God’s word as His witnesses

Acts 4:15-18 But when they had commanded them to go aside out of the council, they conferred among themselves, (16) saying, “What shall we do to these men? For, indeed, that a notable miracle has been done through them is evident to all who dwell in Jerusalem, and we cannot deny it. (17) But so that it spreads no further among the people, let us severely threaten them, that from now on they speak to no man in this name.” (18) So they called them and commanded them not to speak at all nor teach in the name of Jesus.

This healing that had taken place and other similar miracles were the opportunities, where the resurrection of Jesus was made known to everyone. 

Remember, when the Lord rose from the dead, the leaders capped the lid on the resurrection of Christ.  Matthew 28:11-15 Now while they were going, behold, some of the guard came into the city and reported to the chief priests all the things that had happened. (12) When they had assembled with the elders and consulted together, they gave a large sum of money to the soldiers, (13) saying, “Tell them, ‘His disciples came at night and stole Him away while we slept.’ (14) And if this comes to the governor’s ears, we will appease him and make you secure.” (15) So they took the money and did as they were instructed; and this saying is commonly reported among the Jews until this day.

The leaders thought that they had effectively negated, the resurrection of Jesus but it was now coming back to haunt them. 

Peter and John were attributing the healing of the lame man to the resurrection of Jesus. Acts 4:10 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.

Witnessing was all about the resurrection of Jesus.

Leaders may try to blank out the truth of history but the truth will stay the test of time.  Jesus has risen from the dead and the work of the church has marched on. 

History tells us that those who took violent positions against His church have had to suffer terribly.  We do not want them to suffer but they should come to their senses, their minds should be opened and they repent and surrender to Christ. 

I Thessalonians 2:15-16 who killed both the Lord Jesus and their own prophets, and have persecuted us; and they do not please God and are contrary to all men, (16) forbidding us to speak to the Gentiles that they may be saved, so as always to fill up the measure of their sins; but wrath has come upon them to the uttermost.

God’s wrath has come on the people of Israel for centuries.  We have seen how they have suffered.  This is because of all that Israel has done against God, His prophets, His Son and His church. 

The warning is to the nations of the world who intend to go against God and His church.  Psalms 2:1-5 Why do the nations rage, And the people plot a vain thing? (2) The kings of the earth set themselves, And the rulers take counsel together, Against the LORD and against His Anointed, saying, (3) “Let us break Their bonds in pieces And cast away Their cords from us.” (4) He who sits in the heavens shall laugh; The LORD shall hold them in derision. (5) Then He shall speak to them in His wrath, And distress them in His deep displeasure:

What is the Lord doing all over the globe in these last days?  The Lord is causing people to come to faith in Jesus.*  The sound of God’s people is going out and the persecution that is taking place in different ways is causing the message of the gospel to be heard. 

People come to faith by hearing and hearing is by the word of God Romans 10:17-18 So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. (18) But I say, have they not heard? Yes indeed: “THEIR SOUND HAS GONE OUT TO ALL THE EARTH, AND THEIR WORDS TO THE ENDS OF THE WORLD.”

This was the testimony of Apostle Paul. Romans 15:18-19 For I will not dare to speak of any of those things which Christ has not accomplished through me, in word and deed, to make the Gentiles obedient— (19) in mighty signs and wonders, by the power of the Spirit of God, so that from Jerusalem and round about to Illyricum I have fully preached the gospel of Christ.

It is when the gospel is preached in all the world as a witness that the end will come.  Matthew 24:14 And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come. Keeping these things in mind, let us as His church, not be discouraged, but strengthen ourselves in the Lord to be His bold and wise witnesses.

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