Highlight the Healing
But seeing the man who was healed standing beside them, they had nothing to say in opposition. - Acts 4:14
This is a profound observation that Luke makes. A few verses before this, we are told that the “rulers and elders and scribes” had gathered “with Annas the high priest and Caiaphas and John and Alexander, and all who were of the high-priestly family.” This gathering was a veritable who’s who of religious leaders, and they all came together in order to ascertain “by what power or by what name” did this man get healed? In other words, how in the world was this man, whom everyone knew to be crippled, all of a sudden walk?
I love that they didn’t debate the facts of the case. And that is simply because healing just isn’t something that is debatable. It’s not like anyone could argue with healing. There was a man who couldn’t walk five minutes ago, and now he can. It’s that simple. And clearly, you can’t argue with those facts when the man is standing right in front of you. This is why they had nothing to say in opposition.
This got me thinking… It is easy to have something to say in opposition about ideas, even about good ideas. But it is really difficult to say much in opposition to good actions. These religious leaders had all sorts of things to say in opposition to Jesus. For the most part, these religious leaders would continue to oppose the way of Jesus for the rest of their lives. However, they couldn’t argue with the good things that were done in Jesus’ name.
I’d like to suggest that this is a great way to think about our role of telling people about Jesus; highlight the healing, because people can’t argue with the healing. Now, you might say, “I’ve never experienced a healing.” To that, I want to push back… are you sure? Maybe you haven’t experienced something quite as instantaneous and overtly miraculous before, but I’m guessing that you have experienced miraculous healing, even if it is a bit more subtle. I may not have been healed from crippled legs, but I know that I was healed from a crippled heart. My heart was evil and selfish. It was broken and damaged until Jesus came in and began his healing process. I still have healing to do and Jesus is still performing miracles all the time.
Has Jesus healed your heart? Has he healed your relationships? Let’s highlight the healing. Talk about that and then people won’t have anything to say in opposition.
Josh Rose
Teaching Pastor
Boldly
Does boldness come easier when the opposition is greater or when there is no opposition?
I can’t explain why this question came to me, but this was my first wondering after reading Acts 4 and the story of how Peter and John were arrested, questioned by the Jewish religious leaders, and ordered by the same to never teach about or share about Jesus’ resurrection ever again. Of course, Peter and John said they couldn’t do that and wouldn’t do that. After they were released, they prayed to the Lord for boldness, Acts 4:29, “Now, Lord, consider their threats and enable your servants to speak your word with great boldness.” vs. 30, “After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly.”
The Lord heard their prayer and answered it. They spoke boldly and the truth is, they needed boldness because they faced opposition.
Do I feel like I need boldness? I may need it, and I could use it, but do I feel like I need it? Is a desire for boldness on my radar? When was the last time I prayed to the Lord for boldness? What about you?
Imagine how far off our thinking is if we don’t feel like we are being opposed or need boldness. Does the devil look at me or you and see us as the runt of the litter for the Lord? Do we come across as no threat to his plans? Are we spiritually, the last kid to get picked on a team in the class? The kid who isn’t going to get the ball tossed to them anyway because that would probably only help the other team?
There is a spiritual battle going on for our minds and for our lives. If the devil doesn’t think you or I am enough threat to send opposition against us, have we somehow already given up? Take a moment today to consider the spiritual battle that we are in, and pray that the Lord would enable us to speak his word with great boldness!
Pastor John Riley
Jr. High Ministry
Bold Prayer
When I was little there was a story called “Lambert the Sheep-ish Lion” and for some reason I loved it. A lion mistakenly was adopted into a family of sheep and since he was much different he was picked on and never learned how to be a lion, instead, he hid behind his mom sheepishly. Until a wolf came and something changed in him, he couldn’t hide in fear or else he would lose all he cared about. He transformed into a bold and courageous lion who protected his flock!
When I think of my life as a follower of Jesus, I used to relate to Lambert. Not always bold, confident, or courageous. This really played out in my prayer time with the Lord. My prayers were safe because I was afraid of asking too much of God or afraid he might not answer them in the way I wanted. The downside is my faith didn’t grow much because I wasn’t letting God be God nor letting him do bold things.
A life of faith requires a relationship with the Lord that can be bold in prayer when it needs to be. The early church needed to be bold and courageous in talking with God because they needed his greatness to go before them! The disciples and the other followers needed to see God do big/bold things in them, through them, and among them. Of course, God did amazingly, bold things in the people and the community! (Acts 4:23-31). After being questioned earlier in the chapter, Peter and John spoke boldly about the power God gave them to speak and now they are praying with their brothers and sisters. Acts 4:24 says they “raised their voices together in prayer…” and to me, that must have just been a pleasing sound to the Lord. God answered by filling them with the Spirit and allowing them to speak for Him boldly! (Acts 4:31)
Bold prayers lead to bold words and bold actions. God works powerfully to take care of his people and help us fulfill the call he has given. Let’s not sheepishly go about our days. Will you be bold to raise your voice in prayer, ask him to guide you, and call others to join you? Praying for boldness for all of us as a church today!
Pastor Jeremy Johnson
Family Pastor
Some Things Never Change…
Throughout this year of Covid craziness, I think it is safe to say that we have all gone through a fair bit of change. Ok, maybe that’s a bit of an understatement. You may feel like you have gone through way too much change. Even the mention of change right now may bring about a little post-traumatic stress in your soul. And there’s a good reason for that. We’ve all been through some pretty traumatic changes to the way we do, well, everything! However, if you are out there and are a little overwhelmed by the pace of change that you have experienced this year, I want to give you two pieces of encouragement today.
First, I want you to know that it’s ok to feel a little overwhelmed by change. It’s ok to mourn the loss that we feel in change because there is a real sense of loss there. However, at the same time, I want to point out something that may sound obvious… change is a part of life. Now, that might sound a bit cliche, but let’s dig into it a little bit. Did you realize that you are a completely different person than who you were on April 30, 2014? Do you remember 2014? Well, if you could go back in time and compare your body to the body of the person that developed the memories that you have of you in 2014, there wouldn’t be a single cell in your body that is the same. Scientists tell us that every 7 years, our bodies are completely changed at the cellular level. Old cells die and new ones replace them and we change into what is on a purely physical level a completely different person. In this sense, change is quite literally a part of life. In fact, the moment at which your body stops changing is the moment at which you start dying. But this is true of everything. Heraclitus, writing around 500 BC, noticed that “you cannot step into the same river twice.” Every time you step into the river, you are touching different water and the sediment has changed. In fact, the very act of you stepping into the river changes the river, so it isn’t the same. Everything on earth changes. Now, that might not be terribly encouraging to you, until you contrast it with the second piece of encouragement…
Second, God’s love for you doesn’t change. The Spirit’s presence in your life doesn’t change. The Father’s forgiveness cannot change. Jesus’ ultimate act of love and redemption on the cross never changes. The Scriptures don’t change. Jesus’ power and authority will not change. The Church’s influence in people’s lives will not change. The character of God does not change.
So, let’s be people that build our lives on the unchanging foundation of Jesus. Anchored to that Rock, we can manage whatever change this life throws our way!
Josh Rose
Teaching Pastor
Adventure in Change
My husband was a career military officer and we were stationed all over the United States and in Europe with the Army for twenty years. Every three years or so we were reassigned to a new place and it wasn’t always our first choice. (i.e. Oklahoma) As a young newly married couple each new place was a new adventure but as our family grew and we had children it became more difficult. It wasn’t ever easy to leave friends but it was even harder for our children as they grew older which then made it harder for us. So our strategy was to make it an adventure, but also to encourage them to maintain contact with friends. Our oldest son’s best friend Jack from Jr. High in Germany was the one he visited upon high school graduation--a special connection.
Our responsibility as parents was to keep a positive attitude, focus on the good things ahead, yet acknowledge the loss involved in moving which mostly involved relationships. We tried to keep the focus on a new adventure.
In Ezra we see two distinct groups of people. The “loud weepers” and the “joyful shouters” who then blended into one loud sound, indistinguishable from the other. (Ezra 3:12-13) Some were excited about the temple rebuild and some weren’t. But everyone wanted their voice heard. Don’t we all? Who is the One most interested in hearing our voice, in fact, longs to hear what is on our hearts but also wants us to listen and pray for HIs wisdom?
Unfortunately, the “loud weepers” just made lots of noise instead of discussing with the Lord or even each other the root of their dismay. They were sad to see the old temple go--it held memories--it was their comfort zone. Ezra refers to this group in verse 12 as “old men who had seen the first foundation laid.” It seems to generally be true that the older we get, the harder it is to adapt to change if we’re really honest. God understands.
Yesterday Pastor Ryan and Pastor Greg met with about fifty Adult Bible Fellowship attendees for a little “Connect and Converse” time to get to know each other. Anyone who wanted to had an opportunity to share whatever was on their mind or ask questions. It was such an encouragement to hear all of the positive things they said about the staff and church during the challenges of Covid and their positive hopes and expectations of the church going forward. There was no loud weeping or lamenting but much gratitude for God’s faithfulness even through the losses and challenges of the past year.
Positive attitudes make all the difference, but sad stuff should be heard and acknowledged too. We are called to share each other’s burdens and weep with those who weep. Change isn’t always easy for some of us because it involves some kind of loss, but we can make the choice to be grateful for the change after we acknowledge sad feelings. Then we can pray and encourage each other too.
I love this quote-- "You can’t skip chapters, that’s not how life works. You have to read every line, meet every character. You won’t enjoy all of it. Some chapters will make you cry for weeks. But you have to keep going. Stories keep the world evolving. Live yours, don’t miss out.” Courtney Pepperrell
Thanks for reading, sharing, and praying. We appreciate and pray for you too.
Deb Hill
Executive Assistant
Opportunity in Change
I’ll never forget the day, seven months into my husband's deployment in Iraq, when he called and said, “Plans have changed. We’ve been extended two more weeks.” I was devastated, my kids, ages 4 through 11, were devastated and as the only adult, I had to choose how to communicate my sadness to four kids who had been anticipating their dad’s homecoming. My attitude would determine their view of how I supported my husband and the life that we were all embracing together. Yet again, a couple of years later, he called to say that his WestPac deployment had changed from six to eight months. Little did I fully understand when we entered the Navy 18 years ago that change was not only a possibility but rather an expected reality of Navy life. After multiple times of lamenting plans that could never come to fruition; missed birthdays, holidays and any number of sports events and family gatherings, I finally made the decision to embrace a life full of change, lament what would not be, and look for the opportunities hidden within. To be clear, I have in no way mastered this, but just making that decision has brought about contentment and joy that I would have otherwise missed. Opportunity almost always exists within change, it is just a matter of whether or not we decide to have eyes to see it.
Having an attitude that embraces change as an opportunity has brought about some awesome adventures. Due to changes in orders, my husband was here to celebrate our 20th anniversary which entailed dropping our son off for college in Phoenix. Not an ideal anniversary location! But getting to spend that momentous day with our son was precious. Then a year later, due to further changes in orders, we got to connect halfway around the world and spend our 21st anniversary enjoying the beauty of Bali. What a gift!
One of the most exhausting parts of change occurs when the changes pile up. It’s not that hard to prepare for a single change, but one on top of the next!? Circumstances changed where we were going to live three times when moving back to San Diego county. Yet again, God had a plan; and the final change landed us walking distance from EFCC.
During this COVID season, one of my favorite passages of Scripture has been Isaiah 43:18-19, “But forget all that - it is nothing compared to what I am going to do. For I am about to do something new. See, I have already begun! Do you not see it? I will make a pathway through the wilderness. I will create rivers in the dry wasteland.”
God is not saying, “forget all that” because he really wants the Israelites to forget his faithfulness in the past. In fact, he just spent 17 verses reminding them! No, he’s saying that what is to come is so glorious that the past will pale in comparison! The opportunities are endless. Change is hard and it requires lament, but once we have grieved what isn’t, we then get to choose to look for and celebrate the opportunities God is presenting in the future of what is.
Lynette Fuson
Director of Care & Counseling
Sadness & Tears
I fell down and scraped my knee badly on rough asphalt. I was about four or five years old and I sat there rocking back and forth, hands over my knee with blood dripping through my fingers. I was crying out loud and had tears flowing down my face. That was the first time I heard someone tell me that boys shouldn’t cry. It was a neighbor kid who saw me fall. He said, “Cut it out, boys don’t cry.” I didn’t believe him at the moment because I knew I was a boy and I was definitely crying. It hurt.
It wasn’t until later that I understood what he meant; boys were supposed to be tough and not let anything hurt them. The idea that “boys don’t cry,” or that boys shouldn’t cry is a lie. Sometimes girls believe that lie too, thinking that they should be stronger than whatever is happening or have it together enough to be unscathed by life around them.
Crying is a natural response to the things of life that happen around us. Today, I know that and I cry freely at Hallmark commercials, seeing people I’m fond of getting awards or promotions, witnessing someone sacrifice for someone else, saying goodbye to friends or family, stubbing my toe, and remembering loss. Sometimes the tears come at joyful moments, sometimes in pain. Crying is what our bodies do sometimes and it is good for us. Emotions are a gift from God. They are one of the ways we are like him (made in his image).
Therefore, it should come as no surprise that at the launch of the Temple rebuild in Jerusalem, there was great joy and big tears.
“Yet many of the priests and Levites and heads of fathers’ households, the old men who had seen the first temple, wept with a loud voice when the foundation of this house was laid before their eyes, while many shouted aloud for joy so that the people could not distinguish the sound of the shout of joy from the sound of the weeping of the people,” Ezra 3:12-13.
Some of those tears may have been joyous, but weeping with a loud voice came from all the loss and all the change that the newly laid foundation of the Temple brought to heart and mind. As changes at EFCC bring memories and loss to your heart and mind, be real and honest before the Lord and with each other. It can be good to weep at what you miss as well as what you see before you.
John Riley
Jr. High Pastor
I’ve got the joy, joy, joy, joy, joy - Down in my Heart
A few years ago we opened a new Children's Center and it was so exciting. The building was new, fresh, safe and it would give us a chance to continue ministering to kids for years and years! It was so exciting to be a part of it! One of my favorite memories was cheers from the kids during the first big group gathering, you could feel the joy in their screams, it brought tears to my eyes. It was amazing to witness.
Of course, that meant saying goodby to the rooms I grew up in learning about the Gospel with so many great leaders, songs, stories, games, and many more memories. I will never forget leading one of my 2nd-grade students to Christ when I was a lowly high school student serving as a Sunday school teacher. It was a joy and a privilege that I will never forget and I will cherish always.
In Ezra 3 we see a combination of feelings the people were going through as the temple was being rebuilt. In verse 13 we see how there were shouts of joy and weeping indistinguishable from each other and it could be heard near and far. This was a vital part of the history for all the people as a group and it was important in each person's heart.
People remembered the past and were now living in the moment. They did it with many emotions, but the joy of what was to come was evident. There can be joy in change. I’m sure you have experienced that and I know I have many times. The joy from the Lord overcomes my past, my fears, and the Lord’s joy fixes my pain. Paul discusses this at length in Romans (5:3-5) and 2 Corinthians (12:9), Peter (4:13) mentions it, and so does James (1:2-4). We suffer through change and need to recognize the pain, but Jesus allows us to rejoice. He heals, he unites and he gives joy.
As we walk in this journey together, let’s be honest with the Lord, let’s be united by our Savior, and rejoice in what Jesus is doing. No matter the season we are in, Jesus allows us to live with joy.
Jeremy Johnson
Family Pastor
A Story
The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear the sound of it, but you do not know where it is coming from and where it is going; so is everyone who has been born of the Spirit.” Jesus speaking to Nicodemus in John 3:8
This true account is adapted from David Garrison’s work, A Wind in the House of Islam.
Sheikh Hakim was a slender man in his mid-30s with a neatly trimmed beard, intense lively eyes, wearing a bright purple shirt beneath the ubiquitous second-hand suit. Hakim’s father came from the Boro Mountain Muslims who are known for their zealous faith. When Hakim was born, his father took a vow that his son would only study the Qur’an and never work for him. From the age of two until he was 18, Hasim only studied the Qur’an. Hasim is a Hafez, meaning he has memorized it.
One day, a local African evangelist gave him a New Testament in Arabic and shared with him some of the common teachings that both Muslims and Christians share. Sensing the confusion in his heart, he prayed to Allah, “You know my heart. If there is something more I must do, show me.”
That night Jesus came to him in a dream. In that dream, he could see someone trying to repair the speaker at the top of the mosque’s minaret. When he looked at the base of the minaret he saw a man chopping it down with an ax. When he looked closer at that figure, he realized it was him! Hakim had that dream four times that night.
The next morning he went and found that evangelist who’d given him the New Testament and asked what the dream meant. The man smiled and said, “You are going to win many sheikhs to the Lord.” Immediately the man became a follower of Jesus and immediately he met with great persecution. Today he moves from town to town because there are always those who are trying to kill him.
Hakim goes on to say, “I was able to accept the gospel because it was given to me in Arabic. Even though Arabic was not my heart language, as I sheikh I knew it well and considered it holy. Over the next seven months, we saw 74 sheikhs from our people group come to faith in Jesus. Right now there are more than 400 sheikhs who have come to the Lord.” When asked how many of them have been baptized, he replied, “More than 300 so far.”
Though we in the Western World don’t get to hear often of God moving in these kinds of ways, A Wind in the House of Islam is full of God-stories like this. At the very least, accounts like this cause me to question if I’m limiting God’s ability to speak into my life. I don’t know, that’s something I’ve got to think more about.
Pastor Scott Smith
Connections & Growth Pastor
Prophecy Then and Now
Maybe like me you think of prophets in terms of the Old Testament prophets and prophecy as important in relation to supporting and proving the New Testament was true. I dug a little deeper in Acts 2, specifically vs. 17-18 where Peter addresses the crowd on Pentecost by using the word of the prophet Joel:
In the last days, God says, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions, your old men will dream dreams. Even on my servants, both men and women, I will pour out my Spirit in those days, and they will prophesy.
Peter’s sermon does more than name the notion of prophecy. It also demonstrates it. We learn what prophecy is by watching him do it. The word prophet could also be a proclaimer, truth teller, preacher and teacher. We have some examples of great prophets in the old testament, who were not necessarily what we might call “normal.”
The prophet Jeremiah showed a clay pot to a crowd of Judeans and told them it represented Judah. Then he smashed it to smithereens and told them that this was a mild version of what God had in mind to do to them (Jeremiah 19). He was right.
In a dream, the prophet Ezekiel ate a copy of the Bible, thumb index and all, to show how sweet as honey was the word of God (Ezekiel 3:1-3)
In Acts, Peter does not speak of prophecy as predicting the future. Instead, prophecy is truth-telling. It is naming the places and ways where God intervenes or initiates in the world. It is a component of proclaiming the word of God and identifying God’s salvation at work.
The gifts of the Holy Spirit were poured out on “all people,” with no age, sex, or position discrimination and the last days spoken of are now, but they began then.
From Peter’s reference to Joel, we see that prophecy speaks to the present time. He is answering a very pressing question: “What does this mean? What’s happening now?” The Holy Spirit is just as powerful today as he was on the day of Pentecost. He has not changed but here are some questions we could ponder.
Are we Christians today as united in purpose, in awe of God’s holiness and power, as committed to spreading the gospel at all costs? Do we give each other and our church leadership sufficient grace so no one is burdened with “keeping everyone happy” while trying to do the work God has called them to? What if the nay-sayers, doubters, grumblers and rumor spreaders were replaced with truth tellers whose only goal and purpose was in proclaiming the Good News of Jesus? What would a church full of prophets look like?
Deb Hill
Executive Assistant