Walking in Faith

Reading: Acts 4:1-22

Insight into Peter’s character:

• unschooled, ordinary man (v. 13)
• had been with Jesus (v. 13)
• would rather be right in the eyes of God than right in the eyes of man (v. 19)
• cannot help speaking about what he had seen and heard (v. 20)

Compare Peter here with Peter as we read about him in Matthew 26. How do you account for the difference? Acts 4:8 should give you one clue.

Before, when being threatened, Peter had denied Christ. But now? He cannot help but speak about what he had seen and heard! Being put into jail and having his very life threatened meant nothing to him anymore – it would not stop him from proclaiming the name of the Lord and that salvation is found in no one else.

The different between then and now is simple. Before Peter had not been filled with the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit speaks through us and gives us boldness to proclaim his name!!

The Holy Spirit strengthened Peter for a particular situation when clarity of speech and boldness were essential. He was experiencing in practice the promise of Jesus in Mark 13:11. Pray for any you know who are involved in the work of spreading the gospel and speaking in hostile environments, that they may learn to rely on God to give them the right words to say. You ought to include yourself in this!

“Whenever you are arrested and brought to trial, do not worry beforehand about what to say. Just say whatever is given you at the time, for it is not you speaking, but the Holy Spirit.”
Mark 13:11

Lord, there are so many of our brothers and sisters in Christ who are in a hostile environment and still proudly proclaim the name of Jesus. I thank you for filling them with the Spirit and allowing them to be instruments in showing your glory. Lord, I pray that you will continue to guide them, to fully rely on you to fill them and give them the words that they need to say. Lord, I especially pray for Sam as he travels to China soon. Lord, that area is in such need of your grace and mercy, and I pray that the Spirit will continue to be with Sam as he spreads your good news there! Please protect him from persecution and arrest, but allow him to touch the lives of believers there who need his support, and to touch the lives of those who still need salvation.

You may not have identified with Peter today, apart perhaps from seeing yourself as ordinary (v. 13)! But Peter made the most of the opportunity which was presented to him. How can you look out today for similar opportunities, although they may be of a less dramatic nature?

As I look ahead to tomorrow (because today is all but over), I ask you, Lord, to help me to realize those small, teachable moments with those that I interact with; that the Spirit will be with me and I will seize that time to converse about the Gospel and about Jesus. I want to be so bold that I cannot help but talk about the good news of Christ!!

Larissa Acts, Quiet Time

Acts 4:1-22

Compare Peter here with Peter as we read about him in Matthew 26. How do you account for the difference? Acts 4:8 should give you one clue.

At Pentecost, when the Holy Spirit came upon them, it gave to them a power like no other. They were weak but the Spirit made them strong. Peter, if not filled with the Spirit, would have run and denied Christ again.

The Holy Spirit strengthened Peter for a particular situation when clarity of speech and boldness were essential. He was experiencing in practice the promise of Jesus in Mark 13:11. Pray for any you know who are involved in the work of spreading the gospel and speaking in hostile environments, that they may learn to rely on God to give them the right words to say. You ought to include yourself in this!

Father, I think about Bryan and Vickie in Brazil. I am reminded of the environment in which they are working for the Lord. They have amazing hearts and are focused on showing the people in Porto Alegre the Father’s love. Father, I thank you for giving me the opportunity to meet them and get to know them better. I ask, Father, that you be with them. Give them supernatural powers and abilities to show others in Porto Alegre your face. Help them share the gospel with the people there boldly, purposefully and precisely. Father, I ask these things in Jesus’s precious and holy name. Amen.

You may not have identified with Peter today, apart perhaps from seeing yourself as ordinary (v. 13)! But Peter made the most of the opportunity which was presented to him. How can you look out today for similar opportunities, although they may be of a less dramatic nature?

A couple of things come to mind. I must be looking at every situation as an opportunity to share with those around me the love and grace and our King. I should think of every situation as an opportunity. Secondly, I think I should be praying more for opportunities. It is easier to not deal with a situation when one might come before you. Instead of trying to find a way out of it, I should pray to the Lord to give me wisdom and for the Spirit to fill me mouth with the right words to say — specific to this person.

Jason Worthen Acts, Quiet Time

What did Peter say about how people are saved? What conclusions are we meant to draw from this?

Peter said that people will be saved by the grace of the Lord Jesus. He made a point that no one person, or group of people, will be singled out. I believe that Peter was reinforcing to the Jews and the Gentiles that not only did God decide who would be saved, it was arrogant to question the Lord. Jesus was sent by God to this earth to save whomever He desired. Again, it was not something we could, or can, do to gain salvation — it is, was and always will be the grace of God.

James was regarded as the leader of the Jewish Christians, so his opinion was crucial. What point is he making by quoting Amos’s prophecy (vv. 16-18)?

Jews and Gentiles would call upon the name of the Lord. How could a Gentile call on His name if God himself did not allow that? If Israel were the chosen people and the Gentiles were not meant to know God, why would He have said this? I believe James said this to remind the Jews of the Scripture and the prophecy in which they believed. This passage would call to light the fact that the Lord spoke through Amos informing the Jews that He would allow the Gentiles to call upon His name.

In v. 19 James is saying that we should not put any unnecessary barriers in the way of those who want to become Christians. Are there any things we do or say which might make it harder for our friends to become Christians?

Often times, our witness (as a whole) can be detrimental to bringing our friends to God. When they see the things we do, the way we act, the words we speak, etc. it can make it much more difficult for others to think that this is the right thing to do. Our actions, deeds and words can destroy our witness to others. I also think that what we don’t do or don’t say makes it harder for our friends to become Christians. When we don’t tell them the good news and we don’t love them like we are commanded, they don’t see Christ in us.

Jason Worthen Acts, Quiet Time

Acts 15:1-35

 What did Peter say about how people are saved? What conclusions are we meant to draw from this?

Peter states that we believe it is through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ that we are saved (Acts 15:11). The conclusions that we must draw from that are that we are no longer under the Mosaic Law and that following the rules and laws that governed the Jews does not bring us to salvation; only Christ can provide eternal salvation

James pointed out that God, in His Word, had already let them know that some of the Gentiles would bear the name of the Lord, just as the Israelites had originally done. If God had already set apart the Gentiles who would bear His name, there was no need for them to fall under the Jewish laws. James also made it very clear to the Jewish Christians that they were not the only ones that would bear the name of God anymore – that God did not mean to just gather the remainder of the scattered Jews when he gave the command that they would reach the ends of the earth with the Gospel.

Legalism. Lovely little speedbump that so many Christians seem to get caught by. I can think of many, many things that we say or do, rules that we expect people to live by in order to be a good Christian. Some of them I can honestly understand, merely because morality dictates and to go against it would be to go against God’s ways (killing, stealing, etc. etc.), there are so many “rules” that I’ve seen churches and demoniation impose upon their “members” that just baffle me. No drinking (I understand where it’s coming from, but there is nowhere that I can find that says to abstain from alcohol altogether, but rather from getting drunk) and no dancing (that one I’m really confused by) are two big ones that I can think of off the top of my head. It actually reminds me of something that one of my Christian mentors, Lisa, had explained in a Bible study that we’re currently doing. So many times, the Jews had laws upon laws upon laws that were meant to actually keep you from breaking the “big law” that had actually been laid down in the Mosaic Law. Break this rule, and it’s a warning that you’re closing to breaking the “big rule”, so to speak. My only thoughts for not drinking? To keep yourself from ever getting drunk. Don’t break the “no drinking” rule, and you’ll never get drunk. Dancing? The only thing I can think of is that it could lead to sexual immorality (sex before marriage, maybe?). Do I think that dancing leads to sex? Not necessarily. I’ve danced plenty of times without sleeping with someone. But, if it could lead to sexual immorality, then let’s just not dance altogether.

Of course, there are also so many things that we say and do that could make it hard – I spend a lot of time during the week dedicated to the church (all Sunday morning, ReaLife Group, a Bible study, etc) and many of my friends have wondered where I have the time to do all that I do. Well, it’s not that hard – I’ve cut out (or toned down, at least) the meaningless areas in my life. Now, they just look at the time involved and think that there’s no way that they could ever do that. Heck, as a prodigal, I felt the same way, and would have been utterly shocked to have been able to see the time that we dedicate as a family to the church and to Christ now. And I’m nowhere near where I want to be. But, it’s a desire that God has laid upon my heart, not something that I have seen other Christians do and feel like I have to be just like them.

My words have probably the biggest impact, however. I have been trying to watch my words (and actions) so that they are in line with God’s will. That I’m not bad mouthing someone, gossipping, etc etc. It’s those times when I’m sinning with my mouth and my actions that an unbeliever looks at me and sees me as a hipocritical Christian. That’s certainly not going to make it easy for someone wanting to be a Christian.

Larissa Acts, Quiet Time

Paul’s speech here (vv. 15-17) is very different from the sermon at Antioch. Can you think of any reasons for the different emphases?

Paul was appealing to the culture and religion of the people at Lystra. They were most likely Greek (as they followed Zeus and Hermes). The Greeks believed in gods of rain, beauty, speech, etc. Paul was making sure that they, the Greeks, realized that this God he spoke of was the same god who gave them everything they had and everything they wanted.

Paul and Barnabas obviously thought visiting young churches was worth the risk of returning to places where they’d been ill-treated (v. 21). Why was it so important?

These churches would be the foundation for spreading the good news. Jesus commanded them “be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” (Acts 1:8 ESV) They knew their purpose and they were making sure they did exactly as their Savior, Jesus Christ, had instructed them. Secondly, I believe they were living for Christ. “For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.” (Philippians 1:21 ESV) is another part of it. I think they were living their lives for Christ — not for themselves. If they were persecuted or killed, they would have counted it as gain.

Would their warning (v. 22) be one that you would give to young Christians today? What help and advice might be appropriate?

It depends on the person. Some will respond to that message but others will not. Usually, the tough times are the hardest times for us to immediately see God working in our life. We have plenty of things we can praise the LORD about when we are receiving His blessings. However, when we are receiving discipline from Him, we think more about how God must be far away from us and how we have done something wrong to offend Him. Most everything we do would offend God — but His love and grace are ever flowing. Jesus Christ, who died for my sins washes all of my sins so that God just sees me as righteous. I digress… I think that young Christians need to be reminded of God’s grace and His love. He loves every single person and they need to remember that. He is just like a perfect earthly father — expect one hundred times better!

Jason Worthen Acts, Quiet Time