Acts 4:1-4 – 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.
John 16:33 – I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.
1 Peter 4:12 – Dear friends, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal that has come on you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you.
“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.” When we speak the Word of God, when we talk about Jesus with joy and without shame, people will notice. As we share the Word of God there are shock waves sent out into the spiritual world. Isaiah 55:11 states that the Word of God when sent forth, always accomplishes what God has sent it to do. When we speak the Word of God to each other, and also to non-believers, it is released into the spiritual world and the physical world. In this world that is so dark spiritually it is a flaming arrow that awakes the dead and brings the hisses of evil. Since the world is dark the released Word of God changes the very nature of what it passes through. Dark becomes light. This happens most notably in the spirit, but also in our world as the evidence of what happens in the spirit is evidenced in this world. As evil has strongholds in the world, often in the form of laws forbidding God’s righteous Word, when the Word is released the evil in the spirit and in the world is affected. If we speak the Word of God in the workplace there will be an immediate reaction that the Word of God is not welcome there. Evil will rise up against the Word and is at the same time rising up against God Himself. Like those who rejected the incarnate Word of God, those who reject the written Word of God also reject God Himself.
Peter and John spoke a message from God to the World and those who oppose God immediately came slithering out. Yet, not only those who oppose, but also those who from the dark saw the light and with honest curiosity came to seek. Those who oppose the work of God will include those who teach a false message, especially where money is concerned. So it was at this time that those who perpetuate evil (a false message) came running out to attempt to put out the light. But the light was seen. The wild fire of the Holy Spirit had drawn in the genuinely curious. The opposition can only distract those who genuinely were not drawn because of the hardness of their hearts. The true seekers are drawn in and they see and understand and they stay. The Author of the Word of God, the Holy Spirit, knows the hearts of people and knows what the response to the Word will be. We, let the blazing arrow go and are witnesses to the work of God. Set the Word free and we see the response of the hungry and the response of evil. We must be careful how we consider what we see and hear because not all that don’t respond are evil, they are not ready yet. All we know is that they have not responded and beyond that, only God knows.
Some of the response from doing the will of God and speaking His Word will cause us trouble and some of it will bless us. We are not surprised by opposition (1 Peter 4:12). Neither are we frightened because Jesus has warned us that with doing God’s will opposition comes. But we need not fear because Jesus has overcome the world and therefore the victory that He had is shared with us (Romans 8:11). We rejoice not in the journey, but that our eternal address has been secured by the King of kings and Lord of lords. Because of the great miracle that the Lord used Peter and John to do, both the true seekers and the hateful and fearing came running. Again, God used a miracle to draw people to Him. Peter and John will face a challenge, but God will see them through it. Family, let us not shrink from what the Lord will have us do, but excitedly launch into the adventure, with eyes wide open, as we see God’s will jump from the oceans. Let us release the power of God to the world and watch God work. Praise our God! Oh yes, praise our God!
Psalm 150:6 – Let everything that has breath praise the Lord. Praise the Lord!
Micah 7:7 – But as for me, I watch in hope for the Lord, I wait for God my Savior; my God will hear me.
Micah 6:8 – He has shown You, O man, what is good; And what does the Lord require of You but to do justly, to love mercy, And to walk humbly with Your God.