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Acts 10:38
Acts 10:38 Monday's Meditation: Jesus, Peter, and . . . You?
Monday, May 10, 2010 at 10:22AM My friend Pete won’t leave me alone. I went to visit him in Acts 10 and 11, and now he won’t let me leave. Last week I posted twice about my friend Pete: the first time because he was a trouble-maker of the best kind; the second time because he’s so insightful about the nature of the gospel.
Now I’m stuck on what the kind of stuff Pete did in towns like Lydda, Sharon, and Joppa. He healed the sick and raised the dead. Peter. Not Jesus.
So Monday’s question: how did Peter do these things? Interestingly, he supplies the answer himself in Acts 10: 38, while he’s talking about Jesus:
"You know . . . how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and power, and how he went around doing good and healing all who were under the power of the devil, because God was with him."
What’s the connection between Peter’s eye-popping miraculous ministry and his description of Jesus? Peter had a specific insight into Jesus’ ministry. It energized Peter’s ministry. Here is is, plain and simple: Peter understood that Jesus worked miracles by the power of the Holy Spirit, not by the fact that Jesus was God’s son. Please take a moment and read Acts 10:38 again--the two characteristics of Jesus that marked his actions were the Spirit’s power and the presence of God. That’s a pattern he invites us to imitate.
Here’s the connection to Peter’s ministry: Peter understood that if Jesus accomplished his works by relying upon the Spirit, then Peter could do the same thing. How did Jesus heal the sick and raise the dead? By the power and presence of the Holy Spirit. How did Peter heal the sick and raise the dead? By the power and the presence of the Holy Spirit.
One final step: what about us? If Jesus and Peter both leaned on the power and presence of the Holy Spirit, what are the possibilities if we lean on the same Spirit and power? That’s more than a Monday meditation, it’s a call to experience Jesus in a whole new way.
Reader Comments (10)
It is vexing to contemplate things like what "looks" to be the operation of the Holy Spirit in the lives of men who do things like leave their wives, run off and / or rebuke congregants with problems and issues, or who dogmatically disagree on key doctrinal matters with other men who also have what "looks" to be the operation and / or blessing of the Holy Spirit in their lives and / or ministries.
We must grasp hold of the fact that the Holy Spirit's working among us is not a result of our being good, or correct, or "nice" or "passive" or "aggressive". Certainly there seem to be some concomitants to seeing the Holy Spirit move in our lives. ... On the other hand He really is like the wind and is not "controllable" or "summons-able."
Such a remarkable difference between the Peter we see in the Gospels and the Peter in Acts. What could be the difference? Hmmm...Could it be Pentecost? I think so.
Please fill us continually Holy Spirit.
Charles: You raise excellent points, all. There most be at least ten possible subjects for blog posts: What really is the Spirit's work, and what is not? How do we tell the difference? Is there any connection between the personal holiness--or lack thereof--of those who minister in his name? As to your second paragraph, I'm with you on the first sentence. I'll have to look up what "concomitants" means in the second. As to the third sentence, I agree that He (the Holy Spirit) is not controllable, and I think that's the sense in which you use "summons-able," but there does seem to be room to invite him into given situations.
Anon: Certainly "Pentecost" is important, but I hesitate to use the word for two reasons: First, it comes with a LOT of baggage in North America, and second, even those open to Pentecostal theology (perhaps especially those) often fail to see the connection between Jesus and Peter acting as examples and our ability to live up to their challenging example.
Thanks to both of you for posting!
Thanks for this insight, Ray. It makes me realize that I too quickly attribute all of Jesus' amazing miracles and grace and wisdom to his status as God's own son. That approach pretty much leaves me the option of being an awed spectator. I should have known something was wrong with that picture—I've always understood that full participation is what God has in mind for us.
Concomitants in this context means something like "what can we do to make things happen more readily" -- e.g. trying to be quiet before Him, not sinning, seeking after God in prayer and study of the scriptures, etc. "things that go along with..".
Kristin: you really know how to turn a phrase: "That approach pretty much leaves me the option of being an awed spectator. I should have known something was wrong with that picture—I've always understood that full participation is what God has in mind for us." I wonder how many people intuitively sense that something is missing from their attempts at discipleship, namely, that they could become more like Him than they ever imagined.
Love the way John G. Lake explains healing--"That quality is the power of the Spirit. And when faith and Spirit come together there is an interaction.There is a manifestation of the Spirit. Faith and God united is divine healing" U R LOVED
It is vexing to contemplate things like what "looks" to be the operation of the Holy Spirit in the lives of men who do things like leave their wives, run off and / or rebuke congregants with problems and issues, or who dogmatically disagree on key doctrinal matters with other men who also have what "looks" to be the operation and / or blessing of the Holy Spirit in their lives and / or ministries.
We must grasp hold of the fact that the Holy Spirit's working among us is not a result of our being good, or correct, or "nice" or "passive" or "aggressive". Certainly there seem to be some concomitants to seeing the Holy Spirit move in our lives. ... On the other hand He really is like the wind and is not "controllable" or "summons-able."
Concomitants in this context means something like "what can we do to make things happen more readily" -- e.g. trying to be quiet before Him, not sinning, seeking after God in prayer and study of the scriptures, etc. "things that go along with..".
Kristin: you really know how to turn a phrase: "That approach pretty much leaves me the option of being an awed spectator. I should have known something was wrong with that picture—I've always understood that full participation is what God has in mind for us." I wonder how many people intuitively sense that something is missing from their attempts at discipleship, namely, that they could become more like Him than they ever imagined.