Acts 5:19 But the angel of the Lord by night opened the prison doors, and brought them forth…
Yes my Friends, that’s yet another jailbreak orchestrated by the Lord! Seems that was His specialty. (smile) This time though it was a group of the apostles, disobeying the Jewish elite’s threats to stop preaching Christ, teaching and healing in His Name. Yesterday we heard about Him breaking out Peter from Herod’s clutches, that’s the second time, for he’s also included in this group. Then later on, with Paul and Silas in jail, our God caused an earthquake that shook the very foundations of the prison, so all the prisoners chains were loosed and the doors thrown wide open. (Acts 16:26) But note one thing Friends, on each occasion His Holy Name was praised and glorified. With Bruh Paul and Silas, the keeper of the prison, instead of committing suicide, fearing that all the prisoners had escaped, through Bruh Paul’s quick intervention, he and his whole family were born again, receiving Christ as their Lord and Saviour. (Acts 16:27-36) Per yesterday’s occasion with Peter, after the angel left him, and he’d considered his options, he ended up at Mark’s mother’s house, ‘where many were gathered together praying.’ (Acts 12:12) There was one glitch here though; when Peter knocked at the gate’s door, a young lady, Rhoda, came to answer it. ‘And when she knew Peter’s voice, she opened not the gate for gladness, but ran in, and told how Peter stood before the gate. And they said unto her, Thou art mad. But she constantly affirmed that it was even so. Then they said it is his angel. But Peter continued knocking: and when they had opened the door, and saw him, they were astonished.’ (Acts 12:14-16) That brings to mind Jesus’ words; ‘O ye of little faith.’ (Mat.6: 30) It also leads the scholars to conclude, that though the church prayed fervently, their faith was somewhat lacking, because they had such a hard time believing that Peter was really outside. They either didn’t believe that God would respond with such a miracle, or that He would do it so soon. That, my people, is also a common thing amongst modern day believers. We pray, plead, wish and hope, but oftimes the essential element, true belief, true faith is either not there, or not strong enough. We believe it in some form and fashion, but not completely. But the whole point of faith is to truly believe, before we actually see. That’s not always an easy task, but one we have to come to grips with, if we want to grow and mature in the Christian faith. Now, re Today’s Bit, the local Jewish leaders, the Sanhedrin Council, had already locked up Peter and John overnight for preaching the Word and healing, in particular one man lame from birth. But when brought before them the next day and asked whose name they did it in, Peter waxed oratorical, being filled with the Holy Spirit, saying they were a bunch of greedy, selfish hypocrites, and they healed in the name of Jesus Christ whom they crucified. The stone the builder refused had become the chief cornerstone, and the only way to salvation. (Acts 4:5-12) The fly in the ointment here was the lowly masses, who had been stirred up by the acts and words of John and Peter, and were ready to believe and receive Christ. The leaders feared a riot if they dealt harshly with the apostles, and after privately considering how best to punish them, agreed all they could do was threaten them to stop preaching, teaching and healing in Christ’s name. ‘But Peter and John answered and said unto them, Whether it be right in the sight of God to hearken unto you more than unto God, judge ye. For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard.’ (Acts 4:19-20) After threatening them again, the leaders let them go, but the damage was already done; the man they’d miraculously healed was over forty years old, and everybody knew him since he constantly hung out at the temple entrance, and ‘all men glorified God, for that which was done.’ (Acts 4:21) Ah Friends, those apostles sure had manly parts. Peter and John went back to the group and told them what had happened. ‘And when they heard that, they lifted up their voice to God with one accord, and said, Lord, thou art God, which hast made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and all that in them is….’ And they went on to explain their plight, asking for help and guidance. ‘And now, Lord, behold their threatenings: and grant unto thy servants, that with all boldness they may speak thy word, By stretching forth thine hand to heal; and that signs and wonders may be done by the name of thy holy child Jesus.’ (Acts 4:23-30) Ah Friends, can you imagine the guts, the gumption, the faith it took for them to come before Almighty God and ask for the boldness, the wherewithal to preach His word in the face of the powerful Jewish elite? If we only had half as much faith and parts, the enemy would be running from us or believing, instead of thumbing their noses. But remember Friends, time longer than twine, and a battle won doesn’t guarantee victory in the overall war. Our Leader Jesus is still in control, still at the forefront leading His troops, and once He’s there, anything, no, everything’s possible. Have faith my people! Tomorrow, God willing, we’ll continue this. Much LOVE!…the race is not for the swift…but for the sure of foot…
Yes my Friends, that’s yet another jailbreak orchestrated by the Lord! Seems that was His specialty. (smile) This time though it was a group of the apostles, disobeying the Jewish elite’s threats to stop preaching Christ, teaching and healing in His Name. Yesterday we heard about Him breaking out Peter from Herod’s clutches, that’s the second time, for he’s also included in this group. Then later on, with Paul and Silas in jail, our God caused an earthquake that shook the very foundations of the prison, so all the prisoners chains were loosed and the doors thrown wide open. (Acts 16:26) But note one thing Friends, on each occasion His Holy Name was praised and glorified. With Bruh Paul and Silas, the keeper of the prison, instead of committing suicide, fearing that all the prisoners had escaped, through Bruh Paul’s quick intervention, he and his whole family were born again, receiving Christ as their Lord and Saviour. (Acts 16:27-36) Per yesterday’s occasion with Peter, after the angel left him, and he’d considered his options, he ended up at Mark’s mother’s house, ‘where many were gathered together praying.’ (Acts 12:12) There was one glitch here though; when Peter knocked at the gate’s door, a young lady, Rhoda, came to answer it. ‘And when she knew Peter’s voice, she opened not the gate for gladness, but ran in, and told how Peter stood before the gate. And they said unto her, Thou art mad. But she constantly affirmed that it was even so. Then they said it is his angel. But Peter continued knocking: and when they had opened the door, and saw him, they were astonished.’ (Acts 12:14-16) That brings to mind Jesus’ words; ‘O ye of little faith.’ (Mat.6: 30) It also leads the scholars to conclude, that though the church prayed fervently, their faith was somewhat lacking, because they had such a hard time believing that Peter was really outside. They either didn’t believe that God would respond with such a miracle, or that He would do it so soon. That, my people, is also a common thing amongst modern day believers. We pray, plead, wish and hope, but oftimes the essential element, true belief, true faith is either not there, or not strong enough. We believe it in some form and fashion, but not completely. But the whole point of faith is to truly believe, before we actually see. That’s not always an easy task, but one we have to come to grips with, if we want to grow and mature in the Christian faith. Now, re Today’s Bit, the local Jewish leaders, the Sanhedrin Council, had already locked up Peter and John overnight for preaching the Word and healing, in particular one man lame from birth. But when brought before them the next day and asked whose name they did it in, Peter waxed oratorical, being filled with the Holy Spirit, saying they were a bunch of greedy, selfish hypocrites, and they healed in the name of Jesus Christ whom they crucified. The stone the builder refused had become the chief cornerstone, and the only way to salvation. (Acts 4:5-12) The fly in the ointment here was the lowly masses, who had been stirred up by the acts and words of John and Peter, and were ready to believe and receive Christ. The leaders feared a riot if they dealt harshly with the apostles, and after privately considering how best to punish them, agreed all they could do was threaten them to stop preaching, teaching and healing in Christ’s name. ‘But Peter and John answered and said unto them, Whether it be right in the sight of God to hearken unto you more than unto God, judge ye. For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard.’ (Acts 4:19-20) After threatening them again, the leaders let them go, but the damage was already done; the man they’d miraculously healed was over forty years old, and everybody knew him since he constantly hung out at the temple entrance, and ‘all men glorified God, for that which was done.’ (Acts 4:21) Ah Friends, those apostles sure had manly parts. Peter and John went back to the group and told them what had happened. ‘And when they heard that, they lifted up their voice to God with one accord, and said, Lord, thou art God, which hast made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and all that in them is….’ And they went on to explain their plight, asking for help and guidance. ‘And now, Lord, behold their threatenings: and grant unto thy servants, that with all boldness they may speak thy word, By stretching forth thine hand to heal; and that signs and wonders may be done by the name of thy holy child Jesus.’ (Acts 4:23-30) Ah Friends, can you imagine the guts, the gumption, the faith it took for them to come before Almighty God and ask for the boldness, the wherewithal to preach His word in the face of the powerful Jewish elite? If we only had half as much faith and parts, the enemy would be running from us or believing, instead of thumbing their noses. But remember Friends, time longer than twine, and a battle won doesn’t guarantee victory in the overall war. Our Leader Jesus is still in control, still at the forefront leading His troops, and once He’s there, anything, no, everything’s possible. Have faith my people! Tomorrow, God willing, we’ll continue this. Much LOVE!…the race is not for the swift…but for the sure of foot…
SCRIP-BITS 