The Book of Acts ~ Study Fifteen

"The Jesus I Got"


Acts 4:1-4 (NLT) While Peter and John were speaking to the people, they were confronted by the priests, the captain of the Temple guard, and some of the Sadducees. These leaders were very disturbed that Peter and John were teaching the people that through Jesus there is a resurrection of the dead. They arrested them and, since it was already evening, put them in jail until morning. But many of the people who heard their message believed it, so the number of believers now totaled about 5,000 men, not counting women and children.


Peter and John were making headway with people at the Temple in King Solomon's Portico. A lame man, who was a beggar at the Beautiful Eastern Gate going into the Temple, had been healed by the Name of Jesus. Everyone knew this man because they saw him there everyday. Now, he was walking alongside these two disciples ~ Peter and John.


Peter began to teach those who had gathered there at Solomon's Portico about Jesus and why this man was healed. It wasn't because of anything they had done. They directed them all to Jesus. 


Today's passage brings us to this scenario: Peter, John and the once lame beggar were standing in the massive portico called Solomon's Porch. Many people gathered there daily to get out of the sun and meet others there worshipping at the Temple Mount. Peter began to preach about Jesus because many people had seen the lame man healed. The crowd listening grew to thousands of people. 


In come the big wigs: the priests ~ the temple guard ~ and the Sadducees. Does this sound familiar to you? Look at the following scripture and note the similarities:


Luke 22:47-53 (NLT) But even as Jesus said this, a crowd approached, led by Judas, one of the twelve disciples. Judas walked over to Jesus to greet him with a kiss. But Jesus said, “Judas, would you betray the Son of Man with a kiss?”
     When the other disciples saw what was about to happen, they exclaimed, “Lord, should we fight? We brought the swords!” And one of them struck at the high priest’s slave, slashing off his right ear.
     But Jesus said, “No more of this.” And he touched the man’s ear and healed him.
     Then Jesus spoke to the leading priests, the captains of the Temple guard, and the elders who had come for him. “Am I some dangerous revolutionary,” he asked, “that you come with swords and clubs to arrest me? Why didn’t you arrest me in the Temple? I was there every day. But this is your moment, the time when the power of darkness reigns.”


This was the same group that had arrested Jesus and were now confronting James and John. You could taste the fear at this face-off. Yet, the fear wasn't in the disciples. The fear was in the priests, the temple guard and the Sadducees. Their fear was that the Name of Jesus was being used to heal people and bring many others to believe that Jesus was definitely the Messiah.


John 3:19-21 (NLT) "And the judgment is based on this fact: God’s light came into the world, but people loved the darkness more than the light, for their actions were evil. All who do evil hate the light and refuse to go near it for fear their sins will be exposed. But those who do what is right come to the light so others can see that they are doing what God wants.”

Fear!! The disciples had nothing to fear. They had faced their greatest fear when they saw Jesus being dragged before an illegal court, tried and convicted, then crucified. They saw His body buried and then...then... they saw Him alive again. They learned that death was no longer a concern because their Messiah was alive.


Fear!! The priests, the temple guard and the Sadducees had everything to fear. They had crucified the man who many people regarded as alive and was their Messiah. They knew that the lame man they passed each day was now walking and was walking because the disciples had used the Name of Jesus. Fear!! They feared that so many people believed in this Jesus as Messiah. They feared their own demise as leaders of the Jewish nation. And oh...how they had every reason to be afraid.


Who or what do you fear? Do you fear death? Do you fear other's opinions? What is it?


Luke 12:4-6 (NLT) “Dear friends, don’t be afraid of those who want to kill your body; they cannot do any more to you after that. But I’ll tell you whom to fear. Fear God, who has the power to kill you and then throw you into hell. Yes, he’s the one to fear.
     What is the price of five sparrows—two copper coins? Yet God does not forget a single one of them."


Those of us who love and follow Jesus have only one thing to fear and that is God. However, Jesus has paved the way for us to be in relationship with God. Our fear should only be the kind of fear that inspires our awe of our Creator. We respect and honor Him because He is God.


When we are confronted by those in the world who threaten us, because of who we believe in, we shouldn't fear them. We should pity them. They can't do anything to the part of us that will live forever ~our souls. We must pray for them and love them as Christ loves us.


Psalm 91:14-16 (MSG) "If you'll hold on to me for dear life," says God, "I'll get you out of any trouble.  I'll give you the best of care if you'll only get to know and trust me. 
Call me and I'll answer, be at your side in bad times; I'll rescue you, then throw you a party. I'll give you a long life, give you a long drink of salvation!"


Watch this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hEvFVECuv1Q&feature=player_embedded
This young lady was not afraid to tell the would-be robber about Jesus. Would we be brave enough to do the same?


What are your fears? Who wants to harm you? Now answer this: Who has saved you and has promised you that He will never leave you or forsake you? 

Hold onto to Jesus for dear life and see what happens!

The Book of Acts ~ Study Fourteen

"Open Eyes"


Acts 3:17-26 (NLT) “Friends, I realize that what you and your leaders did to Jesus was done in ignorance. But God was fulfilling what all the prophets had foretold about the Messiah—that he must suffer these things. Now repent of your sins and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped away. Then times of refreshment will come from the presence of the Lord, and he will again send you Jesus, your appointed Messiah. For he must remain in heaven until the time for the final restoration of all things, as God promised long ago through his holy prophets. Moses said, ‘The Lord your God will raise up for you a Prophet like me from among your own people. Listen carefully to everything he tells you.’ Then Moses said, ‘Anyone who will not listen to that Prophet will be completely cut off from God’s people.’
     “Starting with Samuel, every prophet spoke about what is happening today. You are the children of those prophets, and you are included in the covenant God promised to your ancestors. For God said to Abraham, ‘Through your descendants all the families on earth will be blessed.’ When God raised up his servant, Jesus, he sent him first to you people of Israel, to bless you by turning each of you back from your sinful ways.” 


Peter took this opportunity, after the healing of the lame beggar, to speak more about Jesus. God had been speaking through all the prophets down through the ages about the Messiah ~  "a Prophet among your own people." Why did they not listen?

Why didn't the Jews recognize who Jesus was? Heck, they had all those miracles and things like that... Hey don't be too hard on them. We aren't much better. Who knows how we would respond if we were in their shoes? The good news is that God gives chance after chance after chance to know about His Son. He will continue to do so until the time when He's says, "Enough!"


Luke 24:25-27 (NLT) He said to them, "How foolish you are, and how slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken! Did not the Christ have to suffer these things and then enter his glory?" And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself.


This scripture is concerning Jesus appearing to some of His followers as they were walking on the road home to Emmaus. They didn't recognize Him because they didn't expect to see Him. They were walking beside Him and still didn't get it. Again, we can't know how we would respond, but are we any different?


Those who believe that Jesus is the Leader of their lives will only see Jesus when they keep their eyes on Him. Let me clarify. When we aren't focusing on Him and instead focusing on ourselves and what we think He should be doing in our lives, we won't recognize Him. We miss His face and continue walking on the downtrodden path of our expectations. Instead we should rely on Him and look for Him. He is right here with us, walking beside us and speaking to us. We need to just "look and listen" for the voice of our Savior.


James 1:22-24 (NLT) But don’t just listen to God’s word. You must do what it says. Otherwise, you are only fooling yourselves. For if you listen to the word and don’t obey, it is like glancing at your face in a mirror. You see yourself, walk away, and forget what you look like.


How funny would that be if we were to look in the mirror and forget what we look like? James, who wrote this scripture, was the half-brother of Jesus and it wasn't until Jesus died and came back to life that He finally believed that Jesus was Messiah. He knew "Torah" (The Old Testament) and he still didn't recognize the Messiah in his own brother.


We are much like James and the disciples walking on the road to Emmaus. But we are even closer because we have the Holy Spirit dwelling in us and we still don't always pay attention to what we have right in front of us.


Do you ever get so focused on what is going on around you that you don't see Jesus? Describe what that is like for you. Is the mirror of your life fogged by the breath of your worries? How can you clear the mirror so that you can see Jesus living inside your soul?


1 John 3:23-24 (NLT) And this is his commandment: We must believe in the name of his Son, Jesus Christ, and love one another, just as he commanded us. Those who obey God’s commandments remain in fellowship with him, and he with them. And we know he lives in us because the Spirit he gave us lives in us.


"And we know he lives in us because the Spirit He gave us lives in us." Oh Lord Jesus, that we would live our lives daily remembering and believing that you are here ~ right here~ living fully within us. 

To see Jesus we must look at Him, believe Him and follow Him in His will and way for our lives. When we do this, we will experience the fullness of Jesus and see what He can do for our lives according to His perfect will.

Let's live fully in Jesus our Messiah 

and not miss what He is doing!

Open our eyes Lord we want to see Jesus!

The Book of Acts ~ Study Thirteen

"Ain't Beggin' No More"

Solomon's Colonnade Model

Acts 3:11-16 (NLT) They all rushed out in amazement to Solomon’s Colonnade, where the man was holding tightly to Peter and John.
     Peter saw his opportunity and addressed the crowd. “People of Israel,” he said, “what is so surprising about this? And why stare at us as though we had made this man walk by our own power or godliness?For it is the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob—the God of all our ancestors—who has brought glory to his servant Jesus by doing this. This is the same Jesus whom you handed over and rejected before Pilate, despite Pilate’s decision to release him. You rejected this holy, righteous one and instead demanded the release of a murderer. You killed the author of life, but God raised him from the dead. And we are witnesses of this fact!
     “Through faith in the name of Jesus, this man was healed—and you know how crippled he was before. Faith in Jesus’ name has healed him before your very eyes.


The lame man who was begging by the "Beautiful Gate" at the Temple was now healed and holding on to Peter and John. This man was well known at the Temple because he went there everyday to beg for years. Now he's walking and holding on to Peter and John and the people were astonished. I would be too, wouldn't you?


Describe a time when you were completely blown away at something God has done for you. Take the time to thank Him for it. If you experienced this, keep your eyes on Jesus and trust that He will bless your life if you will only lay aside what you think you want for what He knows you need. The beggar wanted money...Jesus wanted to heal him.


The "beggar" was now the "healed man." He was now a "new man" because Jesus healed him. It's a perfect illustration of how we become a new creation in Christ when we come to Jesus and allow Him to take control.


Galatians 6:14-16 (MSG) For my part, I am going to boast about nothing but the Cross of our Master, Jesus Christ. Because of that Cross, I have been crucified in relation to the world, set free from the stifling atmosphere of pleasing others and fitting into the little patterns that they dictate. Can't you see the central issue in all this? It is not what you and I do—submit to circumcision, reject circumcision. It is what God is doing, and he is creating something totally new, a free life! All who walk by this standard are the true Israel of God—his chosen people. Peace and mercy on them!


"It is not what you and I do..... It is what God is doing, and he is creating something totally new, a free life!" Peter made the point, at Solomon's Colonnade to the curious folks gathered around, that it was not about him or the beggar, it was about what God had done through the name of Jesus.


How do your view yourself? Are you living as a new creation in Christ or are you holding on to your old life before you came to know Jesus? Maybe you haven't asked Jesus to take control. Would like you like to do so now? Take this time to ask Him to renew your thought pattern about who you are in Him or ask Him to renew you for the first time now. He's waiting patiently for you.


Peter took this opportunity to direct the crowds attention to Jesus. He gave Him the credit for the healing. He also reminded them of Christ's crucifixion, so fresh on his mind, and let them know Jesus had risen from the dead. "You killed the author of life, but God raised him from the dead." He didn't pull any punches but used the opportunity to show how Jesus was very much alive and had healed this beggar they all had seen for so long at the temple gate Beautiful.


2 Corinthians 5:16-17 (NLT) So we have stopped evaluating others from a human point of view. At one time we thought of Christ merely from a human point of view. How differently we know him now! This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!


I think that's what wrong sometimes when I get frustrated with what's going on in my life. I am evaluating others and situations from a human point of view. I can't look at Jesus from this vantage point. I need to see Him with the new spiritual eyes that He's supplied me with. How about you? How do you view things? Do you use your new eyes or your failing human ones?


Jesus wants us to see things from His vantage point. He desires that we trust Him and step out to walk on some water towards Him. Keep your eyes on Jesus and you'll see wonderful things happen.


Psalm 119:18 (NLT) Open my eyes to see the wonderful truths in your instructions.

We aren't "beggars" anymore. 

We are new creations in Jesus!

The Book of Acts ~ Study Twelve

"Don't Just Sit There"

Acts 3:1-10 (NLT) Peter and John went to the Temple one afternoon to take part in the three o’clock prayer service. As they approached the Temple, a man lame from birth was being carried in. Each day he was put beside the Temple gate, the one called the Beautiful Gate, so he could beg from the people going into the Temple. When he saw Peter and John about to enter, he asked them for some money.
     Peter and John looked at him intently, and Peter said, “Look at us!” The lame man looked at them eagerly, expecting some money. But Peter said, “I don’t have any silver or gold for you. But I’ll give you what I have. In the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene, get up and walk!”
     Then Peter took the lame man by the right hand and helped him up. And as he did, the man’s feet and ankles were instantly healed and strengthened. He jumped up, stood on his feet, and began to walk! Then, walking, leaping, and praising God, he went into the Temple with them.
     All the people saw him walking and heard him praising God. When they realized he was the lame beggar they had seen so often at the Beautiful Gate, they were absolutely astounded!


Imagine sitting in the same place day after day after day after day. Not only do you have to sit there, because you can't walk, someone has to place you there everyday. This is your only way to survive ~ begging at the Temple Gate called "Beautiful."


We quickly feel sorry for this beggar, but that isn't what this story is about. It's about getting his attention and pointing him to Jesus. The beggar was focused on the way things are, not the way things could be. He was resigned to be a beggar and thought that all he could do was to get money to survive. It worked for him so why would expect more?


How about you? Do you remain in a constant state of "this is how it is?" What could be different in your life?


This lame man begged for money but Peter and John had something else in mind. First,  Peter had to get the man's attention. He looked right at the man and said, "Look at us!" There is an exclamation mark at the end of this sentence so it means that Peter probably either shouted at him or used a commanding voice of some sort. Peter wanted his full attention so he could get his mind on something other than the daily routine of begging for money. Peter was pointing toward healing from Jesus.


What do you focus on in your daily life? What are some struggles that you have? Do you believe that Jesus cares and wants the best for you? Why or why not? Are you stuck begging at the gate like this beggar or are you ready to get up and accept God's healing?


The lame man was close to the heart of the Temple but couldn't make it in. Peter and John showed him that money wasn't what he needed. He needed healing ~ complete healing. Peter said, "In the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene, get up and walk!” He pointed him to the Healer, the Savior ~ Jesus.


This is our role as believers in Jesus; to bring others to Him. As believers in Jesus we aren't to remain at the "temple gate" expecting nothing more than existing. We are to get up and walk. We are to believe God in our situations and get up and walk ~ to live by faith in the Son of God.


Galatians 2:20-21 (NLT) My old self has been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. So I live in this earthly body by trusting in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. I do not treat the grace of God as meaningless. For if keeping the law could make us right with God, then there was no need for Christ to die.


Jesus asks us to believe and trust Him, not to sit in the memories and regrets of our pasts. He also wants us to help bring people to Him for healing. No more status quo! Our lives should reflect who He is not who we were.


2 Corinthians 5:1-3 (MSG) For instance, we know that when these bodies of ours are taken down like tents and folded away, they will be replaced by resurrection bodies in heaven—God-made, not handmade—and we'll never have to relocate our "tents" again. Sometimes we can hardly wait to move—and so we cry out in frustration. Compared to what's coming, living conditions around here seem like a stopover in an unfurnished shack, and we're tired of it! We've been given a glimpse of the real thing, our true home, our resurrection bodies! The Spirit of God whets our appetite by giving us a taste of what's ahead. He puts a little of heaven in our hearts so that we'll never settle for less.


Why do we settle for less than God's best for us? I think its because we focus on what we think is the best and not God's best. This isn't a "name-it-and-claim-it ~ blab-it-and-grab-it" mentality. It is believing that God has unsurpassable plans for our lives. Like the passage says, "He puts a little of heaven in our hearts so that we'll never settle for less." 


Let's not just sit around wallowing in our own wants. Let's get up and move forward in faith and in doing so, bring others to our King.

Never settle for less than God's unsurpassable best!

The Book of Acts ~ Study Eleven

"Devotion"


Acts 2:42-47 (NLT) All the believers devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching, and to fellowship, and to sharing in meals (including the Lord’s Supper), and to prayer. A deep sense of awe came over them all, and the apostles performed many miraculous signs and wonders. And all the believers met together in one place and shared everything they had. They sold their property and possessions and shared the money with those in need. They worshiped together at the Temple each day, met in homes for the Lord’s Supper, and shared their meals with great joy and generosity all the while praising God and enjoying the goodwill of all the people. And each day the Lord added to their fellowship those who were being saved.


Many people met Jesus that day of "Shavuot" (Pentecost) on the Temple Mount. This was the beginning of the Church that many of us take for granted here in the United States and in many other free nations. The nation of Israel was not a free nation. It was under the control of Rome. The Jews did have freedom to worship God, but now this new belief in Messiah Jesus would be a challenge to their faith and their very being.


In the infant stages of the Church, the members met together everyday and devoted themselves to four things:
     1. The Apostles' teaching.
     2. Fellowship.
     3. Sharing meals.
     4. Prayer.


What is the significance of these four things? Describe what you think was their reasons for devotion. Do you see this kind of devotion in the Church today? Why or why not?


The Greek word used here for "devotion" is "proskartereo" and means "to remain steadfast; to stay close." The believers in the early church wanted to be close to one another. They desired to learn from the Apostles. Fellowship and sharing meals helped create a close bond adding to their united front. Prayer strengthened the deal as each person sought to know what Christ wanted for them by remaining in constant communication with Him.


Is the Church like this today? Are we as devoted as they were? What could we learn from this early church?


Today's church has some reflections of the early church. Of course it has grown and reached many millions of people over the centuries and that is to the praise of our God. However, I wonder, are we are as devoted to one another as we should be? What does the Bible teach us about how we should conduct ourselves and live as a unified church?


Psalm 133:1-3 (NLT) How wonderful and pleasant it is when brothers live together in harmony! For harmony is as precious as the anointing oil that was poured over Aaron’s head, that ran down his beard and onto the border of his robe. Harmony is as refreshing as the dew from Mount Hermon that falls on the mountains of Zion. And there the Lord has pronounced his blessing, even life everlasting.


When we live in unity as brothers and sisters who love Jesus, we are blessed. So often we run out of church to avoid others because our lives have become too "busy." (I'm totally guilty of that). We are angry at the way someone has acted toward us and don't seek to smooth the waters with this person. We don't give to the church because we may need that money for something else instead of giving our first 10% back to God. We don't do "potlucks" anymore because that is the way the old school church did it and its not "cool" anymore. What's happened to us? Where is the Church as a whole going? What does Jesus think about it?

Romans 15: 5-6 (NLT) May God, who gives this patience and encouragement, help you live in complete harmony with each other, as is fitting for followers of Christ Jesus. Then all of you can join together with one voice, giving praise and glory to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.


Complete harmony? You've got to be kidding me! How can we do that? Why should we have to? Doesn't God see how "those people" are? I'm called to do WHAT?!!!


God has called us to live in complete harmony! Complete harmony is the rich full sound of an orchestra or the soulful sounds of a southern hymn or spiritual. It sooths the soul and fill us with the energy required to do as Jesus says.


Revelation 1:12-18 (NLT) I turned around to see the voice that was speaking to me. And when I turned I saw seven golden lampstands, and among the lampstands was someone "like a son of man,"dressed in a robe reaching down to his feet and with a golden sash around his chest. His head and hair were white like wool, as white as snow, and his eyes were like blazing fire. His feet were like bronze glowing in a furnace, and his voice was like the sound of rushing waters. In his right hand he held seven stars, and out of his mouth came a sharp double-edged sword. His face was like the sun shining in all its brilliance.
     When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead. Then he placed his right hand on me and said: "Do not be afraid. I am the First and the Last. I am the Living One; I was dead, and behold I am alive for ever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and Hades.


Revelation 2:4-5 (NLT) “But I have this complaint against you. You don’t love me or each other as you did at first! Look how far you have fallen! Turn back to me and do the works you did at first. If you don’t repent, I will come and remove your lampstand from its place among the churches."


When I read these portions of Revelation I get chills. It speaks of our Christ walking among the lampstands. These "lampstands" represented the churches that were about to be described in the next few chapters of Revelation. Each church had its own personality. Some had good things that Jesus approved of and some were doing things against the very nature of Christ's commands. Jesus walks among the churches judging the light each produces. I don't want Jesus to remove any church. I want us to be unified in our love of Jesus and each other.


Churches today are still "lampstands" and Christ still walks among them. Some are huge lampstands with little light. Other lampstands are small with a brilliant roaring fire in them. Some are small and their light is almost out because someone had covered them in trying to keep out others. The descriptions can be endless. What is important is that one day Christ sees the lights they produce and will deal with each one as He sees fit ~ reward or discipline. 


Our aim, our purpose as a the Bride of Christ ~ the Church ~ is to bring honor to Him. We need to go back to our roots. We must become more and more devoted to one another. Let's bring prayer back as the foundation on which we stand. Let's meet together often, sharing a meal or a cup of coffee. Let's share! Let's give as God has asked us to! Let's do it!! Let's watch the blessings flow like "oil on Aaron's beard." 


What are we waiting for? Let's stoke the fire. Let's get it burning bright so others will see the light and know where to come for salvation, love and support. Let's do it!

Harmony in the Church brings
 delightful blessings 

from the One who walks
 among the Lampstands.

The Book of Acts ~ Study Ten

"A King About The King"

Today we are taking a big chunk of Acts 2. We'll break it down into chewable pieces and see what God wants us to learn. It's exciting to learn about the previously secret things of God. The Israelites didn't know them until this miraculous day on the Temple Mount when God sent the fullness of Himself to dwell within those who loved Jesus. He sent His Holy Spirit. It didn't rest on them  like it did on the Patriarchs of the Old Testament ~Abraham, Moses, Joshua, King David and others, it actually nestled up inside their souls, wrapping around every fiber of their being. The same is true for us today. Even today,those who love Jesus have this miracle dwelling within them.


King David prophesied about Jesus many years before. Let's look at what He said:


Acts 2:25-28 (NLT) King David said this about him: ‘I see that the Lord is always with me. I will not be shaken, for he is right beside me. No wonder my heart is glad, and my tongue shouts his praises! My body rests in hope. For you will not leave my soul among the dead or allow your Holy One to rot in the grave. You have shown me the way of life, and you will fill me with the joy of your presence.’


This portion of Acts 2 is actually a prophecy about Jesus. God never left Jesus and Jesus depended upon His Father. He totally relied on Father God to sustain Him as He walked as God in human form on this earth. Jesus knew that He would be offered up as a sacrifice for the sins of man but He also knew that God would not leave Him in the grave and this was His joy. He was in complete submission to God and never swayed from it.


What is your joy? How do you know that God indwells you? What are some examples of when you thought He had forsaken you? What are some examples of times when you knew beyond a shadow of a doubt that He was with you? God never leaves us nor forsakes us. Why would someone who was willing to lay His life down for you ever want to forsake you and leave you alone?


Deuteronomy 31:6 (NLT) "So be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid and do not panic before them. For the Lord your God will personally go ahead of you. He will neither fail you nor abandon you.”


This scripture in Deuteronomy was God's message to the Israelites through Moses as he passed the reigns to Joshua. It was a scary process for all of them and took faith. God had never let them down before and He wasn't about to then. The same holds true for you and me. God now indwells those of us who love and serve Jesus and He won't ever take that away. Again Jesus was and is the perfect example for us to conform to.


Romans 1:2 (NLT) "Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect."


Let's move on to the next portion of today Scripture. 


 Acts 2:29-31 (NLT) “Dear brothers, think about this! You can be sure that the patriarch David wasn’t referring to himself, for he died and was buried, and his tomb is still here among us. (See photo below this is believed by some to be King David's tomb.) He was a man, a king he was a prophet, and he knew God had promised with an oath that one of David’s own descendants would sit on his throne. David was looking into the future by the power of the Holy Spirit resting on him and speaking of the Messiah’s resurrection. He was saying that God would not leave him (Jesus) among the dead or allow his body to rot in the grave."

King David believed God. He was a faulted human like the rest of us, but He always believed God's promises. This King (David) spoke about the King of Kings (our sweet Jesus). We are witnessing through the scriptures how God kept His promise to King David. He indeed raised David's ancestor, who is the Messiah Himself, up from the grave. The Jews at "Shavuot" (Pentecost) that day witnessed the fulfilling of Scripture too. All the things they had heard about God and the prophecies they studied were coming together for them. Can't you feel the electricity in the air? I'm sure some didn't believe it but many did. The pieces of the puzzle fell into place for them that day.


Acts 2:32-41 (NLT) God raised Jesus from the dead, and we are all witnesses of this. Now he is exalted to the place of highest honor in heaven, at God’s right hand. And the Father, as he had promised, gave him the Holy Spirit to pour out upon us, just as you see and hear today. For David himself never ascended into heaven, yet he said, ‘The Lord said to my Lord, "'Sit in the place of honor at my right hand until I humble your enemies, making them a footstool under your feet.'" “So let everyone in Israel know for certain that God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, to be both Lord and Messiah!" 
     Peter’s words pierced their hearts, and they said to him and to the other apostles, “Brothers, what should we do?”
     Peter replied, “Each of you must repent of your sins and turn to God, and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. Then you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. This promise is to you, and to your children, and even to the Gentiles—all who have been called by the Lord our God.” Then Peter continued preaching for a long time, strongly urging all his listeners, “Save yourselves from this crooked generation!”
     Those who believed what Peter said were baptized and added to the church that day—about 3,000 in all.


Those who really listened to Peter's message had their hearts "pierced." The NIV puts it this way, "They were cut to the heart." The Greek for "cut" is "katansyssomai" and means "stabbed." The Greek word for "heart" is "kardia" and means "heart and mind; the seat of thought and emotion." Essentially that were stabbed in their soul. Everything came into focus and they were desperate to  know what they should do.


Peter was very willing to tell them what to do. He was giving them a lifeline. Have you ever felt that kind of pain before where you knew you had been wrong and now you wanted to make it all right? This is how they felt and now they were thrown another chance to love God through His Son Jesus the True Messiah.
           
That day 3000 people came to faith in Jesus. They were baptized in the ritual baths "mikvoths" they had used for years, located right there at the temple mount. (See picture to the left.) However, this time when they dipped into these ancients pools of water, they came up new creatures completely cleansed by their Savior. Everything had come together for them. The rituals were over and a perfect relationship with their long awaited Messiah had begun. 


King David prophesied about King Jesus. God raised Jesus from death to life and seated Him at His right hand. All this came together for the Hebrew faithful who chose to believe that Jesus was Messiah. Their ritual religion was now a wonderful relationship. 


God is good. Everything He had spoken will take place. He allowed an earthly King to foretell of the coming King of Kings ~ Jesus. Is your faith based on religious notions or on a relationship with a King who laid His life down for you? Don't allow religion to overshadow what's important ~  having relationship with Jesus.

Lay down religion for a relationship with Jesus!

The Book of Acts ~ Study Nine

"The First and Last Perfect Sacrifice"


Acts 2:22-24 (NLT) People of Israel, listen! God publicly endorsed Jesus the Nazarene by doing powerful miracles, wonders, and signs through him, as you well know. But God knew what would happen, and his prearranged plan was carried out when Jesus was betrayed. With the help of lawless Gentiles, you nailed him to a cross and killed him. But God released him from the horrors of death and raised him back to life, for death could not keep him in its grip.


Peter continued on with his speech before all the faithful Jews there at the Temple Mount for Pentecost (Shavuot). They had just experienced the hearing of their own languages and were possibly still hearing them as the disciples continued speaking the various tongues of those present. They were a rapt and interested audience wanting to understand more. So Peter took advantage of it.


Peter wanted their attention and he got it. He began explaining to these people why they were speaking in these languages and who they were speaking for. The only reason they could speak in tongues was because it was for God's purpose. He meant it only to tell many nations represented at the Temple that day about His Son Jesus and bring glory to Him.


Peter then went on to say how God sent Jesus to earth and accredited Him (proved who He was) by "the miracles, signs and wonders" He did. With all this proof, not everyone believed Him. Was God's plan thwarted? Absolutely not.


Isaiah 46:9-11 (NLT) Remember the things I have done in the past. For I alone am God! I am God, and there is none like me. Only I can tell you the future before it even happens. Everything I plan will come to pass, for I do whatever I wish. I will call a swift bird of prey from the East—a leader from a distant land to come and do my bidding. I have said what I would do, and I will do it.


Do you ever wonder if God really has a plan or do we just wish He did? I wonder sometimes. But, if I am to believe that Jesus is who He says He is, then I have to believe that God had a plan when He brought Him here. Sometimes we don't always understand God's plans. Verse 23 kind of upsets me some (see below). What do you think?


Acts 2:23 (NLT) But God knew what would happen, and his prearranged plan was carried out when Jesus was betrayed. With the help of lawless Gentiles, you nailed him to a cross and killed him.


Why would God plan the death of His own Son? How could that ever be good? Wasn't there a better way?


Isaiah 53:10 (NLT) But it was the Lord’s good plan to crush him and cause him grief. Yet when his life is made an offering for sin, he will have many descendants. He will enjoy a long life, and the Lord’s good plan will prosper in his hands.


God knew that the only way to conquer sin in the lives of those He loved so dearly (us), was to conquer death. He knew that He would have to come down and die Himself and He did so with the life of His dear Son Jesus. Jesus is God and loved us so much that He willingly laid down His life. (See John 3:16-17)


The Jews understood that death was required for the forgiveness of sins. They had just walked out of the morning sacrifice. For centuries the blood of animals was used to cover their sins. It only covered the sins temporarily. Jesus' ultimate sacrifice was complete. It conquered sin and its result ~ death. 


1 Corinthians 15:52-56 (NLT) For our dying bodies must be transformed into bodies that will never die; our mortal bodies must be transformed into immortal bodies. Then, when our dying bodies have been transformed into bodies that will never die, this Scripture will be fulfilled: “Death is swallowed up in victory. O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?”


These bodies of ours must be renewed and no amount of plastic surgery or self-help books and conferences will get that done. Jesus was the first to lay His body aside and willingly opt for death because death to this world is the only way to life eternal. Though He never sinned He set the example and made the way to possible for our lives to be exchanged for the eternal.


Philippians 2:7-11 (NLT) Instead, he gave up his divine privileges he took the humble position of a slave and was born as a human being. When he appeared in human form, he humbled himself in obedience to God and died a criminal’s death on a cross. Therefore, God elevated him to the place of highest honor and gave him the name above all other names, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.


Couldn't there be an easier way? Could you come up with a better plan? Maybe God could just erase our sins without this ultimate sacrifice? Couldn't He has gotten rid of all the evil people and let the good people stay? If that were the case then all of us would die.


Proverbs 14:12 (NLT) There is a path before each person that seems right, but it ends in death.


Our plans end in death and God knows this. He knew it when He gave His Son over to the will of evil men. He knew that by letting them have their way His Son would die. God knew it but He also knew that His plan would be fulfilled and death would be destroyed.


Thank you Lord that you know best even when all we see is demise. His plan worked and we have eternal life because of it. Peter was telling the faithful of God about His perfect Son who was the first and last perfect sacrifice.

His plans always work!

The Book of Acts ~ Study Eight

"Alive and Active"


Acts 2:14-21 (NLT) Then Peter stepped forward with the eleven other apostles and shouted to the crowd, “Listen carefully, all of you, fellow Jews and residents of Jerusalem! Make no mistake about this. These people are not drunk, as some of you are assuming. Nine o’clock in the morning is much too early for that. No, what you see was predicted long ago by the prophet Joel:
     ‘In the last days,’ God says,‘I will pour out my Spirit upon all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy. Your young men will see visions, and your old men will dream dreams. In those days I will pour out my Spirit even on my servants—men and women alike—and they will prophesy. And I will cause wonders in the heavens above and signs on the earth below—blood and fire and clouds of smoke. The sun will become dark, and the moon will turn blood red before that great and glorious day of the Lord arrives. But everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.’


Peter responds to the people who called them "drunk" at nine in the morning and he did so with the eleven other disciples standing beside him united in the Holy Spirit. They stood unified. He knew it was important to direct the crowd's attention to the truth of what was happening. Standing on the Temple Mount, as people were just coming from the morning sacrifice, God's Holy Spirit descended into the followers of Jesus. Prophecy was fulfilled at this point and Peter quoted the passage from the Book of Joel. (Joel 2:28-32) 


I'm sure this scripture caught the attention of the faithful at the Shavuot (Pentecost) festival. They should have recognized the passage of Joel because it would have been something they had a learned in Hebrew School. It caught their attention and some probably realized that this prophecy was being fulfilled before their very eyes.


Peter had memorized this scripture and was now preaching to many from it. He had just graduated from his time in the Talmidim (students) of Rabbi (Teacher) Jeshua and his diploma was the Holy Spirit sealed within him. God's Holy Spirit gave him the words to say to the crowd gathered around them.


The words of scripture are not mere words. They are supernatural and are always active and accomplishing the will of God whether we realize it or not. It's important that followers of Jesus learn His Word. It equips us as we live out our lives in this world.


Psalm 119:105 (NLT)  Your word is a lamp to guide my feet and a light for my path.


God's Word illuminates the way God wants us to go. Without His words we walk in complete darkness. It's important to know God's Word.


Ephesians 6:17 (NLT)  Put on salvation as your helmet, and take the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.


God's Word is our defense against the evil we encounter. Without knowing scripture we can find ourselves walking into danger. It's dangerous without the best sword for defense ~ God's Word.


Hebrews 4:12 (NLT) For the word of God is alive and powerful. It is sharper than the sharpest two-edged sword, cutting between soul and spirit, between joint and marrow. It exposes our innermost thoughts and desires.


God's Word is not trapped in the dust pages of a book lying on a shelf somewhere. It is "alive and powerful." Its sharper-than-razors edges cut quickly between the supernatural and the world. It divides evil from godly. It opens up and reveals what is real and what is fake. God's Word cuts away the useless information we build up in ourselves by living in this world and gives us clear direction if we are open to it.


How do you view God's Word? Is it alive and active? Have you felt the sharp edges of scripture that draws a straight line between good (His good) and evil? Do you understand the power at your fingertips?


Why do we often glaze over our need for the Bible? My daughter wrote a wonderful blog (I'm proud of her), about this very thing. pocaluzlittlelight.blogspot.com She writes, "The Bible is a nutritious, healthy, home-cooked meal that fills you up and gives you strength. You have to see it and read it for yourself to know what I'm taking about. The Bible is something SOLID. It's not an opinion, I dare say it's living fact. Its God-breathed or in simpler terms, God Inspired."


The Bible comes with a promise unlike any other book ever written. Peter quoted it in His sermon on Pentecost at the Temple. It is found in verse 21:"But everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved." Saved from what? Saved from ourselves and this world that only promises that we will all die one day. God promises us new life now and eternal life always even after our human bodies die.


1 Peter 1:23-26 (NCV)  You have been born again, and this new life did not come from something that dies, but from something that cannot die. You were born again through God's living message that continues forever. The Scripture says, "All people are like the grass, and all their glory is like the flowers of the field. The grass dies and the flowers fall, but the word of the Lord will live forever." And this is the word that was preached to you.


Knowing what God has to say is essential to a Believer's life. Without it we run on empty. It fills us up and nourishes us. It brings life and protects our hearts. Peter knew this and shared it with those listening to him that day. The results were that he set the record straight and brought people to Jesus.


Immerse yourself in God's Word. Write them on your heart and mind. Just like Moses told the Chosen to do many, many years ago: "Listen, O Israel! The Lord is our God, the Lord alone. And you must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your strength. And you must commit yourselves wholeheartedly to these commands that I am giving you today. Repeat them again and again to your children. Talk about them when you are at home and when you are on the road, when you are going to bed and when you are getting up. Tie them to your hands and wear them on your forehead as reminders. Write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates." (Deuteronomy 6:4-9 NLT)

God's Word is active and living.

Make it part of your life.

The Book of Acts ~ Study Seven

"Ready to Hear"


Acts 2:5-13 (NLT) At that time there were devout Jews from every nation living in Jerusalem. When they heard the loud noise, everyone came running, and they were bewildered to hear their own languages being spoken by the believers.
     They were completely amazed. “How can this be?” they exclaimed. “These people are all from Galilee, and yet we hear them speaking in our own native languages! Here we are—Parthians, Medes, Elamites, people from Mesopotamia, Judea, Cappadocia, Pontus, the province of Asia, Phrygia, Pamphylia, Egypt, and the areas of Libya around Cyrene, visitors from Rome (both Jews and converts to Judaism), Cretans, and Arabs. And we all hear these people speaking in our own languages about the wonderful things God has done!” They stood there amazed and perplexed. “What can this mean?” they asked each other.
     But others in the crowd ridiculed them, saying, “They’re just drunk, that’s all!”


In our last study we learned about "Shavuot" (Pentecost) that was celebrated 50 days after Passover. Many faithful God-fearing Jews "came from every nation living around Jerusalem." It was after the morning sacrifice, around 9:00 in the morning, when God let His Spirit come down like a mighty wind and alight on the followers of Jesus. In turn each believer began speaking a language that a person from another country could understand. God has impeccable timing doesn't He?


"And we all hear these people speaking in our own languages about the wonderful things God has done!” They stood there amazed and perplexed. “What can this mean?” they asked each other. The faithful heard and wanted to know how this was happening. They heard and understood these phenomenal things about God. At the same time there were those who heard and explained it away as drunkenness and just laughed. Its common to explain things away as ridiculous when we don't understand them.


This reminds me of the parable that Jesus told about "A Sower, Seeds and Ground." 
Matthew 13:1-9 (NLT)That same day Jesus went out of the house and sat by the lake. Such large crowds gathered around him that he got into a boat and sat in it, while all the people stood on the shore. Then he told them many things in parables, saying: "A farmer went out to sow his seed. As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up. Some fell on rocky places, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow. But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they had no root. Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants. Still other seed fell on good soil, where it produced a crop—a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown. He who has ears, let him hear."


We all hear the Word of God its how we receive it. The faithful people of God coming out of the temple, heard and their hearts accepted the wonderful words that were spoken in their native tongue. Their hearts were fertile soil and immediately the wonderful truths they heard sprung up within them. (Later we'll see how many came to know Jesus.)


Notice what happened next. There were those who were there who heard the words spoken and for whatever reason they explained the phenomenon away by saying the followers of Jesus were just drunk. (What a lame explanation.) I know that when people get drunk they speak in languages they've never spoken before and tell wonderful stories about God. (NOT!!!) 

Have you ever been in a situation were the Word of God was spoken and you tried to explain it away? How about when you are involved in, let's say...gossip and someone stops the conversation with something good about the person/s you are talking about? Do you try and explain your behavior away? What is keeping you from hearing the truth? What irks you about someone interrupting your conversation, your way of doing things? How do you explain your frustration when you hear good news? Does any of this type of behavior sound familiar? (Sadly, it does for me.)


When we are faithful to Jesus, we can hear and receive His words at anytime and be blessed by Him. When we are involved in unfaithful activity or mindsets we become irritated by the seed that falls on us. God wants us to prepare our hearts to hear more and more of what He has to say to us. Why do we resent it so much?


1 Thessalonians 2:13 (NLT) And we also thank God continually because, when you received the word of God, which you heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of men, but as it actually is, the word of God, which is at work in you who believe.


Are you ready and willing to receive God's message to you? Is your heart soft and pliable to allow it to be planted deep within your soul? Is your heart hard because of ungodly behavior, unforgiveness, lust, greed...? Do you feel like you can't hear Him anymore? 


Hebrews 4:6-7 (NLT) So God’s rest is there for people to enter, but those who first heard this good news failed to enter because they disobeyed God. So God set another time for entering his rest, and that time is today. God announced this through David much later in the words already quoted: “Today when you hear his voice, don’t harden your hearts.”

We choose to have our hearts softened by God and through our obedience to Him or we harden our hearts further and further when we are disobedient. What is the condition of your heart? I must analyze my own. I pray, "Lord, give me a soft heart willing to receive what you have for me to hear."

“Today when you hear His voice, 
don’t harden your hearts.”