Calling His Bluff
Thursday, July 6, 2023
The "Oh Yeah" Principle
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 Messiah. 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.

Today's Mission
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.

Acts 4:13-20
13 Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men, they marvelled; and they took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus.
14 And beholding the man which was healed standing with them, they could say nothing against it.
15 But when they had commanded them to go aside out of the council, they conferred among themselves,
16 Saying, What shall we do to these men? for that indeed a notable miracle hath been done by them is manifest to all them that dwell in Jerusalem; and we cannot deny it.
17 But that it spread no further among the people, let us straitly threaten them, that they speak henceforth to no man in this name.
18 And they called them, and commanded them not to speak at all nor teach in the name of Jesus.
19 But Peter and John answered and said unto them, Whether it be right in the sight of God to hearken unto you more than unto God, judge ye.
20 For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard.

HAVE A BLESSED DAY AND WEEKEND!