Reflecting God – Embrace Holy Living - WordAction - The Foundry Publishing House of Kansas City, Missouri, United States - The Global Church of the Nazarene for Thursday, 30 November 2017 "Irrefutable Evidence" by Duane Brush - Acts 4:8-22Acts 4:8 Then Kefa, filled with the Ruach HaKodesh, said to them, “Rulers and elders of the people! 9 If we are being examined today about a good deed done for a disabled person, if you want to know how he was restored to health, 10 then let it be known to you and to all the people of Isra’el that it is in the name of the Messiah, Yeshua from Natzeret, whom you had executed on a stake as a criminal but whom God has raised from the dead, that this man stands before you perfectly healed.
11 “This Yeshua is the stone rejected by you builders which has become the cornerstone.[Acts 4:11 Psalm 118:22] 12 There is salvation in no one else! For there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by whom we must be saved!”
13 When they saw how bold Kefa and Yochanan were, even though they were untrained ‘am-ha’aretz, they were amazed; also they recognized them as having been with Yeshua. 14 Moreover, since they could see the man who had been healed standing right there beside them, there was nothing they could say to discredit the healing. 15 So they told them to step away from the Sanhedrin while they discussed the matter privately. 16 “What can we do with these men?” they asked each other. “Why, anyone in Yerushalayim can see that a remarkable miracle has come about through them — we can’t possibly deny that. 17 But to prevent it from spreading any further among the people, let’s warn them not to speak any more to anyone in this name.”
18 So they called them in again and ordered them under no circumstances to speak or teach in the name of Yeshua. 19 But Kefa and Yochanan answered, “You must judge whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you rather than God. 20 As for us, we can’t help talking about what we have actually seen and heard.” 21 They threatened them some more but finally let them go — they couldn’t punish them because of the people, for everyone was praising God over what had happened, 22 since the man who had been miraculously healed was more than forty years old.
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The sceptic’s axiom, “Extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence” certainly fits the scene in Acts 4. The day before, Peter and John had healed a lame beggar “in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth” (3:6). The man began “walking and jumping, and praising God” (v. 8). This attracted a large crowd, to whom Peter began proclaiming Jesus. Temple officials were disturbed by Peter’s preaching and tossed the apostles in jail overnight. The next day they were called to explain themselves. Peter stated, “It is by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified but whom God raised from the dead, that this man stands before you healed” (4:10). He further declared, “Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved” (v. 12). The officials wanted to deny this extraordinary claim, “But since they could see the man who had been healed standing there with them, there was nothing they could say” (v. 14). The world still finds it hard to refute a life visibly transformed by the power of Jesus Christ.---
Hymn for Today: "Give Him the Glory" by Elisha A. Hoffman
1. It was down at the feet of Jesus,
O the happy, happy day!
That my soul found peace in believing,
And my sins were washed away.
Refrain: Let me tell the old, old story
Of His grace so full and free;
For I feel like giving Him the glory
For His wondrous love to me.
2. It was down at the feet of Jesus,
Where I found such perfect rest,
Where the light first dawned on my spirit,
And my soul was truly blest.
Refrain: Let me tell the old, old story
Of His grace so full and free;
For I feel like giving Him the glory
For His wondrous love to me.
3. It was down at the feet of Jesus,
Where I brought my guilt and sin,
That he cancelled all my transgressions
And salvation entered in.
Refrain: Let me tell the old, old story
Of His grace so full and free;
For I feel like giving Him the glory
For His wondrous love to me.
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Thought for Today: Then my enemy would say, “I was able to beat him”;
and my adversaries would rejoice at my downfall.
But I trust in your grace,
my heart rejoices as you bring me to safety.
I will sing to Adonai, because he gives me
even more than I need.(Psalm 13:5)
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Please pray: That many people in a lot Armenia will come to know Yeshua the Messiah and receive the Ruach HaKodesh.
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