Acts Challenges

Had quite a challenging sermon on Sunday evening. A challenge from Acts 3, and a very tough one.

Now it's quite possible you may have read my comments (and other peoples) on Steve Tilley's blog about the challenge at the end of Acts 2. This is a big challenge, and yet it does seem achievable in human terms, so although a big challenge, it's not a big and scary and impossible seeming challenge. However, when we get to Acts 3 we're in a whole different ball game.

Here we see Peter and John walking past a begger, who has been unable to walk since birth - about 40 years. Without any hesitation, they tell him in the name of Jesus to walk, and he does. There is no, "if God wants you to walk, then walk", it is clear cut. Why is it then that we don't see this. We can rationalise it and say "Peter and John are special". Well, they did meet Jesus when he was personally performing miracles, but how special were they, really?!?

As the preacher pointed out, these men had come from ordinary backgrounds, and then followed Jesus wholeheartedly. This surely should not be so different from us. They were filled with the holy spirit at Pentecost. Surely though all believers have this given to them. One big difference that can be highlighted is faith. This is something these guys had. They expected God to turn up.

Still, how can we move beyond this, how can we expect God to work through us, and how can we do what God calls us to? This is where everything becomes tricky. I'm not sure from my experience how to make this next step. Maybe a prayer, "Lord I believe, help my unbelief", as used by another seeker back in the days of Jesus. With this, maybe we can build up to that mustard seed of faith. Still, I am a long way off, but hope and pray that my faith one day will stretch this far.

This post may finally be complete, but still, I am a work in progress.