Jun 9 – 2 Samuel 14, 2 Samuel 15:1-12 Acts 5:12-42 Proverbs 14:15-24

Acts 5:-28-29

“We gave you strict orders not to teach in this name,” he said. “Yet you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching and are determined to make us guilty of this man’s blood.”

Peter and the other apostles replied: “We must obey God rather than human beings!

The truth is rarely popular. There will always be people who do not want us to share the truth. The authorities have, in the past tried to give orders not to teach in the name of Jesus – just as the Sanhedrin did. 

It’s not illegal to preach the gospel in the UK today, although it is in many places around the world. But it’s not outside the realms of the possible (or even the likely) that this will be the case one day here.

And we must remember – we must obey God rather than human beings.

Acts 5:38-39

Therefore, in the present case I advise you: Leave these men alone! Let them go! For if their purpose or activity is of human origin, it will fail. But if it is from God, you will not be able to stop these men; you will only find yourselves fighting against God.”

There had been false messiahs. Theudas claimed to be the Messiah, as did Judas the Galilean – who led an uprising against Rome. (In the days of the census – so around about the time Jesus was born)

Both these men died and their followers scattered. Eventually it was very clear – neither of them were the one.

And Gamaliel is making a great point here – I don’t know what he believed from this, but he certainly is approaching things with a clear mind. Leave these men alone. If this is made up – if this is not real, it will die out. But if this is from God, in fighting them you are fighting God. He makes a lot of sense.

Give it some time, see where this goes.

2,000 years have now passed and across the globe billions of people have had their lives changed by Christ. This gospel is of no human origin – but from God Himself! It’s lasted the test of time, as it will go on to do.

Prov 14:15

The simple believes everything, but the prudent gives thought to his steps.

Many a believer has been led astray because they’ve simply believed what they have been told, without due prayer and thought. It’s not a lack of faith to test what you here – it’s good diligence. We must give thought to our steps.

However when we have taken steps to be diligent and the word proves to be true – then we must believe and obey…