“And Jacob went down to Egypt and there passed away, he and our fathers.…But as the time of the promise was approaching which God had assured to Abraham, the people increased and multiplied in Egypt, until there arose another king over Egypt who knew nothing about Joseph.“ It was he (the other king) who took shrewd advantage of our race, and mistreated our fathers so that they would expose their infants and they would not survive. And it was at this time that Moses was born; and he was lovely in the sight of God; and he was nurtured three months in his father’s home.” Acts 7:15-20
The birth of Moses was timely, as were the births of John the Baptist, Jesus Christ, the Apostle Paul, Noah, David and all men and women whose lives have contributed to the fulfillment of God’s plan. God’s plan unfolds throughout history with continuing developments, and as it does, God provides future leaders to carry out His purposes on earth.
Moses spent the first 40 years of his life as a prince in Egypt. He spent the second 40 years as a shepherd in the wilderness. These experiences of his life came together as leadership qualities in the final 40 years, after God had commissioned him to lead Israel to freedom.
David, Israel’s greatest king spent his boyhood and young adulthood tending his father’s flocks. There he learned responsibility and humility, and he came to have an intimate knowledge of God.
Saul of Tarsus was a legalist, a Pharisee and a persecutor of the Church. Then he received Christ. He became the Apostle Paul, the greatest theologian of the Christian Church. Who better to understand the futility of legalism? Who better to cheerfully withstand persecution? “He loves more who has been forgiven more.” Luke 7:47
Some believers have had the great good fortune to have been brought up by Christian parents in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. Others have “scratched and clawed” their way through life until coming to understand the issue in salvation which is faith in the person and work of Jesus Christ. Believing in Him, they were saved.
God knows your circumstances. He can take all your accumulated experiences and make them work together for your good, your blessing and the benefit of those to whom you minister. “All things work together for good to those who love God; to those who are the called according to His purpose.” Romans 8:28.
Yes, that’s ALL THINGS.
There are children yet to be born who will accomplish great things in the plan of God. He knows who they are. Jesus Christ controls history. Every person has the opportunity to be saved; every person can have a relationship with Christ, no matter his situation. Every believer has opportunity to learn and live the Christian way of life. God’s timing is perfect, in this generation and the next and the next. He is preparing His chosen ones to meet the requirements, to perform the jobs He has assigned them. Exodus 3:13:
“Then Moses said to God, ‘Behold, I am going to the sons of Israel, and I shall say to them, the God of your fathers has sent me to you.’”
Thursday, September 25, 2014
Thursday, September 18, 2014
A Great Persecution
In Acts Chapter 6 we are told it had become necessary to choose deacons to do the "grunt" work of the Church, so that the apostles could devote their time to prayer and preaching. Seven men were chosen, ordained, and straightway went to work, taking care of details.
The word of God kept on spreading; and the number of the disciples continued to increase greatly in Jerusalem, and a great many of the priests were becoming obedient to the faith. Acts 6:7
The Word was doing its work throughout Jerusalem, even being believed by some of the priests. One of the deacons was Stephen. Filled with the Holy Spirit, Stephen stood one day and delivered a sermon. His message (Acts 6:8-Ch. 7) included the entire history of Israel, through the death of Jesus:
“You men who are stiff-necked and uncircumcised in heart and ears are always resisting the Holy Spirit; you are doing just as your fathers did. Which one of the prophets did your fathers not persecute? They killed those who had previously announced the coming of the Righteous One, whose betrayers and murderers you have now become; you who received the law as ordained by angels, and yet did not keep it.” Acts 7:51-53
Peter had been repeatedly telling the religious leaders of Israel this. Now Stephen was telling them. They not only neglected their responsibility to God's Word, they had murdered His Son!
But they cried out with a loud voice, and covered their ears and rushed at him with one impulse. When they had driven him out of the city, they began stoning him; and the witnesses laid aside their robes at the feet of a young man named Saul. They went on stoning Stephen as he called on the Lord and said, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit!” Then falling on his knees, he cried out with a loud voice, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them!” Having said this, he fell asleep. Acts 7:57-60.
After he had delivered his eloquent, scathing message to the Jewish mob, Stephen's work was done. He prayed for their forgiveness and breathed his last. There was mention of a young man present there who held the coats of the stoning mob. His name was Saul. He was from Tarsus. He was a fervent, extremely religious Pharisee who took great pleasure in the death of this Church deacon. There would be much more written by and about Saul in the years following. Jesus had important plans for him. His work for Jesus would begin, though, right here. He would lead the charge of savage persecution against the Church of Jesus. Jesus had told the believers: "you will be witnesses to me...to the ends of the earth." They were, for sure. It started at Jerusalem and fanned out across the world, as these persecuted believers were hounded by the legalists who were as intent upon killing all of the Church as they had been intent upon killing Jesus.
Saul was in hearty agreement with putting him to death.
And on that day a great persecution began against the church in Jerusalem, and they were all scattered throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles. Acts 8:1
They were not silenced, however. Instead, they were inflamed with Holy Spirit power and determined to tell the world about Jesus, the Savior.
The word of God kept on spreading; and the number of the disciples continued to increase greatly in Jerusalem, and a great many of the priests were becoming obedient to the faith. Acts 6:7
The Word was doing its work throughout Jerusalem, even being believed by some of the priests. One of the deacons was Stephen. Filled with the Holy Spirit, Stephen stood one day and delivered a sermon. His message (Acts 6:8-Ch. 7) included the entire history of Israel, through the death of Jesus:
“You men who are stiff-necked and uncircumcised in heart and ears are always resisting the Holy Spirit; you are doing just as your fathers did. Which one of the prophets did your fathers not persecute? They killed those who had previously announced the coming of the Righteous One, whose betrayers and murderers you have now become; you who received the law as ordained by angels, and yet did not keep it.” Acts 7:51-53
Peter had been repeatedly telling the religious leaders of Israel this. Now Stephen was telling them. They not only neglected their responsibility to God's Word, they had murdered His Son!
But they cried out with a loud voice, and covered their ears and rushed at him with one impulse. When they had driven him out of the city, they began stoning him; and the witnesses laid aside their robes at the feet of a young man named Saul. They went on stoning Stephen as he called on the Lord and said, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit!” Then falling on his knees, he cried out with a loud voice, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them!” Having said this, he fell asleep. Acts 7:57-60.
After he had delivered his eloquent, scathing message to the Jewish mob, Stephen's work was done. He prayed for their forgiveness and breathed his last. There was mention of a young man present there who held the coats of the stoning mob. His name was Saul. He was from Tarsus. He was a fervent, extremely religious Pharisee who took great pleasure in the death of this Church deacon. There would be much more written by and about Saul in the years following. Jesus had important plans for him. His work for Jesus would begin, though, right here. He would lead the charge of savage persecution against the Church of Jesus. Jesus had told the believers: "you will be witnesses to me...to the ends of the earth." They were, for sure. It started at Jerusalem and fanned out across the world, as these persecuted believers were hounded by the legalists who were as intent upon killing all of the Church as they had been intent upon killing Jesus.
Saul was in hearty agreement with putting him to death.
And on that day a great persecution began against the church in Jerusalem, and they were all scattered throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles. Acts 8:1
They were not silenced, however. Instead, they were inflamed with Holy Spirit power and determined to tell the world about Jesus, the Savior.
Thursday, September 11, 2014
Legalism vs Logic
The apostles to the Church continued to do what they must do; what they could not help but do, after Jesus had ascended and the Holy Spirit had descended, indwelling each believer in the new dispensation. They continued to preach and teach and heal in the Name of Jesus. They kept being monitored and threatened by the religious leaders, who were determined to stop this movement. These men were not afraid of them, however, which made that a tough job for the religio-political bosses who were accustomed to having things their way. They really didn't know what to do about it.
When they had brought them, they stood them before the Council. The high priest questioned them, saying, “We gave you strict orders not to continue teaching in this name, and yet, you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching and intend to bring this man’s blood upon us.” But Peter and the apostles answered, “We must obey God rather than men. Acts 5:27-29
But when they heard this, they were cut to the quick and intended to kill them. But a Pharisee named Gamaliel, a teacher of the Law, respected by all the people, stood up in the Council and gave orders to put the men outside for a short time. And he said to them, “Men of Israel, take care what you propose to do with these men. For some time ago Theudas rose up, claiming to be somebody, and a group of about four hundred men joined up with him. But he was killed, and all who followed him were dispersed and came to nothing. After this man, Judas of Galilee rose up in the days of the census and drew away some people after him; he too perished, and all those who followed him were scattered. So in the present case, I say to you, stay away from these men and let them alone, for if this plan or action is of men, it will be overthrown; but if it is of God, you will not be able to overthrow them; or else you may even be found fighting against God.”
They took his advice; and after calling the apostles in, they flogged them and ordered them not to speak in the name of Jesus, and then released them. So they went on their way from the presence of the Council, rejoicing that they had been considered worthy to suffer shame for His name. And every day, in the temple and from house to house, they kept right on teaching and preaching Jesus as the Christ. Acts 5:33-42
The beginning of the persecutions of the Church at Jerusalem only fueled the Holy Spirit's power among the believers. Their testimony became even bolder and more frequent. They stayed together, sharing assets and supplies for the benefit of those among them who might need assistance, and set up an order in the Church. Right away, the Church had to exercise discipline upon two believers who were dishonest in their financial dealings and trying to gain favor with the congregation. That resulted in the sin unto death for both of them, for having publicly lied to the Holy Spirit. Sin unto death removes a believer from this earthly life because of unrepented carnality and bad influence. It is not the same as the unforgivable sin, which can only be committed by unbelievers who reject Jesus Christ and blaspheme the Holy Spirit. Such deception by these believers was totally unnecessary, for they were under no coercion to contribute all their money, which was what they claimed to be doing. They were grandstanding for approbation. They were manifesting pride. (Acts 5:1-11) That was a housecleaning detail in the infant Church. Public evangelism and healing was what got the attention of the Jews.
The apostles kept preaching and healing. The multitudes kept coming to them and "being added to the Lord, both men and women." Acts 5:14. And the religious leaders kept becoming more and more outraged and desperate to do away with these men. They jailed them and an angel set them free to continue their ministries in the temple. They were brought back before the council. The high priest was frantically demanding: You have been ordered to stop teaching in this name! You have filled Jerusalem with your doctrine (KJV), and here's the real problem--you are blaming us for his death! Bingo. In every speech Peter had made he had plainly stated "this Jesus, Whom you killed.." They were sick of that accusation, but they were going to keep hearing it every time Peter spoke. There was a simple solution: "believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and be saved." The conspiracy and the betrayal and the murder were forgivable ("they know not what they do"), but total rejection of the atonement of Christ cannot be forgiven.
Peter made it very clear once again: "we must obey God rather than men." And then he hit 'em again with their responsibility for the death of Jesus.
What an outrage! These apostles must be silenced. We will have to kill them.
Enter Gamaliel; Pharisee, expert in the law, highly respected scholarly sage. He ordered the apostles to be removed from their presence while the discussion continued. Then he spoke the first logic we've heard from this body of leaders. Logic and legalism don't blend well. They are mutually exclusive. "This is a dangerous situation. You'd be wise to let these men alone. If what they are doing is of men, it will fizzle out just as other such movements have done. If it is of God, they cannot be stopped and you will find yourselves fighting against God." Wow. What a genius!
Well, they couldn't be released without a flogging (!) and being ordered yet again not to speak in the name of Jesus. The stubborn contempt of those legalists is truly amazing. The apostles took their flogging and their release, praising God that He found them worthy to suffer shame for the Lord.
And they kept on preaching.
When they had brought them, they stood them before the Council. The high priest questioned them, saying, “We gave you strict orders not to continue teaching in this name, and yet, you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching and intend to bring this man’s blood upon us.” But Peter and the apostles answered, “We must obey God rather than men. Acts 5:27-29
But when they heard this, they were cut to the quick and intended to kill them. But a Pharisee named Gamaliel, a teacher of the Law, respected by all the people, stood up in the Council and gave orders to put the men outside for a short time. And he said to them, “Men of Israel, take care what you propose to do with these men. For some time ago Theudas rose up, claiming to be somebody, and a group of about four hundred men joined up with him. But he was killed, and all who followed him were dispersed and came to nothing. After this man, Judas of Galilee rose up in the days of the census and drew away some people after him; he too perished, and all those who followed him were scattered. So in the present case, I say to you, stay away from these men and let them alone, for if this plan or action is of men, it will be overthrown; but if it is of God, you will not be able to overthrow them; or else you may even be found fighting against God.”
They took his advice; and after calling the apostles in, they flogged them and ordered them not to speak in the name of Jesus, and then released them. So they went on their way from the presence of the Council, rejoicing that they had been considered worthy to suffer shame for His name. And every day, in the temple and from house to house, they kept right on teaching and preaching Jesus as the Christ. Acts 5:33-42
The beginning of the persecutions of the Church at Jerusalem only fueled the Holy Spirit's power among the believers. Their testimony became even bolder and more frequent. They stayed together, sharing assets and supplies for the benefit of those among them who might need assistance, and set up an order in the Church. Right away, the Church had to exercise discipline upon two believers who were dishonest in their financial dealings and trying to gain favor with the congregation. That resulted in the sin unto death for both of them, for having publicly lied to the Holy Spirit. Sin unto death removes a believer from this earthly life because of unrepented carnality and bad influence. It is not the same as the unforgivable sin, which can only be committed by unbelievers who reject Jesus Christ and blaspheme the Holy Spirit. Such deception by these believers was totally unnecessary, for they were under no coercion to contribute all their money, which was what they claimed to be doing. They were grandstanding for approbation. They were manifesting pride. (Acts 5:1-11) That was a housecleaning detail in the infant Church. Public evangelism and healing was what got the attention of the Jews.
The apostles kept preaching and healing. The multitudes kept coming to them and "being added to the Lord, both men and women." Acts 5:14. And the religious leaders kept becoming more and more outraged and desperate to do away with these men. They jailed them and an angel set them free to continue their ministries in the temple. They were brought back before the council. The high priest was frantically demanding: You have been ordered to stop teaching in this name! You have filled Jerusalem with your doctrine (KJV), and here's the real problem--you are blaming us for his death! Bingo. In every speech Peter had made he had plainly stated "this Jesus, Whom you killed.." They were sick of that accusation, but they were going to keep hearing it every time Peter spoke. There was a simple solution: "believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and be saved." The conspiracy and the betrayal and the murder were forgivable ("they know not what they do"), but total rejection of the atonement of Christ cannot be forgiven.
Peter made it very clear once again: "we must obey God rather than men." And then he hit 'em again with their responsibility for the death of Jesus.
What an outrage! These apostles must be silenced. We will have to kill them.
Enter Gamaliel; Pharisee, expert in the law, highly respected scholarly sage. He ordered the apostles to be removed from their presence while the discussion continued. Then he spoke the first logic we've heard from this body of leaders. Logic and legalism don't blend well. They are mutually exclusive. "This is a dangerous situation. You'd be wise to let these men alone. If what they are doing is of men, it will fizzle out just as other such movements have done. If it is of God, they cannot be stopped and you will find yourselves fighting against God." Wow. What a genius!
Well, they couldn't be released without a flogging (!) and being ordered yet again not to speak in the name of Jesus. The stubborn contempt of those legalists is truly amazing. The apostles took their flogging and their release, praising God that He found them worthy to suffer shame for the Lord.
And they kept on preaching.
Thursday, September 4, 2014
No Other Name
In Acts Chapter 3 Luke gives us the account of Peter and John healing a lame man through the authority of Jesus Christ the Nazarene. Of course, the man himself and the crowd observing were astounded by this event. Peter made it clear that it was not by the apostles' power that this was done, but by the name (authority) of Jesus, Whom they had crucified.
As chapter 4 begins, the temple officials had decided they could not tolerate the apostles proclaiming salvation through Jesus Christ. The men must be jailed and silenced. They were a little too late, though, because Acts 4:4 tells us that already 5,000 of those who heard the message had believed. Nevertheless, the religious leaders put the men on trial, demanding to know "by what power, or in what name, have you done this?" (Acts 4:7). In the filling of the Holy Spirit, Peter replied:
"..let it be known to all of you and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead—by this name this man stands here before you in good health. He is the STONE WHICH WAS REJECTED by you, THE BUILDERS, but WHICH BECAME THE CHIEF CORNER stone. And there is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among men by which we must be saved.” Acts 4:10-12
Acts 4:12 is among my top five favorite scriptures. There is no denying the absoluteness of it. Anyone who thinks there are "many ways" to God does not know or believe the Bible, for in the Bible Jesus is presented as the ONLY way. Wise sages, brilliant philosophers, heroic champions, extreme ascetics, "good" men come and go, but only one person has paid the penalty for your sins, died and been resurrected to demonstrate power over death. Only one name is given Who is the provider of our salvation. Jesus. You cannot rationalize this. He, Himself said it: “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me." John 14:6. Another of the top five. You can't do it yourself. No one else except Jesus can do it for you. So, who you gonna call?
Israel's leaders couldn't stop Jesus the Man from teaching and miraculously healing those who came to Him for help. Now that they had "killed" Him, the miraculous gifts were being multiplied in His apostles and throughout the Church (John 12:24). They still could not stop it. It has always been beyond their control, but the legalists don't ever seem to grasp that reality. They keep trying to plug the opening that the glory is shining through. "The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it." John 1:5. The light always finds an outlet and bursts through.
What could the religionists say? Nothing. They recognized these apostles as being Jesus' men, and knew that they had not had professional scholarly training, yet spoke eloquently about the scriptures, applying the Old Testament prophesies to their Master, Jesus of Nazareth. So, they had to confer among themselves:
..saying, “What shall we do with these men? For the fact that a noteworthy miracle has taken place through them is apparent to all who live in Jerusalem, and we cannot deny it. But so that it will not spread any further among the people, let us warn them to speak no longer to any man in this name.” (Can you believe the arrogance? These Galileans are performing miracles in their midst and they are going to WARN them?!) And when they had summoned them, they commanded them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus. But Peter and John answered and said to them, “Whether it is right in the sight of God to give heed to you rather than to God, you be the judge; for we cannot stop speaking about what we have seen and heard.” Acts 4:16-20
The Holy Spirit was indwelling and filling these men. They had a mission to fulfill and no man would be able to silence them. God's Word and God's commission take priority over the demands of the world. Having entered into the work they had been called and equipped to do, they could only keep preaching. This was their destiny.
As chapter 4 begins, the temple officials had decided they could not tolerate the apostles proclaiming salvation through Jesus Christ. The men must be jailed and silenced. They were a little too late, though, because Acts 4:4 tells us that already 5,000 of those who heard the message had believed. Nevertheless, the religious leaders put the men on trial, demanding to know "by what power, or in what name, have you done this?" (Acts 4:7). In the filling of the Holy Spirit, Peter replied:
"..let it be known to all of you and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead—by this name this man stands here before you in good health. He is the STONE WHICH WAS REJECTED by you, THE BUILDERS, but WHICH BECAME THE CHIEF CORNER stone. And there is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among men by which we must be saved.” Acts 4:10-12
Acts 4:12 is among my top five favorite scriptures. There is no denying the absoluteness of it. Anyone who thinks there are "many ways" to God does not know or believe the Bible, for in the Bible Jesus is presented as the ONLY way. Wise sages, brilliant philosophers, heroic champions, extreme ascetics, "good" men come and go, but only one person has paid the penalty for your sins, died and been resurrected to demonstrate power over death. Only one name is given Who is the provider of our salvation. Jesus. You cannot rationalize this. He, Himself said it: “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me." John 14:6. Another of the top five. You can't do it yourself. No one else except Jesus can do it for you. So, who you gonna call?
Israel's leaders couldn't stop Jesus the Man from teaching and miraculously healing those who came to Him for help. Now that they had "killed" Him, the miraculous gifts were being multiplied in His apostles and throughout the Church (John 12:24). They still could not stop it. It has always been beyond their control, but the legalists don't ever seem to grasp that reality. They keep trying to plug the opening that the glory is shining through. "The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it." John 1:5. The light always finds an outlet and bursts through.
What could the religionists say? Nothing. They recognized these apostles as being Jesus' men, and knew that they had not had professional scholarly training, yet spoke eloquently about the scriptures, applying the Old Testament prophesies to their Master, Jesus of Nazareth. So, they had to confer among themselves:
..saying, “What shall we do with these men? For the fact that a noteworthy miracle has taken place through them is apparent to all who live in Jerusalem, and we cannot deny it. But so that it will not spread any further among the people, let us warn them to speak no longer to any man in this name.” (Can you believe the arrogance? These Galileans are performing miracles in their midst and they are going to WARN them?!) And when they had summoned them, they commanded them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus. But Peter and John answered and said to them, “Whether it is right in the sight of God to give heed to you rather than to God, you be the judge; for we cannot stop speaking about what we have seen and heard.” Acts 4:16-20
The Holy Spirit was indwelling and filling these men. They had a mission to fulfill and no man would be able to silence them. God's Word and God's commission take priority over the demands of the world. Having entered into the work they had been called and equipped to do, they could only keep preaching. This was their destiny.
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