Published on 04/3/2008

Does God still move? Can we see "Book of Acts miracles" today? Can some of us be the next Paul, Barnabas, Peter, Lydia? Can God do in the twenty-first century what he did in the first? The answer is up to us.

Dwight Moody preached to over one hundred million souls in his ministry. He founded what became Moody Bible College, and was widely considered one of the godliest men in America. His prayers have been recorded and published; his passion for the lost was legendary. And yet Moody often said of his own soul, "I am a leaky bucket, and I need to be refilled daily." If he needed this, so do I. Do you?

If we will trust Christ as Savior, admit our need of God's power, ask the Spirit to empower and control us, and believe that he has, he will do with us all that accomplishes God's purpose in these days. The Book of Acts is proof.

Watch the story unfold. After the first Christians shared the gospel in the languages of their hearers, Peter preaches the first sermon in Church history. With this result: "Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day" (Acts 2:41).

The Spirit then empowers Peter and John for personal ministry with a crippled man outside the Temple. Soon "he jumped to his feet and began to walk. Then he went with them into the temple courts, walking and jumping, and praising God" (3:8).

Next the Spirit empowers God's people with bold courage: "'Know this, you and all the people of Israel: It is by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified but whom God raised from the dead, that this man stands before you healed.' . . . When they saw the courage of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they took note that these men had been with Jesus" (4:10, 13). With this result for the entire church: "After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly" (4:31).

After empowering the Church, the Spirit expands her ministry. He purifies God's people from the deceit and corruption of Ananias and Sapphira (5:1-10). Afterwards, "great fear seized the whole church and all who heard about these events" (v. 11). He grows their size and significance: "more and more men and women believed in the Lord and were added to their number" (5:14). And he's only begun, as we'll see tomorrow.