Pastor Barry's "Chapter & Verse" Day 248

September 5, 2018;       Acts 5:29;       94/260(III);       ‘Heaven’s Heroes’

Acts 5:29 But Peter and the other apostles answered and said: "We ought to obey God rather than men.

The Bible teaches that we are to obey and submit to those in authority.  Our attitude concerning this verse must always be respectful.  An easy example of this is if at work, you are not supposed to share the Lord on company time, it is our responsibility to obey that.  If there is someone to talk to, do it on the lunch break or before or after work.  That is your employer and you should obey the rules they have set in place. There are more serious consequences of this in the Word. In this account, Peter and John were commanded not to use the Name of Jesus when they were teaching.  Jesus had told them that He had given them His Name to use in ministry.  They obeyed Jesus and not the religious leaders. The religious leaders wanted to kill them, and even though they were not killed, they were beaten.  Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego were commanded to bow and worship the statue of the king.  They were respectful, but they would not do this.  They were thrown into the fiery furnace and the Lord saved them.  There is a price to pay, but the Lord gives dignity and courage to do what is biblical in the face of punishment or death.  During the tribulation people will be commanded to take the mark of the beast, eternally separating them from the Lord,  Those who will not take the mark will be persecuted and even martyred.  Throughout history believers have stood proud, obeying Jesus and not men.  Jesus gives meaning to life.  Heroes obey Him.