In Acts 4 Peter is brought before the Sanhedrin, where there were the Sadducees, and the Pharisees as well. In verse 8 scripture records that he was filled with the Holy Spirit, and a holy boldness entered his life that brought out a message that silenced his foes. Peter was so bold, and he quoted scripture and let the truth of God's Word do the rest of the work in the hearts of those religious leaders. He capped off the whole thing with "Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved." I guess you could say his political correctness was "out the window" and praise God for that. When they saw the courage of Peter and John they realized they had been with Jesus and evidence of the man being healed was confirmed by the lame man standing there healed. I love their next statement in verse 16 "What are we going to do with these guys?" The miracle was undeniable. So, they called in Peter and John and told them not to speak about Jesus anymore. Peter and John told them they could do whatever they wanted, but they were going to keep proclaiming the truth of salvation through Jesus Christ. So the leaders threatened them one more time and then let them go! In verse 23 it says "Peter and John went back to their own people and reported all that the chief priests and elders had said to them." When the people heard their words they lifted a prayer to the Lord and quoted Psalm 2:1-2 and acknowledged that God had spoken through the power of the Holy Spirit, through David and now they wanted the Holy Spirit to speak through them.
As believers we should respond to God doing a mighty work through a person or people and respond by getting on board and doing the same. If we are to mirror what these early believers did then we are to do the same and do it with an urgency because the day of the Lord's return is nearer than then. If we would respond to God moving in a person or persons in such a way as to rejoice instead of being jealous or critical there is no limit to what God could do through us as a result. Something else happened among the people after this great movement of God. They prayed for God to enable them through the power of the Holy Spirit to be bold like Peter and John and scripture says that "the place was shaken." What will shake up a dead church? Just a few of God's people praying for boldness and believing in the power of the Holy Spirit and letting go and letting God. It has been said, "If the church would let go, God could start an awakening!" I believe it! It is my prayer that all believers will capture the reality of the power of the Holy Spirit and fall into line with Godly men and women who are living the disciples life every day and join hands to call for a great awakening in the church of God. That will result in a "church on fire." Those who would put the fire out will be overrun with the power of God and will soon get with it or get out of the way. Denomination will have "nothing" to do with it. Church politics will have "nothing" to do with it. Schooling "at one of our fine seminaries" will have "nothing" to do with it. Acts 4:13 - "When they saw the courage of Peter and John and realized they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished and they took note that these men had been with Jesus." We have put our lives in with the wrong people and it is time to upset the apple cart and get back to doing what God intended the church to do. Have courage and lift up the name of Jesus, like we know Him. And by the way, I do know Him and I am thankful He is in my life.
The boldness of Peter and John inspired the early church and we have been living off of their boldness for many years. That time is over and we must take our stand in battle and boldly take steps to insure that his precious gospel is never compromised again. We have taken our victory lap when we accepted Jesus and our church history shows a boldness to follow Jesus and lift up His Name through the fifties, the sixties, and the seventies. The falling away was made evident in our lack of boldness through the eighties, nineties, and now 2000's. We need to right the ship and get back on course to finish strong for our Savior. We are disciples and disciples serve their master. Jesus is our Master and our Master is the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. How can we lose? We cannot!! If you are in a church where the status quo is the theology of the day, make waves with God's Word and pray for the Holy Spirit to move as never before and He will!! Boldness is contagious, but we have to have it for it to be caught. Look there. Another minute just clicked off the clock. Ephesians 5:16 "Be redeeming the time, because the days are evil." It is time to do it NOW! If we don't from this moment forward we are sinning!! Oh yeah, no one told you about that did they? To know what is right and not doing it is a sin. James 4:17....look it up.
The Pilgrimage continues...
David Warren
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