Foolish or Faithful?
I don’t know about you but its easy to grow up being taught things that sound good, that sound right, that seem to make sense - but when the reality of similar circumstances begin to happen in your own life - sometimes all the theory gets thrown out the window.
I’ve had those thoughts lately. I grew up hearing stories of men of faith like Abraham, Daniel, Joseph, - Women like Esther, and Deborah.
You read or hear these stories that are exciting - about how these men and women stood up for what they believed in even if it meant at the cost of their own life.
Why is it though that sometimes what we were taught as kids becomes theory and not reality as we grow up?
We hear of Daniel being told of a new law - a new executive order - a government guideline - that made worshipping in a certain way - in one story - just praying in your own house - an illegal act. He has the opportunity to decide to follow the law of his land - or the conviction of his conscience and pray to His God.
He breaks the law - willingly, knowingly and openly and faces the consequences.
Would you have the courage to do the same? Is that thinking foolishly or faithfully?
Fast forward into a scenario - oh I don’t know - let’s just paint a scenario where it’s illegal to worship as you normally would. What would you do?
For some it’s not what would we do - so much as what did we do? What did you do —what did I do? when our government told us to not worship in a certain way like we always had - perhaps like we were convicted to?
Some talk of what they would do if a day of religious intolerance came - and how they would act. I’m just curious if you’ve had any new thoughts on that concept in recent weeks.
Ok so on that note, let’s go back in time to the days following the ascension of Jesus. He’s gone back to heaven, He’s asked his friends - the disciples to go tell all the world this story of how man can be saved and live forever.
They waste no time. These men and women - many of them at least - had left their careers behind - they felt something more sweet must occupy their time going forward. So this means they weren’t rich with worldly wealth.
Peter and John reveal this when they go up to the temple and a man - who was 40 years old - who had been parapolegic -crippled since he was born. A man who had prayed for healing and it never came. A man who had done all he could to meet Jesus over the course of 3 years and sadly he never made it.
Do you think Jesus forgot about this man? Did Jesus not hear this man’s prayers? Or was there something more going on here?
His pleadings at last were heard by some friends to carry him to the gate of the temple, but upon arriving there, he found that the One upon whom his hopes were centered, had been put to a cruel death. AA 57.2
Jesus was dead - that was the news on the street. Imagine his utter discouragement. His whole life longing for healing and finally hope had just sprung up and then it was crushed.
His disappointment excited the sympathy of those who knew for how long he had hoped to be healed by Jesus, and daily they brought him to the temple, in order that people walking by might be induced by pity to give him a a little money to relieve his wants.
As Peter and John passed by him, he asked for a little money. The disciples - these two men who had been so close to Jesus, these two men - one a hot head the other one of the sons of thunder - had been changed.
Their hearts went out to this guy and Peter said, “Look at us. And the crippled looked up at them, expecting to receive something from them. Then Peter said, We don’t have any gold or silver - yea no money here.
And As Peter made it clear they didn’t have anything, the countenance of the cripple fell;
But then something happened. Peter didn’t stop talking . And hope didn’t die out. Because Peter then said -, “But what I do have, I will give to you : In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk. AA 58.1
“And he took him by the right hand, and lifted him up: and immediately his feet and ankle-bones received strength. And he leaped up stood, and walked, and entered with them into the temple, walking, and leaping, and praising God. And all the people saw him walking and praising God: and they knew that it was the same guy who had begged - the cripple : and they were filled with wonder and amazement at the news they were hearing.” AA 58.2
“And as the lame man which was healed held Peter and John, all the people ran together unto them in the porch that is called Solomon's, greatly wondering.” They were astonished that the disciples could perform miracles similar to those performed by Jesus. Yet here was this man, for forty years a helpless cripple, now rejoicing in the full use of his limbs, free from pain, and happy in believing in Jesus. AA 58.3
Why on earth in 2020 do I tell you a story like this? First off, I am not assuming you’ve heard this story. I also want you to catch a very important detail before we move on - there was a key component of the economy - healthcare. What do you think happens to all of those involved in that when some uneducated fishermen are walking around town healing cripples?
You disrupt the economy and you pick a fight with the big boys.
Needless to say this doesn’t go over well.
Everyone seems shocked at this miracle and Peter and John remind them of where the power came from - From Jesus! They didn’t just stop there - Peter and John went on to tell how the blood of Jesus was on the hands of the very nation that birthed him.
They began to call on all to repent and be converted. That was once a key feature of Christianity - a calling to turn from selfishness and for someone to actually do it - Repentance and Conversion.
Sadly today many hear how being a Christian is easy and you can do whatever you want and live as you please and heaven still be your home. Sadly that isn’t the picture the Bible paints.
It isn’t the picture the disciples are painting in this moment.
They know the history of the nation. They don’t mince their words. They aren’t politically correct. They make it plain.
And the crowd didn’t shrink but grew - the Holy Spirit was convicting people all over that what these men were saying was true.
Then we are told that While the disciples were speaking to the people, “the priests, and the captain of the temple, and the Sadducees, came to them and upset that they taught the people, and preached about Jesus and the resurrection from the dead.” AA 60.3
As the religious leaders heard the words - they were convinced but not convicted. They didn’t want to hear it.
Its important to know that The wrath of God is not declared against unrepentant sinners just because of the sins they have committed, but because, when called to repent, they choose to continue in resistance, repeating the sins of the past in defiance of the light given them.
If the Jewish leaders had submitted to the convicting power of the Holy Spirit, they would have been pardoned; but they were determined not to yield. In the same way, the sinner - that’s you or I , by continued resistance, we can place ourselves where the Holy Spirit cannot influence us anymore. AA 62.1
So its about evening time and the leaders can’t take it any longer. So they arrest Peter and John, throw them in prison for the night before they were ready to talk to them the next day.
On the next day after this healing of the cripple, Annas and Caiaphas, with the other dignitaries of the temple, met together for the trial, - or really a mock trial - and the prisoners were brought before them.
But get this - In that very room and before some of those very men, Peter had just days earlier denied even knowing Jesus. He could remember that rooster crowing in his memory. That thought, that recent memory came distinctly to his mind as he appeared now for his own trial. He now had an opportunity of redeeming himself and now being courageous instead of fearful. AA 62.2
Those present who remembered the part that Peter had acted at the trial of his Master, flattered themselves that he could now be intimidated by the threat of imprisonment and death. But the Peter who denied Jesus in the hour of His greatest need was impulsive and self-confident, completely different from the Peter who was brought before the Sanhedrin for examination.
Since his fall he had been converted. He was no longer proud and boastful, but modest and no longer trusted in himself.
He was filled with the Holy Spirit, and by the help of this power he was resolved to remove the stain of his apostasy by honoring the name he had once disowned. AA 62.3
The priests ask them by what power or authority they did this - and well that opened the can of worms - and Peter and John started to give them a tag team sermon about Jesus - whom they had crucified.
This courageous defense appalled the Jewish leaders. They had supposed that the disciples would be overcome with fear and confusion when brought before the Sanhedrin.
But, instead, these witnesses spoke as Christ had spoken, with a convincing power that silenced their adversaries. There was no trace of fear in Peter's voice
As the priests listened to the apostles’ fearless words, “they took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus.” AA 64.2
It’s really interesting what the book - the Desire of Ages says about this moment
Talking about the disciples after the transfiguration of Christ it is written that at the close of that wonderful scene “they saw no man, save Jesus only.” Matthew 17:8. “Jesus only”—in these words is contained the secret of the life and power that marked the history of the early church.
Christ placed His seal on the words that Peter spoke in His defense. Close beside the disciple, as a convincing witness, stood the man who had been so miraculously healed. The appearance of this man, a few hours before a helpless cripple, but now restored to soundness of health, added a weight of testimony to Peter's words. Priests and rulers were silent. They were unable to refute Peter's statement, but they were determined to put a stop to the teaching of the disciples. AA 65.2
Already the healing of the cripple and the preaching of the apostles had filled Jerusalem with excitement. AA 66.1
In order to conceal their perplexity, the priests and rulers ordered the apostles to be taken away, that they might counsel among themselves.
They felt that the work of the disciples must be stopped or Jesus would gain many followers. Their own disgrace would follow, for they would be held guilty of the murder of the Son of God. AA 66.2
Calling them again before the Sanhedrin, they commanded them not to speak or teach in the name of Jesus. But Peter and John answered: in Acts 4:19 - “Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you more than to God, you be the judge . For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard.” AA 66.3
The disciples prayed that greater strength might be imparted to them in the work of the ministry; for they saw that they would meet the same determined opposition that Christ had encountered when upon the earth. While their united prayers were ascending in faith to heaven, the answer came.
The place where they were assembled was shaken, and they were endowed anew with the Holy Spirit. Their hearts filled with courage, they again went forth to share the word of God in Jerusalem and God blessed their efforts.
The principle for which the disciples stood so fearlessly when, in answer to the command not to speak any more in the name of Jesus, they said, “Whether it be right in the sight of God to listen to you more than to God, you judge ,” is the same that the adherents of the gospel struggled to maintain in the days of the Reformation.
When in 1529 the German princes assembled at the Diet of Spires, there was presented the emperor's decree restricting religious liberty, and in that decree - all were prohibited to share publicly and openly the teaching of the protestant reformation.
At that moment, It seemed that the hope of the world was about to be crushed out. Would the princes accept the decree? These leaders of governments?
Should the light of the gospel be shut out from the multitudes still in darkness? This was a pivotal moment in history. Those who had accepted the reformed faith met together, and their unanimous decision was, “Let us reject this decree. In matters of conscience the majority has no power.”—Merle d'Aubigne, History of the Reformation, b. 13, ch. 5. AA 68.1
This principle is one we in our day must maintain. Too many men and women have laid down their lives to water the tree of liberty with their own blood for us to sit back and be silent. The banner of truth and religious liberty held by the founders of the genuine christian church and by God's witnesses during the centuries that have passed since then, has, in this last conflict, been committed to our hands.
The responsibility for this great gift rests with you and I. We can accept or reject the scriptures but we can’t have it both ways.
the Bible is clear that we are to recognize human government as an ordinance of divine appointment, and teach obedience to it as a sacred duty, within its legitimate sphere.
But when its claims conflict with the claims of God, we must obey God rather than men.
God's word must be recognized as above all human legislation. A “Thus saith the Lord” is not to be set aside for a “Thus saith the church” or a “Thus saith the state.” The crown of Christ is to be lifted above the crowns of earthly kings. AA 68.2
We are not required to defy authorities. Our words, whether spoken or written, should be carefully considered, so that we do not place ourselves on record as uttering that which would make us appear antagonistic to law and order.
The church perhaps like never before is in a very precarious position. From many angles it looks like the church has lost her way.
For many of us, we may have found that our faith was built on theories and this has made us question things or perhaps even lose our grasp on things.
But never forget it’s the foolishness of preaching, the strange act of sharing this story of Jesus who laid down his life to save us and that we can’t save ourselves - it’s that message that men and women have given us through history. It’s that message of freedom of conscience - of standing up for what you believe no matter what those around you are doing.
To quote D’Abijeen - “In matters of conscience, the majority has no power”.
Never forget that. God is whispering to many people right now to stand for something. It’s the same spirit that whispered to Peter and John and millions in history. Don’t turn that whisper away, don’t ignore it. Some may call you foolish - but Jesus will call you faithful.
I want to ask for that power now if you’ll pray with me…
