Act 4:20 For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard.

Peter and John were brought before the Sanhedrin Council. They were commanded not to speak nor teach in the name of Jesus. But Peter replied: “We cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard” (v.20). Today, some governments are setting down a strong hand in order to restrict people from freely exercising their faith, especially the Christian faith. As Christians, we know that God has called us to preach the Gospel of Christ “in season as well as out of season” (Mark 16:15; 2 Timothy 4:2). Why do those governments not want the teachings of Jesus Christ to spread? One reason is perhaps they perceive it interferes with their authority. They could not have this Jesus spoken of as King; this doctrine threatens their authority. The citizens should have no king but them. It was the same two thousand years ago when the Jews cried out: “We have no king but Caesar” (John 19:15). Today, those who disagree with or blatantly hate the name of Jesus Christ continue to try to “command us not to speak at all nor teach in the name of Jesus”. Today, the name of Jesus Christ is often banned from graduation speeches, in school textbooks, in government buildings, but it’s OK to use His name as a curse word in the daily conversations in those areas, and in movies and TV shows. It is simply not right! “We cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard” (v.20). I love the hymn, I Love To Tell The Story. It is a great hymn. The hymn, written in first person singular, reflects the evangelical fervour in 19th century England and the United States of the spiritual awakening that gave birth to many reformers and later the restoration period in Christian history. The people then were hungry for the word of God. They could not stop talking and teaching in the name of Jesus. The first stanza reads like this: I love to tell the story Of unseen things above, Of Jesus and his glory, Of Jesus and his love. I love to tell the story, Because I know 'tis true; It satisfies my longings As nothing else can do. Before Jesus ascended to His heavenly throne to take His position as Lord and Christ, He gave His disciples this Great Commission: "Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature” (Mark 16:15). The Great Commission is for us too. Jesus commands us to tell others about Him. We live in a country where we enjoy the freedom to practice our faith. Yet, are we telling the story of Jesus? No one will tell the world about Jesus except those who claim to be His disciples. It is our story; no one else will tell it. If we truly believe that Jesus Christ has done great things for us, we should be sharing the good news with others. Jesus once told a man whom he had cast out the demons from him these words: "Return to thine own house, and shew how great things God hath done unto thee." And the man did just as he was told: “And he went his way, and published throughout the whole city how great things Jesus had done unto him” (Luke 8:39). The man was grateful that he was healed; he had to tell this good news about His healer to everyone. We have been healed from our sins. Are we telling others how about our Healer?