GOD’S WORD FOR JANUARY 4

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 DISCOURAGEMENT TO DETERMINATION

When Christ was crucified, the  disciples forsook Him and fled.  Though they were rejuvenated when they learned of the Resurrection, they had many questions about what they would do after the Ascension  But let us notice the transformation that the Holy Spirit brought about and the determination they now had.

After the apostles were thrown into prison, we read that the authorities were influenced by Gamaliel. Acts 5:40-42:

“And they agreed with him, and when they had called for the apostles and beaten them, they commanded that they should not speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go.   So they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for His name.  And daily in the temple, and in every house, they did not cease teaching and preaching Jesus as the Christ.”   The greater the whippings, the greater the witness!

The first change we’ve noticed affected Peter’s MIND – he now had spiritual understanding.  The second  moved his EMOTIONS, from fear to confidence and boldness.  The third was a transformed WILL:  Nothing could  deter him from obeying the command of Christ.  Here, despite being flogged – that is, whipped with thirty-nine lashes – the disciples rejoiced in the honor of bearing both pain and shame for Christ’s name.

Notice in passing that being filled with the Spirit did not protect the apostles from physical violence.  They were beaten, and later many of these apostles would be killed for their faith.  The Holy Spirit did not exempt them from the flogging, but gave them grace to endure it.  The Holy Spirit does not shield us from accidents, abuse, or the injustices common to man.  He DOES supply the grace to endure these for the glory of Christ.

Think of the thousands of martyrs who died in Rome without protection from the flames or wild beasts.  Yet, many testified that the Holy Spirit gave them the inner resources to cope with the outward pressures.  Peter and the other  apostles walked away from their beatings filled with joy; they felt honored that they had the privilege of suffering for Christ.  Emotional wholeness and stability gave rise to a determination to serve God all the more faithfully. From house to house, and every day in the temple, they “kept right on teaching and preaching Jesus as the Christ.”  (we hear testimonies of this in our world today.  Many Christians are martyred and imprisoned in life-threatening prisons daily.  Yet, they testify of the same courage, strength and joy that the disciples received.)

It would be a big mistake to assume that such power was given to Peter simply because he was one of the apostles or because he was a spiritual leader in the church.  The New Testament teaches that the same Spirit that indwelt Peter is ours as well.  He indwells us so that we need not be a prisoner to our weaknesses, fears, and apprehensions.  The transformation can reach down to the mind, emotion, and will.  Yes, we too can be different.

Many Christians believe that the doctrine of the filling of the Holy Spirit is too mysterious, too far beyond the reach of the average Christian.  They think that only missionaries and perhaps pastors are worthy to attain this spiritual blessing.

NOT SO!  Christ invited people to come to Him to quench their spiritual thirst.  Then we read, “but this He spoke of the Spirit, who those who believed in Him were to receive; for the Spirit was not yet given, because Jesus was not yet glorified (John 7:39).  Please bear in mind that, just as we look to the cross for our forgiveness, so we must look to the ascended Christ for the gift of the Holy Spirit.

If you were to buy a book that came in two volumes, and if you were to leave one of them at the counter, you could return and receive it without an additional charge.  In the same way Christ gave us a two-volume gift; there is forgiveness and spiritual power.  Both are ours when we believe in Christ.  The forgiveness is based on the cross and the power is based on the Ascension.  Both are our inheritance.

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John 14:25-28

“These things I have spoken to you while being present with you.  But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you.  Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.  You have heard Me say to you, ‘I am going away and coming back to you.’ If you loved Me, you would rejoice because I said, ‘I am going to the Father,’ for My Father is greater than I.

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Matthew 10:16

“Behold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves. Therefore be wise as serpents and harmless as doves.

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Mark 10:28-31

 Then Peter began to say to Him, “See, we have left all and followed You.”

 So Jesus answered and said, “Assuredly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or lands, for My sake and the gospel’s,  who shall not receive a hundredfold now in this time—houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and lands, with persecutions—and in the age to come, eternal life.  But many who are first will be last, and the last first.”

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Romans 8:35

Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?

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2 Corinthians 12:8-10

Concerning this thing I pleaded with the Lord three times that it might depart from me. And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.  Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

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2 Timothy 3:12

Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution

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John 16:33

These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.”

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