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Word from Scotland
by Sandy Shaw
As we reach this middle section of Acts 5, I do ask you to continue to read the actual biblical text. We have been studying how The Church of Jesus Christ was birthed, and how God launched the Church into the world. We have studied the significance of the outpouring of the Holy Spirit, when some day some 3,000 people came to believe in Jesus Christ, as they turned from their sins, were baptised (plunged) in water, and received the Holy Spirit.
Take time to check that your foundation is biblically sound. It is essential that our foundation is based upon the solid rock of the Word of God.
Peter and John were imprisoned. They appeared in the same court which had tried Jesus Christ, and the apostle's boldness and courage did not go unnoticed. There are times when we have to be bold and courageous, as well as merciful and tender. Those who sought to silence the disciples of the risen, living and ascended Jesus were bewildered.
Do not be overly surprised when people might try to silence you and switch off your light. There was a most marvellous outpouring of prayer among the believers, when Peter and John returned, on their being released from that Jerusalem jail.
Is your voice heard regularly in a gathering for praise and prayer? Peter faced up to the insidious hypocrisy which tried to creep in, confronting both Ananias and Sapphira, as they tried to kid on that they had given all the money they had received for that property. As a result of their lying they dropped down dead!
These were awesome days. These were momentous times, as the Holy Spirit flowed through the believers in various manifestations. Take time to check that your channel is not clogged up. Is the Holy Spirit able to flow through you freely and unhampered?
In verse 15, people brought their sick ones into the streets, so that at least Peter's shadow might fall on some of them as he passed by. There is no doubt about who the front man was in this growing Jerusalem Fellowship. Peter was the leader.
News travelled fast. Crowds came. Sick and demonised ones were brought, and 'all of them were healed'. These demonised ones were "tormented". That is what the devil does. Others were tormented in a different manner, but by the same enemy of God. They were filled with jealousy. That too is a tormenting spirit. Jealousy can make people do terrible things. They become unfair, unjust and cruel.
It manifests itself in peculiar irrational behaviour, and again the apostles are put in jail. Take time - make time - this week to check your own spiritual situation and witness. What does God want to say to you and teach you from His living Word?
Alexander 'Sandy' Shaw is pastor of Nairn Christian Fellowship in Nairn, Scotland. Nairn is 17 miles east of Inverness - on the Moray Firth Coast - not far from the Loch Ness Monster!
Gifted as a Biblical teacher, Sandy is firmly committed to making sure that his teachings are firmly grounded in the Word.
Sandy has a weekly radio talk which can be heard via the Internet on Saturday at 11:40am, New Orleans time, at wsho.com.
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