What is one thing that you just can’t stop talking about? Is it a person that you dearly love? The bizarre political situation we are currently in? Some major life event that impacted you in enormous ways? Whatever it is, I think its safe to say that you are passionate about it. So much so, that you want everyone around you to know about it. For some of us, our social media accounts very quickly display what captures our affections.
Lately, I have been absolutely captivated with the 3rd and 4th chapters of Acts. Peter and John were entering the temple to pray when they were approached by a man lame from birth. The man was expecting money; instead, he was miraculously healed! Understandably so, all of those around rushed about in amazement, telling anyone near them what had just happened. Peter and John very boldly responded with a beautiful gospel presentation, affirming over and over that indeed the Christ who THEY (the crowd) had just killed, had been raised from the dead. It was only by His power that such a miracle could be done through them. Peter and John pled for everyone around them to repent and trust in Christ. I can just sense their passion as I read this text. Its almost as if they are begging. “Please, PLEASE! Turn to Christ!” This passion and boldness can only come from someone who has “tasted and seen.” God used them mightily in this public proclamation because we are told that about 5,000 men believed that day (Acts 4:4).
Continuing through chapter 4, Peter and John are temporarily put in custody and then commanded not to speak of Jesus anymore. I absolutely love their response. “We cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard” (Acts 4:20). Wow. Have you ever been able to say that? It seems most Christians today, including myself, would say the opposite. “I am unable to START speaking about the Lord. How sad. Why is that and how can we live with the same amount of passion and obedience for the Lord as the disciples did?
Perhaps you may be thinking, “well, if I saw a man miraculously healed, I would be telling everyone too.” That’s understandable. However, these physical healings at the time were given to validate the testimony of the disciples. Now that we have the completed cannon of Scripture, we don’t see Christians walking around with the gift of healing. We have something far greater- the Word of God, which is living and active, able to pierce and discern the thoughts and intentions of the heart (Hebrews 4:12). God truly changes people at the heart level.
He takes thieves and turns them into hard workers. He takes an adulterer and transforms him into a faithful spouse. He turns a liar into a faithful truth teller. He changes the passions of homosexuals and gives them right desires for the opposite sex. Only GOD can perform such change. (1 Corinthians 6:9-11).
Quite honestly, I think one of the greatest problems among professing Christians today is that they don’t even make an effort to overcome sin. They are so comfortable; possibly even unaware of most of the sin in their lives. Kris Lundgaard explains it quite well.
“If you don’t find yourself dodging sin day and night in a sturggle against sin, it may be that you’ve made peace with it. You are willingly, happily under its power and rule. In that case, you should doubt that you are born of God. No one who is borne of God can live at peace with sin (1 John 3:9).”
If you have never been joyous over the fact that God has saved you from sin, ask yourself if you are even fighting it. There have been a few times in my life when I was stuck in habitual sin, meaning I kept doing it and doing it and couldn’t (or wouldn’t) stop regardless of how many books or tips I read. It wasn’t until God changed my heart by His word that I truly changed. I went from loving and cherishing this particular sin to being completely reviled by it. This has happened to me again quite recently, and honestly, I haven’t been able to stop telling everyone around me. Without freaking people out too much, I just want to say, “look at what a mess I was! Look what I was doing. But guess what?? Better yet, GUESS WHO changed me?” He doesn’t give up on His children. His faithfulness astonishes me.
I’m truly praying that God will revive Christians. I’m praying He will break our silence and give us the passion and boldness the disciples had when they witnessed the work of God. Start by praying what David prayed in Psalm 139. “Search me, O God, and know my heart; try me…and see if there is any wicked way in me” (Psalm 139:23-24). God is faithful to reveal this to you through His word. Dear friend, when you are aware of your sin, please don’t live at peace with it. Don’t live at peace with the sin that nailed Christ to the cross. How could you? By His grace grieve and mourn; then get to work killing that sin for your Beloved.
After David committed adultery with Bathsheba he wrote a beautiful psalm of repentance in Psalm 51. He begged God to forgive him, to cleanse him and to change him! This is what brings the joy, my friends! He says in verse 12, “Restore to me the joy of Your salvation.” When you experience the Word of God piercing your soul, changing your desires, and thus helping you to overcome sin, you will want to tell everyone! And I sure hope you won’t be able to stop talking even when those around you try to silence you.
Dear Christian, take the advice of Peter and John. “Repent therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord” (Acts 3:19). I can’t wait to hear of God’s sanctifying work in your life. 😉
