April 1, 2016

“When they had brought them, they had them stand before the council. The high priest questioned them, saying, “We gave you strict orders not to teach in this name, yet here you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching and you are determined to bring this man’s blood on us.” 29But Peter and the apostles answered, “We must obey God rather than any human authority. The God of our ancestors raised up Jesus, whom you had killed by hanging him on a tree. God exalted him at his right hand as Leader and Savior that he might give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins. And we are witnesses to these things, and so is the Holy Spirit whom God has given to those who obey him.” Acts 5:27-32

“We must obey G-d rather than any human authority.” This is what Peter answered when the council of Jerusalem accuses them of teaching in the name of Jesus. The Holy Spirit had come to the disciples in Acts 2, on the day of Pentecost, and they were just beginning to teach and to preach in the name of the Jesus, empowered by the Holy Spirit. I want to share with you something Kyle Fever wrote in his Commentary on Acts 5:

“In 1980 Ozzy Osbourne released a song called “Crazy Train.” The chorus of the song is ridiculously simple, but very evocative: “I’m going off the rails on a crazy train.” What the apostles were doing must have seemed like this to much of the surrounding world. The Pharisees and leaders certainly seem to think this. Drawing attention to the public proclamation of Jesus as Lord was indeed crazy. This crazy train, Peter is clear to note, does not have a human conductor, and God is taking it right off of the rails. This is not to condone going off of the rails for its own sake or irresponsible witness to Jesus Christ. Much depends on how one evaluates the rails in the first place. What to the authorities of the time seemed like going off the rails was accurate. But that’s because from the perspective of Acts, the current rails on which the human train journeyed were no longer bringing God’s forgiveness and renewal, but actually hindering it.”

Beginning with April, and for the rest of your faith life, are you willing to go “off the rails”, like Peter and the other disciples, in your devotion and ministry for the Gospel of Jesus? When we are empowered with the Holy Spirit, there is no limit for where the gospel will take us.

Pastor Dave