Devotion for 10 June 2011 Anno Domini (Friday after Ascension)

Devotion for 10 June 2011 Anno Domini (Friday after Ascension)
“1 And as they spake unto the people, the priests, and the captain of the temple, and the Sadducees, came upon them, 2Being grieved that they taught the people, and preached through Jesus the resurrection from the dead.3 And they laid hands on them, and put them in hold unto the next day: for it was now eventide.4 Howbeit many of them which heard the word believed; and the number of the men was about five thousand.5 And it came to pass on the morrow, that their rulers, and elders, and scribes, 6And Annas the high priest, and Caiaphas, and John, and Alexander, and as many as were of the kindred of the high priest, were gathered together at Jerusalem.7 And when they had set them in the midst, they asked, By what power, or by what name, have ye done this?8 Then Peter, filled with the Holy Ghost, said unto them, Ye rulers of the people, and elders of Israel,9 If we this day be examined of the good deed done to the impotent man, by what means he is made whole;10 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.11 This is the stone which was set at nought of you builders, which is become the head of the corner.12 Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.” (Acts 4:1-12)
“And as they spake unto the people, the priests, and the captain of the temple, and the Sadducees, came upon them.” These are the most fervent in their opposition to the preaching of the Gospel – the Levitical Guard and the Sadducees. The Sadducees did not believe in the Spirit, nor Angels, nor the Resurrection of the Dead. The Gospel of Christ flatly refuted all they had staked their belief and teaching upon. Though they were party to His crucifixion, they discover that it is not over. Now His Gospel is an aggravation after His Resurrection! “No rest for the wicked!” His Resurrection proved all their claims to be false.
“Being grieved that they taught the people, and preached through Jesus the resurrection from the dead.” The preaching of Christ will always arouse contempt from those who choose not to believe. It is a mystery to me (other than knowing that Satan promotes it) that any who consider themselves atheist are so opposed to what they consider superstition. If the Gospel be true, they have lost nothing since they were lost before its preaching. If it were false, then there would be no contrary result for them. But their vehemence in opposing the Gospel seems to spring immediately from the mind of Satan. A French physicist, mathematician (the greatest known to history) and clergyman, Blaise Pascal, related his famous wager in his collection of works, Pensees. “Everyone must wager on the existence of God: If you wager that God is, and He is not, you have lost nothing. If you wager that God is not, and God is, you have lost all.” So Pascal’s wager makes it clear that atheism is not a very wise course. His wager opened new doors in ‘probability theory.’
“And they laid hands on them, and put them in hold unto the next day: for it was now eventide.” False religion, like ten-horned dictators, cannot brook any teaching or ideas which conflict with their own. Like Islam, their faith must be perpetuated at the point of the sword. Any who preach Christ must be put in a place where their voices cannot be heard, preferably the grave!
“Howbeit many of them which heard the word believed; and the number of the men was about five thousand.” Five thousand is quite a large number to have been in earshot of the Apostles. It must have included the great majority of those present at the Temple. This is why those who advance false religion are so frightful of the convincing argument of true religion.
“And it came to pass on the morrow, that their rulers, and elders, and scribes, And Annas the high priest, and Caiaphas, and John, and Alexander, and as many as were of the kindred of the high priest, were gathered together at Jerusalem.” This constitutes the fullness of the Sanhedrin. Amazing, is it not, what great vigor can be generated to shut the mouths of those who perform miraculous healings and preach only truth. But they all found time to appear on short notice.
“And when they had set them in the midst, they asked, By what power, or by what name, have ye done this?” The insolent are forever asking the very questions for which they have the surest answers. We are already told in verse 2 that the preaching of Christ was the cause of the grief to these men. Yet, they ask the question for dramatic emphasis to their contempt.
“Then Peter, filled with the Holy Ghost, said unto them, Ye rulers of the people, and elders of Israel, If we this day be examined of the good deed done to the impotent man, by what means he is made whole; 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.” Peter was filled with the Holy Ghost at the very moment he needed to be. The Holy Ghost gave him utterance in answering with power and conviction. Hopefully, we have all experienced such moments when our faith has been challenged and, without a moment to consider a balanced answer, the Holy Ghost gives us the utterance to answer a right. He nails these men to the wall if they have a shred of conscience. A good tree cannot bring forth bad fruit. Christ is the Good Tree. He is the Tree of Life to us. The fruit and labors of His Elect are good, and so a man has been healed of an infirmity which he has suffered from birth. This, neither the Sanhedrin, nor the priests, nor the Levitical Guard had ever accomplished. Yet, they presume such misguided arrogance as to place their souls nearer the fires of Hell.
“This is the stone which was set at nought of you builders, which is become the head of the corner.” Christ is not only the Keystone (sorry Pennsylvania), but the chief cornerstone of the whole building. It is upon His stature that the whole church rests. The builders found not suitable place for this stone. It was always in the way at the base of the building so that they cursed it often. Once the building nears completion, they discover (perhaps too late) that this stone which they ignorantly rejected has become (not by their own hands) the chief cornerstone and head. These mysteries will be revealed to all of those faithless detractors at a time of the Lord’s own choosing. Unfortunately, it will be late for their decision to accept, perhaps too late!
“Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.” It is devoutly hoped that all those limp-wristed, weak-kneed, seekers of filthy lucre, so-called ministers of the Gospel who proudly proclaim that we and the muslims worship the same God after all will open their eyes to this last truth. Please read this verse again, you who spread error and lies! Neither Buddha, nor Allah, nor Shiva of the Hindus, is like unto our God. None of them have Grace. None of them have a Beloved only Begotten Son, none of them have a Holy Ghost, and none of them are of any greater value than a lump of coal. As a matter of fact, their value is a negative sum. None of these died for your sin, nor came to live among us as we live. There is salvation in NO OTHER! There is no other Name under heaven whereby we must be saved! Do you get it, you oafs of relative religious values, false doctrine and political correctness? There is no Truth apart from the Holy Bible, and No God apart from the Triune God whom we worship. If we understand this Truth, we are on the road to a pleasing Eternity.