WE NEED TO TALK. The subject I want to highlight as a headline in our little chat is: EXTENDED HANDS. The first 37 verses of Acts 4 shall serve as our Target Text.
TEMPLE TACTICS TRIGGERED EXTENDED HANDS!
A Paranormal Performance on the Parameter, A Paralysis in the Parishioners, plus a Prescription by the Paramedics, which resulted in the Capture of Five Thousand Converts Triggered The Extension of Three Sets of Hands.
One Set of Hands Were Extended to ARREST: to Arrest the Progression of the Proclamation of the Paranormal. In response to that, The Second Set of Hands Were Extended to APPEAL: to Appeal Paranoid Protestation. And finally, the Third Set of Hands Were Extended to ACCELERATE: to Accelerate the Progression of Purpose.
One Set of Hands were Extended in PARANOIA: an extension of excessive jealousy and irrational suspiciousness. The Second Set of Hands were Extended in PRAYER: an extension of lavish praise and rational petitions. And the Third Set of Hands were Extended in PLEASURE: an extension of wise counsel and irresistible execution. TEMPLE TACTICS TRIGGERED EXTENDED HANDS!!!
First, PARNOID PRIESTS EXTENDED THEIR HANDS (Acts 4:1-22). Second, PRINCIPLED PEOPLE POWERED BY PURPOSE EXTENDED THEIR HANDS (Acts 4:23-30). And Third, A POWERFUL POTENTATE EXTENDED HIS HANDS (Acts 4:31). Subsequently, THE CHURCH CONTINUED (Acts 4:32-37).
We need to be cognizant of the fact that this Fledging Flock experienced her very first year THE PARALYSIS and THE POWER OF EXTENDED HANDS! They felt the Pain of Paralyzed Hands, which forced the Projection of Raised Hands, by which they found the Powerful Security of the Lord’s Extended Hands.
I. The First Set of hands we see Extended Are those Of PARANOID PRIESTS.
Paranoid Priests Extended Their Hands. We see their hands extended in a HORIZONTAL AND HARASSING POSITION. They extended their hands in a horizontal position toward their fellowmen and violently took in custody Two Paramedics of the Paranormal (verse3). “They laid hands on them, and put them in hold…”
This was strictly a Defensive Reaction on the part of a Paralyzed Institution. And let me say here parenthetically that it is always advantageous to Keep Our Enemies on the Defensive. We have Lethal Weapons at our disposal: Perpetual Praise, Persistent Prayer and Powerful Proclamation are Lethal Weapons that keep our enemies on the defensive! On their part, this was a Defensive Reaction. After all, these Paramedics of the Paranormal were on their turf, addressing their parishioners, and making in-roads into their domain. In their opinion, they were trespassing without a permit. So, they felt a legitimacy in Extending Their Hands!
The board members felt it necessary to convene a special-called business meeting. The agenda was to ascertain whether or not there was a break-down in operational procedures. Perhaps there was a communication gap. Maybe someone on the council had authorized Peter and John to preach in the precincts. And so, after conferring with one another and determining that was not the case, they found they had cause for LEGAL ACTION. May be THE LOGIC OF THE LEGAL would put an end to this unauthorized movement. So we find this Panel of Paranoid Priests Pursuing THE LOGIC OF THE LEGAL. The Logic of the Legal is:
I. First of all, to Discredit by Examining Credentials (verse 7)
II. Second, to Intimidate by Threats: Intent to inflict evil, injury or damage (verses 17-18). And if that doesn’t work, the Logic of the Legal is:
III. Third, to Discredit by Appealing to Criminal Records – A Background Check (verse 13).
But thanks be to God, the Logic of the Legal has no power over the Led of the Lord. No longer are we under the dominion of the commandments of paranoid men. No longer are we subject to the Legalistic Logic of Paraplegic Institutionalism. Thus, Two Freed Preachers responded to the Logic of the Legal thusly in verses 19-20 and 5:29 (read). “We refuse to let you bring us back into bondage. We refuse to Bow to your Biddings!”
Thus, notice the question raised in verse 16 (read). They had used their logic, in that, they arrested them, questioned them, tried to discredit and threaten them, all to no avail. “What else,” they asked, “can we do?”
My friends, in asking that question, they were admitting that THEIR HANDS WERE PARALYZED! Three times is an admission of Paralyzed Power made:
I. Verse 14 – “WE can say nothing.”
II. Verse 16 – “We can deny nothing.”
III. Verse 21 – “WE can find nothing.”
They finally came to the conclusion that all they could do was to Threaten them again and Let Them Go! Paralyzed Power!!!!
Paranoid Priests Extended Their Hands To Arrest only to find out They Had Paralyzed Power!
After Paranoid Priests Extended Their Hands Horizontally and Harassingly, we soon detect the Movement of Some Other Hands.
II. The Second Set of Hands we see Extended Are those Of PRINCIPLED PEOPLE POWERED BY PURPOSE.
Principled People Powered by Purpose Extended Their Hands. We see their hands extended in a Vertical and Venerable Position. They extended their hands vertically towards God, and reverently laid hold on HIS PROMISES (verse 24).
The Extension of Paranoid Hands occasioned the Extension of PRAYING HANDS. THEY REACHED UP WHEN MEN REACHED OUT! They Reached For Promises!
They Reached for Prophesy! (verse 25)
They Reached for Providence! (verse 28)
They Reached for Reach!! (verse 30)
When paranoid People lay hands on Paranormal People, they stretch forth their hands to God in Prayer!
“Father, I stretch my hands to Thee, No other help I know.
If Thou withdraw Thyself from me, Where shall I go?”
Thus, when Harassment come, Reach Up!
When Threats are made, Reach Up!
When Trouble comes, reach Up!
When Paranoid People Extend Their Hands Horizontally and Harassingly, Principled People Extend Their Hands Vertically and Venerably to God!
Well, after Principled People extend their hands Vertically and Venerably, instantly we detect the Movement of one Other Set of Hands!
III. The Third Set of Hands we see Extended Are Those Of A POWERFUL POTENTATE.
A Powerful Potentate Extended His Hands. When Paranoid Hands were extended to Arrest, and Prayerful hands were extended to Appeal, we see POWERFUL HANDS EXTENDED TO ACCELERATE (verse 31a).
1) There is Power in God’s Extended Hands!
a) Power to Shake-Up. Sometimes, Salt in the Shaker needs to be Shook-Up before Shaken-Out. When foundations are shaken, Doors fly open unexpectedly! It is good to be in God’s hands when earthly foundations are shaken. The church was on top of the Epicenter of the earthquake.
b) Power to Shake-Down. Indicative of the shaking down of Jerusalem.
c) Power to Fill-Up the Shook Up – verse 31b.
d) Power to Shut-Up the Shook Down – verse 31c.
2) When Paranoid People lay hands on His Principled People, the Lord Will Stretch Out His Hands!!! He will put His Hands into Action; He will Liberate and Apostolize His hands by Stretching Them Out!
• He stretched out His Hand round about midnight and Israel walked out of the Egyptian prison-house.
• He stretched out His Hand in the wilderness and quails flew in the camp at evening and angel’s food (manna) formed on the ground in the mornings.
• He stretched out His Hand and divided a raging Red Sea.
• He stretched out His Hand and the sun stood still long enough for Israel to catch and destroy her enemies.
• He stretched out His Hand and a Virgin became pregnant and gave birth to the Right Hand of God. He then bared His arm and revealed the glory of the Lord.
• He stretched out His Hand and offered those who labored and who were heavy-laden rest.
• He apostolized His Hand and healed the broken-hearted, loosed the captives, sighted the blind and liberated the bruised.
• He commissioned His Hand and raised the dead. He sent from heaven and saved the lost.
• He stretched out His Hand and accepted the socially unacceptable, the physically repugnant, the ceremonially unclean, the religiously unfit, the economically poor, and the hygienically odorous.
When Paranoid People lay hands on His Principled People, The Lord Will Put His Hand Into Action!
IV. Subsequently, Because of the Power of Extended Hands, THE CHURCH CONTINUED (Acts 4:32-37)!
The Power of Extended Hands Ensured:
a. Oneness – verse 32a
b. Unselfishness – verse 32 b
c. Effective Evangelism – verse 33
d. Sufficient Provisions – verses 34-37
SO, THE CHURCH CONTINUED!!!
