Resurrection Week - Wednesday

On this Wednesday in Resurrection Week, we need to consciously and decisively stop, ponder, look and listen, as we stay with Peter and John for a bit. Here are a couple of Spirit-engendered questions, designed to pierce the hearts, minds and consciences of all servant-followers of the Risen Lord, He who is present in Abiding Spirit.

When these servants of Jesus were on their way to the temple to pray, was the Holy Spirit with them?

When these banner-bearing followers of Jesus, showing and lifting prayer high, were asked for money by a beggar, was the Holy Spirit with them?

In all honesty and good conscience, none of us could give any other response but that the Holy Spirit was in and with these servants. Indeed, these were men who had already received convincing proofs that their Crucified Jesus was alive. They witnessed Him in many forms, as He had sweet fellowship with them. They received His Baptism, the Baptism of the Holy Ghost and now they lived with Him abiding in them and them in Him.

Is that not why it was a natural and ordinary matter, simple to the Abiding Holy Spirit, to offer what He had to give? Peter’s words have struck me hard, as they have never ever before done. Silver or gold I do not have, but what I have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk. Acts 3: 6b. Without fuss, shouting, appeasing or any such drama, a banner is unfolded right before the amazed eyes of all – praying people, beggars, spectators, and onlookers – every single person present at that hour.

What is this unfolded banner? It is that the Holy Spirit, He who abides in servants of the Risen Lord, is there to do the Lord’s work, all His done works, and even greater works. The more the Holy Spirit reveals, the more our excuses and lame arguments are shot down.

Will you listen and see again, as we have this word reinforced in us? Peter and John, Jesus’ servants, were carrying an open prayer banner, high for all to see. They were entering the temple, the place of prayer, at the time of prayer. What a statement! What a publication! What a testimony! However, they were carrying another banner which was not opened up for all to see. It was a banner they carried alright, but it was folded up. Peter unfolds it wide and lifts it high, when a beggar seeks alms from them. This unfolded banner is one of Spiritual, supernatural, miraculous works. It is the perfectly divine moment for Jesus Christ to be published before Jews and Gentiles, believers and non-believers, you and me.

The more I learn, the more I'm made eager to lose all of my preconceived thoughts, all which have become staid, the more I know daily resurrection. Is this not the same with many of you also? We are shown the utter deadness of our service. We are shown the folly of our lazy thinking. We are made to face the fact that we make all kinds of ridiculous excuses for our weak, feeble service in the Name of our Living, Victorious Lord, Jesus Christ. Our prayer banners are permanently unfolded, as we are always prompt, quick, prepared and ready in prayer, and to pray.

May we be raised from our dead states, to know the joy and victory of resurrection.