OzThoughts – Monday, 8th June, 2009

OzThoughts – Monday, 8th June, 2009

It is sometimes easy to overlook the fact that when the chorus stops the story of the healing at the Temple goes on.

Today’s story tells us what happens after we have sung:

Silver and gold have I none
But such as I have give I you
In the name of Jesus Christ
Of Nazareth, rise up and walk
He went walking and leaping and praising God
Walking and leaping and praising God
In the name of Jesus Christ
Of Nazareth, rise up and walk

But notice, the singing and praising did not stop! Don’t let ours stop this week.
Acts 4:1-22 (The Message)
1-4 While Peter and John were addressing the people, the priests, the chief of the Temple police, and some Sadducees came up, indignant that these upstart apostles were instructing the people and proclaiming that the resurrection from the dead had taken place in Jesus. They arrested them and threw them in jail until morning, for by now it was late in the evening. But many of those who listened had already believed the Message—in round numbers about five thousand!
5-7 The next day a meeting was called in Jerusalem. The rulers, religious leaders, religion scholars, Annas the Chief Priest, Caiaphas, John, Alexander—everybody who was anybody was there. They stood Peter and John in the middle of the room and grilled them: "Who put you in charge here? What business do you have doing this?"
8-12 With that, Peter, full of the Holy Spirit, let loose: "Rulers and leaders of the people, if we have been brought to trial today for helping a sick man, put under investigation regarding this healing, I'll be completely frank with you—we have nothing to hide. By the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, the One you killed on a cross, the One God raised from the dead, by means of his name this man stands before you healthy and whole. Jesus is 'the stone you masons threw out, which is now the cornerstone.' Salvation comes no other way; no other name has been or will be given to us by which we can be saved, only this one."
13-14 They couldn't take their eyes off them—Peter and John standing there so confident, so sure of themselves! Their fascination deepened when they realized these two were laymen with no training in Scripture or formal education. They recognized them as companions of Jesus, but with the man right before them, seeing him standing there so upright—so healed!—what could they say against that?
15-17 They sent them out of the room so they could work out a plan. They talked it over: "What can we do with these men? By now it's known all over town that a miracle has occurred, and that they are behind it. There is no way we can refute that. But so that it doesn't go any further, let's silence them with threats so they won't dare to use Jesus' name ever again with anyone."
18-20 They called them back and warned them that they were on no account ever again to speak or teach in the name of Jesus. But Peter and John spoke right back, "Whether it's right in God's eyes to listen to you rather than to God, you decide. As for us, there's no question—we can't keep quiet about what we've seen and heard."
21-22 The religious leaders renewed their threats, but then released them. They couldn't come up with a charge that would stick, that would keep them in jail. The people wouldn't have stood for it—they were all praising God over what had happened. The man who had been miraculously healed was over forty years old.
[Listen: http://www.salvoaudio.com/audio/music/mus_970.mp3 ]

My heart is fixed, eternal God,
Fixed on thee;
And my unchanging choice is made,
Christ for me.
He is my prophet, priest and King,
Who did for me salvation bring,
And while I've breath I mean to sing:
Christ for me.

Let others boast of heaps of gold,
Christ for me.
His riches never can be told,
Christ for me.
Your gold will waste and wear away,
Your honors perish in a day,
My portion never can decay,
Christ for me.

In pining sickness or in health,
Christ for me.
In deepest poverty or wealth,
Christ for me.
And in that all-important day,
When I the summons must obey,
And pass from this dark world away,
Christ for me.

At home, abroad, by night, by day,
Christ for me.
Where'er I speak, or sing, or pray,
Christ for me.
Him first and last, him all day long,
My hope, my solace, and my song,
I'll send the ringing cry along:
Christ for me.
Authors: Richard Jukes (1804-67)
The Salvation Army Song Book: Song Number: 356



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