Peter's Bold Preaching

Now comes the important gospel message.

Acts 2:22 Ye men of Israel, hear these words; Jesus of Nazareth, a man approved of God among you by miracles and wonders and signs, which God did by him in the midst of you, as ye yourselves also know:

A powerful sermon begins with, listen to my words as he spoke with authority.

Jesus of Nazareth, even the devils knew that name;

Mark 1:23 And there was in their synagogue a man with an unclean spirit; and he cried out,
Mark 1:24 Saying, Let us alone; what have we to do with thee, thou Jesus of Nazareth? art thou come to destroy us? I know thee who thou art, the Holy One of God.
Mark 1:25 And Jesus rebuked him, saying, Hold thy peace, and come out of him.
Mark 1:26 And when the unclean spirit had torn him, and cried with a loud voice, he came out of him.

a man approved of God among you by miracles and wonders and signs;

Yes even his enemies knew he was from God;

Jhn 11:47 Then gathered the chief priests and the Pharisees a council, and said, What do we? for this man doeth many miracles.
Jhn 11:48 If we let him thus alone, all [men] will believe on him: and the Romans shall come and take away both our place and nation.

They were concerned for their own positions, seeking job security, so from envy they killed Jesus. When Jesus becomes king on earth all nations will bow to him. God worked mighty works through him.

Phil 2:10 That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth;
Phil 2:11 And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

which God did by him in the midst of you, as ye yourselves also know:

Jesus speaks

Luk 11:20 But if I with the finger of God cast out devils, no doubt the kingdom of God is come upon you.

The testimony of the healed blind man

John 9:31 Now we know that God heareth not sinners: but if any man be a worshiper of God, and doeth his will, him he heareth.
John 9:32 Since the world began was it not heard that any man opened the eyes of one that was born blind.
John 9:33 If this man were not of God, he could do nothing.

Acts 2:23 Him, being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, ye have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and slain:

Peter doesn't hold back, he speaks the truth with new Holy Ghost boldness.

Even though God sent him knowing that he was to die for sins, and Jesus also knowing this was his cup given him by his father, yet he obeyed;

Mat 26:39 And he went a little farther, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt.

Still, those who murdered Jesus must bear the responsibility for their actions.

"ye have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and slain (Jesus):"

Mat 27:25 Then answered all the people, and said, His blood be on us, and on our children.
Mat 27:26 Then released he Barabbas unto them: and when he had scourged Jesus, he delivered him to be crucified.

Mat 12:36 But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment.
Mat 12:37 For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned.

Peter was not out to tickle the ears of the people, or to make them laugh, he speaks the truth to them

Acts 2:24 Whom God hath raised up, having loosed the pains of death: because it was not possible that he should be holden of it.

Quoting from Psalms 16, In the term "pains of death", the word pains is actually the word for "birth pains"; in this sense, the tomb was a womb for Jesus! The grave can no more hold the Redeemer than a pregnant woman can hold the child in her body.

John 3:5 Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.

Born of water, a natural birth from woman. Born of the Spirit, the resurrected Christ coming out of the cave tomb a new Spiritual creation.

Col 1:18 And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence.

For as he was raised by the Spirit of life, so shall we likewise be made alive.

Rom 8:10 And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness.
Rom 8:11 But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you.

The resurrection is the proof of our new life in Christ

1 Cor 15:17 And if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins.
1 Cor 15:18 Then they also which are fallen asleep in Christ are perished.
1 Cor 15:19 If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable.
1 Cor 15:20 But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept.
1 Cor 15:21 For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead.
1 Cor 15:22 For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.

Peter continues to speak of the resurrection. Killing Jesus was not a victory for Satan, but his defeat!

Through believing in Jesus, His blood removes our sins and we shall be with Jesus forever.

Burned up

We enjoyed our fireplace on this cold rainy day. We were thrilled that the Lord brought rain to our drought. 

Isa 41:17  When the poor and needy seek water, and there is none, and their tongue faileth for thirst, I the LORD will hear them, I the God of Israel will not forsake them. 

Isa 41:18  I will open rivers in high places, and fountains in the midst of the valleys: I will make the wilderness a pool of water, and the dry land springs of water. 

There  is the fire of God's judgment. This is the final test of the worth of our life's service.

1Co 3:11  For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ. 

1Co 3:12  Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble; 

1Co 3:13  Every man's work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is. 

1Co 3:14  If any man's work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward. 

1Co 3:15  If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire. 

This is the judgment of the saved for rewards. For even if all is burned up, our soul shall be saved. Saved by faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and not works done. What a shame to have made Jesus our Lord and yet have no fruit to show; no rewards received. Let no man be your judge, but hear the gentle voice of God and follow him.

Eaglewings Ministries

Weightier Matters

Mat 23:23  Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have omitted the weightier matters of the law, judgment, mercy, and faith: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone.
Mat 23:24  Ye blind guides, which strain at a gnat, and swallow a camel.

The problem with those who pride themselves in keeping laws, is they do not keep them perfectly. They have  a form of righteousness, but they really do not keep the laws in their hearts. 

The scribes and Pharisees ignored the more important things of the law: judgment; which is justice; knowing right from wrong and administering a just sentence on a wrong doer, according to God's laws.

Deu 32:4 He is the Rock, his work is perfect: for all his ways are judgment: a God of truth and without iniquity, just and right is he.

Mercy; kindness or good will towards the miserable and the afflicted, joined with a desire to help them.

Deu 7:9 Know therefore that the LORD thy God, he is God, the faithful God, which keepeth covenant and mercy with them that love him and keep his commandments to a thousand generations;
Deu 7:10 And repayeth them that hate him to their face, to destroy them: he will not be slack to him that hateth him, he will repay him to his face.

Faith; in the LORD and his promises to His people.

Mat 17:19 Then came the disciples to Jesus apart, and said, Why could not we cast him out?
Mat 17:20 And Jesus said unto them, Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you.

There was a great deal of pride in these religious leaders thinking that they obeyed the laws and condemning others who they did not approve of, including Jesus. 

Have we in the church ignored the law? Have we given grace too big a definition making it an excuse to live casually? Have we too come up short regarding justice, mercy and truth? Revival starts in each believers heart. We are not to be rigid Pharisee law keepers, nor loose living sinners hiding under the name of grace. It is a spiritual walk we must take. We must stay close to Jesus, allowing his Spirit to search our hearts as we read the Bible. He is perfecting his bride. Do not think that you are yet perfect. Only in him are we made perfect. Our identity is hidden in Jesus Christ; he is seen and he is glorified.

Woe to the Unjust

Isa 10:1 Woe unto them that decree unrighteous decrees, and that write grievousness which they have prescribed;

Another woe of judgment of God on Israel; upon those that write wicked laws or rulings to oppress the people, or to exalt that which the Bible condemns.

Isa 10:2 To turn aside the needy from judgment, and to take away the right from the poor of my people, that widows may be their prey, and that they may rob the fatherless!

Jesus spoke of these matters when he taught.

Mat 15:3 But he answered and said unto them, Why do ye also transgress the commandment of God by your tradition?

Mat 23:14 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye devour widows' houses, and for a pretence make long prayer: therefore ye shall receive the greater damnation.

Mat 23:23 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have omitted the weightier matters of the law, judgment, mercy, and faith: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone.

Isa 10:3 And what will ye do in the day of visitation, and in the desolation which shall come from far? to whom will ye flee for help? and where will ye leave your glory?

If you deal wrongly with one another, who will you turn to when the Assyrians come? Jesus spoke of how doing evil in good times, when Jesus was present, would make it almost impossible to survive in bad times.

Luke 23:28 But Jesus turning unto them said, Daughters of Jerusalem, weep not for me, but weep for yourselves, and for your children.
Luke 23:29 For, behold, the days are coming, in the which they shall say, Blessed are the barren, and the wombs that never bare, and the paps which never gave suck.
Luke 23:30 Then shall they begin to say to the mountains, Fall on us; and to the hills, Cover us.
Luke 23:31 For if they do these things in a green tree, what shall be done in the dry?

Our everyday walk with the LORD prepares us for surviving the bad times. If we say we are a victim, and cannot get through a small problem in good times, what will happen in evil times to our faith? Be strengthened now by trusting the Lord, reading his word with prayer and good works.


Eph 2:10  For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them. 

Eaglewings Ministries

Be Patient and be ready

Jas 5:7  Be patient therefore, brethren, unto the coming of the Lord. Behold, the husbandman waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth, and hath long patience for it, until he receive the early and latter rain.
Jas 5:8  Be ye also patient; stablish your hearts: for the coming of the Lord draweth nigh.

Stablish your hearts... sterizo, strengthen, place firmly, set fast, fix , for the Lord is coming, this we know

1Th 3:12  And the Lord make you to increase and abound in love one toward another, and toward all men, even as we do toward you:
1Th 3:13  To the end he may stablish your hearts unblameable in holiness before God, even our Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all his saints.

What will the ungodly say at his coming? The liars?

1Pe 4:17  For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God?
1Pe 4:18  And if the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear? 

All liars will be thrown into the lake of fire

Rev 21:7  He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son.
Rev 21:8  But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.  

God is not fooled by lies. It is no lie that he wants all to repent, to turn from sins. Jesus is the way to truth, righteousness and the grace and mercy of God. Come to Jesus and be established in him. Blame ends with Jesus who took our blame for sins to the cross. Lying and blaming others will not save you, only Jesus will save you from sins and the just punishment we deserve. Call on the name of Jesus and be found in his righteousness at his coming. He is coming soon, so be ready.

Mercy, judgment and truth

Mar 3:1 And he entered again into the synagogue; and there was a man there which had a withered hand.
Mar 3:2 And they watched him, whether he would heal him on the sabbath day; that they might accuse him.
Mar 3:3 And he saith unto the man which had the withered hand, Stand forth.
Mar 3:4 And he saith unto them, Is it lawful to do good on the sabbath days, or to do evil? to save life, or to kill? But they held their peace.
Mar 3:5 And when he had looked round about on them with anger, being grieved for the hardness of their hearts, he saith unto the man, Stretch forth thine hand. And he stretched it out: and his hand was restored whole as the other.
Mar 3:6 And the Pharisees went forth, and straightway took counsel with the Herodians against him, how they might destroy him.

Hardness of heart, a heart of stone as hard as the stone tablets that were engraved with the law. Jesus came to them with healing mercies and truth. They wanted to kill him as if to beat him to death with the stone tablet. Using the law to condemn with hateful hearts and there are so many like this in the religions of the world. Jesus had compassion on a man with a withered hand on the Sabbath in the synagogue. There are churches that meet on their Sabbaths and there are synagogues that gather the people on the Sabbath to hear the law preached, but what of mercy and truth? What of mercy and judgement?

Psa 85:9 Surely his salvation is nigh them that fear him; that glory may dwell in our land.
Psa 85:10 Mercy and truth are met together; righteousness and peace have kissed each other.
Psa 85:11 Truth shall spring out of the earth; and righteousness shall look down from heaven.

Pro 14:22 Do they not err that devise evil? but mercy and truth shall be to them that devise good.

Deu 32:4 He is the Rock, his work is perfect: for all his ways are judgment: a God of truth and without iniquity, just and right is he.

Isa 42:3 A bruised reed shall he not break, and the smoking flax shall he not quench: he shall bring forth judgment unto truth.

Jesus brought judgment and truth to the hard hearted Pharisees. They had no mercy, for they proceeded to find a way to kill their Messiah. That is what happens when law is not mixed with judgment and mercy.

Jer 4:1 If thou wilt return, O Israel, saith the LORD, return unto me: and if thou wilt put away thine abominations out of my sight, then shalt thou not remove.
Jer 4:2 And thou shalt swear, The LORD liveth, in truth, in judgment, and in righteousness; and the nations shall bless themselves in him, and in him shall they glory.
Jer 4:3 For thus saith the LORD to the men of Judah and Jerusalem, Break up your fallow ground, and sow not among thorns.
Jer 4:4 Circumcise yourselves to the LORD, and take away the foreskins of your heart, ye men of Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem: lest my fury come forth like fire, and burn that none can quench it, because of the evil of your doings.

Mat 23:23 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have omitted the weightier matters of the law, judgment, mercy, and faith: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone.
Mat 23:24 Ye blind guides, which strain at a gnat, and swallow a camel.

We must not be hard hearted using the law to destroy, but we are to have hearts of mercy and compassion, using good judgment from God. Beware of thoughts that destroy and words spoken that tear down others. Seek to bring healing to souls and bodies through our Lord Jesus Christ. Be a blessing as He blesses you and do not limit the moving of God in our midst.

The LORD is Just

Hos 12:1 Ephraim feedeth on wind, and followeth after the east wind: he daily increaseth lies and desolation; and they do make a covenant with the Assyrians, and oil is carried into Egypt.

Lies and desolation. Desolation meaning: havoc, violence, destruction. Lies and irresponsible violence a sign of the absence of righteous judgment. Righteous judgment is what God wants for his people.

Jer 23:5 Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will raise unto David a righteous Branch, and a King shall reign and prosper, and shall execute judgment and justice in the earth.

Ephraim feeds on the east wind, they followed wrong spirits, empty vane things that do not satisfy.

Jer 18:17 I will scatter them as with an east wind before the enemy; I will shew them the back, and not the face, in the day of their calamity.

Ephraim made a covenant, perhaps a peace treaty with Assyria, the enemy that would take them captive. They paid tribute of olive oil to Egypt. Bribing our enemies never brings favor.

Hos 12:2 The LORD hath also a controversy with Judah, and will punish Jacob according to his ways; according to his doings will he recompense him.

They should have been seeking the LORD for protection. If the LORD was against them, then there was no security. We must learn to trust the LORD instead of seeking the world for security and blessings. Jacob was under the covenant of the law which required obedience and blessings or curses and punishment for disobedience.

Historical incites concerning Jacob

Hos 12:3 He took his brother by the heel in the womb, and by his strength he had power with God:
Hos 12:4 Yea, he had power over the angel, and prevailed: he wept, and made supplication unto him: he found him in Bethel, and there he spake with us;

Hosea makes clever use of the Hebrew names for Jacob and Israel. The root name for Jacob is: heel." The root name for Israel is "struggled." Jacob,( heal holder or supplanter) from the womb grabbed his brothers heel and would also grab his birthright by deception.

Gen 25:26 And after that came his brother out, and his hand took hold on Esau's heel; and his name was called Jacob: and Isaac was threescore years old when she bare them.

Jacob received the name Israel, (God prevailed) by wrestling with an angel until he was given a blessing.

Gen 32:26 And he said, Let me go, for the day breaketh. And he said, I will not let thee go, except thou bless me.

Hos 12:5 Even the LORD God of hosts; the LORD is his memorial.
Hos 12:6 Therefore turn thou to thy God: keep mercy and judgment, and wait on thy God continually.

Jesus would seek mercy and judgment

Mat 23:23 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have omitted the weightier matters of the law, judgment, mercy, and faith: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone.

Jacob returned to Bethel where he met God. Israel needed to repent and return to the LORD as well.

Gen 35:1 And God said unto Jacob, Arise, go up to Bethel, and dwell there: and make there an altar unto God, that appeared unto thee when thou fleddest from the face of Esau thy brother

Hos 12:7 He is a merchant, the balances of deceit are in his hand: he loveth to oppress.
Hos 12:8 And Ephraim said, Yet I am become rich, I have found me out substance: in all my labours they shall find none iniquity in me that were sin.

Using a balance that was not a true measurement of weight oppressing people when they bought and sold. Israel was proud of their riches received by deceit. Because of their prosperity they thought they were without sin. Doesn't the LORD bless those who do well?

Pro 11:1 A false balance is abomination to the LORD: but a just weight is his delight.

Eze 22:12 In thee have they taken gifts to shed blood; thou hast taken usury and increase, and thou hast greedily gained of thy neighbours by extortion, and hast forgotten me, saith the Lord GOD.

Is not the church in error if they seek prosperity apart from a prosperous soul?

3Jn 1:2 Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth.

A pink Cadillac is just a pink Cadillac, and not the measure of true prosperity. The soul prospers by doing the will of God, doing good, studying his word and by prayer.

Hos 12:9 And I that am the LORD thy God from the land of Egypt will yet make thee to dwell in tabernacles, as in the days of the solemn feast.

The feast of tabernacles recalls the time that Israel fleeing Egypt, journeyed in the wilderness living in tents and make shift shelters.

Lev 23:42 Ye shall dwell in booths seven days; all that are Israelites born shall dwell in booths:
Lev 23:43 That your generations may know that I made the children of Israel to dwell in booths, when I brought them out of the land of Egypt: I am the LORD your God.

Mar 9:5 And Peter answered and said to Jesus, Master, it is good for us to be here: and let us make three tabernacles; one for thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elias.
Mar 9:6 For he wist not what to say; for they were sore afraid.
Mar 9:7 And there was a cloud that overshadowed them: and a voice came out of the cloud, saying, This is my beloved Son: hear him.

Hos 12:10 I have also spoken by the prophets, and I have multiplied visions, and used similitudes, by the ministry of the prophets.

Hosea's marriage to a harlot was a similitude or metaphor of Israel's harlotry to the LORD of Israel.

Hos 12:11 Is there iniquity in Gilead? surely they are vanity: they sacrifice bullocks in Gilgal; yea, their altars are as heaps in the furrows of the fields.

Hosea again uses the Hebrew words to make a play on words. Gilead sounded like the word gallim, which meant a pile of stones. The altars would be pulled down into heaps of stones by the invading Assyrians. Both Gilead and Gilgal were places of sacrifices to false idols.

Hos 12:12 And Jacob fled into the country of Syria, and Israel served for a wife, and for a wife he kept sheep.
Hos 12:13 And by a prophet the LORD brought Israel out of Egypt, and by a prophet was he preserved.

The LORD reminds Israel that even though they would be slaves tending sheep and living in tents, that Jacob also worked tending sheep to earn his bride(s). The LORD also provided a prophet and deliverer in Moses. They too would someday be delivered by their Messiah.

Hos 12:14 Ephraim provoked him to anger most bitterly: therefore shall he leave his blood upon him, and his reproach shall his Lord return unto him.

Ephraim must face the anger of God because of their turning away from him into idolatry. His blood shall remain on him and the results of his sin would return upon him. Not a pleasant thing but our Loving God is also a God of holy righteousness. Sins must be paid for.

Jer 18:20 Shall evil be recompensed for good? for they have digged a pit for my soul. Remember that I stood before thee to speak good for them, and to turn away thy wrath from them.
Jer 18:21 Therefore deliver up their children to the famine, and pour out their blood by the force of the sword; and let their wives be bereaved of their children, and be widows; and let their men be put to death; let their young men be slain by the sword in battle.

It used to be said in movies and in books "crime does not pay." This may not seem to be true, when so much evil seems to get by and prosper. But God is the final judge.

Rom 6:23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Come to Jesus and be forgiven now. Turn from wickedness and live for God. You will receive a peaceful and prosperous soul. Turn again to your LORD and repent.

Tit 3:4 But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared,
Tit 3:5 Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;
Tit 3:6 Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour;
Tit 3:7 That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.