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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