022

With the extended hand

"Grant your servants that with all courage they would speak Your Word while You extend Your hand" (Acts 4:29-30).

The beginnings of the church, in the book of Acts, are full of amazing facts. The preaching of the apostles, such as during that first one at the feast of Pentecost, was centered in Jesus Christ, the announcement of His resurrection, plus the expression of His power to save and to heal the sick. From Heaven came such a powerful visitation of the Holy Spirit, that the most amazing events became commonplace daily happenings.

Men that only yesterday were fishermen, peasants, "common men without letters", now took the place of God's prophets, and filled Jerusalem and all Judea with the Word of God. Their ministry was like a wind from Heaven, cleaning and adorning the earth. Divinity was now breathable and "touchable" for many men and women who were thirsty for God.

But with the blessing also came persecution - as it always happens. It is then that clamoring prayer ascends to Heaven, not to be liberated from the persecution, but to behave with dignity in the midst thereof. The petition is clear and exemplary to us. They request that God would grant them to preach the Word of God with boldness, and that the Hand of God would act to confirm that Word. Two things: the Word, and Heaven's confirmation of that Word.

The apostles learned early that Heaven and earth have to act together in order for men to fear God and to be converted to the living and true God. The preaching of God's Word plus the extended Hand of God acting coordinately to obtain the salvation of men. They saw the importance of the Word - because faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God. By God's Word comes the hearing with faith to receive salvation. Soon after that they were going to ask the church to relieve them from any other function so they could completely dedicate themselves to that ministry (Acts 6:1-4).

But the Word has to find an echo in Heaven. Not only it has to come from Heaven, but also, when it is proclaimed, it has to have Heaven's backing. What probably is today the cause of so much unbelief and impudence among humanity regarding what is Divine? Perhaps it might be that ministers have preached without having received God's supply. Preaching is being done without counting on the extended Hand of God to favor His Word. God cannot back up anything that has not proceeded from His Heart.

How much we need today Heaven's backing! Not only man has to preach, but also God has to speak through man. Not merely the voice of earth, but also the Voice from Heaven. God is able to do this in many wonderful ways. None of these is to be questioned, much less depreciated by us. It is the merciful Hand of God saying: "What men say is not their business, it is the Word of God. Listen to them!".

The message of the apostles was absolutely Christ-centric, without a speck of humanism, nor material or denominational interest (Acts 5:42). Christ was and is the All in all, the center, and the circumference. If the ministers are Christ-centric, so will also be their message. Is it so today?

(Translator: Fred Malir, USA).

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