"...Luther began the reformation by finding in a monastery a copy of the Bible, a book which until that time - when more than twenty years of age - he had never seen. The effect on the liberties of Europe was immediately seen. Hume admitted that whatever liberty England possessed was to be traced to the Puritans. Our own land (America) is a striking instance of the effect of this great principle and of its influence on the rights of man. And just in proportion as the New Testament is spread abroad will people seek for freedom and break the chains of oppression. The best way to promote universal liberty is to spread the Bible to the ends of the earth. There is not a precept in it that is not favorable to freedom."
- both quotes are from Albert Barnes' Notes on the Bible
Are you experiencing freedom in your nation? Are you aware of the fact that wherever the Bible is preached and taught, there is freedom? On the other hand, wherever the Bible is banned, there is tyranny and oppression.
No Bible - No Freedom! Little Bible - Little Freedom! Much Bible - Much Freedom!
Said another way - take away the Scriptures and tyranny reigns. Restore the Bible - which teaches the principles of freedom - and this darkness will be dispelled.
Christianity, from the beginning, has always been favorable to liberty. The right of liberty of thought has always been one which its followers would not surrender.
Within the Bible, you will find the great principle of Christianity that man's responsibility for his religious views is direct to God and that over which other men have no power of control. You will find that the opposite of this liberty or right is tyranny and oppression.
In the New Testament, you see this great principle evinced by the apostles and early Christians. There was no one who defended their right to private judgment in matters of religion - being subject only to God - more firmly than the early martyrs.
Thousands died for this cause of liberty. They died to prove that every man is responsible to God for his opinions and conduct. Man has no right to control him.
A question that society - our present-day society - needs to ask is this - "What is right in the sight of God?" Not, what is expedient, safe, pleasurable, or honorable among men, but, "what is right in the sight of God?"
In Acts 4, you find Peter and John hemmed in between the mandate of an earthly ruler and the word of Jehovah!
This could have been a major problem for these disciples. However, some time before this event, they made up their minds to deliberately follow Jesus. Their resolve contained no reservations. They simply surrendered all to the Master!
Now, they were put to the test. Will they be loyal to Jesus or not? Will they obey God or man?
Their reaction displayed no hesitation. They understood that God must ever hold the first place in the soul of man.
They had healed the lame man and preached Jesus and His resurrection to the crowds. Consequently, the Sadducees got them arraigned before the Sanhedrin.
With granite-like firmness, courage of conviction, unflinching loyalty to truth, and boldness in rebuke of wrong, Peter preached the truth to these religious leaders - "...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." (Acts 4:8-10)
The Sanhedrin's response? They threatened Peter and John - "that they speak henceforth to no man in this name." (Acts 4:17)
Peter and John's answer? "...Whether it be right in the sight of God to hearken unto you more than unto God, judge ye. For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard." (Acts 4:19-20)
They were under a moral and spiritual obligation to speak. They had a divine message to tell. They were under a holy compulsion to testify the truth. They knew that obedience must be shown to God, and that their defiance to man could cost them their very life.
In standing up for Jesus that day, they forever separated those who "cannot speak" from those who "cannot but speak."
But, we must not overlook the Source of Peter and John's Christian Courage and Righteous Boldness as displayed before these religious leaders who held their lives in the balances - "Then Peter, filled with the Holy Ghost, said unto them..." (Acts 4:8) It was the Holy Spirit Who empowered them to show such great fidelity and integrity... inviolable attachment to Jesus ...and fearlessness of the displeasure and wrath of men.
What is God saying to you through this message?
He is speaking to you of the absolute seriousness of the right to freely preach and teach the Word of God in the churches as well as in your society. Where the Bible is freely preached and taught, there is freedom! Where it is banned, there is tyranny and oppression of men.
He is speaking to you of the necessity to stand strong and fight to keep this freedom alive and present in your midst.
He is instructing you ahead of time that - if you should ever find yourself hemmed in between the mandate of an earthly ruler and the words of Almighty God - you need to be counted among those who "cannot but speak" rather than those who "cannot speak."
This courage and boldness can only come through being "filled with the Holy Spirit."
So, we stop here to ask you - "Have you received the Holy Ghost since ye believed?" (Acts 19:2)
We are not talking about receiving the Holy Spirit at conversion. We are referring to the Baptism of the Holy Spirit with the initial evidence of speaking in tongues.
Have you received this gift - which is available for all believers - and which is so desperately needed at this hour?
In the days in which we are living, God is calling for Absolute Surrender from His Church. That consists of having a "made-up" mind in following Jesus. In that decisiveness, there must not and cannot be any reservations - no grounds for hesitation in doing what is right in the sight of God.
God is calling His people to "higher ground." Are you ready and willing to leave behind - whatever - to go to that place in Him?
Courage is a Bible virtue. Repeatedly, you will find in the Scriptures the mandate - "Be strong and of a good courage." Moses said it to Joshua...the LORD said it to Joshua...and David said it to Solomon. And the Lord is speaking the same to you today.
In the New Testament, the correspondent word is - "boldness." Whether displayed against your enemies...in obeying God's commands ...in testifying for Christ in this sinful and adulterous generation ...or in reproving sin, Jesus is saying to you - "Be strong and of a good courage, fear not, nor be afraid of them: for the LORD thy God, He it is that doth go with thee; He will not fail thee, nor forsake thee" (Deuteronomy 31:6) ..."Watch ye, stand fast in the faith, quit you like men, be strong" (1 Corinthians 16:13)..."...be strong in the Lord, and in the power of His might" (Ephesians 6:10) ..."Cry aloud, spare not, lift up thy voice like a trumpet, and show My people their transgression, and the house of Jacob their sins" (Isaiah 58:1)..."But truly I am full of power by the spirit of the LORD, and of judgment, and of might, to declare unto Jacob his transgression, and to Israel his sin." (Micah 3:8)
We, at Walking In Truth Ministry, understand that the Bible is the only answer for the world today! The preaching and teaching of the Word is the only God-given means to "promote universal liberty" and "break every arm of oppression." Will you help us "spread far and wide the Book of God" with your financial gift?
Help us get the Word of God out (through our podcasts and written messages) to the people around the world so that tyranny and oppression may cease.
To all those who faithfully support us every month with your financial gift, we want to say - "Thank You" - from the bottom of our hearts. We could never have accomplished all that we are doing without your help! May the Lord reward you richly in this life and in the life to come! We know that He will!
If you would like to be a blessing to this ministry or a faithful supporter, you can make your check out to - Walking In Truth Ministry - and mail it to the following address -
Walking In Truth Ministry
P.O. Box 383016
Duncanville, TX 75138-3016
Or, if you prefer to use Paypal, you can send your financial gift to - [email protected]
You can also send a Money gram - if that means of exchange will work better for you.
We are a nonprofit organization with a tax exemption status.
Thank you ahead of time for your gracious gift,
Connie
No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper; and every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgment thou shalt condemn. (Isaiah 54:17)
© COPYRIGHT Connie Giordano - All Rights Reserved