Take Time - Make Time - Stop and Check - It Is Well Worth The Effort

By Sandy Shaw

In various recent articles I have been basing the lessons I have been seeking to share and teach on the text of the Bible, and these can be found under different categories. You cannot find a finer foundation than The Word of God, which we have in the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments. At least, I do not know of a better one. If you do may I ask you to let me know.

When we reach this middle section of Acts Chapter 5, in the New Testament, I do ask you to continue to read the actual biblical text, and check everything I say. Never accept anything I write without checking it out.

I aim not to deal in ideas, views or opinions, but in truth, and I say that as humbly as I can in the light of The Word of God.

We have been reading elsewhere of how The Church of Jesus Christ was birthed, and how God launched the Church into the world. We have studied the significance of the outpouring of the Holy Spirit, when some day some 3,000 people came to believe in Jesus Christ, as they turned from their sins, were baptised (plunged) in water, and received the Holy Spirit.

Take time to check that your foundation is biblically sound! It is essential that our foundation is based upon the solid rock of the Word of God.

These two dynamic leaders, Peter and John were imprisoned. They appeared in the same court which had tried Jesus Christ, and the apostle's boldness and courage did not go unnoticed. There are times when we have to be bold and courageous, as well as merciful and tender. Those who sought to silence the disciples of the risen, living and ascended Jesus were bewildered.

Do not be overly surprised when people might try to silence you and switch off your light. There was a most marvellous outpouring of prayer among the believers, when Peter and John returned, on their being released from that Jerusalem jail.

Is your voice heard regularly in a gathering for praise and prayer?

Peter faced up to the insidious hypocrisy which tried to creep in, confronting both Ananias and Sapphira, as they tried to kid on that they had given all the money they had received for that property. As a result of their lying they dropped down dead!

These were awesome days. These were momentous times, as the Holy Spirit flowed through the believers in various manifestations. Take time to check that your channel is not clogged up. Is the Holy Spirit able to flow through you freely and unhampered?

In verse 15, people brought their sick ones into the streets, so that at least Peter's shadow might fall on some of them as he passed by. There is no doubt about who the front man was in this growing Jerusalem Fellowship. Peter was the leader.

News travelled fast. Crowds came. Sick and demonised ones were brought, and 'all of them were healed'. These demonised ones were "tormented". That is what the devil does.

Others were tormented in a different manner, but by the same enemy of God. They were filled with jealousy. That too is a tormenting spirit. Jealousy can make people do terrible things. They become unfair, unjust and cruel.

It manifests itself in peculiar irrational behaviour, and again the apostles are put in jail.
Take time - make time - and check your own spiritual situation, condition and witness. That can be a most valuable decision. It is like the man taking a few moment to sharpen his scythe before continuing to cut the field of grass. In the long run it makes the task easier and quicker.

Why is that man not working? What is he doing? - the little child asks. O, he is taking time to sharpen his scythe!

What does God want to say to you and teach you from His living Word?

Sandy Shaw
Sandy Shaw is Pastor of Nairn Christian Fellowship, Chaplain at Inverness Prison, and Nairn Academy, and serves on The Children's Panel in Scotland, and has travelled extensively over these past years teaching, speaking, in America, Canada, South Africa, Australia, making 12 visits to Israel conducting Tours and Pilgrimages, and most recently in Uganda and Kenya, ministering at Pastors and Leaders Seminars, in the poor areas surrounding Kampala, Nairobi, Mombasa and Kisumu.

He broadcasts regularly on WSHO radio out of New Orleans, and writes a weekly commentary at http://www.studylight.org entitled "Word from Scotland" on various biblical themes, as well as a weekly newspaper column.

His M.A. and B.D. degrees are from The University of Edinburgh, and he continues to run and exercise regularly to maintain a level of physical fitness.
Sandy Shawsandyshaw63@yahoo.com