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Today is Wednesday November 10, 2010 and we are continuing our reading through the Bible. Today's message comes from the Book of Acts, chapters 4-6. In these chapters we will read about, Peter and John getting arrested, believers sharing their possessions; Ananias and Sapphira lying to God, and Stephen. All Scripture quoted comes from the King James Version. If you would like to read today's chapters along with us here online you can Click Here to read them or copy & paste this link onto your browser: imfollowingjesus.com/bible-november-10

Today's Message: Be Bold
The word bold is defined as not hesitating or fearful in the face of actual or possible danger. The Bible says, “Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me.” Hebrews 13:5,6. The word covetousness means to wrongly desire wealth or to be excessively greedy. In other words, as Christians, we are not to think of ways in which we can obtain the things we desire deceitfully. If we are content with what we have at present, knowing that it comes from God we know that He will continue to provide for us. We can see God giving us the things we desire because we seek them honestly and not hesitating to say that they come from God.

You know, when Peter realized that he denied that he knew Jesus when Jesus was being persecuted he felt so ashamed that he did not think Jesus would ever forgive him. Imagine his surprise after Jesus arose and gave him the task of being the one who would lead many to preach the Gospel? Three days later, after Jesus ascended up to heaven, on the day of Pentecost, Peter boldly preached the Gospel and 3000 people were saved and baptized. However, shortly after that Peter and John got arrested for preaching that same reason. “And as they spake unto the people, the priests, and the captain of the temple, and the Sadducees, came upon them, Being grieved that they taught the people, and preached through Jesus the resurrection from the dead. And they laid hands on them, and put them in hold unto the next day: for it was now eventide. Howbeit many of them which heard the word believed; and the number of the men was about five thousand.” - Acts 4:1-4.

My church goes soul winning on Thursday's, at times we can go a few weeks without seeing anyone saved, but on the most dreadful and rainy nights we will see several trust Christ as their Savior. Sure, we get persecuted and at times we get people trying to silence us, but nothing is more exciting and uplifting than to see a person bow their head and trust in Christ to save them. We are doing God's work and we are going to face persecution, but God is always with us and will bless us for boldly preaching the Gospel. “Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?.. For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” - Romans 8:35,38,39.

The Sadducees were determined to deter the apostles from preaching the Gospel of Christ, but the more they tried to stop them the more people got saved. The elders asked by what power or authority they were given to preach this way. Peter responded, “Be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even by him doth this man stand here before you whole. This is the stone which was set at nought of you builders, which is become the head of the corner. Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved. Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men, they marvelled; and they took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus...And they called them, and commanded them not to speak at all nor teach in the name of Jesus.” - Acts 4:10-13,18.

If God wants you to preach the Gospel to someone He will stop at nothing to get you to that person. On their second attempt to arrest and silence them, the Sadducees thought they had finally stopped them, little to their surprise it did not. “But the angel of the Lord by night opened the prison doors, and brought them forth, and said, Go, stand and speak in the temple to the people all the words of this life. And when they heard that, they entered into the temple early in the morning, and taught. But the high priest came, and they that were with him, and called the council together, and all the senate of the children of Israel, and sent to the prison to have them brought...And when they had brought them, they set them before the council: and the high priest asked them, Saying, Did not we straitly command you that ye should not teach in this name? and, behold, ye have filled Jerusalem with your doctrine, and intend to bring this man's blood upon us. Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said, We ought to obey God rather than men.” - Acts 5:19-21,27-29.

The words of life, which the Holy Spirit puts into your mouth, are the words spoken of the Gospel, whereby that we may be saved. There is no prison so dark, so strong, that God can not visit His people in it, and, if He pleases, fetch them out. Recoveries from sickness, releases out of trouble, are granted, not that we may enjoy the comforts of life, but that God may be honored with the services of our lives. Peter and John were honored to even be beaten for Jesus. “And 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 ceased not to teach and preach Jesus Christ.” - Acts 5:41,42.

Because we believe in and accept Jesus Christ as our Savior, we are going to face some trials in life, but it is important that we be bold and stand by our faith in and trust in Jesus Christ. If God gives you the opportunity to tell the Gospel to someone, do not cease from it, you may never see that person again. “Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you.” - Philippians 4:9.

We have been given the wonderful gift of eternal life, it is something that will never compare to anything we will ever receive here on earth. Just imagine how much more wonderful the gifts will be that we will receive in heaven because we endured the suffering, pain, and humiliation that went long with holding on to our faith. “Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you: But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ's sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy.” - I Peter 4:12,13. Praise God!

Be blessed, enjoy the rest of your day/night and week.
God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina

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