DAILY BREAD OF LIFE

ACTS 4:16-18

(16)  Saying,  What shall we do to these men?  for that indeed a notable miracle hath been done by them is manifest to all them that dwell in Jerusalem; and we cannot deny it.

(17)  But that it spread no further among the people,  let us straitly threaten them, that they speak hence forth to no man in this name.

(18)  And they called them, and commanded them not to speak at all nor teach in the name of Jesus.

FEAR NOT, YE PERSECUTED BELIEVERS!

(16)  Saying,  What shall we do to these men?  for that indeed a notable miracle hath been done by them is manifest to all them that dwell in Jerusalem; and we cannot deny it.  Brethren, today,are we being persecuted for righteousness sake?  let us not worry but be strengthen in faith through the righteousness of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ;  for past disciples of Jesus Christ, faced great persecutions than believers of this generation;  (i)  in the book of Acts chapter 4, after the disciples received the Holy Ghost on the day of Pentecost; Peter and John became powerful, boldness in spirits, to preach the gospel of repentance, remission of sins, salvation and performed great miracles; however, when the rulers of the people and elders of Israel saw their boldness and miracles, they thought to themselves; these men used to lack knowledge and of little education;  the point is, Jesus Christ can choose to call and appoint anyone on earth for his purposes, regardless of their intellect or status in life; for he looks only upon the hearts of men. (Luke 16:15);  it is written, "for the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God;...he taketh the wise in their own craftiness." (1 Corinthians 3:19);  therefore if we do the will of our Father, but enemies mock and speak ill against us, because they assumed that we are unlearned;  let us rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for, if we suffer for Jesus Christ sake, we will be glorified and rewarded with crown of glories. (1 Peter 4:13).

Though the rulers and elders became excited about what they saw;  for a man was healed right before their eyes, they could not utter a word but thought evil against Peter and John, conspired among themselves, Saying, what can we do to these men?  truly, there are miracles performed by them in Jerusalem and we cannot deny it;  this is a conspiracy to persecute them for righteousness sake, (1 Peter 3: 12-18);  at times, because of who we are in Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior, as children of light, not of darkness, persecutions will rise up against us and regardless of what we do rightfully, enemies will find faults, to defame our characters, to bring condemnations upon our souls; however, (i)  let us remember that persecutions had happened before to believers of old like Peter and John, who walked in faiths through the righteousness of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and encourage ourselves by reading words of their faith experiences in the scriptures;  (ii)  also, let us not pay attentions to our haters, give them credits for their evil works against us but focus on Jesus Christ, the author and finisher of our races on earth and rejoice in our persecutions, persevere and forbear in our faith;  Jesus Christ already taken our shame on the cross of Calvary, (Hebrews 12:2); (iii)  Jesus is now sitted on the right hand of the Father as our advocate; he sees our persecutions, talks to our Father about them and will reward us with crown of glories in heavenly places forever. 

(17)  But that it spread no further among the people,  let us straitly threaten them, that they speak hence forth to no man in this name.  Brethren, now Peter and John are in trouble for doing wills of our Father through the name of Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior; (i)  the rulers and elders conspired to stop the glory of Jesus Christ from shinning and spreading among humanity; therefore, they plotted to cause distress to their lives by uttering evil words of condemnations against them, to make them cease to perform miracles in the name of Jesus Christ;  however, who can overshadow the glory of Jesus Christ from shinning?  it is written,  "And the glory of the LORD shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together; for the mouth of the LORD hath spoken it." (Isaiah 40:5);  today, if we are doing what are rightfully in our callings, but enemies rise up against us, slander with words of hatred and condemn our souls for righteousness sake;  brethren, let us not worry but rather pray that their spiritual eyes be lighten, to see the glory of Jesus Christ in our works, and to give him all glory, be converted to serve him in the faith in righteousness. 

(18)  And they called them, and commanded them not to speak at all nor teach in the name of Jesus.  Brethren, now the enemy encouraged the rulers and elders to assemble Peter and John, and warned them not to speak at all in the name of Jesus;  really?  I declare and decree;  (i)  let the name of Jesus be glorified on earth this day and forevermore. Amen!  (ii)  In the name of Jesus, let every knee bow, of things in heaven, things in earth and things under the earth; (Philippians 2:10); (iii)  let every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. (Philippians 2:11);  (iv)  in the name of Jesus, let the blind see and lepers receive healing and the lame walked; for, Peter said, "Silver and Gold have I none; but what I give thee; In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise and walk." (Acts 3:6);  (v) in the name of Jesus, there is remission of sins. salvation and life everlasting;  my question is;  what was Peter and John's response their persecutors in this chapter?:  it is written, "Whether it be right in the sight of God to hearken unto you more than unto God, judge ye. For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard." (Acts 4:19-20); brethren, Peter and John witnessed to the glorification of Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior among heathen;  ponder point;  if we are in same situations as believers, and are being persecuted by our haters today, what will be our responses to our persecutors? 

CONCLUSION

Dearly beloved, there is nothing under the sun that had never happened before, from generations to generations, persecutions, oppression, tears and agonies of believers of Jesus Christ have been in existence; and at times, we wonder why?  it is written,  "And when he had opened the fifth seal,  I saw under the altar the souls of them that were slain for the word of God, and the testimony which they held;.....And they cried with a loud voice,  saying,  How long,  O Lord, holy and true, dost thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth? (Revelation 6:9-10);  therefore, our Father knows about our persecutions;  let us be encouraged, to know that though enemies may prevail against us with persecutions, in due time, our Father will judge our enemies with his wrath; but, we will continue to dwell in his holiness forever and evermore;  therefore, let us come to Jesus and receive rests for our souls, for in him is salvation, peace, grace and life everlasting.  Amen and amen!

QUOTE OF THE DAY

(KJV.)  Ecclesiastes 4:1  So I returned,  and considered all the oppressions that are done under the sun: and behold the tears of such as were oppressed, and they had no comforter; and on the side of their oppressors there was power; but they had no comforter.