Do what they did? Or obey how they obeyed?

READ Acts 1-4

Our church is large. To encourage a sense of community, support, encouragement and to give opportunities to fellowship together, we have small groups. Our group meets on Monday nights for study and pray. We sometimes eat together and share news and prayer requests with phone calls and email. Last night was rich with a strong sense of God’s presence. It was also a great introduction to today’s reading.

The events in the formation of God’s church included several elements. Some that I noticed in these first two chapters were: questions about the future, unity, devotion to prayer, replacing Judas with another who had been with Jesus, experiencing the arrival of the Holy Spirit as tongues of fire, speaking in languages they had not learned, being mocked by those who heard them, and telling people the works of God. Peter preached a powerful and convicting sermon about their foolishness in crucifying Jesus yet God ordained it to happen. He spoke of the wonder of His resurrection and the disciples saw thousands putting their faith in Christ and being baptized. These believers were devoted to God’s teaching, to fellowship, to eating and sharing all things in common. They saw signs and wonders, were praising God, and gained favor with all the people.

The next two chapters were also filled with events. Peter and John approached a lame man and in the name of Jesus told him to rise and walk. He did. This attracted a crowd and Peter told them this was the power of Jesus, the Messiah whom God sent to save them from their sins.

God, having raised up his servant, sent him to you first, to bless you by turning every one of you from your wickedness.” (Acts 3:26)

At this, the religious leaders arrested them but didn’t know what to do with them, finally releasing them with a charge to shut up, to quit talking about Jesus. At that, they responded: “Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you rather than to God, you must judge, for we cannot but speak of what we have seen and heard.” (Acts 4:19–20)

They were released, rejoined other believers and they prayed to the Sovereign Lord and Creator who knew that the kings of the earth would gather against Him and His Anointed servant Jesus. They said,

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. Now the full number of those who believed were of one heart and soul, and no one said that any of the things that belonged to him was his own, but they had everything in common. And with great power the apostles were giving their testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great grace was upon them all. There was not a needy person among them, for as many as were owners of lands or houses sold them and brought the proceeds of what was sold and laid it at the apostles’ feet, and it was distributed to each as any had need. (Acts 4:29–35)

Some Christians desire a ‘NT church’ yet are all of these things prescriptive in that all churches must have these same experiences? Or are they descriptive in the sense of what happened then must be copied?

For instance, do we focus on visible experiences like tongues of fire and the ability to preach to others in a language that we have never learned or studied, or do we focus on the unity and power of the Holy Spirit to give us great boldness, even with opposition? I noticed in chapter two, Peter cited a prophecy from Joel about God’s Spirit poured out resulting in prophetic speech, visions, dreams, and signs and wonders, but no mention of tongues of fire or of speaking in other languages. What is the Lord’s will for us today? Do we focus on ‘thousands’ believing or on being faithful to share the message — leaving the results to God who “added to their number day by day those who were being saved”? Or should we want miracles that create opportunities to share the Gospel? Or can we take those opportunities in ordinary events? For instance, one of our group shared that when anyone asks, “How are you?” he often says, “Better than I deserve” and sometimes that opens a door to telling others about Jesus.

God speaks to me from these chapters about His power to turn ordinary people into faithful servants who do His will, whether it is sharing possessions or sharing Jesus. Their lives were no longer their own. They paid attention to His voice and joyfully and did without fear whatever He said, “and great grace was upon them all” — without any thought that they could be changing the world. God says again, “Obey Me” and this is my desire.