Reflecting Christ
After the birth of the Church in Acts chapter 2, the wonders of His presence was seen through His called! The Lord, in His Name, to heal a lame man who is over forty years old, uses Peter and John entering into the temple. He had been lame since birth. Yet, there is this awesome experience of the miraculous that happens. It did not take neither money nor any special education, just pure faith and trust in Jesus! The unique application to this healing brought the attention of the religious leaders. The whole of the people at the temple and throughout the town began to talk about what they had seen and also too those who had known the man when he was lame.
As we move further in to Acts Chapter 4 we see that they had arrested them for doing good to someone for Christ sake. During this exceptional portrayal of the anointing, five thousand people believe and are saved! This is the very thing why we should always obey the Lord no matter where we are! Be prepared to obey Him at His beckoning call.
In Acts 4:13 there is a tremendous statement that anyone can embrace and wrap their spirit around. Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated, common men, they were astonished. And they recognized that they had been with Jesus. (Acts 4:13 ESV) Boldness is part of the Christians character, which is instilled and nurtured through the presence of the Holy Spirit! The facts are clear: They are bold in their actions and in their purpose to obey Jesus. The rulers and elders that had gone to great lengths to be educated and sensational in their own eyes noticed this: These men were not educated! Education is very important and everyone should better his or her mind with proper knowledge. However, education is not the answer to obedience to His will in your life. I have sons and a daughter who are highly educated. I have friends across this globe that are doctors, lawyers, professors, educators, chancellors and highly trained in the field of technology. I love education but I do not love the inappropriate prideful attitude it portrays in some lives. The rulers and elders who were judging Peter and the others are a prime example of my point.
These were common men, who had been anointed by the Lord and were determined to live out that anointing freely! Not for prides sake, but for the sake of the Gospel of Christ Jesus! As not so uncommon, these judges of men were astonished. Yes, amazed that these men without an education could do such a thing. The Lord, our God, can and will use anyone that will obey Him! God is radical and He expects us to be radical also. We are to be radical in our prayers and also in our obedience to Him and His commands. Again, I know deeply and have great friends that are highly educated and move in a powerful spiritual dimension with the Holy Spirit. But it is the anointing that makes the difference, the anointing of the Holy Spirit in a person.
The last point to be made here is that these judges recognized the main condition of these men and their boldness: They had been with Jesus! When you spend time with Him in prayer and live by faith it will be recognized, both by the anointed and those that live outside the Kingdom of God. Yes, after all that was said and challenged, the conclusion: These men had been with Jesus! What a testimony and what a witness for His Name sake. Is that your testimony today? Do people notice that you have been with Jesus? Are you reflecting Christ?
Dennis
Remember prayer moves the Hand of God.