Sat.’s Devo - The Beginning of the Apostolic Era

Read: 1 Kings 1:1-53; Acts 4:1-37; Psalm 124:1-8; Proverbs 16:24
In David’s old age his body could not produce enough heat on its own so they brought in a virgin to lay beside him at night and keep him warm. Her name was Abishag from Shunem and she became his care-taker.
Meanwhile, Adonijah was forming a coup to become the next king. Adonijah was David’s fourth son after Absalom. The first three were dead so it stood to reason he would be the next king, except that David had promised Bathsheba that her son, Solomon would succeed him.
Adonijah decided to make himself king, so he had a huge celebration and invited Joab and everyone except Solomon and his supporters. They went to the Stone of Zoheleth which means “Stone of a Serpent” and had a political rally.
Nathan the prophet found out what was happening, he went to Bathsheba and told her that if she wanted to see Solomon come to the kingdom she needed to tell David what was going on. Nathan confirmed what she said. David called in Zadok the priest and sent him with Nathan, Jehoiada and Solomon to Gihon Springs. Solomon was to ride on the king’s own mule and they were to blow the ram’s horn and proclaim him the king.
This was near the place where Adonijah was having his party and when they heard the horn and found out what it meant, they panicked and scattered. Adonijah ran to the horns of the altar and prayed for mercy. Solomon went and told him to go home.
In Acts, the Sadducees were upset that Peter was teaching the people that there was a resurrection from the dead since that was their pet doctrine. They didn’t believe in the resurrection and the Pharisees did. By now, over 5,000 people had come to salvation. Peter had just prayed for a cripple man to rise from his bed which was a picture of resurrection power.
Peter was being questioned for doing a good deed to a crippled man but he made it clear that they were not asking the right question. The right question would be: how did you heal him. Peter answered it. He healed the man by the power of the Holy Spirit. The council had nothing to charge Peter with but they didn’t want him spreading his propaganda which they knew was associated with Jesus. They threatened them and set them free.
Peter went back to the disciples and told them what happened, they remembered what David had said that the kings of the earth prepared battle against the Lord and against the Messiah. From that day on, the disciples walked in miracles, signs and wonders and the place where they met shook as they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and preached with boldness.
The people became so unified that they considered everything they had to belong to the Body of Christ and gave to those who needed.
Lord, we look expectantly for that day when we will all be filled with your Holy Spirit and operate like the Body of Christ.