Waynesburg Christian Church

Walking Through Trials - 1 Peter 5:5-11

The prefix “en” in the word encourage means to put into, and the prefix “dis” in the word discourage means to separate from, expel, or deprive. So, to encourage someone literally means to put courage into them, and to discourage someone means to drain courage from them. In Acts 4 we meet a man who specialized in putting courage into people and into the early church. His name was Barnabas and he shows us just how powerful encouragement can be!

The early church boldly stepped out to share the message of Jesus. Many responded to the message, but some opposed it. In an early encounter with the authorities Peter and John were warned not to speak or teach again in the name of Jesus... or else! The pressure was on! Their response wasn’t political... and it wasn’t philosophical. It was awe... awe at what they had seen this Jesus do and awe at what they had heard him say! They had seen things that they couldn’t un-see and heard things that they could not forget! They were eyewitnesses to God’s move in their midst and no matter what pressure was put on them - no matter the odds stacked against them, they could not be quiet! “As for us, we cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard.” - Acts 4:20

In first century Jesus was not the only person who claimed to be the promised messiah - many of these individuals had their lives ended the same way Jesus’ did. But we do not hear any mention of disappointed followers claiming that their hero had been raised from the dead. When your leader dies (and you have escaped arrest) you either give up the cause or find another leader. Claiming the original leader was alive again was not an option...unless he actually was. Jesus’ followers go from hiding in fear to boldly proclaiming the message of Jesus publicly! What can make sense of this transformation?

ONE is a big enough number for God! In Acts chapter 2 God moves in a miraculous and powerful way and 3,000 people are born again into God’s family! Acts chapter 3 serves as a bit of a contrast because God once again moves in a miraculous and powerful way, but it’s not on behalf of a crowd, it’s on behalf of a disabled, poor man begging in front of the temple. The man that could not walk had a need and his need was obvious, but Peter is quick to point to the truth that we all have a need - we all desperately need Jesus! A crowd gathered as witnesses of a miracle, but they too had the opportunity to experience a miracle of their own - their guilt could get in the way, their pride could blind them to their need, their ignorance could leave them just as helpless and hopeless as the lame man, but if they would dare to hope in Jesus, then their lives’ too could be transformed! How about you? Would you dare to hope in Jesus? You may be surprised at what you find if you take that step of faith!

After His death, burial, and resurrection Jesus’ followers were sent out to tell others the Good News of another kingdom and another King. Their message of Hope and Redemption in Jesus changed the world and it continues to change the world today. But how did they do it? These were unschooled, ordinary people. How were they equipped to change the world? Well... they had a Helper. And that same Helper is available to us today!

The story of Jesus demonstrates God’s amazing power, His amazing love, and His amazing grace – God among us teaching, healing, praying, dying on the cross, conquering the grave, and ascending into heaven! Yet, the story of Jesus doesn’t end with Jesus! It continued as His earliest followers lived it into the next generation and the Church was born! Even now, the story of Jesus continues in the lives of those who believe in Him! It has always been God’s intention to choose normal, everyday people and to show His amazing power and love through them. Are you ready to be part of the greatest story ever known?