Dear Friends,
Greetings in Christ!
In our last post, we saw how Satan failed in his attempt to infiltrate and influence the early church through Ananias and Sapphira. God’s judgment may have seemed a bit heavy-handed to our limited understanding, but [t]he judgments of the LORD are true and righteous altogether.
The church is still united. (v 12) The church was held in reputation and the people magnified them. (v 13) The church continues to grow. (v 14)
Please fill each of us with your Holy Spirit, Father, and give us understanding as we read thy word, in Jesus’ name. Amen.
Acts 5:12-18
12 And by the hands of the apostles were many signs and wonders wrought among the people; (and they were all with one accord in Solomon’s porch.
The Bible says if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin. That means if you do not have some Christian friends, you want to make some. Convert your own if you have to, but make some. This is a crucial point that will need to be developed further in a future study. (Pr 27:17)
When they were still meeting together in the Temple in Solomon’s porch, the old-guard Temple leadership had to watch the flurry of activity surrounding those unschooled Jesus people, who they said did not know the law. (John 7:49) They were green with envy.
13 And of the rest durst [dared] no man join himself to them: but the people magnified them.
Many people were still afraid to be seen with them, but in secret, apparently, the people magnified them.
14 And believers were the more added to the Lord, multitudes both of men and women.)
15 Insomuch that they brought forth the sick into the streets, and laid them on beds and couches, that at the least the shadow of Peter passing by might overshadow some of them.
16 There came also a multitude out of the cities round about unto Jerusalem, bringing sick folks, and them which were vexed with unclean spirits: and they were healed every one.
17 Then the high priest rose up, and all they that were with him, (which is the sect of the Sadducees,) and were filled with indignation,
18 And laid their hands on the apostles, and put them in the common prison.
Acts 5:12-18
Here we go again — multitudes are bringing their sick and demon-possessed people from roundabout Jerusalem and each and every one of them is healed and/ or delivered. People are believing on Jesus. The high priest and his sad-you-see comrades are fit to be tied. So, the apostles are arrested and thrown in jail — another opportunity to show the power of the Holy Spirit. (I Thess 5:18)
In our study in Acts 4:1-14, I mentioned how the Quakers were persecuted in the early days of the colonies because they believed in being guided by the “Inward Light” of the Holy Spirit (not just by ordained ministers). In fact, throughout much of church history, it was illegal to preach unless you were licensed to do so by the ‘Church’. In England, John Bunyan (who wrote what was probably the most beloved Christian book ever written next to the Bible) spent years in jail for preaching without a license. In the colonies, not only Quakers, but anyone who challenged the stale and unbiblical practices of the establishment churches was persecuted. Baptists were jailed and even whipped. (There is a widely-circulated account of a preacher who was whipped to death for not taking a license shortly before the War of Independence, but I cannot find the source of the story.) Of course, these persecutions were mild compared to the trials of the early church or what happened later in the Inquisition. Before Jesus was crucified by the religious leaders of his day, He taught us, The servant is not greater than his Lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you.
Therefore, those who follow the leading of the Holy Spirit will be persecuted by those who are in the flesh, but that is not the point I want to make. The persecution fostered the spread of the gospel (Acts 8:1-4), but that is not my point either. The moral of this post is that true Christianity is not necessarily found in establishment institutions that require ordinations, seminary degrees, and the like. I believe Jesus meant to teach us this by deliberately choosing people like Simon Peter and Mary Magdalene to be his disciples. All true Christianity requires is being born again (John 3:3) and being guided and taught by the Spirit. (John 16:13) Oftentimes, various religions are mistaken for Christianity, but Christianity is not a religion; Christianity is a relationship. The only religion God ever made was Judaism, but by the time Jesus came along, even Judaism had been twisted into something that God never intended. (Matt 23:13 et al) Jesus spent three and a half years here on earth explaining this. Jesus never taught that Christianity is a new religion in addition to Judaism; rather, Christianity is true Judaism. Christianity is faith in the Jewish Messiah, the King of the Jews. (Ps 22; Isa 53; et al)
When Jesus called the notorious sinner Levi (aka Matthew), He just said Follow me. It really is that simple. Jesus said all you have to do to be born again is believe in Him. (John 3:16) Jesus said all you have to do to receive the Holy Spirit is ask. (Luke 11:13) If you will do so, you will be taking your first steps into a grand adventure. Christianity opens a door to a much larger world beyond the scope of our limited vision. Jesus is the door to this land of promises and wonders; the door to light out of darkness, the door to forgiveness, a new heart and a regenerated spirit. The door to reconciliation with the God who made you. Jesus is the door to life everlasting.
If you want Jesus, pray this prayer:
Father in heaven, I’m a sinner. I believe your Son died for me. I believe He rose again. I believe He is coming back again and I want Him in my life. Lord Jesus, please come to my heart. Please take control of my life. Thank You for the precious blood You shed for me on Calvary. I pray this in your holy and precious name. Amen.
Next, study your Bible and let the Holy Spirit take it from there. (John 8:31, 32)
PS: In Acts 4:33, Dr Luke wrote that great grace was upon the early church. We do not often see examples of the great power that was upon the apostles in the Book of Acts, but I have consistently witnessed great grace in my own walk with Jesus, as well as the lives of others close to me. Understanding grace is key to your walk with Jesus. Grace means unmerited favor. We cannot earn our salvation. It’s a gift, the same for everyone, whether she is a medical missionary or a prostitute. The same goes for God’s love. You cannot earn it. God loves you just as much on your worst day when you committed your worst sin as He does on your best day when you feel your most righteous. Regardless of what you may have done, however terrible it may have been, if you have received Christ, when God looks at you all He sees is the righteousness of his Son. Your sin is gone. When we understand this, it increases our love for Jesus and draws us closer to Him. Jesus loves you more than you can possibly imagine!
Romans 5:15-18
Romans 8:35-39
Galatians 2:16
Galatians 5:14
Ephesians 2:8, 9
PPS: Thank you for praying for my friends in South Africa. There have already been some positive results. Thank You, Father, for always answering our prayers, in Jesus’ name. Amen.
Prophecy update: In last week‘s prophecy update, I mentioned how a growing number of countries are requiring digital ID (including biometrics for things like employment and banking). One such country, Russia, is launching a digital ID linked to a social-media ‘everything app’ similar to WeChat — or what Musk envisions for X.
Meanwhile, although Ross Ulbricht was pardoned by Trump, Pavel Durov remains captive in France, waiting to see what will become of their case against him. (Ulbricht was targeted by corrupt agents for creating Silk Road, a marketplace website that pioneered the use of Bitcoin. Durov refused to give governments back-door access to his secure social-media app, Telegram.)
Finally, Viet Nam recently closed 86,000 bank accounts of people who did not comply with their mandatory digital ID, or about 43% of the country’s bank accounts. That’s step one. When the worldwide plan is fully implemented, you know what the next steps will be for those who refuse to comply. (Rev 13:17; 20:4) Their target date is 2030. Receive Christ now and prepare yourself before it’s too late; save yourself from this untoward generation. (I Cor 15:51-54; Rev 19:7)