Radical Relationship
In Acts 3, the Peter and John are going to the temple at the time of prayer, and there is a man, whom it says was laid there daily, so that he could ask/ beg for help. Notice the man didn’t go inside, instead he was laid at the gate, to ask for help from those going into the temple at the time of prayer. And Peter at that time didn’t have money, because he said, “Silver and gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk.”
The man was asking for help or money, but Peter gave this man something more than what he was asking for… he gave him a new life. Then, since he had a captive audience, Peter decided to minster to the people, which causes quite a disturbance. So, the temple guards, took Peter and John into custody, held them overnight, and the next day brought them before the religious council. And let’s pick up this story in Acts 4:7, when Peter and John are being questioned. Acts 4:7-22
7 And when they had set them in the midst, they asked, “By what power or by what name have you done this?”
8 Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, “Rulers of the people and elders of Israel:
9 If we this day are judged for a good deed done to a helpless man, by what means he has been made well,
10 let it be known to you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead, by Him this man stands here before you whole.
11 This is the ‘stone which was rejected by you builders, which has become the chief cornerstone.’
12 Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.”
13 Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated and untrained men, they marveled. And they realized that they had been with Jesus.
14 And seeing the man who had been healed standing with them, they could say nothing against it.
15 But when they had commanded them to go aside out of the council, they conferred among themselves,
16 saying, “What shall we do to these men? For, indeed, that a notable miracle has been done through them is evident to all who dwell in Jerusalem, and we cannot deny it.
17 But so that it spreads no further among the people, let us severely threaten them, that from now on they speak to no man in this name.”
18 So they called them and commanded them not to speak at all nor teach in the name of Jesus.
19 But Peter and John answered and said to them, “Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you more than to God, you judge.
20 For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard.”
21 So when they had further threatened them, they let them go, finding no way of punishing them, because of the people, since they all glorified God for what had been done.
22 For the man was over forty years old on whom this miracle of healing had been performed.
There was a major change that took place in the disciples.There was such a change in their lives, that Peter and John courageously stood before the Sanhedrin, and boldly chastised the same religious leaders that had Jesus crucified.
So, what changed in their lives, especially the life of Peter... Before… Peter just hung out with Jesus… He was close to Jesus… Peter was even part of the groups of 12 and 72 that went out and healed the sick and cast out demons…
Jesus definitely rubbed off on Him… but when pressure came, Peter folded like a cheap suit!
BECAUSE Peter didn’t yet have what it took to stand in the face of adversity!! BUT after Jesus died and rose again, Peter became a changed man.Instead of Jesus being with him, Jesus was in Him!
Before Peter knew Jesus could do anything, but then Peter was convinced that Jesus could work through him!
All because Peter knew that Christ lived in him, and if he kept his relationship with Christ right… He knew he could do all things!
John 3:30
30 He must increase, but I must decrease.
You are unlike Peter…
After Jesus died and rose, Peter had to wait in Jerusalem for the Promise of the Holy Spirit
BUT the great news of the gospel is this… you don’t have to wait, for the Kingdom of Heaven is here… God lives in you!
The bible says that your body is a temple for the Holy Spirit and the Holy Spirit lives in you!
1 Corinthians 6:19-20
19 Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own?
20 For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s. Luke 6:45
45 A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart brings forth evil. For out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks.
Renew your mind with the Word of God, that coupled with a deep, genuine relationship with Christ, will cause that good treasure to overflow, not only out of your mouth, but it will overflow out of your entire life. Have A Blessed Day! Pastor George Finney New Life Church NewLifeKenefick@yahoo.com