Calling His Bluff

Calling His Bluff…

In Acts 4, the Sanhedrin commanded the apostles to stop preaching. But the Sanhedrin didn’t have the power politically or spiritually to stop them. If the apostles had listened to them or believed that they had the power, they would have, in effect, given them their power by their agreement.

Instead they said, “We can’t stop speaking about what we’ve seen and heard,” which resulted in the spreading of the gospel of Jesus. The enemy tries to stop you with the same strategy. He says, “You can’t do God’s will; you can’t open your mouth and share; you can’t overcome; you can’t defeat that sin; you can’t live victoriously. But it’s all a bluff.

If you believe the lies, you won’t live free, you’ll stay in bondage. The enemy has no power unless you let him. Be like the disciples, tell the enemy “I’m obeying God! You’re a liar, and all the more I’m going to follow God.”

Fight the bluff. Live victoriously. You can if you follow God. You can’t be stopped, because He that’s within you is far greater than he that’s in the world.

When they saw the courage of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished and they took note that these men had been with Jesus. But since they could see the man who had been healed standing there with them, there was nothing they could say. So they ordered them to withdraw from the Sanhedrin and then conferred together. “What are we going to do with these men?” they asked. “Everyone living in Jerusalem knows they have performed a notable sign, and we cannot deny it. But to stop this thing from spreading any further among the people, we must warn them to speak no longer to anyone in this name.” Then they called them in again and commanded them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus. But Peter and John replied, “Which is right in God’s eyes: to listen to you, or to him? You be the judges! As for us, we cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard.” Acts 4:13-20

What is the enemy using to hinder you, intimidate you, panic you, and stop you from stepping out in God’s will? Call his bluff – and do it.

Walk daily with God at your side!

Love always,

Ed