IT PAYS TO BE A NOBODY, NOT A SOMEBODY

Acts 4 is a very instructive chapter. Peter and John were speaking to the people and telling them that Jesus was the resurrection of the dead.

A lot of people believed what they said as it says that the number of men grew to about 5,000.

They were hauled before the Sanhedrin and asked by what power or name they did this?

Note that they didn’t ask who credentialed them; what uni degrees they had; how many years training they had in the scriptures; were they a pastor, priest, or a bishop; had they been to Bible College.

No, they wanted to know what or who was behind their boldness.

Notice what happens next. “Then, Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them…”

Not Peter filled with head knowledge; Peter filled with organizational ability; Peter filled with church ritual; Peter ordained by the church; Peter appointed pastor; Peter full of sermon preparation; Peter the leader of the organisation; Peter highly educated….

NO the noticeable thing was that Peter was “filled with the Holy Spirit.” He then goes on to tell them that the power behind the throne was Jesus of Nazareth who they crucified and who God raised from the dead. He is “numero uno” so get used to the idea”.

What was their response?

Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John and found out that they were uneducated and ordinary men, they were amazed and realized that they had been with Jesus.

You want to be a powerhouse for God? Then get qualified. The three things that you need are to be ordinary, two, uneducated and third, spend time with Jesus.

But, but but…if I am going to be a pastor in my denomination I have to be extra ordinary, I have to be educated and I have to suck up to the leadership.

Who said anything about being a pastor? I am talking about being a powerhouse for God. You know, the sort of person who knows no boundaries and decides the kingdom of God is wherever they are so all they need is to be filled with the Holy Spirit, be ordinary, be uneducated, and intimately acquainted with Jesus.

When was the last time you heard that was the qualifications for ministry? If you say never have, I am not surprised.

Because the church today is not the church, it has removed the power of God and replaced it with organizational ritual.

If you don’t believe me ask when was the last time the leadership of your church was hauled before the equivalent of the Sanhedrin for preaching Jesus in the power of the Spirit? If they haven’t experienced this, perhaps they need to ask themselves why?