Worship

“More Than Able” by Elevation Worship

Scripture

“The apostles performed many signs and wonders among the people. And all the believers used to meet together in Solomon’s Colonnade. No one else dared join them, even though they were highly regarded by the people. Nevertheless, more and more men and women believed in the Lord and were added to their number. As a result, people brought the sick into the streets and laid them on beds and mats so that at least Peter’s shadow might fall on some of them as he passed by.Crowds gathered also from the towns around Jerusalem, bringing their sick and those tormented by impure spirits, and all of them were healed.” -Acts 5:12-16, emphasis added

Return to Solomon’s Colonnade

We find ourselves this morning back in Solomon’s Colonnade, essentially ground zero for the public ministry of this new exploding Church. If you will remember, the last time Peter preached here was in Chapter 3 when he urged them to “‘Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord (Acts 3:19).’” The Lord was purifying this community of Jesus lovers through the fear-invoking death of Ananias and Sapphira, and times of refreshing did indeed come. Exorbitant grace was being lavished on the Church as a result. (I wonder if Peter thought to himself as miracles, healings, and deliverance were being poured out, “I prophesied this to you the last time I spoke!”)

The Impact of Public Ministry

Unfortunately, the atmosphere of this community of onlookers and Jesus followers was a mixed bag. Some were fearful and watching from a distance, scores were giving their lives to Jesus, and many were flocking from the countryside to be healed and delivered. Just as the death of Jesus was profoundly public, so was the birth, growth, and expansion of both the gospel and the Church—it wasn’t kept secret or hidden. The power of God was on display for all to see! And as you can imagine, the most religious of that day seethed with envy, jealousy, and rage at what was happening. They couldn’t control it, explain it, or make it stop! (Oh, may we never fall into that category, Church!)

The Promise Fulfilled

“The Lord says: ‘These people come near to me with their mouth and honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. Their worship of me is based on merely human rules they have been taught. Therefore once more I will astound these people with wonder upon wonder; the wisdom of the wise will perish, the intelligence of the intelligent will vanish.’” -Isaiah 29:13-14

The faith of the people grew remarkably, reminiscent of those who sought healing by touching Jesus’ garment. This same expectant faith led people to bring their sick, hoping that even Peter’s shadow might pass over them.

Astounded they were, and all were healed! Can you imagine the collective faith that was stirring in the hearts of the people? It reminds me of those Jesus healed who merely touched the hem of His garment or knew if He just said the word that they would be healed. The same faith and expectation rested on the people willing to simply bring their sick so Peter’s shadow could even touch them.

There was a glorious outpouring of faith and refreshing that came upon God’s people in the midst of purification, persecution, and His presence!

As the apostles were modeling the way for the infant Church to move both in the demonstration and proclamation of the gospel, everything they spoke was authenticated through signs and wonders. And every sign and wonder always accompanied the gospel! The two fit beautifully together as we see in this passage in Acts.

“We must pay the most careful attention, therefore, to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away. For since the message spoken through angels was binding, and every violation and disobedience received its just punishment, how shall we escape if we ignore so great a salvation? This salvation, which was first announced by the Lord, was confirmed to us by those who heard him. God also testified to it by signs, wonders and various miracles, and by gifts of the Holy Spirit distributed according to his will.” -Hebrews 2:1-4, emphasis added

“‘And these signs will accompany those who believe: In my name they will drive out demons; they will speak in new tongues;they will pick up snakes with their hands; and when they drink deadly poison, it will not hurt them at all; they will place their hands on sick people, and they will get well.’” –Mark 16:17-18, emphasis added

It’s Our Turn to Act

So now, it’s our turn—our moment in history, our time to live out the book of Acts, Church, unto the ends of the Earth. I do not believe this was merely a historical book but rather a blueprint for us today to take the gospel to all nations until Jesus comes back for His Bride. Scripture shows how the apostles in this passage moved in a powerful display of the wonders of God, always accompanied by the gospel message. The same Spirit that resided in them resides in us, and so does the Spirit’s power. Look at Stephen in Acts 6:8 doing “great wonders and signs among the people.” He was not an apostle, just a man full of “God’s grace and power.” He caught what was being modeled and taught! Church, may we model the way for others by boldly proclaiming the gospel wherever we go, by the authority Jesus has given us, with the Spirit who so powerfully lives inside of us.

“The church is built on the power of God’s word and Spirit. Persecution, fear, and negative reports could not keep God’s Spirit from saving sinners and bringing them to Jesus. We should never look for alternative means to spread the gospel that downplay the centrality of God’s word or undermine the truth about his judgment or his salvation. The apostles watched the Spirit at work in bringing men and women to Christ because they were committed to sharing the message of Christ in the power of the Spirit, and so could leave the results to God. We must follow in their footsteps; we must be faithful as they were.” -R. Albert Mohler, Jr., “Acts 1-12 For You”

As I was up through the night asking the Lord what He wanted to say through this passage of Scripture, the words “model the way” resounded through my mind. This term goes back to a leadership book I read last year titled “The Leadership Challenge” by James Kouzes and Barry Posner. The two components of modeling the way are finding your voice and setting the example by aligning actions with shared values. How does this connect to this segment of Scripture? Let me ask these rhetorical questions:

• Have you found your voice as it pertains to preaching the gospel? (The young Church had a new voice because the Spirit now lived in them! Their radical boldness was not previously descriptive of them.)
• Does your life exemplify the life of Christ, where onlookers are hungry for what you carry? (We have an invitation to look and sound just like the apostles did in this passage of Scripture because the Spirit who lived in them is the same Spirit who lives in you!)
• Does the value of God’s Word to you personally create the foundation for your leadership and lifestyle, combined with the power of the Spirit, so that people are drawn to Jesus because of the grace you walk in?
• Are you desiring to model the way for other believers to demonstrate and proclaim the gospel? (Are you ready to take others with you to take Jesus to the lost and captive, destitute and dying?)

I ask these questions simply because I want to provoke you to life and godliness found only in the fullness of Jesus who fills everything in every way (Ephesians 1:23). After just returning from a destitute nation last week with a team of women, I urge you to take these questions before the Lord because people and nations are in desperate need of your beautiful feet (Romans 10:14-15) right now!

The Church in America needs to return to her original calling and mandate, to take the gospel to the nations in Jesus’ name! Will you raise your hand to be one who will go? 

“‘Here am I. Send me!’” -Isaiah 6:8

Watch this video of women who gave their yes to God’s call to go.

A Few Key Notes

• Join us May 27-29 for a time of prayer and intercession for the global Church and for revival in the nations. Sign up for a 30-minute time slot to cover the entire 72 hours in prayer.
• Join us for three cross-cultural dinners this summer on June 13, July 11, and August 15. We will enjoy a meal while learning about the Hindu, Buddhist, and Muslim cultures and faith. You will experience an evening of sisterhood, education, and conversation as we discuss what God is doing among these three major world religions. Registration is free; you will only have to pay for the cost of your dinner.
• Come take the gospel to the nations with Arise. View our open teams and apply for one today!