Today Pastor Catron is ministering on the book of Acts, chapter 4
Acts 4
There are three major things that take place in this chapter that are not taking place in the Church today.
1 Boldness when being challenged
8 Then Peter, filled with the Holy Ghost, said unto them, Ye rulers of the people, and elders of Israel, 9 If we this day be examined of the good deed done to the impotent man, by what means he is made whole;
Peter said this by the Holy Spirit. It wasn’t lawful for Peter to have been accused by the council of doing a good deed. There was a boldness Peter had.
2 Standing up for what you Believe
15 But when they had commanded them to go aside out of the council, they conferred among themselves, 16 Saying, What shall we do to these men? for that indeed a notable miracle hath been done by them is manifest to all them that dwell in Jerusalem; and we cannot deny it.17 But that it spread no further among the people, let us straitly threaten them, that they speak henceforth to no man in this name.
The council feared what the people would do to them, if they went after Peter and John.
18 And they called them, and commanded them not to speak at all nor teach in the name of Jesus. 19 But Peter and John answered and said unto them, Whether it be right in the sight of God to hearken unto you more than unto God, judge ye. 20 For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard.
Even though the threat came out not to speak of Jesus any longer, Peter and John continued, and preferred rather to do that which was right in God’s eyes, than to listen to the council.
2 Unity
24 And when they heard that, they lifted up their voice to God with one accord, and said, Lord, thou art God, which hast made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and all that in them is: 32 And the multitude of them that believed were of one heart and of one soul: neither said any of them that ought of the things which he possessed was his own; but they had all things common.
1 Corinthians 1:10 Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment.
2 Corinthians 7:1 Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.
Galatians 6:1 Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted.
Ephesians 2:17-19 And came and preached peace to you which were afar off, and to them that were nigh.18 For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father. Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God;
Philippians 2:1-2 If there be therefore any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any bowels and mercies, 2 Fulfil ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind.
Today, the people of God are not unified. We should all be fighting to the same cause. The world sees unorganized, disorganized, fighting among each other, divided over “members,” Christianity. There is no one voice, heart, or spirit in any of the Churches today. In the book of acts, the leaders and the multitude cared more for each other than themselves.
The biggest problem we face is not working together. If men and women would take the time and be on one accord, because we are all serving the same One, we should be able to work together. The Father doesn’t want us to go around trying to get people to pay us to work together, He wants us to have the heart to come together.
