streets rejecting us and maybe even get mad at us for trying to share about Jesus with them. It can get a bit discouraging. But remember that even the apostles were rejected, imprisoned, and beaten for their willingness to step out and obey Jesus. They saw it as a badge of honor to suffer for the name of Jesus. Find hope knowing that God is watching us. He sees our every move. He sees our obedience to Him and at the end of the day, it is God we should be focusing on. It is God we should want to please.
“For we speak as messengers approved by God to be entrusted with the Good News. Our purpose is to please God, not people. He alone examines the motives of our hearts.”-1 Thessalonians 2:4
Prayer
Father God, I pray for the focus today to do what pleases You. Give me the courage and the boldness to share like Your apostles did back then. May I be reminded that You are with me every step of the way, no matter what obstacles I may face. May the way I live my life bring a smile to Your face and make You proud. In Jesus name I pray, Amen. 🙏🏽
-Moses Gaddi
Acts 4 - 10.6.23
Scripture
Acts 4:7, 10
7 They had Peter and John brought before them and began to question them: “By what power or what name did you do this?”…
10 It is by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified but whom God raised from the dead, that this man stands before you healed.
Observation
Peter and John were arrested after healing the lame man and put on trial before all the rulers, elders and teachers of the law. They asked Peter and John, “By what power or what name did you do this?” They replied by giving Jesus Christ all the glory.
When God does miracles through his people, the time always comes where they will be asked to give an explanation.
I’ve been amazed as I’ve witnessed people pray and ask God for healing or a miracle in their finances and when God comes through they give the credit to a doctor or employer. Peter and John made no mention of their obedience or their methods or their faith but used 100% of their words to point to Jesus Christ.
Romans 13:7 says to give honor where honor is due. As we grow in faith and witness God do miracles in our lives we will have the opportunity to take credit for what God has done. “I worked really hard.” “I prayed faithfully.” But while those things may have played a part, isn't God is the one who gave you the ability to work and the desire to pray in the first place? Peter and John could have said the man was healed because they had learned to walk in obedience to God or had great faith. Instead they gave Jesus all the glory! They gave honor where it was due.
1 Corinthians 3:7 So neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow.
Application
Give Jesus all the glory!
Prayer
God, you are worthy of all the glory and praise. Anything good in my life is from you, a result of you moving in me and through me! Praise you! You are the miracle worker. Without you we would have nothing good, experience nothing good. When you answer prayer, may we give you all the glory and praise! Amen.
-Levi Thompson
Acts 3 - 10.05.23
SCRIPTURE -Acts 3:12, 16 NIV
“When Peter saw this, he said to them: “Fellow Israelites, why does this surprise you? Why do you stare at us—as if—by our ‘own power’ or ‘godliness’ we had made this man walk?
By faith in the name of Jesus, this man whom you see and know was made strong.
It is Jesus’ name and the faith that comes through HIM that has completely healed him, as you can all see.”
“… many who heard the message believed; so the number of men who believed grew to about five thousand.”
(Acts 4:4 NIV)
OBSERVATION:
Peter and John are heading to the Temple for afternoon prayer.
Something they likely did many times.
They encounter a man who was lame from birth being carried to the Temple gate called Beautiful.
He was laid there every day so he could beg for money from those going into the Temple courts.
The Gate Called Beautiful
the word beautiful here is not how we would typically translate it’s meaning.
It’s something SO much greater. hóraios is taken from a Greek word meaning ‘beautiful in timing’—the time of fulfillment. And surely it was.
Peter and John stopped as they heard this lame beggar’s cry for money.
But it wasn’t money he would receive that day At the Gate called Beautiful—God’s timing of fulfillment had come…
“Peter looked straight at him, as did John.
Then Peter said, “Look at us! Silver or gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you.
In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk.” Taking him by the right hand, he helped him up, and instantly the man’s feet and ankles became strong.” (Acts 3:4, 6-7 NIV)
This man who had been lame for over 40yrs was instantly healed.
BUT there is MORE!
This man was laid at the gate every day as we are told. (Acts 4) So Jesus Himself along with the disciples must have passed him many many times.
Why did Jesus not heal him—Why— Today?
APPLICATION:
Trusting God for horaios—Beautiful in Fulfillment—
We may never fully understand all of the reasons in our waiting…
But in this one story there are a couple of key encouragements that I am holding onto.
First-
Jesus knew HE would heal this lame beggar using Peter and John to do it. The Day was planned long before the world was formed—at the gate called Beautiful.
—Jesus would be teaching Peter and John to Step out in Faith as HE released HIS power to equip them to be HIS witnesses.
Peter was given supernatural Faith that day. And I’m marveling at it today…Here was a man he knew was lame and had probably seen many times. Peter didn’t just pray from a distance and say “be healed” and let the cards fall where they may. Peter took this lame man by the right hand and helped him up—AS he did this—the man’s feet and ankles became strong.
“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.”” (Acts 1:8 NIV)
Second-
This miracle became the catalyst for Peter’s second opportunity to Share about Jesus Saving Grace as thousands gathered at the Temple Courts marveling at this man’s healing— leaping and jumping—who they ALL recognized as the lame beggar!
5,000 men were saved that day—at the Gate called Beautiful—which means the number was higher—because they weren’t counting the women.
Trust God for His Beautiful—Timing in Fulfillment!
His Timing is Perfect!
PRAYER:
LORD Jesus,
May I pray without ceasing. When I get weary, May I press in all the more. Draw me closer to You. Draw me deeper. You Alone know YOUR timing in everything. You Alone know the Beautiful that awaits…FILL me Lord, I pray with Supernatural Faith for All you purpose to do—to bring YOU Glory!
“Now to HIM who is able to carry out His purpose AND do superabundantly more than all that we dare ask or think—infinitely beyond our greatest prayers, hopes, or dreams—according to HIS power that is at work within us, to HIM be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations forever and ever. Amen.”
(Ephesians 3:20-21 AMP)
Tina L Kudelka