New Testament Examples - Part 1

The earthly circumstances of Acts 4 echoes into our own reality today. Peter and John have been brought before the cultural leaders for daring to release God’s healing power to a blind beggar through the name of Jesus whom they reject. We need to take notice of how these Spirit-filled believers “defended” themselves.

• They spoke in a respectful manner, understanding what Jesus taught about acknowledging the authority in power, regardless of whether it is just or unjust.
• Yet they spoke the truth—for this man was healed in Jesus’ name, for there is salvation in no other name. In short, they answered with the Gospel—the good news that salvation is available to any who believe.
• After conferring amongst themselves, the leaders commanded the Apostles not to speak at all nor teach in the name of Jesus. Some may interpret declaring that Jesus is the exclusive way to God as hate speech, but the true Gospel of grace and truth should always be offered in the spirit of love.
• Once again they offer their response respectfully: “Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you more than to God, you judge. For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard.”
• The leaders threaten them again, but cannot touch the Apostles because the people are glorifying God. So they release them.

 
When Peter and John return to the believers in the upper room, notice how they pray.

• They recognize from Psalm 2 that this attack by authority is part of the time they (and we) are living in—apostasy (falling away from truth) and lawlessness.
• They didn’t pray against those in authority. They followed Jesus’ example. He did not pray against them even when facing the cross. He prayed for them. He forgave them.
• The believers didn’t even pray that the threats would stop. They prayed for boldness to speak as they ought, fully knowing that God sees all and is control of all.
• And they prayed for signs and wonders to confirm the Word preached, for it is the goodness of God that leads people to repentance.

 
Later, the Apostle Paul would give more specific instructions concerning how to pray in these times: “Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence. For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth” (1 Timothy2:1-4).
 
This level of assurance is only possible when: (1) you know the reality of the finished work of Jesus, the New Covenant of grace; (2) when you walk in the same power that raised Jesus from the dead and seated Him at the right hand of God’s throne; (3) when your confidence is solely in Him and His Word; (4) when you are earnestly expecting Christ’s return; and (5) when you know both the chronos times and the kairos and know He is coming very soon.