Chapter Five — Part Two: The Book of Acts
By: Pastors Rodney & Adonica Howard-BrownePublish date: 05/23/2021
Foundation Scriptures:
Acts 5:11-16
1. The Fear of the Lord.
a. Acts 5:11 KJV — And great fear came upon all the church, and upon as many as heard these things.
b. Great fear came upon all the Church, and also upon everyone who heard about Ananias and Sapphira.
c. They heard about two people who lied to the Holy Ghost.
d. They heard how Peter operated in the gifts of the Spirit and the lie was exposed.
e. They heard how Ananias and Sapphira dropped dead, instantly.
f. Whether it was the fear of God, or just plain fear, suddenly everyone became very respectful of the power and majesty of this holy God.
g. Acts 5:12-13 KJV — And by the hands of the apostles were many signs and wonders wrought among the people; (and they were all with one accord in Solomon’s porch. 13 And of the rest durst no man join himself to them: but the people magnified them.
h. The Church, and the Christians, were highly regarded in the city.
i. No one considered it a light thing to join with them or become one of them.
j. Even so, multitudes of both men and woman joined them—were added to the Lord and became believers.
2. Great Growth.
a. Acts 5:14 KJV — And believers were the more added to the Lord, multitudes both of men and women.)
b. Luke uses the word “multitudes” because there were obviously too many being added, too fast, to be able to keep count.
c. We have the Church, flowing in great power, operating under great grace, resulting in great growth.
d. It is significant that the women were included here.
e. More often in the past, only the number of men was recorded, and you had to estimate the number of women who took part.
f. Such as when they were delivered from Pharaoh and Egypt, or when Jesus fed the multitude.
g. Galatians 3:28 KJV — There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus.
h. Under the New Covenant, and in God’s Kingdom, we are spiritual equals—and restored back to His original plan, in every way.
3. An Atmosphere of Faith and Expectation.
a. When the Church is unified, and full of the power and anointing and fruit of the Holy Spirit, and doing the works that Jesus commanded of them; then the power of God is poured out in a mighty way with signs and wonders.
b. God is glorified and many are saved and healed and delivered and added to the Church.
c. A mighty atmosphere of faith is created, and people began to expect miracles.
d. Acts 5:15 KJV — Insomuch that they brought forth the sick into the streets, and laid them on beds and couches, that at the least the shadow of Peter passing by might overshadow some of them.
e. The people were not healed by Peter’s actual shadow, they were healed when their faith connected with the anointing that was upon and around him.
f. Some people are healed when hands are laid upon them.
g. Some were healed when they touched Jesus or the apostles.
h. Some were simply healed by a command, or a faith-filled spoken word.
i. Many people were healed under the ministry of Jesus, who were nowhere near Him.
j. The servant of the centurion was healed because his master had faith in the spoken word of Jesus (Matt. 8:5-13).
k. The Syro-Phoenician woman’s daughter was delivered because the woman believed in Jesus’ Word and His authority (Mark 7:27-30).
l. In contrast, not many were healed in Jesus’ hometown because of their unbelief (Matt. 13:58).
4. Greater Works.
a. Acts 5:16 KJV — There came also a multitude out of the cities round about unto Jerusalem, bringing sick folks, and them which were vexed with unclean spirits: and they were healed every one.
b. EVERYONE was healed and delivered.
c. The apostles’ and the Early Church operated in all nine gifts of the Spirit and in the Fruit of the Spirit.
d. The apostles were not supposed to be the only ones operating in the gifts of the Spirit—and they did not pass away with the last apostle.
e. Jesus said that whoever believes in Him, would do the works He did and even greater works.
f. John 14:12 NKJV — Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do, because I go to My Father.
g. Jesus always spoke of those who BELIEVE doing these things.
h. Mark 16:15-18 NKJV — And He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. 16 He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned. 17 And these signs will follow those who believe: In My name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues; 18 they will take up serpents; and if they drink anything deadly, it will by no means hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover.”
i. Jesus commands us to: “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature.”
j. We are His creation—we belong to Him, not to the devil.
k. He came to reclaim us as His own and to make us a new creature (2 Cor. 5:17).
l. We are supernatural beings, created to walk in the supernatural.
m. The Father has not changed His mind and Jesus has not taken back anything He said.
n. The Church today should be operating in the same spirit of faith and power as the Early Church.
o. As we preach the Gospel, signs should follow.
p. In Jesus’ Name, we should cast out demons.
q. We should speak in new tongues and operate in the gifts of the Spirit.
r. We should have complete authority over nature—especially serpents.
s. We should be immune to any deadly thing.
t. We should lay hands on the sick and they should recover—every one of them.
u. This is the will of God for His people and His Church.