Some words of the Life Study of Acts spoke to me yesterday. We were driving to the bread store, and I was reading a chapter to my husband that covered Chapter 5 of Acts. As I was reading Acts 5:29-31 came alive to me. "Peter and the apostles answered and said, ...This One God has exalted to His right hand as a Leader and Savior, to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins." Witness Lee connected this verse to Revelation 1:5 which says: "And from Jesus Christ, the faithful Witness, the Firstborn of the dead, and the Ruler of the kings of the earth. To Him who loves us and has released us from our sins by His blood." What I saw in these verses and in others in the Scripture was that the Lord is the Leader, the Ruler, and according to Revelation 19:16 He has a name on His garment and on His thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS.
Then he asked a question on page 146 that touched me: "For what purpose is the Lord Jesus ruling the earth? As the Leader, the Ruler, He is ruling the earth for the purpose of our salvation. He is ruling so that we may be saved...The Lord exercises His authority to cause so many foreigners to come to this country. Then once they arrive, they become open to Him. This is an illustration of the Lord's ruling the earth for the sake of saving people" (Lee, Witness. Life Study of Acts. Anaheim: Living Stream Ministry, 1985, Print).
I don't think I ever thought that the Lord was made Ruler so that He could save people, I thought it was to deal with His enemy Satan who has usurped this earth and damaged so many people. Then in the next paragraphs (Pages 146-148) he explains further how as the Lord He uses His position as the Ruler to arrange our environment to prepare us to repent and believe in Him. He even says that our believing wasn't even up to us but up to Him!
Today at lunch I was able to share this part of the message with an older Chinese believer whose unbelieving sister is coming this week from China to visit her. She is very burdened for her sister's salvation, and this portion of the Life Study of Acts really encouraged her. I hope it encourages you, too, and helps you to see like it did me that the Lord is working in so many situations to cause people to believe in Him.
You can listen to excerpts from the Life Study of Acts along with excellent commentary by tuning into the Life Study of the Bible with Witness Lee.
Other Blogs on the Life Study of Acts:
In the Book of Acts What is Christ Doing in Ascension?
What Does the Early Church Look Like in the Book of Acts?
According to Acts 5:31 What is the Lord Doing as the Ruler of the Earth?
How Did the Lord Spread the Gospel in Acts 8?
What Vision Did Saul Have at His Conversion in Acts 9:3-8?
How Does the Gospel Reach the Gentiles in Acts 10?
How is Acts a Book on God's Move & Prayer?
Seeing God's Move & Satan's Frustration in Acts 14
Prayer, the Spirit, & the Word - The Way the Lord Carries out His Work in the Book of Acts
Seeing God's New Testament Economy in the Book of Acts - Part 1 of 2
Seeing God's New Testament Economy in the Book of Acts - Part 2 of 2
What a Christ we have! Ephesians 1:7 says, In whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of offenses, according to the riches of His grace. In a footnote on 'redemption', Brother Witness Lee wrote that redemption is another item of God's blessings that He bestowed on us. May many more come to receive our Redeemer and believe into Him. What a blessing!
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed your reference to this verse in Ephesians. Yesterday I read this section of the Life Study of Acts to another believer because we were praying for some Bible distribution that was taking place. It is wonderful to have this view that God is arranging people's circumstances and even their schedules so that they can hear about Him!!
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