Tag Archive | Jesus

Acts 4 – Facing Persecution…

Sep10

Good afternoon y’all. Today we are studying chapter 4 of Acts.

In this chapter we see the apostles face persecution because of the gospel of Christ.

Below are a few points I picked out from today’s chapter.

Be blessed 🙂

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– There will always be opposition when doing God’s work especially when boldly professing and preaching about Jesus. Peter and John knew who had called them and they didn’t allow the opposition derail them or cause them to deny God. Do you know who called you and why you were called? Knowing this will help you stay on course even when challenges are all around.

– Peter was full of the Holy Ghost and not himself, and that’s why He could defend the gospel. If you are full of yourself your words will have no power…it will be like noise in the ears of those listening and won’t have any effect on them. But because Peter was full of the Holy Spirit, who is the POWER of God, when he spoke, his words had power backing it and as a result it had impact on the audience. People repented and accepted Jesus as their Lord. He didn’t go there bragging about himself, but kept the focus on Jesus. What are you doing with the opportunities to preach Jesus? Are you making it about yourself or about Jesus?  Peter gave all credit and glory back to Jesus. There was no trace of pride in his response. See v 10-11

– Salvation can only be found in Jesus. Everything else is fake. Jesus is the way the truth and life.

– What makes more sense: to obey God or man? Often times we find ourselves in a position where we are torn between pleasing God or man. It’s seems much easier to obey man and escape the consequences, however Peter and the apostles chose to obey God and live with the consequence of their decision. In verse 19 we see Peter’s response.
” But Peter and John replied, “Do you think God wants us to obey you rather than him? We cannot stop telling about everything we have seen and heard.” (V 19-20 NLT)
Perhaps it’s because Peter had denied Jesus once before and he knew the pain and sorrow that brought him, hence why he didn’t make the same mistake again but chose to stand up for Jesus despite the persecution. I pray God gives us the boldness and courage to stand up for Him even in the face of persecution.

– As opposed to panicking, the apostles went back to God in prayer. They could have started worrying about what will happen if they continued preaching….but these guys went back to the One who gave them the commission to preach in the first place. They tabled their fears before Him. Friends, do we panic or turn our panic into sincere prayers to God? I’m guilty of this I would have panicked before remembering God can take care of the situation. ( I’m still work in progress 🙂 lol)

“As soon as they were freed, Peter and John returned to the other believers and told them what the leading priests and elders had said. When they heard the report, all the believers lifted their voices together in prayer to God…” V23 – 24 NLT)

– I was challenged by their prayer in verse 29 and 30.
“And now, O Lord, hear their threats, and give us, your servants, great boldness in preaching your word.  Stretch out your hand with healing power; may miraculous signs and wonders be done through the name of your holy servant Jesus” (NLT).

I noticed it wasn’t for God to remove the persecution but for BOLDNESS in the midst of it! I know what I’d be praying for if I were in their shoes 🙂 . We can’t run away from persecution. Jesus never promised us an easy ride but one thing He promised is the assurance of His presence and victory in the midst of it. In John 16:33 Jesus says “…Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.” am with you…’).

-The intensity and sincerity of their prayer also challenged me. They didn’t use big grammar or go round the bush. They went straight to the point. They told God exactly what it was that was bugging them and what they needed Him to do. I believe it was the sincerity of the prayer that got them immediate response to their request. Verse 31 says:
“After this prayer, the meeting place shook, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit. Then they preached the word of God with boldness” (NLT)

– They were unified in purpose, spirit and even in the flesh (see v32 -36). No one lacked anything. It was one big happy family. I’m sure they had issues but the love they had for each other was stronger than the issues.  They all shared what they had. I ask myself why it is so difficult for us to attain this level of unity and bond (like the early church) in our generation today?

Prayer:
Dear Lord we thank you for today. Please help us to be bold and courageous even in the face of persecution, in Jesus’ Name Amen.

Thanks for joining today. Pls feel free to share your thots on the chapter.

I’m blogging through the book of Acts a chapter a day with Good Morning Girls. Check us out at http://www.goodmorninggirls.org

Have a blessed day 🙂

***With God all things are possible***

Acts 2 – The promise fulfilled….

Sep8

Good afternoon y’all. Today we continue our study of Acts. We are in chapter 2.

I found out some interesting facts about the celebration of Pentecost. I’ve always thought Pentecost was a celebration that only started on the day the Holy Spirit came upon the disciples. It never occurred to me that it was an existing celebration. Here is what I found about Pentecost and the significance of the Holy Spirit coming on that day. The extract below is from David Guzik commentary-

“The Day of Pentecost: This was a Jewish feast held 50 days after Passover. It celebrated the firstfruits of the wheat harvest.
i. In the Jewish rituals of that time, the first sheaf reaped from the barley harvest was presented to God at Passover. But at Pentecost, the firstfruits of the wheat harvest were presented to God; therefore, Pentecost is called the day of the firstfruits(Numbers 28:26).
ii. Jewish tradition also taught that Pentecost marked the day when the Law was given to Israel. The Jews sometimes called Pentecost shimchath torah, or Joy of the Law.
iii. On the Old Testament Day of Pentecost Israel received the Law; on the New Testament Day of Pentecost the Church received the Spirit of Grace in fullness”.

Below are a few points I picked out from today’s chapter.

Be blessed 🙂

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– The disciples were in one accord before the Holy Spirit came. They were united in mind, faith and purpose waiting for the promise of the Holy Spirit. David Guzik in his commentary for Acts 2 said “Before we can be filled, we must recognize our emptiness; by gathering together for prayer, in obedience, these disciples did just that. They recognized they did not have the resources in themselves to do what they could do or should do; they had to instead rely on the work of God”

–  “And suddenly there came a sound….” (V2)  – The sound came suddenly. It wasn’t planned or expected. I’ve come to realize that most times, God tends to move in a suddenly manner when He is ready to do something new. This is why we have to be alert, ready, and well positioned so we are not caught off guard. The disciples were in one accord waiting for the promise when suddenly the fulfillment of the promise came to pass. Had they been sleeping or gone back to fishing, they might have missed their suddenly moment. I pray we don’t miss our suddenly moment; and that we will be found at our duty post doing what God has called us to do.

– “There appeared to them divided tongues, as of fire,…”(V3) – I tried to understand the significance of the fire then I remembered in the old testament God talks about fire being used to purify: like a refiner’s fire purifying gold. It removes all impurities till only pure gold is left. So the fire represent the Holy Spirit’s purifying work in our lives. David Guzik commentary explains this well for me. It says:

“The idea behind the picture of fire is usually purification, as a refiner uses fire to make pure gold; or fire can burn away what is temporary, leaving only what will last. This is an excellent illustration of the principle that the filling of the Holy Spirit is not just for abstract power, but for purity. In certain places in the Old Testament, God showed His special pleasure with a sacrifice by lighting the fire for it Himself – that is, fire from heaven came down and consumed the sacrifice. The experience of the followers of Jesus on Pentecost is another example of God sending fire from heaven to show His pleasure and power, but this time, it descended upon living sacrifices(Romans 12:1)”.

– Peter the timid one, who denied Jesus earlier all of a sudden became bold and stood up to defend the gospel. It just goes to show that when you are filled with the Holy Spirit, He empowers you to do that which naturally, you cannot do of your own might. Peter was terrified when he was associated with Jesus during the crucifixion, now in front of the same set of Jews, he was bold to declare the gospel of Jesus. I pray that the Holy spirit will fill us with power and help us be witnesses for Jesus wherever we find ourselves.

– Whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved (v21). There is power in the name of our Lord. The name is available to all. Not just the Jews but now has been extended to the gentiles. The name has authority and power to deliver and to save from all forms of destruction. I’m reminded of proverbs 18:10, which says, “the Name of the LORD is a strong tower. The righteous runs into it and they are saved“. Are you in need of salvation or deliverance? Why not call on the name of the Lord today and be saved.

– The gift of the Holy Spirit is available to all but you can’t receive it if you are still living in sin. Peter, in verse 38 -40, told the crowd they had to repent of their sins and be baptized in the name of Jesus. Repentance is not just a case of saying I’m sorry. It’s a complete 180 degree turnaround from an old way of life to a new one. You have to turn away from your life of sin to a life of obedience to Jesus.
Charles Spurgeon says: “The old-fashioned grace of repentance is not to be dispensed with; there must be sorrow for sin; there must be a broken and a contrite heart. This, God will not despise; but a conversion which does not produce this result, God will not accept as genuine”.
When you turn to God in genuine repentance, He will forgive and save you. What are you waiting for? Why not give Jesus a try today and you too can experience this gift of the Holy Spirit.

Prayer
Dear Lord, thank you for the gift of the Holy Spirit which you have bestowed upon us. This day we ask for fresh outpouring of your Spirit to renew and revive us. Give us boldness to be witnesses for You wherever we find ourselves, in Jesus’ Name we pray. Amen.

Thanks for joining today. Pls feel free to share your thots on the chapter.

I’m blogging through the book of Acts a chapter a day with Good Morning Girls. Check us out at www.goodmorninggirls.org

Have a blessed day 🙂

Link to David Guzik commentary on Acts chapter 2 can be found here

***With God all things are possible***