The Encounter that is Life-Shaping

“Now when forty years had passed, an angel appeared to him in the wilderness of Mount Sinai, in a flame of fire in a bush. When Moses saw it, he was amazed at the sight, and as he drew near to look, there came the voice of the Lord: ‘I am the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham and of Isaac and of Jacob.’ And Moses trembled and did not dare to look. Then the Lord said to him, ‘Take off the sandals from your feet, for the place where you are standing is holy ground. I have surely seen the affliction of my people who are in Egypt, and have heard their groaning, and I have come down to deliver them. And now come, I will send you to Egypt’” (Acts 7:30-34).

Stephen described Moses’ life-changing encounter with God. Moses had run in fear and frustration from his high position in Egypt. He had been humbled by 40 years of nomadic life in the Midian wilderness. But God was not done with him yet. God’s plan had not changed. In fact, God was preparing him for greatness. Through God’s grace, Moses would become an effective servant leader and deliverer of His children. This final and most productive part of Moses’ life and ministry began as the 80-year-old shepherd was confronted by much more than a burning bush. Moses experienced the encounter that is life-shaping.

Moses encountered the surety of God. God introduced Himself to Moses with the familiar, covenant affirming words… “I am the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham and of Isaac and of Jacob”. He reminded Moses that despite the outward appearance of Israel’s slavery and his own exile, He was going to fulfill His promises of a homeland and a Messiah for His children. The Messiah promise has been fulfilled in Christ… “And he said to them, ‘O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken! Was it not necessary that the Christ should suffer these things and enter into his glory?’ And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he interpreted to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself” (Luke 24:25-27). The permanent homeland promise will be fulfilled soon… “But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ” (Philippians 3:20). As we journey toward heaven, our faith is matured by a daily life-shaping encounter with the surety of God.

Moses encountered the sacredness of God. He is completely set apart from that which is ordinary or common. There is no place in His character for unrighteousness or sin. He will not even look at unholiness… “You who are of purer eyes than to see evil and cannot look at wrong” (Habakkuk 1:13). Our sin separates us from God, yet He longs to enjoy fellowship with the people He has created… “Behold, the LORD’s hand is not shortened, that it cannot save, or his ear dull, that it cannot hear; but your iniquities have made a separation between you and your God, and your sins have hidden his face from you so that he does not hear” (Isaiah 59:1-2). Stephen recalled the detail of God commanding Moses to… “Take off the sandals from your feet, for the place where you are standing is holy ground”. He reminded his audience, the Jewish Council along with us, that it’s possible to draw near to God only if our sin is atoned for. Stephen knew Christ alone had authority to forgive sin… “But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins” (Matthew 9:6). Maturing disciples enjoy increasing intimacy with God because Christ has forgiven us and restored us to fellowship with our wonderful Father… “But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ” (Ephesians 2:13). Let’s enjoy a daily life-shaping encounter with God by trusting Christ, confessing sin, removing distractions, and creating and maintaining a precious place to enjoy the sacredness of God.

Moses encountered the sensitivity of God. God was aware of and responsive to the suffering of His children… “I have surely seen the affliction of my people who are in Egypt, and have heard their groaning, and I have come down to deliver them”. Jesus demonstrated the sensitivity and compassion of God when He responded to the needs of those around Him… “When he saw the crowds, he had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd” (Matthew 9:36). When we have a daily life-shaping encounter with Christ, His compassion compels us to meet the needs of others and show them the sensitivity of God.

As we grow up into Christ, we are compelled to share Him with others because we have experienced…

The Encounter that is Life-Shaping.

The Heart that is Misunderstood

“When he was forty years old, it came into his heart to visit his brothers, the children of Israel. And seeing one of them being wronged, he defended the oppressed man and avenged him by striking down the Egyptian. He supposed that his brothers would understand that God was giving them salvation by his hand, but they did not understand. And on the following day he appeared to them as they were quarreling and tried to reconcile them, saying, ‘Men, you are brothers. Why do you wrong each other?’ But the man who was wronging his neighbor thrust him aside, saying, ‘Who made you a ruler and a judge over us? Do you want to kill me as you killed the Egyptian yesterday?’ At this retort Moses fled and became an exile in the land of Midian, where he became the father of two sons” (Acts 7:23-29).

As Moses grew up in Pharaoh’s palace, his mind was filled up with the wisdom of Egypt but his heart was consumed with a love for His Hebrew brothers and sisters. The Lord was at work, establishing Moses as a leader… “And Moses was instructed in all the wisdom of the Egyptians, and he was mighty in his words and deeds” (Acts 7:22), but not everyone acknowledged his leadership... “Who made you a ruler and a judge over us?” (Acts 7:27). God was indeed preparing Moses for an important mission that would require him to become an effective servant leader. It was going to take time, about 40 years of wilderness preparation, but today we see Moses learning his first leadership lesson. The heart of a servant leader is often the heart that is misunderstood.

The servant leader’s heart is cultivated by grace. Despite the comfort and opulence of palace life, Moses never forgot the way God protected and provided for him at the very beginning of his life. He probably often wondered why me? He could not deny that God’s hand of blessing rested upon him and was constantly working in him, setting him apart from Egyptians and Hebrews alike, and preparing him for something special. He was living in the lap of Egyptian luxury but he was not comfortable with it. That’s what God’s grace does in all disciples of Jesus Christ… “For the grace of God has appeared… training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age” (Titus 2:11-12). God’s grace is cultivating our hearts to live in a fallen world without becoming part of it, keeping our hearts focused on Jesus Christ and the glory to come… “waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ” (Titus 2:13). Others do not understand, but growing disciples know that God uses the trials of today to prepare us for eternity as our hearts are cultivated by His grace.

The servant leader’s heart is compelled by mercy. When Moses became a man, “it came into his heart” to come to the defense of an oppressed Hebrew brother. Despite the insulation of palace life and luxury, Moses’ heart was still sensitive and responsive to the leading of God, who had great compassion for His children… “I have surely seen the affliction of my people who are in Egypt and have heard their cry because of their taskmasters. I know their sufferings” (Exodus 3:7). God’s compassion compelled Him to forgive the sins of His children and deliver them from their oppression, even though they did not deserve such mercy, and in Moses God found a mercy-filled and compassion-driven heart like His own… “Come, I will send you to Pharaoh that you may bring my people, the children of Israel, out of Egypt” (Exodus 3:10). Like Moses, we can be a reflection of God’s forgiveness to others if our heart is compelled by mercy.

The servant leader’s heart is contrite and humble. When Moses was misunderstood and rejected by his Hebrew brother, his heart was broken and he ran. We can be encouraged here by the truth that God does not require a perfect heart to serve Him. In fact, God is very present and active in the most humble and contrite heart… “I dwell in the high and holy place, and also with him who is of a contrite and lowly spirit, to revive the spirit of the lowly, and to revive the heart of the contrite” (Isaiah 57:15). God followed Moses into the wilderness of Midian and kept working on his heart, and He will do the same for future servant leaders like us if we too, keep our heart contrite and humble.

As we grow up into Christ, His grace prepares us for servant leadership by forming in us…

The Heart that is Misunderstood.

The Faith that is Commendable

“But as the time of the promise drew near, which God had granted to Abraham, the people increased and multiplied in Egypt until there arose over Egypt another king who did not know Joseph. He dealt shrewdly with our race and forced our fathers to expose their infants, so that they would not be kept alive. At this time Moses was born; and he was beautiful in God’s sight. And he was brought up for three months in his father’s house, and when he was exposed, Pharaoh’s daughter adopted him and brought him up as her own son. And Moses was instructed in all the wisdom of the Egyptians, and he was mighty in his words and deeds” (Acts 7:17-22).

The Holy Spirit inspired Stephen to remind the council about Moses. He recalled that there were many changes during the 430 years of Israel’s sojourn in Egypt. The Israelites increased in number and became a strong, contributing workforce in the growth of Egypt. There were political changes that led to the abuse and persecution of the Hebrews. A new king who did not know or respect the God of Joseph ordered a terrible kind of birth control in order to slow the amazing growth of the Jewish population. It was difficult for the Jews to see through the mounting persecution and to remember God’s promise to Abram… “Then the LORD said to Abram, ‘Know for certain that your offspring will be sojourners in a land that is not theirs and will be servants there, and they will be afflicted for four hundred years. But I will bring judgment on the nation that they serve, and afterward they shall come out with great possessions’” (Genesis 15:13-14). Like the children of Israel in Egypt, we live like exiles in this temporal world as we journey toward our promised land, heaven. We are encouraged today by Stephen’s testimony, to overcome the difficulties of this life by exercising the faith that is commendable.

Commendable faith remembers the promise is pending. Despite the physical evidence, God’s promise to Abram was approaching. Despite what we see in our daily lives, God’s promises to us are always drawing nearer too… “For all the promises of God find their Yes in him. That is why it is through him that we utter our Amen to God for his glory” (2 Corinthians 1:20). That’s because the promises of God do not depend on what’s happening around us or on what others might do to us. The promises of God depend on His character and His faithfulness… “Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful” (Hebrews 10:23). Let your trials direct your heart toward God where your faith will be refreshed and encouraged by His amazing faithfulness and you’ll be reminded that despite the physical evidence, God’s promises are pending.

Commendable faith knows the people will be persecuted. The new Egyptian king was disturbed by the prosperity of the Jews. We can be sure that others will be jealous of our peace and confidence in the midst of tough times. Often, they attack or provoke us to see if our faith is real… “If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you” (John 15:19). Let persecution remind you that your faith is being noticed by others as you wait for God’s promises to arrive and rejoice as one of His people who are persecuted.

Commendable faith believes the servant will be saved. Into the middle of this trying time, God’s servant leader Moses was born. God wonderfully preserved Moses’ life and intentionally placed him right in the house and family of the king. No one saw clearly or understood what God’s purpose for this special child was, but his faithful parents and the pagan first family were used in God’s perfect plan to fulfill His promise to His children. We can trust that even when we cannot see His hand moving, God is at work fulfilling His promises to us… “For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope” (Jeremiah 29:11). In fact, God is always at work in every situation, fulfilling His good promises for those who love and serve Him… “And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose” (Romans 8:28). Let your trials move you to serve the God who is sovereign over all that happens to you, and you will be His servant that is saved.

As we grow up into Christ, we rise above the trials of this temporary life as we grow in…

The Faith that is Commendable.

The Life that Points to Christ

“And the patriarchs, jealous of Joseph, sold him into Egypt; but God was with him and rescued him out of all his afflictions and gave him favor and wisdom before Pharaoh, king of Egypt, who made him ruler over Egypt and over all his household. Now there came a famine throughout all Egypt and Canaan, and great affliction, and our fathers could find no food. But when Jacob heard that there was grain in Egypt, he sent out our fathers on their first visit. And on the second visit Joseph made himself known to his brothers, and Joseph’s family became known to Pharaoh. And Joseph sent and summoned Jacob his father and all his kindred, seventy-five persons in all. And Jacob went down into Egypt, and he died, he and our fathers, and they were carried back to Shechem and laid in the tomb that Abraham had bought for a sum of silver from the sons of Hamor in Shechem” (Acts 7:9-16).

The Holy Spirit inspired Stephen to remind the council about Joseph. As a young man he was sold into slavery in the foreign land of Egypt… “but God was with him… and gave him favor and wisdom before Pharaoh”. Later, as a ruler in Egypt, Joseph would summon his father and his family to come from the land of famine and death into a land of abundance and life. God’s grace was at work in all the ups and downs of Joseph’s life. The same grace is at work in us today, creating in us the same kind of new, Christ-like life we see here in Joseph… “And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers” (Romans 8:28-29). In the details of Stephen’s reflection on Joseph, we are encouraged by the grace that is at work in every area of our lives, forming in us the life that points to Christ.

Jesus entered into our fallen world. I am amazed that Christ left heaven and entered into the brokenness of my fallen world to save me… “though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross” (Philippians 2:6-8). As we mature in the faith and in our fellowship with Him, we are challenged by the Spirit of Christ that lives in us to enter into the messy, broken lives of the lost and hurting that surround us. It’s where He wants to be, and He wants us to be there with Him too.

Jesus rules over our fallen world. When we follow Christ into the tough lives of others, our awareness of His presence increases… “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age” (Matthew 28:19-20). In the brokenness and hurt of the lives of sinners He reveals Himself as Savior and Lord by exercising His authority through us… “Behold, I have given you authority to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall hurt you” (Luke 10:19). As we know Him better, our faith in His power increases and we see Christ’s rule manifest over the enemy as we exercise His authority in serving others.

Jesus summons us from our fallen world. Stephen’s testimony reminded the council that after revealing himself to his brothers, Joseph summoned his whole family to come from the land of famine and death into the land of abundance and life. What a beautiful reminder that the primary reason Christ left heaven and entered our fallen world is to seek and to save the lost… “For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost” (Luke 19:10). Christ in us compels us to summon the lost in our world to come to Him to receive new, abundant life… “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly” (John 10:10). As we grow in Christ, we reflect the peace and joy of our new abundant life to the lost and searching around us.

As we grow up into Christ, His grace works in us to make us more like Him so we can show the world…

The Life that Points to Christ.

The Promises that are Fulfilled in Christ

And the high priest said, “Are these things so?” And Stephen said: “Brothers and fathers, hear me. The God of glory appeared to our father Abraham when he was in Mesopotamia, before he lived in Haran, and said to him, ‘Go out from your land and from your kindred and go into the land that I will show you.’ Then he went out from the land of the Chaldeans and lived in Haran. And after his father died, God removed him from there into this land in which you are now living. Yet he gave him no inheritance in it, not even a foot’s length, but promised to give it to him as a possession and to his offspring after him, though he had no child. And God spoke to this effect—that his offspring would be sojourners in a land belonging to others, who would enslave them and afflict them four hundred years. ‘But I will judge the nation that they serve,’ said God, ‘and after that they shall come out and worship me in this place.’ And he gave him the covenant of circumcision. And so Abraham became the father of Isaac, and circumcised him on the eighth day, and Isaac became the father of Jacob, and Jacob of the twelve patriarchs (Acts 7:1-8).

The high priest gave Stephen a chance to respond to the false witnesses that accused him of preaching that Jesus would destroy the temple and change the law of Moses. Stephen was a simple deacon, a servant to the widows among the new Christian community of Jerusalem, but the Lord filled him with faith and the Holy Spirit and as he boldly shared the gospel, the Lord confirmed his preaching with… “great wonders and signs among the people” (Acts 6:8). While many believed the gospel, the Jewish council felt Stephen’s message threatened the established religious order. When he was arrested and brought before the council, Stephen experienced the fulfillment of Jesus’ promise that the Holy Spirit will give us the words to share when we are judged for sharing His gospel… “And when they bring you before the synagogues and the rulers and the authorities, do not be anxious about how you should defend yourself or what you should say, for the Holy Spirit will teach you in that very hour what you ought to say” (Luke 12:11-12). The Spirit did teach Stephen what to say to the council, and as we listen in, the Spirit explains how Jesus did not destroy the temple and law, but they are among the promises that are fulfilled in Christ.

Christ fulfilled the promise of the temple. Stephen reminded the council of the promise of a homeland to Abraham and his offspring… “Then the LORD appeared to Abram and said, ‘To your offspring I will give this land.’” (Genesis 12:7). Central to their homeland was the temple, their place of worship. The temple would indeed be destroyed soon and the Jews would be dispersed around the world. Christ followers among them would carry the gospel to the four corners of the world, but when Jesus talked of the destruction and three-day resurrection of a temple, He was speaking of His own death and resurrection… “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up… But he was speaking about the temple of his body. When therefore he was raised from the dead, his disciples remembered that he had said this, and they believed the Scripture and the word that Jesus had spoken” (John 2:19-22). Christ living in us has made us the temple of His Holy Spirit… “Do you not know that you are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in you?” (1 Corinthians 3:16). Christ fulfills the promise of the temple as the place of true spiritual worship for every true believer.

Christ fulfilled the promise of offspring. Beyond promising Abraham offspring, God promised that his descendants would be a blessing to the whole world… “and in your offspring shall all the nations of the earth be blessed, because you have obeyed my voice” (Genesis 22:18). The Bible identifies Christ as the fulfillment of this promise… “Now the promises were made to Abraham and to his offspring… who is Christ” (Galatians 3:16). Christ fulfills the promise of the offspring blessing by purchasing salvation.

Christ fulfilled the promise of protection. God promised to protect Israel through the time of their Egyptian enslavement. In Christ, the believer is protected through this temporal life and promised eternal life in heaven… “I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand” (John 10:28). Christ fulfills the promise of protection and deliverance for His children.

As we grow up into Christ, we experience the blessing of all of…

The Promises that are Fulfilled in Christ.

The Heart of a Servant Leader

And Stephen, full of grace and power, was doing great wonders and signs among the people. Then some of those who belonged to the synagogue of the Freedmen (as it was called), and of the Cyrenians, and of the Alexandrians, and of those from Cilicia and Asia, rose up and disputed with Stephen. But they could not withstand the wisdom and the Spirit with which he was speaking. Then they secretly instigated men who said, “We have heard him speak blasphemous words against Moses and God.” And they stirred up the people and the elders and the scribes, and they came upon him and seized him and brought him before the council, and they set up false witnesses who said, “This man never ceases to speak words against this holy place and the law, for we have heard him say that this Jesus of Nazareth will destroy this place and will change the customs that Moses delivered to us.” And gazing at him, all who sat in the council saw that his face was like the face of an angel (Acts 6:8-15).

Seven men were chosen to serve the widows, but one stands out. The Holy Spirit inspired Luke to draw our attention to Stephen, who had captured the interest of the community of believers and provoked the anger of the religious leaders. What was different about Stephen? His heart to serve the community of believers had taken him far beyond ministering to the widows, and he was zealously sharing the gospel message with as many people as he could. The opposition wasn’t angered by the… “great wonders and signs” that confirmed his message. They were provoked by the unbeatable… “wisdom and the spirit with which he was speaking”. As we examine the character of this young deacon, I believe the Holy Spirit will encourage us with more truth about the heart of a servant leader.

The servant leader’s heart is compelled by a love for the lost. Stephen did not seek a high-profile position in the new community of believers. Instead he humbly accepted a position of service among the needy, but he sought out every opportunity to share the gospel. He understood and was compelled by the truth that we have one great commission… “Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation. Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned” (Mark 16:15-16). When our heart is compelled by the truth that the gospel makes all the difference in the eternal salvation or condemnation of people, like Stephen, we seek and use every opportunity to serve others and to share the soul saving gospel of Jesus Christ.

The servant leader’s heart is full of grace and power. Because he was obedient to Christ’s command to be a witness wherever he was called to serve, Stephen placed himself in a position to be used by God. The Lord’s grace went to work in his heart, transforming Stephen’s will and conforming his works to the will and work of God. The Spirit inspired Paul to teach that this same grace is at work in the heart of every humble, willing disciple… “for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure” (Philippians 2:13). As he served the widows, Stephen preached the gospel and it was confirmed by wonders and signs, but these were outward signs of the supernatural grace and power that was quietly working in his heart. This same grace works in our heart through faith, humility, and obedience.

The servant leader’s heart is intimate with Christ. In Stephen, the council saw the face of an angel. I believe it was a reflection of the glory of Christ that came from much intimate fellowship between this young man and His Savior. The Spirit inspired Paul to teach that reflecting the glory of the Lord is something He wants all of us to do… “And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit” (2 Corinthians 3:18). What do people see in our face? The more time we spend with Jesus, the more they will see His glory in us.

As we grow up into Christ, like Stephen, we seize every opportunity to share His gospel as God’s grace nurtures within us…

The Heart of a Servant Leader.

The Character of Christ-Like Servant Leadership

Now in these days when the disciples were increasing in number, a complaint by the Hellenists arose against the Hebrews because their widows were being neglected in the daily distribution. And the twelve summoned the full number of the disciples and said, “It is not right that we should give up preaching the word of God to serve tables. Therefore, brothers, pick out from among you seven men of good repute, full of the Spirit and of wisdom, whom we will appoint to this duty. But we will devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word.” And what they said pleased the whole gathering, and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit, and Philip, and Prochorus, and Nicanor, and Timon, and Parmenas, and Nicolaus, a proselyte of Antioch. These they set before the apostles, and they prayed and laid their hands on them. And the word of God continued to increase, and the number of the disciples multiplied greatly in Jerusalem, and a great many of the priests became obedient to the faith (Acts 6:1-7).

The community of believers was growing as a result of the apostles and disciples’ obedience to God’s unbeatable plan. The disciples were… “increasing in number” despite external opposition from the Jewish leaders. Now they were faced with an internal issue. Some of the Hellenist, or Greek speaking widows were being neglected when food was being distributed to the poor. This called for some wise action on the part of the apostles, who must continue to be devoted to God’s plan by preaching the word. They urged the disciples to search among themselves for seven special people. The Holy Spirit led them to choose seven outstanding men who would become the first deacons, or servant ministers in the local church. These men had good reputations because they were full of the character of Christ-like servant leadership.

Servant leaders are full of the Holy Spirit. It’s not natural to serve others because serving others means putting the needs of others first. The Holy Spirit inspired Paul to exhort disciples to this spiritual calling… “Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others” (Philippians 2:4). Those of us who profess to be disciples of Jesus Christ are to embrace and reflect His servant character… “Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men” (Philippians 2:5-7). As we are filled with the Holt Spirit, He conquers our fleshly nature and helps us put on the servant leadership character of Jesus Christ.

Servant leaders are full of wisdom. These new servant leaders would have to be filled with wisdom as they assumed the responsibility of managing the community’s offerings to meet the community’s needs. They would need the kind of skill that comes from seeking God’s perspective in order to know how to discern and meet the real needs of those they were serving. This kind of wisdom is not natural, it is spiritual… “The wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere” (James 3:17). This spiritual wisdom is available to all true disciples that ask for it in faith… “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him. But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind” (James 1:5-6). When we feel the call to serve but lack wisdom, we can ask in faith and trust that God will fill us with His wisdom for the task.

Servant leaders are full of faith. The Holy Spirit compelled Luke to make a special note here that the first deacon chosen, Stephen, was… “a man full of faith”. We already noted that being full of wisdom requires asking in faith. It’s also true that believing in God’s provision for our individual needs as well as for meeting the needs of others requires faith… “My God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:19). As we humbly and faithfully serve others, God moves through us to supernaturally meet their needs and He gets all the glory.

As we grow up into Christ, we can move on to higher levels of Christ-like service as He develops in us…

The Character of Christ-Like Servant Leadership.

The Plan that Cannot Fail

When they heard this, they were enraged and wanted to kill them. But a Pharisee in the council named Gamaliel, a teacher of the law held in honor by all the people, stood up and gave orders to put the men outside for a little while. And he said to them, “Men of Israel, take care what you are about to do with these men. For before these days Theudas rose up, claiming to be somebody, and a number of men, about four hundred, joined him. He was killed, and all who followed him were dispersed and came to nothing. After him Judas the Galilean rose up in the days of the census and drew away some of the people after him. He too perished, and all who followed him were scattered. So in the present case I tell you, keep away from these men and let them alone, for if this plan or this undertaking is of man, it will fail; but if it is of God, you will not be able to overthrow them. You might even be found opposing God!” So they took his advice, and when they had called in the apostles, they beat them and charged them not to speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go. Then they left the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer dishonor for the name. And every day, in the temple and from house to house, they did not cease teaching and preaching that the Christ is Jesus (Acts 5:33-42).

The Jewish council was enraged by the success of the apostles. They had filled Jerusalem with their teaching and God confirmed their message as… “many signs and wonders were regularly done among the people by the hands of the apostles” (Acts 5:12). The most alarming result was a growing community of those who believed that Jesus is the Christ… “more than ever believers were added to the Lord, multitudes of both men and women” (Acts 5:14). The Jewish elders believed the only way to stop this movement was to kill the apostles. But the Lord moved a God-fearing and respected leader, Gamaliel, to stand up and speak some important truth. Through Gamaliel’s words, the reaction of the council, and the response of the apostles the Holy Spirit exhorts us to seek and follow the plan that cannot fail.

The plan of God cannot be overthrown. Gamaliel shared two recent examples of men who claimed to be the Christ. They gathered large numbers of followers but perished along with their plans and their movements. Because mankind is fallen and controlled by a sinful heart, without the grace of God working through our heart, all of our plans are imperfect and destined to fail… “Unless the LORD builds the house, those who build it labor in vain. Unless the LORD watches over the city, the watchman stays awake in vain” (Psalm 127:1). But when we are born again we have the grace of God at work in us, conforming our will to His perfect will… “for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure” (Philippians 2:13). He gives us the mind of Christ… “’For who has understood the mind of the Lord so as to instruct him?’ But we have the mind of Christ” (1 Corinthians 2:16). As we discover and pursue His plan, God grants success and victory… “Many are the plans in the mind of a man, but it is the purpose of the LORD that will stand” (Proverbs 19:21). Let’s seek and be devoted to God’s perfect plan today.

The plan of God may bring suffering. The council had the apostles beaten and they repeated their charge to stop speaking in the name of Jesus. There were two contrasting results of the apostles’ proclamation of Jesus Christ. There was the advance of God’s kingdom evidenced by signs and by increasing numbers of new believers and the increase of opposition that produced suffering. The apostles rejoiced that they suffered for Christ. The Spirit moved Paul to encourage us to share in Christ’s suffering too… “that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death” (Philippians 3:10). Suffering for Christ is part of becoming more like Him.

The plan of God is worthy of wholehearted devotion. Plans that originate in God’s heart are good, guaranteed, and glorify Him… “For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope” (Jeremiah 29:11). God gets the glory and we get the blessings when we are wholeheartedly devoted to His perfect plan.

As we grow up into Christ, we learn to set aside our personal plans and give ourselves to…

The Plan that Cannot Fail.

The Blessings of Obedience

And when they had brought them, they set them before the council. And the high priest questioned them, saying, “We strictly charged you not to teach in this name, yet here you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching, and you intend to bring this man’s blood upon us.” But Peter and the apostles answered, “We must obey God rather than men. The God of our fathers raised Jesus, whom you killed by hanging him on a tree. God exalted him at his right hand as Leader and Savior, to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins. And we are witnesses to these things, and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey him” (Acts 5:27-32).

The apostles were brought before the Jewish leaders again to answer for their disobedience. They had been strictly charged not to teach in the name of Jesus Christ. They answered even more clearly than before… “We must obey God rather than men”. Disciples like you and me are consistently faced with the same choice, to obey God or men because we live in a fallen and unbelieving world. Jesus said obedience is evidence of true love… “If you love me, you will keep my commandments” (John 14:15). He went on to say that there are wonderful blessings for obedience, the best of which is growing intimacy and fellowship with the Father and His Son… “If anyone loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him” (John 14:23). Today we see that the apostles experienced three wonderful blessings as the result of their choice to obey God rather than men, and we are encouraged to follow their example so that we might also enjoy the blessings of obedience.

Obedient disciples receive the Holy Spirit. Jesus promised the gift of the Holy Spirit to more than 500 followers just before His ascension… “Behold, I am sending the promise of my Father upon you. But stay in the city until you are clothed with power from on high” (Luke 24:49). Those who obeyed His command received the fulfillment of the promise on the day of Pentecost… “When the day of Pentecost arrived, they were all together in one place. And suddenly there came from heaven a sound like a mighty rushing wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. And divided tongues as of fire appeared to them and rested on each one of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance” (Acts 2:1-4). As Christ’s disciples, we have this same promise… “Peter said to them, ‘Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise is for you and for your children and for all who are far off, everyone whom the Lord our God calls to himself’” (Acts 2:38-39). As we increasingly obey the Lord we can expect His Holy Spirit to fill and lead us more and more.

Obedient disciples receive boldness to witness. Despite being commanded not to teach in the name of Jesus Christ, the apostles were fully engaged in healing, delivering, and sharing the gospel in His name. There was no fear in their hearts because their obedience reflected the love for Christ that filled their hearts and Christ’s love drives away fear… “There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love” (1 John 4:18). Their obedience led to boldness because they were so filled with the Holy Spirit’s power there was no room for any fear in their hearts… “for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control” (2 Timothy 1:7). Our increasing obedience leads to increasing boldness and confidence in serving Christ.

Obedient disciples experience success. The Jewish elders confirmed the Lord’s anointing and blessing on the ministry of the apostles with the words… “you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching”. Obedience places us in position to receive God’s blessing as we serve Him… “Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and keep it!” (Luke 11:28). Our increasing obedience yields God’s increasing blessing on our efforts to serve Him and to share His glorious gospel.

As we grow up into Christ, listening to and obeying His precious word, we increasingly enjoy…

The Blessings of Obedience.

The Words that Promise Life

But the high priest rose up, and all who were with him (that is, the party of the Sadducees), and filled with jealousy they arrested the apostles and put them in the public prison. But during the night an angel of the Lord opened the prison doors and brought them out, and said, “Go and stand in the temple and speak to the people all the words of this Life.” And when they heard this, they entered the temple at daybreak and began to teach. Now when the high priest came, and those who were with him, they called together the council, all the senate of the people of Israel, and sent to the prison to have them brought. But when the officers came, they did not find them in the prison, so they returned and reported, “We found the prison securely locked and the guards standing at the doors, but when we opened them we found no one inside.” Now when the captain of the temple and the chief priests heard these words, they were greatly perplexed about them, wondering what this would come to. And someone came and told them, “Look! The men whom you put in prison are standing in the temple and teaching the people.” Then the captain with the officers went and brought them, but not by force, for they were afraid of being stoned by the people (Acts 5:17-26).

Once again, the message of the apostles stirred up strong reactions among the people. Many were healed and delivered through the supernatural signs the Lord granted to confirm the preaching of the gospel of life. Many believed in Jesus Christ and were added to the number of disciples in the community at Jerusalem… “And more than ever believers were added to the Lord, multitudes of both men and women” (Acts 5:14). Jesus taught that the gospel was and still is a message of hope beyond despair and of life beyond death, and it convicts and prompts a response from all who hear it… “Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life. He does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life” (John 5:24). Today we are exhorted by the words of the angel of the Lord to the apostles to boldly proclaim to our generation the words that promise life.

The Sadducees did not believe in life after death… “There came to him some Sadducees, those who deny that there is a resurrection” (Luke 20:27). How sad and hopeless to hold to such an empty belief in a fallen world where we are confronted by death all the time. There is the death of a shattered dream, a fractured relationship, a broken promise, as well as the ever-approaching end of this physical life. To believe there is no life after death is to be captive to despair fueled by the lie that we are prisoners of our circumstances and of this material world. Peter and the disciples recognized that the gospel proclaimed by Jesus Christ offers hope beyond every trial and life beyond every death… “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life” (John 6:68). In Christ, maturing disciples know that death is not the final word, and we look forward to ultimate victory and eternal life in glory!

The Angel of the Lord brought life to the death of the prison. Don’t miss the wonderful example of life breaking into the death of the prison cell. The apostles’ gospel ministry had been shut down with their arrest and imprisonment, but the angel of the Lord raised them up and set them free to continue sharing the gospel. Jesus brings life to any dark, dead-end situation… “In him was life, and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it” (John 1:4-5). As our faith in Christ grows we learn to anticipate life beyond the seeming terminal trials we may face today.

The disciples were set free and called to preach… “the words of this life”. All truly born again disciples have experienced new life in Christ and we know that the difference between eternal life and death is possessing the Son of God through faith… “Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life” (1 John 5:12). As our fellowship with Jesus grows, His life fills us and we are compelled to share… “the words of this life” with others.

As we grow up into Christ, we are transformed by and compelled to share with others…

The Words that Promise Life.

The Heart that Invites God’s Power

Now many signs and wonders were regularly done among the people by the hands of the apostles. And they were all together in Solomon’s Portico. None of the rest dared join them, but the people held them in high esteem. And more than ever believers were added to the Lord, multitudes of both men and women, so that they even carried out the sick into the streets and laid them on cots and mats, that as Peter came by at least his shadow might fall on some of them. The people also gathered from the towns around Jerusalem, bringing the sick and those afflicted with unclean spirits, and they were all healed (Acts 5:12-16).

The disciples were sold out to building an attractive community and sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ with others. They had a new stewardship attitude toward material possessions. Today the Spirit shows us that the apostles had something more going on… “many signs and wonders were regularly done among the people by the hands of the apostles”. The power of God was working through the apostles to heal the sick and deliver the oppressed. The ultimate result was… “more than ever believers were added to the Lord”. The apostles were fulfilling the Great Commission and God was faithfully fulfilling His promise to confirm their preaching of the gospel with supernatural signs… “Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation… And these signs will accompany those who believe: in my name they will cast out demons; they will speak in new tongues; they will pick up serpents with their hands; and if they drink any deadly poison, it will not hurt them; they will lay their hands on the sick, and they will recover” (Mark 16:15-18). The Lord has not changed and He still works through us to attract people to Jesus if we imitate the apostles and serve Him with the heart that invites God’s power.

The apostles had a heart to serve. The apostles did not form an exclusive community. They were actively engaged with the people around them. It began with Peter and John’s encounter with a crippled man on their way to worship in the temple and it grew to where the apostles were meeting publicly and serving their sick and oppressed neighbors. God saw their serving hearts, filled them with His power, and Jesus got the glory for every answered prayer… “Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes in me will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these will he do, because I am going to the Father. Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son” (John 14:12-13). Even today, our serving heart invites the power of God to work through us to attract others to Christ.

The apostles had a heart of unity. The Spirit compelled Luke to note again that the disciples… “were all together in Solomon’s Portico”. They had a unity of purpose. They wanted to be together in public, among the people, where the Lord could use them to meet the needs of their neighbors and share the gospel with them. The Spirit inspired the writer of Hebrews to teach that unity and fellowship among believers strengthens faith and encourages good works… “Let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near” (Hebrews 10:24-25). A heart for unity with other believers will lead us to fellowship in a local church or ministry where God’s power is at work.

The apostles had a heart for the lost. There may be many reasons for people wanting to see God’s power, but there is one clear reason why God intervenes in the lives of people to demonstrate His power. God’s love for people compels Him to show up when we need Him… “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16). Jesus clearly explained that He came into our world to seek and save the lost… “For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost” (Luke 19:10). God still manifests His presence and His power through the heart that beats with a compelling love for the lost to draw sinners to Jesus Christ.

As we grow up into Christ, His grace transforms our impotent, selfish heart into…

The Heart that Invites God’s Power.

The Virtues that Lead to Blessing

But a man named Ananias, with his wife Sapphira, sold a piece of property, and with his wife’s knowledge he kept back for himself some of the proceeds and brought only a part of it and laid it at the apostles’ feet. But Peter said, “Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and to keep back for yourself part of the proceeds of the land?  While it remained unsold, did it not remain your own? And after it was sold, was it not at your disposal? Why is it that you have contrived this deed in your heart? You have not lied to man but to God.” When Ananias heard these words, he fell down and breathed his last. And great fear came upon all who heard of it. The young men rose and wrapped him up and carried him out and buried him. After an interval of about three hours his wife came in, not knowing what had happened. And Peter said to her, “Tell me whether you sold the land for so much.” And she said, “Yes, for so much.” But Peter said to her, “How is it that you have agreed together to test the Spirit of the Lord? Behold, the feet of those who have buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out.” Immediately she fell down at his feet and breathed her last. When the young men came in they found her dead, and they carried her out and buried her beside her husband. And great fear came upon the whole church and upon all who heard of these things (Acts 5:1-11).

The Spirit confronts us with a dramatic comparison here. In the shadow of Joseph’s sale of property and presentation of the proceeds to the apostles for blessing the needy in the community of believers, we encounter Ananias and Sapphira’s similar offering. The stories have very different endings. Joseph’s actions earn him the blessing of a new nickname… “Barnabas (which means son of encouragement)” (Acts 4:36), while the consequence for Ananias and Sapphira is death. The Holy Spirit leads us to important truth here about the virtues that lead to blessing.

Pleasing God above men leads to blessing. The Spirit gives us a glimpse into Ananias and Sapphira’s motivation here as their action comes on the heels of Joseph’s offering that earned him praise among the apostles and other disciples. Their answers to Peter’s questions implied that they were giving the entire proceeds from the sale of their property and they expected similar praise. They gave in to the temptation of praise from men and lied about keeping back some of the proceeds. Placing man above God brings terrible consequences in the place of His blessings… “The fear of man lays a snare, but whoever trusts in the LORD is safe” (Proverbs 29:25). Ananias and Sapphira experienced the consequences of pleasing men instead of God. We are encouraged by their story to seek the blessings of pleasing God above men.

Delighting in God leads to blessing. Ananias and Sapphira had divided hearts toward God. As our fellowship with Jesus Christ matures we learn to give Him the desires of our heart and He transforms them according to His will. God gave us our passion and when we surrender it to Him He reshapes it into something that can glorify Him, and He returns it to us… “Delight yourself in the LORD, and he will give you the desires of your heart” (Psalm 37:4). This is part of God’s plan to make us more like His Son Jesus Christ who was completely devoted to pleasing His Father… “For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers” (Romans 8:29). Ananias and Sapphira kept part of their heart from God. We are exhorted by their story to trust our whole heart and all of its passions to God.

Being honest with God leads to life. Ananias and Sapphira lied to both God and men. This speaks volumes about their superficial relationship with God who knows all the secrets of our hearts… “If we had forgotten the name of our God or spread out our hands to a foreign god, would not God discover this? For he knows the secrets of the heart” (Psalm 44:20-21). Ultimately it was their artificial relationship with God that led to the consequence of death. We are compelled by their story to invest in a real, growing intimacy and fellowship with God that leads to abundant and eternal life.

As we grow up into Christ, He gets more of our heart as we grow in…

The Virtues that Lead to Blessing.

The Grace that Leads to Generosity

Now the full number of those who believed were of one heart and soul, and no one said that any of the things that belonged to him was his own, but they had everything in common. And with great power the apostles were giving their testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great grace was upon them all. There was not a needy person among them, for as many as were owners of lands or houses sold them and brought the proceeds of what was sold and laid it at the apostles’ feet, and it was distributed to each as any had need. Thus Joseph, who was also called by the apostles Barnabas (which means son of encouragement), a Levite, a native of Cyprus, sold a field that belonged to him and brought the money and laid it at the apostles’ feet (Acts 4:32-37).

There was much external evidence of the presence and power of God in the new community of Christ followers in Jerusalem… “with great power the apostles were giving their testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great grace was upon them all”. There were signs and wonders confirming the testimony of Christ’s resurrection by these young disciples and the community was growing. If we look closer we see that there was also a great work happening in the hearts of the disciples. They had been raised in a culture of ownership where self-worth was measured by how much property or livestock one possessed, but we see here that… “no one said that any of the things that belonged to him was his own, but they had everything in common”. This dramatic change of heart was a deep, internal work of God that resulted in meeting the needs of everyone in the community of believers, and it is very clear evidence of the grace that leads to generosity.

God’s grace creates unity in the Christian community. The disciples… “were of one heart and soul”. Faith in Christ in the midst of the opposition that surrounded them had drawn them together physically, spiritually, and emotionally. The Spirit inspired Paul to describe this unity that is mark of fellowship among true disciples in every age… “There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call— one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all” (Ephesians 4:4-6). The Holy Spirit freely and powerfully works in such a unified community to reflect the generosity and glory of Christ to others inside and outside of the community.

God’s grace transforms possession to stewardship in the Christian community. The common thought of the day, and in fact in every age, has been accumulation and possession of material things. It’s how we measure self-esteem and success. But these new disciples believed they had everything in common. Their focus was changed from possession to stewardship. They saw the things they owned as created by and belonging to Christ… “For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible… all things were created through him and for him. And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together” (Colossians 1:16-17). God’s grace works in the hearts of true disciples to help us learn to be generous with the generosity He shows to us… “You will be enriched in every way to be generous in every way, which through us will produce thanksgiving to God” (2 Corinthians 9:11). Being generous with God’s blessings creates opportunities for us meet needs and introduce others to Jesus Christ.

God’s grace meets every need in the Christian community. The obedience and cooperation of the disciples with the grace of God in their hearts led to a community where… “There was not a needy person among them”. Transformed hearts led to transformed lives where… “owners of lands or houses sold them and brought the proceeds of what was sold and laid it at the apostles’ feet, and it was distributed to each as any had need”. The physical needs of others were being met, but on another level, the spiritual need to become more like Christ was being met in the hearts and souls of the disciples who were experiencing Christ’s promise… “It is more blessed to give than to receive” (Acts 20:35). The Lord works through the generosity of true disciples to meet every need in their lives as they meet the needs of others.

As we grow up into Christ, He blesses us to bless others through…

The Grace that Leads to Generosity.

The Faith that Empowers Us to Witness

When they were released, they went to their friends and reported what the chief priests and the elders had said to them. And when they heard it, they lifted their voices together to God and said, “Sovereign Lord, who made the heaven and the earth and the sea and everything in them, who through the mouth of our father David, your servant, said by the Holy Spirit, “‘Why did the Gentiles rage, and the peoples plot in vain? The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers were gathered together, against the Lord and against his Anointed’— for truly in this city there were gathered together against your holy servant Jesus, whom you anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, along with the Gentiles and the peoples of Israel, to do whatever your hand and your plan had predestined to take place. And now, Lord, look upon their threats and grant to your servants to continue to speak your word with all boldness, while you stretch out your hand to heal, and signs and wonders are performed through the name of your holy servant Jesus.” And when they had prayed, the place in which they were gathered together was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and continued to speak the word of God with boldness (Acts 4:23-31).

Peter and John’s boldness incited the Jewish authorities to charge them… “not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus” (Acts 4:18). The disciples were arrested, threatened, and warned. After making it clear that they chose to obey God rather than man, they were released. Upon their return to the other disciples their report of this encounter inspired an outburst of praise to the sovereignty of God in these events. They recalled the prophetic words of David about the rebellion and rejection of nations and authorities to the true authority of Christ. Their hearts were inspired to continue to… “speak the word of God with boldness” despite the threats of men. We find encouragement here to share the gospel in our resistant generation as we examine the faith that empowers us to witness.

The disciples had faith in the sovereignty of God. They were not blind to the reality that both Jewish and Gentile authorities and people had raged against Christ and crucified Him, but they knew and believed the Word of God that clearly showed that it was all His plan. The Holy Spirit inspired David to write about these events in the Psalms hundreds of years before. This is an affirmation of the complete sovereignty of God in the affairs of mankind… “the Most High rules the kingdom of men and gives it to whom he will and sets over it the lowliest of men” (Daniel 4:17). Believing that God rules over every circumstance and person we encounter every day inspires us to use every moment to share Jesus Christ with someone.

The disciples had faith in the name of Jesus. Peter and John had seen the healing power of the name of Jesus in action… “let it be known to all of you 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 is standing before you well” (Acts 4:10). They gave all the credit and glory to God who performed the miracle through the name of His precious Son. The Spirit reminds us that Jesus promised disciples in all ages that there is great power in His name that will always bring glory to His Father… “Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son” (John 14:13). Whenever we trust in the name of Jesus to meet our need, He responds in God-glorifying ways.

The disciples had faith in the Holy Spirit. God was pleased that Peter and John had chosen to obey Him rather than men. He was blessed by the praise and affirmation of the other disciples in the face of the rejection of the Jewish authorities. He responded by confirming His pleasure with a mild earthquake and with a fresh outpouring of His Spirit. The father loves to fill His faithful disciples with the gift of the Holy Spirit… “If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!” (Luke 11:13). Like the early disciples, we too can… speak the word of God with boldness” when we ask and receive the filling of His Holy Spirit.

As we grow up into Christ, we become more earnest and effective in sharing the gospel through…

The Faith that Empowers Us to Witness.

The Virtues that Inspire Obedience

Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated, common men, they were astonished. And they recognized that they had been with Jesus. But seeing the man who was healed standing beside them, they had nothing to say in opposition. But when they had commanded them to leave the council, they conferred with one another, saying, “What shall we do with these men? For that a notable sign has been performed through them is evident to all the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and we cannot deny it. But in order that it may spread no further among the people, let us warn them to speak no more to anyone in this name.” So they called them and charged them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus. But Peter and John answered them, “Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you rather than to God, you must judge, for we cannot but speak of what we have seen and heard.” And when they had further threatened them, they let them go, finding no way to punish them, because of the people, for all were praising God for what had happened. For the man on whom this sign of healing was performed was more than forty years old (Acts 4:13-22).

Peter and John’s boldness impressed the Jewish authorities even more than the healing of a 40-year-old crippled man! Their boldness not only impressed the Jewish leaders, it scared them enough to compel them to come up with a strategy to stop the spread of the gospel. The Jewish leaders… “charged them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus”. This was a direct conflict with Christ’s command to “Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation” (Mark 16:15). The young disciples were confronted with a choice, to obey Christ or men. Because we live in a fallen world, disciples like you and I are confronted in every generation with the same choice, to obey God or please people. Through Luke’s record of this confrontation, the Holy Spirit reveals to us the virtues that inspire obedience.

The disciples had been with Jesus. The primary, faith building virtue for every disciple is intimate fellowship with Jesus Christ. The Holy Spirit works through our time in the presence of Jesus to transform and make us more like Him… “And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit” (2 Corinthians 3:18). When we listen closely to His Word, Jesus makes us think and reason less like the world and more like Him… “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect” (Romans 12:2). As we learn to discern and pursue His will, we are attracted away from the world and toward obedience to what God says is good, acceptable, and perfect.

The disciples loved Jesus. They were confronted with a choice to obey Christ’s commandment or the ruling of men. Their response revealed who was in control of their heart. There is a direct connection between loving Jesus and obeying Him… “If you love me, you will keep my commandments” (John 14:15). Jesus taught that keeping His Word is evidence that we love Him and He promised to make His home with those who obey Him… “If anyone loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him” (John 14:23). As our love for Jesus grows, our fellowship with Him and our obedience to His Word grows too.

The disciples did not fear men. They had witnessed the cruelty of men poured out on Jesus, and they had witnessed Christ’s resurrection victory over the grave. They had no doubt about life after death and therefore had no fear of the worst that men could do to them. Their confidence in the presence of God with them because they chose His side in this confrontation overcame their fear of men… “The LORD is on my side; I will not fear. What can man do to me?” (Psalm 118:6). The Spirit inspired Paul to echo this virtue in His letter to the Romans… “What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?” (Romans 8:31). Maturing disciples live in the growing peace and love of Christ as the fear of men is overcome in their hearts.

As we grow up into Christ, His grace works in us to develop and mature…

The Virtues that Inspire Obedience.

The Stone that is Our Foundation

On the next day their rulers and elders and scribes gathered together in Jerusalem, with Annas the high priest and Caiaphas and John and Alexander, and all who were of the high-priestly family. And when they had set them in the midst, they inquired, “By what power or by what name did you do this?” Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, “Rulers of the people and elders, if we are being examined today concerning a good deed done to a crippled man, by what means this man has been healed, let it be known to all of you 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 is standing before you well. This Jesus is the stone that was rejected by you, the builders, which has become the cornerstone. And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved” (Acts 4:5-12).

As Peter and John appear before the Jewish authorities to give an account for the healing of a crippled man, we see the fulfillment of another of Jesus’ promises. He promised that the Holy Spirit will give us the words to say when we are brought before the judges of this world so that our testimony will bring glory to Christ… “You will be dragged before governors and kings for my sake, to bear witness before them and the Gentiles. When they deliver you over, do not be anxious how you are to speak or what you are to say, for what you are to say will be given to you in that hour. For it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you” (Matthew 10:18-20). It appears the Holy Spirit even prompted the authorities to ask the right question… “By what power or by what name did you do this?” This opened the door for Peter’s Holy Spirit inspired testimony about the stone that is our foundation.

Jesus is the rejected stone. The Spirit moved Peter to identify Jesus Christ as the stone the Jews rejected by crucifying Him. Jesus came to the Jews first to fulfill God’s promise to His chosen children but they did not receive Him… “He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him” (John 1:11). The Holy Spirit inspired Paul to teach that there were many reasons why the Jews rejected Christ, and every one of them contributes to a spiritual blindness that kept them from understanding the truth… “Yes, to this day whenever Moses is read a veil lies over their hearts” (2 Corinthians 3:15). But God’s grace goes to work removing the veil and revealing the truth about Christ to anyone who turns toward the Lord… “But when one turns to the Lord, the veil is removed” (2 Corinthians 3:16). The same grace is available today to every repentant sinner that responds to the call to turn from sin and turn toward the Lord Jesus Christ.

Jesus is the cornerstone. The Spirit moved Peter to reveal an important truth about the church here. Because there is one name that saves us, we are all united together by our faith in that name. When we trust Christ, we become part of the fellowship of believers that is the church. This makes Jesus Christ the cornerstone in the foundation of our church… “So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone” (Ephesians 2:19-20). Our faith in Christ unites us around the world and across the generations with others of the same faith.

Jesus is the saving stone. The Spirit moved Peter to remind the Jews that God alone was the rock of their salvation. This was another affirmation of the divinity of Jesus and echoes David’s praise to God when the Lord had delivered him from Saul… “The LORD lives, and blessed be my rock, and exalted be my God, the rock of my salvation” (2 Samuel 22:47). This affirmation was repeated seven times in the Psalms and finds it’s fulfillment in Jesus Christ. All true believers are united by faith in one name alone, the name of Jesus… “but these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name” (John 20:31). Our affirmation of faith in His name makes Jesus Christ the cornerstone of our personal salvation and the foundation of our eternal life.

As we grow up into Christ, our maturing faith and fellowship with other believers is securely built on…

The Stone that is Our Foundation.