Acts 4:1-22

 Acts 4:1-22

Our faith is really a matter of the will. The Sadducees, who controlled the temple, had Peter and John arrested because they were teaching in Jesus the resurrection of the dead. This was a challenge to their core conviction because they didn't believe in any resurrection. In his speech, Peter gives an inspired and dynamic defense of the Gospel. But when the council deliberated, we see something that has to be a warning to all of us. They had presented with the claim that Jesus was the Christ, that He had died and risen again. They were challenged with the claim that Jesus alone is the One by which all men must be saved. They have the accompanying evidence of a lifelong crippled person having been healed in the name of Jesus, a fact that they admit they could not deny.

So what does one do when confronted with such evidence? For the council there was apparently no consideration as a possibility that Jesus was the resurrected Lord. Notice they do not challenge Peter’s claims of the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus. They even admit that a wonderful sign has just occurred. Their only concern was to prevent the spread of the message that would undermine their power base and control over the people.

The problem was not that they did not know the message. The problem was not a lack of evidence to support the claims for Christ. The problem was more fundamental than all that. The bottom line is they did not want to believe. It apparently never entered their mind to consider the possibility of submission to the Lord. The will, "the want to," is where we submit or refuse to submit to the Lord. It is not an easy fight to win, but for the believer, the will, the choice, is the place where discipleship occurs.

 "Lord, help me surrender my will to You. AMEN"