God is no respecter of persons (Acts 10:34)
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I've often wondered before God why He doesn't use His people like He did in the days of the apostles. And in prayer once, I asked the Lord this question. And in the Spirit, I heard the answer: "If God did it for Peter, He'll do it for you. God is no respecter of persons." Then, just as quickly, "If ... you're willing to live the life Peter lived."
For example, if a lame man were to ask you for a donation as you were driving home and paused at a stop signal, would you be able to say, "Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have give I thee: In the name of Yeshua Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk" (Acts 3:6)? I don't have a lot of money, but I couldn't say that. Could you? I could probably hand him at least a dollar or some lose change.
Peter wasn't poor because he was born into poverty. Just a few quick verses (and one chapter before), we read that ALL the believers in that first church had "sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all men, as every man had need" (Acts 2:44-45). They proved that their faith was not in earthly possessions, not in what they owned, not in the riches of this world. They made themselves (by faith) completely dependent on God, day by day.
I've heard people say that we just can't do that type of thing in this day and age: the fact is we won't. How can we expect our churches to function as the first church when we don't act like the first church? That's why the book that explains what the first church was like is called "The Acts of the Apostles." It shows us how they acted. It's a big hint as to why they had the power they did. But, we are so far removed from living the life in Christ that the apostles did in the Book of Acts, that it's no wonder we have so little power.
It reminds me of the time when the mother of Zebedee's children requested that her two sons sit one on each side of Yeshua in His kingdom. The Lord said, "Ye know not what ye ask. Are ye able to drink of the cup that I shall drink of, and to be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with?" (Matthew 20:22)
Scholars pretty much agree that Yeshua was asking if these two apostles were able to suffer and die as He, Christ, was going to suffer and die. I've asked myself that very question, and I say truthfully, "Lord, I don't know."
God will give you, me, anyone, the same power that he gave to His apostles IF we're willing to sacrifice and live the way the apostles did. He's no respecter of persons. If he did it for Peter, He will do it for you. BUT, are you willing to suffer and sacrifice for the kingdom of God the way the apostles did? Ask yourself.
"Whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required: and to whom men have committed much, of him they will ask the more." Luke 12:48
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