So maybe you’ve heard it said, ‘read your bible’ so you tried and failed. Our hope as leaders is that all of us will pick up God’s word and come to understand the true nature of God. After all, the bible is God’s Word curated over centuries detailing His nature, His will, the meaning of life and humanity’s historical interactions with Him. The Bible details the hidden keys to the Kingdom. Hence, the reason we are reviewing a new book each week.
This week we jump over the gospel accounts of what happened when Jesus came, died and rose to listen to the accounts of Jesus and His Spirit after the resurrection. The book is officially called the Acts of The Apostles. Or shortened for us to ACTS, The overarching idea is to share the early movement of God through Jesus and the power and guidance of the Holy Spirit. It’s one of my favorite books.
It details the birth of the church as a result of Christ's ascension to heaven and the subsequent gift of the Holy Spirit. As a result, we are commissioned to:
Trust in the power and guidance of the Holy Spirit
Share the Good News in word and deed
Live in an egalitarian community as an alternative to the world’s
One of the stories which has always inspired me comes from Acts 16 beginning in verse 16.
16 Once when we were going to the place of prayer, we were met by a female slave who had a spirit by which she predicted the future. She earned a great deal of money for her owners by fortune-telling. 17 She followed Paul and the rest of us, shouting, “These men are servants of the Most High God, who are telling you the way to be saved.” 18 She kept this up for many days. Finally Paul became so annoyed that he turned around and said to the spirit, “In the name of Jesus Christ I command you to come out of her!” At that moment the spirit left her.
19 When her owners realized that their hope of making money was gone, they seized Paul and Silas and dragged them into the marketplace to face the authorities. 20 They brought them before the magistrates and said, “These men are Jews, and are throwing our city into an uproar 21 by advocating customs unlawful for us Romans to accept or practice.”
22 The crowd joined in the attack against Paul and Silas, and the magistrates ordered them to be stripped and beaten with rods. 23 After they had been severely flogged, they were thrown into prison, and the jailer was commanded to guard them carefully. 24 When he received these orders, he put them in the inner cell and fastened their feet in the stocks.
We read this to highlight an interesting interaction between evil and the proclamation of the good news. What was this woman declaring that was so wrong? Was Paul just hungry, angry, lonely or tired to the point his patience gave out? I don’t think so.
It seems more plausible to consider her (or the evil one’s) intent. Her reputation as a mystic was well known. She charged for a gift to make a living for herself and others. By shouting out to the community, she was continuing to build her reputation and hoping to gain credibility by associating with these good men. In addition, her presence could diminish the power of the good news. As Proverbs 13 says, He who walks [as a companion] with wise men will be wise, But the companions of [conceited, dull-witted] fools [are fools themselves and] will experience harm. (Amplified Version)
The situation also points to the power of the Holy Spirit. When we walk in the ways that lead to life, WE HAVE BEEN GIVEN THE POWER AND GUIDANCE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT. A truth played out that puts Paul and Silas in jail but because of their willingness to proclaim the good news, God comes to their rescue. Take a listen…
25 About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them. 26 Suddenly there was such a violent earthquake that the foundations of the prison were shaken. At once all the prison doors flew open, and everyone’s chains came loose. 27 The jailer woke up, and when he saw the prison doors open, he drew his sword and was about to kill himself because he thought the prisoners had escaped. 28 But Paul shouted, “Don’t harm yourself! We are all here!” 29 The jailer called for lights, rushed in and fell trembling before Paul and Silas.
The scene speaks to all our struggles. Whatever jail you're in, pray and praise. Let the world know you have not lost faith. Use the situation to witness (share your faith). It’s in our unyielding belief in the Lord we offer one of the greatest messages. I’ll never forget the woman in hospice whose presence completely lit up the floor she was on. She was almost giddy sharing her faith in the final days. The belly laughs we had while I came to serve her communion and her request to break the hospital rules and use wine over juice. What were they going to do to her after all?
EVERY LIFE SITUATION IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO WITNESS TO POWER OF JESUS TO THE WORLD
30 He (THE JAILER) then brought them out and asked, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?”
31 They replied, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved—you and your household.” 32 Then they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all the others in his house. 33 At that hour of the night the jailer took them and washed their wounds; then immediately he and all his household were baptized. 34 The jailer brought them into his house and set a meal before them; he was filled with joy because he had come to believe in God—he and his whole household.
This final section is a perfect example of an alternative lifestyle. Paul and Silas were willing to live in the moment and instead of being angry with the jailer, they embraced him. They shared a message of love, forgiveness and mercy. They didn’t run. They stayed for the opportunity to share the love from within them. A witness the jailer longed to hear. A witness he wanted his family to hear. A witness he wanted his family, children as well as his slaves or employees to embrace. Does your witness offer this? Do you live alternatively? Would your friends call you different?
The ACTS of the APOSTLES details the birth of the church through the continuing movement of the Spirit and as a result, we are commissioned to:
Trust in the power and guidance of the Holy Spirit
Share the Good News in Word and Deed
Live in an egalitarian community as an alternative to the world’s authoritarian rule
It’s a simple idea but it’s not easy. It’s the reason we gather together weekly. It’s the reason we do everything that matters together:
Activate the disciplines (study, prayer, fasting, confession, individual worship, fellowship (grieve loss and celebrate success), rest, generosity, chastity.
Worship of our God
Serve (each other, the community and widows/orphans)
Practice disciple-making (teaching others)
Participate in the sacraments (baptism and communion)
Creative: https://bibleproject.com/explore/video/acts 12-28
References: Quest Bible Overviews p:vvbb, The Bible Exposition Commentary (Wiersbe) p.,
