Bible Study - Awake (5) - Return to Unity - Acts 4:31-37 Plus - August 16, 2015
Bible Study – Awake (5) – Return to Unity – August 16, 2015
This is lesson five (5) in our series entitled “Awake: The Call to a Renewed Life.”
Our focus scripture is Acts 4:31-37.
Walking with CHRIST brings us together in unity and purpose.
Unity is vital in any organization, especially the church and in our relationship with GOD. In Revelation 3:16:
16 So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I am going to vomit you out of My mouth.
Do we make GOD sick because of being lukewarm by straddling the fence? Where does political correctness, when it is contrary to GOD’S Word, fall? Have we studied and understood GOD’S Word such that we know what GOD’S Word has to say about certain issues? Do we have the courage to take a stand or do we remain silent and let wrong things happen?
Unity is important but not at the expense of violating GOD’S Word. Christians need the gift of discernment. In the church community, if you challenge a decision, it is interpreted as not being in unity. Such a challenge can be based upon a concern that GOD’S Word has been compromised or personal desires. The Holy Spirit can reveal the intent.
Walking with CHRIST is based upon walking in the Spirit as recorded in Galatians 5:16-18:
16 I say then, • walk by the Spirit and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh. 17 For the flesh desires what is against the Spirit, and the Spirit desires what is against the flesh; these are opposed to each other, so that you don’t do what you want. 18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.
When we walk in the Spirit, we rise above pettiness but that does not mean avoiding issues that need attention as led by the Holy Spirit.
The disciples were in Jerusalem waiting for the Holy Spirit to arrive. The Holy Spirit arrived during the celebration of Pentecost. The Holy Spirit was manifested by sound, like a mighty rushing wind to draw attention, by sight, what seemed to be like tongues of fire, and by indwelling and filling evidenced by speaking in other languages which they did not know. The Apostle Peter preached that day and 3,000 accepted CHRIST as their Savior. The Apostles Peter and John were on their way to the temple to pray when they encountered a man lame since birth. The lame man was over 40 years old. JESUS healed the lame man through them. They continued to preach in the temple and about 5,000 came to receive CHRIST as their Savior.
But not everyone was happy. When certain people’s status is challenged, they become vindictive. The Jewish leadership felt threatened and had Peter and John arrested.
Let’s read what happened to Peter and John in Acts 4:1-30:
1 Now as they were speaking to the people, the priests, the commander of the temple guard, and the Sadducees confronted them,
2 because they were provoked that they were teaching the people and proclaiming in the person of Jesus the resurrection from the dead.
3 So they seized them and put them in custody until the next day, since it was already evening.
4 But many of those who heard the message believed, and the number of the men came to about 5,000.
5 The next day, their rulers, elders, and scribes assembled in Jerusalem
6 with Annas the high priest, Caiaphas, John and Alexander, and all the members of the high-priestly family.
Recognize these high priests. No wonder these priests were upset that JESUS these disciples were preaching that JESUS had been resurrected from the dead.
7 After they had Peter and John stand before them, they asked the question: "By what power or in what name have you done this?"
GOD provided an opportunity for Peter to witness to the Jewish leaders. They had witnessed some 5,000 people accepting CHRIST as their Savior. Now the Apostle Peter has the opportunity to witness and to present the Gospel of CHRIST to these Jewish leaders.
8 Then Peter was filled with the Holy Spirit and said to them, "Rulers of the people and elders:
9 If we are being examined today about a good deed done to a disabled man-by what means he was healed-
10 let it be known to all of you and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene-whom you crucified and whom God raised from the dead-by Him this man is standing here before you healthy.
11 This [Jesus] is The stone despised by you builders, who has become the cornerstone.
12 There is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to people by which we must be saved."
13 When they observed the boldness of Peter and John and realized that they were uneducated and untrained men, they were amazed and knew that they had been with Jesus.
14 And since they saw the man who had been healed standing with them, they had nothing to say in response.
15 After they had ordered them to leave the Sanhedrin, they conferred among themselves,
16 saying, "What should we do with these men? For an obvious sign, evident to all who live in Jerusalem, has been done through them, and we cannot deny it!
17 But so this does not spread any further among the people, let's threaten them against speaking to anyone in this name again."
18 So they called for them and ordered them not to preach or teach at all in the name of Jesus.
19 But Peter and John answered them, "Whether it's right in the sight of God [for us] to listen to you rather than to God, you decide;
20 for we are unable to stop speaking about what we have seen and heard."
21 After threatening them further, they released them. They found no way to punish them, because the people were all giving glory to God over what had been done;
22 for the man was over 40 years old on whom this sign of healing had been performed.
Today, society is doing all it can to silence Christians and forbid the use of the name of JESUS.
23 After they were released, they went to their own fellowship and reported all that the chief priests and the elders had said to them.
24 When they heard this, they raised their voices to God unanimously and said, "Master, You are the One who made the heaven, the earth, and the sea, and everything in them.
25 You said through the Holy Spirit, by the mouth of our father David Your servant: Why did the Gentiles rage, and the peoples plot futile things?
26 The kings of the earth took their stand, and the rulers assembled together against the Lord and against His Messiah.
27 "For, in fact, in this city both Herod and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles and the peoples of Israel, assembled together against Your holy Servant Jesus, whom You anointed,
28 to do whatever Your hand and Your plan had predestined to take place.
29 And now, Lord, consider their threats, and grant that Your slaves may speak Your message with complete boldness,
30 while You stretch out Your hand for healing, signs, and wonders to be performed through the name of Your holy Servant Jesus."
Peter and John were not going to stop sharing JESUS with others and their experience gave other Christians confidence and courage.
Christians it is time for us to speak out in the name and power of JESUS, as led by the Holy Spirit!
These are the events which had occurred. Peter and John had reported them to fellow Christians. They had resorted to prayer and GOD gave them a very physical sign that HE was with them, as we read in our focus scripture. All present were in unity of one accord. What happens when Christians are in one accord and in unity with GOD, CHRIST and each other?
Let’s read Acts 4:31:
31 When they had prayed, the place where they were assembled was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak God's message with boldness.
When needed, GOD gives signs of HIS presence to encourage those HE has called to do HIS will according to HIS plans and purpose. This could mean that the place where they were assembled was both physically and Spiritually shaken. They were filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke truth with boldness.
Christians are human in which the Holy Spirit dwells. Boldness to speak Spiritually comes from GOD through the indwelling Holy Spirit. Our flesh is weak but also can be strong because of our personal traits. But it is vital that, as Christians, we speak truth in the power of the Holy Spirit lest we speak with human boldness.
Let’s read Acts 4:32-33:
32 Now the multitude of those who believed were of one heart and soul, and no one said that any of his possessions was his own, but instead they held everything in common.
33 And with great power the apostles were giving testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great grace was on all of them.
The Apostles had walked with JESUS, witnessed HIS death, resurrection, 40 days upon earth, HIS ascension and experienced the promised indwelling of the Holy Spirit. They knew and experienced GOD’S grace upon them. JESUS had taught HIS disciples and now it was time for HIS disciples to teach fellow Christians.
The Christian community pooled their resources so they could live together to be taught and put into action what they were being taught.
It is interesting that today, we go to church and hear the Word being taught and many leave and rarely put what has been taught into action. Most of us have been studying the Bible for many years but has it made a difference in us and those around us?
Christians are the salt and the light. Are we being salt and light as led by the indwelling Holy Spirit? What are we waiting for? Procrastination is one of Satan’s most favorite tools; Waiting until we are ready is another one of his tools; discouragement is another tool and the list goes on. The key is to be led by the Holy Spirit. What are some of the attributes of salt? What are some of the attributes of light?
Let’s read Acts 4:34-37:
34 For there was not a needy person among them, because all those who owned lands or houses sold them, brought the proceeds of the things that were sold,
35 and laid them at the apostles' feet. This was then distributed to each person as anyone had a need.
36 Joseph, a Levite and a Cypriot by birth, whom the apostles named Barnabas, which is translated Son of Encouragement,
37 sold a field he owned, brought the money, and laid it at the apostles' feet.
Christians banded together to spread the Gospel and to learn all they could from the Apostles. They shared their material possessions in order to have the time to receive Spiritual wealth. Notice the Apostles distributed according to a person’s need.
How would we respond if we could spend time with JESUS? We can because through the indwelling Holy Spirit all truth is revealed. Our part is to seek and we will find. We are to search the Bible, pray and take action as led by the Holy Spirit.
These early Christians focused upon the most important, which was Spiritual wealth and not material wealth. Their home was not earth but heaven. They knew the truth and they wanted others to know this same truth. JESUS is the only way to GOD by placing your faith in HIM. JESUS said it best in John 14:6:
6 Jesus told him, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.
In unity, Christians can spread the Gospel of CHRIST to others but when we squabble, Satan rejoices. Unity, based upon truth as revealed in GOD’S Word and not political correctness, among the Christian community is vital. Forced unity will not last but unity as the result of being filled with the Holy Spirit and being obedient to the call of CHRIST is a natural part of being a healthy branch of the Spiritual body of CHRIST. JESUS said it best in John 15:5:5 "I am the vine; you are the branches. The one who remains in Me and I in him produces much fruit, because you can do nothing without Me. Blessings!!!
posted by Bible Study | 6:17 PM
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