SPIRITUAL DIARY FOR 9/27/2017 8:41 AM
My Worship Time Focus:
PT-3 “Be Obedient to God at All Costs”
Bible Reading & Meditation Reference: Acts 4:14-22
Message of the verses: “14 And seeing the man who had been healed
standing with them, they had nothing to say in reply. 15 But when they had ordered them to leave
the Council, they began to confer with one another, 16 saying, "What shall
we do with these men? For the fact that a noteworthy miracle has taken place
through them is apparent to all who live in Jerusalem, and we cannot deny it.
17 “But so that it will not spread any further among the people, let us warn
them to speak no longer to any man in this name." 18 And when they had
summoned them, they commanded them not to speak or teach at all in the name of
Jesus. 19 But Peter and John answered
and said to them, "Whether it is right in the sight of God to give heed to
you rather than to God, you be the judge; 20 for we cannot stop speaking about
what we have seen and heard." 21 When they had threatened them further,
they let them go (finding no basis on which to punish them) on account of the
people, because they were all glorifying God for what had happened; 22 for the
man was more than forty years old on whom this miracle of healing had been
performed.”
First
thing I wish to do is talk about what Peter and John had “seen and heard,”
which is what they were saying that they could not stop talking about. Both were eyewitnesses to the life of Jesus
Christ, His life, His death, and especially His resurrection. John writes the following in 1 John 1:1-3 “1
What was from the beginning, what we have heard, what we have seen with our
eyes, what we have looked at and touched with our hands, concerning the Word of
Life- 2 and the life was manifested, and
we have seen and testify and proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with
the Father and was manifested to us- 3
what we have seen and heard we proclaim to you also, so that you too may
have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father, and with
His Son Jesus Christ.” It was probably
around 60 years later that John wrote these words, and we know that He never
forgot when he walked with Jesus even when he was probably in his 90’s.
John
MacArthur quotes F. F. Bruce as he writes about when the Sanhedrin did not
disagree with Peter and John about the resurrection of Jesus Christ.
“It is particular
striking that neither on this nor on any subsequent occasion so far as our
information goes) did the Sanhedrin take any serious action to disprove the
apostles’ central affirmation—the resurrection of Jesus. Had it seemed possible to refute them on this
point, how readily would the Sanhedrin have seized the opportunity! Had they succeeded, how quickly and
completely the new movement would have collapsed.” Good question.
I have to
say that these are some things that are new to me as I have never thought about
them in this context before. We have
mentioned when we began our study in Acts that Acts is a book that has its
theme as the resurrection of Jesus Christ as this is foremost impertinence in
the teaching and preaching of the gospel.
If there was no resurrection there would have been no need of the apostles
going out and teaching about Jesus for it would be all in vain. Jesus Christ is alive as He lives in heaven
interceding for His children all of the time and we as believers can be
thankful for that.
We see
that the Sanhedrin had run out of options as they threatened Peter and John,
but they knew that the miracle that was performed by them was something that
truly happened and so what could they do about it. We know for sure that the Sanhedrin feared
the people and this is another reason they did not punish Peter and John. However as we have mentioned the persecution
will get worse in the next chapter of Acts.
John
MacArthur concludes “In the midst of persecution, Peter and John remained
obedient to God. Like them, no bribes or
threats should cause us to be unfaithful to our Lord. Later, in his first letter, Peter wrote from
experience as well as inspiration,
“13
Who is there to harm you if you prove zealous for what is good? 14 But even if
you should suffer for the sake of righteousness, you are blessed. AND DO NOT
FEAR THEIR INTIMIDATION, AND DO NOT BE TROUBLED, 15 but sanctify Christ as Lord
in your hearts, always being ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you
to give an account for the hope that is in you, yet with gentleness and reverence.”
We will
have a rather short SD in our next subject that comes from Acts 4:23 as we look
at being committed to fellowship.
Spiritual meaning for my life today: As I look at this section from Acts my
thoughts go to a song that I heard when I was a new believer and the song talks
about “The Church Triumphant” as the church which began on the day of Pentecost
will go on, and will keep going on until Jesus comes back to take His church
back to heaven with Him. Nothing is
going to stop it even though there are forces of evil in this world which are
trying to do so now. It will not happen.
My Steps of Faith for Today: Trust the Lord for wisdom to
get the message of Revelation 1:9-20 out to our Sunday school class this coming
Sunday.
Answer to yesterday’s Bible question: “Thomas” (John 20:25).
Today’s Bible question:
“Over which country did Pharaoh rule?”
Answer in our next SD.
9/27/2017 9:46 AM
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