Righteousness leads to high esteem!
Do you want to be held in high esteem for the right reasons?
Live this life in the righteousness of Christ!
It’s not easy but it has infinite eternal benefits!
Act 5:12-16
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Act 5:12 (ESV) Now many signs and wonders were regularly done among the people by the hands of the apostles. And they were all together in Solomon's Portico.
A portico surrounding the temple's Court of the Gentiles. This was also where Jesus had taught about the Good Shepherd
God used the apostles to confirm His message
2Co 12:12 (ESV)
Heb 2:3-4 (ESV)
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Act 5:13 (ESV) None of the rest dared join them, but the people held them in high esteem.
What caused fear? Why would it take daring to join them? We saw one key reason earlier in this passage…
Act 5:5 (ESV)
1Co 11:30-32 (ESV)
High esteem > Fruit of righteousness
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Act 5:14 (ESV) And more than ever believers were added to the Lord, multitudes of both men and women,
Mat 5:16 (ESV)
Joh 13:35 (ESV)
You’ll be known by your good works
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Act 5:15 (ESV) so that they even carried out the sick into the streets and laid them on cots and mats, that as Peter came by at least his shadow might fall on some of them.
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Act 5:16 (ESV) The people also gathered from the towns around Jerusalem, bringing the sick and those afflicted with unclean spirits, and they were all healed.
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God introduced his Holy Spirit‘s ministry with power and clarity. He focused mostly on the apostles as the administrators of that power.
Why were they held in high esteem? Because they were ministers operating within the power of God as opposed to the hypocrites like Ananias and Safira who were called out.
They had been verified by the power of God. Not only through the miracles but through the discipline God carried out on Ananias and sapphire.
Fear of being found out and held accountable for hypocrisy helped maintain the purity of the church at the outset.
Righteousness is valued and held in high esteem. God’s character at work attracts man’s attention. We saw this earlier…
Act 2:47 (ESV)
“…favor with all the people…”
1Pe 3:14-16 (ESV)
“…suffer for righteousness' sake…”
Isa 45:8 (ESV)
“…salvation and righteousness may bear fruit…”
Php 1:9-11 (ESV)
It is us living out the character of God that transforms the world
Col 1:27 (ESV)
Mat 5:13-16 (ESV)
13 “You are the salt of the earth, but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled under people's feet.
14 “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden.
15 Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house.
16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.
Impact the world for eternity by living out in the righteousness you have through Christ’s Spirit living in you!
