Month: February 2023

Acts 4:1-3 Now as they spoke to the people, the priests, the captain of the temple, and the Sadducees came upon them, (2) being greatly disturbed that they taught the people and preached in Jesus the resurrection from the dead. (3) And they laid hands on them, and put them in custody until the next day, for it was already evening.

We just concluded the study of the powerful message of Peter and John to a Jewish audience.  This was a wake-up call for the Jews.  This message had deep applications for them as a people and as a nation. Let us always keep in mind that under the Jewish dispensation, “church” and state were identical. No one could be a member of one without also being a member of the other.

The message of Peter and John was a spiritual message calling for repentance, return and restoration with God.  At the same time, it was also a political message for the nation.  God calls us to be both kings and priests. 

Considering the significance of the message, the leaders should have been glad that they were now warned and that people were turning to God.  Instead, they were indignant and arrested Peter and John, placing them in custody.

This is a phenomenon that has existed from the very beginning of time when Cain killed Abel.  What is the root of this reality?  It is the problem of faith. This is what the Lord warned His disciples against.  Matthew 16:11 How is it you do not understand that I did not speak to you concerning bread?— but to beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees.“_

What is the leaven of the Pharisees and the Sadducees?  The Lord reprimanded His disciples for their lack of faith. It was this matter of lack of faith that Jesus referred to as the leaven of Pharisees and Sadducees.  Matthew 16:8 But Jesus, being aware of it, said to them, “O you of little faith, why do you reason among yourselves because you have brought no bread? The sin of unbelief is the leaven of the leaders.

The Lord was put to death on the cross by the leaders because of their unbelief.  Matthew 26:3-4 Then the chief priests, the scribes, and the elders of the people assembled at the palace of the high priest, who was called Caiaphas, (4) and plotted to take Jesus by trickery and kill Him.

Throughout His teaching, the Lord had prepared His disciples that the leaders would do them much harm, because of their unbelief.  Matthew 10:16-17 “Behold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves. Therefore be wise as serpents and harmless as doves. (17) But beware of men, for they will deliver you up to councils and scourge you in their synagogues.

He had prayed for them, as He sent them into the world.  John 17:15-18 I do not pray that You should take them out of the world, but that You should keep them from the evil one. (16) They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. (17) Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth. (18) As You sent Me into the world, I also have sent them into the world.

The Lord Jesus is praying for us that we will remain true to our faith in Him.

Apostle Paul, before his conversion and as a leader of the Jews, did much harm to the church of Jesus Christ. Paul, who was Saul, had not yet come to faith in Jesus.  Acts 8:3 As for Saul, he made havoc of the church, entering every house, and dragging off men and women, committing them to prison.

Paul and his co-workers were hauled before the leaders, several times.  On each of these occasions, they testified to Christ and to His resurrection from the dead.  Acts 24:14-15 But this I confess to you, that according to the Way which they call a sect, so I worship the God of my fathers, believing all things which are written in the Law and in the Prophets. (15) I have hope in God, which they themselves also accept, that there will be a resurrection of the dead, both of the just and the unjust.

The Lord had also told us that on these occasions when we as His disciples are dragged before the leaders, the Holy Spirit will give us the words to testify to Christ.  Luke 21:12-15 But before all these things, they will lay their hands on you and persecute you, delivering you up to the synagogues and prisons. You will be brought before kings and rulers for My name’s sake. (13) But it will turn out for you as an occasion for testimony. (14) Therefore settle it in your hearts not to meditate beforehand on what you will answer; (15) for I will give you a mouth and wisdom which all your adversaries will not be able to contradict or resist.

Let us be prepared that in 2023, we can expect that we as His church will be pulled up before leaders because of their unbelief.  Acts 14:22 strengthening the souls of the disciples, exhorting them to continue in the faith, and saying, “We must through many tribulations enter the kingdom of God.”

Let us continue in the faith.

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Acts 4:21-22 So when they had further threatened them, they let them go, finding no way of punishing them, because of the people, since they all glorified God for what had been done. (22) For the man was over forty years old on whom this miracle of healing had been performed.

The people were glorifying God for what had happened.  The Lord used His disciples and through them, a miraculous work had taken place.  It resulted in the people giving glory to God.

Giving glory to God is acknowledging God, which leads to submission to Him.  This is what the devil does not want to happen. 

In all that we do as His church, our focus is to give God glory.  When we give God the glory, we are going against the devil.  When we resist the devil, he must flee.  James 4:7 Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you.  Submission to God, glorifying Him is the place where we tell the devil that he has no authority to rule.  We are resisting him. 

Our battle is in the heavenly realms. Ephesians 6:12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.

Jesus has been glorified because this is the place where the ruler of this world is cast out.  John 12:31-32 Now is the judgment of this world; now the ruler of this world will be cast out. (32) And I, if I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all peoples to Myself.”

This position of Jesus and its cascading effect is given to His church.  Jesus has been raised from the dead to be above every rule and authority. I Peter 3:22 who has gone into heaven and is at the right hand of God, angels and authorities and powers having been made subject to Him._*

We, as His church, must know that we stand with Jesus, basking in His authority over all the rulers of darkness. When we give glory to God, the devil trembles and he must vacate that place. 

Ephesians 1:21-23 far above all principality and power and might and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in that which is to come. (22) And He put all things under His feet, and gave Him to be head over all things to the church, (23) which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all.

As His church, we have been delivered from the kingdom of darkness and we have been moved to the kingdom of the light of Jesus.  Colossians 1:13 He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love,

The Lord is taking the fight into the enemy camp to chase out the devil in territories that he is occupying by deception.  This task has been given to His church as we give Jesus the glory. Ephesians 3:10 to the intent that now the manifold wisdom of God might be made known by the church to the principalities and powers in the heavenly places,

We must therefore glorify God all the time for this is the spiritual battle against the enemy.  It is in God’s glory that we rest. I Corinthians 10:31 Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.

The ministry that we do must bring glory to God. I Peter 4:11 If anyone speaks, let him speak as the oracles of God. If anyone ministers, let him do it as with the ability which God supplies, that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belong the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen.

We must glorify God in our body and in our spirit which is God’s.  I Corinthians 6:19-20 Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? (20) For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s.

We as His church, in oneness, must participate with Jesus in His glory.  John 17:22 And the glory which You gave Me I have given them, that they may be one just as We are one:

The Lord longs to share His glory with His church.  In doing so we are lifting Jesus and the devil will have to flee.  Jesus is able to do exceedingly abundantly more than we can ask or think so that He may be glorified in His church.  Ephesians 3:20-21 Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, (21) to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.

May we as His church glorify God.  The devil will flee.

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Acts 4:21-22 So when they had further threatened them, they let them go, finding no way of punishing them, because of the people, since they all glorified God for what had been done. (22) For the man was over forty years old on whom this miracle of healing had been performed.

Though the leaders threatened, beat, imprisoned, and punished the disciples, they could go no further, because of the people.  The people were glorifying God for the miraculous healing that had taken place.

This was what took place with Jesus, repeatedly. Matthew 21:46 But when they sought to lay hands on Him, they feared the multitudes, because they took Him for a prophet.  This was the reason why they arrested Jesus stealthily, and tried Him in the early hours when most people would be asleep. 

As the Gospel is shared and miraculous signs and wonders take place, it results in a people movement.  Large numbers of people are drawn to Christ and they worship God. 

The healing of blind Bartimaeus caused the people to give praise to God. Luke 18:42-43 Then Jesus said to him, “Receive your sight; your faith has made you well.” (43) And immediately he received his sight, and followed Him, glorifying God. And all the people, when they saw it, gave praise to God.

We see this taking place again and again.  Matthew 9:32-33 As they went out, behold, they brought to Him a man, mute and demon-possessed. (33) And when the demon was cast out, the mute spoke. And the multitudes marveled, saying, “It was never seen like this in Israel!”

Great multitudes came to Jesus and they glorified the God of Israel. Matthew 15:30-31 Then great multitudes came to Him, having with them the lame, blind, mute, maimed, and many others; and they laid them down at Jesus’ feet, and He healed them. (31) So the multitude marveled when they saw the mute speaking, the maimed made whole, the lame walking, and the blind seeing; and they glorified the God of Israel.

What was the Lord doing?  He was drawing people to Himself.  He came to seek and save the lost.  He saw people in their true state of weariness and confusion. The Lord desires that people will turn to Him and find rest for their souls. 

Matthew 9:35-38 Then Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every sickness and every disease among the people. (36) But when He saw the multitudes, He was moved with compassion for them, because they were weary and scattered, like sheep having no shepherd. (37) Then He said to His disciples, “The harvest truly is plentiful, but the laborers are few. (38) Therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest.”

This is what happened with Jesus and now was beginning to happen through His disciples.  The leaders did not want this to take place and so they were threatening, beating, and imprisoning the disciples so that a ‘people movement’ toward Jesus should not take place. 

What took place then is what is happening today.  The leaders of our world, do not want people to turn to Christ and find peace, joy, and fulfilment in life.  Isn’t this strange?

The world talks of giving people a good life but when Christ gives man, the fullness of life, we see such strong resistance from the leaders.  Luke 19:47-48 And He was teaching daily in the temple. But the chief priests, the scribes, and the leaders of the people sought to destroy Him, (48) and were unable to do anything; for all the people were very attentive to hear Him.

Why do leaders want to destroy what is good for everyone?  This is because the god of this age has blinded their minds.  II Corinthians 4:3-4 But even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing, (4) whose minds the god of this age has blinded, who do not believe, lest the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine on them.

The Lord did not spare the leaders but He came down heavily on them.  Matthew 23:33 Serpents, brood of vipers! How can you escape the condemnation of hell? How did the devil have such a grip on leaders?  It is because they gave a foothold to the devil and he has come in and taken control of their lives. John 12:43 for they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God.

When we give room to ourselves or the appetites of the flesh then the devil will take control of us and he will cause us to go against the things of God.  Let us ensure not to give a foothold to the devil in any area of our lives.  Let us be yielded fully to the Lord for Him to have complete authority over us.

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Acts 4:21-22 So when they had further threatened them, they let them go, finding no way of punishing them, because of the people, since they all glorified God for what had been done. (22) For the man was over forty years old on whom this miracle of healing had been performed._

The Apostles were threatened, beaten, and imprisoned for speaking and teaching in the name of Jesus.  Acts 5:40 And they agreed with him, and when they had called for the apostles and beaten them, they commanded that they should not speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go.

All of these trying encounters are the norm for a child of God, who is witnessing Christ.  This is what our Lord told us would happen in the end times.  Mark 13:9 “But watch out for yourselves, for they will deliver you up to councils, and you will be beaten in the synagogues. You will be brought before rulers and kings for My sake, for a testimony to them.

Since this is to be expected at the end of the age, we must also be warned of deception during these times. Mark 13:5 And Jesus, answering them, began to say: “Take heed that no one deceives you.

The deception will be that we will be saved from these threats, beatings, and imprisonments.  Matthew 10:17 But beware of men, for they will deliver you up to councils and scourge you in their synagogues. (18) You will be brought before governors and kings for My sake, as a testimony to them and to the Gentiles.

The Lord is permitting these experiences to His church because the Lord is causing us to be His witnesses to the nations.  The task of being His witness was given to His church as His commission.  

Luke 24:46-49 Then He said to them, “Thus it is written, and thus it was necessary for the Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead the third day, (47) and that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in His name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. (48) And you are witnesses of these things. (49) Behold, I send the Promise of My Father upon you; but tarry in the city of Jerusalem until you are endued with power from on high.”

When His church becomes lackadaisical and lukewarm, the Lord will allow these difficulties to take place in order that the message of Jesus be given to the nations and those who are His elect will be saved. II Timothy 2:10 Therefore I endure all things for the sake of the elect, that they also may obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory.

The Lord desires all men to be saved and come to the knowledge of the truth.  I Timothy 2:3-4 For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, (4) who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.  God does not want anyone to perish. II Peter 3:9 The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.

Though the message of Jesus is ringing out across the earth, we know that many will still reject the love of God. Romans 1:18-19 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, (19) because what may be known of God is manifest in them, for God has shown it to them.

Persecution against His church is on the rise, worldwide.  The Lord will hear the prayer of His elect and He will avenge but the Lord wants us as His people to continue in faith till the very end and not be troubled by these trials that we go through.  Luke 18:7-8 And shall God not avenge His own elect who cry out day and night to Him, though He bears long with them? (8) I tell you that He will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will He really find faith on the earth?“

The Lord is building us up in the faith through these trials.  I Peter 1:6-9 In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials, (7) that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honour, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ, (8) whom having not seen you love. Though now you do not see Him, yet believing, you rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory, (9) receiving the end of your faith—the salvation of your souls._*

Knowing all these things, let us not be dismayed but be more determined, in Christ, to share the message of Jesus unequivocally with the world.

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