September 17, 2024
In Acts 5, immediately after the frightening story of the married couple, Ananias and Sapphira, who were judged by God for conspiring to lie to the Holy Spirit and to the fledgling Church, we read the following;
12 The apostles performed many signs and wonders among the people, and with one accord the believers gathered together in Solomon’s Colonnade. 13 Although the people regarded them highly, no one else dared to join them. 14 Yet more and more believers were brought to the Lord—large numbers of both men and women.
15 As a result, people brought the sick into the streets and laid them on cots and mats, so that at least Peter’s shadow might fall on some of them as he passed by. 16 Crowds also gathered from the towns around Jerusalem, bringing the sick and those tormented by unclean spirits, and all of them were healed.
I’ve often wondered why we don’t see the same kind of concentration of verified miracles in churches in America. Perhaps the answer is related to the swift judgment on Ananias and Sapphira in Chapter 5 of Acts. Could it be that as God’s power comes closer and becomes more accessible to heal and help, that the same power judges sin even more quickly?
I’ve also wondered if the relative “powerlessness” of the American Church is less of an evidence of God’s lack of compassion on the hurting in our midst and rather a display of His mercy on the majority of us that are flirting with judgment because of many well hidden sinful attitudes and actions.
God knows.
In the next verse, it says that the priestly aristocracy in Jerusalem was fuming over the many miracles taking place.
17 Then the high priest and all his associates, who belonged to the party of the Sadducees, were filled with jealousy…
This is fascinating to me. Why would they be jealous? Demonic influence aside…people were being healed, delivered, and shown God’s love, and the priests didn't have to lift a finger to help. So why would that intimidate them? Most certainly because they were what Jesus called “hirelings” and not good shepherds. And they were more concerned with keeping their political power stable than caring for the people.
We saw the same dynamic with Jesus and the religious leaders that challenged Him repeatedly. Apparently, when God comes close, people are healed and delivered, demons are stirred and enraged, sin “in the camp” is judged severely and quickly, and religious leaders are jealous and intimidated.
What a mess revival can make.
And yet, we desperately need what the early Church had. There are far too many people suffering today and only a touch from our Holy and powerful God can bring true healing. It’s no wonder Paul urged Christians to “work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.” If we want to walk in the same power the apostles did, it requires a greater level of responsibility. “To whom much is given, much is required.”
Because of their jealousy, the religious leaders arrest and interrogate the Apostles. They beat them, and berate them. Even with the wise and venerable Rabbi Gamaliel holding them back, still the leaders of the Sanhedrin strictly forbade the Christians to teach or even speak about their Savior, Jesus Christ. And even though neither the Apostles nor the other members of the Christian family mounted any kind of violent revolt against these abusive and corrupt religious leaders, they did respectfully choose to disobey their “gag order.”
It’s interesting that while many of the “common people” feared the first Christians, the Church continued to grow rapidly. But something unique took place after the first deacons were selected. In Chapter six we read;
7So the word of God continued to spread. The number of disciples in Jerusalem grew rapidly, and a great number of priests became obedient to the faith.
Why did that happen?
God’s wisdom is so far beyond our comprehension. What might have seemed like setbacks were actually stepping stones for the Church. While the ruling Sadducee chief priests were imprisoning, abusing, beating and berating the Apostles of Jesus Christ, the other priests were watching closely.
What did they see?
That “great number of priests” saw how the Apostles acted with such amazing grace under such immense pressure. They saw the lame leap and the dumb speak. They saw the hungry fed and the poor clothed. And they saw all of this done in the power of the Holy Spirit and in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ.
PRN: Our Father in Heaven. Prepare us to receive your power. Keep us by your Grace on the narrow road that leads to life. Use us to help the hurting and to make You known. Bring revival to your Church once again, and as you manifest your supernatural presence through us, may we always be found faithful to glorify You alone. In the name of Jesus we pray, amen.
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