The Fellowship of Ailbe

ACTS THE HOLY SPIRIT DRIVES EVENTS F. Michael Slay A DEEP Study The Fellowship of Ailbe

The disciples pray for boldness and get another infusion of the Holy Spirit. The ensuing stream of supernatural events leads even more people to faith than ever before. We re pleased to provide the DEEP studies in PDF format at no charge. We hope you will find them helpful and encouraging as you press on in your journey toward spiritual maturity in the Lord. The Fellowship of Ailbe offers many opportunities for training, prayer, personal growth, and ministry. Please visit our website at www.ailbe.org to discover the many other resources available to serve your needs. This includes many email newsletters such as our worldview study ReVision, our devotional newsletter Crosfigell, and the DEEP. We are a spiritual fellowship in the Celtic Christian tradition. Our goal is to promote revival, renewal, and awakening, following the teaching of Scripture and the example and heritage of our forebears in the faith. T. M. Moore, Principal tmmoore@ailbe.org Thank you. Copyright 2018 F. Michael Slay The Fellowship of Ailbe www.ailbe.org All scripture references are noted. ESV stands for the English Standard Version. Copyright 2001 by Crossway. Used by permission. All rights reserved. NKJV stands for the New King James Version. Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved. NIV stands for The Holy Bible, New International Version. Copyright 1973 by International Bible Society. Used by permission. All rights reserved. 2

1 Acts 4:23-31 (ESV) When they were released, they went to their friends and reported what the chief priests and the elders had said to them. And when they heard it, they lifted their voices together to God and said, Sovereign Lord, who made the heaven and the earth and the sea and everything in them, who through the mouth of our father David, your servant, said by the Holy Spirit, Why did the Gentiles rage, and the peoples plot in vain? The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers were gathered together, against the Lord and against his Anointed for truly in this city there were gathered together against your holy servant Jesus, whom you anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, along with the Gentiles and the peoples of Israel, to do whatever your hand and your plan had predestined to take place. And now, Lord, look upon their threats and grant to your servants to continue to speak your word with all boldness, while you stretch out your hand to heal, and signs and wonders are performed through the name of your holy servant Jesus. And when they had prayed, the place in which they were gathered together was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and continued to speak the word of God with boldness. There are two lessons in this passage. First of all, their prayer is terrific and a model for how we should pray. Notice their three-step process. They begin by addressing God properly. Then they describe their situation clearly, even quoting scripture. Lastly, they ask the Lord to empower them to serve Him better. This conforms perfectly with John 15:7. If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. (ESV) When we pray we should be ever mindful of John 15:7 and seek this attitude. The second lesson is in how God answered this prayer. They didn t specifically ask for another infusion of the Holy Spirit; they asked to be able to, continue to speak your word with all boldness. To the extent that this was asking for the wrong thing, it didn t matter. We make bigger mistakes than that. God expects us to be clueless; sincerity and devotion to His purposes are what s important. But, when they had prayed, the place in which they were gathered together was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and continued to speak the word of God with boldness. So, being filled with the Holy Spirit isn t just a one-time deal. This same thing happened to many of them at Pentecost and now it s happening again. But don t make the opposite mistake of thinking that being filled with the Holy Spirit is something that wears off after a few hours. When it says that they continued to speak the word of God with boldness, that can t refer to just the time while they were together. The request was for long term boldness and that s what they got. Our situation isn t exactly the same the apostolic age is over but we can still ask for boldness. His response may not shake the room, but if we are ready to serve Him it will shake us. We should ask to be empowered by the Holy Spirit to be a force for His kingdom. But note this you need to think specifically what you re going to do with that power and pray for guidance. God may move your plans around a bit. Letting that happen makes all the difference. 3

2 Acts 4:32-37 (NIV) All the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that any of their possessions was their own, but they shared everything they had. With great power the apostles continued to testify to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. And God s grace was so powerfully at work in them all that there were no needy persons among them. For from time to time those who owned land or houses sold them, brought the money from the sales and put it at the apostles feet, and it was distributed to anyone who had need. Joseph, a Levite from Cyprus, whom the apostles called Barnabas (which means son of encouragement ), sold a field he owned and brought the money and put it at the apostles feet. Barnabas breaks onto the scene with a noteworthy act of generosity. His nickname (which means son of encouragement ) is well deserved. In Chapter 9, Barnabas trusts Paul after his conversion on the road to Damascus and thus becomes Paul s right-hand man. But in Chapter 15, Barnabas trusts Mark while Paul won t, and they separate. Barnabas teams up with Mark while Paul teams up with Silas. Given the backstory, you d think Paul would let go of his (well founded) concerns about Mark and just go along with Barnabas, but Acts is full of surprising twists. Notice that Barnabas does the same thing with his life that he did with his field. From a secular point of view, he looks like a risk taker. But from a Christian point of view, he s an encourager. Encouragement is love in action. As Olaf says in the movie Frozen, Love is putting someone else's needs before yours. Whether you re saving someone s life or just feeding them, it invariably comes across as encouraging. Christ commands us to love people. Encouragement is the key. Everyone needs encouragement, but some more than others. Who can you encourage? You may not be called to encourage the person who needs it most, but the one you re best positioned to help. Encouragement shouldn t be a one-off project anyway; it should be a lifestyle. There are some great resources on how to be a better encourager. My favorite is Encouragement: The Key to Caring by Larry Crabb and Dan Allender. Ask the Lord to show you how to be a better encourager. Some folks just need a warm touch or a kind word; others have physical challenges that need addressing. Figure out how to help them. Strategize, then execute. Warm their hearts and make them strong. Then they can be encouragers too. 4

3 Acts 5:1-11 (NIV) Now a man named Ananias, together with his wife Sapphira, also sold a piece of property. With his wife s full knowledge he kept back part of the money for himself, but brought the rest and put it at the apostles feet. Then Peter said, Ananias, how is it that Satan has so filled your heart that you have lied to the Holy Spirit and have kept for yourself some of the money you received for the land? Didn t it belong to you before it was sold? And after it was sold, wasn t the money at your disposal? What made you think of doing such a thing? You have not lied just to human beings but to God. When Ananias heard this, he fell down and died. And great fear seized all who heard what had happened. Then some young men came forward, wrapped up his body, and carried him out and buried him. About three hours later his wife came in, not knowing what had happened. Peter asked her, Tell me, is this the price you and Ananias got for the land? Yes, she said, that is the price. Peter said to her, How could you conspire to test the Spirit of the Lord? Listen! The feet of the men who buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out also. At that moment she fell down at his feet and died. Then the young men came in and, finding her dead, carried her out and buried her beside her husband. Great fear seized the whole church and all who heard about these events. The head-scratcher is, What made you think of doing such a thing? What motive could they have had? Consider these clues. They didn t sell their house; they sold a field. Having a field is not nearly as common as having a house. They were richer than most folks. They didn t just bring the money to the apostles; they connected the donation with the selling of the field and claimed that it was the total proceeds. Why? They didn t need to explain where the money came from. Just donating, say, 10 talents would have been fine. Peter is getting at this when he says, Didn t it belong to you before it was sold? And after it was sold, wasn t the money at your disposal? If they had simply been honest, it would have been viewed as a generous donation. Somehow, that wasn t enough. They couldn t have sold the field for a lot more than what they donated. If the field was worth 20 talents, claiming that they only got 10 for it would have been silly. Although he kept back part of the money for himself, they donated most of it. Ananias only skimmed off what he thought he could get away with. Coming right on the heels of Barnabas donating all the proceeds from the sale of his field, it looks like they were envious of the praise he got. They wanted to be big-shots too. This unhealthy attitude is why many non-profits give their big donors special perks and invitations. One of the challenges of the Christian walk is to do good works solely for Christ and not to show off. That s virtually impossible without God s help. The way to get humility is to pray for it. Ask the Holy Spirit to keep a lid on your pride. 5

4 Acts 5:12-16 (ESV) Now many signs and wonders were regularly done among the people by the hands of the apostles. And they were all together in Solomon's Portico. None of the rest dared join them, but the people held them in high esteem. And more than ever believers were added to the Lord, multitudes of both men and women, so that they even carried out the sick into the streets and laid them on cots and mats, that as Peter came by at least his shadow might fall on some of them. The people also gathered from the towns around Jerusalem, bringing the sick and those afflicted with unclean spirits, and they were all healed. There s something striking about this passage. Even though more than ever believers were added to the Lord, there s no mention of the apostles preaching the gospel. It only says that many signs and wonders were regularly done among the people by the hands of the apostles. Specifically, people from the neighboring towns were bringing the sick and those afflicted with unclean spirits, and they were all healed. That is preaching the gospel! It not only shows grace everyone was healed regardless of merit but it was living proof of the truth of the gospel message. The kingdom of God had arrived. So, not only were multitudes of both men and women being added to the Lord, but it was more than ever. Peter s healing ministry added more believers than his sermons ever did. Surprised? Which kind of ministry should attract more unbelievers great preaching or great charity? Please don t take this as meaning that preaching and teaching aren t important. They re essential. Otherwise, why produce these DEEP devotionals? They don t feed or heal anyone. But they re for believers. Most Christian preaching and teaching is designed for people who have already confessed Christ. Outreach sermons and seeker services are important, but even they depend on people being curious and showing up. Without charity, where are the seekers going to come from? Of course, things are different now. The apostles had powers way beyond anything we have, right? Well, not exactly. They would flip out if they could see what we can do. Our medical powers don t fall that much short of what the apostles had. Plus, we have lots of other advantages better food, clothing, transportation, media, etc. People have many needs, not just healing. We are stunningly well equipped to help them. We re also well equipped to find those who need help. They don t have to come to us anymore. We re not taking advantage of the wonders at our disposal. We have tools and powers that didn t exist just a few years ago. We could be helping a lot of people. We have the resources to start a revival in our community. We need to think big. Ask God to light the fire. 6

5 Acts 5:17-26 (ESV) But the high priest rose up, and all who were with him (that is, the party of the Sadducees), and filled with jealousy they arrested the apostles and put them in the public prison. But during the night an angel of the Lord opened the prison doors and brought them out, and said, Go and stand in the temple and speak to the people all the words of this Life. And when they heard this, they entered the temple at daybreak and began to teach. Now when the high priest came, and those who were with him, they called together the council, all the senate of the people of Israel, and sent to the prison to have them brought. But when the officers came, they did not find them in the prison, so they returned and reported, We found the prison securely locked and the guards standing at the doors, but when we opened them we found no one inside. Now when the captain of the temple and the chief priests heard these words, they were greatly perplexed about them, wondering what this would come to. And someone came and told them, Look! The men whom you put in prison are standing in the temple and teaching the people. Then the captain with the officers went and brought them, but not by force, for they were afraid of being stoned by the people. I almost have sympathy for the high priest and the party of the Sadducees. They re control freaks and things are just not cooperating. Every attempt at control backfires. They even got the founder of this movement crucified and he just pops back up again, showing everybody the holes in his hands and his feet. How frustrating is that? So, filled with jealousy they arrested the apostles and put them in the public prison. What were they so jealous about? Actually, jealousy might not be the right word. The New King James has it as indignation. The Greek word is actually zalos, which, not surprisingly, can be translated as zeal. In other words, this is not them just defending their power. They actually thought they were doing the right thing. That makes sense, especially given that it was a joint decision. They re sincere, but they re control freaks and it s not going well. They jail the apostles and that just triggers another miracle. Their control freak methods are being used by God! It s like, You meant it for evil, but God meant it for good, except that they didn t really mean it for evil. It s closer to, You did it for stupid, but God used it for good. How did we get here, anyway (being Christians, that is)? Where would we be if we hadn t been so stupid? Part of God s plan of salvation is our need for salvation. It s beautiful warts and all. Praise God from whom all blessing flows. Praise Him for who He is. And for His amazing ways. 7

Questions for reflection or discussion 1. When you re preparing for an opportunity to share the gospel, what do you pray for? 2. When you re trying to encourage someone, what s the biggest mistake you can make? 3. When you do a good deed, do you hope it will get noticed? 4. Our modern world is both a blessing and a curse with respect to spreading the gospel. What factors do you see as most significant? 5. What were the most ironic plot twists in how you because a Christian? Items for prayer: 8