Road Map Through the Wilderness

Acts 5:15-16[(NKJV), “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.” Let’s look at the dynamics here. People were carrying their beds and couches into the streets. This activity is a most unusual scenario in any city or town, then or now. People were waiting for Peter to walk down the street near them. We can consider this was not just one event. It says people were taking their infirmed into the “streets.” This event was happening throughout the whole city. Peter didn’t just decide to take a walk down a street one sunny afternoon. The Holy Spirit was moving throughout the entire city for a season. We can determine they were hoping that Peter’s shadow would fall on them or their loved ones. The question that screams for an answer is this. Why? Why were people disrupting their homes? Why were they carrying their infirmed into the streets? Why were their beds and couches placed in the streets throughout Jerusalem? Why were they motivated to have Peter’s shadow fall on them? The answer is obvious. The Lord was performing a major manifestation of Holy Spirit signs and wonders. People were getting healed. Lives were getting changed. There was a stir in Jerusalem at that time. Road Map Through the Wilderness 23 “Also a multitude gathered from surrounding cities to Jerusalem, bringing sick people and those who were tormented by unclean spirits.” In those days, people didn’t have cell phones. They didn’t have texting. They didn’t have nightly news. They certainly didn’t have the internet. The only way information passed from city to city was by word of mouth. That took time to evolve. Considering preparation time and travel time from their city to Jerusalem, to finally arrive, did not happen quickly. Let us understand this is not a small move of God. The Holy Spirit was manifesting in a mighty wave of miracles and doing so for a long time. Those who were tormented by unclean spirits and those who were sick were all there. This scripture says, “a multitude gathered” and “THEY WERE ALL HEALED!” This magnificent demonstration of Holy Spirit power wasn’t the first time it happened. Mark 6:54-56(NKJV) “ And when they came out of the boat, immediately the people recognized Him, ran through the whole surrounding region, and began to carry about on beds those who were sick to wherever they heard He was. Wherever He entered into villages, cities, or the country, they laid the sick in the marketplaces, and begged Him that they might touch the hem of his garment and as many that touched Him WERE MADE WELL!” This scripture is speaking of Jesus. We can see that Peter’s results in Jerusalem were not the first time these very same results occurred. We can see the people responded to the very same power exhibited by Jesus in the same way. They came from the whole region. They lay the sick in public places, hoping they might connect in some way to be benefactors of that incredible power exhibited. Peter has picked up the mantle, with the same authority as Jesus had, and demonstrated the very same power of the Holy Spirit, the same way Jesus did. We will hear much about Romans 8:29 (NKJV) “We are predestined to conform to the image of His Son.” We will learn what will happen and only occur when we choose to place our identity in the Father as son and daughter and the Son as brother and sister. Donald F. Claycomb 24 The Father passed that same anointing to the Son of God, Jesus. Jesus then passed that anointing to a son of man, Peter, who earlier became a man of God. II Corinthians 13:10 (NKJV) “Therefore I write these things, being absent, lest being present I should use sharpness, according to the AUTHORITY which the Lord has given me.” Peter was born with the same Adamic nature as you and me. We all are born into a sinful nature, but that same sin nature passed on from Adam to us as well. Each of us inherits it. As an observer, I can easily understand that the Son of God could manifest these miracles, but a Holy Spirit manifestation through Peter in Jerusalem is the real miracle. This same power and anointing, with the Father’s authority, now has been exhibited unto full manifestation through the sinner man, Peter. And now, even though you also have inherited the Adamic nature, the nature of sinner man, you also have the same opportunity to have the full manifestation of the Holy Spirit, anointing, and power as Peter. As mentioned earlier, the Bible says Jesus went into the wilderness, “being filled with the Holy Spirit” in Luke 4:4(NKJV). He, “returned in the power of the Spirit.” Luke4:14(NKJV). Something happened in there! We can now see that the Father has also predestined you, sinner man and woman born in the same Adamic nature, for the very same anointing unto POWER! If the Father has predestined us to conform to His image, do we experience that power today, seeing all people healed from a myriad of diseases and dark influences? Do we see that same power in our world to the extent that Peter and Jesus ministered? I’ve been to some services that Holy Spirit ministry was evident. I have been to church services that had no evidence of Holy Spirit ministry and to one service that had no Word offered. I have never been to a church service where they were all healed. Why is that? There is a hurting world out there! The world needs to receive ministry now with the same power demonstrated by Peter and Jesus.