‘Why do the nations rage and the peoples plot in vain? The kings of the earth rise up
and the rulers band together against the Lord and against his anointed one.

Acts 4:23-26

23 On their release, Peter and John went back to their own people and reported all that the chief priests and the elders had said to them. 24 When they heard this, they raised their voices together in prayer to God. “Sovereign Lord,” they said, “you made the heavens and the earth and the sea, and everything in them. 25 You spoke by the Holy Spirit through the mouth of your servant, our father David:
“‘Why do the nations rage
and the peoples plot in vain?
26 The kings of the earth rise up
and the rulers band together
against the Lord
and against his anointed one.


Today’s title is “When the Nations Rage Against the Lord”

Christians are always concerned about the time and place that they live in. Christians in our times are no exception. In fact, we have a great many reasons to be concerned about our own time. A lot of nations where Christianity used to be strong are rapidly losing the vigor and interest in the gospel of Jesus Christ. Churches are losing members. Seminaries are getting closed. The passions for the mission and lost souls are dwindling fast. What is even worse is that many national leaders are openly against Christianity. They support and promote policies that are highly antithetical to the biblical teachings. Many laws are promulgated that make Christians keep and live in biblical at odds with the worldly authorities. Sometimes, it even appears that the biblical teachings and institutions will gradually die out if the current trend persists. What do you think? I think such concern is valid and needed at this time. At the same time, we should never forget how the forefathers of faith blazed the trail of fire throughout history to rekindle the spiritual fire in their times. Early Churches were having the most vibrant spiritual revival. Wonders and miracles were almost daily occurrences. People were coming to churches in drove. Nevertheless, they were constantly facing threats and persecutions. The worldly forces came together again to put out the rekindling Jesus movement. They seized Peter and John before them and threatened them not to preach in Jesus’ name. But they only found out that the timid followers of dead Jesus Christ were somehow greatly emboldened. They even say boldly, “ Which is right in God’s eyes: to listen to you, or to him? You are the judges! As for us, we cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard.” The worldly leaders could not hold them in prison anymore and let them go free. The church took the release of Peter and John as a spiritual victory against the worldly leaders. They sang the Psalm of David who similarly suffered from the worldly leaders but finally prevailed in God.