The Inspired Life
Throughout the book of Acts we read stories of men and women who become followers of Jesus and are filled with the Holy Spirit. This filling inspires God’s people to do things that, otherwise, they probably never would have done. There are the obvious moments of miraculous work and healing, but beyond that are the seemingly simpler, everyday acts of obedience and courage, and moments of profound confidence and peace in situations that would stir most of us into a frenzied panic. Over and over again the writer of Acts notes that these people were “filled with the Holy Spirit” and this was the reason why they were able to walk into confusion, fear, threat and unknown situations with such peace and confidence.
What’s amazing to me is that we have access to that same Spirit. We too can receive this Spirit and be filled with the peace of Christ which surpasses all understanding!! If you have never prayed to receive the Holy Spirit, I invite you now to either call up a trusted Christian friend to pray with you, or pray on your own and ask Jesus to give you the gift of His Holy Spirit. That He would fill you beyond all measure with the fullness of Christ.
As we read together this week and look at the stories of the early church being inspired by the Holy Spirit, it is my prayer that you also will also be inspired and experience the peace-giving power and presence of the Spirit in your own life, through whatever you are facing.
Day 1
Read: Acts 2:42-47
As I was reading through the book of Acts this week, I was stopped suddenly by this passage. It is one I have read many times, and yet this time, I noticed something different. The early church’s trust in Jesus leading them to radical yet ordinary acts of… sharing. The normal angst of financial stress doesn’t seem to be present here. Instead, we see the people of God, being present with one another and having “simplicity of heart.” Read this story over a few times. As you do, journal or reflect on your response to the following questions:
- Where in this story do you see the power of Jesus freeing people from fear?
- What sort of actions does their trust in Jesus inspire?
- Where do you see yourself in this story?
- How is Jesus communicating that He is present to you through this story?
- How might He be calling you to be present to someone else based on what you’ve read?
Day 2
Read: Acts 4:1-22
What I love about this instance in the book of Acts is how the rulers, elders and scribes knew that Peter and John had been with Jesus because of their boldness. It wasn’t their swift speech and intellectual arguments, for those with them realized that they were “uneducated, common men.” For us today, Jesus presence with us, and the filling of the Holy Spirit continues to be what will inspire us to be bold in our declarations of the truth about Jesus.
- Where in this story do you see the power of Jesus freeing people from fear?
- What sort of actions does their trust in Jesus inspire?
- Where do you see yourself in this story?
- How is Jesus communicating that He is present to you through this story?
- How might He be calling you to be present to someone else based on what you’ve read?
Day 3
Read: Acts 6:8-15, 7:51-60
The story of Stephen’s stoning is a pretty intense one. In a nutshell, Stephen preaches, then is accused of spreading blasphemy, and is finally seized and killed.
Face to face with death, Stephen had such assurance not just of where he was going, but with whom he would spend eternity. He had peace in his moment of death because He had already spent time in the presence of Jesus and he was confident that not only was Jesus worth dying for, but also that eternity with Jesus on the throne was the richest reward. While death quickens panic in most, Stephen’s encounter with the living God inspires him to say, “Lord Jesus, receive my Spirit.”
- Where in this story do you see the power of Jesus freeing Stephen from fear?
- What sort of actions does his trust in Jesus inspire?
- Where do you see yourself in this story?
- How is Jesus communicating that He is present to you through this story?
- How might He be calling you to be present to someone else based on what you’ve read?
Day 4
Read: Acts 9:10-20
What I love about the story of Saul/Paul and Ananias is that not only are both men transformed by an encounter with Jesus, but their relationship is transformed as well. A relationship that would have been fraught with fear is brought into perfect peace because of the presence of Jesus and the Holy Spirit in their lives. It gives me great hope to know that our relationships too, even with those we would consider our enemies, can be transformed through the power of the Holy Spirit.
- Where in this story do you see the power of Jesus freeing people from fear?
- What sort of actions does their trust in Jesus inspire?
- Where do you see yourself in this story?
- How is Jesus communicating that He is present to you through this story?
- How might He be calling you to be present to someone else based on what you’ve read?
Day 5
Read: Acts 11:1-18
On our final day exploring the book of Acts together, we see another instance in which the Holy Spirit’s presence brings peace in the panic. Amidst anxiety over observing an important Jewish custom vs. sharing the good news of Jesus, Peter finds peace after receiving a vision from the Holy Spirit. As a result, an entire family is saved and the doorway is opened for all non-Jews to also experience the good news and Jesus and the power of the Holy Spirit.
- Where in this story do you see the power of Jesus freeing people from fear?
- What sort of actions does their trust in Jesus inspire?
- Where do you see yourself in this story?
- How is Jesus communicating that He is present to you through this story?
- How does Jesus want to bring peace to your relationships across the lines that may divide?