Acts 5:38 And now I say unto you, Refrain from these men, and let them alone: for if this counsel or this work be of men, it will come to nought:

Scripture tells us that we will know men by their fruit. In this passage, the religious leaders were frustrated with Peter and the apostles. The apostles were preaching the gospel of Jesus which was creating problems for the religious leaders since under the gospel, they lost their power over the people. It did not matter what threats the religious leaders gave to the apostles, the men kept preaching the gospel.

Gamaliel took the religious leaders and reminded them of the story of Judas of Galilee and how while he was alive, he had a great following, however, once he died, his followers dispersed. Gamaliel told the religious leaders that they needed to be patient because if the apostles were of God, they would never prevail in fighting against God, but if they were of men, it would not take long for their fruits to be revealed and things would return to normal.

We are known by our fruits. If people will simply be patient and study our lives, they can determine whether we are pursuing the things of God or whether we are pursuing our own selfish ambitions. While we can disguise how spiritual we are for some time, eventually, the fruit of our life will reveal who we are.

Do we know someone who seems to be on fire for God but they seem to be a little different, stop being so critical. Instead, wait and pray and ask God to reveal to you the fruit of the individual. If the fruit turns out good, rejoice in how God is using someone by a means that you personally never expected. However, if the fruit is destructive, then pray to God that HE will reveal to you what you need to do about the situation.

We live in a fast pace world where we expect instant gratification. We do not like seeing our world change nor do we like to some of our familiar traditions come to an end. However, we cannot afford to be like the religious leaders who found themselves fighting against God. We do need to be wise as serpents which means that we need to carefully examine what is going on around us. Nonetheless, we must be patient and allow God to be God and allow HIM to remove the impostors and exalt those who are really dedicated to serving HIM.

Why do we feel we need to make instant judgments about others? Christ commanded us to judge not least we also be judged. Christ told us to remove the sin out of our own lives before we went and started judging others for their sins. Nonetheless, this is exactly what we try to do. We are as bad as sharks who smell a little blood and they viciously destroy their own kind. Rather than being patient to see if someone is serving God or themselves, we jump right in and start destroying the character of others by spreading vicious rumors.

It is not easy being patient when it comes to examining the motives of others. Nonetheless, this is exactly what God desires us to do. We need to stop and allow God to show us the fruit of others before we are quick to jump on the band wagon and destroy the reputation of others.

The words of Gamaliel were wise words. He was talking to the religious leaders and instructing them not to judge the apostles lest they find themselves fighting against God. How many times have we fought against God because we have been quick to judgment without taking the time to see things from God’s perspective?

Acts 5:41 And they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for his name.

Peter and the apostles by the help of God escaped from prison. They were then directed to go preach in the temple which they willingly did. The religious leaders determined that they were going to kill the apostles but God sent Gamaliel to argue on behalf of the apostles that if they were called by God, it was best to leave them along but if they were just pursuing the things of man, they would quickly be disbanded.

Rather than kill the apostles, the religious leaders decided to simply beat them and command them to stop preaching in the name of Jesus Christ. If the apostles were simply preaching in the name of Christ because they sought the praises of men, they might have reconsidered their actions so that they did not cause any more harm to their bodies. However, the apostles understood that Christ suffered and died so that they might be free and they rejoiced that they too had to suffer because of who HE was.

Gamaliel was very wise in the advice that he gave the religious leaders. If these apostles were working under their own power, it would not take long before the pressures of their position would discourage them and cause them to go find something else to do. However, if the apostles were obeying God, the religious leaders would find that it is impossible to fight against God.

Gamaliel gave the example of two men who were doing their own thing and raised a large following. However, once these men died, their followers quickly disbanded. Gamaliel could have given many examples throughout history of individuals who suffered much because they chose to do what was right in the eyes of God. Gamaliel could have reminded the religious leaders about Joseph, Elijah, and Daniel.

If you are simply serving yourself and doing what seems best in your own eyes, it will not take too long until the pressures of this world will cause you to change your direction. However, if your focus is upon the things of God and doing his perfect will, then you can remain focused upon HIM and you can weather any storm.

The difference between one who is serving God and one who is only looking out for themselves is not easily revealed until the trials come. The apostles were beaten and they revealed that they were the real thing because they gave glory to God rather than going home and figure out what they must do in order to remain popular with the religious leaders.

The apostles had already died to themselves because they did not care what happened to them; their greatest concern was doing the will of God and following HIM. Because the world did not control, it did not matter what the religious leaders did to them, the apostles were able to rejoice and thank God.

When you add temperance to your life, you will be free to serve the Lord with all your heart. You will never find true contentment until you are willing to die to the things of this world and dedicate your life to the things of God. Temperance requires that you do not serve your flesh and the things of this world; instead, you serve God. You have heard that the things of this world will never satisfy; however, until you give up the things of this world, you will never fully understand the freedom you receive when you dedicate your life to the things of God.

Acts 5:34 Then stood there up one in the council, a Pharisee, named Gamaliel, a doctor of the law, had in reputation among all the people, and commanded to put the apostles forth a little space;

The religious leaders are upset with the apostles because the apostles are teaching the multitudes about Jesus contrary to their orders. The apostles had been put in prison but when morning arose, they were found escape from the prison and they were back preaching in the temple. Gamaliel approached the religious leaders and reminded them of Theudas and Judas of Galilee. These men had many followers, but after their deaths the followers scattered. Gamaliel reminded the religious rulers that if the apostles were doing this of their own accord, it would quickly fall apart, but if it were of God, they could not overthrow it.

Gamaliel may not have been a follower of Christ, but he was able to take his knowledge of the history of the world to open the eyes of the religious leaders. Gamaliel was well versed will knowledge, but he used this knowledge to draw the attention of his listeners back to God. Gamaliel was not blinded by his knowledge, but instead allowed his knowledge to enable him to see the truth.

Too many people hide behind knowledge in an attempt to remove God from their lives. Gamaliel did the exact opposite; he used his knowledge to try to discern if the apostles were preaching because of the power of God in their lives or if they were acting in their own strength. Gamaliel used his knowledge of history to assist him in a better understanding of the motivations of the apostles.

You can use knowledge to draw you closer to God or you can use it to drive a wedge between you and God; the choice is yours. Some people look at this world and believe that it all happened by chance; God however desires that you look at HIS handiwork and be awed by HIS power and creativity. Some people look at the cruel things that man does to his fellow man and they claim that if there was a God, that HE would not allow such evils to be committed. God desires that you understand that HE has given us the freewill to do as we please. Granted there are consequences when one violate HIS perfect law, but it is the loving God who did not make us robots who must obey HIS every dictate.

God is all around you; HE desires to make HIS presence felt. God is ready to show you the way so that you do not stray from HIS perfect path. It was not the will of God for the religious leaders to persecute the apostles for obeying HIM. However, God allowed the apostles to be persecuted and HE used that persecution to help spread the truth of the gospel. God used Gamaliel to open the eyes of the religious leaders that they might be fighting against the One whom they claimed to serve.

You need to slow down and allow God to direct your steps. God is able to guide you in the way you are to go if you will only allow HIM. Do not rely upon your own understanding, but instead learn to cry out to HIM for wisdom so that HE might reveal HIMSELF to you. Traditions are a great way to find yourself doing the exact opposition of what the desires of God for you might be. Be willing to be flexible and see how God can mold you and make you into HIS perfect will. Allow God to open your eyes and add knowledge of the ways of God. The ways of God are understandable if you will only take the time to allow God to show them to you.

Acts 23:9 And there arose a great cry: and the scribes that were of the Pharisees’ part arose, ad strove, saying, We find no evil in this man: but if a spirit or an angel hath spoken to him, let us not fight against God.

Paul was on trial before the high priest and the council in Jerusalem. Paul told the council that he was a Pharisee and that the reason everyone was gathered that day was because he believed in the hope of the resurrection of the dead. Because of this statement made by Paul, it caused the Pharisees to side with him while the Sadducees continued to oppose Paul. The Pharisees now were willing to defend Paul and even went so far to say that continuing this trial would be the same as fighting against God.

Most likely, the Pharisees remembered when Gamaliel, a Pharisee reminded them during the trial of Peter and the apostles that if the work of these men were not of God, then it would die out on its own, but if the work was of God, then they were told that they “cannot overthrow it; lest haply ye be found even to fight against God.” Acts 5:39.

The Pharisees evidently took to heart the words of Gamaliel and they started to allow God to have more control over judgment. Rather then stand up and judge whether a man was serving God or not, they were allowing God to take care of the problem. The last thing they wanted to have on their consciences as servants of God was that they possibly were working against God by punishing those who were actually serving God.

While the Pharisees were not necessarily the most God fearing leaders, they had learned an important principle that you would do well to learn. How many times have you seen an individual who has received a calling from God to do something only to be talked out of following the Lord because those around him discuss how illogical the request was?

You remember Christ’s command that whoever caused a little one to stumble that it would be best for that individual if a millstone were placed around their neck and they were thrown into the sea. The Bible is full of commands that you are not to do anything to cause your brother to stumble. Yet how often do you do that very thing because you try to impose logic into a spiritual discussion? You should learn the lesson that the Pharisees learned. Do not be quick to judge someone else� spirituality or someone else’s calling. Jesus said “For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again.” Matthew 7:2.

God has not placed you in this earth to be a judge as to what God has told others to do. You have enough difficultly as it is to ensure that you yourself are following God’s calling for your life. Rather then follow your natural tendencies to judge other believers, follow the Pharisees approach and allow God to be God.

When you start fighting against God, virtue is not in your life. You cannot maintain just thoughts in your mind if you are attacking those who are attempting to pursue God’s perfect will. There is a time and a place to correct a brother who has strayed from God’s will, but you must first make sure that your heart and mind are right before God and that you are not fighting against God causing more damage then good because you interpose your own human reasoning into a spiritual discussion.

Acts 5:38-40 And now I say unto you, Refrain from these men, and let them alone: for if this counsel or this work be of men, it will come to nought: But if it be of God, ye cannot overthrow it; lest haply ye be found even to fight against God. And to him they agreed:

After the apostles had been brought before the priests, the priests asked why they disobeyed them and were preaching about Jesus. Peter replied along with the other apostles that they ought to obey God rather than men. These words so convicted the priests that they determined to kill the apostles. However, at this point Gamaliel stood up and saved the apostles life by making the above statement. While the apostles were spared, they were beaten and commanded to refrain from speaking about Jesus.

It takes faith to believe that God can change the hearts of a ruler. Peter and the apostles were heading straight for their death. However, God was not through with them yet so HE first stirred the heart of Gamaliel who in turn stirred the hearts of the leaders. Solomon told us that the hearts of a king are like rivers of water; God turns them however HE wishes. This story is a practical example of how God turned the hearts of the leaders in order to spare those who were faithful.

Peter and the apostles were not afraid to die. They were going to do what God requested. When they were beaten, they rejoice that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for Christ. They continued daily to share Christ in the temple and in people’s houses. They simply trusted in God and allowed God to take care of the rulers.

Faith is not worrying about that which you cannot control. It is leaving to God those things that are beyond your control and allowing HIM to see that everything moves according to HIS will. To often we will sit back and not proceed for God because God has not taken care of something that is within HIS control. We insist that HE first take care of HIS obligations before we step forward for HIM. However, if you have everything lined up before you make a step of faith, then it is not a step of faith and your trust in God has not increased and your testimony is diminished.

A twelve-year-old boy lives on many wooded acres with his parents. The boy has asked his parents many times to purchase a 22 for him. His parents have told him that he is not mature enough to handle a gun yet. The boy goes out and finds many different jobs that he can do to earn money. When he finally has earned enough money, he purchases the 22 knowing full well that he will not be able to use it until his parent’s change their mind. Once the boy owns the 22, his parents allow him to take a hunter safety course and then after some further demonstration of knowledge on how to use the gun, his parents finally allow him to go into the woods and shoot.

God changes the hearts of rulers. It is not your fair speech that will cause others to change their opinion. When God determines it is time to turn the heart of a ruler, HE will do it. It takes faith to step out against the grain but that is what God sometimes requires of you. As you proceed with the will of God in your life, God is able to take care of those things that refrain you from being productive for HIM. You must do what HE has commanded you to do and allow HIM to take care of the things that must be changed in order for you to fully obey. By faith you must leave the things of God in the hands of God.