but seeing the man who was healed standing beside them, they had nothing to say in opposition. but when they had commanded them to leave the council, they conferred with one another, saying, “what shall we do with these men? for that a notable sign has been performed through them is evident to all the inhabitants of jerusalem, and we cannot deny it. but in order that it may spread no further among the people, let us warn them to speak no more to anyone in this name.”
so they called them and charged them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus. but peter and john answered them, “whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you rather than to God, you must judge, for we cannot but speak of what we have seen and heard.” and when they had further threatened them, they let them go, finding no way to punish them, because of the people, for all were praising God for what had happened. for the man on whom this sign of healing was performed was more than forty years old. [acts 4:14-22]
Jesus’ supernatural work is without worldly explanation:
whenever we see miraculous healing or people who reject Christ come to know him, it stops the mouths of those who would oppose him–there are those who search for some scientific or logical explanation, but the way that Jesus works is beyond our understanding.
Jesus’ name will always be reviled in this world:
Jesus came to seek and save the lost [luke 19:10], but there will still be those who reject him and twist the truth that is plain to those who believe to their own selfish ends–if you are living for Jesus Christ and speaking his name, many will mock and persecute you, and deny Jesus’ truth and power. if they continue to reject him until their end, they ultimately will be cursed for denying him in eternal torment.
Jesus’ name will always be praised:
when we boldly declare the power of Jesus, he is praised even in the face of threat. Jesus is the lamb who is worthy–we will praise his name forever, persecution and even death cannot silence worship!
the praise Jesus’ name prompts boldness:
even the simple [psalm 19:7] and the uneducated [acts 4:12] will be able to stand in the face of the mockers and scoffers–the Holy Spirit will give us the words in our day of persecution. [luke 12:12].
there is power in the name of Jesus!
therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. [philippians 2:9-11]
take time today and kneel in praise of God the Father, revealed in Jesus Christ by the Holy Spirit–ask for boldness to rise in you to tell the world the good news of the gospel of Jesus Christ!
~ ce