The enemy of God hates believers falling to their knees before God, repenting of their sins in Jesus Name, asking for forgiveness.  The enemy hates believers who tell the story of Jesus as they point others to Jesus.  The enemy knew the war with God’s Son would be difficult, but our arrogant enemy thinks he is God!  So, he keeps fighting for who he thinks he can win back.  The War may have been won, but the battle with this enemy still rages.  He’s ticked.  He will continue to rise up and wreak havoc among those who call Jesus—Savior and Lord of their lives.

Jesus warned us about this “father of lies,” prince of darkness, and the skirmishes he would throw at us to distract and deceive us on our journey with God in Jesus Name.  The best way to combat our enemy is remembering what Jesus said through John’s witness to us;

“This is how you can recognize the Spirit of God: Every spirit that acknowledges that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, but every spirit that does not acknowledge Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you have heard is coming and even now is already in the world.

You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world. They are from the world and therefore speak from the viewpoint of the world, and the world listens to them. We are from God, and whoever knows God listens to us; but whoever is not from God does not listen to us. This is how we recognize the Spirit of truth and the spirit of falsehood.” 1 John 4:2-6, NIV

This knowledge begs this question daily:  Is the enemy gaining territory in the battle for our hearts, minds, and souls?  The enemy lost the war with God when Jesus rose from the death to Life! Jesus Christ was the Victor over eternal death in hell.  But the enemy will fight until Jesus comes again in daily skirmishes for our souls.

We also choose daily who we will love, worship, adore, and serve.  Who is influencing us?  When others see us, who do they see reflecting from our faces?  Who influences our behaviors each day?  Are we led by God’s Holy Spirit of Truth that never changes—or are we led by a group of imperfect, legalistic people who have created, ever changing, man-made practices to suit their needs, forcing us to follow religiously in order to stay in the group?  Be careful who you choose to follow.

Peter and John have chosen to follow Jesus.  They are passionately obedient to God’s Holy Spirit.  Their demeanor is obvious.  In another translation this passage of Luke tells the reaction of the religious to Peter and John’s testimony in this way; “The members of the council were amazed when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, for they could see that they were ordinary men with no special training in the Scriptures. They also recognized them as men who had been with Jesus.” (verse 13) 

This hits deeply.  When I do life with others, do they recognize Jesus in me? Do they recognize that I have been with Jesus before being with anyone else or doing anything of significance in Jesus Name?  Do I reflect Jesus in my behaviors?  Do I lead with love without inquiring if the recipient is worthy of my love? Do I love others even if they do not love me back?  Do they recognize Jesus is not only my Savior but the Lord of my life?  Mm, let’s pause to pray.

A legalist lives to judge. We get to observe legalists in action in this passage. Their security comes from what they do; their lineage, their law, and with getting their way. When trouble comes, the legalist relies on the power of their own resources and works. They think they will save themselves. After all, don’t they belong to the right group? Don’t they possess the right law? And haven’t they passed through the right initiation?

But, here’s the point: Salvation is God’s business. God is the One who saves his children. There is only one name under heaven that has the power to save, and that name is not yours.

Acts 4, The Message

Nothing to Hide

^1-4 While Peter and John were addressing the people, the priests, the chief of the Temple police, and some Sadducees came up, indignant that these upstart apostles were instructing the people and proclaiming that the resurrection from the dead had taken place in Jesus. They arrested them and threw them in jail until morning, for by now it was late in the evening. But many of those who listened had already believed the Message—in round numbers about five thousand!

^5-7 The next day a meeting was called in Jerusalem. The rulers, religious leaders, religion scholars, Annas the Chief Priest, Caiaphas, John, Alexander—everybody who was anybody was there. They stood Peter and John in the middle of the room and grilled them: “Who put you in charge here? What business do you have doing this?”

^8-12 With that, Peter, full of the Holy Spirit, let loose: “Rulers and leaders of the people, if we have been brought to trial today for helping a sick man, put under investigation regarding this healing, I’ll be completely frank with you—we have nothing to hide. By the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, the One you killed on a cross, the One God raised from the dead, by means of his name this man stands before you healthy and whole. Jesus is ‘the stone you masons threw out, which is now the cornerstone.’ Salvation comes no other way; no other name has been or will be given to us by which we can be saved, only this one.”

^13-14 They couldn’t take their eyes off them—Peter and John standing there so confident, so sure of themselves! Their fascination deepened when they realized these two were laymen with no training in Scripture or formal education. They recognized them as companions of Jesus, but with the man right before them, seeing him standing there so upright—so healed! —what could they say against that?

^15-17 They sent them out of the room so they could work out a plan. They talked it over: “What can we do with these men? By now it’s known all over town that a miracle has occurred, and that they are behind it. There is no way we can refute that. But so that it doesn’t go any further, let’s silence them with threats so they won’t dare to use Jesus’ name ever again with anyone.”

^18-20 They called them back and warned them that they were on no account ever again to speak or teach in the name of Jesus. But Peter and John spoke right back, “Whether it’s right in God’s eyes to listen to you rather than to God, you decide. As for us, there’s no question—we can’t keep quiet about what we’ve seen and heard.”

^21-22 The religious leaders renewed their threats, but then released them. They couldn’t come up with a charge that would stick, that would keep them in jail. The people wouldn’t have stood for it—they were all praising God over what had happened. The man who had been miraculously healed was over forty years old.

WHAT DO WE LEARN—HOW DO WE RESPOND?

Peter’s message produced two opposite results: (1) Some two thousand Jews believed the Word and were converted; and (2) the religious leaders of the nation rejected the message and tried to silence the apostles. We have here the beginning of the persecution by the enemy about which Jesus had already warned His followers (Matt. 10:17, 18; Luke 21:12–15; John 15:18—16:4).

We should note that the miracle was not proof of the resurrection of Christ or even of the truth of Peter’s message. Satan can perform pseudo miracles (2 Thess. 2:9, 10), and false prophets can do wonders. The miracle and the message, in the context of all that had been going on since Pentecost, was one more evidence that Jesus Christ was alive and at work in the church by His Holy Spirit. In both sermons, Peter used the Old Testament to support and explain his claims, and this is one evidence of a true prophet of God. (Isaiah 8:20).  God is at work!  He is always at work! The church Jesus is building is forming within all who believe—heart, mind, and soul!

The failure of the council was evident when Peter refused to be intimidated by their threats. All of us need to follow Peter’s example and make our decisions based on “Is it right?” and not “Is it popular?” or “Is it safe?” We must be sure, however, that we have the clear teaching of the Word of God on our side before we take a stand against the authority of the government. Peter knew what the Lord had commanded the believers to do— “be my witnesses” (1:8), and he was going to obey Him at any cost.

Our response is follow Jesus and the leading of His Holy Spirit.  There will be a cost to follow.  But the reward far outweighs the cost.  Jesus IS coming back!  In the meantime, His Spirit is with us always—blessed assurance.

Lord,

I’ve considered the cost.  I have decided to follow with no turning back.  How I follow must come from “being with you” each day for cleansing, renewing, refreshing, filling, and restoring.  Lead me, Lord.  I’m yours.

In Jesus Name, For Your Glory, Amen