Acts 4 – Can I die for Jesus? He did it for me, would I do it for Him??

Acts 4

Like in the book of Ezra, the enemy goes into a panic whenever one is making spiritual progress in their lives or for the kingdom. The enemy prefers the status quo of ignorance – people perishing for lack of knowledge of all of what Christ has made available for them (Isaiah 5:13, Hosea 4:6).

The resurrection of the dead gives hope that there is life after death. It messes with the enemy’s plan of deception that there is nothing after death so live life the way you want – guarantees for him that one will be his tenant in hell (to keep the fires hot?). If people get to know there is an afterlife, a heaven and hell, they may try to avoid hell and seek heaven. But heaven requires terms and conditions that if followed are contrary to the devil’s plans and reminds him of where he is going.

The devil jumps into action, sending his cohorts in the world – in this case religious leadership – to scatter the plans of Righteousness. But the Word of the Lord is living and powerful….(Hebrews 4:12). And many who heard became saved.

Whatever situation that the Lord puts one in, He empowers one to get through it – Not by might nor by power but by the Spirit of God (Zechariah 4:6). Peter boldly proclaimed and testified about Jesus to the powerful religious leadership.

One may know that there is a demonic influence when something does not make logical sense – The religious leadership persecuting instead of empowering one that is doing acts of righteousness. The enemy wants the Body of Christ to remain lame!

The status quo (their position) as the people that know all about God (knowledge of the religious leadership) was being challenged – there is salvation through no one else but Jesus!

What about me, they may be asking, I should know with my years of Torah study and these nobody’s come with something that I have not thought off or known, that threaten my position and standing in society…? Yes religion is/ should be all about me, myself and I – the trinity of pride – and not about who it is supposed to be all about – Father, Son and Holy Spirit .

# Lord God – may people recognize when they encounter me that I am a person who has been with Jesus. May the Lord Jesus continue to transform me into His image and likeness from glory to glory. May my exploits for the kingdom through the power of the Holy Spirit working in me and through me confound the enemy for the glory of God.

The enemy fears the name of Jesus – they were ordered never to teach or speak again in that powerful name.

But one cannot stop doing what has become self evident to them. A true encounter with Jesus Christ never leaves one the same again. I kind of now understand how the Christians in the Middle East today can watch their family being killed and they in turn be beheaded for Christ! Don’t know if any of us, probably Christians since birth, would do that. But they must have a serious / amazing encounter with the Lord Jesus and the Holy Spirit for them to be so bold and courageous not to fear death.

That’s why the enemy fears the knowledge of the power of the resurrection. It negates the fear of death and persecution, one of the main weapons of the enemy against the body of Christ.

Total allegiance to the Lord – we only do what He says because that is the only thing that matters. The only thing that matters is what matters to Jesus.

The Holy Spirit will continue to empower ( refill) those that remain steadfast in their faith and actions for the kingdom of God. His grace will always be sufficient to help us overcome any situation we find ourselves in, so long as it was initiated by Him and is for Him. Everything, indeed according to His Word, works together for good for those who Love the Lord and are called according to His purposes (Romans 8:28).

The enemy can only threaten like a roaring lion… ( 1 Peter 5:8-9) Because that is all he can do – anything else will need permission from the Lord. We fight from victory not for victory, a basic truth that the Body of Christ should know and believe especially during spiritual warfare encounters with the enemy (1 Corinthians 15:57).

All believers were united in one heart and mind. They preached the Word of God with boldness. They felt the joy of the Lord to share what they had.

Some of the things sadly lacking in the Church today, no unity, compromise of the Word ( such as for political correctness), its all about me first culture – what can I get out of the church / what can the church do for me… Unfortunately all part of the enemy’s game plan against the Body of Christ trying to scuttle the plan for salvation for as many as possible.

… But transformation ( repentance) starts with me! …but the question still remains – Can I die for Jesus,  Totally Surrender my life to Him?

# Thank You lord Jesus that salvation is a free gift that I receive by grace through faith. I stand on Your Word that I can do all things through Christ Jesus who strengthens me and that I have not been given a spirit of fear, but of love, power and a sound mind. Empower me to always be willing to listen and obey, to always trust and have faith, to always have strength and courage to follow through to the end, doing all this for Your kingdom and for Your glory. Indeed greater is He that is in me than he that is in the world.

AMEN!