Read the Bible in a Year (14NOV19)

DAILY REMINDER – Today, November 14’s Bible reading is Acts 4-6.

NEXT DAY REMINDER – Tomorrow, November 15’s Bible reading is Acts 7-8. May God bless you with the reading of His WORD.

ACTS MOMENT – (14NOV19) “Then the high priest and all his associates, who were members of the party of the Sadducees, were filled with jealousy. They arrested the apostles and put them in the public jail” (Acts 5:18-18).

The religious leaders were deeply disturbed by the message that Peter and John were teaching. They did not like the idea of them teaching about the Man whom they had sent to the cross. They made the mistake of thinking that once they had rid themselves of their believed nemesis, they were going to be done with those who followed Him. Nevertheless, they were wrong. The Bible says: “But many who heard the message believed; so the number of men who believed grew to about five thousand” (Acts 4:4). The religious leaders used threats, floggings, false accusers (in the case of Stephen), and jail to put an end to the apostles’ testimony of Jesus’ death and resurrection, but the more they tried, the more converts the Holy Spirit brought into the fold. 

 

Threats made by the religious leaders were unable to stop the apostles from talking about Jesus. The Bible says: “Then they called them in again and commanded them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus.  But Peter and John replied, ‘Which is right in God’s eyes: to listen to you, or to him? You be the judges! As for us, we cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard’ ” (Acts 4:18-20). The religious leaders had the apostles physically beat, but that still did not stop them from sharing the Good News. The Bible says: “…They called the apostles in and had them flogged. Then they ordered them not to speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go. The apostles left the Sanhedrin, rejoicing because they had been counted worthy of suffering disgrace for the Name” (Acts 5:40b-41).  Even jail was unable to stop the apostles because an angel of the Lord freed them from their confinement, and they were told to go preach some more. The Bible says: “But during the night an angel of the Lord opened the doors of the jail and brought them out. ^‘Go, stand in the temple courts,’ he said, ‘and tell the people all about this new life’ ” (Acts 5:19-20). Nothing that the religious leaders could throw at the apostles and those who believed in Jesus could stop or block the work that the Holy Spirit was doing – including death.

 

The problem with the religious leaders was a matter of jealousy and envy. They did not like the fact that the apostles were getting attention that they so desired. This was their problem with both Jesus and John the Baptist as well. They were spiritually blinded by their need to succeed in their cravings for validation that anyone who received attention was perceived by them to be a threat. The only threat, however, that they faced was the threat of spiritual death and eternal loss by their own refusal to accept Jesus as the Son of God. The Bible says: “Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved” (Acts 4:12). They failed to see that the laws God had given to Moses was not a right of passage for them to enter Heaven but was only a foundation that led to Christ and the work that He would do on the cross. Their works of the Law could not save them, but belief in the One who gave the Law could. Unfortunately, their hearts were unable to accept Jesus or His followers. The Bible says: “Jesus is ‘the stone you builders rejected, which has become the cornerstone’ ” (Acts 4:11).

 

As the church grew, so did their concern for one another. Many of them sold their property to give to other believers who were in need. This allowed for everyone’s needs to be met within their believing community. The Bible says: “…there were no needy persons among them. For from time to time those who owned land or houses sold them, brought the money from the sales and put it at the apostles’ feet, and it was distributed to anyone who had need” (Acts 4:34-35). So, when the couple Ananias and Sapphira withheld money from the property they sold and lied about it, God was not pleased. They volunteered to sell some of their property to give to those who were in need, but when the time came for them to give the apostles’ the money, they conspired together to withhold a portion of the proceeds. Consequently, they were cursed by God and died as a result of their lie. The property had been theirs to do with whatever they wanted prior to taking an oath, but when you make a vow to the Lord, He expects you to keep it. The Bible says: “Do not be quick with your mouth, do not be hasty in your heart to utter anything before God… When you make a vow to God, do not delay to fulfill it. He has no pleasure in fools; fulfill your vow. It is better not to make a vow than to make one and not fulfill it. Do not let your mouth lead you into sin. And do not protest to the temple messenger, ‘My vow was a mistake.’ Why should God be angry at what you say and destroy the work of your hands? Much dreaming and many words are meaningless. Therefore fear God” (Ecclesiastes 5:2, 4-7). The Lord says that He does not change, so as the body of Christ, we are to be mindful that when we make a vow either to each other and/or God, we are to not do so lightly, or it is best to not make it at all. Therefore, let us represent Christ in all that we do for we are ambassadors of Christ. Something to ponder….