Monday, May 21, 2018
Pentecost game changer
Acts 5:38,39
And now I say to you, keep away from these men and let them alone; for if this plan or this work is of men, it will come to nothing; but if it is of God, you cannot overthrow it—lest you even be found to fight against God.”
That Day of Pentecost, recorded in Acts 2, was a game changer. The Holy Spirit Who had for centuries been prophesied and promised had now been poured out giving power to those who believed and obeyed.
The disciples were now exercising that power and so the conflicts with the religious leadership, that started with Jesus, were now resumed. The power reposed in them by the Holy Spirit, after Pentecost, was evident the moment Peter and John encountered the forty-year-old crippled man begging outside the temple and healed him.
“Then Peter 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.” And he took him by the right hand and lifted him up, and immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength.” Acts 3:6,7.
Their new ministry, in the power of the Holy Spirit, led to immediate arrest with an overnight stay in prison. The next day, these disciples were brought before the court. At court, the Jewish authorities were not expecting much. Jesus was dead, the efforts of the Jewish leadership had paid off, the Roman government had been manipulated and that was that.
However, much to their surprise, this mostly unlearned motley crew, dominated by former fishermen was standing before them, erudite and scholarly, confronting them directly the way Jesus would do. Peter was posing questions, quoting scripture, and declaring the lordship of Jesus whom they had executed.
The impact of this presentation in their self-representation reverberated around the court, filled as it was with the high priest and his clan. “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.” Acts 4:13.
But these newly empowered disciples went to court not only with good argument, they took with them the irrefutable evidence of the work of the Holy Spirit at their hands, “And seeing the man who had been healed standing with them, they could say nothing against it. But when they had commanded them to go aside out of the council, they conferred among themselves, 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.” Acts 4:14-16.
Although the arguments were compelling and the evidence irrefutable, the Jewish leadership was not prepared to take the risk of the loss of influence and authority that would result from letting these men go free. They threatened and warned them although Peter remained combative to the end of the hearing.
The healing of the crippled man spawned a new ministry which the empowered disciples were now conducting at the temple in Solomon’s Porch. This, no doubt, was too much for the leadership of the Jews at the temple to take. It was an affront. They arrested the apostles. Another overnight prison stay was ordered pending morning court.
This time, however, was different. The arrested apostles didn’t spend the night, an angel opened the doors of the common prison and let them out and sent them straight back to the temple. This, naturally, led to them being rearrested the next morning and another trial before the council. The high priest, while exercising his power of arrest and office of chief of the court, was shaking in his boots.
“Did we not strictly command you not to teach in this name? And look, you have filled Jerusalem with your doctrine, and intend to bring this Man’s blood on us!” Acts 5:28. However, Peter, the former crude and impulsive fisherman, is now the lead advocate. He continued to challenge the high priest and the council in court.
This brings us to our key verse today and the counsel of a very influential council member, Gamaliel. Clearly, Gamaliel examined the men and the evidence, and concluded that the council, might be making a mistake. He is skilful not to say so, but rather, to present his case with an option that allowed everyone to save face and skin. Gamaliel basically said it could be God or maybe it’s not but leave it alone and let’s see what happens.
Gamaliel understood that rebel movements are natural occurrences when people are enslaved or colonised and their lands are occupied. Weak movements peter out when the founder is vanquished. However, Peter was leading a movement that was resurging and expanding even though they had killed and buried the founder.
Astute Gamaliel might not have been able then to understand and explain the power of the Holy Spirit, but he was certainly able to discern and detect that something greater than mere men was at work. He knew that that which if of God could never be defeated. He said, “if it is of God, you cannot overthrow it—lest you even be found to fight against God.” Acts 5:39.
Gamaliel knew that something was different this time. The game had changed. These were not rebels fighting for the liberation of the Jewish people. These men were not taking on the Roman empire. These men were taking on the forces of hell to heal the sick, set the captives free, and preach good news to the poor.
Something changed at Pentecost.
Think on these things:
- Have you experienced ministry in the power of the Holy Spirit?
- How would ministry in the power of the Holy Spirit look today when the social and political context is different from the first century?
- Does the ministry of your church reflect the presence and power of the Holy Spirit?
Prayer focus:
Let us pray today that we would experience ministry in the power of the Holy Spirit.
In His Grace
Pastor Alex