Acts in 28 Days预览

Acts 4:1-14

To be a doctor, you need to go to university for many years. To be a top athlete, you need to devote thousands of hours to practice and training. To be an IT specialist, you need technical knowledge and skills. But what special skills or qualifications do you need to be a Jesus follower?

Acts 4:13b, speaking about Peter and John, says, “they were ordinary men who had no special training.” Some translations even say untrained, unschooled, or common.

At the beginning of Acts 4, Peter and John were speaking in the temple in Jerusalem about the resurrection of Jesus after performing the healing of a man who couldn’t walk. They were then put in jail for speaking this truth and questioned by the religious authorities.

How were Peter and John able to stand in front of multitudes and teach, preach, and perform miracles with no ‘special training’? With what power and boldness were they able to heal the lame and tell thousands of people about salvation through Jesus Christ? It was through the power of the Holy Spirit (Acts 4:8).

Through the Holy Spirit, you too can tell others that there is salvation through Jesus alone! Through the Holy Spirit, you can tell your classmates, brothers, sisters, mum, or dad about the hope that comes from knowing Him. Through the Holy Spirit you can live a life of integrity.

Reading the rest of verse 13, it says that the religious leaders “took note that these men had been with Jesus.” Spending time with Jesus had convinced Peter and John that Jesus was the Way, the Truth, and the Life. They knew Him and put into practice the example they had seen lived out.

To put it simply; it’s okay to be ordinary, spend time with Jesus, and be filled with the Holy Spirit. That’s what God uses!

If it seems too simple, just try it out; you might be surprised at how Jesus speaks to you and uses you.

GO DEEP

Many times, we put up walls or create excuses that hold us back from sharing our faith. Is there something holding you back? Take a moment to really reflect and pray about this area. Confess it or ask for help from God. He wants to hear from you.

BE BOLD

What can you do to tell someone about Jesus this week? Pray and make a plan. Then tell another Jesus follower, ask them to pray with you, and help you be accountable.

MEMORISE IT

“When they 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.” - Acts 4:13