Scripture:
Acts 4:13-14 ESV
[13] Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated, common men, they were astonished. And they recognized that they had been with Jesus. [14] But seeing the man who was healed standing beside them, they had nothing to say in opposition.
Observation:
I know this is not a lot of scripture, but it’s full of truth. I wrote about this man a few days ago, and I just wanted to follow up a little bit. So, let’s get started. Peter and John were standing in front of the religious leaders of that time. The man who had just received healing for his legs standing next to them. The very same man that had been carried by his friends and family to the gate called beautiful for a long time. Everyone knows him. In fact, they had probably been asked by him at one point or another for money. For years, he was laid by the gate, but now, standing next to Peter and John, there was no way to deny what had happened. His life was forever changed. Everyone knew him, and a large number of people saw what had happened. The truth was unavoidable. It’s interesting to me to see what the religious leaders noticed about Peter and John. They were not men who had been educated by any of them or any of the teachers of that day. You might say they were high school dropouts in today’s terms. Yet here they were in front of men who had spent years learning, seeking searching, and trying to find answers. The knowledge the leaders had lacked the one thing that was needed… wisdom.
Application:
When Jesus takes up residents in someone’s life, it’s pretty easy to see. In fact, there won’t be any way to deny it. The visible evidence alone will astound you. It’s very attractive and honestly leaves most of us without any other explanation. My experience is much like the lame beggar. I was homeless and without hope. I could not take care of myself. Not because I was physically unable, but because my desire was not life. In fact, it was much the opposite. I remember walking down the road, shaking my fist at GOD thinking that everything that had happened in my life was somehow HIS fault. Not even considering that my choices had anything to do with it. I would beg HIM to take my life. I really felt like it was not worth living… and honestly, if it had continued like that… it really wasn’t. The thing is, GOD heard my cry, and HE did what I had asked HIM to. Just not in the manner that I expected. HE took my life and made it new. I’m not that same, man. What I was expecting was a lightning bolt from heaven to strike me dead. What I got was power from on high to be spirit-led. Now, what you see before you is a changed life. A life that has been overcome by the Holy Spirit. I have not been educated by man, but I have spent the last few years of my life searching GOD’S word looking for an explanation as to why me. Who am I… just another lame beggar sitting by a gate that couldn’t ever take care of himself? A high school dropout with nothing more than a 9th-grade education. But GOD saw fit to pull me to my feet, and anyone who knows me can see that I am not the same man. One more thing, and I was close in prayer. When all this started to happen in my life, I was writing in a prayer journal. One morning, the only thing I could think to write is… GOD, I see you rebuilding my life in such a manner that I can take no credit for it. My suggestion… let GOD have it if you’re at the bottom, and everything you have tried has failed. Let HIM have it, I promise you… you will not be disappointed.
Prayer:
Father, we surrender. It’s yours.we have tried and failed, tried, and failed. We can’t do it. Take us by the hand and pull us to our feet. Teach us how to walk. Our life is not our own. You gave bought it with the priceless blood of your SON. Build us on that foundation. It’s not what we have done it’s what HE has done for us. HE gave HIS life so that we could have life and have ot more abounditly. Father, you are so amazing. Your grace knows no end. I pray that the evidence in our lives points others to you. It’s in the mighty name of Jesus I pray amen.