Signs and Wonders
The early Church went through an extraordinary growth which, according to Acts 5, was accompanied by an atmosphere of great fear of God. We often think of fear in a purely negative sense, but can fear be a good thing? Does God actually require us to fear Him in order that we may have the very best relationship with Him and realise His most powerful works in and through us? What if God is not working through His Church because we’ve lost our fear of Him?
Scripture
Acts 5:12-16 ESV Now many signs and wonders were regularly done among the people by the hands of the apostles. And they were all together in Solomon's Portico. [13] None of the rest dared join them, but the people held them in high esteem. [14] And more than ever believers were added to the Lord, multitudes of both men and women, [15] so that they even carried out the sick into the streets and laid them on cots and mats, that as Peter came by at least his shadow might fall on some of them. [16] The people also gathered from the towns around Jerusalem, bringing the sick and those afflicted with unclean spirits, and they were all healed.
Bible Study Questions
Great fear
The working of God through the Apostles brought fear, real fear, not just respect on all who heard about or saw what God was doing. Why would God have people experience this fear?
Acts 5:11 ESV And great fear came upon the whole church and upon all who heard of these things.
Deuteronomy 5:29 ESV Oh that they had such a heart as this always, to fear me and to keep all my commandments, that it might go well with them and with their descendants forever!
Luke 12:4-5 ESV “I tell you, my friends, do not fear those who kill the body, and after that have nothing more that they can do. [5] But I will warn you whom to fear: fear him who, after he has killed, has authority to cast into hell. Yes, I tell you, fear him!
Many regular signs and wonders
In this atmosphere of fear, God continued to work many regular signs and wonders. Why do you think this was, is the fear of God a good environment for God to work through us?
Acts 5:12 ESV Now many signs and wonders were regularly done among the people by the hands of the apostles
Psalms 145:19 ESV He fulfills the desire of those who fear him; he also hears their cry and saves them.
Psalms 147:11 ESV but the LORD takes pleasure in those who fear him, in those who hope in his steadfast love.
The believers and the rest
Two groups of people responded differently to the signs and wonders that brought fear on everyone who witnessed or heard about the power of God working through the Apostles. Some kept their distance in fear, others dived in. They both feared but what was the difference between their fears? Are we like those who keep their distance or like those who dived in?
Acts 5:12-13 ESV And they were all together in Solomon's Portico. [13] None of the rest dared join them, but the people held them in high esteem. [14] And more than ever believers were added to the Lord, multitudes of both men and women,
Psalms 33:18 ESV Behold, the eye of the LORD is on those who fear him, on those who hope in his steadfast love,
Psalms 25:14 ESV The friendship of the LORD is for those who fear him, and he makes known to them his covenant.
The sick and afflicted were all healed
Truly becoming part of the Body of Christ requires a humble admission of brokenness and confession of utter dependence on Jesus Christ. He can do what we most require and only He can do it. We should not be embarrassed or ashed of that need and dependence but rather rejoice in it. Did the humble consciousness of sin and inadequacy drive Peter away from Jesus or towards Him?
Acts 5:15-16 ESV so that they even carried out the sick into the streets and laid them on cots and mats, that as Peter came by at least his shadow might fall on some of them. [16] The people also gathered from the towns around Jerusalem, bringing the sick and those afflicted with unclean spirits, and they were all healed.
Luke 5:8 ESV But when Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus' knees, saying, “Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord.”
What’s keeping you from joining
Many things could have kept the rest from joining the Church. Look at the following verses and think about how distractions and the fear of losing them, pride and substitute fears can keep us from becoming part of His body rather than just admiring it from a distance.
Mark 4:18-19 ESV And others are the ones sown among thorns. They are those who hear the word, [19] but the cares of the world and the deceitfulness of riches and the desires for other things enter in and choke the word, and it proves unfruitful.
Proverbs 8:13 ESV The fear of the LORD is hatred of evil. Pride and arrogance and the way of evil and perverted speech I hate.
Philippians 4:6 ESV do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.
What can we do?
Today’s reading and all Scripture constantly teaches us not to fear anything other than God. How can we grow in our fear of God and lose our other fears? What do the following verses tell us about asking God to unite our heart to fear His Name, humbling ourselves and meditating on the love and hope of the Gospel, and being rid the substitutes fears?
Psalms 86:11 ESV Teach me your way, O LORD, that I may walk in your truth; unite my heart to fear your name.
1 John 4:17-18 ESV By this is love perfected with us, so that we may have confidence for the day of judgment, because as he is so also are we in this world. [18] There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love.
Isaiah 41:10 ESV fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.