"The next day, the people's rulers, elders, and Torah-teachers assembled in Yerushalayim (Jerusalem), along with Anan (Annas) the cohen haGadol (High Priest), Kayafa (Caiphas), Yochanan (John), Alexander and the other men from the family of the cohen haGadol (High Priest). They had the emissaries (apostles) stand before them and asked, 'By what power or in what name did you do this?'" (Acts 4:5-7, JNT/CJB).

Shabbat shalom kol beit Yisra'el and may the ahavah (love) and grace of our Master Yah'shua the Messiah (Jesus Christ) be with you this day and always.

I have been doing a great deal of studying this past week on the doctrines and teachings of the first believers as recorded in the post-apostolic writings of those who knew, and were taught by, the original apostles, and their talmidim (disciples). Basically, I have been reviewing the material up until the time of the Council of Nicea to see how much it harmonises, or disagrees, with the testimony of the B'rit Chadashah Scriptures (New Testament) themselves. What is pleasantly surprising is that in practically all the essential doctrines there was harmony. I don't have time to review any of this material today, other than to make passing reference to one or two items of interest to my theme, though it is certainly something I wish to do sometime in the future. One thing is very clear though by no means new to any of you - both Evangelicals and Messianics are going to have to concede theological territory.

Today's passage was given to me this morning, and particularly the last verse: "'By what power or in what name did you do this?'" (Ac.4:7, JNT/CJB). This question was asked by the rulers of the Judeans in response to the spectacular healing of a crippled man by Peter and John in the court of the Temple (Acts 3). Peter then addressed the Judeans assembled and preached to them about Yah'shua (Jesus) and the resurrection, calling upon everyone to repent, turn to Elohim (God) and receive a forgiveness of sins (Ac.3:19ff). For their trouble, they were arrested by the Temple Police at the behest of the Tz'dukim (Sadducees). The following day Peter and John were brought before the rulers and asked: "'By what power or in what name did you do this?'"

There can be nothing more annoying or challenging to a group of men claiming Yahweh's exlusive toqef or authority to be confronted by a supernatural power - and specifically the power of healing - which they themselves do not have but would like to own. We remember Simon Magus's carnal attraction to it (Ac.8:9ff.). In our own day and age there are many such groups of men and their organisations. There are the Jehovah's Witnesses, for example, who represent themselves as Elohim's (God's) exclusive emet (truth) and toqef (authority) on the earth today, who insist that all other religious groups are false and outside the pale of salvation. There are the Mormons who claim the same thing and who, like the Catholics, claim 'apostolic succession' rights and therefore divine toqef (authority) by an unbroken sequence of ordinations across the centuries (Catholic) or by direct angelic intervention (Mormon). Both of these organisations perform 'healings' and the occasional 'miracle' and it is surely a great challenge and irritation to find others - like Protestants - also performing these things, and more. Because of their claims they are forced to denounce the healings and miracles of other groups as false and of the devil because they see themselves as being in competition with them for glory and praise. This always happens when one group claims exclusive toqef (authority) over all others.

The Judean leaders were no exception. The power demonstrated by Peter and John, whose purpose was only to bring glory to Yahweh and demonstrate that Yah'shua (Jesus) was, and remains, the resurrected Messiah leading, anointing and blessing His followers, had the effect of, first, confounding those who occupied the 'Seat of Moses', and second, exciting them to murderous rage, the latter being provoked by the fact that Peter and John were filled with the Ruach haQodesh (Holy Spirit) and they were not. And as is true of all men in all generations who are not so anointed, when confronted with the real thing, they are left with the agonising question: "Why do we not have this power?" And when they realise, as they must, that they do not have it because they are not walking in divine favour, then they are faced with a choice, as Paul was and as we have been discussing recently:

• 1. Repent and abandon false theological or philosophical beliefs and positions of power; or
• 2. Refuse to repent, cling to false theology and to positions of power, and persecute the bearers of emet (truth) and divine power.

This "position of power" is not, moreover, necessarily confined to leadership in a local church or synagogue. It can equally be standing or reputation amongst peers, friends, and family. It can threaten romance, career, finances - potentially anything and everything. Above all, it challenges pride in supposing that you are right when you are wrong. And the more self-righteous and boastful you are, the greater the repentance needed and the challenge posed. This is the universal choice all face when presented with the Besorah (Gospel). No one is excepted from it. And the prideful, who refuse to repent, fall further into darkness, anger, bitterness and spiritual desolation. I have no doubt that had they been alive today, some of those religious leaders would have blamed 'Post Traumatic Stress Disorder' for their mental confusion, and played the sympathy or pity-party card amongst their friends. And in the case of King Herod who was eaten alive by worms for his blasphemy, poor health and, ultimately, death:

"So on a set day Herod, arrayed in royal apparel, sat on his throne and gave an oration to them. And the people kept shouting, 'The voice of a god and not of a man!' Then immediately a malak (angel) of Yahweh struck him, because he did not give glory to Elohim (God) [for his excellent speech]. And he was eaten by worms and died. But the Davar Elohim (Word of God) grew and multiplied" (Acts 12:21-24, NKJV).

So when Peter gave answer to the religious leaders' question, "'By what power or in what name did you do this?'", crediting the miracle of the healing to Yah'shua (Jesus) and not themselves, they immediately gave glory to the very Elohim (God) those leaders also claimed to be worshipping and serving. And since the religious leaders could claim no such power, and themselves denied the Name of Yah'shua (Jesus), they were instantly condemning themselves. They placed themselves under judgment by the very question by which they hoped to vindicate themselves.

"Then Peter, filled with the Ruach haQodesh (Holy Spirit), said to them, 'Rulers and elders of the people, if we are on trial today for a benefit done to a sick man, as to how this man has been made well, let it be known to all of you and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Yah'shua the Messiah (Jesus Christ) the Nazarene, whom you crucified, whom Elohim (God) raised from the dead -- by this name this man stands here before you in good health. He is the STONE WHICH WAS REJECTED by you, THE BUILDERS, but WHICH BECAME THE CHIEF CORNER stone. And there is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among men by which we must be saved" (Acts 4:8-12, NASU).

Yahweh does not mince His words, does He? He knew exactly what the response of those religious leaders was going to be and it was not repentance. He told them, to their incredulous faces, that not only did they not worship Yahweh, the Sovereign of Heaven, but that it was His Son, Yah'shua (Jesus), who bore the Name (Yah) they themselves claimed but refused to utter (save at Yom Kippur), but that they were rejected of Him.

Yah'shua (Jesus) had been even harsher than Peter and John in identifying the god which these religious actually served:

"Why do you not understand My speech? Because you are not able to listen to My Davar (Word). You are of your father the devil, and the desires of your father you want to do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the emet (truth), because there is no emet (truth) in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own resources, for he is a liar and the father of it" (John 8:43-44, NKJV).

Fellow believers on occasion ask me why people can't understand the plain emet (truth) however clear it is to us, and Yah'shua (Jesus) here gives the plain answer. Only the other day I was in conversation with a Jew discussing Torah. When he learned that I was a believer, he reflexly snapped, "You are an idolater!" I knew from that moment that had he been in a position of temporal power as the religious leaders of Yah'shua's (Jesus') and the apostles' day had been, that he would have unhestitatingly stoned me to death for claiming that Messiah is Elohim (God), just as Paul had when Stephen spoke the emet (truth). I knew that rational debate was futile and ended our conversation. This murderous spirit is the one that Yah'shua (Jesus) Himself so unapologetically identified.

You have to know whether someone will respond to your witness of not. If they will not, and Yahweh has sent you to testify to them, do so, but do not remain to argue. And do not pursue that person! Remember Yah'shua's (Jesus') treatment of the rich young ruler. Respect free agency always. Be brief, succinct and to the point and then leave. The only other kind of person Yahweh will call you to witness to is the one who will, at some point, receive your testimony. They may dispute with you at first but the Ruach (Spirit) will witness to your lev (heart) that their minds are not finally and negatively made up, that they are wrestling inside for the dominion of emet (truth) over lies. It may be that others will have to water the seed that you have planted. Persist with these people always, but again respecting their agency, and again giving them distance and time to wrestle as needed. Obviously you have to be sensitive to the Ruach (Spirit) and know when to stop.

Though my message today is aimed at everyone claiming to be a talmid (disciple) of Yah'shua the Messiah (Jesus Christ), I also have leaders like myself in mind. I will try to make this succint and to the point. If you do not have the powers that Peter and John possessed, like all the other apostles, and if someone comes along who does whose doctrine does not precisely match with your own, what will you do? Will you reject them? What will you if you are an Evangelical Christian and a Messianic comes a long with the authentic gift and anointing of the Ruach haQodesh (Holy Spirit) and who is demonstrating he has it by healing the sick? And what if you are a Torah-obedient Messianic and an Evangelical Christian comes a long with the authentic gift and anointing of the Ruach haQodesh (Holy Spirit) and who is demonstrating he has it by healing the sick? What will you do?

Now I know and freely admit that there is a lot of counterfeit 'healing' going on. The Charismatic movement is riddled with it. Healing and raising from the dead do not in themselves demonstrate the Ruach haQodesh (Holy Spirit) at work. Satanists do these things by the supernatural power of Satan. But equally, what will you do with someone who is authentically anointed whose theology is not the same as yours and especially if you believe that you have come to the point of supposed theological perfection and that Yahweh has somehow authorised you to 'set up the Kingdom'?

There are many, many Messianics and Evangelicals who claim to be Elohim's (God's) authoritative representatives given the power to 'restore Messianic Israel' or 'restore the Kingdom of Heaven on Earth'. Some of these totally reject all other groups. Others pay lip-service to the fact that 'Yahweh is using others too' but in their heart-of-hearts do not really believe He is. I am reminded of the Seventh-Day Adventists who, whilst not openly claiming like Mormons to be the 'one and only true church on the earth' nevertheless believe it and hint at it again and again. I am also reminded of Evangelicals like Baptists and Pentecostals who, whilst they claim that they are each fully 'saved' in truth probably have their doubts sometimes. The result of this is the invention of the "Essentials" of Salvation Doctrine and conveniently forget that Yah'shua (Jesus) taught that every last stroke of the Torah was important:

"Do not think that I came to destroy the Torah (Law) or the Nevi'im (Prophets). I did not come to destroy but to fulfill (complete, fill up). For assuredly, I say to you, till heaven and earth pass away, one jot or one tittle will by no means pass from the Torah (Law) till all is fulfilled (completed). Whoever therefore breaks one of the least of these mitzvot (commandments), and teaches men so, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever does and teaches them, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven" (Matt.5:17-19, NKJV).

Every Messianic knows this passage off by heart, doesn't he? So everything is "essential" if you're serious about not occupying the least significant place in Heaven.

At this point, those who don't want to observe Torah, turn on false humility and piousness, and say that they don't care about this -- they just want to "serve Jesus". However, if Yah'shua (Jesus) had wished to minimise the "little mitzvot (commandments)" and have everyone just focus on the 'essentials' (however you define them), would He have bothered to point out the consequences of disobedience? Surely if all that mattered were the "essentials", as Baptists, Pentecostals, Methodists and other Protestants maintain, He would never have said what He did! So let us beware of that deception!

And yet, as is true, there are priorities - we are to begin with certain things first, the "weightier matters of the Torah (Law): justice, mercy and emunah (faith)". Whether as an Evangelical you choose to totally ignore the "less weighty" matters (like the Kashrut diet, tzitzit, the festivals, and so on) - or as a Messianic keep on condemning those Evangelicals who pursue justice, mercy and emunah (faith) but who choose to continue with various pagan traditions (like Christmas, Easter, St.Valentine's Day, etc.), not use the correct Divine Names, and ignore the bulk of Torah - you are standing before the Judge who will not excuse either form of conduct.

I ask again - do you have the power of a Peter, a John or a Paul to heal the sick or raise the dead? I don't - not yet, at any rate. So what are you and I going to do when someone who does comes along whose theology doeds not align with your own?

Let me say here and now that pursuing theology is both good and necessary. There is most certainly an apostolic doctrine we are commanded to adhere to. But when we lack something, do we not make excuses? What about those Protestants (and many Messianics) who claim that the "gifts" were "for then" and "not now" (like the Lutherans, Anglicans, Episcopalians, Methodists, many Baptists and others) - who say that they were given solely to establish the church and were then withdrawn?

These, brethren and sisters, are excuses for disobedience or a lack of emunah (faith). I could write books on the excuses I have heard. When I tell Messianics of the importance of the "weightier matters of the Torah (Law)" some of them wriggle out of that one by claiming that "faith" should read "the Faith", i.e. the whole system of Torah-obedience! But if emunah (faith) in this context means that, what would be the point of using the word "weightier"? How can these three - justice, mercy and faith - be the "weightier" elements of Yahweh's whole spiritual system if "faith" includes everything else? And if that is what emunah (faith) means here, why include justice and mercy, since these must then quite obviously part of "the Faith". The answer is that emunah (faith) here simple means trusting - trusting in Elohim (God). So away with excuses! The Torah is weighted, Messianics, and these three come first. But neither can you dismiss any of the rest as "non-essentials", Evangelicals.

It is easy to blame inconvenient miracles as a counterfeit in order to justify a lack of miracles in your own ministry. We know (and no believer denies) that Yah'shua (Jesus) did "miracles, wonders, and signs which Elohim (God) did through Him" (Acts 2:22, NKJV) and most believers accept that the apostles did too:

"And the multitudes with one accord heeded the things spoken by Philip, hearing and seeing the miracles which he did. For unclean spirits (demons), crying with a loud voice, came out of many who were possessed; and many who were paralysed and lame were healed. And there was great simcha (joy) in that city" (Acts 8:6-8, NKJV; see also v.13).

"Then all the multitude kept silent and listened to Barnabas and Paul declaring how many miracles and wonders Elohim (God) had worked through them among the Gentiles" (Acts 15:11-12, NKJV).

"Now Elohim (God) worked unusual miracles by the hands of Paul, so that even handkerchiefs or aprons were brought from his body to the sick, and the diseases left them and the evil spirits (demons) went out of them" (Acts 19:11-12, NKJV).

"But the manifestation of the Ruach (Spirit) is given to each one for the profit of all: for to one is given the word of wisdom through the Ruach (Spirit), to another the word of knowledge through the same Ruach (Spirit), to another emunah (faith) by the same Ruach (Spirit), to another gifts of healings by the same Ruach (Spirit), to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another discerning of spirits, to another different kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues. But one and the same Ruach (Spirit) works all these things, distributing to each one individually as He wills" (1 Cor.12:7-11, NKJV).

"And Elohim (God) has appointed these in the messianic community (church): first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, administrations, varieties of tongues (languages). Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Are all workers of miracles? Do all have gifts of healings? Do all speak with tongues? Do all interpret? But earnestly desire the best gifts. And yet I show you a more excellent way" (1 Cor.12:27-31, NKJV).

"Therefore we must give the more earnest heed to the things we have heard, lest we drift away. For if the word spoken through malakim (angels) proved steadfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just reward, how shall we escape if we neglect so great a salvation, which at the first began to be spoken by the Master, and was confirmed to us by those who heard Him, Elohim (God) also bearing witness both with signs and wonders, with various miracles, and gifts of the Ruach haQodesh (Holy Spirit), according to His own will?" (Heb.2:1-4, NKJV).

We must be so careful not to judge miracles being done by lawless evangelicals or anyone else who trusts in Yah'shua (Jesus) as not being of Yahweh. So how is this possible? How can an evangelical (like the famous Smith Wigglesworth, for example) who disobeys so much of the Torah obtain such a gift? Is it, as evangelicals claim, because Yahweh has done with the Law, or is it because of something else? Let's take a typical evangelical translation of an important passage in Galatians which is so easily twisted:

"Therefore He who supplies the Ruach (Spirit) to you and works miracles among you, does He do it by the works of the Torah (Law), or by the hearing of emunah (faith, trusting)?" (Gal.3:5, NKJV).

"What about Elohim (God), who supplies you with the Ruach (Spirit) and works miracles among you - does He do it because of your legalistic observance of the Torah commands or because you trust in what you heard and are faithful to it?" (Gal,3:5, JNT/CJB)

Please don't miss this emet (truth)! Yahweh manifests miracles through those who have emunah (faith) in His miracles! Torah-obedience won't in any case give us this gift, even if Torah-obedience is right and true! The gifts come through TRUSTING and TRUSTING or faith or emunah is one of the three "weightier matters of the Torah (Law)".

So don't go condemning others who may not be Torah-obedient yet because they have some mental blocks on the matter still. Rather accept that what they have is authentic when it is authentic but don't judge them on the basis of the whole of Torah. At the same time, those who have this emunah (faith) must never presume that they do not have to obey all of Torah - they will be judged if they know the emet (truth) but do not obey it.

Who am I, who may be weaker in emunah (faith) than my evangelical brother, to judge him as having a false gift because he rejects Torah if (for example) I claim to have an office (like apostle) which is accompanied by this gift and I do not have it? Shall we accuse him of having a demon as the Judean leaders accused Yah'shua (Jesus) when He performed miracles? (Jn.8:48-59) Yah forbid! Rather, let us recognise what others have and not judge them because our emunah (faith) is weaker. Have any of us got it 100% right yet? Not at all! Yet do not let this be an excuse to excuse those who refuse to obey the mitzvot (commandments) of Torah. All I am saying is - let us have a right perspective and understand that Yahweh is a lot bigger than our narrow prejudices.

So consider the weightier matters of the Torah (Law) first but by no means neglect or try to explain away the rest because it's all important. It is also interesting both how Yah'shua (Jesus) emphasises the weighty things in triplets and how they interconnect:

Scripture tells us that we should not accept every miracle as being from Yahweh, for we are warned to test the spirits, lest we be deceived:

"Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from Elohim (God), for many false nevi'im (prophets) have gone out into the world" (1 Jn.4:1-3).

The true gifts of the Ruach (Spirit) will be to the edification and upbuilding of the Bride, the qodeshim (saints, set-apart ones) as well as a witness to unbelievers, and will as a result bring glory to the testimony of Yahweh:

"Now concerning[a] spiritual gifts, brothers, I do not want you to be uninformed. You know that when you were pagans you were led astray to mute idols, however you were led. Therefore I want you to understand that no one speaking in the Ruach (Spirit) of Elohim (God) ever says 'Yah’shua (Jesus) is accursed!' and no one can say 'Yah’shua (Jesus) is Master' except in the Ruach haQodesh (Holy Spirit)..." (1 Cor.12:1-3ff.).

What should we then do if we come to realise that we are lacking in gifts and in the movement of the Ruach (Spirit) in our lives, a movement we expect to see but are not finding taking place? Paul admonishes us, as we saw earlier in His letter to the Corinthians, to both desire and seek the gifts earnestly - not all of them, obviously, but the ones Yahweh wills for us [1] - and to be sure in asking that we are not asking for them for our own glory but for His so that we can be a blessing to His children. They are not for us to show off or to gain respect or to solidify a 'position' we desire in the Body:

"Do all possess gifts of healing? Do all speak with tongues (the supernatural ability to speak in foreign languages)? Do all interpret? But earnestly desire the higher gifts. If I speak in the tongues of men and of malakim (angels), but have not ahavah (love, Gk. agapé), I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all emunah (faith), so as to remove mountains, but have not ahavah (love), I am nothing. If I give away all I have, and if I deliver up my body to be burned, but have not ahavah (love), I gain nothing" (1 Cor 12:30- 1 Cor 13:3 ESV).

"Pursue ahavah (love), and earnestly desire the spiritual gifts, especially that you may prophesy. For one who speaks in a tongue (foreign language which no one else understands) speaks not to men but to Elohim (God); for no one understands him, but he utters mysteries in the Ruach (Spirit). On the other hand, the one who prophesies speaks to people for their upbuilding and encouragement and consolation. The one who speaks [supernaturally by the Ruach/Spirit] in a tongue (foreign language) builds up himself, but the one who prophesies builds up the messianic community (church). Now I want you all to speak in tongues (foreign languages - because in the Roman Empire was polyglot), but even more to prophesy. The one who prophesies is greater than the one who speaks in tongues (foreign languages), unless someone interprets, so that the messianic community (church) may be built up....So with yourselves, since you are eager for manifestations of the Ruach (Spirit), strive to excel in building up the messianic community (church)" (1 Cor 14:1-5,12, ESV).

Here we have one of the "weighter" 'triplets', ahavah or agapé (the pure, selfless love of Yahweh) being at the pinnacle, just as emunah (faith) was in Yah'shua's (Jesus's). Do these contradict each other? Not at all, for you cannot love some without trusting them first - and if you are afraid of them, not trusting them, then you do not love them either. The second of Yah'shua's (Jesus') triplet (Justice-Mercy-Faith) is mercy, and mercy cannot be shown without ahavah (love). That love surrounds and embraces this triplet is therefore implied.

"As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of Elohim's (God's) varied grace (undeserved loving kindness, unmerited favour): whoever speaks, as one who speaks oracles of Elohim (God); whoever serves, as one who serves by the strength that Elohim (God) supplies — in order that in everything Elohim (God) may be glorified through Yah'shua the Messiah (Jesus) Christ. To Him belong glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen" (1 Pet.4:10-11, ESV)

"And I tell you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened. What father among you, if his son asks for a fish, will instead of a fish give him a serpent; or if he asks for an egg [2], will give him a scorpion? If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Ruach haQodesh (Holy Spirit) to those who ask him!" (Lk 11:9-13, ESV).

It is vitally important that we know in whose power (and therefore in whose Name) we act when we act as channels for supernatural activity. In a way, the Judean leaders were right to ask Peter and John this question for we too must ask it. But please, do not make the mistake of the ultra-messianics who dismiss all miracle workers simply because they use the name 'Jesus' rather than 'Yah'shua' (or any of the many variants - Yeshua, Yahushua, etc.) because what's important is the power, and the power reveals the character (the spiritual substance of the Name) of the One giving it when it leads to the easily identifiable fruits of the Ruach haQodesh (Holy Spirit) such as grace. Rather, beware of the ultra-messianics whose insistance that their particular spelling or pronunciation of the Divine Name be used and who then demonstrate a complete absence of grace - undeserved loving kindness - when they condemn those who genuinely have what they do not: a supernatural anointing of ahavah/agapé (love) and certain gifts of the Ruach (Spirit). Again, to remind you, this is not to excuse the Torahlessness (lawlessness) of evangelicals but to recognise and accept that Yahweh uses whomsoever He will when those persons have a genuine passionate ahavah (love) for Elohim (God) and for people, and the emunah (faith) that trusts wholly in Elohim (God). Finally, may I remind you - whether evangelical or messianic - to set the kinds of priorities revealed in the Divine Triplets of Yah'shua (Jesus) and Paul.

Let us be all encouraged by this emet (truth), and seek Elohim (God) with a lev (heart) that sincerely wants to honour Him and bless others, to live His mitzvot (commandments), and receive the gifts to be able to glorify Him in a greater way and serve others! Amen.

Endnotes

[1] When Pentecostals and Charismatics insist that everyone must speak in tongues their claim is falsified by the testimony of Scripture and they open themselves up to deceiving spirits. This is one of the reasons that so many false 'tongues' are found amongst these people: for not only are tongues for a few (like prophecy or other gifts) but they are not unintelligible babble but known languages for the benefit of ministering to a polyglot congregation (i.e. one whose people speak many languages but not always each other's)
[2] Proving that the first believers were not Vegans who refuse dairy products, eggs, etc.