Where does Your Power Come From?

Have you ever seen the great big rockets take off? Just imagine the countdown. 10, 9,8.7,6,5,4,3,2,1 blast off. The huge engines ignite. Fire envelopes the rocket as it slowly rises from the ground. It quickly picks up speed and soon is out of sight. They have a tremendous amount of power. It takes weeks to make all that fuel and in a few minutes it is gone.

Think of the tremendous power it took to create the universe. Scientist are finding new stars and galaxies with no end in sight. Each star glowing with heat and energy so intense that it would instantly melt our whole earth. The timing of the movements of the universe is so precise and orderly it is more accurate than our watches. When I think of these facts I am overwhelmed with awe that this powerful God would choose to love me, a simple human being. The fact that he will also give each of us spiritual mower is also overwhelming. This does not happen because we are such wonderful people but because He loves us and wants us to bring glory to Him.

In verses 1-10 we have a demonstration of God's power to heal one who was lame from birth. The people were surprised to see this man walking and jumping. The man drew a crowd. Peter asked the crowd why they are surprised. 1 am sure that if Peter would have seen such a thing happen just 4 years before that time he too would have been just as surprised but since he had been with Jesus this kind of power to heat did not surprise him. He considered this a normal way that God would work in the lives of those that had faith in the Son of God.

Peter's question seems to indicate that they should be implied that they should be praising God as well. We should not be surprised when God does wonderful things. Many Christians pray but do not really believe their own prayers. When God answers their prayers they are surprised. Many people pray for their family members to experience the love of God and for them to become believers. Sometimes it takes years for this to happen. When it does they are surprised. When things like this happen we praise God not be surprised.

Perhaps the Religious leaders felt that living godly holy lives would give spiritual power. We are to live holy lives so that God can work through us but that does not automatically give us spiritual power to do miracles. As Christians we are to live pure and holy lives. We have died to sin and been made pure. Our lives are to reflect the holiness of God. We are to put away every sin. Heb 10:26-31 tells us that we are to be careful how we live for God will punish sin.

The manifestation of God's power was not due to their own power or godliness but because of faith in the son of God.

Peter explained the events leading to the death and resurrection of Jesus. Christ was killed in ignorance but that is no excuse to reject Jesus today. In ignorance people turn their back on the only one who can change them and give them lasting peace and happiness There is no reason to follow tradition of that tradition does not lead to harmony and peace with God. We are only here on earth for a short time but we will live after death here on earth. Most religions teach that there is something after this life on earth. Are you ready for that time?

The religious leaders at the head of the church in Jerusalem, blinded by Satan, rejected and killed the Son of God and did their utmost to exterminate His followers.

In verse 19 Peter explains how a person is to respond to God. Repent and turn to God. Repenting is admitting sin and wrong.

Confessing the things we have done which were an offense to God. Then turning to God and acting in accordance with His will. The greatest sin is not killing someone or stealing. The greatest sin is not being in harmony with our creator God. Not following in his way. Doing what we please and not obeying the Bible.

It is easy to repent but much harder to turn to God and live a life which pleases God. There are two paths, two ways for us to live. They are separated and the only way to get to the road that goes to God is believing that Jesus died so that we might be forgiven of all our sin. The cross bridges the gulf between the road that leads to life and the road that leads to death. We cannot jump across that gulf by our own holiness or good living. It is like going on a freeway or a train and You discover that you are heading the wrong way, You would like to turn around but there is a barrier so immediately you begin to look for the next exit so that you can turn around and head the other way.

When we first came to Japan we had to travel in Tokyo. Being new to the country and language, we found the signs hard to read. Fortunately we had a map. One day we got on a train and were heading the wrong way. At each station we read the signs and realized we were heading away from home. We got off the train at the next station and crossed the platform and finally were going the right way.

When we repent and turn to God we begin a new way of living, one filled with joy and peace. When we are living apart from God, we cannot have fellowship with God. When we turn to God we are made alive in Christ Jesus through the power of the Holy Spirit.

We must confess our sins "So that your sins may be wiped out." Psalms 103:12 says that your sins are removed as far as the east is from the west. because our sins are wiped out does not mean that we can be careless with how we live from that time on. Matthew 12:36 says that we will "Give account for every careless word spoken." Romans 14:2 also says that each of us will give an account of himself to God. Even though we will not be punished for our sins which have been confessed to God, we will be responsible for how we live our Christian life.

We must repent and turn to God so that times of refreshing may come from the Lord. There are many other places where you can go to get our body refreshed but God wants to renew your soul and give you a spiritual refreshing time. This can happen as we worship God together.

Peter explains that some day Christ will return! Of course as a spirit Jesus in not confined to a particular place but God has the power to be every where. This return of Christ is not just a spiritual invisible return but there will be a physical return of Christ as judge and ruler of this world. Let us look at several other verses which describe this second coming of Jesus back to this earth.

Jesus spoke much of his second coming in Matthew 24 and 25. The most important point about his second coming is that we do not know when it will be - so we need to be ready all the time. We cannot be slack concerning our relationship with God. Matthew 24:44. When Christ comes it will be to judge the world and to bring peace here on earth. Matthew 25:31 - 44 explains that those who are faithful, will receive the reward that God has been preparing since the time of creation. II Peter 3:3 - 4 tells us that people will mock the very idea of Christ returning again, but His return is only restrained because He is not willing that any should perish but that all should repent.

Are you ready for Christ's return? Peter tells us that we should repent and turn to God for then we will experience a refreshing which comes from God. Jesus healed the lame man through the apostles faith. Perhaps you do not need physical healing but need spiritual refreshing. Trust Him completely and give every thing over to Him and He will give you new spiritual power.

There was opposition that day to Peter's message. Since unbelievers want to do what they like, they do not seek after God but rather oppose the truth and those who believe in Christ. The religious leaders took Peter and John and stuck them in jail but even though there was opposition, there was a great harvest. Satan will oppose our ministry but as we persevere God will bring a great harvest and we will have rejoicing even in the midst of trials and difficulty. May we be challenged again by this passage and seek to be faithful servants in this coming week.

WHC 1/7/88