One Voice, One Heart!

After many threatenings…

But that it spread no further among the people, let us straitly threaten them, that they speak henceforth to no man in this name.  And they called them, and commanded them not to speak at all nor teach in the name of Jesus.  Acts 4:17-18 

So when they had further threatened them, they let them go… Acts 4:21 

Peter and John returned…

to the company of believers…

and gave a report…

And being let go, they went to their own company, and reported all that the chief priests and elders had said unto them. And when they heard that, they lifted up their voice to God with one accord, and said, Lord, thou art God, which hast made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and all that in them is…  Acts 4:23-24 

They lifted up their voice…

 With one consent…

Unto the Living God …

And now, Lord, behold their threatenings: and grant unto thy servants, that with all boldness they may speak thy word,  By stretching forth thine hand to heal; and that signs and wonders may be done by the name of thy holy child Jesus.  Acts 4:29 -30

And God harkened unto their petition…

And when they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were assembled together; and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they spake the word of God with boldness.  Acts 4:31 

And filled them afresh…

                    with power and boldness…

For His service and  for His testimony!

In a short span of time…

                       the church had grown …

into a multitude!

And the multitude of them that believed were of one heart and of one soul: neither said any of them that ought of the things which he possessed was his own; but they had all things common.  Acts 4:32 

United in heart and soul…

They had all things common…

And walked in LOVE…

Ministering to the needs of one another…

Neither was there any among them that lacked: for as many as were possessors of lands or houses sold them, and brought the prices of the things that were sold,  And laid them down at the apostles' feet: and distribution was made unto every man according as he had need.  Acts 4:34-35

And God was pleased…

And with great power gave the apostles witness of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus: and great grace was upon them all.  Acts 4:33 

Empowered. Entwined. Benevolent. Bold.

United as one voice…

They prayed!

United as one heart…

They gave!

United as one body…

They turned the world up-side-down!

To the Glory of God alone!

Praise Him!

We should do likewise.

A Miracle in Solomon’s Porch

Solomon’s porch was astir…

Inquisitive. Wonder. Searching. Awe.

A crowd amassed….

Witness to a marvelous sight…

Then Peter said, Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have give I thee: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk.  And he took him by the right hand, and lifted him up: and immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength. And he leaping up stood, and walked, and entered with them into the temple, walking, and leaping, and praising God. Acts 3:6-8

All who knew him were filled…

With wonder and amazement…

For the man was above forty years old, on whom this miracle of healing was shewed.

Acts 4:22 

Peter addressed the crowd…

And when Peter saw it, he answered unto the people, Ye men of Israel, why marvel ye at this? or why look ye so earnestly on us, as though by our own power or holiness we had made this man to walk? Acts 3:12 

And preached…

Jesus Christ…

Repentance. Faith. Righteousness. Resurrection.

Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord;  And he shall send Jesus Christ, which before was preached unto you:  Acts 3:19-20 

And his name through faith in his name hath made this man strong, whom ye see and know: yea, the faith which is by him hath given him this perfect soundness in the presence of you all.  Acts 3:16 

Unto you first God, having raised up his Son Jesus, sent him to bless you, in turning away every one of you from his iniquities.  Acts 3:26 

While he was speaking…

The authorities arrested and detained them…

For preaching and healing…

In Jesus mighty name…

And as they spake unto the people, the priests, and the captain of the temple, and the Sadducees, came upon them, Being grieved that they taught the people, and preached through Jesus the resurrection from the dead.  And they laid hands on them, and put them in hold unto the next day: for it was now

eventide.  Act 4:1-3

Neverthe less, God was working…

In a powerful way…

Howbeit many of them which heard the word believed…

and the number of the men was about five thousand.

Acts 4:4

When the counsel was assembled…

                                                                                They asked…

“By what power, or by what name, have ye done this?”

Peter testified…

Then Peter, filled with the Holy Ghost, said unto them, Ye rulers of the people, and elders of Israel, If we this day be examined of the good deed done to the impotent man, by what means he is made whole; Be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even by him doth this man stand here before you whole.  Acts 4:8 -10

Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved. Acts 4:12 

Unwavering. Steadfast. Compelling. Bold.

Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John…

and perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men…

they marveled!

and they took knowledge of them…

that they had been with Jesus! 

And beholding the man which was healed standing with them,

they could say nothing against it.

Acts 4:13-14

…for that indeed a notable miracle hath been done by them is manifest to all them that dwell in Jerusalem; and we cannot deny it.  Acts4:16 

Unable to discredit them…

they were threatened…

But that it spread no further among the people, let us straitly threaten them, that they speak henceforth to no man in this name.  And they called them, and commanded them not to speak at all nor teach in the name of Jesus.  

Acts 4:17-18 

Unable to silence them…

But Peter and John answered and said unto them…

For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard. 

Acts 4:19-20

they were set free…

So when they had further threatened them, they let them go, finding nothing how they might punish them, because of the people…

…for all men glorified God for that which was done.

Acts 4:21

A powerful testimony that could NOT be refuted…

Servants of the Living God that could NOT be silenced…

A Supernatural God that makes Himself known in magnificent ways…

INCREDIBLE!

Do you share YOUR testimony with others?

Church of the Valiant Hearts!

In the beginning…

They were in one accord,  gathered for prayer…

    Waiting for the promise…

       Waiting…upon Him!

And when they were come in, they went up into an upper room, where abode both Peter, and James, and John, and Andrew, Philip, and Thomas, Bartholomew, and Matthew, James the son of Alphaeus, and Simon Zelotes, and Judas the brother of James. These all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication, with the women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brethren.  Acts 1:13 -14

In one day…

Everything changed!

                                The time was fully come…

Power from heaven rained upon them…

Like fire….

And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place.   And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting.  And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them.  And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.  Acts 2:1 -4

In that moment of time…

Prophecy was fulfilled…

But this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel;  And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams:  And on my servants and on my handmaidens I will pour out in those days of my Spirit; and they shall prophesy:  Acts 2:16-18 

                  His promise was fulfilled…

But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.  Acts 1:8 

And His people were filled…

                                with the very presence and power of the Living God!

Immediately, there arose a stir in the city…

Confusion. Astonishment. Amazement. Wonder.

A multitude of people…

From every nation of the earth…

And there were dwelling at Jerusalem Jews, devout men, out of every nation under heaven.  Now when this was noised abroad, the multitude came together, and were confounded, because that every man heard them speak in his own language.  And they were all amazed and marvelled, saying one to another, Behold, are not all these which speak Galilaeans?  And how hear we every man in our own tongue, wherein we were born?  Acts 2:5-8

Looking for the answers…

And they were all amazed, and were in doubt, saying one to another, What meaneth this?  Acts 2:12 

One man stood up…

And lifted up his voice to the multitude…

But Peter, standing up with the eleven, lifted up his voice, and said unto them, Ye men of Judaea, and all ye that dwell at Jerusalem, be this known unto you, and hearken to my words:  Acts 2:14 

And preached…

Captivating. Powerful. Penetrating. Truth.

Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do?  Acts 2:37 

Deprived. Convicted. Searching. Dead.

Then Peter imparted the words of LIFE…

Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call.  And with many other words did he testify and exhort, saying, Save yourselves from this untoward generation.  Acts 2:38-40

And thousands were saved…

Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls.  Acts 2:41 

And they continued steadfastly…

In doctrine…

In fellowship…

In breaking of bread…

In prayers…

                                                                                And in fear.

And God confirmed them with many signs and wonders…

And all that believed were together, and had all things common;  And sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all men, as every man had need.  And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart, Praising God, and having favour with all the people. Acts 2:44 -47  

And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.

Behold! The founding of the church.

Transformed. Empowered. Ignited…

With fire from heaven…

Aflame with His fear…

                                Enkindled with His love…

Ablaze with His TRUTH.

A brightly shining light…

For the whole world to see!

Are you shining brightly for Him?