COMMUNITY

ACTS 4:32-37

The number of believers is growing rapidly now, but many are far from home. They traveled to Jerusalem for the Passover, never expecting the events that would change their lives forever.

They were there when Jesus died, rose from the dead, and ascended into heaven!

And became a part of the first real Community of Students of Jesus when they believed the message of the apostles!

The fellowship became very precious to them. They didn't want to return home. And so they stayed there in Jerusalem!

What a surprising dynamic of unity is created when Jesus’ love and love for Jesus fills the heart.

All the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that any of his possessions was his own, but they shared everything they had.

This unity of love prompted those who had lands or houses to sell them and give the money to the apostles. In this way, even those far from their homes and resources could stay with the group.

Astounding! The locals would rather part with their money than to part with their newfound brothers and sisters!

There were no needy persons among them.

Unity not only provided for everyone’s needs, it also created a powerful force within the group. A force of grace radiating even to those outside the community! Drawing them in with a living message of inclusion!

With great power the apostles continued to testify to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and much grace was upon them all.

What a community Jesus creates when His students open their hearts to His life and love!

SURPRISING PRAYER

ACTS 4:23-31

After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken.

What to do when trouble comes?

Students of Jesus pray!

That’s exactly what happens when Peter and John are released from custody. They tell the other believers about how they were warned to stop talking about Jesus. And their first response is to pray together!

What a surprising prayer meeting. No doubt about heaven’s answer either when God immediately shakes the place!

The earth tremor isn’t the only thing – or even the main thing – that makes this an unusual event. The prayer itself is surprising.

These students of Jesus aren’t praying for the usual things. Lord, take care of us. Keep us safe and well.

No, they make a most unusual request - Now, Lord, consider their threats and enable your servants to speak your word with great boldness…

It is very surprising they aren’t asking for protection? Not begging for the threat to be removed? There focus is on something else altogether!

They are concerned about having the personal courage to stand up for Jesus in the face of opposition. They are asking God to help them keep talking about Jesus - following Jesus - no matter what happens.

Hmm…Maybe surprising prayers begin with hearts set on asking for help to do what God already wants done in our lives. We too may be surprised how quickly God moves to help us when we pray to become more like Jesus.

And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly.

RESURRECTION

ACTS 4:1-22

…the apostles were teaching the people and proclaiming in Jesus the resurrection of the dead.

The resurrection of Jesus was the focus of the apostle’s teaching. They were eye-witnesses of an event that changed everything for them and for the world.

The memory was fresh in their minds and even with the miracles to confirm their message; there must have been the look of sincerity in their eyes and the ring of truthfulness in their voices that impressed their audiences.

Jesus lives! People can live again!

The implication of their message staggered the imagination. Throughout human history people died. Now something new!

This idea captivated the people who heard it for the first time, and more and more decided to follow Jesus - …many who heard the message believed, and the number of men grew to about five thousand.

The reality of a resurrection attracts and changes people. It changed the apostles. Once fearful, they now courageously preach Jesus even though it means beatings, imprisonment and death. They know Jesus will also provide a resurrection for them.

The religious leaders attempt to stop their message. They are losing followers.

The apostle’s response to those who threatened them?

Judge for yourselves whether it is right in God's sight to obey you rather than God. For we cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard.

Death is no longer a dread to them. Nor for any student of the Teacher. We have His promise.

The resurrection of Jesus changes everything!

CHANGE YOUR LIFE

ACTS 3:19-26

Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord…

Here Peter shares the secret to the happiest kind of life. Guilt-free and joy-filled! A life refreshed each new day by the presence of Jesus.

This new way of living begins with a decision to incline our hearts toward Jesus. To listen to what He says about right and wrong ways of thinking, of living.

He sent Him first to you to bless you by turning each of you from your wicked ways.

All the prophets of the Old Testament spoke of the day when God would bless the world through Jesus’ coming. Even Moses foretold of Jesus saying – The Lord your God will raise up for you a prophet…you must listen to everything He tells you!

This is what students of Jesus do and why becoming a student of this Teacher not only turns us from the wrong path, it leads us to the times of refreshing.

Through the Holy Spirit, students of Jesus are strengthened in their spiritual life as they are empowered to become more like the Teacher. They learn to think like Jesus and act like Him. The quality of life dramatically improves.

This leads to the best kind of life now possible to everyone who listens to Him.

And ultimately it leads to the heaven - He must remain in heaven until the time comes for God to restore everything, as he promised long ago…

When Jesus returns in person, everything that sin destroyed will be permanently restored. Peace in place of guilt. Unity among people instead of division! Life without death! Everlasting fellowship with God!

Only now – because of Jesus – can we change our lives.

TESTIFY

ACTS 3:1-18

You killed the author of life, but God raised him from the dead. We are witnesses of this.

Testify. That’s what faithful witnesses do. And the apostles continue to use every opportunity to tell about the resurrection of Jesus. And heaven continues to authenticate the Message.

Here Peter and John are empowered to heal a man lame from birth. This man was known to the people, so naturally, when the man began to walk and jump around, the people were impressed.

…they recognized him as the same man who used to sit begging…and they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him.

With the beggar hanging onto Peter and John, the people are now attracted to them - all the people were astonished and came running to them in the place called Solomon's Colonnade.

Peter seizes the opening to testify about Jesus - It is Jesus’ name…that has given this complete healing to him…You killed the author of life, but God raised him from the dead. We are witnesses of this.

Because of the miracle, the people will believe the message. But for those of us who didn’t see it, there’s something even more important.

Consider…the message of Jesus is being preached in the very city where His death and resurrection took place. At the very time, within a few short days of the events! And to the very people who were in a perfect position to investigate if the facts were true or not.

This is enormously significant to the validity of our faith today. For the apostles did not wait for some time to pass, travel to a remote location where nobody could verify their testimony, and there among strangers attempt to create faith in Jesus. Quite the contrary!

These witnesses are successful in gaining new students for Jesus from among the very people who are in a position in both time and location to either verify or discredit the claims they are hearing. What does this demonstrate concerning the validity of our faith in Jesus today?

NEW STUDENTS!

ACTS 2:41-47

Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day.

The Church Jesus promised to build is begun! In one day, 3,000 new students receive forgiveness of sins and the gift of the Holy Spirit!

Forgiven, they are empowered to begin the life-long process of following Jesus. With the help of the Holy Spirit, they will gradually become more like the Teacher. The fruit of the Spirit will grow in their hearts.

For information about Jesus that will lead to transformation of their lives, they must rely on the teaching of the apostles. Lest there be any doubt about the authenticity of their message, the Holy Spirit continued to put His stamp of approval on them.

Everyone was filled with awe, and many wonders and miraculous signs were done by the apostles.

The believers stayed together in close fellowship. They met every day. They devoted themselves to the apostle’s teaching about Jesus and to prayer.

They took care of one another by selling some of their possessions to help those in the group who were in need.

Their lives were marked with increasing joy and gratitude for what God was doing in their lives – They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God…

These dramatic changes were evidence of the presence of Jesus in their lives. Other people took notice and new students were constantly being attracted to the group of believers.

And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.

THE GOOD NEWS

ACTS 2:22-40

Exalted to the right hand of God, He (Jesus) has received from the Father the promised Holy Spirit and has poured out what you now see and hear.

Jesus gives the Holy Spirit as He promised. The ability of the apostles to speak in foreign languages is a clear manifestation of the Spirit’s presence with them.

With their credibility established in the minds of the people, Peter immediately proceeds to share the Good News of Jesus.

Jesus of Nazareth was a man accredited by God to you by miracles, wonders and signs, which God did among you through him, as you yourselves know…you with the help of wicked men, put him to death by nailing him to the cross. But God raised him from the dead...Therefore let all Israel be assured of this: God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ.

The people’s reaction was also immediate - When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, "Brothers, what shall we do?"

Peter replied, "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.”

Wonderful! Forgiveness of sin is now possible through the death of Jesus on the cross! For the greater purpose of making us a suitable dwelling place for the Holy Spirit.

Here is the Good News! God comes to live in the lives of students of Jesus! For if people can be continually cleansed from all sin, the Holy Spirit of God can permanently dwell in their hearts!

Forgiveness of sins is for the greater blessing of the indwelling presence of God.

Peter makes it clear. The gift of the Holy Spirit is available to everyone - The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off, for all whom the Lord our God will call.