Learning from Acts -- Part 2

This is part 2 of "Learning from Acts", for part 1, please click here.


Learning from Peter and John and the story of Ananias and Sapphira

• Peter gives what he can to the crippled man, healing power from Christ.
•  "Then Peter said, "Silver or gold I do not have, but what I have I give youin the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk." -- Acts 3:6
• The man immediately got up and walked, praising God.
• Peter and John witnessed to the men of the Sanhedrin and Israel, telling how they have take equal part in the killing of Christ, to repent and turn to God.
• "The God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, the God of our fathers, has glorified his servant Jesus...You disowned the Holy and Righteous One and asked that a murderer be released to you. You killed the author of life, but God raised Him from the dead. We are witnesses of this. By faith in the name of Jesus, this man who you see and know was made strong. It is Jesus' name and the faith that comes through him that has given this complete healing to him, as you can all see..Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord..." -- Acts 3:13-16,19
• Peter and John were told to stop speaking and teaching, but they said they couldn't.
• "Then they called them in again and comanded them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus. But Peter and John replied, "Judge for yourselves whether it is right in God's sight to obey you rather than God. For we cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard."" -- Acts 4:18-20
• When Peter and John returned to their community of believers, they prayed together.
• "On their release, Peter and John went back to their own people and reported all that the chief preists and elders had said to them. When they heard this, they raised their voices together in prayer to God." -- Acts 4:23-24
• They prayed for boldness
• "Now, Lord, consider their threats and enable your servants to speak your word with great boldness." -- 4:29
• They were filled by the Spirit
• "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." -- 4:31
• The Church at Acts shared their possessions
• Acts 4:32-37
• They shared everything they had
• "All the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that any of his possessions was his own, but they shared everything they had." -- 4:32
• They gave to those who were in need, so much that there was no one in need around them
• "There were no needy persons among them..." -- 4:34
• They showed a selfless love for one another



• The Story of Ananias and Sapphira shows our need to be obedient to God and not to lie or hold back what is His.
• Ananias and Sapphira sold some land, and held back part of the money they had receieved from the land.
• Ananias went before Peter, denied the accusation, and died instantly.
• Sapphira comes to Peter later, denies it as well, and dies also.
• Now, Sapphira was there when Ananias sold the land, she was just as guilty as Ananias.
• This can be comparable to Adam and Eve, who were side by side in the garden when the fall of man occured.
• "When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom, she took some and ate it. She also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it." -- Genesis 3:6

• The Apostles continued to heal many people
• "The apostles performed many miraculous signs and wonders among the people..." -- 5:12
• They became persecuted again, and put in jail.
• "Then the high priest and all his associates, who were members of the party of the Sadducees, were filled with jealousy. They arrested the apostles and put them in the public jail." -- 5:17-18
• They were protected by the Lord and released from prison by an angel, told to go out and witness and preach.
• Peter and John were obedient, went and taught the people.
• "At daybreak, they entered the temple courts, as they had been told, and began to teach the people" -- 5:21
• Once again they were put in front of the Sanhedrin and told to stop.
• Peter and John kept their boldness for Christ.
• Gamaliel, a Pharisee, teacher of the law, well respected, and teacher to Paul later on
• He told the Sanhedrin that fighting these men will be fighting against God, and will result in failure.
• ""Therefore, in the present case I advise you: Leave these men alone! Let them go! For if their purpose or activity is of human origin, it will fail. But if it is from God, you will not be able to stop these men; you will only find yourselves fighting against God."" -- 5:38-39
• Peter and John were beaten once more
• "They called the apostles in and had them flogged." -- 5:40
• Instead of being discouraged, they rejoiced, because they had suffered for the glory of Christ.
• "The apostles left the Sanhedrin, rejoicing because they had been counted worthy of suffering disgrace for the Name." -- 5:41
• They didn't stop teaching, even despite the giant target on them.
• There are a number of verses that show that we as Christians will have sufferings, but the power and glory of Christ covers over any kind of suffering we may come into contack with. We are told that there will be hardships and sufferings for Christ.
• Philippians 1:29; 3:10, 1 Peter 4:16, 1 Timothy 1:8-9, Romans 8:17-18, 2 Corinthians 1:5
• We need to exhibit boldness and confidence like that of Peter and John.

These chapters show that trials and sufferings will come along. Maybe only once, maybe many times. I pray that we have the boldness and confidence that Peter and John showed. I pray that when we are told to be quiet, we will speak all the more loudly. That we won't let what may happen, hinder us from proclaiming who Christ is. I pray that we will always be truthful and obedient to the Lord. That we won't cheat Him out of what is already His. I pray that we can stand, as the Body, in fellowship and boldly pray and proclaim His name for all to hear.

Ramblings Part Deux

Jambo mrafiki wangu! Huali gani na habari za jioni? Mzuri. Ninastarehe katika kwa nyumbani.

I could keep going in Swahili, but then you would probably stop reading. Basically all of that above said,"Hello my friends! What are you doing and how are you this evening? I'm good. I am relaxing in my room."

I've got some more ramblings for you!

I am now DONE with my finals for the Fall semester of 2010. :-)

I am super excited that I am done. Now I get to enjoy some last moments with my friends before heading home for Christmas Break.

Tonight, like I mentioned earlier, one of my best friends is coming to stay with me. We live in the same state and somewhat near each other, but we don't get to see each other a lot because we are both so busy.

Tomorrow, they are closing the dorms at 10 AM. So I have to be out before then. So tonight I'm packing and such. Then, me and some of my friends are going to hang out and see the new Narnia movie!

Then, after that I will be heading home and starting my full month of Christmas Break!

:-)

Ramblings...

I have one. More. Final.

It is tomorrow at 3:30.

It is History.

And I have lost ALL motivation to study.

All. Of. It.

Christmas Break is so close I can almost touch it.

But better news!

I finished my Christmas shopping for my parents today. Well, almost.

I have one more thing to get them. :-)

It was a lot of fun and got me more in the Christmas spirit.

I hope they enjoy what I got them.

Also, one of my bestest friends will be in town tomorrow and she is going to spend the night with me!!

I can't wait!

:-)

It's finals week here at UA.

Which means that I have been doing nothing but studying and taking exams.

I've take a Swahili final, a Human Development final, and just tonight my International Relations final.

I still have my Macroeconomics and History Finals to complete.

Then I am done for Christmas Break!

And on top of that, I'm thinking about changing my major.

:-)

Oh college!

We as Christians, are called to love as Christ has loved us. We are also called to forgive as Christ has forgiven us.

But sometimes, it is hard to do that. It always seems like there is someone who tests you even further. Doing something that makes it hard for you to love and forgive them...again.

We know that through Christ, all things are possible.

Even when it comes to loving and forgiving someone who hurts us.

And when it seems like it is the hardest thing to do, when someone makes it hard for you to love them, that is when they need love the most.

I pray that we show the love of Christ to anyone and everyone that we meet.

Even those who make it hard.

Let Me Introduce You To....

DUKE!

I can't believe that I haven't shown you guys my precious new puppy!

So, enjoy these pics of Duke.

Learning from Acts -- Part 1

Signs of Community and Being the Body from Acts 1&2

- They all joined together constantly in prayer.
   • "They all joined together constantly in prayer." --1:14

- They were filled with the Holy Spirit and declared the wonders of God in their own tongues.
   •"All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other languages as the Spirit enabled them...we hear them declaring the wonders of God in our own tongues." -- 2:4,11
     - They spoke in other languages because they were filled by the very Spirit of God. They were changed.
          • There is no way we can be impacted by Christ and stay the same.
     - They saw the wonders of God, yet still disobeyed. We all took part in Jesus' death on the cross because of our sin.
          •"...and you, with the help of wicked men, put Him to death by nailing Him to the cross." --2:23
               - But God raised Him and freed Him from death.
                   •"But God raised Him from the dead, freeing Him from the agony of death..." -- 2:24
               - Not even DEATH can hold on to our Christ.
                   •"...because it was impossible for death to keep its hold on Him..." -- 2:24

- They repented and were baptized.
   •"Peter replied,'Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.'" -- 2:38

- They devoted themselves to the teaching of Christ, had fellowship with their brothers and sisters, and
prayed.
   •"They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer." -- 2:42

- They sold their possessions to give to those in need.
   •"Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need." -- 2:45

- They lived continually and daily in the community and Body of Christ, praised God together, and enjoyed, encouraged, and appreciated one another.
   •"Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people..." -- 2:46-47

- They furthered the Kingdom of God.
   •"...And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved." -- 2:47

I pray that we can begin to learn more fully, the true meaning of the Body of Christ. It is important for us to be the family we are called to be. We can, I can, learn so much from the Church in Acts. Join with me, as I try to take a lesson from my brothers and sisters and follow their example.