Acts 4 - satan meets Faith

Acts 4 provides some insights into how satan attacks us, responds to the Gospel being communicated, and how we are to respond to him.

Peter and John were with the man who had been miraculously cured, explaining the Gospel, and many people in the crowd were coming to faith.

Satan response:

• Brought the religious authorities and the guards to attack and imprison them, to stop the teaching – he uses worldly authority.


• Gathered in a crowd of like-minded people opposed to the Message – he is a coward.


• Surrounded Peter and John and began verbally attacking them – surround and attack is a common tactic.


• Recognized that Peter and John as “having been with Jesus” – when we spend time with Christ, it is apparent.


• Summoned them again, and told them not to speak the Gospel – satan will keep attacking if we keep communicating the Gospel.


• Satan continued to call out to them, to threaten them – he never tires of opposing God’s elect.

Faith:

• Peter and John were proclaiming that Jesus was the risen Christ.


• People listening heard and believed, joining the fellowship of faith.


• Peter responded to Holy Spirit's prompting and explained the miracle, giving credit to Christ.


• Peter and john ignored satan’s threats, and continued “speaking about what we have seen and heard”.


• Reported to the other Believers what was happening, glorifying God.


• The Believers were encouraged and continued to speak the Word of God with boldness and power.


• They gave out, sharing all they had, not pulling inside themselves in fear.

Be bold, respond to the Holy Spirit's leading, expect the attack, and respond in faith. Christ has ALL the authority!

Living well in the work place

I know, I know, for many of us, combining the words "living well" and "work place" in the same sentence is an oxymoron and probably sacrilegious. My desire is to live well, and since a significant amount of my life is spent in the work place, I desire to live well in that space. I believe this is possible, that some of the communities we read about in Jerusalem and Corinth near the start of this millennium experienced this. A couple of questions:

• What sort of experiences in the work place would make it a place you want to be, and look forward to?


• What are the top three core beliefs and attitudes are central to creating a "well" atmosphere at work?

Living Well is....?

I recently had someone challenge me with the question "So, what is living well?". My initial response follows, addressing living well in my smallest of communities, my family. I'd also like to explore with you what it means to live well in two other communities: Working together vocationally (see related blog) and living as families together . First, my response to the initial question:

When I think of recent 'living well' events, I think of:

• As I am walking down a tree lined path to the beach, my daughter slips her arm into mine, our steps become as one; the deep love, acceptance and respect we share goes straight to my heart.


• Standing in the airport as our son returns from yet another over-seas adventure - as he comes around the corner and sees mom and dad, his face lights up, his eyes dance, and the wonderful reunion begins once again.


• Standing on the top of a mountain with a couple of climbing companions, looking down on all the other peaks, watching the eagles far below us sail among the clouds...


• Sharing a cheese fondue and a bottle of wine on the beach as the sun sets across the bay, at peace and deeply in love with my beautiful bride and companion.


• Watching the face of a man I have discipled as he recounts how he is now leading other men into a fuller, larger life, once a boy, now a man, leading men.


• Hearing God whisper in my heart, "I love you".

For me, it's about my heart, contentment and relationship - and for you?