Acts 2:14-40, 3:1-4:31What a difference a day makes, well actually a whole lot more than that. What a difference a crucifixion, a resurrection and the coming of the Holy Spirit makes in Peter. We know from John’s gospel that Peter had decided that Jesus had given up on him and decided to go back to fishing. Often, at our points of failure, we think it’s all over. I’ve had those times in my own life. But God has this way of using our failures as the launch for greater opportunities of ministry.
In Acts 2, we have the first great sermon of the Church and Peter is the preacher. He who wouldn’t claim to be with Jesus just seven weeks earlier now can’t keep quiet about it. Yes, he serves a risen savior, so he is bolder. Yes, he has been recommissioned to be a follower of Jesus, even after failure. Yes, he is determined not to fail Christ again. But he now is filled with the Holy Spirit, the risen Christ within him, just as Christ by faith is in us. The Spirit of Christ is now portable and the disciples are able to carry out another prediction of Jesus found in John 14:12,
“I tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing. He will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father. And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Son may bring glory to the Father. You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it.”We see the gift of prophecy coming out in Peter as he boldly proclaims the Word of God with power and great effect.
I can’t help but see a parallel here between Peter and John and Charles Wesley (the founders of the Methodist movement). They had great hearts, learned minds and even, at great cost, sought to follow Christ. But it wasn’t until John Wesley had his “heartwarming experience,” his Pentecost, that things really came together. It, in a lesser way, is also true of my own life. There is a power that comes into our lives when following Jesus is not so much us attempting to do great things for God and instead letting the Spirit of God do great things through our open and yielded hearts and minds. It is my fervent prayer that the people called United Methodists will open anew to the power of the Spirit. Then our great theology, our dedication and sincerity of heart, and our connections to just about every part of society will take hold in a powerful and world-changing way. Would you describe yourself as pre-Pentecost or post-Pentecost?
In Acts 3, Peter and John offer gifts of healing and the working of miracles. In the feeding of the 5,000 the disciples wanted to send the people to get their needs met. In this passage, Peter and John give what they have to offer. They don’t have money to give the begging disabled man, but what they do give him is the ability not to need to beg anymore. I have seen this happen in a healing crusade in a healing line next to the one that I was in. A lady who had suffered the complications of polio was prayed for by some university students and her face began to glow. Then her flailing feet started to strengthen under her. Then she started walking and then she started jumping for joy. I’ll never forget it. Somebody or several somebodies in that groups of students shared the gift of healing and that woman was never the same again.
Peter preaches two more sermons. Notice how bold and confronting they are. Not everyone is glad to see the new Peter and John, courtesy of the Holy Spirit (especially religious leaders). Yet Acts 4:8 gives us the clue to it all,
“Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit spoke…”When the power of God’s presence through the Spirit meets open hearts, minds and lives, powerful things happen, and sometimes you just never know when. Have a Spirit-filled day today.
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