Acting Out

I remember a time, a year or two ago, when I stumbled upon Acts. I was in my studio, just reading the Bible, I'd finished whatever and just flipped to twenties of Acts, and started reading- I read everything- not to be "spiritual" or anything, but because it was SO enjoyable. The story totally drew me in, and gave me a desire to see something like the church in Acts here today. As I read Acts today I started making a list of what happened between God and his servants, starting in Acts 4:31, here it is:

-The apostles prayed (Now, Lord, consider their threats and enable your servants to speak your word with great boldness. Stretch out your hand to heal and perform miraculous signs and wonders through the name of your holy servant Jesus)
-The meeting place was shaken
- They were all filled with the Holy Spirit & spoke the word of God boldly
- They were one in heart and mind
- Shared everything they had
- Continued to testify to Jesus' resurecction
- Much grace was upon them all
- Helped needy believers
- Some believers sin against God (Ananias and Sapphira)
- God and church leadership enforce consequences (God strikes them dead)
- all of the believers have a healthier respect for and fear of God
- apostles perform many miraculous signs and wonders
- highly regarded by the people
- more and more believe in the Lord
- healings (ALL the cords brought were healed- Acts 5:16), freeing from evil spirits
- persecution of the aposles - they are arrested
- divine deliverance -an angel opens the jails doors and gives them instructions
- they obey and stand in the temple and teach the people the message of new life
- brought before the religious leaders
- stand up for beliefs- "We must obey God rather than men!" (Acts 5:29)
- the Pharisees are furious BUT one stands up and reasons with the other Pharisees (his name is Gamaliel which means "benefit of God", he says (Acts 5:38-39)"Therefore, in the present case I advise you: Leave these men alone! Let them go! For if their purpose or activity is of human origin, it will fail. But if it is from God, you will not be able to stop these men; you will only find yourselves fighting against God." great logic!
- the pharisees are persuaded and flog the apostles, tell them not to speak in Jesus' name, and let them go
- The apostles leave rejoicing that they are counted worthy to suffer disgrace for the Name (what a different outlook than most of us "Christians" have!)
- day after day in the temple courts and from house to house they NEVER stopped teaching and proclaiming the good news that Jesus is the Christ

Notice how everything stemmed from a "simple" prayer? The apostles (truly obedient to God) prayed that the Lord would enable those who serve him to speak His word with great boldness. They asked him to stretch out his hand to heal people and perform miraculous signs and wonders through the name of his holy servant Jesus. And God answered their prayers (He said he would do this y'know), so maybe we should pray more - fancy that!