Pleasing God, Making Disciples of Jesus Christ

The Place Where Power and Influence are Fostered

ACTS 4:5-13 – On the next day their rulers and elders and scribes gathered together in Jerusalem, with Annas the high priest and Caiaphas and John and Alexander, and all who were of the high-priestly family. And when they had set them in the midst, they inquired, “By what power or by what name did you do this?” Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, “Rulers of the people and elders, if we are being examined today concerning a good deed done to a crippled man, by what means this man has been healed, let it be known to all of you and to all the people of Israel that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead—by him this man is standing before you well. This Jesus is the stone that was rejected by you, the builders, which has become the cornerstone. And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.” Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated, common men, they were astonished. And they recognized that they had been with Jesus.”

 

 

Every Christian yearns for at least three things; a closer walk with Jesus, a deeper hatred for sin, and a life of great influence on others for the Lord.  Yet, we face many foes to achieving and growing in each one, and I am not referring to our spiritual foes of the devil, world, and our flesh.  Yes, those are great enemies, and they each will attempt to exploit each of the three foes that hinder intimacy with Christ, indifference to sin, and a life of little impact for Christ. And these three foes have one objective. They seek to keep us from what today’s scripture states was behind the power and influence exhibited by the apostles Peter and John – Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated, common men, they were astonished. And they recognized that they had been with Jesus.   Without disciplined time with the Lord Jesus, learning from Him and observing Him, we cannot have His power and influence in a world needing to see Him through His people. Now the foes keeping us from being with Jesus

 

First, we live in a very fast-paced culture seeking to make us very fast-paced Christians. We may summarize this enemy as busyness. The scripture exhorts us to “Be still and know that I am God” (Psalm 46:10a).  The opposite will be true also – be busy and we won’t know that He is God. Busy Christians will be spiritually barren Christians. We may know a lot about Jesus, but not know Jesus. Spiritual stagnation will settle into our hearts and a low view of sin will result.

 

Another foe keeping us from closeness to Jesus is our lack of mental and spiritual self-discipline to spend quality time, even extended time, in His Word and prayer to know Him.  This foe might be labeled “distraction” and we are bombarded with many distractions throughout the day and night.

 

Our final foe preventing a deep walk with Jesus is a hard pill to swallow but true – spiritual laziness.  No one knows the Lord with half-hearted effort.  He is too good to be had with minimal effort.  He has given us a great promise with a condition – You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart (Jeremiah 29:13).  This means with sincerity, zeal, and no compromise.

 

A life of power and influence.  God desires it for us and provides it through the Lord Jesus.  Go to war against the three foes preventing such a life – busyness, distraction, and laziness.  Our gracious God will help us win over each as we seek for such victory.

 

PRAYER: “Lord, may I learn spirituality is not achieved by activity but by spending time with You.”

 

QUOTE: “Time with Jesus to learn of Him and from Him is the process of growing in the Christian life.”