Description: A look at Acts 5:12-16, where the power of God flowed so mightily through the apostles that even Peter's shadow was sought for healing. What does this teach us about the source of the church's power and its purpose?
Scripture: Acts 5:12-16.
Explanation: What a remarkable scene this passage paints for us. The power of the risen Christ was so profoundly evident in the early church that the supernatural became almost commonplace. These signs and wonders, performed through the hands of the apostles, served a dual purpose. First, they authenticated the message of the gospel, proving that the apostles spoke with authority from God Himself. Second, they were a beautiful demonstration of God’s compassion, bringing physical and spiritual healing to those who were suffering. The detail about people hoping Peter’s shadow might fall on the sick is especially telling. It wasn’t a belief in magic, but a desperate faith that recognized the immense power of God residing in His chosen servant. They understood the source was not Peter, but the God whom Peter served. This was the presence of the Kingdom of God made tangible, drawing multitudes to salvation in the Lord Jesus Christ.
Parable: Let me tell you about a man named Al, who owned a small, unassuming coffee shop in a struggling part of the city called 'The Daily Grind'. Al was a simple, quiet man, but his faith in Jesus was deep and genuine. He didn't preach from a pulpit, but he prayed over every cup of coffee he served. His shop became known as a place of peace. People started coming in not just for the coffee, but because they felt a palpable sense of hope there. A young woman, gripped by crippling anxiety, found she could sit by the window for an hour and feel her panic recede. A businessman on the verge of bankruptcy sat with Al, who prayed with him, and a creative solution to his financial crisis came to mind. Word began to spread. People would say, 'I don't know what it is about that place, but just being there helps.' It wasn't Al, and it wasn't the coffee. It was the presence of God that Al so faithfully cultivated in his small corner of the world. A local blogger, intending to write a quaint piece on a local business, found himself interviewing person after person who told stories of finding hope, comfort, and even answers to prayer at The Daily Grind. His article concluded, 'It’s as if the very atmosphere of the place brings healing.' Al simply continued to serve coffee and pray, a humble vessel through whom the mighty power of God flowed out into a hurting community.
Moral: The lesson here is profound. The power to heal and transform lives resides in God alone. It is not our cleverness, our personality, or our strength that makes a difference, but our availability to be a conduit for the Holy Spirit. Like Peter, we are merely vessels. When we walk in close fellowship with Christ, His presence can so permeate our lives that it overflows and brings His light and healing to those around us, often in ways we may not even realize. Our purpose is to point them to the true source of all power and grace, Jesus Christ. As Paul wrote in 2 Corinthians 4:7, 'But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the exceeding greatness of the power may be of God, and not from ourselves.' (ASV)