Distinguished Producer

Lifespring Family Berean, Brother Paul of Seattle.

Podcast Introduction

Today is Gospels Saturday. We’ll read Acts 5-6.  I've got an On This Date In Church History, and I’m calling today’s episode “The Choice."

Design: Steve Webb | Photo: Jackson Hirsch on Unsplash

Comments on Acts 5

In chapter five, after the apostles had been locked up for preaching about Jesus, and after the angel of the Lord had released them during the night and had told them, "Go, stand and speak to the people in the temple the whole message of this Life”, they went right back to the temple to again teach (or preach) to the people.

The high priest had them brought back to stand once more before the Council and he said, "We gave you strict orders not to continue teaching in this name, and yet, you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching and intend to bring this man's blood upon us."

Now, does this sound at all familiar to you? Doesn’t this go on today? Aren’t we told not to speak the name of Jesus? Christians are one of the only groups today that are discriminated against, and it’s perfectly fine with most of the world.

What Peter and the other apostles said to the high priest and the Council should be an encouragement to us. They said, "We must obey God rather than men. 30The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom you had put to death by hanging Him on a cross. 31He is the one whom God exalted to His right hand as a Prince and a Savior, to grant repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins. 32And we are witnesses of these things; and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey Him."

Friends, they got the courage to do this from the same Holy Spirit that is in every believer today. Don’t be afraid to speak the name of Jesus and tell what He has done in your life and what He wants to do in the lives of every person alive. Be bold. Be strong. Do not obey those who would tell you to shut up. We answer to a higher authority. We answer to Almighty God!

That is not to say that we will necessarily be miraculously rescued. As a matter of fact, there is a good chance that we will not be. But is that any reason to be afraid? Is it not better to do what God wants us to do, than to do what man wants us to do? In Luke 12:4-5, Jesus said, “Dear friends, don’t be afraid of those who want to kill your body; they cannot do any more to you after that. 5But I’ll tell you whom to fear. Fear God, who has the power to kill you and then throw you into hell. Yes, he’s the one to fear.” He didn’t say that to scare us into obeying God, He said that to say that we have nothing to fear from men. Of course God has the power to throw us into hell, but if we are in Christ, He has promised that we are forgiven. So it’s a moot point. 

Personally, I would much rather die doing what God has called me to do than to deny Him in the hopes of escaping the punishment of men. Those types of people are never satisfied. They will always continue to require more and more, until they have sucked the life out of you anyway. 

My prayer is that no one listening to this right now will ever have to make that choice. But it is better to decide in advance what choice we will make, rather than wait until circumstances force a hasty, emotional decision. 

Growing tyranny seems to be the order of the day around the world, beloved. We must be prepared. Prepared to stand and speak the truth of God and His offer of eternal life through Jesus, prepared to face opposition from those who hate God, and prepared to sacrifice the fleeting life of the body for eternal life with God, and with those who have gone before us.

What will you choose? Are you prepared?

Today's Bible Translation

Bible translation used in today's episode: Ch. 5 ERV; Ch. 6 GW

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