Can We Do What Jesus Did?
As Peter and John continue to preach in Jesus' name in the power of the Holy Spirit, they meet resistance from the religious leaders, who are greatly disturbed. And why are they disturbed? Because they thought they had quelled this Jesus thing, and now it is getting even worse. And we shouldn't be surprised because Jesus himself said, "You will even do greater things than I have done." And it was greater in the sense of the range and scope of the kingdom coming on earth as it is in heaven. They were doing what Jesus was doing. They were preaching God's kingdom come, and doing the things Jesus did, healing and doing miracles.
So they did the only logical thing, they locked them up thinking it might cool things off a little bit. But the results spoke for themselves. The number of those who believed the message swelled from 3,000 to 5,000. By putting them in jail it added fuel to the missional fire. Why? One, because the Holy Spirit was using the message they were preaching to convict people of their need for Jesus. Two, because they saw these ordinary, unschooled men preaching, teaching, and doing miracles in Jesus' name with authority and power. Bottom line, God's kingdom coming on earth after Pentecost, and the coming of the promised Holy Spirit, could not be stopped by mere men. As Jesus said to the disciples, "All authority has been given to you, go and make disciples of all nations and I will be with you until the end of the age."
So what does this mean for us? Do you think we have any less power and authority than the early disciples had? Some say that kind of spiritual power was only given to the disciples, as they started the Christian movement. There is only one problem with that argument. It doesn't make any sense. Think of it, why would God say, "Okay enough of that Holy Spirit stuff, no more power for future disciples." And we see throughout the history of the church similar movements of God through the power of the Holy Spirit that revived the Church from its spiritual malaise.
We also see such movements happening today in the Church. God is always present when we preach, teach, and heal in Jesus' name in the power of the Holy Spirit. Really the only question is will we be obedient to the commission Jesus gave to us. Friends in Christ, this is exciting news. As we read the accounts of the early church and subsequent movements in the church throughout history, do we expect it could happen in our time? Do we pray for it? Are we ready for it? Do we even want it?
Peter and John Before the Sanhedrin
4 The priests and the captain of the temple guard and the Sadducees came up to Peter and John while they were speaking to the people. 2 They were greatly disturbed because the apostles were teaching the people, proclaiming in Jesus the resurrection of the dead. 3 They seized Peter and John and, because it was evening, they put them in jail until the next day. 4 But many who heard the message believed; so the number of men who believed grew to about five thousand.
So they did the only logical thing, they locked them up thinking it might cool things off a little bit. But the results spoke for themselves. The number of those who believed the message swelled from 3,000 to 5,000. By putting them in jail it added fuel to the missional fire. Why? One, because the Holy Spirit was using the message they were preaching to convict people of their need for Jesus. Two, because they saw these ordinary, unschooled men preaching, teaching, and doing miracles in Jesus' name with authority and power. Bottom line, God's kingdom coming on earth after Pentecost, and the coming of the promised Holy Spirit, could not be stopped by mere men. As Jesus said to the disciples, "All authority has been given to you, go and make disciples of all nations and I will be with you until the end of the age."
So what does this mean for us? Do you think we have any less power and authority than the early disciples had? Some say that kind of spiritual power was only given to the disciples, as they started the Christian movement. There is only one problem with that argument. It doesn't make any sense. Think of it, why would God say, "Okay enough of that Holy Spirit stuff, no more power for future disciples." And we see throughout the history of the church similar movements of God through the power of the Holy Spirit that revived the Church from its spiritual malaise.
We also see such movements happening today in the Church. God is always present when we preach, teach, and heal in Jesus' name in the power of the Holy Spirit. Really the only question is will we be obedient to the commission Jesus gave to us. Friends in Christ, this is exciting news. As we read the accounts of the early church and subsequent movements in the church throughout history, do we expect it could happen in our time? Do we pray for it? Are we ready for it? Do we even want it?
Peter and John Before the Sanhedrin
4 The priests and the captain of the temple guard and the Sadducees came up to Peter and John while they were speaking to the people. 2 They were greatly disturbed because the apostles were teaching the people, proclaiming in Jesus the resurrection of the dead. 3 They seized Peter and John and, because it was evening, they put them in jail until the next day. 4 But many who heard the message believed; so the number of men who believed grew to about five thousand.
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