Good morning! Are you ready to move forward?!?

I'd like to begin today with a quick peek at a part of the passages from yesterday, to mention something that I find endlessly amazing about our God. Ready? Please read Acts 4:1-14. I love the scene that this passage introduces. Peter and John up against an angry crowd... and angry in those days implied far more terrible consequences than we face on a daily basis. Turning this particular crowd against you could mean imprisonment, stoning, and isolation, just to name a few.

Peter and John calmed an angry crowd... or at the very least froze their accusations simply by bringing the truth to the front and firmly holding it there.

They did not argue about their rights, their reasons, or their credibility.

They did not walk away knowing they were right but deciding not to “rile the crowd” and face severe and undeserved consequences.

They did not answer side questions or tangents.

They stated the facts. Simply. And it was the most powerful and effective defense they had.

I love verse 14. The crowd saw the evidence. So there was nothing they could say.

Beautiful, isn't it?

Another awesome example of this is found in Acts 5:27-42.

I've been greatly impacted lately by realizing just how much common sense it makes... to obey what the Lord asks of us. I've realized more and more the incredible brilliance of scripture, of fulfilled prophecy, of answered prayer, and of just how undeniable He really is. Not comfortable, not easy... but true, right, and altogether trustworthy. Always. And I can boldly state what I know. Because I'm a witness!

I believe that more often than not, the most difficult thing about the gospel is us. The work is to simplify to what we believe about God.. and then to act on it.

Now, please read Acts 12:1-19.

This is the last story we'll read through in Acts for this study. I want us to clearly stop again and praise the Lord for how completely the Lord steered the events in Peter's life... down to the detail. I believe with all of my heart it's because Peter was finally so entirely resolved to follow. Can you imagine Peter's bewilderment at being awaken, led out of prison, and even watching a gate open in front of you? Even his friends were in absolute shock and awe at his exit from prison! Often we hear people say that they wished they could see God work that clearly. But we all can.

Peter had to learn so many lessons about following first.

He had to be resolved.

He had to be willing to walk on the water........ and then he was part of a miracle!

He had to be willing to go to prison..... in order to experience a miraculous escape!

“Come. Follow me. And I will make you fishers of men.”

For Discussion: Is there a miracle that you're waiting and hoping for in your life right now? You can't see the end of the path yet, but what does that path look like for today? Are you willing? Are you stepping forward? What encouragement can you draw from what you already KNOW about your leader.... from having walked down the path as far as you have already?