June 15: We can't stop speaking about what we've seen

“What shall we do with these men? For the fact that a noteworthy miracle has taken place through them is apparent to all who live in Jerusalem, and we cannot deny it.  But so that it will not spread any further among the people, let us warn them to speak no longer to any man in this name.”  And when they had summoned them, they commanded them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus.  But Peter and John answered and said to them, “Whether it is right in the sight of God to give heed to you rather than to God, you be the judge; for we cannot stop speaking about what we have seen and heard.”   (Acts 4:16-20 — New American Standard Bible)

This took place in the early days just after the church began. Peter and John had healed a crippled man who had never walked, and had let it be known that Jesus had healed the man, and that they were only His representatives. Peter and John had also told people about the death and resurrection of Jesus and how He was Savior and Lord. Now the rulers of Israel call them in and command them stop speaking about Jesus. To the rulers’ surprise, these two simple men refuse and say they have to continue to speak about, and heal in the name of Jesus because that is what God has commanded them to do.

There are many lessons in this passage, one being that Christians should obey the law and respect their earthly leaders except when they try and force them to deny God and His Word. But the most important insight of this passage, in my opinion, is the total transformation of Peter. This is the same man that denied Jesus three times after the rooster crowed, and here we see him before the same group of judges that sentenced Jesus to death (the Sanhedrin), except now he stands up to them and is even ready to die for his faith. 

What changed in those three to six months? Why is Peter no longer controlled by fear? Where did this new-found boldness come from? He had been baptized in the Holy Spirit some weeks after Jesus was taken up into the clouds, and from that moment on he became a stronger, bolder, wiser man. When God’s Spirit comes to live in us, we are transformed. It is impossible for us to stay the same.

This total transformation is available to you right now. Unless you are filled with God’s Spirit you will continue to make the same, old mistakes of the past. The same fears that have always blocked you with continue to hold you back from the life of power that God has planned for you. — Don’t forget about the Holy Spirit. Make an effort to be filled with Him, and if you already are, seek to be filled with more of His presence.