02/06/12

What is of God will remain, everything else will perish

Acts 5:33,34 - When they heard that, they were cut to the heart, and took counsel to slay them. Then stood there up one in the council, a Pharisee, named Gamaliel, a doctor of the law, had in reputation among all the people, and commanded to put the apostles forth a little space;


When Peter and the Apostles witnessed Jesus to the Jewish authorities, we read they got very anger so much that they wanted to kill them. During this high drama of emotions stood a man of wisdom by the name of Gamaliel, he advised them not to take any actions against the Apostles, for if was not of God it would perish away like most people or concepts that were not of God. But if it were of God then they would find themselves fighting against God.

Such advice was not possible for any ordinary person unless he had studied history and gone through many years and years of records. It was the experience gains from understanding them that caused these words of wisdom to come.

Gamaliel was no ordinary man; Jewish history states him to be a very highly respected scholar on Jewish laws and descendant of one of the architects of the Talmud (commentaries on the laws of Moses, traditions of the Jews and Jewish history). He presided over the Sanhedrin during the reigns of Tiberius, Cains, and Claudius. The Talmundists say that he was the son of Rabbi Simeon, and grandson of Hillel, the celebrated teacher of the law, and that upon his death the glory of the law departed. Studying under him was considered as been passed from Harvard's today. He was under whom Paul (Saul) did his study of the Jewish laws.

After the Torah the sacred text of Judaism is the Talmud. The word Talmud is a composition of 3 words which means to learn, imply in one's life and teach by example. Gamaliel was a person who made an attempt to understand what he read and to follow it before teaching it (most learn and teach, they do not understand or imply in one's life properly). This is one reason he did not outright go against what the Apostle said, he found a small ray of light in what they said, but being a man of high Jewish stature it was not possible to openly support them or suggest an open discussion on it.

Paul was his student and had received not just knowledge but also values from Gamaliel. We all state Saul before he became Paul persecuted the Church and was one of the great enemies of the church.

If we look at the records in Acts Saul was a staunch Jew and student of the law. Like all Jewish law students he too had great zeal for what he believed. If we read carefully Paul was more a protector of the Jews therefore went by legal means of getting necessary permissions from the authorities and after pursuing the Christians he would get them arrested and put behind bars. He at no time physically harmed them. The only blood on Paul's head was of Stephen that too not as a perpetrator of his death but that of a collaborator.

The Lord is telling us not only in the world but also inside of each of us what is from the Lord will remain but that which is not of the Lord will perish if we use wisdom. So let us use wisdom in every area of our lives not only when it comes to other people but also when it comes to dealing with oneself.


[ Prayer Starter ]
Lord, though we call ourselves Christians there is a lot part in us of the world which has not died unto You. We pray Lord we learn from today's message and instead of fighting our sinful nature help us concentrate of walking with the Spirit. You have never said You expect us to overcome by our own selves. You always said by your Spirit we will overcome. You also came as man Jesus and became an example of how we can overcome by your Spirit. When we fight our sinful nature by our strength we many times find due to lack of knowledge we land fighting against the works of the Spirit in us. Lord, help us be more productive by concentrating on the good and You alone are good...

This prayer we make in Jesus' Name, Amen.


[ Reference Scriptures ]
Acts 5:33-39
33 When they heard that, they were cut to the heart, and took counsel to slay them.
34 Then stood there up one in the council, a Pharisee, named Gamaliel, a doctor of the law, had in reputation among all the people, and commanded to put the apostles forth a little space;
35 And said unto them, Ye men of Israel, take heed to yourselves what ye intend to do as touching these men.
36 For before these days rose up Theudas, boasting himself to be somebody; to whom a number of men, about four hundred, joined themselves: who was slain; and all, as many as obeyed him, were scattered, and brought to nought.
37 After this man rose up Judas of Galilee in the days of the taxing, and drew away much people after him: he also perished; and all, even as many as obeyed him, were dispersed.
38 And now I say unto you, Refrain from these men, and let them alone: for if this counsel or this work be of men, it will come to nought:
39 But if it be of God, ye cannot overthrow it; lest haply ye be found even to fight against God.

Acts 7:58 - And cast him out of the city, and stoned him: and the witnesses laid down their clothes at a young man's feet, whose name was Saul.

Acts 8:1-3
1 And Saul was consenting unto his death. And at that time there was a great persecution against the church which was at Jerusalem; and they were all scattered abroad throughout the regions of Judaea and Samaria, except the apostles.
2 And devout men carried Stephen to his burial, and made great lamentation over him.
3 As for Saul, he made havock of the church, entering into every house, and haling men and women committed them to prison.

Romans 8:4-6
4 That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.
5 For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit.
6 For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.

Galatians 6:16-18,25
16 This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.
17 For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would.
18 But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law.
25 If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.

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