Read Acts 5:33-42
No One Will Shut Me Up Or Stop Me From Sharing Jesus.
After Peter and the apostles confronted the Jewish leaders for killing Jesus, they were furious and wanted to kill the apostles. But an old, wise Pharisee, named Gamaliel, stood before them with this wise counsel. He said to be careful what you decide to do with these apostles. Remember the two men who claimed to be somebody special and their legacy ended? Theudas claimed to be somebody special and had 400 followers. When he was killed the followers dispersed and his legacy ended. Then Judas came along and led a huge revolt. He too was killed and his followers scattered and his legacy ended.
So, Gamaliel said to leave the apostles alone. If what they are doing is of human origin, it too will fail. But if it’s from God, then you won’t be able to stop them and you’ll be fighting against God.
As a result, the Jewish leaders flogged the apostles, ordered them not to preach Jesus anymore, and let them go. The apostles left rejoicing because they were considered worthy of suffering for the name of Jesus. Then they continued, day after day, teaching and proclaiming the good news of Jesus as the Messiah, God’s chosen one.
Theudas and Judas were two men who thought they were somebody special and had a following. After they were killed, their legacy ended. The apostles of Jesus were carrying on the legacy of Jesus, proclaiming his name in the temple courts and door to door. No one could shut them up or stop them. The religious leaders tried to stop them but the apostles just rejoiced that they were considered worthy enough to be persecuted for Jesus.
I want that same heart. If anyone, or any group of people, try and stop me or shut me up from teaching Jesus, I want to rejoice that God saw me worthy to be persecuted for the name of his Son, then I just want to keep preaching Jesus. I never want to stop carrying on the legacy of Jesus. God, please use me and use me even in new ways until my dying days.
