PT-1 "Be Desirous of Greater Boldness" (Acts 4:29-31)

SPIRITUAL DIARY FOR 9/30/2017 10:31 AM

My Worship Time                                                      Focus:  Be Desirous of Greater Boldness

Bible Reading & Meditation                                                 Reference:  Acts 4:29-31

            Message of the verses:  “29 "And now, Lord, take note of their threats, and grant that Your bond-servants may speak Your word with all confidence, 30 while You extend Your hand to heal, and signs and wonders take place through the name of Your holy servant Jesus." 31 And when they had prayed, the place where they had gathered together was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak the word of God with boldness.

            The first thing that I want to do is to quote a portion of my prayer for my pastors that I use each Saturday in praying for them.  It is not the entire prayer list that I use to pray for my pastors but a short portion of it that I believe fits nicely with this section of verses. 

“4 Effectiveness in Proclamation:  Scriptural Example is from Ephesians 6:19:  “and pray on my behalf, that utterance may be given to me in the opening of my mouth, to make known with boldness the mystery of the gospel.”  I want to pray for our Pastors effectiveness in proclamation. 

 

The following is a quote from John MacArthur, “Now remember, Paul was a prisoner when he wrote that. He didn't say, "Pray...pray for my ankles, they've been rubbed raw. They're bleeding from the shackles." He didn't say, "Pray for my healing." He didn't say, "Pray for my deliverance." He didn't say, "I'm being abused. Pray for my suffering to end." He didn't want prayer for those things, he said, "Pray for my boldness in speaking the Word of God." Chains were incidental, absolutely incidental.”  Now this does not mean not to pray for our Pastors when they are sick.  Another Scriptural example is Colossians 4:2-4“2 Devote yourselves to prayer, keeping alert in it with an attitude of thanksgiving; 3 praying at the same time for us as well, that God will open up to us a door for the word, so that we may speak forth the mystery of Christ, for which I have also been imprisoned; 4 that I may make it clear in the way I ought to speak.”  2 Thessalonians 3:1 “Finally, brethren, pray for us that the word of the Lord will spread rapidly and be glorified, just as it did also with you.”  MacArthur writes what this means:  “Pray that I’ll have an opportunity to speak.  Secondly, when that opportunity presents itself pray that I will speak as I ought to speak.  And how I ought to speak is boldly and clearly.  And then the third component is when I have spoken in that opportunity boldly and clearly, pray that the Word may spread from there and be glorified.  What is that?  The right response, that men will honor it, they will glorify it by obeying it.  The word ‘spread rapidly’ literally in the Greek is the word to run.  It’s a track word.  Pray that it will sprint and be honored by everybody who hears it.”

            I think that as we look at this quote we can see that it goes along with what Peter and John’s desires were, and that is to preach the gospel, preach it so that souls will be saved.  They were more concerned about preaching the gospel that to worry about what the Sanhedrin would do to them as we will see when we look at the end of chapter five.

            As I looked at these verses closely I noticed something that I did not notice when I read them before and that is the phrase “take note of their threats.”  Peter and John were asking the Lord to take note of the threats that the Sanhedrin were putting on them, which actually meant they were putting these threats against the Lord Jesus Christ, as all believers make up the body of Christ here on earth.  Peter and John were doing the right thing in obeying the Lord as they were preaching the gospel and like today in so many places around the world people are trying to stop the preaching of God’s Word, but it won’t happen.

            When I first became a believer and was being mentored by a man who owned a Christian book store he would from time to time rent a large high school building and bring concerts into it and I would attend them.  Bill Gathier singers would come and I remember one of the songs that they would sing and it actually had a speaking part in it.  The name of the song is “The Church Triumph,” and the lyrics of the song, including the speaking part help us see that the church will not go away until the Lord descends from heaven to take it up in the Rapture, but until then it will not be stopped as Jesus stated “I will build my church and the gates of hell will not overpower it.  We will conclude this SD with the lyrics of this song and then finish out the commentary on these verses in our next SD.

 Let the Church be the Church
Let the people rejoice
For we've settled the question
We've made our choice
Let the anthems ring out, songs of victory swell
For the church triumphant, is alive and well
You know, this ship's been through battles before
The storms and the tempests and all the rocks on the shore
Though the hull may be battered
Inside it's safe and dry
It's gonna carry its cargo to the port in the sky
God has always had a people.
Many a foolish conqueror has made the mistake of thinking that because he had forced the church of Jesus Christ out of site, he had stilled its voice and snuffed out its life, but God has always had a people.
The powerful current of a rushing river is not diminished because it's forced to flow underground.
Now the purest water is the stream that burst crystal clear into the sunlight after it has forced its way through solid rock.
There have been those who like Simon The Magician sought to barter on the open market that power which cannot be bought or sold, but God has always had a people.
Men who could not be bought and women who were beyond purchase.
God has always had a people.
There have been times of affluence and prosperity when the church's message has been nearly deluded into oblivion by those who sought to make it socially attractive, neatly organized, financially profitable, but God has always had a people.
Yes it's been gold platted, draped in purple and encrusted with jewels.
It has been misrepresented, ridiculed, lauded and scorned but God has always had a people.
And these followers of Jesus Christ have been, according to the whim of the times, elevated sacred leaders and modern heretics.
Yet through it all, their march is on that powerful army of the meek.
God's chosen people who cannot be bought, blabbered, murdered or stilled.
On through the ages they march, the church!
God's church triumphant!
Listen child of God, its alive.
Discouraged pastor, it's his church and it's still alive.
Lonely missionary, sow that seed with confidence.
The church is still alive.
Old saint, you're not alone or forgotten.
The church is still alive.
Its alive my broken-hearted friend, it's still alive.
Busy mothers, just keep trusting in Jesus, the church is alive.
You're not alone out there [?], just keep looking to Jesus.
The church is alive.
And faithful fathers, there's rest in the Lord.
God's church is still alive.
So family of God lift your hands, lift your hands and praise the Lord.
The church, God's church triumphant is alive, it's alive my friends.
Alive and well

Answer to yesterday’s Bible question:  “All wise and knowing.”

Today’s Bible question:  “How did Jezebel die?”

Answer in our next SD.

9/30/2017 11:01 AM  

                                                                                                                    

Be Thankful (Acts 4:24-28)

SPIRITUAL DIARY FOR 9/29/2017 11:04 AM

My Worship Time                                                                                          Focus:  Be Thankful

Bible Reading & Meditation                                                 Reference:  Acts 4:24-28

            Message of the verse:  “24 And when they heard this, they lifted their voices to God with one accord and said, "O Lord, it is You who MADE THE HEAVEN AND THE EARTH AND THE SEA, AND ALL THAT IS IN THEM, 25 who by the Holy Spirit, through the mouth of our father David Your servant, said, ’WHY DID THE GENTILES RAGE, AND THE PEOPLES DEVISE FUTILE THINGS? 26 ’THE KINGS OF THE EARTH TOOK THEIR STAND, AND THE RULERS WERE GATHERED TOGETHER AGAINST THE LORD AND AGAINST HIS CHRIST.’ 27 "For truly in this city there were gathered together against Your holy servant Jesus, whom You anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, along with the Gentiles and the peoples of Israel, 28 to do whatever Your hand and Your purpose predestined to occur.”

            I suppose that humaningly speaking if Peter and John returned to their companions, perhaps in the upper room, and came back dejected this may have seemed normal.  However this is not the case.  Peter writes in his first letter the following in 4:13 “but to the degree that you share the sufferings of Christ, keep on rejoicing, so that also at the revelation of His glory you may rejoice with exultation.”  He goes on in verse 14 to write “If you are reviled for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you.”  I have to believe that the things that he learned here and then again in chapter five of Acts were on his mind when he wrote what he wrote in his first letter.  Jesus Christ came to earth to suffer and to die, to become sin for us as He was the One who knew no sin, and He did all of this for us.  He went to heaven to intercede for us and left us here to be as Paul describes “His body,” and since we are His body were are hated by those who do not know Him and in some cases will have to suffer for the cause of Christ like He suffered for us.  Peter and John were thankful for being worthy to suffer for Christ “So they went on their way from the presence of the Council, rejoicing that they had been considered worthy to suffer shame for His name (Acts 5:41).” 

            “They lifted their voices to God with one accord and said, “O Lord, it is Thou who didst make the heaven and the earth and the sea, and all that is in them.”  MacArthur writes “Despotes (Lord) is an uncommon title for God in the New Testament, appearing only five other times (Luke 2:29; 2 Tim. 2:21; 2 Peter 2:1; Jude 4; Rev. 6:10).  It is the word from which our English word ‘despot’ derives and denotes an absolute master.  Faced with opposition, they took comfort in God’s sovereignty.  All their suffering was in His will.  Being the Creator of everything, He is in complete control of all events.  Confidence in the absolute rulership and might of God was enough to sustain them.”

            Luke goes on to write about things that give them more things to be thankful for as he writes about things that happened in the OT.  He writes about creation as he praises God for creating the heavens and the earth and the sea, and then moves on to write about what David said “Why did the Gentiles rage, and the peoples devise futile things?  The kings of the earth took their stand, and the rulers were gathered together against the Lord, and against His Christ.”  God know what was going to happen to our Lord, He planned what was going to happen to our Lord in eternity past, and He has planned what will happen to us as MacArthur wrote in our previous quote.  The apostles and all who were with them at this time had witnessed the things that happened in Jerusalem concerning our Lord, but there will be more that will happen in Jerusalem as the final fulfillment is presented in Revelation 17:9-14 and will set the stage for our Lord’s second coming which is revealed in Revelation 19:11-21.” 

            Luke writes about the things that did happen “27 "For truly in this city there were gathered together against Your holy servant Jesus, whom You anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, along with the Gentiles and the peoples of Israel, 28 to do whatever Your hand and Your purpose predestined to occur.”  John MacArthur writes “Predestined is from proorizo (Rom. 8:28-29; 1 Cor. 2:7; Eph. 1:5, 11) and means ‘to determine beforehand.’ It reminds us that God is the supreme historian who wrote history before it ever began.  Having done their worst, they merely succeeded in fulfilling God’s eternal plan (Acts 2:23).  As the palmist expressed it, ‘The wrath of man shall praise Thee’ (Ps. 76:10).”

            Spiritual meaning for my life today:  It is comforting to me that God is in complete control of all the things that are going on, on planet earth at all times.  I am also thankful that my Lord will guide me as I serve Him while He gives me breath.

My Steps of Faith for Today:  I desire to continue to trust the Lord as I go over what I am going to teach in our Sunday school class this Sunday.

Answer to yesterday’s Bible question:  “Nahor and Haran” (Genesis 11:26).

Today’s Bible question:  “What do we mean when we say that God is omniscient?”

Answer in our next SD.

9/29/2017 11:52 AM

Be Committed to Fellowship (Acts 4:23)

SPIRITUAL DIARY FOR 9/28/2017 9:59 AM

My Worship Time                                                                  Focus: Be Committed to Fellowship

Bible Reading & Meditation                                                 Reference:  Acts 4:23

            Message of the verses:  “23 When they had been released, they went to their own companions and reported all that the chief priests and the elders had said to them.”

            It is noteworthy to see that Peter and John went to tell their companions all that had happened to them, the things that happened to them in the Sanhedrin.  The question is to whom did they go and see.  I think that it was not only to the other apostles that they went to, although they were a part of whom they went to see, and it was not all of those who had been saved for that number was over 5,000 by this time.  It was probably the same people we saw in the first part of Acts, the ones who had met in the upper room for prayer, the core group of the church is probably who they went to see.  Peter and John needed comfort and people who would be praying for them as this first persecution came upon them and that is why they went to be with their close Christian family. 

            John MacArthur writes “A primary benefit of persecution is that it results in greater solidarity.  Persecuted believers naturally draw together for mutual support.  Acts 4:32-35 describes the unity that resulted from this initial outbreak of opposition.  Perhaps one reason for the disunity in today’s church is the lack of external pressure.  And the false unity being attempted through compromise and indifference toward true doctrine only compounds the problem by moving the church every further from the true unity that comes out of confrontation by the truth.  If we confronted the world system more aggressively, the resulting opposition would drive us closer together and enrich our mutual dependence.  That real unity marked the early believers.”

            I have to say at this point in my life that I attend a local church that has been around for over 180 years.  I first started attending this church in August of 2010 right after the death of the church’s pastor.  The church that I attended for over 32 years had gone through a church split and was about to go through another and the pastor was not someone that I wanted to sit under any longer.  I was not the only one as many of the older believers were seeking other churches to attend.  One of the things that I first noticed was that although the pastor had just died it seemed to me as business as usual from the teaching of God’s Word from the pulpit.  I told many people that this experience for me was like being out in the desert for a very long time and then coming to an oasis to find refreshing water to drink. 

            I am in no way saying that this is a perfect church, there are none, but I am saying that the Word of God is preached Sunday mornings, and evenings and also on Wednesday evenings along with a prayer time. 

            As I settled into this church and became a member and started to get involved in things like teaching Sunday school and other things one of the things that I began to pray about was that our church would continue to experience unity among those who attend there and especially in the leadership of the church which makes up the of the five pastors along with the many deacons.  One of the things that I did was express this to the man who is the head deacon and he told me that although there was no disunity in our church, he was praying for continued unity which is something that I am praying for too.  Our enemy never stops trying to bring disunity to churches and from the looks of our country today he is being successful, thus the need for prayer even though things are good with unity at this time.

            Church Swindoll has written a wonderful book on this subject as he wrote a commentary on the book of Nehemiah entitled “Hand Me Another Brick.”  Our deacons are reading this book at this time as they will begin to go over it in the near future and for this I am thankful.

Answer to yesterday’s Bible question:  “Egypt” (Exodus 14:8).

Today’s Bible question:  “Who were Abraham’s brothers?”

Answer in our next SD.

9/28/2017 10:25 AM  

 

PT-3 "Be Obedient to God at All Costs" (Acts 4:14-22)

SPIRITUAL DIARY FOR 9/27/2017 8:41 AM

My Worship Time                                                Focus:  PT-3 “Be Obedient to God at All Costs”

Bible Reading & Meditation                                                 Reference:  Acts 4:14-22

            Message of the verses:  “14 And seeing the man who had been healed standing with them, they had nothing to say in reply.  15 But when they had ordered them to leave the Council, they began to confer with one another, 16 saying, "What shall we do with these men? For the fact that a noteworthy miracle has taken place through them is apparent to all who live in Jerusalem, and we cannot deny it. 17 “But so that it will not spread any further among the people, let us warn them to speak no longer to any man in this name." 18 And when they had summoned them, they commanded them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus. 19  But Peter and John answered and said to them, "Whether it is right in the sight of God to give heed to you rather than to God, you be the judge; 20 for we cannot stop speaking about what we have seen and heard." 21 When they had threatened them further, they let them go (finding no basis on which to punish them) on account of the people, because they were all glorifying God for what had happened; 22 for the man was more than forty years old on whom this miracle of healing had been performed.”

            First thing I wish to do is talk about what Peter and John had “seen and heard,” which is what they were saying that they could not stop talking about.  Both were eyewitnesses to the life of Jesus Christ, His life, His death, and especially His resurrection.  John writes the following in 1 John 1:1-3 “1 What was from the beginning, what we have heard, what we have seen with our eyes, what we have looked at and touched with our hands, concerning the Word of Life- 2  and the life was manifested, and we have seen and testify and proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and was manifested to us- 3  what we have seen and heard we proclaim to you also, so that you too may have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father, and with His Son Jesus Christ.”  It was probably around 60 years later that John wrote these words, and we know that He never forgot when he walked with Jesus even when he was probably in his 90’s.

            John MacArthur quotes F. F. Bruce as he writes about when the Sanhedrin did not disagree with Peter and John about the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

“It is particular striking that neither on this nor on any subsequent occasion 9so far as our information goes) did the Sanhedrin take any serious action to disprove the apostles’ central affirmation—the resurrection of Jesus.  Had it seemed possible to refute them on this point, how readily would the Sanhedrin have seized the opportunity!  Had they succeeded, how quickly and completely the new movement would have collapsed.”

            I have to say that these are some things that are new to me as I have never thought about them in this context before.  We have mentioned when we began our study in Acts that Acts is a book that has the theme of the resurrection of Jesus Christ as this is foremost important in the teaching and preaching of the gospel.  If there was no resurrection there would have been no need of the apostles going out and teaching about Jesus for it would be all in vain.  Jesus Christ is alive as He lives in heaven interceding for His children all of the time and we as believers can be thankful for that.

            We see that the Sanhedrin had run out of options as they threatened Peter and John, but they knew that the miracle that was performed by them was something that truly happened and so what could they do about it.  We know for sure that the Sanhedrin feared the people and this is another reason they did not punish Peter and John.  However as we have mentioned the persecution will get worse in the next chapter of Acts.

            John MacArthur concludes “In the midst of persecution, Peter and John remained obedient to God.  Like them, no bribes or threats should cause us to be unfaithful to our Lord.  Later, in his first letter, Peter wrote from experience as well as inspiration,

“13 Who is there to harm you if you prove zealous for what is good? 14 But even if you should suffer for the sake of righteousness, you are blessed. AND DO NOT FEAR THEIR INTIMIDATION, AND DO NOT BE TROUBLED, 15 but sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts, always being ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you, yet with gentleness and reverence.”

            We will have a rather short SD in our next subject which comes from Acts 4:23 as we look at being committed to fellowship.

            Spiritual meaning for my life today:  As I look at this section from Acts my thoughts go to a song that I heard when I was a new believer and the song talks about “The Church Triumphant” as the church which began on the day of Pentecost will go on, and will keep going on until Jesus comes back to take His church back to heaven with Him.  Nothing is going to stop it even though there are forces of evil in this world which are trying to do so now.  It will not happen.

My Steps of Faith for Today:  Trust the Lord for wisdom to get the message of Revelation 1:9-20 out to our Sunday school class this coming Sunday.

Answer to yesterday’s Bible question:  “Thomas” (John 20:25).

Today’s Bible question:  “Over which country did Pharaoh rule?”

Answer in our next SD.  9/27/2017 9:46 AM

PT-2 "Be Obedient to God at all Costs" (Acts 4:14-22)

SPIRITUAL DIARY FOR 9/26/2017 12:32 PM

My Worship Time                                                     Focus: PT-2 Be Obedient to God at all Costs

Bible Reading & Meditation                                                 Reference:  Acts 4:14-22

            Message of the verses:  “14 And seeing the man who had been healed standing with them, they had nothing to say in reply.  15 But when they had ordered them to leave the Council, they began to confer with one another, 16 saying, "What shall we do with these men? For the fact that a noteworthy miracle has taken place through them is apparent to all who live in Jerusalem, and we cannot deny it. 17 “But so that it will not spread any further among the people, let us warn them to speak no longer to any man in this name." 18 And when they had summoned them, they commanded them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus. 19  But Peter and John answered and said to them, "Whether it is right in the sight of God to give heed to you rather than to God, you be the judge; 20  for we cannot stop speaking about what we have seen and heard." 21  When they had threatened them further, they let them go (finding no basis on which to punish them) on account of the people, because they were all glorifying God for what had happened; 22  for the man was more than forty years old on whom this miracle of healing had been performed.”

            I said that we would talk about the Christians responsibility of obeying their government in this SD, and I suppose that when we went over other NT books that we have written about this, but since it fits in nicely into this passage we will look at it again. 

“13 Submit yourselves for the Lord’s sake to every human institution, whether to a king as the one in authority, 14 or to governors as sent by him for the punishment of evildoers and the praise of those who do right. 15 For such is the will of God that by doing right you may silence the ignorance of foolish men. 16 Act as free men, and do not use your freedom as a covering for evil, but use it as bondslaves of God. 17 Honor all people, love the brotherhood, fear God, honor the king (2 Peter 2:13-17).”

“1 Every person is to be in subjection to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those which exist are established by God. 2 Therefore whoever resists authority has opposed the ordinance of God; and they who have opposed will receive condemnation upon themselves. 3 For rulers are not a cause of fear for good behavior, but for evil. Do you want to have no fear of authority? Do what is good and you will have praise from the same; 4 for it is a minister of God to you for good. But if you do what is evil, be afraid; for it does not bear the sword for nothing; for it is a minister of God, an avenger who brings wrath on the one who practices evil. 5 Therefore it is necessary to be in subjection, not only because of wrath, but also for conscience’ sake. 6 For because of this you also pay taxes, for rulers are servants of God, devoting themselves to this very thing. 7 Render to all what is due them: tax to whom tax is due; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honor to whom honor (Romans 13:1-7).”

            As we look at what happened to Peter and John we see that they were obeying God as it was their desire and duty to spread the gospel, to tell others the things that they had seen and hear from our Lord when He was on earth and to obey the Great Commission that He gave to them, and also to us, just before He went back to heaven to be with His Father.

            In the Old Testament books of Exodus and Daniel we also saw this put into action.  The Hebrew mid-wives disobeyed the Egyptians by not killing the babies as this was against the will of God.  (Too bad mothers who have babies in their wombs do not follow the example of these Hebrew mid-wives.) 

            Let us look now at Daniel 6:4-10 “4  Then the commissioners and satraps began trying to find a ground of accusation against Daniel in regard to government affairs; but they could find no ground of accusation or evidence of corruption, inasmuch as he was faithful, and no negligence or corruption was to be found in him. 5 Then these men said, "We will not find any ground of accusation against this Daniel unless we find it against him with regard to the law of his God."

            “6 Then these commissioners and satraps came by agreement to the king and spoke to him as follows: "King Darius, live forever! 7  "All the commissioners of the kingdom, the prefects and the satraps, the high officials and the governors have consulted together that the king should establish a statute and enforce an injunction that anyone who makes a petition to any god or man besides you, O king, for thirty days, shall be cast into the lions’ den. 8  "Now, O king, establish the injunction and sign the document so that it may not be changed, according to the law of the Medes and Persians, which may not be revoked." 9 Therefore King Darius signed the document, that is, the injunction. 10 Now when Daniel knew that the document was signed, he entered his house (now in his roof chamber he had windows open toward Jerusalem); and he continued kneeling on his knees three times a day, praying and giving thanks before his God, as he had been doing previously.”

            One thing that we need to mention is that Peter and John treated the men who were on the Sanhedrin with respect.  They did not get into their face and tell them how wrong they were having a bad attitude.  When we speak the truth we must do it in love.  Paul writes about how he must preach the gospel in 1 Cor. 9:16 “16  For if I preach the gospel, I have nothing to boast of, for I am under compulsion; for woe is me if I do not preach the gospel.”  Peter and John did the same.

            Looks like we will have one more day looking at this section as we will try and finish up this in our next SD.

Answer to yesterday’s Bible question:  “Simon Peter” (Luke 5:3).

Today’s Bible question:  “Who said, ‘Except I shall see in his hands the print of the nails…I will not believe?”

Answer in our next SD.

9/26/2017 1:06 PM

PT-1 "Be Obedient to God at All Costs" (Acts 4:14-22)

SPIRITUAL DIARY FOR 9/25/2017 7:59 AM

My Worship Time                                                 Focus: PT-1 “Be Obedient to God at All Costs”

Bible Reading & Meditation                                                 Reference:  Acts 4:14-22

            Message of the verses:  “14 And seeing the man who had been healed standing with them, they had nothing to say in reply.  15 But when they had ordered them to leave the Council, they began to confer with one another, 16 saying, "What shall we do with these men? For the fact that a noteworthy miracle has taken place through them is apparent to all who live in Jerusalem, and we cannot deny it. 17 “But so that it will not spread any further among the people, let us warn them to speak no longer to any man in this name." 18 And when they had summoned them, they commanded them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus. 19  But Peter and John answered and said to them, "Whether it is right in the sight of God to give heed to you rather than to God, you be the judge; 20 for we cannot stop speaking about what we have seen and heard." 21 When they had threatened them further, they let them go (finding no basis on which to punish them) on account of the people, because they were all glorifying God for what had happened; 22 for the man was more than forty years old on whom this miracle of healing had been performed.”

            Now as I look at this passage, and how the Jewish leaders handled this situation I realize that it was the Lord who was surely in control as there was nothing done to Peter and John.  Yet as we move forward in the book of Acts we will see that the next step by the Jewish leaders was to have some of the apostles beaten, and then the next step was to have the apostle James (not the Lord’s brother) killed and Peter would escape with his life as an angel let him out of prison.  This was the beginning of the persecution of the church that has gone on since this time, and yet the church, the real church still lives on in spite of much persecution.  The real church tells the truth, the truth that Jesus came into the word of man to die for the sins of the world so that all who believe in Him, realize that they are sinners and in need of a Savior can find forgiveness in Him.  The world hates this message and has done and will continue to try and stop it, however it will fail and one day the hope of the church will be realized and that is the rapture of the church as found in 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 “13 But we do not want you to be uninformed, brethren, about those who are asleep, so that you will not grieve as do the rest who have no hope. 14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who have fallen asleep in Jesus. 15 For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord, will not precede those who have fallen asleep. 16 For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 Then we who are alive and remain will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we shall always be with the Lord. 18 Therefore comfort one another with these words.”  Paul also wrote to Titus that this is our hope.  Peter and John knew this hope and that is why they did what they did, that is why they were obedient to God at all costs, and why so many others since the church began have done the same, and will continue to do the same until the Lord comes to take us to be with Him.

            The Jewish leaders had seen the results of this miracle, as the people were giving glory to the Lord, and this is similar to what happened when our Lord was on earth doing miracles that were noticed by everyone in Judea at this time.  Now these apostles of Jesus were doing the same works of God and these same Jewish leaders were having the same problems.  I think that the biggest problem they had was that they were losing power, power to control the people.  As I have been studying 2 Peter chapter two which speaks of apostates I can see that these so called religious leaders of Israel at this time were nothing but apostates, apostates who were not willing to lose power over the people, but at this point did not know what to do about it other than to tell these apostles not to speak in “this name” again. 

            John MacArthur writes “Peter and John did not vacillate but immediately answered that they would refuse to obey the Sanhedrin’s command.  The appealed to a higher court by asking the question of ‘whether it is right in the sight of God to give heed to men rather than to God’ before the supreme court of Israel (cf. Acts 5:29).  Which court is higher?  By such an appeal to the divine judge the apostles impaled the Sanhedrin on the horns of a dilemma.  They certainly did not want Peter and John to continue to speak, yet they could hardly tell them to obey men instead of God.  Peter again indicated them for being the enemies of the God they professed to represent.”

            We will pick up on the subject of believers obeying their government, which goes along with what we are talking about here, in our next SD.

            Spiritual meaning for my life today:  The more that I study the Word of God the more I understand that mankind will do what they want to do in order to make themselves look good as this is a part of the sin nature we all received from Adam.  It is a spiritual fight that every believer has in one part of their life or another.  All I can say is that I am thankful to the Lord that I know the truth and will grow in my faith as I stay in the battle.

My Steps of Faith for Today:  Trust the Lord to give me wisdom as I begin to prepare my Sunday school lesson for this up coming week.

Answer to yesterday’s Bible question:  “Christ” (Colossians 3:1).

Today’s Bible question:  “In order to teach, Jesus entered into whose boat?”

Answer in our next SD.

9/25/2017 8:39 AM

PT-2 "Be Aggressive in seizing Opportunities (Acts 4:8-13)

SPIRITUAL DIARY FOR 9/24/2017 7:13 AM

My Worship Time                                     Focus:  PT-2 “Be Aggressive in seizing Opportunities”

Bible Reading & Meditation                                                 Reference:  Acts 4:8-13

            Message of the verses:  “8 Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, "Rulers and elders of the people, 9  if we are on trial today for a benefit done to a sick man, as to how this man has been made well, 10  let it be known to all of you and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead-by this name this man stands here before you in good health. 11 “He is the STONE WHICH WAS REJECTED by you, THE BUILDERS, but WHICH BECAME THE CHIEF CORNER stone. 12 “And there is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among men by which we must be saved." 13 Now as they observed the confidence of Peter and John and understood that they were uneducated and untrained men, they were amazed, and began to recognize them as having been with Jesus.”

            I suppose that once a person is being lead to accept Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior that someone will most always quote Acts 4:12 to show that He is the only way to be saved.  In the context here Peter is actually offering salvation to the Sanhedrin, the ones who were mostly behind the death of Jesus Christ.  John MacArthur writes “Saved’ is the form of the same verb (sozo) used in verse 9 to describe the healing of the lame man.  Not only was Jesus the source of physical healing, but He is also the only source of spiritual healing.  Deliverance from the devastating effects of sin comes only through Jesus Christ.  Peter did not invent that truth; he is merely echoing is Master.  In John 14:6 Jesus declared, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father, but through Me.’”

            MacArthur writes “The exclusivism of Christianity goes against the grain of our religiously pluralistic society.  A chapel built at the North Pole in February 1959 by men of Operation Deep Freeze 4 typifies the prevalent attitude today toward religious belief.  The structure contained an altar, over which was hung a picture of Jesus, a crucifix, a star of David, and a lotus leaf (representing the Buddha).  On the wall of the chapel was an inscription that read ‘Now it can be said that the earth turns on the point of faith.’”

            I realize that people of the world do not like it when they are told that Jesus is the only way to get to the Father as it goes against their sin nature which tells them that there has to be more than one way of salvation, but Jesus and Peter (who is really quoting Jesus) says different, and they are right.  There is a wide road of works that leads to destruction and a narrow way which is faith only in Jesus Christ that leads to salvation.

            Even though Peter’s plea to the Sanhedrin fell on deaf ears they were smart enough to realize that although according to their standards these men were not educated in their ways, they did realize that they had been with Jesus.

            Spiritual meaning for my life today:  My prayer is that people will realize that I too have been with Jesus.

My Steps of Faith for Today:  Trust that the Lord will be with me in a special way as I led our Sunday School class this morning.

Answer to yesterday’s Bible question:  “Breast plate, ephod, robe, coat, mitre, girdle”  (Exodus 28:4).

Today’s Bible question:  “Who sits on the right hand of God?”

Answer in our next SD.

9/24/2017 7:35 AM

PT-1 Be Aggressive in Seizing Opportunities (Acts 4:8-13)

SPIRITUAL DIARY FOR 9/23/2017 11:30 AM

My Worship Time                                        Focus:  PT-1 Be Aggressive in Seizing Opportunities

Bible Reading & Meditation                                                 Reference:  Acts 4:8-13

            Message of the verses:  “8 Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, "Rulers and elders of the people, 9 if we are on trial today for a benefit done to a sick man, as to how this man has been made well, 10 let it be known to all of you and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead-by this name this man stands here before you in good health. 11 “He is the STONE WHICH WAS REJECTED by you, THE BUILDERS, but WHICH BECAME THE CHIEF CORNER stone. 12 “And there is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among men by which we must be saved." 13 Now as they observed the confidence of Peter and John and understood that they were uneducated and untrained men, they were amazed, and began to recognize them as having been with Jesus.”

            As we look at what Peter was saying to these Jewish rulers we can see one thing for sure, and that is he and John were not afraid to tell the truth to these rulers even though when he told them the truth they were most assuredly offended as they were instrumental in putting Jesus to death.  John MacArthur writes “Submission is not cowardice.”

            Peter begins by asking them if they were on trial for the healing of the sick man and by doing this he was turning the tables onto the Sanhedrin and he subtly accused them of injustice as there could be nothing wrong with healing a lame man.

            Peter then continues by saying “as to how this man was made well,” and this is what these men really wanted to know and understand.  They could not deny that there was a great miracle done here, but how was it done was their question.  Peter then goes on to tell them and he adds to tell all of Israel, “let it be known to all of you and all the people of Israel that by the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene” the one that you crucified, “whom God raised from the dead by this name this man stands here before you in good health.”  It is because that Peter and John were filled with the Holy Spirit that Peter was able to put the men of the Sanhedrin on trial, which was not the reason they were brought in there, as the Sanhedrin was putting them on trial, at least that is what they thought.  This reminds me of when Jesus was on trial before Pilate, when it was actually Pilate who was on trial before Jesus, or when the soldiers came to arrest Jesus, it was really Jesus who was in charge, as He always is, and the same goes here with the Spirit filled believers.  Peter took this opportunity to really give out the gospel message to these men, men who had put Jesus to death.  John MacArthur writes “By pointing out that they executed Jesus but God raised Him up, Peter showed them to be the enemies of God.  That approach was frequently employed in Acts (cf. 2:23-24; 3:14-15; 10:39-40; 13: 27-30).  Peter refused to compromise the gospel by deleting what would offend the Sanhedrin.  He spoke courageously because he was devoted to the truth and entrusted the outcome to his Lord.  That is an example for all persecuted believers to follow.”

            The Sanhedrin had the wrong idea of what the Messiah was like, and that was their most formidable barrier to accepting Jesus Christ, for in their minds, and in many of the minds of Israel, the Messiah could not die, but come in to, in their case remove the Romans, but like others today they had not studied the proper portions of Scripture, places like Isaiah 52-53, and Psalm 22, which clearly shows the Messiah must indeed die, and even how He would die.  Peter uses Psalm 118:22 to show them their error “The stone which the builders rejected Has become the chief corner stone.”  Jesus was indeed that Stone, and they were the ones who rejected Him.  Jesus Christ is the true cornerstone, the most important piece of the foundation of any building.  “19 So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints, and are of God’s household, 20 having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus Himself being the corner stone, 21 in whom the whole building, being fitted together, is growing into a holy temple in the Lord, 22 in whom you also are being built together into a dwelling of God in the Spirit.”

            We will continue to look at these verses in our next SD.

            Spiritual meaning for my life today:  Boldness in telling the truth of the gospel is something that I believe the Lord gives to me when He has someone for me to tell them the truth of the gospel.

My Steps of Faith for Today:  Trust that the Lord will keep me calm and give me the right words to speak as I teach Sunday school tomorrow on two verses in Revelation chapter one that talk about the importance of knowing the Jesus Christ will come again.

Answer to yesterday’s Bible question:  “Luke.”

Today’s Bible question:  “What kinds of garments did the high priest wear?”

Answer in our next SD.

9/23/2017 12:02 PM

Be Filled with the Spirit (Acts 4:8a)

SPIRITUAL DIARY FOR 9/22/2017 11:27 AM

My Worship Time                                                                          Focus:  Be Filled with the Spirit

Bible Reading & Meditation                                                 Reference:  Acts 4:8a

            Message of the verses:  “Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit,”

            It was because Peter was filled with the Holy Spirit that he was able to face persecution triumphantly.  “And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit was giving them utterance (Acts 2:4).”  “But Saul, who was also known as Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit, fixed his gaze on him (Acts 13:9).”

            Jesus has spoken to His disciples about these kind of situations when He was on earth, and perhaps Peter and John remember His Words from Luke 12:11-12 “11 “When they bring you before the synagogues and the rulers and the authorities, do not worry about how or what you are to speak in your defense, or what you are to say; 12 for the Holy Spirit will teach you in that very hour what you ought to say."”  John MacArthur writes “All Christian ministry and witness depends on the filling of the Holy Spirit.  The passive voice of the verb translated ‘filled’ shows Peter’s yieldedness to the Spirit’s control.  He did not become filled by lengthy prayer or an emotional experience.  The filling of the Spirit occurs when the believer walks in obedience to the Word and the Spirit (cf. Eph. 5:18; Col. 3:16).  Yielding to His control releases His power in the believer’s life.

            “This principle is foundational to all the rest; yieldedness to the Holy Spirit is the key to successfully handling persecution.  Because Peter was Spirit-filled, persecution merely drove him closer to the Lord.  Lack of being filled with the Spirit is the reason the church today has difficulty facing opposition.

            “A Spirit-filled, uncompromising church will be uncomfortable in the world, since it will be a rebuke to it.  It will, however, be a powerful, victorious church.  Peter and John confronted the world head-on, with a boldness and eloquence that caused their opponents to marvel (cf. v. 13).  They were victorious because they were Spirit-filled.”

            Spiritual meaning for my life today:  The words that John MacArthur wrote that I quoted here speak to my heart in that there are probably too many times in my life that I am too caught up in the things of the world, things like cars, and other things that fit into that category that I am too concerned for, and should be concerned about doing what the Lord calls all believer to do, telling others about Christ, and helping them grow after they become believers.

My Steps of Faith for Today:  Trust that the Lord will use me to tell others about who He is and what He did for them.

Answer to yesterday’s Bible question:  “Rachel” (Genesis 29:30).

Today’s Bible question:  “Which book tells of the birth of John the Baptist?”

Answer in our next SD.

9/22/2017 11:58 AM

Be Submissive (Acts 4:5-7)

SPIRITUAL DIARY FOR 9/21/2017 10:44 AM

My Worship Time                                                                              Focus: PT-1 Persecution Met

Bible Reading & Meditation                                                 Reference:    Acts 4:5-31

            Message of the verses:  I mentioned in our first SD on these verses that I was not going to quote all of them, but quote the ones that we will be going to look at that particular day.  We also looked at there were only two main points in Acts 4:1-31 and we have already covered the first main point in our preceding SD’s.  The last main point, “Persecution Met” will be made  up of several different sub points, and we begin with the first one this morning “Be Submissive,” and it covers verses 5-7.

            “5 On the next day, their rulers and elders and scribes were gathered together in Jerusalem; 6  and Annas the high priest was there, and Caiaphas and John and Alexander, and all who were of high-priestly descent. 7 When they had placed them in the center, they began to inquire, "By what power, or in what name, have you done this?"”

            I want to begin with 1 Peter 2:18-24 “18 Servants, be submissive to your masters with all respect, not only to those who are good and gentle, but also to those who are unreasonable. 19 For this finds favor, if for the sake of conscience toward God a person bears up under sorrows when suffering unjustly. 20 For what credit is there if, when you sin and are harshly treated, you endure it with patience? But if when you do what is right and suffer for it you patiently endure it, this finds favor with God. 21 For you have been called for this purpose, since Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example for you to follow in His steps, 22 WHO COMMITTED NO SIN, NOR WAS ANY DECEIT FOUND IN HIS MOUTH; 23 and while being reviled, He did not revile in return; while suffering, He uttered no threats, but kept entrusting Himself to Him who judges righteously; 24 and He Himself bore our sins in His body on the cross, so that we might die to sin and live to righteousness; for by His wounds you were healed.”

            I begin with these verses to show why Peter and John showed no resistance in being arrested and then being questioned by the Sanhedrin.  After walking with Jesus for three years, and seeing Him being resurrected and then seeing Him go to heaven, and also realizing that the promised Holy Spirit was living in them, they had no problem being submissive to these Jewish leaders.

            We have written in past SD’s what the Sanhedrin was all about as it was the ruling body of the nation, which of course was under control of the Romans, but as we have also seen the Romans let the Jewish leaders do pretty much what they wanted to do as long as there were no riots.  We have also meet Ciaphas, and Annas when we looked at the trials of Jesus in the 18^th chapter of John and also in our study of Mark’s gospel.  Not really sure who Alexander was as nothing else is said about him.

            John MacArthur quotes Homer Kent, Jr. who states that “the Mosaic Law specified that whenever someone performed a miracle and used it as the basis for teaching, he was to be examined, and if the teaching were used to lead men away from the God of their fathers, the nation was responsible to stone him (Deut. 13:1-5).  On the other hand, it his message was doctrinally sound, the miracle-worker was to be accepted as coming with a message from God.”  

            “1  "If a prophet or a dreamer of dreams arises among you and gives you a sign or a wonder, 2  and the sign or the wonder comes true, concerning which he spoke to you, saying, ’Let us go after other gods (whom you have not known) and let us serve them,’ 3 you shall not listen to the words of that prophet or that dreamer of dreams; for the LORD your God is testing you to find out if you love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul. 4 “You shall follow the LORD your God and fear Him; and you shall keep His commandments, listen to His voice, serve Him, and cling to Him. 5 "But that prophet or that dreamer of dreams shall be put to death, because he has counseled rebellion against the LORD your God who brought you from the land of Egypt and redeemed you from the house of slavery, to seduce you from the way in which the LORD your God commanded you to walk. So you shall purge the evil from among you.”

            The Sanhedrin demanded to know “by what power, or in what name” the apostles had healed the lame man.  We know that a name represents authority, and there is no higher authority in the entire universe than our Lord Jesus Christ.

            Spiritual meaning for my life today:  To realize that Jesus Christ is the highest authority in the universe and to realize that He died for me brings about humility into my life.

My Steps of Faith for Today:  I trust that since there have been very many prayers going up to heaven for the man that the Lord brought into my life to tell the truth of the gospel to that the Holy Spirit of God will continue His word of salvation in this man’s life.

Answer to yesterday’s Bible question:  “In Troas” (Acts 16:8-9).

Today’s Bible question:  “Who was Jacob’s most loved wife?”

Answer in our next SD.

9/21/2017 11:07 AM

PT-2 The Persecution Manifest (Acts 4:1-4)

SPIRITUAL DIARY FOR 9/20/2017 10:41 AM

My Worship Time                                                               Focus: PT-2 The Persecution Manifest

Bible Reading & Meditation                                                 Reference:  Acts 4:1-4

            Message of the verses:  “1 As they were speaking to the people, the priests and the captain of the temple guard and the Sadducees came up to them, 2 being greatly disturbed because they were teaching the people and proclaiming in Jesus the resurrection from the dead. 3 And they laid hands on them and put them in jail until the next day, for it was already evening. 4 But many of those who had heard the message believed; and the number of the men came to be about five thousand.”

            We have been looking at reasons why Peter and John were irritating the priests as they were preaching to the crowd after the healing of a man who was lame.  Now the major problem that these Jewish priests and the captain of the temple guards was, was that they were telling the crowd that Jesus was raised from the dead.  The Jewish leaders had executed Jesus as a blasphemer, and now these men were telling people that He is alive, that He is their resurrected Messiah, and they did not want to hear any of it.  The Sadducees did not believe in the resurrection of anyone as they only believed in the first five chapters of the Old Testament.  They did not believe in angels or anything supernatural.  I don’t know what they thought of creation or about Enoch going to heaven without dying. 

            “The idea of a general resurrection was an apocalyptic concept with all sorts of messianic overtones.  Messianic ideas among the Jews of that day meant revolt, overthrow of the foreign overlords, and restoration of the Davidic kingdom…The notes of Peter’s sermon alarmed them:  resurrection, Author of life, and a new Moses.  There were revolutionary ideas.  The movement must not spread.  It must be nipped in the bud. (John B. Polhill, The New American Commentary: Acts [Nashville:  Broadman, 1992], 140).”

            Now because the Jews could not tolerate the apostles’ teaching they laid hands on them and put them in jail until the next day as by now it was evening.  When we looked at Peter’s sermon in chapter two we remarked that the sermon must have been a lot longer than what Luke put into that portion of Acts and this sermon also must have been longer too.  Because it was evening the Sanhedrin could not have a trial, and so they put them in jail for the night.

            Putting them in jail did not stop people from believing as many came to know the Lord because of this sermon.  MacArthur writes “Five thousand represents the cumulative number of men in the Jerusalem congregation, not those added at this time.  This is the last mention of a specific number in Acts; from this time on the church grew too fast to keep an accurate count.  Luke does, however, not the church’s continued growth (5:14; 6:7; 9:31; 12:24; 16:5; 19:20; 28:31).”

            Spiritual meaning for my life today:  Peter gave out the gospel message in this sermon, as he was willing to tell others the good news of the gospel.  I love it when God gives me the opportunity to tell someone the good news of the gospel of Jesus Christ.  There are few things if any in this life that give me more pleasure.

My Steps of Faith for Today:  Continue to trust the Lord to bring to me “divine appointments” in order to spread the good news that Jesus Christ died for who the Lord directs me to.

Answer to yesterday’s Bible question:  “Andrew” (John 1:41).

Today’s Bible question:  “Where was Paul when he had a vision calling him to Macedonia?”

Answer in our next SD.

9/20/2017 11:04 AM