And to him they agreed: and when they had called the apostles, and beaten them, they commanded that they should not speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go. And they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for his name. And daily in the temple, and in every house, they ceased not to teach and preach Jesus Christ (Acts 5:40-42).
The high priest and those with him agreed to Gamaliel’s advice, they had the Apostles brought back to them, beat them and commanded them not to speak in the name of Jesus and let them go. Jesus told His disciples that they would be brought before councils and they would be beaten in the synagogues, even brought before rulers and kings for the name of Jesus – for a testimony against them, the rulers (Mark 13:9). This was the first time, it would certainly not be the last. They would be beaten with whips, the Greek word for beaten means to flay the skin, but this beating was never to the point of death. Did it stop them? It did not. They rejoiced that they had borne stripes for their testimony for Jesus and become infamous (that is what ‘shame’ means) for His name. Despite the pain they suffered they went into the temple daily, and door to door in Jerusalem and ceased not to teach and preach Jesus Christ. satan hates the name of Jesus because he knows the power that is in that name, the power in the name that defeated him and took his power from him, the keys of death and hell, physical and mental illness. These apostles knew that no weapon formed against them would prosper, they went back to the place of their beating, where those who had ordered their beating gathered. It would be the priests that ministered daily in the temple, the rulers of Israel only attended with pomp and ceremony, but the rulers would know that they had no authority over Christians who follow Jesus, who follow the command of God. ‘If a man love Me, he will keep My words: and My Father will love him, and We will come unto him, and make Our abode with him’ (John 14:23).
PLEASE PRAY for Fiskerton meetings, that God’s presence for salvation, healing and deliverance will so fill the house that only God can minister. All power is given to the wonderful name of Jesus. Thank you, God bless you. NEXT MEETINGS at Fiskerton: REVIVAL MEETING, Saturday 24 OCTOBER @ 4pm. BIBLE STUDY, Wednesday 28 OCTOBER @ 7pm. DISCIPLESHIP MEETING, Wednesday 4 NOVEMBER @ 7pm.