Newsletter January 2023 Part 1
His name – His purpose
So they called them and commanded them not to speak at all nor teach in the name of Jesus. But Peter and John answered and said to them, “Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you more than to God, you judge. For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard.” (Acts 4:18-19)
After healing a lame man who was begging at the temple gate, Peter and John explained to the astonished crowd that it was through faith in the name of Jesus, through His power and not their own, that this man had been made well. (Acts 3:11-16) Yet, while those who had gathered to see the miracle and listen to Peter’s proclamation of Jesus’ resurrection, the religious leaders were greatly disturbed. They had the two apostles arrested and, the following day, interrogated them. As they could not deny the miracle, they decided the only way to stop the spread of this message of Jesus was to severely threaten the apostles that from now on they speak to no man in this name. (Acts 4:17)
For Peter and John there was no option of silence. They had witnessed the death and resurrection of Jesus and had heard His commission to preach repentance and remission of sins in His name. (Luke 24:47) They were determined to continue in God’s purpose and advance His kingdom by proclaiming the good news of God’s salvation through Jesus the Messiah. So they returned to their fellow believers and told them what had happened. Immediately they raised their voice to God with one accord and said: (Acts 4:24-30) “Lord, You are God, who made heaven and earth and the sea, and all that is in them, who by the mouth of Your servant David have said: ‘Why did the nations rage, And the people plot vain things? The kings of the earth took their stand, And the rulers were gathered together Against the Lord and against His Christ.’ “For truly against Your holy Servant Jesus, whom You anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles and the people of Israel, were gathered together to do whatever Your hand and Your purpose determined before to be done. Now, Lord, look on their threats, and grant to Your servants that with all boldness they may speak Your word, by stretching out Your hand to heal, and that signs and wonders may be done through the name of Your holy Servant Jesus.”
This prayer reveals the believers’ understanding of God, His purpose fulfilled in Jesus, and their role in that purpose. Rather than focusing on their own situation and the treat of arrest, beating or even death, they looked to the Creator. They knew the promises concerning God’s Anointed from the Law, the Prophets and the Psalms (Luke 24:44) and understood that these had been fulfilled through Jesus’ death, resurrection, ascension and the pouring out of His Spirit. All the worldly powers had gathered together as God had foreordained to accomplish His purpose of giving His Son for the salvation not only of Israel but the entire world. They knew their role was to continue proclaiming the gospel message, and therefore they asked God to give them boldness in the face of opposition and threat. And they knew their own limitation: it was not through their own power and godliness (Acts 3:12) that God worked, but through His Spirit in them. Therefore they asked God to stretch out His hand to heal and do signs and wonders to confirm the message they faithfully proclaimed.
In response to their faith in God and faithfulness to His purpose, the Creator demonstrated His power and gave His assurance by shaking the place where they were gathered, and they were all filled afresh with His Spirit. As a result, they continued to speak in the name of Jesus and many were brought into God’s kingdom and added to His church.
As we gather together in prayer at the start of a new year, what will our focus be? Will we pray just to get through difficult times, or will we see the larger picture of God’s purpose to reconcile His world back to Himself in Jesus Christ. (2 Corinthians 5:19)