“All Healed” (Acts 5:1-16)

And through the hands of the apostles many signs and wonders were done among the people. And they were all with one accord in Solomon’s Porch. Yet none of the rest dared join them, but the people esteemed them highly. And believers were increasingly added to the Lord, multitudes of both men and women, so that they brought the sick out into the streets and laid them on beds and couches, that at least the shadow of Peter passing by might fall on some of them. Also a multitude gathered from the surrounding cities to Jerusalem, bringing sick people and those who were tormented by unclean spirits, and they were all healed. (vs12-16)

Power was on the early church in an unusual way. Sinners were being killed (Ananias and Sapphira), caught in their lies, and the apostles were working miracles. All the sick were healed. There is none of this happening today in the same way. The apostles were a distinct group that no man dared join himself unto. Today, we have false apostles and deceitful workers, posing as men of God with great powers, but they do not have them, no, not a one.

When they spoke in tongues in Acts 2, which is where Pentecost took place and where we must go to learn about tongues, they spoke in actual discernible languages and dialects understood by the people around them. They spoke in languages, like someone would stand up and speak in German or Swahili, when they'd never learned it, as if I stood up to preach, only knowing English, but could be understood by 17 different dialects, even as it was in the Acts 2. It says, “And there were dwelling in Jerusalem Jews, devout men, from every nation under heaven. And when this sound occurred, the multitude came together, and were confused, because everyone heard them speak in his own language” (Acts 2:5-6).

Now, false prophets teach people to babble, 'blahblahblah”, and they call it speaking in tongues, but there is nothing godly about it. The apostles had to see the risen Lord, according to Peter, and all who claim the title now are false apostles, fearless before God, and bold enough to take a position that He hasn't given.

The apostles didn't try to heal people and then blame them for having no faith! Did you ever see Jesus fail? No, they actually healed everyone that came to them, because their power was real. And, this power was uniquely theirs to pass on, so that after Pentecost, no one could receive the gift of tongues, if they were not in the presence of an apostle. Simon coveted something more than salvation by Christ, “And when Simon saw that through the laying on of the apostles' hands the Holy Spirit was given, he offered them money, saying, 'Give me this power also, that anyone on whom I lay hands may receive the Holy Spirit'” (Acts 8:18-19). Today, men chase after signs and wonders with no reverence for scripture, seeking experiences instead of the gospel that He has appointed for us.

I am not saying, nor do the scriptures teach, that miracles have ceased. You and I are saved by grace, taught Christ in the Spirit's power, and enabled to love. We worship the Lord Jesus, bow to Him, and do His will by power beyond our human ability; it is God by the gospel who makes us love. “For the purpose of the commandment [to preach Christ] is love from a pure heart, from a good conscience, and from sincere faith” (1 Tim 2:5). Salvation's power is real; God is the God who hears prayer.

I had a severe stutter, which made preaching extremely hard, but the Lord healed me through prayer, though I knew that it wasn't promised. He says in 3 John 2, “Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers” (3 John 2). I knew that I could pray for God to heal my tongue, though “no” could be His answer. He could prosper my soul by keeping the stutter, and I would be content with humility and what He works by me. I also knew that He could keep me humble and loose my tongue for His glory. I prayed in faith and submission, and He healed me according to His will. Miracles do happen, but there is no one with apostolic power to speak in tongues or heal by the laying on of their hands.

Don't mistake this as a light thing; it is no light thing to say, “Thus says the Lord”, when the Lord hasn't said. It is no light thing to claim gifts that do not match the scriptures, and then draw attention away from Jesus Christ. The apostles were sent to establish the church, to say, “Thus says the Lord”, and by their miracles and their ability to pass the gifts on to others, they were revered. Their word was heard as being from God.

There is no new word from God! There is the Bible - Genesis to Revelations - the completed revelation of Jesus Christ. Don't associate with man-made pretended religion. Follow Christ by the apostle's doctrine and live reverencing them. Never join yourself to those who claim power that God hasn't given them, who take positions and pretend fresh revelations and knowledge. They would not have fooled the apostles with their babbling, and they mustn't fool us now.

I Will Not Spare the Unrepentant (2 Cor 12:12-13:4)

"For I fear lest, when I come, I shall not find you such as I wish, and that I shall be found by you such as you do not wish; lest there be contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, backbitings, whisperings, conceits, disorder; lest, when I come again, my God will humble me among you, and I shall mourn for many who have sinned before and have not repented of the uncleanness, fornication, and lewdness which they have practiced. This will be the third time I am coming to you. 'By the mouth of two or three witnesses every word shall be established.' I have told you before, and foretell as if I were present the second time, and now being absent I write to those who have sinned before, and to all the rest, that if I come again I will not spare". (2 Cor 12:20-13:2)

Paul demands a change. He says that if he comes again the third time, and things haven't changed, that he will not spare. He will cast people out of church and demand they don't return, until they repent, desiring God's way.

It isn't enough to confess Christ; we must follow Him, too. We can't say, "Not condemned", unless we say, "Not condemned, to sin no more" (John 8:11). The Master NEVER forgives without cleansing.

Rolfe Barnard refused to sing, "Saved and Sanctified", and we should refuse also. It implies that salvation EXISTS without sanctification, and this isn't true.

We can repent, but if we don't, then we don't know God. We cannot have Christ and sin.

First, again, Paul proves the sincerity of his ministry. He had apostolic power, enabling him to give others miraculous gifts, and only apostles could do this. Philip, in Acts 8, could speak in tongues and work miracles because he received the gift from the apostles in Act 6. Simon the sorcerer understood that only the apostles could pass on the power, and this is because the apostles were special.  When they spoke and wrote, they were to be obeyed as the ambassadors of God with power to lay the doctrine of Christ in the church. All who pretend to speak in tongues and work miracles are utterly false and NOT to be trusted, even if they claim sovereign grace. If I say, "God is sovereign, elected you to be saved by the blood of the Lamb, so you can rape and murder", then I'd be a false prophet. And, when people say, "God is sovereign, etc, so you can speak in tongues, work miracles, get rich, and stay in health", they lie and aren't to be trusted. Speaking in tongues is other languages clearly understood by those who spoke them, even as they said, "And how hear we every man in our own tongue, wherein we were born?" (Acts 2:8).  Paul said, "Truly the signs of an apostle were wrought among you in all patience, in signs, and wonders, and mighty deeds" (2 Cor 12:12).

Also, he didn't take from people, so he commends his ministry by the generosity of his heart. As I read the insides of Paul, Titus, and others, I see that ministry is MORE than accurate doctrine; it is accurate motive, heart, and life, living that others be helped, rather than using people to assist me - (2 Cor 12:13-19) "For what is it in which you were inferior to other churches, except that I myself was not burdensome to you? Forgive me this wrong! Now for the third time I am ready to come to you. And I will not be burdensome to you; for I do not seek yours, but you. For the children ought not to lay up for the parents, but the parents for the children. And I will very gladly spend and be spent for your souls; though the more abundantly I love you, the less I am loved. But be that as it may, I did not burden you. Nevertheless, being crafty, I caught you by cunning! Did I take advantage of you by any of those whom I sent to you? I urged Titus, and sent our brother with him. Did Titus take advantage of you? Did we not walk in the same spirit? Did we not walk in the same steps? Again, do you think that we excuse ourselves to you? We speak before God in Christ. But we do all things, beloved, for your edification".

He declares that those he sent were of the same selfless spirit, seeking not yours, but you.

He preaches, secondly, his fears and gives us great warning. He feared that many had sinned and not repented, that bitterness, hate, selfishness, envy, and self-exaltation still reigned within them. He pleaded, in hope of sparing himself misery and tears, that they would change, repenting of the fornication, uncleanness, and licentious intemperance that they were living. If they didn't, then he must put them out, like a parent forcing a teenager to live elsewhere because they refuse the rules of home - (2 Cor 12:20-13:2).

Thirdly, Paul speaks to us encouragingly. He says, Christ is in you, even as He is in me, and His power is enough to enable you to be godly. The same POWER that raised Him from death will present you faultless before the Throne, and this power is yours now - "since you seek a proof of Christ speaking in me, Who is not weak toward you, but mighty in you.  For though He was crucified in weakness, yet He lives by the power of God. For we also are weak in Him, but we shall live with Him by the power of God toward you" (2 Cor 13:3-4).

God hasn't called us to beat sin in self-strength. Believe the VICTORY is what He gives - "For whatsoever is born of God overcomes the world: and this is the victory that overcomes the world, even our faith  (1 John 5:4).