"When they saw the courage of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished and they took note that these men had been with Jesus."
~Acts 4:13~
~Acts 4:13~
In Acts 4, Peter and John are boldly declaring their faith in Jesus before the rulers, elders and teachers of the law in Jerusalem. At this point in time, the entire town has just witnessed a complete healing. The crippled beggar - a grown man who had been "crippled from birth" (Acts 3:2) - has just been completely healed by the power of the Holy Spirit ...
"Then Peter said, 'Silver or gold I do not have, but what I 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. He jumped to his feet and began to walk. Then he went with them into the temple courts, walking and jumping, and praising God. When all the people saw him walking and praising God, they recognized him as the lame man who used to sit begging at the temple gate called Beautiful, and they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him." (Acts 3:6-10)
When the rulers, elders and teachers of the law question Peter and John, asking them how on earth, and by whom, all this healing had occurred (Acts 4:7), the presence of the Holy Spirit immediately enters into the picture: "Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them: 'Rulers and elders of the people! If we are being called to account today for an act of kindness shown to a cripple and are asked how he was healed, then know this, you and all the people of Israel: 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" (Acts 4:8-10).
Peter was bold in his speaking, in his declaring of his One True God - in a time of great testing and trial - because he had been with Jesus. He had invested so much in his relationship with Jesus Christ, that when he found himself in a time of need, the Holy Spirit just showed up. When the rulers, elders and teachers heard Peter speak with such authority and conviction, the Word of God says they were literally "astonished" (Acts 4:13).
Ordinary men, doing extraordinary things for the power of the Gospel, initiated and carried out by the work of the Holy Spirit. When ordinary clashes with extraordinary, it is undoubtedly a direct result of an encounter with the Almighty. There is no other explanation. It is, as the rulers, elders and teachers would concur ... Astonishing.
When we have been with Jesus, we must be prepared for ordinary to clash with extraordinary. We must, like Peter, invest in our time with the Lord so that when testing and trials approach, we can boldly stand for our God. That others - even those who may not share our faith and convictions - may stand astonished at the fact that we have truly been with Jesus.
"Then Peter said, 'Silver or gold I do not have, but what I 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. He jumped to his feet and began to walk. Then he went with them into the temple courts, walking and jumping, and praising God. When all the people saw him walking and praising God, they recognized him as the lame man who used to sit begging at the temple gate called Beautiful, and they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him." (Acts 3:6-10)
When the rulers, elders and teachers of the law question Peter and John, asking them how on earth, and by whom, all this healing had occurred (Acts 4:7), the presence of the Holy Spirit immediately enters into the picture: "Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them: 'Rulers and elders of the people! If we are being called to account today for an act of kindness shown to a cripple and are asked how he was healed, then know this, you and all the people of Israel: 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" (Acts 4:8-10).
Peter was bold in his speaking, in his declaring of his One True God - in a time of great testing and trial - because he had been with Jesus. He had invested so much in his relationship with Jesus Christ, that when he found himself in a time of need, the Holy Spirit just showed up. When the rulers, elders and teachers heard Peter speak with such authority and conviction, the Word of God says they were literally "astonished" (Acts 4:13).
Ordinary men, doing extraordinary things for the power of the Gospel, initiated and carried out by the work of the Holy Spirit. When ordinary clashes with extraordinary, it is undoubtedly a direct result of an encounter with the Almighty. There is no other explanation. It is, as the rulers, elders and teachers would concur ... Astonishing.
When we have been with Jesus, we must be prepared for ordinary to clash with extraordinary. We must, like Peter, invest in our time with the Lord so that when testing and trials approach, we can boldly stand for our God. That others - even those who may not share our faith and convictions - may stand astonished at the fact that we have truly been with Jesus.
Is is obvious that you have you been with Jesus?
Meet with Him ...
and be prepared for the ordinary to clash with the extraordinary.
