Title Paper Tiger/Acts 4:1~22
Content Paper Tiger/Acts 4:1~22
The coming of hardship does not mean that a person cannot grow. Perhaps they are too comfortable to be indolent, which slows their growth. When hardships come, there are times when growth accelerates. A few days ago, there was a power outage from 10 PM to 5 AM on a Thursday evening. Rather, then I read a book. I read it in a dark place, rubbing my eyes.
The coming of persecution does not mean that the church will not revive. Persecution does not only weaken faith. If difficulties come to the church, the work of the Holy Spirit does not decline. It's just how you think it is. A fool does not acknowledge his shortcomings and criticizes his tools.
The church either grows or declines. Do you want to be a leader in church growth? Or do you want to be the protagonist of the decline? You make the choices, and you get the fruits. Today, we want to learn crisis management skills by looking at Peter and John. Peter and John, from one fisherman, are doing a great job now. In the end, the Sanhedrin Council did not see this and began to move. At that time, the Sanhedrin was a formidable authority. It has 71 leaders, most of them Sadducees. The chairman was the high priest and had authority to deal with matters in religion, morality and politics. Judicial powers could even impose the death penalty. Only the executive power rested with the Roman governor.
Peter and John were taken into custody by the Sanhedrin. The reason is that he preached the gospel and healed a lame man who was over 40 years old. There they trembled and said, “I won't do that again. Please save me just once!” I didn't. They were bold.
But these are people who were originally timid. When Jesus was arrested, they all ran away. But where did this bold power come from? Faith. Their faith in Jesus as their savior made them like this. And it was a constant prayer. As I prayed, I was filled with the Holy Spirit. It is God's special power given to workers who believe, pray, and do God's work. All the difficulties that arise from obeying God's Word are just paper tigers. It may be painful at first, but once you hit it, it's not a big deal. It's harder for people to watch.
I am from a special forces unit. So, as an enlisted soldier, he was trained as hard as anyone else. It was very difficult at first, but I soon got used to it. However, the visiting parents were very sad when they saw our eyes and tanned faces. Our parents, who happened to see us being trained, wept with tears in their eyes at the visitation center. But it wasn't really that hard for us. The people watching suffered more than us who were training. The hardships faced by living according to God's word are nothing but paper tigers. Be bold before the paper tiger. Then victory is ours.
Peter and John had firm faith. This is the power and the source of boldness. They spoke boldly. In front of the Sanhedrin, he boldly said, “Jesus, whom you crucified and killed, raised this man to life.” This was said at the cost of his life. Everyone! God's beloved children must speak and live. He said, “Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved” (Acts 4:12).
Where did this come from? In front of the Sanhedrin. The religious leaders of Israel cursed and killed Jesus on the cross as the Savior and Messiah. Furthermore, he concludes that there is no salvation for others. It's like they're trying to die completely. “I want to die. Please kill me!” Doesn't it seem like
great. This is the power of Christians. It's the right thing to do. Wherever we go, with whomever we meet, we must boldly declare that Jesus is the Christ. This is what a young man looks like. God's word has power. No other name will save us. Unwavering faith shuts the mouths of hindrances.
“When we saw Peter and John talking without question, we thought that they were originally ignorant criminals, but they marveled and knew that they had been with Jesus before that, and when they saw a man who had been healed standing with them, there was nothing to criticize. Acts 4:13-14).”
No more accusations. They looked down on people very funny, and then they became funny. I thought they were ignorant fishermen, but they weren't. I'm at a loss for more to say. A deeply rooted faith is unwavering and bold in any circumstance. Bold faith shuts the mouths of hinders like this. If you are being ridiculed by your friends for your faith, it is because of your lukewarm faith. Let's put aside our faith as if we were drunk as a sultan and as if we were watered by water. Let's not be cowardly Christians. What makes you so weak? What makes you so shy? Is it the gospel? Are you Jesus Christ crucified?
If you are ashamed of the gospel, you too will be ashamed before God. If you are ashamed of Jesus hanging on the cross, you have no salvation. Without Jesus on the cross, we have no salvation. There is no salvation for anyone else. Only Jesus is our salvation.
The Sanhedrin also lowers its tail in front of their boldness and the fact that a 40-year-old man is healed in the name of Jesus Christ. I couldn't hold back any more. Now compromise. Although his words and expressions were threatening, he actually begs the two of them. I warn you not to speak any more to anyone in the name of Jesus. At this time, “Peter and John answered and said, Judge whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you rather than to God. We cannot but speak of what we have seen and heard” (Acts 4:19-20).
There is no compromise in the face of the evidence of the gospel. It may or may not be delivered. It must be communicated unconditionally. Any threat must be communicated. No matter what anyone says, you have to tell them. Suffering does not hinder the witness of the gospel. No life threat can interfere. Our life and death and prosperity are only in the hands of God. It is right to hear the word of God before God. You must say what you see and hear. Jesus said to us, “You will be my witnesses to the ends of the earth” (Acts 1:8). The truth of the gospel must be preached. You must reach the ends of the earth and tell them.
Beloved young people! Let us be faithful servants used by God in this age. The persecution that comes over the matter of faith and the various difficulties that come as a Christian are all just paper tigers. Let's challenge the courage of Peter and John. They did not yield before the Sanhedrin. He did not kneel in the face of threats to his life. They knelt before the gospel. I completely forsake myself before God. This saved them. Let us not be the people who save this world, but the faithful servants that God saves and pleases God.