October 15, 2021: SOAP #4334:  Nehemiah 13; Malachi 1-2; Acts 4

SCRIPTURE:  Acts (NIV) 4:18 Then they called them in again and commanded them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus.
19 But Peter and John replied, “Judge for yourselves whether it is right in God’s sight to obey you rather than God.
20 For we cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard.”

OBSERVATION: The disciples were caught between two authorities.  The priests said do not teach about Jesus.  Jesus had commanded them to go into all the world and preach the gospel to every person.  Jesus had told them they would receive power when the Holy Spirit came upon them! 

A man crippled from birth had been made whole.  The number of believers in Jesus grew to five thousand.  The Jewish religious leaders were alarmed.  They gave them a command that was contrary to the command Jesus had given. 

Their reply was not that they “would not” obey, but that they “could not” help speaking about what they had seen and heard.

APPLICATION:  People take very little coaxing to begin talking about things that arouse their passions, and things that are current in their lives. 

So, I need to keep current in the word.  I need to keep current in my fellowship with the Holy Spirit.  And I need to keep current with other believers. 

I should always have a current testimony of what Jesus IS DOING in my life.  Also, I should always have a current testimony of what Jesus IS DOING in the life of another believer!

PRAYER: Holy Spirit, do your work in and through me.  May I live at the point where  I “cannot help” speaking about Jesus!  Amen.

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!