Daily Reflections January 4

Acts 4

The church has increased dramatically since Pentecost. Here, we see five thousand that were added. In addition to those added in the previous four chapters, the amount of Christians had swelled well above 10,000. This rightly constitutes a revival! And we see in this chapter some factors that kept these revival flames burning.

In the first few verses we notice the unashamed proclamation of all of who Jesus is and what he has done. The Sadducees did not believe in the resurrection and held strictly to the Pentateuch. Peter and John knew that. They could have been “sensitive to their audience” and tried to not ruffle any feathers. They could have easily just focused on Christ’s death or on his exemplary life. Instead, they knew that Jesus without his resurrection could be no Messiah at all. So, they shared it all, knowing that the Gospel would offend and they may have to pay the price for it. What a price to pay for the salvation of 5,000 souls! I wonder if we may need to re-establish our commitment to pay the price in sharing the full Gospel, hard truths and all, for the sake of the salvation of souls.

We also see the submission to the exclusive authority of Christ. John and Peter declared that it was Jesus, and no other, that healed the lame man. In fact, they went further to say that it is by Christ alone that any man is saved. This flew in the face of the religious elite, the Romans, and other pagans. It was just as hard, if not harder, for them to make these claims as it is for us to make them today at our jobs, to our friends, and in the public square. But they did not compromise or syncretize for the sake of making true disciples of Christ.

On the heels of this, we see the commitment to radical obedience to God. When they are persecuted and warned, they obey only to that which does not violate their allegiance and duty to God. If it would mean that they must disobey the Lord’s commands then they refuse. They would rather go to jail a million times to face the wrath of man than to cease preaching the Gospel commanded to be spread by Christ and face the chastisement of God. We need more men and women like that who will listen to the warnings of their family, friends, and cultural system and then preach the Gospel regardless.

Finally, we see the boundless benefit of true friends. In verse 23 we read,

“When they were released, they went to their friends and reported what the chief priests and the elders had said to them.” (Acts 4:23).

Their friends prayed for them, worshiped with them, and supported them so that no-one was in need. John and Peter were able to be bold because they knew that they were not alone. They were part of a family of God who would love, pray, and give generously when they were in need. When was the last time that you prayed with your friends? When was the last time you asked if they were in need, so you could give?

Brothers and sisters, these things do not guarantee a revival and is not exhaustive of what is involved in a revival. But I am convinced that without them revival will either be superficial or will be very short lived.

Yours in Christ,

Associate Pastor Evan Webster

Ezra 4

 

The book of Ezra begins on a very high note. The King of Persia, King Cyrus, writes an edict that declares the beginning of the end of Israel’s exile in Babylon. Under the leadership of King Cyrus the Israelites will not only be permitted to return home, but the rebuilding of their temple will be financed in part by both the King and the neighbours of the Israelites. All of this takes place, we are told, as a fulfillment of the Word of the Lord spoken by Jeremiah. Thus it is at the beginning of this book that the reader is reminded both of God’s sovereignty and His faithfulness.

The triumphant tones found in chapter 1 begin to fade into the background at the beginning of chapter 4. We are introduced in this chapter to the “adversaries of Judah and Benjamin.” These are the people who already dwelt in the land and were opposed to Israel’s return and rebuilding project. At first glance these people not only appear to be kind and sincere, but they also claim to worship the God of Israel. Derek Kidner, however, notes that these adversaries are the same people mentioned in 2 Kings 17:24-33 who worshiped the God of Israel as only one of many gods. [1]/typo3/

Israel’s rejection of outside help, therefore, was not a mean-spirited decision, but a wise choice that prevented potential disaster. Israel’s adversaries, however, were not so easily dismayed and thus they shifted their tactics to discouragement, fear, and political bribery. This change in focus proved to be effective, for we are told in verse 24 that work on the house of the Lord had ceased until the second year of King Darius’s reign (a period of approximately 16 years).

One of the potentially confusing aspects of this chapter is that verses 6-23 are a parenthesis in the story of the rebuilding of the temple. In verse 6 the story jumps forward to the reign of Ahasuerus (486-465 BCE) and deals with the opposition Israel faced in their rebuilding of Jerusalem, and not the temple. This jump from opposition regarding the temple to future opposition regarding the city is made to highlight just how much adversity Israel had to face in their return from exile.

What this chapter makes abundantly clear is that God’s people should not be daunted by opposition. In today’s church it is not uncommon to hear people speak of God opening and closing doors. Unfortunately, many people expect God’s will to be shown through a series of open doorways, but what this chapter makes clear is that God’s plans don’t always look like that. God certainly opened the door to Israel’s return from exile in the first chapter, but what Israel found beyond that door was not a clear path. Israel needed wisdom and endurance to press on towards God’s plan for them, and so too does today’s church.

Thankfully, God has not left his church to face these oppositions alone. Indeed, He has proven Himself to be incredibly kind and faithful through the sending of both His Son and His Spirit. When opposition seems to surround you at every side consider these words of Christ and take heart:

“In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33b)

Director of Youth Ministries Ryan Shevalier


[1] Derek Kidner, Ezra and Nehemiah, TOTC (Downers Grove, IL: IVP Press, 1979), 55.

 

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