Claude T. Stauffer :: The Spirit Acts to Edify and Expand the Church – Acts 11

The Spirit of Acts

The Spirit Acts to Edify and Expand the Church – Acts 11

Let’s remember the objective of Acts:

The Spirit of God using the word of God to make people of God and change the people of God into Spirit-empowered, effective, edifying, disciples of Jesus Christ.

Acts 10 recounts a pivotal time in the life of the Church. Before Peter’s Spirit directed the evangelistic encounter with Cornelius, the Church was not even “the Church,” it was another sect of Judaism. Up until Acts 10, the gospel had been given predominantly to the House of Israel, to Jews. The Spirit directed the early disciples to share the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Messiah, with those who had a footing in the Old Testament Scriptures to appeal to.

In Acts 10 we see the nature of God revealed, showing that God is not partial. He does not limit the atoning work or effect to a select few, but desires that all be saved (1 Timothy 2:4). The Spirit reveals this aspect of God’s (His) nature by orchestrating the meeting between the Gentile Cornelius and Peter. Prior to this, Jews were taught to remain separate from Gentiles; to interact with a Gentile was defiling to the first century Jew. But now God was showing His original intent.

The Impartial Original Intent of God

If we go back to the very first book of the Bible and to one of its earliest characters, Abraham, we see the original intent of God. God chose and called Abraham to be an instrument through which He might bless the entire world. In God’s first words of calling Abraham, God expresses His purpose for calling Abraham:

• Genesis 12:3 –
  “I will bless those who bless you,
  And I will curse him who curses you;
  And in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.”

God created humanity and gave them free will, which made them human, and in the image of God. God put early humanity in a position to choose to follow and love Him or reject His love. Love cannot be pre-programmed robotically; it must be the product of a person’s freewill decision. You can’t force a person to love you. Humanity, of course, chose to rebel against God (Genesis 2 and Genesis 3). Sin entered into the world, creating the need for a Savior (Genesis 3:15). This sin passed on to all succeeding generations of humanity (Genesis 5:3). The decline of humanity from their introduction to sin was through, so thorough that God judged early humanity save for Noah and his immediate family (Genesis 6-10). But even after the Flood, humanity continued in its sin of rebellion, showing clearly the need of salvation (Genesis 11). The revelation of God’s plan of redemption started with the calling of Abraham, through whose lineage the Messiah would descend and be identified (Galatians 3:16). Abraham’s life also demonstrated the means by which God’s plan of salvation would be implemented, by faith (Genesis 15:6).

From Abraham descended Isaac (Genesis 21-35) and Jacob (Genesis 25-50). From this patriarch a nation is born (Exodus). This nation was to be the instrument by which God blessed the entire world by revealing God’s love (Deuteronomy 7:1-6), being stewards of the word of God (Romans 2 and Romans 3:2), and acting as a holy nation of intermediary evangelistic priests as it says in Exodus:

• Exodus 19:6 – “‘And you shall be to Me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.’ These are the words which you shall speak to the children of Israel.”

A priest is someone who acts as a go-between for God and people. God’s intent was that He would reach the world through Israel. This is expressed in Psalm 67 which states:

• Psalm 67:1-7 –
  ¹ “God be merciful to us and bless us,
  And cause His face to shine upon us. SELAH
  ² That Your way may be known on earth,
  Your salvation among all nations.
  ³ Let the peoples praise You, O God;
  Let all the peoples praise You.
  ⁴ Oh, let the nations be glad and sing for joy!
  For You shall judge the people righteously,
  And govern the nations on earth. SELAH
  ⁵ Let the peoples praise You, O God;
  Let all the peoples praise You.
  ⁶ Then the earth shall yield her increase;
  God, our own God, shall bless us.
  ⁷ God shall bless us,
  And all the ends of the earth shall fear Him.”

But Israel became puffed up in pride thinking that God chose them because they were better than all other peoples, which led to all kinds of sin (Deuteronomy 7 and Deuteronomy 32). They lost their sense of purpose and calling and looked down on the nations of the world (Romans 2). Rather than reaching out as a light to the Gentile world, they became isolationist and preoccupied with self as a nation. Today’s church needs to take note of the history of Israel so that they will not repeat the same pattern. The church needs to reach out and in the Spirit make disciples of Jesus. We need to learn from the example of history (1 Corinthians 10:1-13).

God is not finished with Israel (Romans 9-11). He is now fulfilling His impartial desire to save the world through the church (Matthew 28:18-20), but is also spurring Israel on to jealousy to entice her back to Himself (Romans 11:11-14). A time is coming when the Church will be raptured out of this world and God will bring revival to Israel and fulfill His purposes through her, to offer salvation to the world during the Tribulation period (Daniel 9:24-27; Revelation 7; Revelation 11; Revelation 14).

Now the Spirit is acting to fulfill God’s purpose of graciously offering His salvation through His only Son Jesus for any and all who receive Him by faith (John 3:16). Acts 11 shows us how the Spirit worked to expand the vision of the Church to come in line with God’s broad view of reaching out to offer salvation to the world. God desires to save as many as possible, and He seeks to do that through the Bride of Christ, the Church (1 Corinthians 12:27; 2 Corinthians 5:20).

The Spirit Acts to Expand the Church

• Acts 11:1-3 – ¹ “Now the apostles and brethren who were in Judea heard that the Gentiles had also received the word of God. ² And when Peter came up to Jerusalem, those of the circumcision contended with him, ³ saying, “You went in to uncircumcised men and ate with them!”

As we have mentioned, the early followers of Jesus were predominantly seen as still Jewish, but believing in Jesus. Therefore, when Peter shared the gospel with Gentiles, who were viewed as repugnant oppressors by most Jews, those “of the circumcision” or those who held to the Mosaic covenant contested with Peter. Jews believed that those who were not circumcised were rejected by God and therefore to minister to them was to go against God’s plan. These opening verses mark the beginning of transition and adjustment by the Church. This adjustment between the Law and the Spirit, the Law and grace, will continue throughout the life of the church even to this day. The epistles of Romans and Galatians discuss the proper place of the Law, traditions, God’s grace and the Spirit-filled life. The flashpoint for much of the controversy in the transition from a Jew-centered to world-centered church (in terms of sharing the gospel), was the issue of circumcision.

The Issue of Circumcision

Circumcision was a rite instituted by God (Genesis 17:9-14) that symbolized the cutting away of the flesh (i.e., self-centeredness; self-service; self-reliance; self-will; religion) and entering into a permanent covenant with God to follow Him.

Circumcision was and is a very important rite for the Jew. It continues its value and worth even to those who have accepted Jesus as Savior in that it is an important spiritual symbol. In the Old Testament circumcision was a necessity for God’s people (Genesis 17:9-14). It was mandatory that anyone partaking in the Passover Feast be circumcised (Exodus 12:48). Neglect of circumcision was to be punished (Exodus 4:24-25). Circumcision, even in its earliest phases, was a symbol of regeneration and being in a covenant relationship with God (Deuteronomy 10:16; Deuteronomy 30:6; Jeremiah 4:4).

In the New Testament we see that Jesus was circumcised (Luke 1:59-60). Circumcision in the New Testament was viewed as more important as a symbol than an actual ritual performed. It symbolized a spiritual seal of righteousness of God on the believer (Romans 2:25-29; Romans 4:11). Under the New Covenant of grace through faith in Jesus for salvation, circumcision was not required (Galatians 5:1-4; Ephesians 2:11, 15). Circumcision actually became an impediment to some as they trusted in it as a work to make them right before God, but such reliance on a rite was wrong and sinful. Christ had done all the work of salvation on the cross (Acts 15:10; Galatians 3:10-13; 5:6; Colossians 3:10-11). False teachers in the early church taught that circumcision was mandatory and were sternly rebuked by the apostles (Acts 15:1; Galatians 6:11-18). Under the New Covenant and gospel, circumcision was not essential to salvation (Acts 15:5-29; 1 Corinthians 7:18-19). What counts under the New Covenant is that your heart is circumcised, that is, that you no longer depend on the works of your flesh to be saved, but you depend and trust on the finished work of Jesus Christ to be saved (Romans 2:29). In Jesus Christ we are viewed by God as circumcised (Philippians 3:3; Colossians 2:11).¹³²

The Issue of Eating with Gentiles

In his teaching on this chapter Pastor Chuck Smith makes the following insightful observation:

Now eating with a person in that culture was an extremely significant act. They considered eating with someone tantamount to becoming one with that person. That is why the Jew would never eat with a Gentile. You see if we are eating together, especially in that culture where you used your hands, and where you had just a common bowl of soup on the table. You had a common bowls of salads and sauces. And you had a common loaf of flat bread. The custom was just to pull off some of the bread and dip it in the sauces and in the soup and eat it. And you were using your hands. There was no rule of etiquette that you don’t dip twice. And thus there is a real idea of sharing when you ate together—of germs and everything else. So in their minds, they saw it as becoming one with that other person because I’m eating from the same loaf that you eating and thus it’s becoming a part of my body. It’s going into my system. My body is assimilating it and it’s becoming a part of my body. But it’s also becoming a part of your body, that same loaf of bread. So in a mystical way we are being united as we eat together of the same bread. And they saw it that way. To them it was a very significant act to eat with someone. Remember they had accused Jesus [of eating] with sinners and with publicans.…that was unspeakable in their mind. To dare to become one with a sinner or a publican [Matthew 9:10]. So they said, you did eat with them. Now, Peter, if he were the first pope, wasn’t infallible. And he is being called on the carpet. He is being called to answer for his actions. And though he rightly defends what he did, as we move later in the Book of Acts, actually in the book of Galatians, we will find that Peter came down to the church that was established at Antioch. And before certain of the Jews came to Jerusalem, he was eating with the Gentile believers in Antioch. But when these people came from Jerusalem, Peter separated himself and would only eat with the Jews. So Peter was having a difficult time even though he is called on the carpet for this. He himself is not really comfortable yet eating with Gentiles. And in his separating himself it created a division in Antioch. And so Paul had to withstand him to his face and rebuked him, before certain brethren came from Jerusalem he was eating with the Gentiles. Once they came he separated himself. It caused hard feelings. It caused division in the church in Antioch.¹³³

Since the early church was composed predominantly of Jews who had received Jesus as their Messiah, now that the Spirit of God was reaching out to Gentiles with the gospel, some questions needed to be answered. For instance, how much of the law did Gentiles who accepted Jesus as Savior have to adopt into their lives? Did they have to be circumcised? Did they have to become a Jew to be saved? These are all questions that will be answered throughout the New Testament. For now, we need to first look at how the Spirit addresses the contention over the issue of circumcision.

The Spirit Acts to Meet Chaotic Contention with Spirit-Led Order

• Acts 11:4 – “But Peter explained it to them in order from the beginning, saying:”

The best way to meet those who contend with you and who are willing to listen is to patiently communicate, laying out the facts in an orderly fashion. Paul wrote to Timothy the following:

• 2 Timothy 2:24-26 – ²⁴ “And a servant of the Lord must not quarrel but be gentle to all, able to teach, patient, ²⁵ in humility correcting those who are in opposition, if God perhaps will grant them repentance, so that they may know the truth, ²⁶ and that they may come to their senses and escape the snare of the devil, having been taken captive by him to do his will.”

In Acts 11:4, the idea is that Peter laid out the facts in chronological “order” just as they happened. The word “order” is translated from the Greek term KATHEXIS (Strong’s #2517 – kath-ex-ace´) meaning, “consecutively; by or in order.”¹³⁴ This is what the Spirit leads Peter to do in response to those who are contending with him.

“Who was I to withstand God?”

• Acts 11:5-18 – ⁵ “I was in the city of Joppa praying; and in a trance I saw a vision, an object descending like a great sheet, let down from heaven by four corners; and it came to me. ⁶ “When I observed it intently and considered, I saw four-footed animals of the earth, wild beasts, creeping things, and birds of the air. ⁷ “And I heard a voice saying to me, ‘Rise, Peter; kill and eat.’ ⁸ “But I said, ‘Not so, Lord! For nothing common or unclean has at any time entered my mouth.’ ⁹ “But the voice answered me again from heaven, ‘What God has cleansed you must not call common.’ ¹⁰ “Now this was done three times, and all were drawn up again into heaven. ¹¹ “At that very moment, three men stood before the house where I was, having been sent to me from Caesarea. ¹² “Then the Spirit told me to go with them, doubting nothing. Moreover these six brethren accompanied me, and we entered the man’s house. ¹³ “And he told us how he had seen an angel standing in his house, who said to him, ‘Send men to Joppa, and call for Simon whose surname is Peter, ¹⁴ ‘who will tell you words by which you and all your household will be saved.’ ¹⁵ “And as I began to speak, the Holy Spirit fell upon them, as upon us at the beginning. ¹⁶ “Then I remembered the word of the Lord, how He said, ‘John indeed baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit.’ ¹⁷ “If therefore God gave them the same gift as He gave us when we believed on the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I that I could withstand God?” ¹⁸ When they heard these things they became silent; and they glorified God, saying, “Then God has also granted to the Gentiles repentance to life.”

Here we see a great example from Peter of how to follow the leading of the Holy Spirit in addressing contention. It should be noted that the Spirit at times uses contention to work through an issue. It is not so much that contention is the will of the Spirit, but that He uses it to reveal who is approved and who is not. In Paul’s first letter to the Corinthians, he discusses a problem in that church where there was disorder in the ministering of the Lord’s Supper. He says this:

• 1 Corinthians 11:19 – “For there must also be factions among you, that those who are approved may be recognized among you.”

From contention, the Spirit brings clarity as to who He does and does not approve of. Contention brings the approved and disapproved to light, to the surface.

But the way contention is handled determines whether or not it will simply remain a source of grievance and chaos resulting in calamity, or whether some good will come from it by submitting to the Spirit in it. What do we see in Peter that we can use practically in times of contention to assure that good comes from a bad situation?

First, Peter pointed out that his actions were the product of prayer and the leading of God (i.e., a vision) (Acts 11:5). Peter didn’t act on a whim or his own opinion; he acted on direction from the Lord. Peter began by laying a foundation for his actions that were in God’s authority, not his own. He didn’t approach the contention from a “me versus them” mentality, but from the perspective that he was following obediently the will of God and His authority.

Second, Peter was open and honest about his feelings and questions he himself had in response to what God was directing Him to do (Acts 11:6-8). Peter admitted responding to God, “Not so Lord!” In other words, Peter told his accusers that he initially felt just like they did towards contact with a Gentile or what they normally viewed as “unclean.” Paul shared that ministry should never be done dishonestly, but in integrity and truth. He was inspired to say:

• 2 Corinthians 4:2 – “But we have renounced the hidden things of shame, not walking in craftiness nor handling the word of God deceitfully, but by manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man’s conscience in the sight of God.”

Manipulation should never be a part of ministry, speaking the truth in love is the standard. Paul describes ministry and this “speaking the truth in love” standard when he says to the Ephesian church:

• Ephesians 4:11-16 – ¹¹ “And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, ¹² for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, ¹³ till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ; ¹⁴ that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting, ¹⁵ but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head—Christ— ¹⁶ from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love.”

Deception leads to distrust and division in the body of Christ. Don’t do it! Speak the truth in love and trust the Spirit to work things out.

Third, Peter expressed that his actions were not impulsive, but thoughtfully responsive and obedient to the leading of God (Acts 11:6, 9-10). Peter had a history of impulsive behavior (see Matthew 16:21-23) and so he sought to affirm and clarify that this wasn’t just another impulsive action. Peter was acting in obedience to God’s directions, which God repeated three times to him to make sure the message could not be ignored or mistaken.

Fourth, Peter testified that the will of God was confirmed by circumstances (Acts 11:10-11). While we should not depend entirely on circumstances because we can be tempted to read too much into them, when God is leading the way He is leading Peter here, circumstances confirm God’s plan and will. The story is told of a young man who was a farmer who had a desire to go into ministry. He prayed and prayed to God asking that he be given a sign from God to show him his life’s purpose. One day while out in the fields, he looked up and saw in the sky a cloud formation that seemed to form two letters, “P” and “C.” Immediately he assumed and interpreted the two letters to mean “Preach Christ.” He dropped everything, sold his farm and went into ministry. But ministry was hard and burdensome for him. Ministry made his life a living hell. This caused him to puzzle and ask, “Why Lord? Why is ministry so tough and joyless to me?” He pressed on until he breathed his last and died. At the gates of heaven he was welcomed by an angel. As soon as he could, he asked the angel, “Please tell me why my life of ministry was so hard and unrewarding to me. I followed the sign that was sent me, but it led to hardship and dissatisfaction, frustration and fruitlessness.” The angel looked up his records and, sure enough, he had been sent a sign.” The angel said, “Hmmm, yes indeed a sign was sent to you in the clouds as you were in the fields plowing. You had been praying for a sign.” The man said, “Yes, yes, the clouds formed the letters ‘P’ and ‘C,’ which to me meant ‘Preach Christ.’” “Hmmm,” said the angel, “A sign was indeed sent and the letters you saw were ‘P’ and ‘C,’ but they were meant to tell you ‘Plant corn,’ not ‘Preach Christ.’” This fictional story is meant to show how we can misinterpret circumstances to follow our desires rather than the Lord’s will. God uses circumstances to confirm His will, but they should always be factored along with Godly counsel, evidence of fruit, and above all, the testimony of the word of God.

Fifth, Peter repeatedly emphasizes that his actions were not rooted in him, but in the direction of the Holy Spirit who told him to do what he did (Acts 11:12). Peter said, “the Spirit told me.” Now notice very importantly, what the Spirit told Peter to do coincided with God’s word and revealed will, it did not contradict it. The Holy Spirit will never direct a person contrary to His word, never.

Sixth, Peter showed how what he perceived as the voice of the Spirit coincided with circumstances; the work of the Spirit could be seen at both ends (Acts 11:12-14). What the Spirit was working fit hand in glove with the circumstances. The circumstances of how God had worked with Cornelius on one end and Peter on the other to bring them together, were undeniable. When the Spirit works in a situation, there will be a connection, a confirmation of circumstances.

Seventh, Peter testified to the fruit born by the Spirit in his actions (Acts 11:15). When the Spirit is in something, it will bear fruit. Spiritual fruit is a confirmation of the Spirit’s leading. Peter shared how it was clear and undeniable how the “the Holy Spirit fell upon them, as upon us at the beginning.” There was no denying the fruit, the effect for God’s glory that resulted from Peter’s obedient actions.

Eight, Peter validated and verified his actions with Scripture (Acts 11:16). Peter lays out the pinnacle of his substantiating evidence supporting what had happened by pointing out that his actions were supported by Scripture. When the Spirit works, He confirms His work by the Scriptures. Never venture away from the word of God. To do so is to venture onto thin ice. The word of God is meant to guide and direct in all our ways:

• Psalm 119:105 –
  “Your word is a lamp to my feet
  And a light to my path.”
• Psalm 119:130 –
  “The entrance of Your words gives light;
  It gives understanding to the simple.”
• Isaiah 8:20 – “To the law and to the testimony! If they do not speak according to this word, it is because there is no light in them.” (See also 2 Timothy 2:15; 2 Timothy 3:16-17).

God’s word is like a flashlight that helps us to get about in the darkness of this world, while reaming in His perfect will and not stubbing our toes on sin.

Ninth, Peter expressed that he felt what happened was clearly the work of God and that he could not oppose it (Acts 11:17). His accusers were saying he had sinned. Peter said at first he felt the same as they did, (identifying with their sensibilities) but that the way of the Spirit was so compelling that to not follow through would be to have opposed the hand of God. That he could not do.

Tenth, when the work of the Spirit is testified to by a man of integrity, according to the facts and God’s word, those who oppose can’t help but give glory to God (Acts 11:18). When response to contention is addressed in the Spirit, and those contending are honest and open to the Spirit, the result will always be silencing of the contenders and glory brought to God by all.

The Spirit Spreads the Word of God and Names the Church

• Acts 11:19-26 – ¹⁹ “Now those who were scattered after the persecution that arose over Stephen traveled as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus, and Antioch, preaching the word to no one but the Jews only. ²⁰ But some of them were men from Cyprus and Cyrene, who, when they had come to Antioch, spoke to the Hellenists, preaching the Lord Jesus. ²¹ And the hand of the Lord was with them, and a great number believed and turned to the Lord. ²² Then news of these things came to the ears of the church in Jerusalem, and they sent out Barnabas to go as far as Antioch. ²³ When he came and had seen the grace of God, he was glad, and encouraged them all that with purpose of heart they should continue with the Lord. ²⁴ For he was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and of faith. And a great many people were added to the Lord. ²⁵ Then Barnabas departed for Tarsus to seek Saul. ²⁶ And when he had found him, he brought him to Antioch. So it was that for a whole year they assembled with the church and taught a great many people. And the disciples were first called Christians in Antioch.”

Here we see the continued work of the Holy Spirit to spread the gospel to all. “Phoenicia, Cyprus, and Antioch” are all Gentile cities. While initially the gospel was preached to “Jews only”, we see the Spirit moving to spread the gospel to other Gentiles (“Hellenists” may refer to “Greeks” or Gentiles Acts 11:20). The Spirit was not only working through Peter, but through the body of Christ as a whole. Furthermore, not only the apostles or deacons spread the gospel, but “those who were scattered after the persecution.” (Acts 11:19). The ministers of the church are the people of the church, not just a select clergy class. The hand of the Lord was with those who preached the gospel of Christ (Acts 11:20-21). That is why the church grew so prolifically; ministry done by “the hand of the Lord” will always bear much fruit.

We are introduced to Barnabus here (he is also mentioned in Acts 9:27; Acts 11:25, 30; Acts 12:25; Acts 13:1-2, 7, 43, 46, 50; Acts 14:3, 12, 14, 20; Acts 15:2, 12, 22, 25, 35-37, 39; 1 Corinthians 9:6; Galatians 2:1, 9, 13; Colossians 4:10). The church in Jerusalem sent Barnabus to check out what God was doing in Antioch (Acts 11:22). The work of the Spirit is characterized as “the grace of God” and this made Barnabus glad. Barnabus, the “son of encouragement,” encouraged the new believers and exhorted them to press on with all their heart (Acts 11:23). He is further described as a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and faith and used by God to add a lot of people to the church (Acts 11:24). He set out after Saul and brought him to Antioch, evidently to teach and edify the believers there (Acts 11:25). Barnabus, the Spirit-filled man, was the perfect one for all this work.

The Spirit now gives a new name to the followers of Jesus. In Antioch are believers called “Christians” (Acts 11:26). One commentator states:

Jesus’ disciples were first called Christians at Antioch. The ending “–ian” means “belonging to the party of”; thus “Christians” were those of Jesus’ party. The word “Christians” is used only two other times in the New Testament: in [Acts] Acts 26:28 and 1 Peter 4:16. The significance of the name, emphasized by the word order in the Greek text, is that people recognized Christians as a distinct group. The church was more and more being separated from Judaism.¹³⁵

Another commentator adds:

This refers to a practice with which the nimble wits of Antioch prided themselves. They are known to have coined words to describe persons and events. Perhaps as a derogatory term originally, Antiochenes called those who had claimed Jesus as Messiah the “Christ-ones.” Thus, as an accurate historian, Luke did not hesitate to record that the followers of the Lord first came to be popularly known as Christians at Antioch.¹³⁶

For whatever reasons, the body of Christ is now identified with their relationship with Jesus, and that is how it always ought to be.

The Spirit Acts Through the Spiritual Gift of Prophecy

• Acts 11:27-30 – ²⁷ “And in these days prophets came from Jerusalem to Antioch. ²⁸ Then one of them, named Agabus, stood up and showed by the Spirit that there was going to be a great famine throughout all the world, which also happened in the days of Claudius Caesar. ²⁹ Then the disciples, each according to his ability, determined to send relief to the brethren dwelling in Judea. ³⁰ This they also did, and sent it to the elders by the hands of Barnabas and Saul.”

Here we see the work of the Spirit in the body of Christ, the “Christians” by way of spiritual gifting. The Holy Spirit communicates the will of God and warns believers of future events so that they can be prepared and minister effectively, by way of the spiritual gift of prophecy. Notice the Christian love exhibited, for as soon as the prophetic word is received, arrangements are made to help fellow believers in the impending time of great famine.

What Are Spiritual Gifts?

What is a spiritual gift? A spiritual gift can be defined as a supernatural enablement of the Holy Spirit working in and through the believer to glorify God and edify the body of believers. A spiritual gift is “supernatural” because it transcends a natural ability, and it is not something acquired by practice or learning. We are to “stir up” the gift of God that is in us (2 Timothy 1:6). But there is nothing sadder than to see a person getting frustrated in an effort they were not spiritually gifted to do. It can also be very frustrating when a person is trying to minister to you who is not spiritually gifted in the area they are ministering in.

Before I was a Christian, I had a terrible dread of speaking in public. In school, I’d play hooky or feign sickness to get out of class on the day of oral reports. There was nothing in the world I enjoyed less than standing in front of people to speak. Once saved, the LORD gave me an insatiable appetite for His word and a burning desire within my heart to teach the word of God. I know that is from God because it was diametrically opposed to my natural nature. Now teaching the word in front of a group of people is a joyful experience for me. I make sure to pray and declare my dependence on God before each and every teaching, but I don’t fear. God has called me. God will equip me to do His will. God has given me the spiritual gift of teaching.

What is Prophecy?

The word “prophecy” is a translation of the Greek term propheteia (Strong’s #4394). The most basic meaning of this word is “to speak forth.” The word is a combination of the Greek prefix “pro” which means “forth” and the Greek word “phemi” which means, “to speak.” Vine’s Complete Expository Dictionary of the Old and New Testament Words states,

Though much of OT prophecy was purely predictive,…prophecy is not necessarily, nor even primarily, fore-telling. It is the declaration of that which cannot be known by natural means,…it is the forth-telling of the will of God, whether with reference to the past, the present, or the future,…¹³⁷

Simply stated, the spiritual gift of prophecy is speaking the word of God by the anointing of the Holy Spirit whether it is applicable to the present or future; prophecy is both forth-telling and or fore-telling.

The Sevenfold Purpose of Biblical Prophecy

There are seven purposes of prophecy as seen in the Bible. Below is a listing and brief explanation of each of these seven purposes for prophecy.

First, Biblical prophecy directs people to believe in Jesus. Jesus said:

• John 13:18-19 – ¹⁸ “I do not speak concerning all of you. I know whom I have chosen; but that the Scripture may be fulfilled, ‘He who eats bread with Me has lifted up his heel against Me.’ ¹⁹ “Now I tell you before it comes, that when it does come to pass, you may believe that I am He.”

In John 13:18-19, Jesus prophecies that He is to be betrayed by one of His disciples. He states that the purpose of His telling them this future truth is so that when it comes to pass, “you may believe that I am He.” THE FIRST AND FOREMOST PURPOSE OF PROPHECY IS TO POINT PEOPLE TO JESUS. A word of prophecy may be given that is pertinent to an individual in the church or outside the church, it may apply to an entire church or other situation, but if it doesn’t point people to believe in Jesus it isn’t fulfilling its primary purpose.

Second, Biblical prophecy edifies. When Paul teaches about spiritual gifts he says:

• 1 Corinthians 14:1-3 – ¹ “Pursue love, and desire spiritual gifts, but especially that you may prophesy. ² For he who speaks in a tongue does not speak to men but to God, for no one understands him; however, in the spirit he speaks mysteries. ³ But he who prophesies speaks edification and exhortation and comfort to men.…”

“Edification” (Greek oikodome) means architecture, to build up, to construct a structure.

Prophecy, (as with all spiritual gifts) is aimed at edification (1 Corinthians 14:1-3; see also Acts 15:32), at the building up of spiritual maturity.

Third, Biblical prophecy exhorts. Again, we see in Paul’s letter to the Corinthians he states:

• 1 Corinthians 14:1-3 – ¹ “Pursue love, and desire spiritual gifts, but especially that you may prophesy. ²  For he who speaks in a tongue does not speak to men but to God, for no one understands him; however, in the spirit he speaks mysteries. ³ But he who prophesies speaks edification and exhortation and comfort to men...”

“Exhortation” (Greek paraklesis) means implore, console, a calling near, summons, admonition, encouragement to continue. The person with the gift of prophecy is to deliver their God–given message in a way that will exhort or spur onto action.

Fourth, Biblical prophecy comforts. “Comfort” (Greek paramythia) means to console, to address, to persuade to continue on, to calm, to encourage. Biblical prophecy should comfort those who need comforting (1 Corinthians 14:1-3). God is described as being filled with the capacity to comfort us (2 Corinthians 1:3-4) and we are encouraged to be instruments of this comfort (1 Thessalonians 5:11).

• 1 Corinthians 14:1-3 – ¹ “Pursue love, and desire spiritual gifts, but especially that you may prophesy. ² For he who speaks in a tongue does not speak to men but to God, for no one understands him; however, in the spirit he speaks mysteries. ³ But he who prophesies speaks edification and exhortation and comfort to men.…”

The gift of prophecy is aimed at giving people courage to live their daily lives (1 Corinthians 14:1-3). Paul hungered to fellowship with the various churches so that he and they could be encouraged in their mutual faith (Romans 1:11-12; Colossians 2:1-2). Prophecy is to be manifested in an orderly way so that all can learn from what is said and “be encouraged” (1 Corinthians 14:31). When so-called prophetic words are given in a way that interrupts and causes confusion and disorder, people are often frustrated and discouraged as they miss out on the substance of the prophecy.

Fifth, Biblical prophecy convicts. In another passage, Paul writes:

• 1 Corinthians 14:24-25 – ²⁴ “But if all prophesy, and an unbeliever or an uninformed person comes in, he is convinced by all, he is convicted by all. ²⁵ And thus the secrets of his heart are revealed; and so, falling down on his face, he will worship God and report that God is truly among you.”

The Holy Spirit strives with the unbeliever to draw them to the Father through faith in Christ (John 16:8-11). In 1 Corinthians 14:24-25 we see that when the gift of prophecy is manifested in the presence of unbelievers, they will respond with a “How’d he know that?!” conviction that will lead to a recognition of the supernatural reality of God in the midst of the church. Prophecy here seems to work in concert with the spiritual gift of the word of knowledge.

Sixth, Biblical prophecy directs in the will of God. Later in Acts, it states:

• Acts 13:1-3 – ¹ “Now in the church that was at Antioch there were certain prophets and teachers: Barnabas, Simeon who was called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen who had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch, and Saul. ² As they ministered to the Lord and fasted, the Holy Spirit said, “Now separate to Me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.” ³ Then, having fasted and prayed and laid hands on them, they sent them away.”

Now in these verses it states, “the Holy Spirit said.” How did the Holy Spirit speak? It is likely that He spoke through someone with the spiritual gift of prophecy. The church has a valuable commodity in the spiritual gift of prophecy, because the LORD often works through this gift to direct His church according to His will. That, in the above instance, the prophets are working in concert with those who have the gift of teaching implies that the prophetic word is checked to make sure it is in line with God’s word.

Seventh, Biblical prophecy can predict the future. Again in Acts, it states:

• Acts 21:10-11 – ¹⁰ “And as we stayed many days, a certain prophet named Agabus came down from Judea. ¹¹ When he had come to us, he took Paul’s belt, bound his own hands and feet, and said, “Thus says the Holy Spirit, ‘So shall the Jews at Jerusalem bind the man who owns this belt, and deliver him into the hands of the Gentiles.’”

As in Acts 11 and the prediction of the famine, here we see Agabus prophetically warn Paul of what lay ahead of him. In the first century church, the prophet gave warning of future events so that the minister of God could be prepared for what lay ahead. Such a practice only served to strengthen the faith of those like Paul (Acts 21:12-14).

Judging Prophets and Prophecy – Is It Ordained, Inspired by God?

The Bible says:

• 1 Corinthians 14:29 – “Let two or three prophets speak, and let the others judge.”

If someone stands and says, “Thus saith the LORD, give me all your money!” you can bet we ought to “judge” that prophecy (and check to see if our wallets are still in place!). That is the case with all prophetic words, whether they are spoken in the course of a message or by standing in the proper setting and giving a prophetic word. How do we know a prophetic word is ordained by God? The following portion of Scripture in 2 Peter indicates the marks of God–inspired and ordained prophecy and helps us to answer that question.

In Peter’s second epistle he is inspired to write:

• 2 Peter 1:16-21 – ¹⁶ “For we did not follow cunningly devised fables when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of His majesty. ¹⁷ For He received from God the Father honor and glory when such a voice came to Him from the Excellent Glory: “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.” ¹⁸ And we heard this voice which came from heaven when we were with Him on the holy mountain. ¹⁹ And so we have the prophetic word confirmed, which you do well to heed as a light that shines in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts; ²⁰ knowing this first, that no prophecy of Scripture is of any private interpretation, ²¹ for prophecy never came by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit.”

The context of Peter’s words is that he is writing to refute false teaching and clarify what is and is not God–inspired and ordained prophecy. When we examine these verses we see the following criteria for judging a prophecy.

First, God–inspired prophecy is not “cunningly devised fables.” (2 Peter 1:16-17). Peter says:

• 2 Peter 1:16-18 – ¹⁶ “For we did not follow cunningly devised fables when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of His majesty. ¹⁷ For He received from God the Father honor and glory when such a voice came to Him from the Excellent Glory: “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.” ¹⁸And we heard this voice which came from heaven when we were with Him on the holy mountain.

In other words, what he proclaims about Jesus is not fictitious but based on eyewitness accounts and verifiable proof. In Peter’s case, they heard personally the Father confirm that Jesus was His beloved Son who pleases Him. And what they heard or experienced was confirmed by God’s word and the events that followed in the life of Jesus.

If someone comes and says, “Thus says the Lord,” they are saying that God spoke to them and wants to speak through them. If God spoke to them, then what they say would be true. If what they say contains any fiction or falsehood, it is not from God, but from their flesh, which has a habit of cunningly devising fictions to bring glory not to God but to the one giving the prophetic word. We need to ask therefore, when someone claims to speak from God, “Does this word contain fictions or falsehoods?”

Second, God-inspired prophecy is Christ-centered (2 Peter 1:18). The whole context of these words of Peter shows his aim is to point people to Jesus, to tell people about Jesus, to confirm Jesus and Who He is.

Listen to what Jesus said about God’s word:

• Luke 24:25-27, 44 – ²⁵ “Then He said to them, “O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe in all that the prophets have spoken! ²⁶ “Ought not the Christ to have suffered these things and to enter into His glory?” ²⁷ And beginning at Moses and all the Prophets, He expounded to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning Himself.… ⁴⁴ Then He said to them, “These are the words which I spoke to you while I was still with you, that all things must be fulfilled which were written in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms concerning Me.”

If all the previous prophets had spoken in a Christ-centered way, (Acts 3:21, 24; Hebrews 10:7), then those who follow should speak in a Christ-centered way. The focus should be on Jesus. Beware when someone is using their forum to build up themselves or their ministry. We need to ask those claiming to speak prophetically, “Does what you have to say focus on Jesus or His ministry, or is it pointing to you?”

Third, God-inspired prophetic words are confirmed and supported by God’s word and evidence (2 Peter 1:19a). Peter says, “And we have the prophetic word confirmed…(2 Peter 19a). The word “confirmed” is translated from the Greek term BABAIOS (Strong’s #949 –beb´–ah-yos) and means, “stable…firm, of force, steadfast, sure”¹³⁸ The idea here is that a prophetic word that is indeed from God is something that is backed up by evidence. What Peter and the other apostles saw on the Mount of Transfiguration was backed up by all the prophetic words of the Old Testament and by the resurrection of Jesus from the dead. You don’t see Peter saying, “Now don’t judge me or my words.” You see Peter inviting investigation of his words, he is open to investigation and has nothing to hide because he knows what He saw and proclaimed was from God.

Fourth, God-inspired prophetic words need to be heeded (2 Peter 1:19b). The God-inspired prophetic word comes with the power of God, it cannot be ignored. Peter says, “which you do well to heed.” A true word of prophecy is a message from God to the body of Christ that needs to be paid attention to. The prophetic word from God is persuasive and convicting, it hits its mark. For someone to ignore or deny such a word is the result of it making them feel uncomfortable. Someone has said if you throw a rock into a pack of wild dogs you know which one is hit because they charge you. God’s prophetic word comes with the power of the Holy Spirit (Acts 1:8).

Fifth, God-inspired prophetic words give light (2 Peter 1:19c). Peter says, “as a light that shines in a dark place.” The purpose a prophetic word comes is to shine light in a dark situation, to bring clarity, truth, and Scripture to bear to guide God’s people. Does the word someone claims to be prophetic give light? Is it edifying?

Sixth, God-inspired prophetic words aim to bring Jesus to heart (2 Peter 1:19d). Peter says, “until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts.” The phrase “morning star’ here is translated from the Greek term PHOSPHORUS (Strong’s #5459 – foce-for´–os;…light-bearing (“phosphorus”),…the morning-star…day star.)¹³⁹ One commentator translated the phrase as “Light-Bringer.”¹⁴⁰ This is a reference to Jesus who is called the Morning Star (Revelation 22:16). Salvation is a matter of the heart (Romans 10:8-10) and God-ordained prophetic words aim at the heart, to bring Jesus to a person’s heart. God-inspired prophetic words seek to bring a person to a heart decision about Jesus.

Seventh, God-inspired prophetic words are not a matter of “private interpretation” (2 Peter 1:20). Peter says:

• 2 Peter 1:20 – “Knowing this first, that no prophecy of Scripture is on any private interpretation.”

If a prophetic word is from the Lord, it is not so esoteric and enigmatic that only the one delivering it can come up with an interpretation. Prophetic words are not a matter of private interpretation, but Scripture is the basis of its interpretation (2 Peter 1:20). No prophetic post-canonical prophetic words, if they are from the Spirit, will contradict Scripture. Beware when “Prophets” begin by telling you, “Now what I have to share is deep, very deep, so deep and only I, with the special God given insight, can interpret the word.” Yes, what they have to share is so deep that unless they pointed out the point, no one would ever have thought about it. Such is the case with cultic views and heresy.

Eight, God-inspired prophetic words do not come by human will (2 Peter 1:21a). The prophetic predictions made by worldly astrologers and seers are undependable. A prophetic word from the Lord is always 100% correct and true. The prophetic word that comes from God is not generated by human beings, it is generated by God and, as such, it will be perfect rather than fallibly human.

Therefore, we should ask of a prophetic word, “Does it coincide or conflict with God’s word?” Jesus said:

• Matthew 5:17-19 – ¹⁷ “Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill. ¹⁸ “For assuredly, I say to you, till heaven and earth pass away, one jot or one tittle will by no means pass from the law till all is fulfilled. ¹⁹ “Whoever therefore breaks one of the least of these commandments, and teaches men so, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever does and teaches them, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.”

If Jesus didn’t contradict the word of God, no one else should, especially those who claim to be from God. At the end of the New Testament, we are given a warning, which states:

• Revelation 22:18-19 – ¹⁸ “For I testify to everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: If anyone adds to these things, God will add to him the plagues that are written in this book; ¹⁹ and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part from the Book of Life, from the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.” (See also 2 Peter 1:16-21).

God does not contradict Himself. If God has sent a prophetic word it will not contradict what God has already given us in His word. WHATEVER IS SAID MUST ALWAYS BE SCRUTINIZED THROUGH THE LENS OF God’s WORD. To contradict God’s word, add to it or take away from it is a dangerous endeavor.

Ninth, God-inspired prophetic words are the result of the Spirit’s moving (2 Peter 1:21b). The reason for the 100% accuracy of God’s prophetic word is that they come from God who is Omniscient. Peter says, “…but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit.” Words spoken prophetically are not self-generated or a concoction of a person, they are the result of the Spirit moving upon a person to reveal something from God. If the Spirit moves a person to share a prophetic word, it will be 100% accurate and in line with God’s previously inspired canonical word; the Spirit does not contradict Himself (2 Timothy 3:16-17).

An example of the Spirit moving a prophetic writer is found in the prophet Micah and his testimony. The prophet Micah testified:

• Micah 3:8 –
  “But truly I am full of power by the Spirit of the Lord,
  And of justice and might,
  To declare to Jacob his transgression
  And to Israel his sin.”

Micah testifies here of the inspiration of the Holy Spirit he experienced. He spoke as the Spirit moved him to speak.

Whether or not someone is speaking in the Spirit is not determined by how loudly they shout but by how completely the sevenfold purpose of the prophetic word is fulfilled (see above). If a person is speaking a condemnatory word we should question whether it is from the LORD. Jesus said He didn’t come into the world to condemn it but to save it! (John 3:16-17) Would a prophet sent from God do any different? The Spirit convicts of sin with a desire to lead a person to repentance and salvation. The devil often condemns with a desire to so discourage people that they are driven away from God.

Therefore, we need to ask, “Does the predictive prophetic word come to pass?” If a person claims the gift of prophecy and speaks a predictive word, whether or not it comes to pass determines if it is or is not from the LORD. God doesn’t say, “OOPS! Sorry, I really didn’t mean that!” What God says, comes true. If what is said doesn’t come true, it isn’t from God. If something isn’t from God, we need to consider, “Where is it from?”

In Deuteronomy, it states:

• Deuteronomy 18:20-22 – ²⁰ “‘But the prophet who presumes to speak a word in My name, which I have not commanded him to speak, or who speaks in the name of other God s, that prophet shall die.’ ²¹ “And if you say in your heart, ‘How shall we know the word which the Lord has not spoken?’— ²² “when a prophet speaks in the name of the Lord, if the thing does not happen or come to pass, that is the thing which the Lord has not spoken; the prophet has spoken it presumptuously; you shall not be afraid of him.”

At the very best, a word spoken “prophetically” that doesn’t come to pass is “presumptuous” and sinful. At worst, a word spoken “prophetically” that doesn’t come to pass is a message from the devil to disrupt and deny God’s perfect will in the body of Christ. Satan knows God’s word and uses it to his evil advantage (see Matthew 4:1-11).

Because of the Source of true prophecy, 100% accuracy is essential. If God is the Source of prophetic words, then it must be perfect like Him. This truth is conveyed in various places in the Old Testament prophetic books where God, through prophets, states:

• Isaiah 44:24-26a – ²⁴ “Thus says the LORD, your Redeemer,
  And He who formed you from the womb:
  
  “I am the LORD, who makes all things,
  Who stretches out the heavens all alone,
  Who spreads abroad the earth by Myself;
  ²⁵ Who frustrates the signs of the babblers,
  And drives diviners mad;
  Who turns wise men backward,
  And makes their knowledge foolishness;
  ²⁶ Who confirms the word of His servant,
  And performs the counsel of His messengers;”
• Isaiah 46:9-11 –
  ⁹ Remember the former things of old,
  For I am God, and there is no other;
  I am God, and there is none like Me,
  ¹⁰ Declaring the end from the beginning,
  And from ancient times things that are not yet done,
  Saying, ‘My counsel shall stand,
  And I will do all My pleasure,’
  ¹¹ Calling a bird of prey from the east,
  The man who executes My counsel, from a far country.
  Indeed I have spoken it;
  I will also bring it to pass.
  I have purposed it;
  I will also do it.”
  (See also 1 Samuel 9:6; Isaiah 41:22-23; Isaiah 42:8-9; Ezekiel 12:26-28 and Habakkuk 2:3.)
• Jeremiah 14:14 – “And the LORD said to me, “The prophets prophesy lies in My name. I have not sent them, commanded them, nor spoken to them; they prophesy to you a false vision, divination, a worthless thing, and the deceit of their heart.”

God knows what He‘s talking about and when He speaks through a human vessel, he doesn’t make mistakes. If a prophetic word did include a mistake or falsehood, it would mean it was not from God. For God to make a mistake in prophecy, would mean He is less than faithful to His word; it would mean He is less than perfect and not God (Titus 1:2; Hebrews 10:23). The prophet of God speaks truth and what they speak prophetically comes true.

Tenth, God-inspired prophetic words contain God’s grace. In Peter’s first epistle he writes:

• 1 Peter 1:9-11 – ⁹ “receiving the end of your faith—the salvation of your souls. ¹⁰ Of this salvation the prophets have inquired and searched carefully, who prophesied of the grace that would come to you, ¹¹ searching what, or what manner of time, the Spirit of Christ who was in them was indicating when He testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ and the glories that would follow.”

Walk on a street corner of New York City and listen to a “prophet” and it isn’t likely you will hear about the grace of God. And yet grace was a major content of the words of Biblical prophets. Grace, loving kindness, mercy that goes on forever is what a prophetic word should contain.

These are the ten criteria of God-inspired prophetic words. This is the standard by which those who purport to speak prophetically from God need to be measured. But there is one last standard to consider.

God Ordered Prophecy

Whatever the LORD does, He does it in an orderly way. The same is true with the manifesting of the gift of prophecy. In Paul’s teaching about the use of prophecy in the church, he is inspired by the Spirit to write:

• 1 Corinthians 14:29-33 – ²⁹ “Let two or three prophets speak, and let the others judge. ³⁰ But if anything is revealed to another who sits by, let the first keep silent. ³¹ For you can all prophesy one by one, that all may learn and all may be encouraged. ³² And the spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets. ³³ For God is not the author of confusion but of peace, as in all the churches of the saints.”

We see from the above section that an ongoing assessment of the prophecy being spoken is to take place (Acts 14:29). There is to be an order and one prophetic word is to be given at a time (Acts 14:30-31). Most importantly, understand that THE SPIRIT DOES NOT FORCE ANYONE TO DO ANYTHING OR SAY ANYTHING (Acts 14:32). God IS NOT THE AUTHOR OF CONFUSION (Acts 14:33). If someone interrupts a church service and explains they just couldn’t help themselves, this is not Biblical! It also is not of God!

What makes False Prophecy, False?

What makes false prophecy, false? We should note briefly six characteristics of false prophecy so that the student of the Bible can be aware and able to identify it. A prophetic word is false when any or all of the following are true:

1. It contradicts God and His word – Deuteronomy 13:1-5
2. It is not 100% accurate – Deuteronomy 18:20-22; Jeremiah 28:1-17
3. It proclaims a false peace – Jeremiah 23:16-22
4. It contains lies – Jeremiah 23:25-34; Ezekiel 13:1-23
5. It is deceitful – Micah 3:5-7
6. It is superficial not substantial – Matthew 16:1-4

The prophecy in Acts is Spirit led and in line with the Biblical God-ordained criteria for it. The church today should follow the same criteria and know enough to do so.

Does the Acts 11:27-30 Prophecy Meet the Criteria?

God uses prophecy to inform, prepare, encourage and edify the body of Christ and keep it united and pointed in the right direction of His will. That is what we see in Acts 11. But did the prophecy of Acts 11 meet the criteria we have set forth? Did the prophesied famine come to pass? Yes, indeed it did. One commentator makes the following statement in this regard:

One of these prophets was a man named Agabus who indicated, prophesying under the influence of the Spirit of God, that there should be great dearth throughout all the world. Luke is interested in pinpointing the exact time of this famine. Thus he goes one step further in identifying it by saying that the famine occurred in the days of Claudius Caesar (41-54 A.D.). Many extrabiblical sources make note of a succession of bad harvests and extreme famine throughout the entire Roman Empire, especially Palestine, during the reign of Claudius.¹⁴¹

Therefore, we see how the prophetic word is confirmed by the evidence and can say with confidence that this prophetic word was from the Spirit and God-inspired. God’s prophetic words come to lead and comfort the church and enhance its ability to know where and how to minister in the name of Jesus.

“And the hand of the Lord was with them”

This comment in Acts 11:21 was an affirmation that what was happening was not the result of mere human hands or efforts; it was the result of God’s enablement. That’s really what the Book of Acts is all about. Really, that is the substance of God’s grace in human history as recorded in the Bible. It’s not about us, it’s about Him.

When we look at the context of this phrase, what evidences or characteristics do we see when the hand of the Lord is with us? The paragraph makes mention of a starting point of Acts 8, just after the martyrdom of Stephen. It’s helpful for us to pause here to take in what the Lord is accomplishing in and through the church. It might be helpful for us to ask, “How much is my church like this, and is the hand of the Lord with my church?”

If we start there, what do we see characterizes the hand of God with these early Christians? When the hand of God is with us, we can expect to see:

1. We see God using the evil of persecution for the good of spreading the gospel – Acts 8:1-4
2. We see joy in the midst of trials – Acts 8:5-8
3. We see powerful works of God that overshadow and expose counterfeit magic – Acts 8:9-25
4. We see God through angels and the Holy Spirit directing evangelists with pinpoint accuracy to those seeking God, e.g., Ethiopian eunuch – Acts 8:26-40
5. We see seekers believing in Jesus with all their heart and being baptized – Acts 8:36-40
6. We see the enemies of Christ become evangelists for Christ, e.g., Saul becomes Paul – Acts 9:1-30
7. We see the church in the midst of persecution described as being at peace, edified, walking in the fear of the Lord, and comforted by the Holy Spirit – Acts 9:31
8. We see people healed, and sometimes those thought to be beyond healing, brought back to life – Acts 9:32-43
9. We see the Lord directing people through dreams and visions to connect seekers with those who can explain the gospel, and we see those seekers being saved – Acts 10
10. We see the Lord breaking down barriers and uniting people in Christ with the gospel – Acts 11:1-18
11. We see the preaching of the word of God everywhere to everyone – Acts 11:19-20
12. We see the grace of God to reach people and encourage them to continue with the Lord – Acts 11:23
13. We see “a great many people…Added to the Lord” – Acts 11:24
14. We see disciples (i.e., learners) made – Acts 11:26
15. We see God’s people identified and distinguished from others – Acts 11:26
16. We see prophets and prophecy provided by God to forewarn and prepare the church for what lays ahead – Acts 11:27-28
17. We see God’s people helping each other (i.e., an expression of love – John 13:35; evidence of the Holy Spirit – Romans 5:5) – Acts 11:29-30.

Is this what your church looks like? Is this what my church looks like? Is this what a church should look like? At the very least, this is something we ought to seek our Lord about. We want the hand of God on us and our churches. Maybe we have strayed in some ways from relying on the hand of the Lord. If we are ever to impact this world for the glory of God, it won’t be by our ingenuity or efforts, it will be, by the hand of the Lord.

Conclusion

In an October 4th 1992 issue of Our Daily Bread the following devotional was given:

During World War II, Hitler commanded all religious groups to unite so that he could control them. Among the Brethren assemblies, half complied and half refused. Those who went along with the order had a much easier time. Those who did not faced harsh persecution. In almost every family of those who resisted, someone died in a concentration camp. When the war was over, feelings of bitterness ran deep between the groups and there was much tension. Finally they decided that the situation had to be healed. Leaders from each group met at a quiet retreat. For several days, each person spent time in prayer, examining his own heart in the light of Christ's commands. Then they came together. Francis Schaeffer, who told of the incident, asked a friend who was there, "What did you do then?" "We were just one," he replied. As they confessed their hostility and bitterness to God and yielded to His control, the Holy Spirit created a spirit of unity among them. Love filled their hearts and dissolved their hatred. When love prevails among believers, especially in times of strong disagreement, it presents to the world an indisputable mark of a true follower of Jesus Christ.

In Acts 11, the contention that arose could have caused a great divide among fellow disciples. But because they were open to the hand of God and the Holy Spirit that which threatened to divide them brought them together and proved to be an opportunity to be used to witness to the world in a powerful way. Do you remember what Jesus said would be the identifying mark of His disciples? Jesus said:

• John 13:35 – “By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”

In Acts 11, while the word “love” is not mentioned, “grace” is, and grace brings the love of the Spirit to bear. In this love of the Spirit, the church will now move on to victory.

132 James Strong, New Strong’s Dictionary of Hebrew and Greek Words [computer file], electronic ed., Logos Library System, (Nashville: Thomas Nelson) 1997, ©1996.

133 Taken from a transcript of Word For Today teaching tape #8100 on Acts 11.

134 James Strong, New Strong’s Dictionary of Hebrew and Greek Words [computer file], electronic ed., Logos Library System, (Nashville: Thomas Nelson) 1997, © 1996.

135 John F. Walvoord, and Roy B. Zuck, The Bible Knowledge Commentary, (Wheaton, Illinois: Scripture Press Publications, Inc.) 1983, 1985.

136 Jerry Falwell, executive editor; Edward E. Hinson and Michael Kroll Woodrow, general editors, KJV Bible Commentary [computer file], electronic ed., Logos Library System, (Nashville: Thomas Nelson) 1997, c1994.

137 W. E. Vine, Merrill F. Unger and William White, Vine’s Complete Expository Dictionary of Old and New Testament Words [computer file], electronic ed., Logos Library System, (Nashville: Thomas Nelson) 1997, ©1996.

138 James Strong, New Strong’s Dictionary of Hebrew and Greek Words [computer file], electronic ed., Logos Library System, (Nashville: Thomas Nelson) 1997, ©1996.

139 James Strong, New Strong’s Dictionary of Hebrew and Greek Words [computer file], electronic ed., Logos Library System, (Nashville: Thomas Nelson) 1997, ©1996.

140 John F. Walvoord, and Roy B. Zuck, The Bible Knowledge Commentary, (Wheaton, Illinois: Scripture Press Publications, Inc.) 1983, 1985.

141 Jerry Falwell, executive editor; Edward E. Hinson and Michael Kroll Woodrow, general editors, KJV Bible Commentary [computer file], electronic ed., Logos Library System, (Nashville: Thomas Nelson) 1997, c1994.