God's Lineman Organization Ministry

Acts 4:20-37

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Gary

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“for we are unable to stop speaking about what we have seen and heard.” After threatening them further, they released them. They found no way to punish them because the people were all giving glory to God over what had been done. For this sign of healing had been performed on a man over forty years old. After they were released, they went to their own people and reported everything the chief priests and the elders had said to them. When they heard this, they raised their voices together to God and said, “Master, you are the one who made the heaven, the earth, and the sea, and everything in them. You said through the Holy Spirit, by the mouth of our father David your servant: Why do the Gentiles rage and the peoples plot futile things? The kings of the earth take their stand and the rulers assemble together against the Lord and against his Messiah. , “For, in fact, in this city both Herod and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles and the people of Israel, assembled together against your holy servant Jesus, whom you anointed, to do whatever your hand and your will had predestined to take place. And now, Lord, consider their threats, and grant that your servants may speak your word with all boldness, while you stretch out your hand for healing, and signs and wonders are performed through the name of your holy servant Jesus.” When they had prayed, the place where they were assembled was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak the word of God boldly. Now the entire group of those who believed were of one heart and mind, and no one claimed that any of his possessions was his own, but instead they held everything in common. With great power the apostles were giving testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great grace was on all of them. For there was not a needy person among them because all those who owned lands or houses sold them, brought the proceeds of what was sold, and laid them at the apostles’ feet. This was then distributed to each person as any had need. Joseph, a Levite from Cyprus by birth, the one the apostles called Barnabas (which is translated Son of Encouragement), sold a field he owned, brought the money, and laid it at the apostles’ feet.”

For the second half of Acts chapter 4, after Peter and John had been released from jail, it says that they unified back with “their people” and prayed to God “together.” Don’t skip over this part. Since the beginning we were never created to walk this world alone. It is imperative that we constantly surround ourselves with our brothers and sisters in Christ. We must always do this for two different reasons. Reason one is simply because that is what we were commanded by God to do.

John 17:20–23 Jesus says:
“May they all be one, as you, Father, are in me and I am in you… so that the world may believe you sent me.”

Reason two is that Jesus promises that wherever two or three are gathered he is there also.

Matthew 18:20 Jesus says:
“For where two or three are gathered together in my name, I am there among them.”

One of the natural first steps that happens when we go through trials or suffering is isolation. When we isolate ourselves from other believers we are right where Satan wants us to be. This is where he is most effective because he consumes us with lies, fear, and shame. It is so important that we have enough wisdom and knowledge from God not to do this. It is not a coincidence that in prisons we use this as a torture tactic. It is just a simple fact that when people unify themselves in truth(which is God) the Holy Spirit moves and works. Yes we can worship Jesus by ourselves individually, but there is just something inexplainable that happens when we come together to worship God collectively. You can feel it in your soul. If you do not have a small group of people that you unify with God with I want to challenge you to find one. This group should be a group that you talk with daily, not just on Sunday’s. We were never made to walk this life in isolation. When we bury our darkest secrets deep down for no one to see, it will eventually overtake you. You were not created to carry that burden. Our God is a good Father and has done everything there is to do for you to be able to lay all of your sin and shame at the foot of the cross. The battle has been won and sin is finished when we give our lives to Jesus. He gladly took that weight on his shoulders because he loves you. Love y’all! Have a great day!

Related devotionals:

  1. Acts 4:1-22
  2. Acts 4:13-21
  3. Acts 4:1-37

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