The book of Acts highlights the drastic difference between the American church and the first century church.
Acts 4:1 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 and 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, and the number of men grew to about five thousand.
5 The next day the rulers, elders and teachers of the law met in Jerusalem. 6 Annas the high priest was there, and so were Caiaphas, John, Alexander and the other men of the high priest’s family. 7 They had Peter and John brought before them and began to question them: “By what power or what name did you do this?”
8 Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them: “Rulers and elders of the people! 9 If we are being called to account today for an act of kindness shown to a cripple and are asked how he was healed, 10 then know this, you and all the people of Israel: It is by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified but whom God raised from the dead, that this man stands before you healed. 11 He is “‘the stone you builders rejected, which has become the capstone.’ 12 Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved.”Timid
13 When they saw the courage of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished and they took note that these men had been with Jesus.
The life of Peter and John is lived in drastic contrast to my life. I am not praying for the sick, defending my faith with boldness in adversity. People know I’m a Christian, but there’s a difference in people knowing that I’m a Christian and Peter and John walking with power and boldness.
I would purpose that the majority of us are more educated than Peter and John and yet less bold. When shouldn’t it be the opposite. The more you know about Christ and the life with him, shouldn’t you live expecting greater things than Peter and John. But it’s not the case. Were timid. Were afraid. We don’t share our faith let alone pray for the sick and believe and expect the supernatural to happen.
CHARACTERISTICS OF PETER AND JOHN
1) Ordinary Men
2) Astonishing Crowds
3) Desperate for More
Peter and John felt like they were lacking in boldness and power.
Acts 4:13 "they were unschooled, ordinary men."They did have seminary degrees. They’re normal. And yet something was different about them. They carried a boldness I don’t have. They carried a since of power and authority that I don’t have.
2) Astonishing Crowds
Acts 4:13“The Sanhedrin realized they were unschooled, ordinary men and they were astonished.”Are people astonished at your faith and boldness. Do people carry this sense of awe and wonder when they look at you and the mark you leave behind.
3) Desperate for More
Peter and John felt like they were lacking in boldness and power.
Acts 4:29 Now, Lord, consider their threats and enable your servants to speak your word with great boldness. 30 Stretch out your hand to heal and perform miraculous signs and wonders through the name of your holy servant Jesus.”They prayed for more boldness.
31 After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly.
Holy Spirit
Now lets look at these same stories through the lens of the Holy Spirit
Jesus says,
Acts 1:8, “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you;”And so in Acts 2 the Disciples are in the upper room praying and seeking God waiting for what Jesus had talked about.
Acts 2:4 says, “All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit.”What was the by-product? And incredible about of boldness. Peter, this unschooled man, stand up in front of thousands and preaches and 3000 people put there faith in Christ.
What’s the by-product? The very next chapter, chapter 3, Peter and John in the power of the Holy Spirit heal a crippled man.
This then brings us to the beginning text.
Acts 4:8, which says, “The Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit”He spoke in boldness not because he had a seminary degree. But because he is filled with the Holy Spirit. So, Peter, a man filled with the Holy Spirit, prays for boldness in Acts 4:29.
Acts 4:31 After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly.There’s some correlation between the Holy Spirit and Boldness. And the Holy Sprit and Power.
TWO OBSERVATIONS
1) Being a Christian does not mean being filled with the Holy Spirit
You can be a great Christian. Love God. Go to heaven. Serve in Church. And Not be filled with the Holy Spirit. It’s not that you are a second rate Christian. Its just that you are not tapping into the benefit of the Holy Spirit. That which Jesus had talked about.
If being filled with the Holy Spirit was something that came at salvation then there was no need for Peter, a man filled with the Holy Spirit be filled with the Holy Spirit again in Acts 4:31 unless being filled with the Holy Spirit is an experience all by itself independent of salvation.
Putting your faith in Jesus is not the finish line. It’s the starting line of a life with Christ. And there is an experience that comes from the Holy Sprit that must be pursued as a Christian.
2) We should pray for the source, not the by-product.
We need to be praying for the source. Not the by-product. The source is the “Filling of the Holy Spirit” The by-product of the experience of “Boldness” and “Power”
We don't see the power and boldness of the Holy Spirit in our lives because we have not embraced and pursued, and prayed for the source. We have not pursued a life with the Holy Spirit. We have not embraced what Jesus says as the benefit of the Holy Spirit
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