GOD’S WORD FOR JANUARY 3

Our  book this month  is a continuation of “Chiseled by the Master’s Hand ~ Lessons From the Life of Peter,” by Erwin  Lutzer.  Dr. Lutzer is  Canadian-born and served as Senior Pastor of the Moody Church in Chicago for 36 years, until his retirement in 2016.   He now serves as Pastor Emeritus of Moody Church.  He’s written many books and has radio and internet teaching programs.

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STRENGTHENED BY THE MASTER’S GRIP

(Read Acts 2:14-36; 3:11-26; and 4:18-22)

FROM FEAR TO CONFIDENCE

There is an Indian fable about a mouse that was in constant distress because of its fear of the cat.  A magician took pity on the mouse and turned it into a cat, but then it became afraid of the dog.  So the magician turned it into a dog and immediately it began to fear the tiger.  Then, as a tiger, it began to fear the hunter.  In the end the mouse was content to be a mouse again.

There is always something for us to fear.  If it isn’t fear of poverty, it’s fear of bad health, or fear of crime, or fear of death.  The one answer for fear is THE CONVICTION THAT GOD WILL BE WITH US, NO MATTER WHAT.

Remember that Peter, in response to the question of the servant girl, denied that he even knew Christ.  In fact, he swore, adamantly insisting that he had never met the Lord.  He feared that, if identified with Christ, he would have to endure persecution for his faith.

Hear him speak now with freedom and power.  Not only is he pointedly accusing the nation Israel of being responsible for the Lord’s death, but is affirming that they will be held accountable for what they had done.

In his second sermon Peter said, “But you disowned the Holy and righteous One, and asked for a murderer to be granted to you, but put to death the Prince of life, the One whom God raise from the dead, a fact to which we are witnesses.” (Acts 3:14-15).  These are not the words of a man who is afraid to die for his faith!  He knew that he would be an open target for the political and ecclesiastical authorities.  Yet he walked into this new role with absolute confidence and faith.

Our days of religious freedom in America may be numbered.  Today everyone is free to BELIEVE whatever he or she wishes, but woe to the person who suggests that his belief should be passed on to others!  Religion, we are told, is a private matter, and therefore many oppose the idea that we should be free to share our faith, much less try to “convert” others to a particular religion.

We have been so intimidated by the Supreme Court and liberal groups who insist that we should be ‘politically correct” that some Christians have not been willing to stand for righteousness.  We have become so frightened by recent developments that many churches seek the advice of attorneys when they are about to oppose abortion, homosexual rights, or pornography.  We have been frightened and reduced to nebulous silence.

Where did Peter get his strength?  When Christ promised the Spirit, He said, “And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may be with you forever; that is the Spirit of Truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it does not behold Him or know Him, but you know Him because He abides with you and will be in you.  I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you”  (John 14:16-18).  In Greek there are two words for “another”.  One means “similar” and the other means “the same.”  Christ uses the second word here, indicating that the Holy Spirit would be a helper who would be THE SAME AS CHRIST HIMSELF WAS ON THIS EARTH. In other words, the Holy Spirit has come to take the place of Christ’s physical presence; that’s why the Spirit could not be fully poured out until Christ had gone to heaven and been glorified.

Christ said, “It is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper shall not come to you.”

When Jesus was on earth, He could only be at one place at one time with His physical body.  Now that He has gone to heaven and sent the Spirit, He is just as present with us as He was with the disciples on earth so long ago.  The Helper, the Holy Spirit, stands where we stand; He sits where we sit;  He listens when we talk; and endures what we see.  He never leaves us nor forsakes us, and we can be assured of His presence no matter what.

When both fear and faith come to lodge in the harbor of our hearts, it is important that only faith be allowed to cast anchor.  When we serve in faith, we know that we are not alone.  The Spirit who energized timid Peter is the same One who gives us boldness to declare God’s Word with confidence and power.

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1 John 4:18

There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love.

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2 Timothy 1:7

For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.

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Matthew 10:26

Therefore do not fear them. For there is nothing covered that will not be revealed, and hidden that will not be known.

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Matthew 10:27

Whatever I tell you in the dark, speak in the light; and what you hear in the ear, preach on the housetops.

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Hebrews 11:1

Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.  For by it the elders obtained a good testimony.   By faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that the things which are seen were not made of things which are visible.

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Hebrews 12:2

looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

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