Peter
preached Christ with great boldness: ‘There is salvation in no one
else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which
we must be saved’(Acts 4:12).
This
boldness came from the Holy Spirit. Peter was ‘filled with the Holy
Spirit’(Acts 4:8). Don’t say, ‘I‘m no Peter’. Peter failed his Lord and
had to be restored (Matthew 26:69-75; John 21:15-17). Peter drew great
strength from ‘the company of those who believed’. They ‘gathered
together’ for prayer. They ‘were of one heart and soul’...’(Acts
4:31-33). Why did God deal so severely with Ananias and Sapphira (Acts
5:1-11)? This was the start of something great. God refused to let His
work be spoiled! There is a warning for us: Don’t pretend to be more
holy than you really are. God sees what you’re really like. ‘Search me, O
God...’(Psalm 139:23-24). There
was great blessing: ‘More than ever believers were added to the
Lord’(Acts 5:14). There was persecution (Acts 5:17-18). This did not
hinder the advance of the Gospel (Acts 5:42). Satan was not going to
give up easily. He came right back at the apostles (Acts 6:1). Satan was
defeated. Through the Spirit of God and the Word of God, the victory
was won. The apostles ‘devoted themselves to prayer and the ministry of
the Word’. They were supported by ‘seven men... known to be full of the
Spirit and wisdom’(Acts 6:3-4). Armed with ‘the sword of the Spirit,
which is the Word of God’, let us be ‘be strong in the Lord’- ‘filled
with the Spirit’- as we ‘let the Word of Christ dwell in us
richly’(Ephesians 6:17,10; 5:18; Colossians 3:16). Filled with His
Spirit and obedient to His Word, let us look to God for His blessing
(Acts 6:7).
Jesus is the way of salvation, joy and victory.
- Jesus is the way of salvation - Concerning "the Name of Jesus Christ", Peter tells us that "Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved" (Acts 4:10, 12).
- Jesus is the way of joy - Jesus tells us, "In the world, you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world" (John 16:33).
Jesus is the way of victory - Paul gives to us
this word of encouragement: "Thanks be to God, who gives us the victory
through our Lord Jesus Christ" (1 Corinthians 15:57).
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