WordLive - Year OneSample

Prepare: Look at today’s news and pray over one of the major items. Resurrection and revolution The headline story was absorbing. Revolts were taking place across the Middle East and those in positions of power, with stakes in maintaining the status quo, were worried. Not a far cry from the situation the early followers found after the miraculous healing outside the temple gate. Resurrection and revolution were fast becoming major concerns to those in positions of power and the apostles’ teaching was seriously disturbing them. They seized Peter and John and put them in jail (v 3). Radical message Team Sadducees – the wealthy and powerful religious leaders – denied the resurrection and feared the consequences of a power shake-up. If Jesus was the chosen Messiah and the one predicted to restore everything to its proper place, then they were likely to be the losers. They were fighting for survival (v 7). Empowered by the Holy Spirit, Peter does not shrink from answering their questions and firmly announces Jesus to be the saving grace for all humankind – a radical message indeed. If more people were to grasp this, then there was no telling what kind of revolution would occur, and that’s exactly what Team Sadducees was worried about. Suddenly they were not in control and the story they had buried was majestically alive. Respond: Do you watch the news or avoid the news? Do you know what is happening around the world? Think about your week and about how you can set aside regular time to be informed and pray. http://www.wordlive.org/Session/Classic/2012-06-06