Friday, August 29,
2014, 12:30 p.m. – the Lord Jesus put in mind the song, “He Gives Purpose.” Speak, Lord, your
words to my heart. I read Acts 5
(quoting selected verses in the NIV). I will summarize some passages due to the
length of the chapter.
Signs and Wonders
The Holy Spirit came upon the followers of Jesus Christ at
Pentecost, and many people came to salvation that day through the preaching of
the gospel of Jesus Christ. This was the beginning of the church. And, the
people were united in heart and mind. Not only that, but they shared everything
they had with one another. There were no needy people among them. The early
believers were very generous with their possessions, sometimes by selling their
land and houses and giving the proceeds to the apostles to distribute to people
as they had need. Wouldn’t this be wonderful if Christians were like this today
across the globe?
Yet, not everyone had such purity of heart and motive in
helping the needy as did most of these early Christians. A married couple by
the names of Ananias and Sapphira sold a piece of property, yet they kept back
some of the proceeds for themselves, which was in their right to do so. No one
was forcing them to do this. The problem was that they lied and said they had
given it all when they didn’t. They lied not only to humans, but to God. We can
only speculate why they did this. Perhaps they were trying to gain a reputation
for themselves and they wanted people to think how sacrificial they were when
that was not the truth at all. I believe Christians can be guilty of this today
when they give the appearance of righteous living when they know they are still
living sinful lifestyles, yet hidden from sight.
Peter confronted both husband and wife with their lies
against humankind and against God. Both husband and wife, upon hearing Peter’s
words, fell down and died on the spot. “Great fear seized the whole church and
all who heard about these events.”
The
apostles performed many signs and wonders among the people. And all the
believers used to meet together in Solomon’s Colonnade. No one else dared join
them, even though they were highly regarded by the people. Nevertheless, more
and more men and women believed in the Lord and were added to their number. As
a result, people brought the sick into the streets and laid them on beds and
mats so that at least Peter’s shadow might fall on some of them as he passed
by. Crowds gathered also from the towns around Jerusalem, bringing their sick
and those tormented by impure spirits, and all of them were healed. ~ vv.
12-16
Filled with Jealousy
The high priest and all his associates were filled with
jealousy. Once again the apostles were arrested and put in jail for preaching
and healing in the name of Jesus Christ. Yet, the Lord Jesus sent an angel to
rescue the apostles. He told them to go
and stand in the temple courts and tell the people all about this new life.
Amen! They obeyed, went, and did what the angel had instructed them to do,
knowing full well that they could be thrown into jail again or worse. At
daybreak they once again began to teach the people.
The captain of the temple guard, on learning the apostles
were no longer in jail, and that they were back teaching in the temple courts,
brought the apostles to appear before the Sanhedrin (the ruling council) to be
questioned by the high priest. At the root of the religious leaders’ dispute
with the apostles was not only jealousy, it appears, but there was also pride, resentment,
anger, rage and bitterness of spirit, because the apostles had reminded them
more than once that they were guilty of putting the giver of life to death.
Before the Sanhedrin
The
apostles were brought in and made to appear before the Sanhedrin to be
questioned by the high priest. “We gave you strict orders not to teach in this
name,” he said. “Yet you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching and are
determined to make us guilty of this man’s blood.”
Peter
and the other apostles replied: “We must obey God rather than human beings! The
God of our ancestors raised Jesus from the dead—whom you killed by hanging him
on a cross. God exalted him to his own right hand as Prince and Savior that he
might bring Israel to repentance and forgive their sins. We are witnesses of these
things, and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey him.” ~
vv. 27-32
Persecution did not stop the apostles. They had to obey God
rather than humans, they told the rulers of the people. Again they reminded
these leaders of the people that they had killed Jesus Christ – their Messiah,
Prince and Savior – but that God the Father had raised him from the dead, and
had exalted him to his own right hand. How that must have infuriated them! Yet,
they also told them that the purpose of this all was so that Israel might be
brought to repentance and forgiveness of sins. They were bold and courageous in
their confession of Christ and of his gospel of salvation, even in the face of
such severe opposition. What did they have to lose? They knew if they died they
were going to be with Jesus. And, they knew that the people of Israel needed to
know Jesus Christ as their Savior, so they put the lives of others above their
own lives, and spoke boldly in Jesus’ name.
Counted Worthy
“When
they heard this, they were furious and wanted to put them to death. But a
Pharisee named Gamaliel, a teacher of the law, who was honored by all the
people,” came to their defense. “His
speech persuaded them. They called the apostles in and had them flogged. Then
they ordered them not to speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go.
“The
apostles left the Sanhedrin, rejoicing because they had been counted worthy of
suffering disgrace for the Name. Day after day, in the temple courts and from
house to house, they never stopped teaching and proclaiming the good news that
Jesus is the Messiah.”
Amen! What an encouragement to our hearts!
Oh, that we would desire of God to have this kind of
boldness and determination in sharing the truth of the gospel of Jesus Christ
with the people of this world, so that many might be saved from their sins.
Lord Jesus, give us hearts that are burdened for the lost people of this world,
and that are burdened, as well, for the slothful and adulterous people of your
own family throughout the world who are not living holy and separate lives from
the world and unto you. Give us courage and perseverance to spread your gospel
throughout the world, even in the face of much severe persecution and the
threat of rejection and/or death.
He
Gives Purpose / An Original Work / June 9, 2012
“Listen
to Me when I’m calling to you.
Obey
freely My word.
Follow
Me in all of My ways.
Do
all that I say.
Hear
Me gently whisper to you
My
will for your life and future.
Give
all of your life and heart to
Follow
Me always.”
Repent
of your sins and worship Jesus.
He’s
your Lord and Master.
He
died for your sins so you could
Live
with Him today.
He
has a plan for your life and
He
gives purpose and direction.
He
gives meaning to your life,
So
follow Him today.
“I
love you so much I gave My life for
You
to walk in My ways,
Living
for Me each day as you
Bow
to Me and pray.
Witness
for Me of your love for Me and
Of
My grace and mercy,
How
I died to save you of your
Sins
now and always.”
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