Peter, the Prosecutor (Post 15)

Allow me to quote Acts 4:13:  "When they (the Jewish religious leaders) saw the courage of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished and they took note that these men had been with Jesus."

Next, the definition of "prosecutor":  a lawyer, a bar certified member of the legal profession recognized by the court system in which they intend to represent the state (or society) in criminal proceedings. Well educated ... very well schooled!

How can we put these two things together and end up with Peter?  The key is in 4:13.  "These men had been with Jesus."  We are observing the transformation of Peter.  And today we are reading yet another passage that highlights the incredible change that has occurred in this 'ordinary' man.

Read Acts 3: 11 - 26

The crowds are astonished by Peter's healing of the crippled beggar at the temple gate.  Word spread quickly ... people ran to see with their own eyes ... and Peter seized an opportunity.  Boldly.  Clearly.  Logically.  Like a prosecuting attorney he laid out the facts.  He placed responsibility where it justly belonged.  Peter is cool, calm, and clear.  This ordinary, unlearned man ... was brilliant!

Let's make some observations from this 'sermon' in chapter 3.

Observation #1:  What flows out of a person depends on what fills the person.  It's like a sponge. When you squeeze a sponge, whatever liquid fills it is what will spill out.  Profound, no?  Peter was full of the knowledge and the grace and the truth of Jesus.  He KNEW Him.  And Peter's knowledge of the person and the work of Jesus spilled out and splashed over all who heard that day.  It continues to pour out on us as we read ... as we hear.  What fills you?  When faced with questions about why you do what you do ... what is your answer?  When asked to explain how you do what you do ... what is your answer?

Observation #2:   Speaking the truth in love is always the right thing to do.  While Peter said hard things, laying the responsibility for the murder of Jesus at the feet of these hearers, he does so with a compassionate heart.  Look again at verse 17.  He addresses them as "brothers".  He acknowledges their ignorance in the whole matter.  Peter does not excuse their ignorant behavior ... but he offers hope ... he offers them a path out ... a path to freedom.

Later, the apostle Paul reiterates the same principle when he says in Ephesians 4: 14 - 15:

Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of men in their deceitful scheming.  Instead, speaking the truth in love we will in all things grow up into him who is the Head, that is Christ.

Do you practice this principle?  Do you speak the truth?  Do you tend to excuse bad, ungodly behavior in those you love?  Do you speak truth in LOVE, not in judgement?  Do your words offer hope and promise?

Observation #3:  You speak what you know ... and leave the results in the hands of God.  We don't know the exact number of these hearers who believed Peter.  Were Peter and John encouraged or discouraged?  We don't know.  We can't chart their "conversion" numbers.  All we know for certain is from Acts 4:4 which says, "But many who heard the message believed ..."  People's hearts are known by God.  And conversion is a heart issue.  We can confidently leave the results of our teaching, our modeling, our training in the hands of a faithful and powerful God.

Lord, I want to know You.  I want to know You intimately.  I want You to so fill me that You are what overflows out of my life.  I trust myself and my mind in Your hands.  Help me, through Your Spirit, think clearly ... speak boldly ... and know the confidence that comes from closeness to You. Help me be like Peter as he was so transformed to be like You.

Peter, the Healer (Post 14)

We have watched as Peter stepped up and took on the leadership role that Jesus had prepared for him.  He boldly preached to the Jewish people gathered in Jerusalem about Jesus - who He was and what He had done.  In that preaching, Peter did not shy away from declaring what THEY had done to Jesus.  Of course, their personal hands had not driven the nails in ... but that's not the point, is it.  It was the human rebellion against God that necessitated that colossal sacrifice.  It was then ... still is!  The response was staggering.  People were coming to Christ.  People were being baptized by the hundreds.  

There was another way in which Peter was following his Rabbi ... stepping into those shoes through the Holy Spirit.

Read Acts 3: 1 - 10 and 5: 12 - 16

Peter became a "healer".  The Holy Spirit in him worked the miracle of healing for so many.  Physical ailments and trauma ... demonic activity ... the sick ... the tormented.  Did you notice that people brought their sick into the streets in the hopes that Peter's "shadow" would pass across them?  (5:15)  What incredible power!  This is our Peter, remember.  This is the same man who took a few steps on water and then began to sink.  The one who ran.  Our Peter ... transformed.  We are amazed at the transforming power of the Spirit of God on a life.  Don't ever miss the fact that the same Spirit desires to do transforming work in your life as well.  You most likely will not become a "healer" like Peter ... but you can become courageous. You can become faithful.  You can become strong.  You can walk wherever you need to walk ... because of the transforming power of the Spirit of God.

A few observations for us from Peter's healing of the crippled beggar in chapter 3:

First, this man was lame.  So are we if you are talking about walking as Jesus walked - crippled from birth. Born of the first Adam and prone to our relentless sin nature ... we, too, are lame.  We cannot walk as righteous.  We cannot walk into the presence of God.  We, too, require the Spirit of God to heal our lameness.

Second, this man was poor.  So are we if you are talking about anything of real, eternal value.  Our pitiful love affair with money and stuff will end at the end of our earthly lives.  "You can't take it with you" is actually very true.  So in reality, we are bankrupt.  We have nothing to hold up before the eternal God and say, "Hey, I'm important!  Pay attention to me. Treat me with deference."  We are  bankrupt.  We, too, require the Spirit of God to provide for us.

Third, this man was outside the Temple.  Remember the Temple represented the presence of God.  This bankrupt cripple couldn't get in.  Neither can we.  We cannot walk into the presence of God.  We are "outside".  We, too, need someone to carry us "in".

Never forget Paul's powerful explanation to the church in Ephesus in Ephesians 2: 1 - 6:

As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient.  All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our sinful nature and following its desires and thoughts.  Like the rest, we were by nature objects of wrath.  But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions - it is by grace you have been saved.  And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with Him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus ...

If you belong to Christ, you have been healed!  Any physical ailments you carry cannot be compared to the glorious wholeness you possess in Christ.

Did you see what Peter used to heal this cripple?  It's in verse 6 ... "In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth." There was power in the name of Jesus.  My friends, I believe with everything in me, there still is. Whatever your struggle right now ... call on the NAME of Jesus.  Whatever hardship ... call on the NAME of Jesus.  Whatever challenge ... call on the NAME of Jesus.  And when He reaches down and strengthens you, or delivers you, or heals you ... follow the example of our man in Acts 3.  Do as he did ...

He went into the temple courts, walking and jumping, and praising God.

Let excitement and emotion and praise of God the Healer exude from you!  In the NAME of Jesus ...

Peter, the Preacher (Post 13)

That day by the Sea of Galilee, which we read of in John 21, changed everything.  Peter is still Peter ... but Peter is not the same Peter.  Peter had seen the risen Lord.  Peter had been assured of his Lord's love for him in spite of his own failures.  Peter had been challenged by his Lord to step up and tend to the followers of Jesus.  And Peter responds ...

The Feast of Pentecost had come.  This Feast was also called the Feast of Weeks or the Feast of Harvest in the Old Testament.  It marked the beginning of the harvest.  Beginnings ...

Read Acts 2

The drama that surrounded this day in history marked the very first sermon that we have recorded from Peter.  Remember that he had not been to seminary.  Well, perhaps that is a false statement.  He actually  had been in the most effective seminary available - the feet of Rabbi, Jesus!  Let's make some observations about this "first" sermon.

First, my how these men have changed!  Verse 14 tells us that Peter stood up with the eleven, raised his voice and addressed the crowd.  Let me remind us of what we know:

John 18: 25 - 27
"As Simon Peter stood warming himself, he was asked, 'You are not one of his disciples, are you?'  He denied it, saying, 'I am not.'"

John 20:19
"On the evening of that first day of the week, when the disciples were together, with the doors locked for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said, 'Peace be with you!'"

What has happened?  The Spirit of God has happened!  These timid, fearful men have been invaded by the Holy Spirit.  They have become carriers of the Spirit and the voice of God.  And that changed everything. We are moved by their boldness.  We are impressed by how strong and logical and clear and confident Peter's words were.

So, my question for you and me ... If I have no boldness to speak on behalf of Jesus, perhaps I am not surrendered to the Spirit of God.  Perhaps the Holy Spirit does not have my heart and my mind.  Perhaps I am not convinced that Jesus actually lives through His Spirit in me.  Perhaps I am still cowering in a closed room out of fear.  It's time to open the doors.  It's time to speak up.  Jesus is who He said He was!

Second, Peter knew his audience.  He quoted Old Testament prophecy that would have been familiar to this Jewish audience.  These were devout Jews in Jerusalem.  They knew the scripture.  And Peter masterfully applies what they knew from scripture to the life of Jesus, whom they did not know.  It is still wise to know your audience.  It is still wise to speak in ways that can be understood.  It is wise to use the language of your 'hearers'.

So, my question for you and me ...  Do I know my "audience"?  Perhaps your primary audience is your children.  Can you talk about Jesus from what they know ... on their level?  Don't expect the church, or Sunday School teachers to handle that job.  It belongs to parents first.  Allow the church teachers to be the "support" system, not the primary delivery system.  Perhaps your"audience" is your friends.  Do you know how to connect with their familiar places?  Perhaps your "audience" is co-workers.  Any idea what they value?  Have you listened carefully enough to know how to engage them in the life of Jesus?

Peter knew his audience.  And he spoke directly into their knowledge base.  So we watch Peter ... and learn!

Third, Peter had a "main point".  And it is the main point of all of our speaking about Jesus.  Did you hear it?  Verse 36:  "Therefore let all Israel be assured of this:  God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ."

In our pluralistic culture and society, we must never forgot what we know about Jesus.

Lord - that means master, ruler, the one with the authority, the one to whom we listen and respond.

Jesus is Lord.

Christ - that means Messiah, one chosen and installed in a particular office, God's anointed one.  It is God, breaking into human history Himself.

Jesus is Christ.

Is this Jesus YOUR Lord and Christ?  If not, Peter would say to you, "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.  The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off - for all whom the Lord our God will call."  (2: 38 - 39)

Listen for the call of God!