The weather didn't turn out to be too bad last night, so I am here to post the Weekend Sermon. We had some freezing mist, but all that it did was glaze the car windows up. The precipitation cleared up before the really cold blast came in. I do not like freezing mist and rain. One year, we had terrible tree damage in an ice storm. It took days to clean up the big mess.
For the past weeks, we have been praying for the people in the Philippines who were affected by the typhoon. Please continue to pray for these people that the Lord would be with them and allow them to get the aid that they need.
Please continue to pray for me. I am grateful that I had writing work this week. However, I still need more work to get out of the financial difficulties that I have been experiencing since my Dad passed away. I hope that things get better soon.
Last week, we focused on the message that Peter preached after the crowd gathered around him when they saw the healing of the lame man. The important thing that I tried to focus on was that Jesus fulfilled the prophecies about the Messiah given by Moses, Samuel, Isaiah and the other prophets. The resurrection of Jesus provided evidence that the message and work of Jesus was acceptable to the Heavenly Father. One day, Jesus will come again and restore all things to the way they were intended to be before sin came into this world. Before that time comes, all of us have to make the choice of whether or not we will believe in the person and work of Jesus Christ. We have the choice to put our faith and trust in Jesus, or we can deny Jesus and follow a different path in life.
After Peter finished his sermon, there was a great response to his message. As the Bible says, God's word will not return to Him void. There were two reactions to Peter's message. Acts 4 verse 4 says that many people heard the words that Peter spoke and believed. In fact, 5,000 people came to faith in Christ on that day. What a remarkable occurrence. Many preachers don't even preach to that many people in their lifetime. It is my hope that after reading last week's message, that someone may have decided to invite Jesus to be the Lord of his or her life.
There was another reaction to Peter's message. The Sadducees and the rulers of the temple had Peter and John arrested because they preached that Jesus rose from the dead. The Sadducees had been instrumental in having Jesus crucified. They didn't want any preaching to be done in Jesus' name. More than this, the Sadducees denied the doctrine of the resurrection. Jesus and the Sadducees had an encounter about this very issue while Jesus walked this earth. Jesus told them that God was the God of the living and not the God of the dead.
Peter and John were brought before Annas and Caiaphas and asked in what name they had done the miracle of healing the lame man. In verse 10 Peter said, "Let it be known to you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead, by Him this man stands here before you whole."
I love this verse for a number of reasons. First of all, Peter is a different man than the one who denied Jesus three times. Peter is filled with courage and boldness in his proclamation of the name of Jesus. He is not ashamed of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Also, Peter does not back down at addressing Annas and Caiaphas. He pointed out clearly that they were the ones who bore responsibility for the crucifixion of the Lord. However, in spite of what they tried to do, God raised Jesus from the dead.
Peter went on in verse 12 to say, "Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we might be saved." This is one of the most important verses in the Bible. It relates a message that many in this world do not want to hear today. It states clearly that Jesus is the only way of salvation. Humanity cannot find its way to God in any way except by accepting Jesus as Lord.
Many people feel that this in intolerant. They believe and teach that there are many paths to God. This is not the teaching of the Bible. Jesus Himself said, "I am the way, the truth and life, no man comes to the Father except by me." That statement and Peter's statement are as clear as can be. Salvation and forgiveness of sin is only available through Jesus. Humanity can only be reconciled to God through the work of Christ on the cross and through his resurrection.
Verse 13 of chapter 4 is another great verse. The officials saw the boldness of Peter and John. They could tell that both of them were untrained men. However, they could tell that Peter and John had been with Jesus. I think that this phrase, "they had been with Jesus has at least a couple of different meanings."
The religious officials recognized Peter and John as being among Jesus' disciples when He walked the earth. Jesus had an inner core of three disciples that included Peter, James and John. The four of them were often together without the other disciples present.
I also think that this phrase refers to the way that Peter and John spoke. They spoke with boldness just the way Jesus did. The Bible says that Jesus spoke with authority. So did Peter and John. They learned well from the master. The religious leaders could also recognize the message of Jesus in the message of Peter and John. Jesus taught that He was the way to eternal life. He was the way to the Father. This is the message the Peter and John were relating to the religious leaders as well.
After a time of discussion, the religious leaders decided to warn Peter and John to no longer preach or speak in the name of Jesus. Peter and John flatly refused. They said, "For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard." They were commissioned by Jesus to spread His message, and that is exactly what they intended to do.
Finally, the officials released them, because they could not deny the validity of the miracle of the lame man who was made to walk by the name of Jesus.
We may face situations in life where it is difficult to speak for Jesus. The forces of evil will always try to bring persecution against those who are trying their best to go full out for the Lord. In the midst of persecution, be bold. Stand up for Jesus. Proclaim His message just as Peter and John did.
You may be reading this message and you have been trusting in some other way of salvation apart from Jesus Christ. Jesus is the only way. I urge you in the name of Jesus to turn to Christ today for salvation. Make Jesus the Lord of your life, and follow Him from this day forward.
Next week is the Thanksgiving holiday here in the United States. The library is going to be closed for several days. I still plan to post a review on Wednesday. However, the Weekend Sermon will be delayed until Saturday next week. May God bless you. Amen.
No comments:
Post a Comment