September 23, 2020
Dear SCC & Friends,
Now as they observed the confidence of Peter and John, and understood that they were uneducated and untrained men, they were marveling, and began to recognize them as having been with Jesus. ~Acts 4:13
Update #29
Amazing! Observable confidence (boldness) that they shouldn’t have had because they thought they were uneducated and untrained, but were they?The disciples spent 3 ½ intense years under the tutelage and internship of the Son of God. They ate with Him, sailed with Him, fished with Him, walked with Him…They encountered terrifying storms, overcame demonic strongholds and were part of healings and miracles. Jesus was the living embodiment of Isaiah 61:1-2…The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me, because the Lord has anointed me to bring good news to the afflicted; He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to captives, and freedom to prisoners; to proclaim the favorable year of the Lord… The disciples listened, they inquired, and learned to serve. These men were extraordinarily trained and tested by the greatest teacher of all. The Jewish leaders marveled and were astonished at their confidence and began to recognize them as having been with Jesus…What a recognition that is! The disciples were with Jesus both before His crucifixion and after His resurrection from the dead. Filled by the Holy Spirit, they could not…stop speaking what we have seen and heard. ~Acts 4:20
Man looks at the outward appearance, but God looks at the heart. Certainly a few like Nicodemus and the Apostle Paul had impressive “credentials.” I probably would have gone to Rome, Athens, or Jerusalem to find leaders the world needs. Aren’t you glad we are not in charge of the Gospel? We can take solace in knowing…For consider your calling, brethren, that there were not many wiseaccording to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble; but God has chosen the foolish things of the world to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to shame the things which are strong.~1st Cor. 1:26-27
Keep up the good work!
Blessings & love,
Kevin