Acts 4:7 And when they had set them in the midst, they asked, by what power, or by what name, have you done this?

 

The Jewish leaders thought they were done with Jesus when they crucified Him. They were wrong. Now they were up against thousands of people who seemed to have the same Power He had. Peter and John were the leaders, so they arrested them.

 

All the Jewish big-shots were in town for the Feast of Pentecost. Verse 6 tells us, And Annas the High Priest, and Caiaphas, and John, and Alexander, and as many as were of the kindred of the High Priest, were gathered together at Jerusalem. The order of the Priesthood was originally given to Moses but over the years it morphed into a political system that controlled the nation. Control was the name of the game and anyone who disrupted their control was found to be in contempt and arrested. This is what happened to Peter and John.

 

The next day they brought Peter and John from jail to stand before the Sanhedrin and the High Priest who were the Judicial branch of the system. There were a minimum of 71 members of the Sanhedrin present that day to interrogate them.

 

The question of the day was by what power, or by what name, have you done this? They were, of course, referring to the healing of the crippled beggar at the Gate of the Temple. The Jewish leaders had gone so far off track they were no longer concerned for the people. Their only concern was for the power and control they had OVER the people.

 

You may be asking, What does this have to do with us today? Plenty! Denominations today are nothing more than controlling organizations that dictate to their members what they should believe and what they can preach and do in their church. Anyone who attempts to deviate from their doctrine will be excommunicated from that denomination.

 

I know a man who was in a particular denomination. He got filled with the Holy Spirit and began operating in the Spirit at his church. He was quickly kicked out of that denomination and he lost everything including his wife and family. However, after years of being faithful to the Spirit of God, the Lord restored him completely and he is now remarried, is pastoring a church, and doing very well. Like everything we go through, it was a test of his faith. He passed that test and God is Blessing him today.

 

Peter and John passed the test too and we will go into that further tomorrow. As for today, consider the test you are currently in. Stay faithful to what God has called you to and don’t concern yourself with the words or threats of man or denomination.

 

There will be no denominations in Heaven. Therefore, there should be none here. They are religious political systems that seek to control the Church. Follow the Spirit. Listen to Him and let Him lead your every step. That is the faith that will pass the test. Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and Him Crucified. Faith in the Holy Spirit of God to lead us down the narrow path. Hallelujah!

 

 

Seek the Spirit of God. He is about to….….turn the tide

 

Holy Spirit rain down on the Church today,         Doreen

 

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