Effie Darlene Barba

As Peter preached the name of Jesus with the temple courts, 5000 men were saved.  How many women and children?  We are not told the total number.  There Peter stood with John and the healed cripple.  Of course, the Sadducees, rulers, and priests were alarmed by the response of the people to Peter’s preaching.  They had to do something! So, they took Peter, John, and the recently healed man into custody.  After considering everything for the night, they made an offer to Peter, John and the healed cripple.  “You may all go free; but you are forbidden to speak the name of Jesus anywhere.”  What would your response be?  I daresay that we are facing that same dilemma.  Perhaps for us it is subtle.  You can’t profess that Jesus is the only way of salvation!  That is not “inclusive”.

Some would tell us, “You are spreading hate if you say that Jesus is the only way of Salvation.” However, isn’t the opposite true?  Knowing that “there is no other name under heaven by which men might be saved”, would it not be an act of hate to remain silent and not tell others? Allah, as worshipped by the Muslims, is not the same God! Because, they deny that Jesus Christ is God Incarnate and that He died to pay the penalty for our sins.  The “good man” ideology concerning Jesus taught by Hindus while worshipping hundreds of gods misses all hope of salvation through Jesus Christ.  Even the Jews who do not accept Christ as their Messiah are lost.  We must speak the name of Jesus Christ not only in our words; but also, our actions of love, devotion, and lifestyle.  Proclaiming the truth of what He has done.

When Forbidden to Speak of Jesus

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In the name of Jesus Christ, the man lame from birth was healed.  He was leaping, jumping and dancing around Peter and John as they entered Solomon’s court.  There they came to the temple in Jerusalem to pray.  Surrounding them were Jewish people who also came to pray.  Many of them, very devout in their prayer, steeped in Jewish rituals.  They had seen the crippled man lying at the gate.  The gnarled appearance of his feet and ankles certainly etched in the memories of many.  Yet, here he was dancing and praising God.  The crowd gathered and Peter, led by the Holy Spirit began to preach.  Not long before, these same people had screamed for Christ to be crucified.  Furthermore, even Peter in fear and confusion denied Christ during the hours of His trial. Despite all that, Peter began to speak the truth boldly to the crowd.

How did he have the strength to do that?  We need to know!  Afterall, we are faced daily with people telling us that the gospel of Christ is wrong.  The crowds surrounding us would either scream “crucify Him” or they would merely “change” His message to make it “socially acceptable” in their obscured vision of reality.  Yet, Peter in Acts 3 spoke very boldly.  He was thrown in jail; but that after many came to the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ.  Are we willing to really speak the truth boldly regardless of the price to ourselves?  If not, why not?  How can we speak the truth boldly without compromising?  Let’s examine his sermon and let us look prayerfully as to how we too can speak the truth boldly.

Peter’s Sermon Begins With

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Acts 3 begins with the story of a Miracle.  There was a man crippled from birth who laid by the Gate Beautiful near Solomon’s court asking for money.  His family would take him there daily.  This had been his daily routine for all his life to lie at the gate as people entered for prayer; because, this occurred nearing the hour of prayer at the temple in Jerusalem.  Peter and John saw him, heard his plea for money and stopped.  He thought they were about to give him money.  However, instead they gave him a miraculous gift of healing.  This was a Miracle of God, given on His timing which lead to this man’s faith to stand.  Certainly, from the story, we know that he had been laid there daily for years.  Therefore, how many times did he watch, hoping and praying for Jesus to notice him and heal him?

Furthermore, there he lay daily at the gate of the temple in Jerusalem.  He must have heard of all that happened concerning Jesus.  Most likely, he was there when Jesus rode in on a donkey.  Probably when Jesus overthrew the money tables, he lay at the gate watching.  No doubt he heard that this healer Jesus was placed on trial and crucified.  Was he lying there when the sky turned black as the wrath of God poured out upon Jesus in our place? It was the same hour.  He must have heard people talking about the resurrection.  Had he heard about the miracle at Pentecost?  All of this happened; yet, he lay at the gate with his feet and ankles gnarled unable to walk.  How many years did he pray for a miracle of God?  However, God performed that miracle on His timing, giving Him the faith to stand.

A Miracle of God on His Timing

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When we read of the very first church made of up Jewish Believer’s in Jerusalem, we read theirs was a singleness of heart.   They, continuing daily with one accord in the temple. Breaking bread from house to house, (they) did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart. Praising God. Having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved. (Acts 2:46-47).  The earliest church banded together daily to study the gospel message.  Ravenous to know the truth, they abandoned all else to grow in the gospel message.  Theirs was a singleness of heart.  All they truly cared for was learning more of God’s truth and praising Him.  To build an army of spiritual warriors to lead the charge in teaching and preaching the gospel to other Jews and to the Gentile, this was necessary.

Imagine if their devotion was as frivolous as ours is most of the time! Our singleness of heart all too often remains our own comfort or selfish desires of self-fulfillment.  Yet, this beginning church was given over completely to worship so that the gospel might spread.  Perhaps it was a different era.  Afterall, this was needed for the initial spread of the gospel.  We must be about the affairs of life as well in this day.  That is, most of us.  There are those called to greater service of sacrifice who give up all that they have in order to go as missionaries to the ends of the worlds.  Yet, for us who are left with the affairs of life, work, family; what are we to do.  Shouldn’t there also be for us a singleness of heart?  If so, why and how?

Why is a Singleness of Heart Needed?

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Throughout our lives we search for opportunities.  Whether that be in friendships, work, learning or entertainments, our eyes remain open.  Wide open, we remain vigilant for opportunities we feel may enhance our lives.  However, what is our greatest opportunity at hand dur this age in history?  Is it that better job, a financial breakthrough?  Perhaps it is a grand opportunity to become known and make a difference in world beyond our little circle?  When the Holy Spirit came to those waiting for Him, He came with great display of power and might.  The display so great  all those who heard of it came to see for themselves.  Among the crowds that came were skeptics, excitement seekers, and those whose curiosity lead them to wonder about the events. When Peter saw the crowds that came, he seized the opportunity to proclaim the name of Jesus to the crowd that had gathered.

He began his sermon by addressing the skeptics who declared they must all be drunk. Then, he proclaimed that this in part was a fulfillment of the Prophet Joel.  Remember, the day of Pentecost was the feast of the First harvest that occurred 50 days after Passover.  Therefore, within Jerusalem were Jewish travelers from many surrounding nations.  They came from far and wide.  Peter’s sermon consisted of pointing out the obvious as to how the outpouring of the Holy Spirit came as prophesied.  Furthermore, he used this opportunity to declare the truth of Jesus death and resurrection.  Jesus fulfilled the words of David regarding the Messiah.  David foretold of His death and resurrection.  Even proclaiming He now is seated on His throne at the right hand of the Father.  “God hath made that same Jesus whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ” (Acts 2:36).

Our Greatest Opportunity

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