No partiality

Then Peter opened his mouth and said: “In truth I perceive that God is nor respecter of persons. But in every nation whoever fears Him and works righteousness is accepted by Him. – Acts 10.34-35

When Peter got to Antioch in directs answer to God’s call and with the memory of the clean and unclean vision still fresh on his mind he did what God had called him there to do. He preached.

He started his message with some amazing words – ‘I now know that God does not show partiality to any people. Anyone who obeys His word will be accepted by Him.

That can be a hard truth for us to deal with. It is hard to imagine being totally free of any kind of prejudice or bias  or preconceived notions, but God can and He does. Anyone outside of Christ is simply a sinner in need of Christ no matter their race or colour or creed or nationality or their particular sin.

Can you imagine if we saw the world that way? Can you you imagine if we could see the world through God’s eyes without bias or prejudice? What if we saw every non-believer as a soul who needed Jesus instead of a political foe or another religion or a particular sin or a national enemy.

We can only do that if we see men no longer according to the flesh but through eyes motivated and constrained by the love of Christ.

Clean or unclean

The next day, as they went on their journey and drew near the city, Peter went up on the housetop to pray, about the sixth hour. Then he became very hungry and wanted to eat; but while they made ready, he fell into a trance and saw heaven opened and an object like a great sheet bound at the four corners, descending to him and let down to the earth. In it were all kinds of four-footed animals of the earth, wild beasts, creeping things, and birds of the air. And a voice came to him, “Rise, Peter; kill and eat.”
But Peter said, “Not so, Lord! For I have never eaten anything common or unclean.”
And a voice spoke to him again the second time, “What God has cleansed you must not call common.” This was done three times. And the object was taken up into heaven again. – Acts 10.9-16

God had already directed an answer to Cornelius’ seeking. Peter was on his way to the city when God sent him a vision. In the vision Peter saw a sheet being let down from heaven with all sorts of animals on it. These animals were a mixed lot. To a Jew’s eyes there were clean and unclean animals on the tarp.

The a voice called out ‘get up Peter, kill and eat.’

The ever reactionary Peter responded like he did when he told Jesus that He would never wash his feet and when he told Jesus that he would never betray Jesus. He said ‘No way Lord! I have never eaten anything common or unclean.’

The voice responded ‘Peter you can’t call anything unclean that God has cleansed.’

The Jews had always held to the Law and seen themselves as God’s chosen people. Those who were not Jews were unclean and dirty and should not be associated with. God was pronouncing here that no one was inherently unclean just because of what or who they are. God’s creation was all his creation and it was all good and the gospel freed people up to enjoy their liberty in Christ.

Though this is an illustration it is a clear picture of a new key principle. Just like there are no clean or unclean animals, there are no real differences in people.

A memorial before God

There was a certain man in Caesarea called Cornelius, a centurion of what was called the Italian Regiment, a devout man and one who feared God with all his household, who gave alms generously to the people, and prayed to God always. About the ninth hour of the day he saw clearly in a vision an angel of God coming in and saying to him, “Cornelius!”
And when he observed him, he was afraid, and said, “What is it, lord?”
So he said to him, “Your prayers and your alms have come up for a memorial before God.- Acts 10.1-4

Every so often we come across an unusual character that catches us off guard. Cornelius was one of those people for me. Cornelius was a Roman military officer station in Judea, which was not a coveted assignment. He was a member of the Italian Regiment, an elite military force from Rome itself.

Cornelius had found something in Caesarea that intrigued him. Something was different here.  I don’t know what it was, but something was drawing him to God. He was a devout religious man, he feared God, he was always about doing charitable works, and he ‘prayed always.’

Notice that though this came up ‘as a memorial to God’ that was still not enough. All that good stuff was still not enough to get him to heaven. But it did, and I am sure this is not the perfect way to put it, it did get God’s attention.

The Bible says that though who seek God will find him. Cornelius is evidence that when someone is earnestly seeking God will send the answer in the form of the glorious gospel.

Looking for God and doing good and being religious and praying is still not good enough on its own. But we are promised that those who seek God will find Him. God sent Peter and Peter went to carry the gospel to Cornelius and his household.

How may Corneliuses are there out there earnestly seeking God today? Could we be the Peters to carry God’s word to them. Could we be the ones to show them the way?

The church prospers

Then the churches throughout all Judea, Galilee, and Samaria had peace and were edified. And walking in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit, they were multiplied. – Acts 9.31

This is an interesting verse to be right in the midst of a persecution of the church. It was bad enough that it was causing the scattering of the church. It was severe.

And yet in the middle of it we read that the church prospered.

How does prospering happen during this kind of turmoil? They certainly weren’t going to grow or prosper based on what they could see. Let’s see if we can figure out what made them prosper.

They had peace
They were edified
They walked in the fear of the Lord
The walked in the comfort of the Holy Spirit

I preached this passage recently, but I think I messed up a bit. I think I may have been focused on the wrong thing. I missed the whole notion that they were prospering in trouble. Here though they were ruled by the peace of God, the edifying of the brethren, the fear of the Lord, and the comfort of the Holy Spirit. I may have to rewrite and repreach that message.

We may very well be facing hard times again. Our favour with governments is starting to fail. Our morals, which most of the west has enjoyed for years, is now questioned and attacked. It is easy to get down.

But apparently this is our time to shine. Like the Jews who prospered and grew the more they were troubled we too can prosper if we follow the example of this infant church. God’s peace is promised to those who trust Him. We have and need each other to be built up and edified. We need to fear what God thinks about us more than what man thinks about us. And we have the constant comfort of the Holy Spirit.

Lord, help us prosper in the hard times.

But Barnabas

And when Saul had come to Jerusalem, he tried to join the disciples; but they were all afraid of him, and did not believe that he was a disciple. But Barnabas took him and brought him to the apostles. And he declared to them how he had seen the Lord on the road, and that He had spoken to him, and how he had preached boldly at Damascus in the name of Jesus. – Acts 9.26-27

Picture this. Saul comes to Jerusalem with a desire to meet with and join the other disciples. That’s a normal and desirable goal. He knew he had to join up with them so they could work together as a team to spread the gospel.

That’s great, but what do if you are on of the disciples and you hear that Saul has come to join with you? How are you going to respond? The disciples were afraid because they did not believe that Saul was a disciple of Christ. He needed someone to stand up for him and vouch for Him.

So guess who shows up? It only makes sense – it was Barnabas, the son of comfort and encouragement.

I love the fact that Barnabas plays such a role at key moments in the church. He set a pattern of sharing to meet the needs of church. We are going to see him in the expansion of the church. He always been to be where he is needed and always helping others. He really doesn’t seem to have much regard for himself.

Here he is taking a risk. He is staking everything on standing up for Saul. What happens when Saul comes in to their midst? What if all he had done was a trick to get to the heart of the church?

What matters to Barnabas though is being a blessing. He stands up for Saul.

Sometimes we all need somebody to stand up for us. Sometimes we ought to be the one who stands up for someone else.

Let’s all try to be that Barnabas.

From persecutor to preacher

Immediately he preached the Christ in the synagogues, that He is the Son of God. Then all who heard were amazed, and said, “Is this not he who destroyed those who called on this name in Jerusalem, and has come here for that purpose, so that he might bring them bound to the chief priests?”
But Saul increased all the more in strength, and confounded the Jews who dwelt in Damascus, proving that this Jesus is the Christ. – Acts 9.20-22

The Bible is full of transformations and miraculous changes. There is always a twist in the story. This is one of those great twists.

Saul was sent to Damascus to root out the Christians. He would have them arrested, thrown into jail, and most probably beaten or killed. He was even going to go into the synagogues to search for believers. He had his search warrant in hand.

As we know now though something changed. On the way to Damascus he met Jesus. He had been saved and baptised and right away he began to speak the gospel boldly.

The thing that really stuck out to me when I studied was the fact that Saul indeed visit the synagogues as he had landed. But he was not there to arrest them – he was there to preach the truth that the Jesus he had been persecuting was indeed the Son of God. Everyone was amazed, but he kept going and increased in strength and confounded the Jews as he proved through his preaching that Jesus was the long awaited Messiah.

It is something that only God could accomplish. No one have believed it in advance. Saul had done a full 180 – from persecuting Christ to preaching Christ.

If God could do that is there anything too hard for Him today? Is anyone too hard to save? Is there anyone so evil that they cannot be saved and serve God?

Brother

And Ananias went his way and entered the house; and laying his hands on him he said, “Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on the road as you came, has sent me that you may receive your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.” – Acts 9.17

Love, love, love!

That’s what I would comment if this were a Facebook post. I would click on the heart icon and share this.

Imagine this – Ananias goes to Judas’ house on Straight Street. He knows Saul is there. He is opening himself up to the enemy. We think these guys are some kind of superstars, but they were just like us. Even with God’s instruction I say he swallowed hard when the door opened.

He came into the house and saw Saul sitting there…

What’s next? What are the next words heard?

‘Brother Saul.’

Ananias greeting Saul with one of the most precious title we use in the church. He called Saul brother. Just a few days before Saul had been an enemy – now he was a brother in Christ.

That term ‘brother’ is one that is used in a lot of ways. Where I grew up Christians use that title for each other and we are Brother Roger or Sister Mary just as a part of our names. I have to admit ‘Brother’ becomes a filler when you can’t remember a name though. Anyway, it is a special term on endearment and I still like. It acknowledges our familyship in Christ. It acknowledges the fact that we are Christians are all a part of the family of God. Here it showed that the former enemy was now a brother.

When we get upset at each other and division looms we need to remember that at the end of the day that those other Christians are our brothers and sisters. We have the same Father. No matter what the colour of our skin or the place of our birth or our political leanings or our style of worship or anything else we are one in Christ.

And we truly need our family today.

But Lord!

So the Lord said to him, “Arise and go to the street called Straight, and inquire at the house of Judas for one called Saul of Tarsus, for behold, he is praying. And in a vision he has seen a man named Ananias coming in and putting his hand on him, so that he might receive his sight.”
Then Ananias answered, “Lord, I have heard from many about this man, how much harm he has done to Your saints in Jerusalem. And here he has authority from the chief priests to bind all who call on Your name.” – Acts 9.11-14

Saul was sent on to Antioch to Judas’ house on Straight Street where he would be told what to do next. While he waited there for a man named Ananaias who would touch him and restore his sight.

While he was then the Lord appeared to this man Ananias and told him to go to Straight Street and find Saul.

But wait – what? Go find Saul?
Surely it could not be THE Saul?!

“Lord, uh, I don’t know how to say this, but you do know this is the same guy who has done great harm to the believers in Jerusalem and has come here to do the same thing to us.’

Of course God knew that already, but I admire that Ananias was honest enough to talk to God openly about his fears. I admire that and am encouraged that we can talk to God with the same kind of honesty.

But God tells him to go anyway – and Ananias goes.

It is not abnormal for us to be afraid. It is not abnormal for us to wonder what God is doing. It should not be abnormal for us to talk to Him about it.

And it should not be abnormal for us to obey even if we don’t understand it all.

What do you want me to do?

So he, trembling and astonished, said, “Lord, what do You want me to do?”
Then the Lord said to him, “Arise and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.” – Acts 9.6

The change on Saul was immediate and clear. In an instant he went from seeking to destroy Christ and His cause to saying ‘Lord, what do you want me to do?’

That very first question from the newly saved Saul sets the pattern for Jesus’ disciples throughout the next two thousand years. ‘What do you want me to do?’ should be our attitude every day and in every decision we make. We are too often led by what we want to do today instead of what what He wants us to do.

I ought to ask myself this morning what the Lord wants me to do today. All through the day in every situation I face I need to ask the same question. ‘What do you want me to do about this situation or this person or this problem Lord?’

Kicking against the goads

Then he fell to the ground, and heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?”
And he said, “Who are You, Lord?”
Then the Lord said, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. It is hard for you to kick against the goads.” – Acts 9.4-5

After studying through this passage recently I am convinced that for me this is one of the saddest, and at the same time one of the most compassionate sayings in all of scripture.

Saul was on his way to Damascus with a commission to round up Christians and throw them in jail. He was a job he relished, in fact a job he had asked for. He was furious to the point of ‘breathing out threat and murders.’

Why was Saul so angry? It seems abnormal for him to be this upset. What was in his heart to motivate him?

Jesus knew. To the question ‘who are you?’ Jesus answered ‘I am Jesus who you are persecuting. It is hard for you to kick agains the goads.’

What kind of prodding was Saul kicking against?

We certainly can’t know for sure, but I think there is a hint in Romans 16 where he asks to greet ‘his countrymen and fellow prisoners who were in Christ before him.’ That word for countrymen can also be translated kinsmen or family. Either was, though we can’t be certain, it looks like there were people he knew who were Christians before he was. Perhaps that was part of what he was fighting against.

I am sure was well that whether it was these people or not somehow the Holy Spirit had been poking and prodding Saul to be saved and Saul was doing all the could do to fight it. Jesus knew that and understood that Saul was struggling agains God’s workings in his heart.

When I studied this recently I thought about how often we have friends or loved ones or even family who seem to be hardened against any kind of mention of the gospel. It can be hard to understand why they act that way.

Maybe here though we have a clue. Maybe we have loved ones who weighed down and wearied from kicking at the goads. Maybe we have those who instead of our frustration need our compassion.

On his way rejoicing

Now when they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught Philip away, so that the eunuch saw him no more; and he went on his way rejoicing. – Acts 8.39

The Ethiopian seeker came to desert confused and lost. He was searching for somethings – and he found it when Philip came to meet him. Philip preached Jesus, the man received the message, believed, was baptised, and then, when Philip was ‘caught away’ the man went on his way rejoicing.

True joy, deep, abiding, perfect, and eternal joy is God’s desire for the world. We are not too far from Christmas. Once again we will hear the words of the angels as they announced Messiah’s birth ‘behold I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people.

This time the message was not a crowd of people. It was not to thousands or hundreds or tens. It was a message for one lone Ethiopian on a task for his queen.

But the result was the same. He was seeking, God sent messenger who charged the gospel, the man was saved and baptised.

And he went home rejoicing.

The gospel received always brings great joy. We have to source of that joy. Are you and I faithful in carrying that wonderful message of joy?

Preaching Jesus

Then Philip opened his mouth, and beginning at this Scripture, preached Jesus to him. – Acts 8.35

I like this. We just read a general principle that where there is preaching great joy is the result. That was in reference to crowds of people. Sometimes God does work in huge crowds. But now we are going to focus in on one individual reminding us that God cares for the ‘one’ as much as He does the many.

We read that Philip, one of the apostles, as caught and sent to the desert where he found, not a great crowd awaiting, but one single man from Ethiopia. He is sitting in a chariot trying to get his head around a scroll written by the Hebrew prophet Isaiah. It is the segment we now know as Isaiah 55 which speaks of the suffering Messiah.

‘Do you understand what you are reading?’ Philip asked the man. “How can I unless someone explains it to me?’ the man replied.

And we read, ‘’Philip opened the scriptures and preached Jesus.’

What a simple yet powerful praise. Philip knew just what to do. He didn’t talk about the weather or ask how things were back in Ethiopia. He didn’t talk about the chariot or the queen – he preached Jesus.

It is great for us to love others and get interested in their lives and be their friends. We should always do that as a part of who we are and how we act. But it is vital that we don’t stop there. Early on in our relationship we need to be ready to ‘preach Jesus’ to those we come in contact. If we don’t ‘preach Jesus’ then they, like this Ethiopian, are going to be helpless and hopeless.

When I think about my friends and ask myself how faithful I am in preaching Jesus I find myself falling short of what I could be doing. I am letting my friends down when I fail to preach Jesus.

Lord give me the grace and strength to lay my fears aside a preach Jesus to thos around me.

Preaching and joy

Therefore those who were scattered went everywhere preaching the word. Then Philip went down to the city of Samaria and preached Christ to them. And the multitudes with one accord heeded the things spoken by Philip, hearing and seeing the miracles which he did. For unclean spirits, crying with a loud voice, came out of many who were possessed; and many who were paralysed and lame were healed. And there was great joy in that city. – Acts 8.4-8

The threats of the official really didn’t have much of an impact on the disciples. ‘Those who were scattered abroad went everywhere preaching the word.’ ‘Philip went to Samaria and preached Christ and they saw his miracles.’

They would not quit. They did not cease.

And there was great joy in that city.

The message of salvation is one of great joy. We saw that from the very beginning when the angels on the hillside at Jesus’ birth proclaiming good tidings of great joy.

We have the joy that our world needs so badly. The problem is that the world doesn’t have a clue about how to achieve that joy. It comes in the preaching of the gospel that so many find so offensive.

That’s why we can’t quit. That’s why we have to keep preaching and keep loving and keep caring and keep going. We know they joy that is at the end – so we cease not.

Forgive them

Then they cried out with a loud voice, stopped their ears, and ran at him with one accord; and they cast him out of the city and stoned him. And the witnesses laid down their clothes at the feet of a young man named Saul. And they stoned Stephen as he was calling on God and saying, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” Then he knelt down and cried out with a loud voice, “Lord, do not charge them with this sin.” And when he had said this, he fell asleep. – Acts 7.57-60

At the end of Stephen’s sermon the people had heard enough. He flat our said that they had crucified the  Christ. Of course they were furious, ran at him, threw him out of the city, and stoned him to death.

But as he was dying his voice rang out.

‘Lord, do not charge them with this sin.’

His dying words were pretty much the same thing that His Saviour had said as He died on the cross. Both of them we focused on forgiveness and not wanting their killers to be judged for their sin. Jesus and Stephen both knew that their killers did not really know the impact of what they were doing. They did what they knew. Even with these horrendous actions there was still hope for their deliverance from sin.

But I think the biggest impact must have been on their abusers. In both cases those who did the killing heard the victims cry out for God to forgive them for their actions. How that must have stunned them. What they must have felt in their hearts. Did they feel sorrow? Conviction? Horror?

We can’t know of course, but we can know that this is how God’s people are to respond to attacks and reviling and persecution.The only proper response is love.

How many of is could respond this way? How many os us could just say, ‘Lord, forgive them?’

The face of an angel

And Stephen, full of faith and power, did great wonders and signs among the people. Then there arose some from what is called the Synagogue of the Freedmen (Cyrenians, Alexandrians, and those from Cilicia and Asia), disputing with Stephen. And they were not able to resist the wisdom and the Spirit by which he spoke. Then they secretly induced men to say, “We have heard him speak blasphemous words against Moses and God.” And they stirred up the people, the elders, and the scribes; and they came upon him, seized him, and brought him to the council. They also set up false witnesses who said, “This man does not cease to speak blasphemous words against this holy place and the law; for we have heard him say that this Jesus of Nazareth will destroy this place and change the customs which Moses delivered to us.” And all who sat in the council, looking steadfastly at him, saw his face as the face of an angel. – Acts 6.8-15

Stephen is yet another amazing character in the early church. He was one of the first deacons in the church, but that didn’t preclude him from carrying the message of God. He was full of the Holy Spirit and full of faith.

Some men of the synagogue opposed him and accused him of blasphemy. The said he was speaking against the law and said that Stephen was preaching violence against the the synagogue and the destruction of the Mosaic system.

That was quite a charge. How was Stephen going to respond?

They stared at him. I am sure it must have been menacing and even terrifying. But what do we see? ‘They saw him as the face of an angel.’

Imagine that. Stephen knew his fate was in the hands of the council. He knew that he was risking his life in order to preach about Jesus. Despite all that he had absolute peace in his heart and it showed on his face.

I am glad I don’t have to see my face in times of trouble. I doubt that I have ever had the face of an angel when things looked dark and gloomy. I’d day my face is more a face or fear and terror.

Oh for the faith to have the face of an angel when I face a struggle. I’ll never face on like Stephen did, but he was a man full of faith he could be at peace

Servants

Now in those days, when the number of the disciples was multiplying, there arose a complaint against the Hebrews by the Hellenists, because their widows were neglected in the daily distribution. Then the twelve summoned the multitude of the disciples and said, “It is not desirable that we should leave the word of God and serve tables. Therefore, brethren, seek out from among you seven men of good reputation, full of the Holy Spirit and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business; but we will give ourselves continually to prayer and to the ministry of the word.” – Acts 6.1-4

Managing the church was getting difficult. With thousands being saved and needing teaching and discipleship and regular preaching that task alone was daunting. Then, on top of that you had the ‘fatherless and widows’ needing to have physical needs met. The task was just too much for the disciples to get it all done.

So they called out men to help with the ministry. They called out men who had a good reputation, full of the Holy Spirit, and full of wisdom to carry out the necessary work. These are the beginning of what would be the office of deacon, an office that has been integral to the work of the ministry.

In fact, when we look at the church today we have two office, the office of pastor or elder and the office of deacon. Both are necessary for the church to function and get its work down. Both have a whole list of qualifications to try and be sure that God’s church carries on God’s work in God’s way. We have the pastors to do the praying and preaching and teaching and we have deacons to take on the very day practical work of the church.

God’s plan is always perfect – if we are willing to follow His plans.

They did not cease

So they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for His name. And daily in the temple, and in every house, they did not cease teaching and preaching Jesus as the Christ. – Acts 5.41-42

Daily in the temple, and in every house, they did not cease teaching and preaching Jesus. They knew trouble was coming, but they did not cease.

No ceasing, or staying with it, or not losing heart, or not quitting, or being steadfast is something that we read about over and over again the the word of God. Seeing that we have this ministry we do not quit, be not weary in well doing, be steadfast unmovable, and run with patience the race that is set before you are but a few examples.

These men rejoiced in being found worthy of suffering.

Then they got busy.

In our day it seems like we can spend so much time taking about opposition and our fears of persecution that we re to busy to do what we need to do. Some folks spend so much time on Facebook crying about how bad the future is because of news laws and societal changes that we forget that there is really only one cure. That cure is not changed laws, but changed hearts.

The more bad news we see the more motivated we ought to be to move forward teaching and preaching that Jesus is the Christ. We can’t quit out of fear. We need to redouble our efforts to share our message.

Counted worthy

So they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for His name. And daily in the temple, and in every house, they did not cease teaching and preaching Jesus as the Christ. – Acts 5.41-42

Nobody likes suffering. We would be crazy if we did. From the way things are going on the world today though it looks ‘suffering shame’ for Christ may be in the future. The world is becoming more and more anti-Christ and anti-Christian and we are not going to be well liked if we keep on living for and speaking for Jesus.

It would have been easy to crawl down into pity party pit and feel sorry for themselves. It would have been easy to avoid the preaching. It would have been easy to maybe protest or cry and whinge and complain about how hard it was going to be. I am afraid that that is where I might find myself in times like that.

But what was their attitude?

They rejoiced because they were ‘found worthy’ to suffer for Him.

Why? Because Jesus said the those who live godly will suffer. That means that if they were suffering it was because they were living godly. It meant that they were following the example of Christ.

I wonder how many of us will be counted worthy to suffer for the Christ. If we do I wonder how may of us will do it with joy.

We ought to obey God

saying, “Did we not strictly command you not to teach in this name? And look, you have filled Jerusalem with your doctrine, and intend to bring this Man's blood on us!”
But Peter and the other apostles answered and said: “We ought to obey God rather than men. – Acts 5.28-29

There is a clear principle all through the word of God that God’s people submit to human authority. God makes that vey clear in Romans 13 when Paul writes that we are to submit to every ordinance of man. Jesus said we ought to render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s. We see Paul sorry for his attitude toward the high priest. It is clear that submission is a part of life.

But here there is a difference. The rulers tell the disciples to stop preaching, but they can’t do it.

We have to obey God instead of man.

That sounds like an easy enough decision.

The thing is that we have to obey man in every case unless it comes into conflict with obeying. Even then we have to realise that obeying God instead of man is going to have consequences.

There are a few examples in the Bible but I think the clearest example is Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah. The king made a huge false idol and the people were ordered to fall down and worship when the music played.

The three men knew they could not obey God and man, but they knew what they had to do. When the music played they simply refused to bow down The didn’t go on strike, they didn’t protest – they just stood.

They were ordered to bow and still they stood.

They were arrested and still they would not bow.

They faced the king and they politely explained that they were going to trust God, and even if they were thrown in the furnace they still had to obey God.

So the sentence was carried out and thankfully God intervened to protect them.

The lesson for us is clear though. We need to remember that we have to obey God when man’s laws conflict with His, but we need to know that man still has the power to punish us for breaking his laws.

Son of consolation

And Joses, who by the apostles was surnamed Barnabas, (which is, being interpreted, The son of consolation,) a Levite, and of the country of Cyprus - Acts 4.36

Joses Barnabas is not an unknown character of Scripture. Most people know that he was an early missionary who travelled with Paul on his early missionary journeys. We will learn a lot about him, but for now I just want to focus on his name.

Barnabas is a lovely name. The name means ‘son of consolation’ or ‘son of comfort.’ We are going to see that carried out. Here we see him showing his character by selling his goods and giving it all to the needy in the church.

Nearly every time, maybe every time, we see Barnabas he is comforting or consoling or encouraging some someone. He is going to pop up several more times in the book of Acts and his role never changes.

To me he is a blessing, an encouragement, and a challenge.  I wish I had the reputation of being an encourager. I want to be that kind of guy. I want to be the kind of guy that people feel better after they are around me.

I want to do better at being a Barnabas.

Great strength and great grace

And with great power the apostles gave witness to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. And great grace was upon them all.  – Acts 4.33

So how did God answer their prayer for boldness?

God gave them great boldness
God gave them great power
God gave them great grace

If there are three things we need today in our work it is boldness and power and grace. We talked a lot about boldness, but in this passage what stuck out to me was the words great power and great grace.

We certainly need the power of God in our lives. Compared to the world we have no worldly power. They make to rules. The pull the strings. They have their way. We really have no strength in this world.

But God gives us all the strength we need. We we went for our our own strength we could and would do nothing. But we can go in the power of His might and He is the God of all strength.

And He also gives great grace. Grace is a trait that I certainly need in this world. With a world opposing us it certainly requires great grace for us to respond in a way which honours God. We can’t afford to be ugly or mean spirited in how we treat the world no matter how they treat us. It seems like a lot of Christians think the best way to respond to opposition is to last back and return cursing for cursing and attacking with attacking.

The word of God tells us that our response is to love. Loving requires great grace. Thank God He gives us great grace.

Give us boldness

Now, Lord, look on their threats, and grant to Your servants that with all boldness they may speak Your word, - Acts 4.29

All kinds of officials were making all kinds of threats against the disciples. They heard their threats over and over again. Most of us, including me, would probably have been cowed by their threats. We would have made all kinds of reason why we should just be less obvious and confrontational.

But these guys…these guys blow me away.

They heard the threats. They prayed that God would hear the threats.

And then they were ready to to go – ‘Lord, give us boldness to preach your word.’

There was no messing around with these guys. They were terrified I m sure. They felt incapable I am sure. They worried about their families I am sure.

But they also knew what had to be done. They had a message to preach and they didn’t know how much time they had. They had no boldness in themselves.

So they asked God to help and God delivered (see tomorrow). I know I have little boldness. I have mostly fear. I have mostly anxiety. I need the kind of boldness the disciples need it.

They got it and they used it.

What will I do when God answers my prayer and gives me that boldness.

They could not be silent

So they called them and commanded them not to speak at all nor teach in the name of Jesus. But Peter and John answered and said to them, “Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you more than to God, you judge. For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard.” – Acts 4.18-20

Every time I read through the book of Acts I get convicted at my lack regular witness of Christ in my lives. I find myself fear man more than I fear God. I find myself loving the praise of men more that loving the praise. It is easy for me to just keep my mouth shut and go on my way.

When I read these things I have to wonder what makes me so different from these men. They were not spiritual superstars. They had their flaws. The battled the flesh. They didn’t always get it. They had doubts and fears. They didn’t always walk by faith. Sometimes they walked by sight.

But here I see a huge difference – they could not shut up about Jesus. They had to keep talking about Him. No matter how many times I read that I still wonder why I am not like that. Sure, I guess I could excuse myself by saying that they has actually seen the resurrected Christ, but isn’t that me walking my sight. Since I didn’t see it it gives me an excuse to be less fervent?

That they had been with Jesus

Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated and untrained men, they marveled. And they realized that they had been with Jesus. – Acts 4.13

Fishermen. Untrained in the word of God. Uneducated. Hardly the kind of guys you might expect to lead the movement to spread the gospel.

And here they were as bold as could be talking about Jesus. Those who heard them marvelled at their words.

And they realised that they had been with Jesus.

They remembered now that Peter and John and been with Jesus and that made all this difference in the world. Now it made sense. These men were bold because they had been with Jesus. They were able to speak even though they were uneducated and untrained because they had been with Jesus.

How does the fact that we have been with Jesus affect us. We claim to be followers of Christ and we my even tell people that, but do our lives reflect that we have been with Him? Does He make a difference? Do people look at you and me and and our testimonies and our lives and compassion and holiness and say ‘O yeah, this guy says He is a Christian?’

Hopefully we all are sending time with Jesus. Do others see that when they see us or does it look more like we have been with the world?

No other name

let it be known to you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead, by Him this man stands here before you whole. This is the ‘stone which was rejected by you builders, which has become the chief cornerstone.’ Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.” – Acts 4.10-12

People have tried everything throughout history to try and get to God. Since man has ‘eternity in his heart’ it is only natural that eternity is going to be on our minds. So men have created all kinds of religions and tried to pave their own way to get to their concept of deity.

People will even tell you today that all roads lead to heaven or that in the end God will save everyone. They will tell you that if if you do your best and your good outweighs your bad you will be saved.

But none of that is going to work.

When Jesus was still alive He said ‘I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one gets to the Father but through me.’ If there were any other way for anyone to go the Father it would make no sense for Jesus to come to earth and die for mankind.

There is no other way and no other name.

That’s why we have to go and share.

Troubles and blessings

Now as they spoke to the people, the priests, the captain of the temple, and the Sadducees came upon them, being greatly disturbed that they taught the people and preached in Jesus the resurrection from the dead. And they laid hands on them, and put them in custody until the next day, for it was already evening. However, many of those who heard the word believed; and the number of the men came to be about five thousand. – Acts 4.1-4

The disciples were faithfully proclaiming the word of God and preaching the gospel. Suddenly an angry crowd approached them. It was made up of the priests, the captain of the temple guard, and the Sadducees who were furious because they preached about Jesus and the resurrection.

Peter and John were arrested for preaching. Bad news, huh?

But look at the rest of the verse – many of those who heard their message believed and the number of believers grew to about 5000 men plus their families. God always see to bless in time of trouble. Way back in the book of Genesis when a new pharaoh arose he was afraid on the huge number of Israelites living in the land so he decided to make their lives miserable – but we read that ‘the more he afflicted them the more they multiplied and grew.’

All of us have a hard times, but we need to remember that these might be just the times that God wants to do His work.

In simplicity

So continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they ate their food with gladness and simplicity of heart, praising God and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved. – Acts 2.46-47

Religion is usually a mess. Religion can get cumbersome and burdensome and and very, very, very complicated. It can be such a mess that it takes the place of a relationship with God and each other. It is such a mess that it leads to wars and conflicts and divisions.

The early church though didn’t have these problems. They visited and shared meals from house to house. They ate their meals with gladness and with a simplicity of heart. They praised God and had favour with their neighbours and people were being saved.

It’s that simplicity of heart that struck me. These Christians just lived that simple life that appealed to so many through the centuries. No glitz, no glamour, no big shows – just a simple life.

What a difference that made in those days. As others watched these Christians they just went about their daily lives living for Jesus and talking about Him.

Our biggest impact today is not going to come through great shows and productions and lights and glitz and glamour. Those might grab attention and God can use anything, but our impact is in how we live simple lives from day to day faithfully loving and caring and sharing.

No one had need

Now all who believed were together, and had all things in common, and sold their possessions and goods, and divided them among all, as anyone had need. – Acts 2.44-45

Amongst all the other things the early church did was this ability to make sure that no one in the church ever had to do without. We have to remember that the early church was in one of the poorest regions in what we now call the Middle East. Daily life was a struggle. Everyone lived in a way that we today would call paycheque to paycheque.

Many early Christians didn’t even have that much. There were some wealthy believers, but there were many, many, who barely got by.

But now they were one body, one family, and one church. If one part of the body suffers they whole body suffers. Those who had gave to make sure that those who had not could get by. It was so dramatic here that those who had often gave all to give to a common purse so that everyone shared – no one had too much and no one had to little.

The church today still is one body. We still ought to take care of each other. There is no cause for anyone to do without. It is our job to take care of each other. In our modern culture we have passed much of that responsibility on to governments.  We pay taxes in part to help others.

But at the end of the day, when it comes to our brothers and sisters in Christ, it is our job, not the government’s job.

No one has need ought to be as true for us as it was for the early church.

Steadfast

Then those who gladly received his word were baptised; and that day about three thousand souls were added to them. And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers. – Acts 2.41-42

There is a lot to admire about the early church and its practices. They fellowshipped and obeyed the teaching of the disciples and broke bread and took care of each other and so much more. What really sticks out to me is that they continued steadfastly in these things.

They just stuck with it. They didn’t quit. They didn’t give up.

Its that plodding, persistent, persevering spirit that has allowed the church to survive and grow and spread to all the world over the last 2,000 years. While there have been great revivals and some massive movement of the Holy Spirit for most of the world and for most of history for the most part the church has persisted by faithfully loving God, loving others, and spreading the good news of salvation to a still dark and still dying world.

There are few superstars through the years who have books written and stories told and movies made and thank God for their faithful service and the way God used them.

He vast majority of us though are the weak and foolish and baser things of this world heeding the words to ‘be steadfast, unmovable, and always abounding in the work of the Lord.’

May God strengthen you and me to continue steadfastly in following Him.

The way of life

For David says concerning Him:
‘I foresaw the Lord always before my face,
For He is at my right hand, that I may not be shaken.
Therefore my heart rejoiced, and my tongue was glad;
Moreover my flesh also will rest in hope.
For You will not leave my soul in Hades,
Nor will You allow Your Holy One to see corruption.
You have made known to me the ways of life;
You will make me full of joy in Your presence.’ – Acts 2.25-28

When the Jesus and His disciples preached they used the Old Testament that the Jews knew. A lot of names stood out, but when they really wanted a voice that the Jews would see as authoritative they would reference David. Here Luke quotes Psalm 16 where David prophetically quotes Jesus.

Part of the blessings of a relationship with God He has made known the ‘way of life.’  He has made know the way of life for this world and for the world to come. We think a lot about the way of eternal life, but eternal life starts here and now in this life. Our way of life on earth is to live in love and humility and kindness and goodness and grace and caring for others and sharing our faith with a lost world around us. It is a life that makes an impact on the world around us. The way of life should make the world better because we were here.

The way of life doesn’t end here now. The way of life goes on for all eternity. The way of life here is always going to have its bumps and its hard times and God gives us the ability and strength to get through with joy and peace. But the way of life in eternity will be all joy in God’s presence.

Jesus is the way of life, now and for eternity.