St. Peter’s Anglican Church

Dear People of God:

No surprise but it’s always amazing. God’s grace that is!

The last two weeks we have looked at the early church, what Jesus started and what the Holy Spirit empowered. We’ve looked at how the first gift was one of proclamation and how the Holy Spirit enabled the first disciples to declare “the wonders of God” in languages that the multi-ethnic and multi-lingual crowd could understand. In response the people asked “what does this mean?” The story continues with Peter explaining precisely what this means. “When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, ‘Brothers, what shall we do?’” They repented and believed. “Three thousand were added to their number that day.”

In the last two weeks, you, the people of St. Peter’s, stood before the crowd and declared the wonders of God. Some of you talked about how you have been healed. One of you talked of being touched by this assembly that so reflects the Kingdom of God. One of you confessed a bitter root and thanked God for both unearthing it and the mercy shown to you while the root endured.

Faithfully, one after another you declared the wonders of God. And the response? A woman visiting for her second time asked “what does this mean?” Then she declared “I’m going to be saved today.” During communion, she made her way to the prayer team and there she asked Jesus to dwell in her heart.

In that moment God redeemed one of His own and gave us, the people of St. Peter’s a sign. “If you build it, I will come.” Led by the same Holy Spirit we endeavored to be Kingdom people (as described in Acts) and it provoked a Kingdom sized response. We built it. He came.

This may surprise us. It shouldn’t but sometimes we are so engrossed in church life we have forgotten what Kingdom life looks like. Surprised or not, we should be amazed. His grace is always amazing.

To Him be all honor, glory and praise.

Under His Grace,

Senior Pastor John