The Witness of the Holy Spirit

Click on the picture above to view the service on our YouTube channel.

Acts 5:12-42

TWO RESPONSES TO THIS TEXT

First, we marvel at the miracles (an upward response of worship).

1. Miracle of healing: "all of them were healed." We worship a healing God. His work is fundamentally a work of healing and restoration. 
2. Miracle of release from prison. "Tell them of this new life" was the angel's command when he released them. We worship Jesus who is in charge of all laws of nature.
3. Miracle of effectiveness. "You have filled Jerusalem with this man's teaching." Jesus is doing a work that no one can stop.
4. Miracle of preservation and protection. God protected his people through Gamaliel, a Pharisee. When God chooses to protect his people from death, he can do it in any way he wants. 

Second, we find courage (an outward response).

1. Boldness in the face of difficult circumstances: The apostles went right back to the temple to proclaim the very same message. They get arrested again! ICB can step forward with boldness into this next season of our corporate life. Jesus will remain faithful to his church.
2. Submission to authority: The apostles submitted themselves to their second arrest, as Paul commands people to be obedient to authority.
3. Respectful opposition to human authority: Observe the nature of the command. We can find examples of the misapplication of the idea that we must obey God rather than man. Peter responded merely by saying that we are witnesses; that's who we are. This opposition was not because their rights were being violated.
4. Joy in suffering: They were flogged, and they left rejoicing because they had been counted worthy to suffer disgrace for the name.

Question for personal reflection and/or group discussion:

1. Do we truly believe that our God is capable of doing miracles today? How should we respond when we ask him to do something, and he doesn't?
2. What aspects of the apostles' courage is most striking to you? When does it take more courage to be submissive to authority than to stand against it?