Boldness and wisdom to witness

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 central event that caused this questioning to take place was the healing of the lame man.  As we have seen, there are larger issues that have come to light but it was all centred on this healing. As His church, we must be conscious that God will use circumstances in our lives as the pivotal event by which the Lord’s name is glorified. 

The man was healed and he was standing with Peter and John as the proof for their witness.  The leaders were not able to say anything against it.  As His church, the healing that the Lord has done in each of our lives must be evident for everyone to see.  Each of us must be the manifestation of the truth. 

II Corinthians 4:1-2 Therefore, since we have this ministry, as we have received mercy, we do not lose heart. (2) But we have renounced the hidden things of shame, not walking in craftiness nor handling the word of God deceitfully, but by manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man’s conscience in the sight of God.

We manifest the work of God’s healing in our entire person.  Yet, our personal healing is only the means by which God’s greater purpose of restoring lost humanity to Himself is taking place.  We must never lose sight of the larger design of God. 

From when the healing took place in this lame man’s life, till the time the testimony was taking place before the leaders, Peter and John, constantly gave glory to Jesus.  They took attention away from themselves and they also took attention away from the healing itself, for the healing of the lame man was only the means for people to be confronted with the God of heaven and earth.

Acts 3:6-8 Then Peter said, “Silver and gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk.” (7) And he took him by the right hand and lifted him up, and immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength. (8) So he, leaping up, stood and walked and entered the temple with them—walking, leaping, and praising God._

As the crowds became excited over the healing, Peter and John, very intentionally, took the people’s attention away from the healing and from themselves and brought the people to focus on the larger issue of Jesus being the Prince of life, whom they had killed.

Acts 3:14-16 But you denied the Holy One and the Just, and asked for a murderer to be granted to you, (15) and killed the Prince of life, whom God raised from the dead, of which we are witnesses. (16) And His name, through faith in His name, has made this man strong, whom you see and know. Yes, the faith which comes through Him has given him this perfect soundness in the presence of you all.

This is an important lesson to learn, for we in our times, seem to have a tendency to give more weightage to the miracles, signs and wonders and we are not showing greater concern for getting people reconciled with God. 

The way Peter and John took on the leaders is very interesting because they made the leaders realise that they were questioning them for a good deed done to a helpless man.  Peter and John quickly grabbed the opportunity to confront the leaders with the evil act of crucifying Jesus, whom God raised from the dead.  Peter and John turned the tables on the leaders. This was boldness combined with wisdom.  

Acts 4:8-10 Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, “Rulers of the people and elders of Israel: (9) If we this day are judged for a good deed done to a helpless man, by what means he has been made well, (10) let it be known to you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead, by Him this man stands here before you whole.

Today we are being questioned about the good deeds done by the church to the community.  We must turn the tables on our bullies and ask them for which good deed, that we have done, is questioning us. 

Even if they tell us that we are changing the customs and traditions of our society.  We must present the evil customs and traditions that our society follows and how necessary it is for people to be free from these evil bondages.

One such evil tradition that is followed by our society is to make poor people conduct rituals and spend money, which destroys the livelihood of the poor.  If people are set free from such evil oppression and are taught to manage their finances well, have we done something bad for our society? 

Let us pray for boldness and wisdom in our witness.

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