Isn’t it interesting how you can read a passage of scripture a hundred times, and something new still jumps out at you…
Check out this text from the familiar story of Peter and John’s deliverance from jail: “The high priest and his officials, who were Sadducees, were filled with jealousy. They arrested the apostles and put them in the public jail.But an angel of the Lord came at night, opened the gates of the jail, and brought them out. Then he told them, ‘Go to the Temple and give the people this message of life!’ So at daybreak the apostles entered the Temple, as they were told, and immediately began teaching.” (Acts 5:17-21 NLT)
That’s the special part about the Word of God. It’s how we can experience that God’s Word is real, that it’s a “living” book (See Heb. 4:12), for it speaks to us differently each time we read it!
I would be most curious to hear how this text spoke to each of you as you read it just now; but I am impressed to share with you how it spoke to me… It was here: “Then he told them, ‘Go to the Temple and give the people this message of life!'” (Vs. 20 NLT)
Wait. What? So here we have Peter and John thrown in prison by the jealous, raging Sadducees, and we see that God sends them an angel to release them from prison. I don’t know about you, but if that had been me in that prison, I would probably have thanked the angels and God, and then I would have … Run! And perhaps Peter and John might have been inclined to do the same. But they didn’t.
Why?
Because the angels told them to go back to the temple and preach!
Talk about “out of the frying pan and into the fire”! Why would God so miraculously release them from prison, only to “throw them back to the wolves”? Didn’t God know they would just land in prison again??? I have read this a hundred times, but never before did I ever see the senselessness in this command from the angels!
But wait. What was God’s reason for releasing them?
I’m sure there were many, but perhaps one of the key reasons was because God’s miracles need to be put … on display! These two verses of Scripture shout this truth out at us. When God does something, when He answers our prayers, when He heals us or rescues us or saves us, it isn’t only about healing or rescuing or saving us! It is also about the fact that this miracle will serve to strength the faith of others! That it will perhaps even draw the lost to Him! Isn’t this what Jesus meant in the famous Sermon on the Mount when He said, “In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven…“ (Matthew 5:16 ESV)? Our testimony of what God does for us can even … bring about the demise of the evil one! Don’t believe it? Check out Revelation 12:11: “And they have defeated him by the blood of the Lamb and by their testimony. And they did not love their lives so much that they were afraid to die.” (NLT)!
Sharing our testimony is following the example of King David: “Come and listen, all you who fear God, and I will tell you what he did for me.” (Ps. 66:16 NLT). We are also told that by sharing our testimony, we ensure that we are acknowledged before God: “Everyone who acknowledges me publicly here on earth, I will also acknowledge before my Father in heaven.” (Matt. 10:32 NLT)!
And, coming back to our story in Acts, it is what we are told to do, even if it puts us back in danger!
Why not? If God could deliver Peter and John from prison once, He could do it again, couldn’t He?
And just as anticipated, when Peter and John began teaching in the temple again, they were once again arrested: “The captain went with his Temple guards and arrested the apostles…Then they brought the apostles before the high council, where the high priest confronted them. ‘We gave you strict orders never again to teach in this man’s name!’ he said. ‘Instead, you have filled all Jerusalem with your teaching about him, and you want to make us responsible for his death!'” (Acts 5:26-28 NLT)
Peter’s response? A testimony presented before the priests and leaders of the people: “The God of our ancestors raised Jesus from the dead after you killed him by hanging him on a cross.Then God put him in the place of honor at his right hand as Prince and Savior. He did this so the people of Israel would repent of their sins and be forgiven. We are witnesses of these things and so is the Holy Spirit, who is given by God to those who obey him.” (vs. 30-32 NLT).
What has God done for you today? Last week? Last month? Last year? You need to … shout it out! Don’t worry if it might put you in trouble. Don’t give a care about what others will think. Just … shout it out! For you never know when your witness will be the thing that turns someone’s heart for the Lord!
From a practical standpoint, there are many ways to “shout it out”. One of them is to submit your testimony, your report of God’s miracles in your lives, to this ministry for publication on our websites. You never know when what happened to you will strengthen the faith of someone else! We strongly encourage you to do so by replying to this email!
Whatever you do, just … Shout it out!
In His love,
Lyn
Lynona Gordon Chaffart
Moderator, Associate Director, Answers2Prayer Ministries
