NEWS & THOUGHTS ARCHIVE

Seeing is Believing, pt. 2

Evangelist Dr. Bob Sanders
April 1, 2009

> PRINT FRIENDLY VERSION

Acts 4:13 “Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men, they marvelled; and they took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus.” 

While we may not be incarcerated like Peter and John, the world is paying close attention as to how we conduct ourselves in the race of life. It is needful that we remember that we “are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God” (Hebrews 12:1-2). It says that “they saw.” The word “saw” means to discern by being a spectator. Spectators are not so much interested in what they hear as what they see. The world is weary of all the talk; they want to see the walk. Listen to the words of the poem, “The Living Sermon.”

“I’d rather see a sermon than hear one any day,
I’d rather one would walk with me than merely tell the way;
The eye’s a better pupil and more willing than the ear,
Fine counsel is confusing, but example’s always clear;
The best of all the preachers are the men, who live their creeds,
For to see good put in action is what everybody needs. 

I soon can learn to do it, if you’ll let me see it done,
I can watch your hands in action, your tongue too fast may run;
The lectures you deliver may be very wise and true.
But I’d rather get my lessons by observing what you do;
I may not understand the high advice you give,
But there’s no misunderstanding how you act and how you live.”

Copied, Author Unknown 

The thing that has made such an impression on me is not what they saw when they examined Peter and John, but how did this powerful witness develop in the lives of Peter and John. Acts 4:13 reveals that the religious counsel witnessed at least three things in the lives of these men; their boldness, their beliefs, and their bonds. The word “boldness” means, all out-spokeness, frankness, bluntness by implication of assurance. These men were not ashamed of being followers of the Lord Jesus Christ. While Peter and John had not the benefit of higher education, the counsel saw the beliefs of the disciples given forth in their preaching and their practices. The two previous elements gave every evidence that these men had a bond with the Lord Jesus Christ. The world saw the disciple’s boldness, their beliefs, and their bonds. 

While that is the order in which the counsel perceived the witness of the disciples, it is not the order in which they were deposited in the lives of Peter and John! 

Boldness is generated from one’s Beliefs!

What you believe and the degree to which you believe it determines the forcefulness and strength of your boldness. The reason for the lack of boldness in the lives of so many professing Christians is either the absence of or the weakness of beliefs. When speaking to some superficial followers, Jesus said, “And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?” (Luke 6:46).  These individuals were making reference to Jesus as being “Lord.” The word “Lord” means supremacy, supreme in authority, controller or master. While their lips called Him “Lord”, their lives proved them to be liars. If they really believed that Jesus was the supreme authority and master of their lives, that belief would have been acted out in their lives. There would have been a boldness to stand in total obedience and submission to the will of God for their life. There would have been an unquestionable loyalty to Christ. Weak beliefs generate a weak witness! It’s hard to die for something that you really don’t believe! We are plagued with a generation of superficial believers. May we be inspired by the words of the Sweet Psalmist of Israel, “neither will I offer burnt offerings unto the Lord  my God of that which doth cost me nothing” (Ii Samuel 24:24). 

Beliefs are generated by one’s Bonds! 

It is impossible to generate strong spiritual beliefs when one is preoccupied with the secular aspects of life. The counsel recognized that these men had been with Jesus! Please note one phrase and one word from Acts 4:13. The phrase “they had been” is first person singular present indicative and means, I exist. It is used only when emphatic. The word “with” is a very strong word denoting devotion to union with or being together. The idea being that when counsel saw Peter and John, they recognized that the disciples existed in an emphatic union with the Lord Jesus Christ. The disciples could say emphatically, I exist in union with Christ! Their union was so strong that it manifested itself in what they thought, how they acted, and what they desired to accomplish. This union determined the priorities in life! This union formed their beliefs to those of God Himself! The void of communion and intimacy with Christ is beginning to manifest itself in today’s church. The spectators have begun to realize that we believe far less that we say we do. 

When speaking of His Church, Jesus said, “and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it” (Matthew 16:18), thus speaking of an aggressive and offensive church which could not be stopped! I’m afraid that the church is now on the defensive quietly hiding in the shadows of the world hoping for no altercations. Boldness had been replaced for the sake of being politically correct! And Biblical beliefs have been blinded with the humanistic mentality so that all faiths can comfortably worship together. Unlike Peter and John who impacted the world, generating the respect of that world, we have submitted to the world and respect it. It all started when we gave up on a strong personal bond with Christ! 

> PRINT FRIENDLY VERSION