“A sense of awe (reverential fear) came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were performed through the apostles.” (Acts 2:43, Amplified Bible) “Awe,” the Greek word which means “holy fear,” speaks to a divine sense of “reverence, wonder and amazement” as a response to the very presence of our living God. It occurs when people are struck with such an inexplicable sense of wonder / astonishment because of something divine or powerful that defies human explanation – an early morning sunrise or an evening sunset, the beauty of a child’s smile, the sound of rain falling (and the ‘smell of rain’ from an approaching storm), the ‘quietness’ in a winter snow, the majestic greatness of a mountain, the peacefulness of a babbling brook or the stillness of a lake at day’s end, the birth of a new life and the eternal love of God for His people just to list but a few. If we are truly filled with God’s Holy Spirit, then we will see God at work in the miraculous and these everyday events of life, and we will be “filled with awe and wonder” at His wonderful glory. Each church ought to be instilling this sense of “awe” in the community where we are planted as His “oaks of righteousness, planting(s) of the LORD for the display of His splendor (“for His own glory” NLT).” (Isaiah 61:3) The First Century Church certainly displayed this sense of “awe” as recorded throughout the book of Acts. Verse 43 says everyone was in “awe” of them because “many wonders and signs were taking place through the apostles.” Though the miracles and wonders of the apostolic times are no longer necessary now that God’s Word is complete through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, God’s power still remains ever on display
through His people. What could be more miraculous than sharing life (His life) to people who are truly lifeless (i.e. dead in sin)? He daily heals people of their hurts; He puts broken homes back together; and He brings people out of the bondage (captivity) of sin to Christ. In short, He divinely transforms lives … every moment of every day! When God’s people (His church) follows His plans (outlined in detail to us through His Word) and not man’s plans / ways (Isaiah 55:8), He will do marvelous and powerful things in individual lives before a watching world. True “awe” will fill His Church when we have spiritual eyes to see beyond what we can understand, beyond what we can control (“man”-ipulate), beyond what we accomplish in our own strength. “Awe” will again fill the 21st Century Church when have the spiritual guts like the First Century Church to follow (to journey) wherever the Holy Spirit lead us. Are you experiencing this sense of true “awe” in your life journey today? If not, ask God to open your spiritual eyes to see His hand at work in the miracles around you that fill our everyday … to experience a deeper sense of His holy presence through the precious moments of life that He shares with us …. and to believe as the First Century Church believed that God was all-powerful in eternally changing the hearts / lives of those willing to humbly stand in “awe” before Him … ”All the people were amazed (in “awe” NLT) at the great power of God.” (Luke 9:43) …Selah!Today's Spirit-led video is by CCM artist Stephen Curtis Chapman and can be viewed by clicking on the on the song title, "Speechless" - G3 for His gift of ministry thru Christian music!
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