Time To Take A Stand Acts Chapter 4 2/12/2018

Good Morning,

The kitchen has an aroma coming from it and I do believe It is Door County Chocolate Raspberry Truffle Coffee. I would recognize that smell, even with a head cold.

In Acts Chapter 4 we see the Apostle taking a stand for his faith. This is the same guy who only a few chapters back in the Bible was denying his relationship with Jesus. Once Peter was filled with the Holy Spirit he rose up and took his stand, never again to be the one who backed down. And my friends look at how he took that stand. He spoke clearly and laid down the Gospel message boldly  without fear or shame. There is no beating around the bush in his statements.

Acts 4: 1-12 New International Version (NIV)

Peter and John Before the Sanhedrin

4 The priests and the captain of the temple guard and the Sadducees came up to Peter and John while they were speaking to the people. ² They were greatly disturbed because the apostles were teaching the people, proclaiming in Jesus the resurrection of the dead. ³ They seized Peter and John and, because it was evening, they put them in jail until the next day. ⁴ But many who heard the message believed; so the number of men who believed grew to about five thousand.

⁵ The next day the rulers, the elders and the teachers of the law met in Jerusalem. ⁶ Annas the high priest was there, and so were Caiaphas, John, Alexander and others of the high priest’s family. ⁷ They had Peter and John brought before them and began to question them: “By what power or what name did you do this?”
⁸ Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them: “Rulers and elders of the people! ⁹ If we are being called to account today for an act of kindness shown to a man who was lame and are being asked how he was healed, ¹⁰ then know this, you and all the people of Israel: It is by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified but whom God raised from the dead, that this man stands before you healed. ¹¹ Jesus is

“‘the stone you builders rejected,
    which has become the cornerstone.’

¹² Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved.”

Peter was like an avid big game hunter here. He had one good shot and he took it. He laid it out on the line, resurrection and all. Jesus and only Jesus was the center of credit. Notice He did not have a band, or a fancy stage. He was just hauled out of jail and He was ready to preach.

How about you? If someone was to try and convict you of being a Christian, would there be enough evidence to do so. Who do you say Jesus is? The messages you hear in your churches, are they proclaiming the Good News of Jesus? Do you even hear His name? Is the message sifted in a way that Jesus is forgotten?

Food for thought,

Marty