Acts in 28 DaysSample

Acts 5:17-32, 40-42

Picture this: It’s a normal day, and you arrive at school. Suddenly, your teacher looks at you and says, “__________, you are responsible for teaching this class.” No warning, no preparation, just ‘go time’. You are now personally responsible for teaching your classmates a subject that you are also just learning. That sounds panic inducing, doesn’t it?

There is some good, but perhaps also scary news: God Himself calls us to stand and speak life. Are we equipped to do that? Check out what the disciples did in Acts as a model for us in our task.

In Acts 5:17, we see that the apostles are, once again, in trouble for preaching about Jesus, and the high priest has imprisoned them. During the night, an angel of the Lord appears and releases them with a commandment: “Go, stand and speak to the people in the temple the whole message of this Life” (v.20). Acting in obedience, the apostles went and did just that.

A few hours later, the high priest heard the apostles were preaching again, so they were brought before him and the Council to explain their disobedience. Their response? “We must obey God rather than men (v.29).” Remember, it was the angel of the Lord who had released them from prison and commanded them to share, and it was the Holy Spirit who was working through them.

Now, let’s go back to the scenario we started with. You are suddenly responsible for teaching your class at school – but here’s the interesting part – you have already been studying the material for a while and are familiar with it. Your teacher has given you the authority to teach and they have also left you a detailed lesson plan with all the information you need to do the job well. And if you panic or freeze, your teacher is right there with you to help you along the way. Not quite so scary when we put it that way, is it?

Your Teacher, the One who is Life itself, is also calling you to speak. The amazing thing is that, in the midst of this, He is with us, and He equips us for this task. How are you going to respond?

GO DEEP

The apostles were called to speak the message of Life. How has knowing the Life changed you? Take a moment and be thankful for this Life that you know. Be open and honest with God about where you are today.

BE BOLD

The apostles were called to radical obedience and faced radical consequences (Acts 5:40-42). Are you willing to be used by the Holy Spirit? How is God challenging you to be bold? In your circle of contacts, who do you know that needs to hear about the true Life? Ask the Holy Spirit to use you as He sees fit.

MEMORISE IT

“We must obey God rather than men.” - Acts 5:29b