Month: January 2023

Acts 4:13-14 Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated and untrained men, they marveled. And they realized that they had been with Jesus. (14) And seeing the man who had been healed standing with them, they could say nothing against it.

What was it that came through powerfully from Peter and John that resembled Jesus in them to the leaders?

They sensed authority flowing from Peter and John.  This was the authority of Christ. 

The leaders had tried to confront Jesus about His authority and they were stung by His response.  Mark 11:28-33 And they said to Him, “By what authority are You doing these things? And who gave You this authority to do these things?” (29) But Jesus answered and said to them, “I also will ask you one question; then answer Me, and I will tell you by what authority I do these things: (30) The baptism of John—was it from heaven or from men? Answer Me.” (31) And they reasoned among themselves, saying, “If we say, ‘From heaven,’ He will say, ‘Why then did you not believe him?’ (32) But if we say, ‘From men’ “—they feared the people, for all counted John to have been a prophet indeed. (33) So they answered and said to Jesus, “We do not know.” And Jesus answered and said to them, “Neither will I tell you by what authority I do these things.”_

There is no need for us to explain our authority to the people of the world but we must operate out of the authority of Christ. They must sense the authority of Christ flowing from us, naturally.  We have been sent out into the world in His authority. This is our position of which we must be intrinsically conscious. 

John 17:18 As You sent Me into the world, I also have sent them into the world. / John 20:21 So Jesus said to them again, “Peace to you! As the Father has sent Me, I also send you.” / Matthew 28:18-20 And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. (19) Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, (20) teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, *I am with you always*, even to the end of the age.” Amen.

Authority comes from knowing that we reign with Christ and we are here to bring the kingdom rule of God on earth.

This matter of authority to reign was given to man in creation.  It is when we conform to His image that we as His disciples are in the place to reign with Him.  This is the creation mandate. Genesis 1:26 Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.”_

God created us to reign over all His creation.  It is only in the image of God that we can complete the task for which we were created. Psalms 8:4-6 What is man that You are mindful of him, And the son of man that You visit him? (5) For You have made him a little lower than the angels, And You have crowned him with glory and honor. (6) You have made him to have dominion over the works of Your hands; You have put all things under his feet,

Since we sinned, we came under the captivity of the devil to do his will. II Timothy 2:25-26 in humility correcting those who are in opposition, if God perhaps will grant them repentance, so that they may know the truth, (26) and that they may come to their senses and escape the snare of the devil, having been taken captive by him to do his will._

The devil is deceiving the world because he is controlling the world through man.  He is ruling the world by proxy.  Luke 4:5-7 Then the devil, taking Him up on a high mountain, showed Him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time. (6) And the devil said to Him, “All this authority I will give You, and their glory; for this has been delivered to me, and I give it to whomever I wish. (7) Therefore, if You will worship before me, all will be Yours.”

Though the devil has no authority, he claims authority because man is totally in his control. 

Jesus has set man free from the devil on the cross. It is at the cross, when we place our faith in Christ, that we are released from the prison house of the devil.  Hebrews 2:14-15 Inasmuch then as the children have partaken of flesh and blood, He Himself likewise shared in the same, that through death He might destroy him who had the power of death, that is, the devil, (15) and release those who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.

We are released in order to take back our place as co-rulers with Christ and exercise His authority.  This is our place as His church.  Peter and John had found their place of authority in Jesus.  Are you and are we as His church, operating in the authority of Christ?

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1AUNn6UINQqseM5ibOelVq3OLCWUG6UEf/view?usp=share_link

Acts 4:13-14 Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated and untrained men, they marveled. And they realized that they had been with Jesus. (14) And seeing the man who had been healed standing with them, they could say nothing against it.

The leaders recognised that Peter and John were with Jesus.  This could be a physical recognition of having seen Peter and John with Jesus at different times.  John 18:15-16 And Simon Peter followed Jesus, and so did another disciple. Now that disciple was known to the high priest, and went with Jesus into the courtyard of the high priest. (16) But Peter stood at the door outside. Then the other disciple, who was known to the high priest, went out and spoke to her who kept the door, and brought Peter in.

They may have also seen John at the crucifixion of Jesus.  John 19:25-27 Now there stood by the cross of Jesus His mother, and His mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. (26) When Jesus therefore saw His mother, and the disciple whom He loved standing by, He said to His mother, “Woman, behold your son!” (27) Then He said to the disciple, “Behold your mother!” And from that hour that disciple took her to his own home.

Nevertheless, the recognition that the leaders were having now of Peter and John, regarding them having been with Jesus, was more than just the physical recognition.  They could sense the very presence of Jesus in these two disciples.

This is the testimony of His church.  We are carrying in us, at all times, the presence of Jesus. I John 4:17 Love has been perfected among us in this: that we may have boldness in the day of judgment; because as He is, so are we in this world.

Jesus had become a torment to these leaders.  They did not know what to do with Him. John 11:47-48 Then the chief priests and the Pharisees gathered a council and said, “What shall we do? For this Man works many signs. (48) If we let Him alone like this, everyone will believe in Him, and the Romans will come and take away both our place and nation.”

When the Jews saw the signs done by Jesus, they were perturbed, for the Jews seek signs.  Jesus had confronted and castigated these leaders openly, on several occasions, and now the torture was starting all over again, for them. 

The world must see the resemblance of Jesus in us Romans 8:29 For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren.  This is the purpose for which God has predestined us.  We are to conform to the image of His Son.  This is the mandate for us as His church.   

This is the reason why we are a new creation in Christ Jesus. Colossians 3:10 and have put on the new man who is renewed in knowledge according to the image of Him who created him,  We were created in the image of God and we must surely live out His image. 

This work of being conformed to the image of Jesus is the work of His Holy Spirit in us.  II Corinthians 3:17-18 Now the Lord is the Spirit; and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. (18) But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord.

As we yield to His Holy Spirit by being sensitive to His leading.  The Holy Spirit brings out from us the resemblance of Christ. 

As the Holy Spirit has more and more sway over us, the power of Christ is displayed through us.  It becomes evident to everyone that the excellence of the power is of God and not of us.  II Corinthians 4:6-7 For it is the God who commanded light to shine out of darkness, who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. (7) But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us.

This is our intentional exercise, to be conformed to Christ, and this is what we seek to bring about in the life of others.  We are here to make disciples of Christ.  Apostle Paul’s ministry was to present everyone perfect in Christ.  Colossians 1:27-28 To them God willed to make known what are the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles: which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. (28) Him we preach, warning every man and teaching every man in all wisdom, that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus.

This task of establishing people perfect in Christ was a passion that consumed Paul.  Galatians 4:19 My little children, for whom I labor in birth again until Christ is formed in you,_*

Our witness is Christ in us.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1AA7NtFuNd-7PG1wIu39UmTnTffDJzQlR/view?usp=share_link

Acts 4:13-14 Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated and untrained men, they marveled. And they realized that they had been with Jesus. (14) And seeing the man who had been healed standing with them, they could say nothing against it.

We continue to consider this passage that Apostle Paul wrote to the church at Corinth.  I Corinthians 1:22-31 For Jews request a sign, and Greeks seek after wisdom; (23) but we preach Christ crucified, to the Jews a stumbling block and to the Greeks foolishness,

The Jews are fascinated with signs and wonders.  The Greeks seek wisdom.  Both groups are not willing and are not seeking to come under the lordship of Christ. Christ crucified is the place for a man to surrender to Christ as His Lord and Master.  This is what the world is not willing to accept. 

To those who are God’s elect, Christ is the power of God as well as the wisdom of God.  (24) but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.  When a person comes to full surrender to Christ that person experiences the power of God as well as the wisdom of God.  

The leaders who were questioning Peter and John were being exposed to the power and wisdom of God, through Peter and John.  This is how the Lord intends to take place through His church as we witness before different audiences. 

The ways of God, which seem foolish in the eyes of the people of the world, is true wisdom.  When God reveals, even a little of His wisdom, power and might, humanity is terrified.  (25) Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men.

The mighty and the noble are not called by God, for they are trusting in their own accomplishments and learning. Whereas, it is they who are broken and contrite before God, who come into fellowship with the Creator.  (26) For you see your calling, brethren, that not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called.

Man, in his fleshly being, needs God. Without God, man is nothing. Sadly, the world does not want to acknowledge this truth but man is ignoring God and thinks that he can manage life on his own.  We see the futility, brokenness and chaos all around us in our world, because man is not willing to be humble before God and is not seeking to surrender to Him. 

The ones that surrender and submit to Him, God raises and demonstrates His glory in and through their lives.  It is for the world to see, acknowledge God and return to Him.  (27) But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty; (28) and the base things of the world and the things which are despised God has chosen, and the things which are not, to bring to nothing the things that are,

Seeing the lives of Peter and John, the Jewish leaders should have humbled themselves before God, repented and surrendered their lives to the God of heaven and earth.  Judgement is due to them, for though they had exposure to the ways of God, they refused God and remained in their pride and foolishness. 

This is how our lives ought to be as His church, as we witness Christ in all our different circumstances. The mouth of the world must be stopped because our testimony, demonstrates the glory of God. (29) that no flesh should glory in His presence.

Jesus is our wisdom, our righteousness, sanctification, and redemption.  Our entire life is of Christ.  Without Him we are nothing.  (30) But of Him you are in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God—and righteousness and sanctification and redemption— (31) that, as it is written, “HE WHO GLORIES, LET HIM GLORY IN THE LORD.”

Our God is our glory.  This is the tagline of His church. 

https://drive.google.com/file/d/19yuSG41CEkrb4RgNDpL67oZiWZ8mnV3l/view?usp=share_link

Acts 4:13-14 Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John and perceived that they were uneducated and untrained men, they marveled. And they realized that they had been with Jesus. (14) And seeing the man who had been healed standing with them, they could say nothing against it.

Peter and John had completed their reply to the questioning of the leaders.  Now it was for the leaders to respond.  As we observe this event, we can imagine what was taking place.  The leaders began in a threatening manner towards the disciples but now found themselves speechless and shocked. 

They saw the boldness of Peter and John.  They knew that the disciples of Jesus were Galileans and were fearful, like most others, of the religious elite of the Jews.  This exclusive group of leaders had gathered to question the disciples, in their full strength, but the disciples were not scared by them. 

Before the baptism of the Holy Spirit, the disciples were frightened men, who gathered in closed rooms for fear of the leaders. John 20:19 Then, the same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood in the midst, and said to them, “Peace be with you.”

The Lord had risen and had appeared to them, yet they were afraid of the Jews.  John 20:26 And after eight days His disciples were again inside, and Thomas with them. Jesus came, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, “Peace to you!”_

We know what took place with Peter, how he was fearful and denied Christ. Matthew 26:75 And Peter remembered the word of Jesus who had said to him, “Before the rooster crows, you will deny Me three times.” So he went out and wept bitterly._

All the disciples had said that they would not leave Jesus, but when the Lord was arrested, they all forsook Him and fled. Matthew 26:55-56 In that hour Jesus said to the multitudes, “Have you come out, as against a robber, with swords and clubs to take Me? I sat daily with you, teaching in the temple, and you did not seize Me. (56) But all this was done that the Scriptures of the prophets might be fulfilled.” Then all the disciples forsook Him and fled.

This was the calibre of the disciples. All of this dramatically changed after they were baptised with His Holy Spirit.  Acts 2:14 But Peter, standing up with the eleven, raised his voice and said to them, “Men of Judea and all who dwell in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and heed my words.

These words from Peter and the rest of the disciples now give us a new story.  A new work of God had begun and this was the era of His Holy Spirit. 

This was prophesied in the Old Testament. Isaiah 40:9 O Zion, You who bring good tidings, Get up into the high mountain; O Jerusalem, You who bring good tidings, Lift up your voice with strength, Lift it up, be not afraid; Say to the cities of Judah, “Behold your God!”

The Holy Spirit brings boldness into us for we now have a fresh realisation that we belong to the family of God. Romans 8:15 For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, “Abba, Father.”

Paul is asking Timothy to stir up the gift of God in him, which is not a spirit of fear but the Spirit of power, love and a sound mind.  II Timothy 1:6-8 Therefore I remind you to stir up the gift of God which is in you through the laying on of my hands. (7) For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind. (8) Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me His prisoner, but share with me in the sufferings for the gospel according to the power of God,

This is what the Lord said would happen when the Holy Spirit would fill a person.  John 7:37-39 On the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out, saying, “If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink. (38) He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.” (39) But this He spoke concerning the Spirit, whom those believing in Him would receive; for the Holy Spirit was not yet given, because Jesus was not yet glorified.

This is our witness.  We witness in the fullness of His Holy Spirit, who is the Spirit of boldness.  This boldness of His holy Spirit is not foolish but a boldness mingled with wisdom.  Stephen and the apostles demonstrated this unique combination of boldness and wisdom. Acts 6:10 And they were not able to resist the wisdom and the Spirit by which he spoke.

As God’s people, we are His people with boldness and wisdom, which is by His Holy Spirit.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/19XhE_598GbOegdvh4AJg5j3DWuA5xaJF/view?usp=share_link

Acts 4:12 Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.”

This is the final clinching statement that was made by Peter and John as they witnessed Christ before their accusers. This is the statement that their enemies did not want to hear from the mouths of Peter and John.  Their accusers would have expected the disciples to be frightened but the disciples were just the opposite.  They were bold, clear and articulate, as well as passionate about Jesus.

Throughout their journey with Jesus, the Lord had taught them about Himself.  All of this was now clear in the mind of the disciples as they witnessed Christ.  It was the Holy Spirit who reminded and empowered them.  John 14:6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.

The world tells us to be inclusive.  They want us to accept that there are many ways for mankind to reach God.  This truth of the singularity of Christ and that He is the only way for man to be reconciled with God, is an abhorrence to the people of the world.  They feel that we are being arrogant to claim that there is no other way, except Jesus, to come to God. 

I Timothy 2:5-6 For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus, (6) who gave Himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time, Jesus is the one mediator between God and man. 

It is when we take this position of the uniqueness of Christ that even family members become antagonised. Matthew 10:34-39 “Do not think that I came to bring peace on earth. I did not come to bring peace but a sword. (35) For I have come to ‘SET A MAN AGAINST HIS FATHER, A DAUGHTER AGAINST HER MOTHER, AND A DAUGHTER-IN-LAW AGAINST HER MOTHER-IN-LAW’; (36) and ‘A MAN’S ENEMIES WILL BE THOSE OF HIS OWN HOUSEHOLD.’ (37) He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me. And he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me. (38) And he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me.(39) He who finds his life will lose it, and he who loses his life for My sake will find it.

This is the life to which the church is called.  If we seek to protect ourselves, then it is obvious that we are seeking to save our lives. The word of God is telling us, categorically, that he who seeks to save his life will lose it but he who is willing to lose his life for Jesus will save it.  

It is in Jesus that we have life. I John 5:11-12 And this is the testimony: that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. (12) He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life.

It is through Jesus and His work on the cross that man and all of creation are reconciled back with the Father. Colossians 1:19-20 For it pleased the Father that in Him all the fullness should dwell, (20) and by Him to reconcile all things to Himself, by Him, whether things on earth or things in heaven, having made peace through the blood of His cross. / Ephesians 1:10 that in the dispensation of the fullness of the times He might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven and which are on earth—in Him.

The wrath of God abides on all those who do not believe in Jesus as the only way to the salvation of man.  John 3:36 He who believes in the Son has everlasting life; and he who does not believe the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him.” / Revelation 20:15 And anyone not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire.

Whatever anyone may think, the task of His church is to let everyone know that there is no other name, except the name of Jesus, by which we must be saved.  Saved from the wrath of God.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/192ehfq-nQwHCTR7vZyLcm2iS2uGp88dg/view?usp=share_link