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Word from Scotland
by Sandy Shaw
In , when Peter and John are released from prison, they continued preaching and teaching and healing in the Name of Jesus.
Jesus teaches us through the Scriptures to continue the work and allow the ministry of the Gospel to flow from age to age, until Jesus comes again. The command is clear - Go into all the world - Preach the word - Heal the sick - Minister to the needy - Feed the hungry - Set the prisoners free.
Not only is Christianity exclusive; it is inclusive. In Christ all can be included - rich and poor - black and white - learned and unlearned.
Throughout these verses there is more concern about people's salvation, than the apostle's safety. We know from later verses that the religious leaders were on the point of taking the lives of Peter and John.
They are hearing the truth of God, and yet, they cannot see it. They are so close, and yet so far. Lord, why don't YOU just open their eyes? But HE doesn't.
Do you ever wonder why some people just do not see? It is because they are blind. When we study the Scriptures, and are immersed in the Word of God, we learn all kinds of vital lessons and have our various questions answered.
In verse 23, Peter and John return to the Jerusalem Fellowship as soon as they are released from jail. The go back to the Church with no thoughts of - 'Well, I'm not having any more to do with Jesus Christ if this is how I am going to be treated!' There is no self-pity, and no feeling sorry for themselves.
Our attitude to suffering and persecution can determine our continued faithfulness to God.
They do report what they had been through, and when those who believed in Jesus, heard their account, they launched out in prayer.
Nothing needed to be said to motivate these disciples to pray. They did not require to be coaxed and encouraged to speak out in prayer.
And we have some of the words of that prayer in verse 24. Note these words as they lifted up their voice to God. YOU MADE. YOU HAVE SPOKEN. MANY HAVE GATHERED AGAINST THE LORD AND HIS ANOINTED ONE. NOW, THEY ARE THREATENING US.
Enable Your servants and we are Your servants. There was no doubt about that. They knew who they were. This is not arrogance. This is assurance.
There are certain things we need to know. They pray for two things:
"Lord, You go on giving us boldness and courage.
Lord, You go on performing the miracles. Stretch out Your Hand to heal."
Help us to go on preaching with courage, and You keep doing the miracles.
That place where they were meeting was shaken. It was as if there was an immediate answer where God was showing what HE could do. They were in His Hands and in the centre of His Will. Now that is a good place to be.
The Church of Jesus Christ is only a few days old. The first wave of persecution hits this dynamic group. They sailed on, and did not sink. There was a unity. They were united in heart and mind, and much grace was with them all.
Alexander 'Sandy' Shaw is pastor of Nairn Christian Fellowship in Nairn, Scotland. Nairn is 17 miles east of Inverness - on the Moray Firth Coast - not far from the Loch Ness Monster!
Gifted as a Biblical teacher, Sandy is firmly committed to making sure that his teachings are firmly grounded in the Word.
Sandy has a weekly radio talk which can be heard via the Internet on Saturday at 11:40am, New Orleans time, at wsho.com.
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