Today's Devotion

November 22, 2010

The Gospel Exposes the Heart

Today we read of Peter’s second sermon. His first sermon saw about 3000 souls saved and this sermon about 5000. However, we see another reaction also. The priest the captain of the temple and the Sadducees were greatly disturbed at their preaching, and so they laid hands upon them and put them in custody.

“So when Peter saw [it], he responded to the people: "Men of Israel, why do you marvel at this? Or why look so intently at us, as though by our own power or godliness we had made this man walk? "The God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, the God of our fathers, glorified His Servant Jesus, whom you delivered up and denied in the presence of Pilate, when he was determined to let [Him] go. "But you denied the Holy One and the Just, and asked for a murderer to be granted to you, "and killed the Prince of life, whom God raised from the dead, of which we are witnesses. "And His name, through faith in His name, has made this man strong, whom you see and know. Yes, the faith which [comes] through Him has given him this perfect soundness in the presence of you all. "Yet now, brethren, I know that you did [it] in ignorance, as [did] also your rulers. "But those things which God foretold by the mouth of all His prophets, that the Christ would suffer, He has thus fulfilled. "Repent therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, "and that He may send Jesus Christ, who was preached to you before, "whom heaven must receive until the times of restoration of all things, which God has spoken by the mouth of all His holy prophets since the world began. "For Moses truly said to the fathers, ‘The LORD your God will raise up for you a Prophet like me from your brethren. Him you shall hear in all things, whatever He says to you. ‘And it shall be [that] every soul who will not hear that Prophet shall be utterly destroyed from among the people.’ "Yes, and all the prophets, from Samuel and those who follow, as many as have spoken, have also foretold these days. "You are sons of the prophets, and of the covenant which God made with our fathers, saying to Abraham, ‘And in your seed all the families of the earth shall be blessed.’ "To you first, God, having raised up His Servant Jesus, sent Him to bless you, in turning away every one [of you] from your iniquities." Now as they spoke to the people, the priests, the captain of the temple, and the Sadducees came upon them, being greatly disturbed that they taught the people and preached in Jesus the resurrection from the dead. And they laid hands on them, and put [them] in custody until the next day, for it was already evening. However, many of those who heard the word believed; and the number of the men came to be about five thousand.” (Acts 3:12-4:4 NKJV)

The Gospel message forces a reaction because it exposes sin if preached accurately. It also exposes one’s attitude toward God. To love mammon is to hate God (Matthew 6:24). If anyone loves the world or the things of the world the love of the Father is not in them (1 John 2:15).

You shouldn’t think it a strange thing when people react strongly to your presentation of the Gospel. In fact, if they are not reacting, you might want to review exactly what it is you are telling them. Lost men are in rebellion to God and the Gospel exposes that truth.

Expect a reaction, but don’t let that stop you from speaking the truth. The first two sermons Peter preached realized about 8000 converts. Of course he preached on the fertile ground broken up by the Savior’s ministry, but God is no less capable of saving souls. I’ll let the preceding sentence stand, but even while I typed it I realized it is an excuse for what you and I are thinking: that God will not save large numbers by our preaching. May God forgive our lack of faith; we have not because we ask not. How often we ask doubting!

We must believe. I think, judge your own heart, that most of the time we shrink away from witnessing because we really don’t believe it will do any good. Why risk all the pain if nothing is going to come from it? How selfish and misguided we can be sometimes. Is this not asking amiss to consume it upon our own lust (James 4:3)? This is not love but self-love.

Therefore, let us take courage and take the Gospel to those in need. Preach it truthfully. Love the lost by sacrificing your comfort and risking their reaction.

You will likely have opportunity to speak to loved ones over this extended holiday season. What greater gift could you give them than the message of salvation? Start praying now for your courage and for their hearts to be receptive.

God is not done saving people today. He saved you didn’t He?

“Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.” (1 Corinthians 15:58 NKJV)