GOD or Man?
GOD or Man?
Have you done any good that later came to bite you? In other words, has a good deed you performed been used against you? Well that is the case with the apostles as we study the aftermath of the healing of the lame man.
God has used Peter and John to heal a man who from birth has been lame for forty years. The people saw it and marveled and God used it as a platform to allow Peter to preach the gospel and as a result, five thousand people believed in Jesus. (Acts 4:4). We can now see God’s purpose in healing the crippled man so that many would believe and turn to God. There is God’s purpose in every healing. What God was doing did not sit well with the Jewish authorities who had opposed Jesus and aided in his crucifixion. Now they want to stop the work of the Holy Spirit that is now establishing the Church of God. Opposition has come. Peter and John have been arrested and put in jail. Will the disciples obey God or Man? We all must face this choice in life. Maybe you are making this choice even now.
Acts 4: 5-20
5The next day the rulers, elders and teachers of the law met in Jerusalem. 6Annas the high priest was there, and so were Caiaphas, John, Alexander and the other men of the high priest's family. 7They had Peter and John brought before them and began to question them: "By what power or what name did you do this?"
8Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them: "Rulers and elders of the people! 9If we are being called to account today for an act of kindness shown to a cripple and are asked how he was healed, 10then know this, you and all the people of Israel: It is by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified but whom God raised from the dead, that this man stands before you healed. 11He is
" 'the stone you builders rejected,
which has become the capstone.[a]'[b] 12Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved."
13When they saw the courage of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished and they took note that these men had been with Jesus. 14But since they could see the man who had been healed standing there with them, there was nothing they could say. 15So they ordered them to withdraw from the Sanhedrin and then conferred together. 16"What are we going to do with these men?" they asked. "Everybody living in Jerusalem knows they have done an outstanding miracle, and we cannot deny it. 17But to stop this thing from spreading any further among the people, we must warn these men to speak no longer to anyone in this name."
18Then they called them in again and commanded them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus. 19But Peter and John replied, "Judge for yourselves whether it is right in God's sight to obey you rather than God. 20For we cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard."
Here are my observations in addition to the ones you may have:
1. The Jewish leaders are asking questions of the disciples for which they already know the answer. For more than three years, the leaders have seen Jesus perform all kinds of miracles including raising the dead. More than that, they know that Jesus rose from the dead himself. So, what do they really want?
2. Opposition does not come against what is not real. The enemy does not waste time to challenge what is not real and a threat to Satan’s kingdom. Jesus is a formidable force against the kingdom of darkness, so the Jewish leaders opposed him. "Everybody living in Jerusalem knows they have done an outstanding miracle, and we cannot deny it.” The enemy will oppose those things that are true and real in our lives. So watch out. The only thing real in our lives is our relationship with Jesus.
3. The response to any opposition must be in the same manner as those exhibited by Peter and John. “Peter filled with the Holy Spirit said”. Our response to any opposition and challenge must be inspired by the Holy Spirit otherwise we are just blowing breeze. Jesus had already warned the disciples that they were going to face persecution but that He will give them what to say when that time comes. A Holy Spirit filled life is one that only speaks after listening and hearing the Father speak to him or her. Are you speaking as one filled with the Holy Spirit or are you speaking from your head?
4. “Salvation is found in no one else” except in Jesus. Let’s agree with those who accuse us Christians as being narrow minded. Yes, we are and our Christ is the only savior. There is no need to apologize. Jesus himself said “I am the way, the truth and the life”. There is no other way. These days, in conforming to the pressure of being tolerant, some Christians are making Christ share the same platform as the other religious leaders like Muhammad, Buhda and etc. We respect the other religions but Jesus is the only truth and He is God.
5. Is anyone taking note that you and I “have been with Jesus”? The Jewish leaders noted that the apostles who were uneducated had been with Jesus and that was the source of their wisdom. To be with Jesus means you have been a disciple not just a believer. Disciples replicate their master’s character and behavior. These days, we have believers in Jesus who are not disciples. We are called to be and make disciples. Disciples listen to and obey their master. We only want a Jesus who will answer our prayers and give us everything we want but not obey His still small voice. Are you a disciple and a follower of Jesus Christ?
6. Only true disciples make the same choice as that of their Master. Jesus chose to die rather than appease man because He knew that His purpose on earth was non-negotiable. Likewise, the apostles chose to obey God rather than man. For us to make this kind of choice, we must understand why Jesus has apprehended us – to advance His kingdom. This is why we exist as Christians. What are you living for? Can you and I go the length of saying, “"Judge for yourselves whether it is right in God's sight to obey you rather than God. 20For we cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard."
7. The obstacle to making the right choice in the face of opposition is lack of hearing. Faith comes by hearing the word of God. When we are full of God’s word (filled with the Holy Spirit), we operate in faith. The fear of the consequences of obedience is minimized while God is maximized. Let’s agree, sometimes there may be adverse consequences to obeying God but God is with us when we make the right choice for Him. Let’s not stop being kind even after being misunderstood and opposed. The apostles did not. They continued and even faced greater persecution as we will read in the later chapters of Acts.
I don’t know what you are facing right now but if you and I will stop and listen to God, we will respond correctly to the challenge if we obey the voice of God. Will you spend your entire life pleasing man (parents, husband, wife, boss, children, or even government) rather than doing what God wants you to do? We must make the right choice – and obey God and not man. Opposition will also drive us to pray. When the disciples prayed (Acts 4:31), the “house was shaken and they were filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God with boldness”. Let’s pray and see what God can do. Amen.
Have you done any good that later came to bite you? In other words, has a good deed you performed been used against you? Well that is the case with the apostles as we study the aftermath of the healing of the lame man.
God has used Peter and John to heal a man who from birth has been lame for forty years. The people saw it and marveled and God used it as a platform to allow Peter to preach the gospel and as a result, five thousand people believed in Jesus. (Acts 4:4). We can now see God’s purpose in healing the crippled man so that many would believe and turn to God. There is God’s purpose in every healing. What God was doing did not sit well with the Jewish authorities who had opposed Jesus and aided in his crucifixion. Now they want to stop the work of the Holy Spirit that is now establishing the Church of God. Opposition has come. Peter and John have been arrested and put in jail. Will the disciples obey God or Man? We all must face this choice in life. Maybe you are making this choice even now.
Acts 4: 5-20
5The next day the rulers, elders and teachers of the law met in Jerusalem. 6Annas the high priest was there, and so were Caiaphas, John, Alexander and the other men of the high priest's family. 7They had Peter and John brought before them and began to question them: "By what power or what name did you do this?"
8Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them: "Rulers and elders of the people! 9If we are being called to account today for an act of kindness shown to a cripple and are asked how he was healed, 10then know this, you and all the people of Israel: It is by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified but whom God raised from the dead, that this man stands before you healed. 11He is
" 'the stone you builders rejected,
which has become the capstone.[a]'[b] 12Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved."
13When they saw the courage of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished and they took note that these men had been with Jesus. 14But since they could see the man who had been healed standing there with them, there was nothing they could say. 15So they ordered them to withdraw from the Sanhedrin and then conferred together. 16"What are we going to do with these men?" they asked. "Everybody living in Jerusalem knows they have done an outstanding miracle, and we cannot deny it. 17But to stop this thing from spreading any further among the people, we must warn these men to speak no longer to anyone in this name."
18Then they called them in again and commanded them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus. 19But Peter and John replied, "Judge for yourselves whether it is right in God's sight to obey you rather than God. 20For we cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard."
Here are my observations in addition to the ones you may have:
1. The Jewish leaders are asking questions of the disciples for which they already know the answer. For more than three years, the leaders have seen Jesus perform all kinds of miracles including raising the dead. More than that, they know that Jesus rose from the dead himself. So, what do they really want?
2. Opposition does not come against what is not real. The enemy does not waste time to challenge what is not real and a threat to Satan’s kingdom. Jesus is a formidable force against the kingdom of darkness, so the Jewish leaders opposed him. "Everybody living in Jerusalem knows they have done an outstanding miracle, and we cannot deny it.” The enemy will oppose those things that are true and real in our lives. So watch out. The only thing real in our lives is our relationship with Jesus.
3. The response to any opposition must be in the same manner as those exhibited by Peter and John. “Peter filled with the Holy Spirit said”. Our response to any opposition and challenge must be inspired by the Holy Spirit otherwise we are just blowing breeze. Jesus had already warned the disciples that they were going to face persecution but that He will give them what to say when that time comes. A Holy Spirit filled life is one that only speaks after listening and hearing the Father speak to him or her. Are you speaking as one filled with the Holy Spirit or are you speaking from your head?
4. “Salvation is found in no one else” except in Jesus. Let’s agree with those who accuse us Christians as being narrow minded. Yes, we are and our Christ is the only savior. There is no need to apologize. Jesus himself said “I am the way, the truth and the life”. There is no other way. These days, in conforming to the pressure of being tolerant, some Christians are making Christ share the same platform as the other religious leaders like Muhammad, Buhda and etc. We respect the other religions but Jesus is the only truth and He is God.
5. Is anyone taking note that you and I “have been with Jesus”? The Jewish leaders noted that the apostles who were uneducated had been with Jesus and that was the source of their wisdom. To be with Jesus means you have been a disciple not just a believer. Disciples replicate their master’s character and behavior. These days, we have believers in Jesus who are not disciples. We are called to be and make disciples. Disciples listen to and obey their master. We only want a Jesus who will answer our prayers and give us everything we want but not obey His still small voice. Are you a disciple and a follower of Jesus Christ?
6. Only true disciples make the same choice as that of their Master. Jesus chose to die rather than appease man because He knew that His purpose on earth was non-negotiable. Likewise, the apostles chose to obey God rather than man. For us to make this kind of choice, we must understand why Jesus has apprehended us – to advance His kingdom. This is why we exist as Christians. What are you living for? Can you and I go the length of saying, “"Judge for yourselves whether it is right in God's sight to obey you rather than God. 20For we cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard."
7. The obstacle to making the right choice in the face of opposition is lack of hearing. Faith comes by hearing the word of God. When we are full of God’s word (filled with the Holy Spirit), we operate in faith. The fear of the consequences of obedience is minimized while God is maximized. Let’s agree, sometimes there may be adverse consequences to obeying God but God is with us when we make the right choice for Him. Let’s not stop being kind even after being misunderstood and opposed. The apostles did not. They continued and even faced greater persecution as we will read in the later chapters of Acts.
I don’t know what you are facing right now but if you and I will stop and listen to God, we will respond correctly to the challenge if we obey the voice of God. Will you spend your entire life pleasing man (parents, husband, wife, boss, children, or even government) rather than doing what God wants you to do? We must make the right choice – and obey God and not man. Opposition will also drive us to pray. When the disciples prayed (Acts 4:31), the “house was shaken and they were filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God with boldness”. Let’s pray and see what God can do. Amen.
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