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Results from: Answered Bible Questions, Answers, Unanswered Bible Questions, Notes Ordered by Verse | ||||||
Results | Verse | Author | ID# | |||
1 | Did Gamaliel give sound advice? | Acts 5:34 | EdB | 7421 | ||
Nolan you asked a great question. Many people believe that since it is in the Bible it is inspired. God permitted uninspired sayings, quotes, and words of man to be included to provide completeness to the pictures He was painting. Gamaliel’s advice while advantageous to the disciples and seemingly making sense is not inspired nor is it correct. Many false religions, leaders and cults have endured while many Godly ventures have failed. Today many people apply this test to ministry, if they see a fast growing ministry they naturally say it is must be of God. Yet many fast growing ministries are racked with false teaching and just plain junk. In the same sense many faithful and totally correct ministries seem to stumble and grope through never making a big impact. I think this is where discernment comes into the picture. Too few Christians use discernment in their evaluation of men and a ministry. I saw a nationally known Evangelist, call a woman onto the platform one evening in a congregation of 700-1000. He was in a playful mood and he proceeded to tease with this saint. He told her little sins she had committed before she was saved, little things like her and “husband to be” sneaking a little wine and telling her mother they hadn’t. He did it in a very playful and non condemning way. Everyone was laughing, the poor dear saint was blushing, it was funny. The people in the congregation were in awe of this mighty man of God that can read this saints “mail”. The applause was thunderous! Then the Holy Spirit said to me if God forgets our sins and moves them as far as the east is from the west how can this man possibly know about them? Then He (the Holy Spirit) answered the question, there was only one way "familiar spirits". This man was moving in familiar spirits either intently or unintently but doing so none the less. Nobody was using any discernment to pick up on it. This man did many similar things through the course of his 3 week revival services. Each night it was a packed house and each night he did something equally revealing. Yet each night 700-1000 people walked out of the church raving about how Godly this man was. Yet down the street a young unknown evangelist was preaching his heart out glorifying Jesus and magnifying God and he had 25 – 50. No Gamliel’s advice sounded good and thankful made sense to the listeners securing the release of the disciples, but it did not establish a standard by which to judge ministries by. |
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2 | Did Gamaliel give sound advice? | Acts 5:34 | prayon | 7632 | ||
Gamliel's advice was sound in relation to what he believed. Gamliel was a honored and respected teacher of the law. He was renowned for his wisdom and tolerance. He was a leader of the liberal wing of the Pharisees - rabbi's who distanced themselves from the strictest interpretations of the law. We must note, however, that Gamliel was not a follower of Jesus Christ. The apostles had been brought the council. The high priest lashed out at the apostles (v. 28). The apostles calmly and courageously responded (v.29b-32), however, their reply angered and insulted the officials even more. They were enraged and ready to kill them (v. 33b). Without the Lord's intervention the aposltles would of probably been killed. God used the unbelieving Gamliel to diffuse the situation. His remarks, although not based on the gospel, showed great wisdom. His advise was sound. If we did disregard all the cults his advise would still ring true today. They would all be overthrown in the future because, as we know, they are not of God. This is pretty much what we are doing to day. We tend to not strongly attack the false religions because in this day and age we are not allowed to. (We would be denying them their free speech and the right to believe what they choose.) The main concern here is that those people who were lured into their false religions would be lost to the kingdom. We do fight mightily for those souls doing everything (?) in our power to show them the truth and lure them away from the false religions and this we must continue to do. prayon |
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3 | Did Gamaliel give sound advice? | Acts 5:34 | EdB | 7672 | ||
Prayon I liked what you said but let me emphasis something. While what Gamliel said did in fact lead to the freeing of the Apostles, which was good. It can not be construed in any way to being God's standard to judge a true ministry. Look at the prophets most of the time nobody wanted to even be near them. They preached from bottom of wells, in prison or in jeopardy of death. Look at the Apostles all with the possible exception of John died horrible deaths. You said if we discount cults then what Gamliel said would be true. That is applying man’s reasoning and logic. Let me assure every one of God’s ordained ministries has succeeded, He has never failed. It might have been long lived or short lived but it accomplished exactly what God intended it to accomplish. Each and every believer that lit Nero’s garden with the flames of their bodies had a successful ministry. The instant James’ head fell from his shoulders God’s glory was attested to. To many people look for the world’s definition of success in ministry (how big is it, how old is it, how many missionaries does it support, what programs are in place, how beautiful the building, how rich, and etc) instead of God’s standard does it bring glory and honor to Jesus? Is it accomplishing what God wants it to accomplish? The real question should be is it reproducing itself (Jesus’ likeness) in others or is growing fat in itself? |
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