Paul and Barnabas went to the Galatian region and continued to see great success in their ministry. We read that “a great multitude believed” in verse 1. Success in ministry always leads to opposition and verse 2 tells us that unbelieving Jews began stirring up trouble among all the people. In spite of this difficulty verse 3 tells us that both Paul and Barnabas stayed there a long time “speaking boldly with reliance upon the Lord.”

There are two aspects of that last statement that I would like to dwell on for a moment. First, they were speaking boldly. They recognized the opposition but didn’t let that hinder them; they continued to share the message of salvation. We need to have that same boldness in our lives. That doesn’t mean we should be obstinate, but our lives and our speech should continually reflect the presence of God in a way that pleases Him and challenges and convicts others. There are too many closet Christians in America today. The potential opposition we face is very minor compared to the condemnation the early disciples encountered. They faced physical as well as verbal abuse. We read later in this chapter (verse 19) Paul was stoned almost to the point of death.

Secondly note that they relied completely on the Lord. They recognized He was working through them to impact the lives of others. They completely depended on Him for guidance and protection. I think this means physically as well as mentally and emotionally. They depended on the Spirit to lead them to their audience and also to give them the words they should speak. They regarded their own physical safety as not as important as carrying out God’s will in sharing the message. They relied on Him to care for them physically or to call them to an eternal relationship with Him. Paul’s attitude is reflected in his statement in Philippians 1:21 “For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain.”

The challenge Paul give us in these verses is to live our lives boldly, but as we do that to depend completely upon Him. When we completely depend on Him the Holy Spirit will guide us in every aspect of our lives and we will carry out His perfect will for us.

Shake The Dust Off Your Feet

Acts 13:50-52

Paul and Barnabas are now in the midst of a successful ministry. When there is success from a spiritual perspective Satan will be there to oppose. In this situation Jews aroused people to persecute Paul and Barnabas and literally chase them out of the area.

Paul remembered counsel from the Lord Jesus to the disciples recorded in Matt. 10:14 “And whoever does not receive you, nor heed your words, as you go out of that house or that city, shake off the dust of your feet.” That was a physical act reflecting a mental attitude we should take toward those who oppose us. Basically the Lord is saying, don’t waste your time on them, move on to someone who will be receptive to you. Don’t get depressed or dejected by opposition. Don’t waste your time arguing with them. Move on.

This is extremely good counsel. Often when I’ve been opposed I’ve felt guilty for not being able to convince someone of something or upset because they reject my witness. This attitude can lead to a hesitancy or fear of sharing our faith, or standing for the truth because we don’t like to be rejected. It may be a cliché but we should remember we are not being rejected, our Savior is. Their relationship with Him is between He and them.

Consider the fact that no one was rejected as much as the Lord Jesus. He was rejected to the point of death; but even in that death, He triumphed. These thoughts bring to my mind one of my favorite passages of Scripture: “But thanks be to God, who always leads us in His triumph in Christ, and manifests through us the sweet aroma of the knowledge of Him in every place. For we are a fragrance of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing; to the one an aroma from death to death, to the other an aroma from life to life.”
You are sure to face opposition in your life. Don’t let it get you down. Shake the dust off your feet and move on. God has great things in mind for you.

God’s Sovereignty

Acts 13:48

“And when the Gentiles heard this, they began rejoicing and glorifying the word of the Lord; and as many as had been appointed to eternal life believed.”

This verse leads us into a difficult study; the sovereignty of God versus the free will of man. God’s sovereignty is highlighted in the phrase “appointed to eternal life”. The first aspect we will consider is God’s knowledge; it is unlimited and timeless. He has detailed foreknowledge of everything that happens in history. Time is an irrelevant concept to God because he exists eternally. I believe the concept of time exists because of man’s temporary existence on earth. We will be equally unconcerned with time in our eternal state.

God also has a will and a plan that will be accomplished. Paul quotes Exodus 33:19 in Romans 9:15 where God says to Moses “I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion.” Paul concludes from that statement “so then it does not depend on the man who wills or the man who runs, but on God who has mercy.” God has perfect foreknowledge of every thought and action in our lives and knows whether we will trust Him as our Savior, and whether we will live our lives in a manner pleasing to Him.

With that as a backdrop we should consider how then do we exercise our own free will. We are all familiar with John 3:16 that says “whoever believes in him should not perish but have everlasting life.” There are no constraints or qualifications on “whoever”. Man must decide for himself whether he is going to follow God.

I’ve made that decision and am comforted and assured that God knows every detail of my life; every situation I’m going to face. I’m convinced that if I live my life in His will through the leading of the Holy Spirit He will not only prepare me to face the good times and the tough times, He will also lead me through those times. I’ve experienced that in good times such as finding the life-mate He chose for me and in the difficult times facing serious illness and death of my parents.

I pray that you will be sensitive to His will and plan your life.

Continue In Grace

Acts 13:43

“Now when the meeting of the synagogue had broken up, many of the Jews and of the God-fearing proselytes followed Paul and Barnabas who, speaking to them were urging them to continue in the grace of God.”

Grace is an interesting word. Strong’s lexicon has the following definition of it: “good will, loving-kindness, favour, the merciful kindness by which God, exerting his holy influence upon souls, turns them to Christ, keeps, strengthens, increases them in Christian faith, knowledge, affection, and kindles them to the exercise of the Christian virtues”[1].

God’s grace is appropriated in our lives in many ways. First I’m reminded of Eph. 2:8-9 which says “By grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, that no one should boast.” There is nothing we can do to earn our salvation or an intimate relationship with God. It is all by His grace. It is impossible to work or earn our way to heaven.

The best example of grace in the Bible is our Lord Jesus Christ. II Cor. 8:9 explains “For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sake He became poor, that you through His poverty might become rich.” We are rich because of the spiritual inheritance we have in Christ.

I’m reminded of the importance of grace in our lives when I read II Cor. 12:9. Paul had asked God to remove a “thorn in the flesh” and God’s response was “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness”. Some of us, like Paul have such strong personalities that God chooses to impact our lives in a way that causes us to constantly be reminded of God’s grace. It is sufficient for all our needs.
Finally, notice Paul’s exhortation to “continue in the grace of God”. We have a choice. Often we choose to live our lives in a legalistic manner rather than in God’s grace. We continue in God’s grace by submitting to His will on a moment by moment basis and by confessing our sins as soon as we recognize them in our lives. God can only fulfill His will for us as we live gracefully.

[1]Strong, J. 1996. Enhanced Strong's Lexicon . Woodside Bible Fellowship: Ontario

Paul’s First Sermon

Acts 13:16-41

We have recorded in this passage the first sermon from Paul we see in the Bible. We will find that although Paul is primarily a missionary to the Gentiles, he always goes first to the synagogue when he comes into a town. They were reading the Law and the Prophets there and the synagogue officials offered an opportunity to speak. Paul seized the opportunity.

Notice that Paul begins his message by relating to those in attendance. First, he gives them credit for fearing God, then he begins to review Israel’s history. The following verses (17-22) are an excellent summary of Jewish history beginning with the captivity in Egypt and including the forty years in the wilderness. He mentions the dividing of the land, the time of the judges, and the united kingdom under Saul and David.

Paul then transitions to Jesus, mentioning in verse 23 that from the offspring of David “according to promise, God has brought to Israel a Savior, Jesus.” Following that introduction he accuses the Jews in Jerusalem with putting Jesus to death and the exclamation that “God raised Him from the dead” (v. 30). He then explains the good news of salvation (v. 38-39) and encouraged his listeners to take heed to the message. Paul subtly shares the transition from the time of the law to the time of grace.

There are some things we can learn about sharing our testimony with others from this passage. First, begin where they are. Help those that are not in right relationship with Jesus to understand that. Secondly, share the Gospel clearly. Don’t beat around the bush. Finally, encourage those who are listening to make a decision to trust Christ as their Savior. This outline applies to anything you are teaching and may be stated generally as know your audience and begin where they are, clearly state the problem, and then provide the answer with an exhortation to action.

I know that you will be given many opportunities to share the Gospel before many. Paul gives you an outstanding example of how to do that in this passage. I encourage you to be faithful as God gives you opportunity. He will bless you for your faithfulness.

Recognition Of False Teachers

Acts 13: 6-12

One of Satan’s tools is the use of a false prophet; someone who distorts the Word of God or denies it. We see this situation occurring in this passage. Paul and Barnabas recognized the man for who he was and condemned him for what he was doing. We must all be constantly on guard for this device of Satan.

Consider the ways Satan may use a false prophet to influence you. Probably the most blatant method in our culture today is through television. It has become relatively popular to insert religion in some way into many of the programs. Most often the Word is not handled accurately. Because we see these inaccuracies so much and they are so subtle it is easy to begin to believe them.

We may also make acquaintances with those who do not believe as we do. That can easily happen as we make friendships in school, in our neighborhood or at work.

Another way is through the books or articles we read. Often a false prophet will be 99% correct in what he teaches, but the 1% is all he needs to lead Christians astray. We are also exposed to false teaching from those who teach us; perhaps in school, in seminars, or even in church.

I have also had learned individuals come into a Sunday school class and challenge my teaching. That can be instructive for me and I invite others to do that. That can also be destructive if they have misinterpreted the Word of God. While there are places we can legitimately disagree there are a few cardinal doctrines on which we must be firm.

We must examine everything we are taught by others from the perspective of the Bible. If the teaching doesn’t align with it we must either challenge it or turn away from it. That is one reason it is critical that we carefully study God’s Word daily. It is our true guide for life.
I pray that you will be a careful student of the Bible, and will challenge or turn away from those who try to lead you astray.

Barnabas and Saul

Acts 13:2

“And while they were ministering to the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for Me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.”

Now we see Paul become the central character of the book of Acts. So far, Peter has served in that role. Soon we will notice that Saul begins to be called Paul. Saul was his Jewish name and Paul his Roman name. The emphasis in the book will now turn toward Gentiles.

I’m impressed with the way God puts people together to labor for Him. I believe He is still doing that today. We should expect Him to do that because He knows each one of us better than we know ourselves. He knows our strengths and our weaknesses as well as all the details of our personality. He knows the kind of people that work best together and those that will struggle in their relationships.

Because of that we should be very careful how we unite with others in any effort. God calls pastors to churches and he also calls men and women to leadership positions in churches. The spiritual leaders of churches need to be careful to follow God’s direction as leadership develops in the ministry. That is also true for other ministry efforts such as seminaries and para-church organizations.

I believe God puts friends together also. He brings people into our lives that can minister to us in many ways. Our close friends can be our confidants. They are always available in time of need. Remember how Barnabas aided Saul when he first became a Christian. Friends comfort us in times of sorrow. They even rebuke us when that is necessary. Saul felt the liberty to rebuke Peter when he acted hypocritically.

Psalm 18:24 says that “there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother”. I believe that friend is Jesus. He is one who never fails us, who is always available, who gives great counsel through the Bible and the ministry of the Holy Spirit in our lives. We only have access to that friendship through a personal relationship with Him; we must accept Him as our personal Savior.
I pray that you will have a close, personal relationship with the Lord Jesus.

Pray – Expect An Answer

Acts 12:1-17

Today’s passage is about the story of Peter being released from prison for the second time. Herod had put James to death and now had imprisoned Peter. Notice the comment in 12:5 that “prayer for him was being made fervently by the church to God.” Although Herod had assigned four guards to watch him each shift, probably because of the previous escape, an angel led Peter out of the prison without any hindrance. Peter realized that God was doing a work in his life (v. 11).

Peter went to the house where his friends were gathered praying and knocked on the door. A servant-girl who knew him answered the door but in her excitement didn’t let him in. She told the others he was there but they didn’t believe (v. 15). When they finally realized it was him, they were amazed.

We shouldn’t be critical, because we are still amazed when God answers our prayers, especially when it seems really difficult. Our church has recently seen God answer prayer on behalf of a young man who was told by doctors he couldn’t have a kidney transplant because of a heart problem. A later examination revealed the heart problem had been completely healed and even the doctors said it was a miracle. He has now successfully had a transplant.

The point I want to make is that when we pray we should expect God to answer. We should be amazed at who He is, His willingness to listen to us, and to love us. God reveals many times in the Bible the answer to the prayers of His people. We do need to be alert that God may not answer in the way we expect. Sometimes His answer may be “wait” and sometimes it may be “no”, but we should be confident that He knows what is best for us and He wants to accomplish His best in our lives.

Prayer is a critical part of the Christian life. Through it you can draw very close to God as you watch Him work in your life. We are given many instructions about prayer in Scripture and are exhorted often to pray. I trust that you will make it an integral part of your life.

Giving

Acts 11:29

“And in proportion that any of the disciples had means, each of them determined to send a contribution, for the relief of the brethren living in Judea.”

This verse teaches us an important lesson about giving. The Christians in Antioch heard of a great famine occurring in Judea and felt led to do something about it. So they collected an offering and sent it to the elders of the churches in Judea by Saul and Barnabas.

Notice the phrase “proportion that any of the disciples had means”. This phrase speaks of proportional giving. There are a couple of other verses in Scripture that help us understand this term. The first is in I Corinthians 16:2 which instructs us “on the first day of every week, each one of you is to put aside and save, as he may prosper, so that no collections be made when I come.” Proverbs 3:9 says “honor the Lord from your wealth, and the first of all your produce.” I think the important word in both of these sentences is “first”. Each time we receive a paycheck, the first thing we should consider is how much we should give to the Lord’s work. “First of all your produce” means your best, not your leftovers.

God desires that giving be our number one financial priority. Americans generally consider giving as their last priority. Their first priority is paying off the debt they have incurred. Then they must pay taxes to the government. Thirdly they must pay their living costs; then, hopefully set aside some for saving. If any is left over they give. This is not God’s will. He wants us to consider Him first. Recently, a region of the United States was devastated by a hurricane and there was great need. Many felt a need to help, but could not because of other financial commitments. Often we have significant needs in our churches and God expects His people to meet those needs.

Another verse teaches about our attitude in giving. II Corinthians 9: 7 teaches “each one must do as he purposed in his heart, not grudgingly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.” God wants giving to come from our heart. If we can’t give cheerfully, we probably shouldn’t give. You see, God doesn’t need our funds for He owns everything. We need to give for the benefit that accrues to us.
I pray that you will live your life financially so that you may be a cheerful giver.

The Church Cegins To Scatter

Acts 11;19-27

“So then those who were scattered because of the persecution that arose in connection with Stephen made their way to Phoenicia and Cyprus and Antioch…” (11:19a)

I believe God used persecution to cause the new Christians to begin to disperse themselves around the world. These people were bold about their faith. In verse 20 we see that some of these people began speaking to the Greeks. Notice v. 21 says “the hand of the Lord was with them, and a large number who believed turned to the Lord.” The Christians back at Jerusalem sent Barnabas to see what was going on in one of the cities; Antioch, which was over 300 miles from Jerusalem.

Once again Barnabas comes into the picture and we’ll see that he will be a prominent character throughout the remainder of the book of Acts. We see several more aspects of the man here. First, he was an encourager. We all need encouragers in our lives to help us when we are down and to spur us on when we are doing well. He also had a “resolute heart to remain true to the Lord” (v. 23). I think this means he was trustworthy and faithful; he didn’t get discouraged easily. “He was a good man, and full of the Holy Spirit and of faith” (v. 24); three characteristics that all of us should strive for.

Barnabas also knew that these new Christians needed to mature in the faith and that the job was too big for him. So he went to look for Saul to come help him. The two of them ministered in Antioch for an entire year teaching these new Christians the Scriptures. All of us have a responsibility as we mature to help others grow in the faith. We may not have been given the ability to speak to many people, but we all can study the Bible with one other person and help them grow in the faith. We can also help hold them accountable for growth in their spiritual lives.

I pray often for my children and grandchildren that they will be good students of the Word and that they will mature in the faith just as they are maturing physically. I pray that God would bring others into their lives that will help build them up and will keep them from relationships that will harm them.

I encourage you to look for a Barnabas to develop a friendship with; someone who is an encourager with a resolute heart. Make it a point to develop relationships with good people who are full of the Holy Spirit and of faith.

Who Was I That I Could Stand In God’s Way?

Acts 11:17

“If God therefore gave to them the same gift as He gave to us also after believing in the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I that I could stand in God’s way?”

Peter returned to Jerusalem and told the apostles and Gentiles what had happened. Notice the complaint was not that Peter had preached to the Gentiles, but that he had eaten with them. Eating with someone is a sign of acceptance and fellowship. Peter now clearly understood the vision of all the animals in the sheet and how God had worked in his life. He explained that vision to the others and the clear direction of the Spirit to visit the Gentiles. The Holy Spirit falling upon the Gentiles at the time of salvation just as he did with the Jews at the beginning of the church (Acts 2) was a clear sign of equality. Believing Gentiles would have the same standing before God as believing Jews.

When the apostles and brethren heard Peter’s explanation “they quieted down, and glorified God, saying, “Well then, God has granted to the Gentiles also the repentance that leads to life.” They began to understand that their mission was to the whole world.

Neither Peter nor the rest of the apostles anticipated that God was going to act in the way He did. I’m impressed that when they recognized this fact, they accepted it readily. We need to be careful to act the same way. God does not always act the way we anticipate. When we see His leading, as Peter did, we need to step out in faith, realizing that He is preparing the way for us.
I don’t know what opportunities God may put in your path or how He may reveal them to you. I pray that you will be sensitive to God’s leading and respond to it in a way that pleases Him.

Peter Witnesses to Gentiles

Acts 10:34-48

In this passage we see the visions of Cornelius and Peter come together. Cornelius had been instructed by an angel to invite Peter into his home. The instruction included details as to exactly where Peter was residing. Peter had also had a vision; of a great sheet full of animals. In this vision Peter was told that men were looking for him and he should go with them.

Cornelius knew the Lord had sent Peter to tell him about God. In v. 33 he said “we are all here present before God to hear all that you have been commanded by the Lord.” Peter then made an important statement “I most certainly understand now that God is not one to show partiality, but in every nation the man who fears Him and does what is right is welcome (acceptable) to Him.” Peter grasped for the first time that salvation was for every man, not just the Jews.

While Peter was explaining that Jesus had died for the sins of all and was raised up on the third day and that everyone who believes in Him receives forgiveness of sins (v. 44), the Holy Spirit fell upon all those who were listening. God used the sign of tongues to validate the reality of Gentile salvation. As a public testimony of their salvation, they were baptized and then Peter remained a few days to help them begin to grow in the faith.

Although God doesn’t often speak in visions any longer He certainly uses the Holy Spirit to encourage us to share our faith with specific people we encounter. We should be obedient to the nudging of the Spirit, for we will be blessed. Personally, I believe that if we don’t do that, we will miss the blessing and God will put someone else in that individual’s path to bring them into a personal relationship with Him. It is apparent that the Holy Spirit works in the heart of non-believers to bring them into a relationship with the Father.

Finally, if we have the privilege of leading someone into a relationship with him we should help them begin to grow as Christians. We should be willing to study the Bible with them, help them get located in a good church, or put them in contact with some one that will help them mature in their Christian lives.

I pray you will be sensitive to the Spirit’s direction to share your faith with others.

“By No Means, Lord”

Acts 10:9-16

We see a significant contrast in this passage. Peter had a custom of praying three times a day and at noon on this day had gone up on the housetop of his host to pray. In those days the houses had flat roofs that were used almost like patios today. Peter went there for privacy.

I’m sure you have been taught about the vision of the great sheet full of animals coming down from the sky. Peter was hungry and God told him to kill one of those animals and eat it. Look at Peter’s response in verse 14 “By no means, Lord, for I have never eaten anything unholy and unclean.” The contrast is that Peter recognized God as his Lord, but then refused to be obedient.

This contrast seems to be a pattern with Peter and I believe is also a relatively common trait of many Christians. This is the third time Peter had rebelled at God’s will. In Matthew 16:21 Jesus told His disciples that He was going to die. Notice in v. 22 “Peter took Him aside and began to rebuke Him, saying, “God forbid it, Lord! This shall never happen to You.” Note that Jesus response was that Peter was not setting his mind on God’s interest, but man’s.

We see Peter doing the same thing in John 13:8 which tells of Jesus washing the disciples feet. When Jesus came to Peter his first response was to question the action “Lord, do you wash my feet?” When Jesus explained that Peter would understand His actions later Peter replied “Never shall You wash my feet!”

In all three of these situations Peter looked at what was transpiring from man’s perspective rather than from God’s point of view. That is natural for all of us but we need to remember that God’s actions do not always follow man’s logic. My exhortation to you is that if you strongly feel God leading you some way in your life, but it doesn’t seem logical, obey Him. We need to be careful not to thwart God’s will in our life because it doesn’t seem logical. It is good to have wise mentors and counselors, but we must also remember they are human and may misread God’s will just as Peter did.

Three Types of Rest

Three types of rest:
Physical
Mental (emotional)
Spiritual

Physical rest:

Applicable verses:
O.T. Gen. 5:29 Rest from work
Gen. 18:4 Abraham invites angels to rest
Ex. 23:12 Six days work, one day rest
Animals rest
Deut. 5:14 Sabbath rest (servants, animals, visitors)
II Sam. 4:5 Ish-bosheth rested at mid-day
II Kings 4:11 Elisha rests on a bed
I Chron. 22:9 Rest from enemies
Eccles. 4:6 Rest better than labor
N.T. Mark 6:31 Disciples rested after being sent out
Mark 14:41 Disciples rested when they should have been praying
Rev. 14:13 Dead rest from their labor

Conclusions:
Many recent articles about people not getting enough sleep
God designed creation to need rest
Animals resting – have not sinned
Land needs rest from growing crops
Rest/relaxation is not sin
We should not feel guilty about resting
Purpose of rest: restoration

What keeps us from physical rest?
Busyness – the Martha syndrome – Luke 10:38-42
Misplaced priorities – Haggai 1:9
Guilt – rest is a waste of time
Inability to say “NO”

Mental/Emotional rest
Ex. 33:14 Israel in wilderness, discouraged; God promises rest (includes spiritual/mental)
Deut. 28:65 Israel scattered among nations; a “trembling heart, failing of eyes, and despair of soul” given by God
Psalm 22:2 We can’t rest because we think God doesn’t answer our prayers
Psalm 37:7 David reminds us to “rest in the Lord”
Also describes how to do that:
v. 1 fret not yourself because of evil doers
don’t be envious toward wrong-doers
v. 3 trust in the Lord
do good
v. 4 delight yourself in the Lord
v. 5 commit your way to the Lord
v. 8 cease from anger
Prov. 29:9 Controversies with the foolish can keep us from rest
We allow them to get under our skin
Eccles 2:23 We allow our labor to become painful and grievous
Jer. 45:3 We feel sorry for ourselves (Woe is me!)
2 Cor. 7:5 Afflictions, conflicts, fear keep us from resting
Rev. 14:13 Death gives rest from labors

Conclusions:
We need emotional (mental) downtime as well as physical downtime
Emotional downtime takes effort and planning
More difficult than simply sitting down or lying down for physical rest

What keeps us from mental rest:
Fear – lack of complete confidence in God’s protecting hand
Inability to give up control
Fear of getting out of our comfort zone
Unresolved anger
Outside influences: job, financial concerns, health concerns, children, interpersonal conflicts
Discouragement
Lack of relationships with others (we need Christian fellowship)

How can we rest mentally?
Get involved – significant work pressures left at office because of other responsibilities
Hobby, volunteer work,
Engage our mind – read good (enjoyable) books (How many have you read this year?)
Study God’s Word carefully (observation, interpretation, application)
Be quick to forgive
Don’t violate the Peter Principle – going one step beyond your capability
Work at something you enjoy
Avoid things that depress you (TV, news, etc.)

Spiritual Rest:
Ex. 33:14 God promises rest through His presence to the Israelites
Psalm 116:7 Psalmist reminds his soul to rest because the Lord has dealt bountifully with him
v. 8 rescued my soul from death
my eye from tears
my feet from stumbling
Job 3:13,17,26 Job speaks of the rest of death
Isaiah 30:15 We are saved through repentance and rest (in God)
Reflect on the day of your salvation
Our spiritual strength comes from quietness and trust
Jer. 6:16 If we live in obedience to God we will find rest for our souls
Jer. 31:2 Israel found rest when it recognized God’s grace
Jer. 50:34 God will bring spiritual rest to the earth
Matt. 11:28 Jesus promises us rest
Stresses gentleness and humbleness of heart
Rom. 15:32 The presence of other Christians can bring “refreshing rest”
Heb. 3:11 Not all enter God’s rest
Heb. 3:18 The disobedient do not enter God’s rest
Heb. 4:1 Fear (reverential trust) allows us to enter God’s rest
Heb. 4:3 God allows believers to enter His rest
Heb.4: 9-11 God’s people can enter a Sabbath rest
We can rest (have satisfaction) through our spiritual works knowing that through the ministry of the Holy Spirit God efficiently uses them
It takes diligence to enter that rest

Conclusions:
Spiritual rest comes through a confident faith in God
Death provides ultimate rest – our earthly struggles are over
Spiritual rest comes from obedience, quietness, and trust and the recognition of God’s grace in
our lives
Fellowship with other Christians gives us rest
We have to intentionally work at resting spiritually

What keeps us from spiritual rest?
Being out of fellowship with God
Busyness
Lack of recognition of God’s grace in our lives

How can we rest spiritually?
By spending concentrated time alone with Him (prayer and reading the Bible)
By keeping short accounts of sin in our lives
By confidently trusting in Him
By seeking fellowship with other believers

Cornelius

Acts 10:1-8

“Now there was a certain man at Caesarea named Cornelius, a centurion of what was called the Italian cohort, a devout man, and one who feared God with all his household, and gave many alms to the Jewish peoples, and prayed to God continually.”

These first two verses of Acts 10 give us a good picture of Cornelius who is recorded as the first gentile convert of the disciples. First, we see that he was a respected military leader. A centurion was an officer who supervised 100 men. To reach this level in the military indicated he must have been a man of intelligence and one who had leadership capabilities.

The second characteristic we notice about him is that he was a Godly man and led his family that way. At this point it is not apparent that he is a Christian, but most likely attended the synagogue and followed the Old Testament scriptures to the best of his knowledge and ability. He gave of his wealth generously and also prayed to God frequently.

Later in this passage we will see that when Peter presented the message of salvation Cornelius trusted Christ as his Savior. We should note here that in spite of the positive characteristics of Cornelius we noted earlier, he was not a Christian. Obviously, his heart had been prepared by the Holy Spirit and he was ready to receive the gospel.

There are many in our community in the same situation. They may even be known as “Godly” people, but they don’t know the Savior. I know personally an individual who appeared to all around him to be a Christian, but at 65 years of age realized he was trying to live a good life in his own strength and trusted Christ as his Savior. It is as important for us to share the gospel with these friends and neighbors as well as those who are obviously not Christians, whether they are our neighbors or in a foreign country.

The Life of Dorcas

Acts 9:36

“Now in Joppa there was a certain disciple named Tabitha (which translated in Greek is called Dorcas); this woman was abounding with deeds of kindness and charity, which she continually did.”

Luke now introduces us to a female disciple of Christ. She was evidently a rather wealthy woman and loved to serve others, especially the poor and needy. We notice in v. 39 that she made tunics and garments, obviously to give to the needy. We find throughout scripture that God is very concerned about the poor and widows and commands us to care for them.

In Isaiah 58:7 we are encouraged to “divide your bread with the hungry, and bring the homeless poor into the house; when you see the naked, to cover him”. James 1:27 says “This is pure and undefiled religion in the sight of our God and Father, to visit orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself unstained by the world.” Later in 2:15-16 we read “If a brother or sister is without clothing and in need of daily food, and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, be warmed and be filled,” and yet you do not give them what is necessary for their body, what use is that?”

What we glean from Dorcas’ life is that she had a burden for the poor and she acted on that. It is our natural inclination to look down on the poor, but that is not God’s desire. As God exposes us to those who have needs we should be willing to use the resources He has given us to meet those needs. It is not enough to say “be warmed and be filled”, but we should help them accomplish that.

Living in our community we may not get exposed to the needy very much, but they are really all around us. We have had the privilege of ministering at the Union Gospel Mission in Dallas for many years and found that to be a tremendous, growing experience. Many in the third world countries like Africa, India, and Asia are in significant need. It is our privilege and responsibility to help those in need. Recently many from New Orleans came into our community because of a hurricane that destroyed their home.
Often the best way to reach someone’s spiritual needs is to fulfill their material needs first. I hope you will develop a sensitive heart to those in need.

The Discernment of Barnabas

Acts 9:26-27

“And when he (Saul) had come to Jerusalem, he was trying to associate with the disciples; and they were all afraid of him, not believing that he was a disciple. But Barnabas took hold of him and brought him to the apostles and described to them how he had seen the Lord on the road, and that He had talked to him, and how at Damascus he had spoken out boldly in the name of Jesus.”

Luke now mentions Barnabas for the second time. He shared in 4:36 the fact that Barnabas sold some land and gave all the proceeds to the church. Now we learn that he was also a man of discernment. His relationship with Paul will grow and he will eventually accompany him on a missionary journey. We will also see the two of them handle a difference of opinion.

Because of Saul’s violent persecution of Christians in the past, they were fearful of him. They did not believe him when he told them he had become a disciple of Christ. It is obvious, however, that Barnabas had taken the time to listen to Saul and learn about his salvation. Barnabas also trusted that Saul was telling him the truth and was willing to put his reputation on the line for his friend. Notice that Barnabas was the one that spoke to the other disciples and explained Saul’s confrontation with the Lord on the Damascus road as well as Saul’s testimony at Damascus.

I think we see the Holy Spirit working in Barnabas’ life in this situation to give him great discernment. I also believe that is a ministry the Spirit continues to have today in the lives of Christians. Discernment is an aspect of wisdom and we know from I Corinthians 12:8 that wisdom is a spiritual gift. I think it is a gift most Christian leaders possess. James 1:5 says “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all men generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him.” All Christians can and should pray for wisdom in their everyday lives as well as in special situations.

The Courage Of Ananias

Acts 9:10-19

Tucked into the story of the conversion of Paul to Christianity is a brief glimpse of another man; one that you and I may be able to identify with more than Paul. This Ananias was a resident of Damascus where Saul (Paul) had been taken after his encounter with Christ. In that encounter Paul had been struck blind. Those with him had taken him to the house of a man named Judas where he had been for three days without taking food or water.

The Lord came to Ananias in a vision and told him to go explain to Paul what had happened. Ananias was fearful because he had heard of Paul’s reputation of “breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord” (9:1). You and I can understand that fear because often when we feel the Holy Spirit leading us to witness to someone about our faith a feeling of hesitancy or fear grips us. Ananias knew that Paul was intent on persecuting Christians. The Lord told Ananias that Paul was a chosen instrument who would witness to the Gentiles, kings and sons of Israel (v. 15).

I’m impressed that once Ananias understood he obeyed. The next thing we are told he is with Paul and explained to him what was happening “Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on the road by which you were coming, has sent me so that you may regain your sight, and be filled with the Holy Spirit.” Saul immediately regained his sight, arose and was baptized and immediately began to proclaim Jesus.

We all know the story of Saul, but we often fail to learn the lesson of Ananias. This quiet faithful Christian was faithful in obeying the Lord in what could have been a difficult situation. Can you imagine the blessing that must have come to Ananias, not only at Saul’s reaction but even years later as he observed the impact Paul had on the world?

We are often given opportunity to share our faith in the Lord Jesus and hesitate because of fear. The Lord wants us to be bold in our witness to others. I think we can see this from the attitude of boldness that has been demonstrated by so many so far in this book. I pray that you will take advantage of the opportunities you are given to share your faith.

Simon And The Ethiopian

Acts 8:9-40

Today we will look at the results of witnessing to Simon and to the Ethiopian. Simon practiced sorcery or magic through the power of Satan. He relished attention and adulation. Consider the contrast between him and Philip. Philip also performed miracles, but through the power of the Holy Spirit. The people also were amazed at his actions, but he deflected their praise to Jesus Christ and led them into a personal faith. We see that Simon was attracted to these miracles (v. 13) and that he also was constantly amazed.

The bestowing of the Spirit in this instance must have been very obvious, because it was evident to Simon. He offered the apostles money if they would allow him to “receive the Holy Spirit.” Notice Peter’s response in v. 20 “may your silver perish with you…you have no part or portion in this matter, for your heart is not right with God”. Simon’s motives were all wrong. He wanted to receive the Holy Spirit for personal gain. Although v. 13 says Simon “believed” I don’t think that means he became a Christian. James 2:19 says the “demons believe, and shudder” because theirs is an intellectual belief but not placing their trust in Him as their Savior. The word “perish” in v. 20 is also strong and is related to the same word in John 3:16.

God then very specifically directed Philip to go travel on a desert road. There he encountered a wealthy Ethiopian eunuch who was reading the Scriptures (probably out loud) while he was being carried in his chariot. As the Spirit directed Philip he came up to the eunuch and began witnessing to him. The Ethiopian trusted Christ as his Savior and then was baptized. When they came up out of the water the Lord snatched Philip away and the eunuch went on his way rejoicing (v. 39).
The point of sharing the stories of these two men with you is to remind you that we will encounter different results as we share our faith with others. Some will truly believe, as did the Ethiopian eunuch. Others will not as was probably the case with Simon. It is important that we leave the results to God. Our responsibility is to be faithful in sharing the message of salvation as we are led. We certainly can rejoice in what the Lord has done as people come to trust Him as their Savior. We must not become discouraged when people reject Him. Remember they are rejecting Him, not us.

Philip

Philip was introduced to us in Acts 6:5 as the second man chosen to assist the apostles in service. Now we see him being led of the Lord to go to Samaria to proclaim Christ. Philip’s message was authenticated by miracles (v. 7). There was a tremendous result as many came to know Christ as their personal Savior (.v 12). As a result there was much rejoicing.

The apostles in Jerusalem received word of what was happening in the city of Samaria in which Philip was ministering and sent Peter and John who prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit (v. 15). Many interpret this passage to mean that the receipt of the Holy Spirit is a second blessing that occurs sometime after salvation. I believe that the delay in receipt of the Holy Spirit is because this is the first group of people outside the Jews who responded to the gospel. We see this happening one more time when the first Gentiles believed. In these situations the receipt of the Holy Spirit was authenticating the gospel to those other than Jews. From that time forward believers have received the Holy Spirit in their lives at the moment of salvation.

We can draw another lesson from this passage. Although Philip was one of those appointed to wait on tables he also had a burden and a responsibility to share the message of salvation with others. He was obedient to the ministry of the Holy Spirit in his life directing him to do that. Every Christian receives a spiritual gift that he is to use to serve God. The gifts and their use are discussed in Romans 12, I Corinthians 12, and Ephesians 4. All Christians have the responsibility to proclaim the message of salvation to those who do not know Him. We are privileged in that God chose to use us in this way. We should be faithful to Him.

We are not responsible for anyone’s salvation, however. That is the work of the Holy Spirit. We will look next at two men to whom Philip witnessed that responded in two different ways. Philip was faithful in his witness to each of his men.

I urge you to be faithful in sharing the gospel with those with whom you come in contact.

Persecution

Act 8:1

“And Saul was in hearty agreement with putting him (Stephen) to death. And on that day a great persecution arose against the church in Jerusalem; and they were all scattered throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria except for the apostles.”

We have mentioned persecution in the past as we saw the apostles put in jail because of their testimony. That was relatively mild compared to what we see in this chapter. One of the greatest persecutors was Saul and we get another glimpse of him here in that role. Notice in v. 3 he began “ravaging the church, entering house after house; and dragging off men and women, he would put them in prison.” We’ll look at Saul more closely later.

Today, let’s spend some time thinking why God allows persecution of His people. In this instance I think one of the reasons is to begin the fulfillment of Acts 1:8 where Jesus shared with the Christians that they would “be My witnesses both in Jerusalem and in all Judea, and Samaria, and even to the remotest part of the earth. Notice the persecution caused the people to be scattered throughout “the regions of Judea and Samaria” (8:1). We see in v. 4 “those who had been scattered went about preaching the word.”

A study of the history of Christianity will reveal that there is a close relationship between persecution and growth of the number of Christians. Examine the countries where persecution has been greatest and missionaries have even been forced to leave. China is a great example as it was a closed country for years. When it began to open up and Christians gained access they learned that there were a tremendous number of Christians and house churches meeting in secret. That also occurred in countries in Eastern Europe.

I have had the privilege of getting to know Congressman Sam Johnson, who currently represents Plano in the U. S. Congress. He was a prisoner of war for seven years during the Vietnam war. He will tell you his faith was the only thing that got him through that time and that it grew immeasurably as he faced great persecution almost to the point of death. He has been a stalwart testimony for Christ since going through that experience. I have heard the same thing about men who were imprisoned in Soviet Russia.

Sometimes we don’t know why God allows persecution and we have a significant instance in the Bible in the case of Job. What we do know is that God took him through that time and he was faithful. His testimony has been preserved in Scriptures for our benefit.
I pray that regardless of the situations you face in life, you will be faithful to Him.

Stephen

Acts 6:8-7:60

Stephen is first mentioned in v. 5 when the congregation chose him to be a deacon. In that verse we learn he was “a man full of faith and the Holy Spirit”. In v. 8 we see him also described as “full of grace and power” and in v. 10 we learn that he had great wisdom. He was brought on trial before the same authorities that the Apostles had faced. His defense before them in chapter 7 is the longest message recorded in Acts.

As I read his defense I am impressed with his command of Israel’s history. He begins with Abraham, calling him father, and talks about Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, Moses, Joshua, David, and Solomon. He also demonstrates a deep knowledge of the Bible quoting from Genesis, Exodus, Deuteronomy, Amos, and Isaiah. One of the best summaries of Old Testament history I have read is Stephen’s defense. One of the significant things he points out in this message is that Israel did not accept the leadership of Joseph and Moses the first opportunity they had. Each of them was initially rejected, just as Christ was.

Then Stephen stated his defense in v. 51 “You men who are stiff-necked and uncircumcised in heart and ears are always resisting the Holy Spirit; you are doing just as your fathers did.” That is quite a statement for someone who knows he is facing death. Don’t miss the implication of the word “heart”. While these men may have been circumcised physically, they weren’t from a “heart” or spiritual perspective and this is what really mattered. While they may have heard the message of truth they did not listen, accept it and apply it to their lives. The primary point of Stephen’s message is that Israel always evidenced a pattern of opposition to God’s plan and His men.
That is still true today of Israel and of much of human kind. That is the world we live in today and we must be prepared to face it with the same kind of courage Stephen and the apostles did. I don’t know what we may face as the future unfolds, but I thank God for your acceptance of Him and pray that you will have the courage to be bold for Him in the midst of opposition that is sure to come.

Delegation Of Responsibility

Acts 6:1-7

Many people were trusting Jesus Christ as their Savior at this time (v. 7). The apostles began to see that their ministry was being impacted by many details that needed to be handled. They made a decision to delegate some of these responsibilities so that the apostles could continue to “devote ourselves to prayer, and to the ministry of the word.”

There are several important principles we can glean from this passage. First, is the importance of staying focused on God’s purpose for your life. The apostles had been charged to spread the Gospel and as they began to bog down in details, they were not carrying out this responsibility as effectively as they could have been.

Note also that they were not carrying out the other tasks well as people were being neglected (v. 1). It is often easy to assume that we can do tasks better than others but as we let those duties take up our time we do not accomplish our main purpose as efficiently as we could. This principle applies to our work lives and our Spiritual lives. God has given each of us specific spiritual gifts and we should be careful to use them most effectively.

Notice that the apostles also exhorted the congregation to be careful about whom they chose. We see in v. 3 the men should be “of good reputation, full of the Spirit and of wisdom”. First the men should have been mature enough so that they have developed a good reputation. Secondly, they should be walking closely to the Lord which would be evidenced by the fact that they were Spirit filled. Finally, they should have demonstrated wisdom by using their knowledge well.
The apostles also realized the danger of neglecting the word of God (v. 2) and prayer (v. 4). I cannot express to you strongly enough how important I think it is to spend time daily in God’s word and in prayer. I know from experience that regardless of your age or education level God can and will speak to you through the Bible. I encourage you to develop and maintain a habit of daily Bible study and prayer and don’t let other priorities get in the way of that. It is critical to your spiritual growth.

Rejoice In Suffering

Acts 5:41

“So they went on their way from the presence of the Council, rejoicing that they had been considered worthy to suffer shame for His name.”

Notice in v. 40 that the apostles were physically beaten and released as the Council followed Gamaliel’s advice. Years ago I underlined v. 41 in my Bible because it reveals to me the attitude I should have when I feel rejected or persecuted for sharing the Gospel. As we learned before the apostles had been threatened with death if they continued to talk about Jesus and yet they remained faithful. Now we see that although they had been ordered to talk about Jesus no more “they kept right on teaching and preaching Jesus as the Christ” (v. 41) and rejoiced “that they had been considered worthy to suffer shame for His name” v. 40).

I don’t know what the future holds, but as I write this morning I am aware of continuing and increasing pressure in America to remove God from our society. Our freedoms are constantly being threatened and we need to stand strong in defense of them. Even in the school systems around us people are trying to remove any influence of God. Even elementary age children face pressure to sin against God especially through the use of drugs and sexual immorality. I pray daily that my grand-children would be able to reject those threats because of the ministry of the Holy Spirit in their life.

We still have much more freedom than other places in the world and we should not take that for granted. We have good churches all around us that are faithfully teaching the Bible. We have schools that are faithfully training men and women in the Christian faith. As I serve in leadership roles in church, at Dallas Theological Seminary and on a mission board I see Satan working hard to negatively impact or destroy those ministries, just as he was working through the Sadducees and Pharisees in this passage in Acts. It is critically important that we pray diligently for faithful ministries and also labor to protect the freedom to worship we enjoy.
I remember when my children were born in the sixties feeling fear for them because of the world into which they were born. I have since learned that God is in control and I can be assured that He will work out His best in our lives if we allow Him. Those of us who are older have a vital ministry in praying for our children and grand-children. We should be sensitive to His will and obedient to His desire for us to be faithful and rejoice that we are a part of His family.

Listen To Wise Counsel

Acts 5:33-40

The religious leaders of the day were very upset at the disciples and disturbed at their teaching. These leaders were ready to put the disciples to death. One of the elder men in the group, a Pharisee named Gamaliel, stood up and gave them different advice. He shared with them that if what the apostles were teaching was of men, it would be overthrown and cited some examples of the past. However, if the teaching was from God, man would not be able to overthrow it.

Gamaliel was known as a very wise teacher of the law. In fact Paul had been one of his disciples before his conversion. He was highly regarded in rabbinic tradition and given the highest possible title for Jewish teachers. We notice in v. 40 that the religious leaders, both Sadducees and Pharisees, took his advice.

It is wise to listen to good counsel whether it is of a spiritual or of a material nature. I encourage you to develop relationships with wise men and women that can be of benefit to you and pay attention to their counsel in your life. God has brought several wise men into my life and I believe I have benefited greatly from them. Some of them have been very helpful to me in my spiritual life and others have provided good counsel regarding my career, work habits, etc.

I believe God has placed both Godly and worldly men in my life who have given me good counsel. The one thing I needed to do was to check their counsel against the word of God. If it was good and not contrary to the Bible then I used it effectively in my life. Gamaliel was most likely not a Christian, yet his advice to these men was good.

Another thing we can learn from this passage is that the crowd is not always right. People are easily influenced and this group of religious leaders was being led the wrong way until Gamaliel stood up and challenged them. Often the counsel we may receive may not go along with what the majority are thinking. We need the courage to stand alone and be different if that is the way God is leading.

I pray that you would take advantage of the wise counselors God puts in your life.

“We Must Obey God Rather Than Men”

Acts 5:29

“But Peter and the apostles answered and said, “We must obey God rather than men.”

In this passage (Acts 5:17-32) we have the first of three occurrences where apostles were imprisoned for their faith. In this situation apparently all twelve of the apostles were put in prison (v. 18). An angel of the Lord released them and told them to go preach the message of salvation in the temple. In most cases when people escape from jail they hide from the authorities but in this situation the apostles were instructed to be very obvious about their denial of the rulers commands.

The Bible teaches us to honor human authority and to obey human laws. Here we find an exception to that rule and one that applies to us also. We are to be obedient of the laws of the land in which we live unless they command us to be disobedient to God. In that situation our allegiance to God as a Christian should cause us to obey God rather than man.

Notice the nature of the apostles rebellion. It was not one of force but of simple obedience to the angel’s instructions. They went to the temple and preached the gospel. There is no evidence of resistance when the authorities came to arrest them again. I think one of the reasons for this attitude was the apostles extreme confidence in God. They were very aware of the Holy Spirit’s protection in their lives. It challenges me to see their boldness when I realize that we live in a country where we have freedom of expression and yet we seem to be so hesitant to share the message of salvation to those around us.

It is exciting to be around new Christians because they are typically very bold in sharing their faith. Then as they begin to meet resistance and observe many Christians not doing that, they become more hesitant. We should strive to maintain the freshness of the newness of Christ in our lives and a willingness and boldness to share our faith realizing the ministry of the Holy Spirit in our lives and in the lives of those with whom we share.

Ananias and Sapphira

Acts 5:1-11

The story of Ananias and Sapphira is one of the more familiar in the New Testament and it is important that we understand its implications. We don’t see God judging His people this severely very often so we need to grasp the significance. Some time ago in studying the book of Joshua we discussed the sin of Achan (Joshua 7) which had similar ramifications. In his case not only was he put to death but also his entire family.

Remember we have just discussed how the people were willing to sell property because others had need. We were just told in Acts 4:36-37 that Barnabas had sold a piece of property and brought the proceeds to the Apostles to use as needed. Ananias and Sapphira did the same thing, only they kept back some of the proceeds but made others believe they had given everything. This is called hypocrisy and is one of Satan’s most effective tools. Their sin was not keeping something from God, but lying to Him.

It seems apparent that Ananias was a Christian, yet “Satan filled his heart”. Satan can influence the Christian as well as the non-Christian. When we become a Christian we get a new nature, but the old nature still resides within us and is constantly fighting for control of our lives. We must not let Satan succeed. I John 1:9 was written to the Christian and we need to confess our sin as soon as we realized we have sinned in order to maintain a right relationship with God.

Don’t miss the insight given to Peter by the Holy Spirit. He immediately knew something was amiss and challenged Ananias. He then revealed the sin “You have not lied to men, but to God.” It is important here to note the fact that we are completely transparent before God; we have no secrets from Him. He not only knows our every deed, He knows our every thought.

I pray that you will be so sensitive to God’s direction in your life that you will recognize when Satan presents you with temptation and will avoid it. When you disobey God with your thoughts or actions I pray that you will recognize that quickly and confess it to Him so that you will retain the relationship with Him that He desires.

Sharing Among Believers

Acts 4:32-37

It is interesting to note the unity of believers in these first few chapters of Acts. We saw earlier that the Christians were selling their possessions to care for the needs of others. Here we see a specific example of that and are introduced to the man Barnabas.

Notice the characteristics of the believers mentioned in this passage. They were of “one heart and one soul”, “not one of them claimed that anything belonging to him was his own”, “there was not a needy person among them”. I believe this is the way God desires the church to function. That belief is confirmed by a study of the Bible’s teaching concerning the poor, widows and orphans. Consistently we are instructed to care for them.

The Bible is careful, however, to point out that there should not be abuse of this practice. For instance I Timothy 5 discusses the care and regulation of widows in depth. Notice in v. 4 that the first responsibility is with the children and grand-children of the widow. God felt so strongly about this that in v. 8 He tells us that if we don’t care for our own we are worse than an unbeliever. Additional regulations are listed in the following verses. If a widow doesn’t have family it is the church’s responsibility to care for her.

Notice the result of being obedient to the Lord’s commands in this area. Acts 4:33 tells us “abundant grace was upon them all”. That abundant grace is a part of the abundant life Jesus has promised (John 10:10).

We live in a very selfish society, one that depends on the government to care for the poor and needy. The majority of people are living beyond their means so if a crisis occurs where they desire to share they often are prevented from doing so because of their own financial condition. From God’s perspective giving should be our top financial priority but from the human perspective it is our bottom priority.

I pray that you will be sensitive and responsive to the needs God places on your heart. You will be richly blessed by that attitude.

Specific Prayer/Specific Answer

Acts 4:23-31

This passage gives us the first prayer recorded in the book of Acts. Peter and John had been released and went to their companions and shared what had happened to them. All of them apparently lifted their voices in prayer to God recognizing His sovereignty. We also learn that they realized that the Holy Spirit directed the writing of the Old Testament as they quote Psalm 2. Finally, they recognized that the opposition encountered was predestined by God.

In verse 29 they asked that they might be given boldness to “speak Thy word with all confidence.” We see the answer occurs quickly in v. 31 where we are told they “began to speak the word of God with boldness.”

Prayer is an important part of our Christian lives and one that is often neglected unless we are encountering some type of problem. Many Christians seem to want their relationship with God to be like one with a mechanic. They only come to Him when there is a problem. These men had just escaped a problem and were now asking for boldness to continue their ministry in spite of the opposition they expected to face.

Notice that first they gave praise to God and recognized His sovereignty. That is a good process in our prayer life. It is profitable for us to recognize the largeness of God and the smallness of ourselves. They also recognized God’s power and desire to work through them as they prayed for boldness to proclaim His message. When we are carrying out God’s will in our lives we can anticipate the leading and power of His Holy Spirit in our lives. We must be careful, however, never to take that for granted and we should also give Him the glory for anything that is accomplished through us.

I pray that you will recognize the awesomeness of the Holy Spirit residing within you and that you will also see the need to maintain a vital prayer life.

Evidence Of A Relationship

Acts 4:13

“Now as they observed the confidence of Peter and John, and understood that they were uneducated and untrained men, they were marveling, and began to recognize them as having been with Jesus.”

It became evident to everyone exposed to Peter and John that something had changed about their lives. These men were known to have been uneducated and untrained yet they were speaking with authority and confidence. It is interesting that John’s leadership is being noticed for the first time. We had seen before that the two of them were going to the temple (3:1) but up to this point Peter seems to have taken the lead. Here, twice in this passage (v. 13, 19) John appears to be joining the discussion.

The other phrase that attracted my attention was that everyone began to realize that they had “been with Jesus”. This phrase really challenges me and forces me to ask myself the question: do others recognize my relationship with Jesus? Is there evidence of the Holy Spirit working in and through me as I go about my daily routine?

I know from the study of the Bible that the Holy Spirit is as active within me as He was within Peter and John. His power can be manifested through my life just as it was through theirs. I can have the same confidence and boldness through the Spirit’s ministry to me.

Peter and John were confident enough in their relationship with the Lord that when they were commanded not to speak or teach about Jesus they responded “Whether it is right in the sight of God to give heed to you rather than to God, you be the judge; for we cannot stop speaking what we have seen and heard.” Do I have that same confidence and will I have it if I am confronted as they were?

Paul exhorts us in I Cor. 11:28 to examine ourselves to assure we are in right relationship with God. It is good to do that often, not just as we anticipate participating in communion. As we do that and confess the sin in our lives we allow the Holy Spirit to have complete control of us. It is our responsibility to be filled with the Spirit and we need to take that responsibility seriously.

I pray that those around you will recognize that you have been with Jesus.

Salvation In No One Else

Act 4:12

“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.”

Peter and John were aggressively speaking to the people about the resurrection of Jesus in this passage. The priests involved (v. 1) were probably Sadducees who did not believe in the resurrection. The captain of the temple guard arrested Peter and John because of the commotion they were causing.

We see the results of their message in v. 5 where we are told that about 5,000 men were saved. Throughout history we see that in times of persecution the Lord works mightily in the hearts of men.

Those in charge asked Peter a very leading question which gave him an open opportunity to share the Gospel. Peter never hesitated but quickly proclaimed the Lord Jesus to them. Note that this was done by the prompting of the Holy Spirit (v. 8). Peter asked them a question that really put these leaders on the defensive: are we on trial for a benefit done to a sick man?”

The statement in v. 12 is a very important one and is especially meaningful in today’s environment. Even in America we are being challenged by other religions that do not believe in Jesus. We are in the midst of a war with Arab nations because of our desire to see people free from persecution. Many people who believe in other god’s are moving into our country and others are challenging our right to worship our God. I believe America is following Europe into a post-Christian society.

I have no idea what our society will look like in the future. I am sure of one thing: God is still in control. My counsel to you is to be bold in sharing the plan of salvation to others. God has placed you, as a Christian, in this world for that purpose. You may very well face persecution as you do that but you can be confident that God is with you and will never forsake you. Remember the promise and the challenge God gave Moses and Joshua “I will not fail you or forsake you. Be strong and courageous…”

Seizing The Opportunity

Act 3:11-26

Peter noticed the amazement of the people at the healing of the paralytic and took the opportunity to share the Gospel message. Notice that he first gives credit to God by clearly stating that the healing was not done in his own power. Once again we also see the boldness he has been given by the Spirit when he accuses the people of putting to death the Lord Jesus.

As you read this account pay attention to the three titles Peter gives to the Lord Jesus during his message. First he uses the title “His servant Jesus” (v. 13). This title reminds me of the passage in Phil. 2:6-8 “---although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a Cross.”

Next Peter uses the title “Holy and Righteous One” (v. 14). In Hebrews 7:26 we read “For it was fitting that we should have such a high priest, holy, innocent, undefiled, separated from sinners and exalted above the heavens.”

Finally in v. 15 Peter calls Christ the “Prince (Author) of life”. Although they killed the Author of life God raised Him from the dead.

In Jesus servanthood we see Him as man, then as the Holy and Righteous One we see Him as God and finally, as the Author of life as one who death cannot conquer, but who is risen again.

Peter’s message was clear as he simply told the people they needed to repent and to trust Jesus as their Savior. Sharing Christ is not that complicated. It is simply explaining the Gospel to others. Help them see that they have sinned and are separated from God. But Jesus, through His death paid the price for our sins and has risen and is currently with the Father in heaven preparing a place for us to dwell eternally with Him. We will do that only if we trust Him as our Savior.

You will have many opportunities to share the Gospel. I pray you will be faithful in doing that.

Apostolic Miracles

Acts 3:2-10

"2And a man who had been lame from his mother's womb was

being carried along, whom they used to set down every day at the gate of

the temple which is called Beautiful, in order to beg alms of those who were

entering the temple. 3When he saw Peter and John about to go into the

temple, he began asking to receive alms. 4But Peter, along with John,

fixed his gaze on him and said, "Look at us!" 5And he began to give

them his attention, expecting to receive something from them.

6But Peter said, "I do not possess silver and gold, but what I do have

I give to you: In the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene--walk!"

7And seizing him by the right hand, he raised him up; and immediately

his feet and his ankles were strengthened.
8With a leap he stood upright and began to walk; and he entered

the temple with them, walking and leaping and praising God.
9And all the people saw him walking and praising God;
10and they were taking note of him as being the one who used to sit

at the Beautiful Gate of the temple to beg alms, and they were filled

with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him."

The story in this passage recounts the healing of a man who had been lame from birth. Some mistakenly interpret this passage to indicate that the gift of healing is still present among Christians today. There is no question that God still heals; we all have witnessed that in our lifetime. But we believe that God does not bestow the gift of healing on people today.

The apostles had the gift of healing because it was a “sign” gift. It authenticated their role as messengers from God. Jesus also healed many to give evidence that He was the Messiah (Matt. 11:2-5). It was needed because the New Testament was not available at that time and others could identify these men as men of God through the use of this gift. Paul used the gift of healing early in his ministry, but not toward the end of his ministry. There were several times when Paul or one of his friends became ill and they were not miraculously healed. There is very little mention of the gift of healing in the epistles. Today, we have the Bible and the “sign gifts” are no longer exercised.

Today God often brings about healing when people pray, but it is evident that he doesn’t heal everyone. That was even true of Paul (II Cor. 12:7-10). Paul desperately wanted the Lord to remove his infirmity. God chose not to do that but replied “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness”. Some would say that God didn’t answer Paul’s prayer, but I believe He responded negatively and we need to accept that response as Paul did. God knew Paul’s personality much better that he did, and knew that this “thorn in the flesh” would help Paul maintain the right attitude and perspective toward Him.”

But we certainly don’t say that God doesn’t heal. Just recently we have witnessed God heal a physical problem in the heart of an eight year old at our church. The doctors were astounded when they reviewed x-rays taken at two different times. The first x-rays clearly showed a problem with an artery coming from the heart and a few months later the second x-rays showed the problem to be completely eliminated.

Another factor to notice here is that God heals immediately and completely. The paralytic immediately gained full strength (he didn’t have to build up his muscles) and began walking and leaping and praising God.

It is entirely appropriate today to pray for healing and we should give God the glory when that happens. We must beware of those who claim to have the power of healing. They are usually after gain for themselves.

A Consistent Prayer Life

Acts 3:1

“Now Peter and John were going up to the temple at the ninth hour, the hour of prayer”

This verse brings to mind the importance of a consistent prayer life. It does not talk about a rote exercise but does indicate the importance of prayer in the life of these two disciples.

As I read this account of prayer I’m reminded of the importance Daniel placed on prayer. In Daniel 6:10 we see Daniel faithfully praying three times a day. This practice aggravated his antagonists and they convinced the king to pass a law against doing that. Daniel persisted in prayer anyway. He would not have done that if prayer was a rote exercise or at least he would not have continued to do so publicly. His prayer life was important enough to him that he continued even though he knew the consequences (being thrown in the lion’s den).

I appreciate Daniel’s prayer for his people in chapter nine. His pattern there is a good one for us to follow. Notice he begins in verse four by giving God adoration “the great and awesome God who keeps his covenant and lovingkindness…”. Then he goes into a lengthy time of confession and thanksgiving (v. 5-17). Finally he closes with his supplications or requests (v. 17-19).

So often we rush into our prayer time by telling God of all our needs and what we want Him to do for us. We fail to follow Daniel’s model and the model our Lord Jesus gave us which begin with adoration, confession and thanksgiving. I’m convinced God is much more pleased with us when we follow the model He has given us through His Word.

Daniel, Peter and John were all criticized and persecuted for their faithfulness in prayer. We should be thankful that we live in a free society that gives us this freedom. Even now we see that freedom threatened almost daily. We should be concerned about protecting that freedom for our children and our grandchildren. We must not take it for granted.
I pray that you will be a person of consistent and disciplined prayer. Find a time when you can get alone each day with God without being rushed. Keep a prayer list if that is helpful. Don’t forget to praise Him for who He is, thank Him for answered prayer, confess those sins in your life and bring your needs to Him confidently; not because of who you are but because of who He is.

Essentials Of The Christian Life

Acts 2:42

“And they were continually devoting themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.”

This verse efficiently summarizes the basics of the Christian faith. The way we grow and mature as Christians and carry out God’s plan for our lives is by practicing these essentials; learning, fellowship, and prayer. Let’s consider first the importance of learning. Once we become a Christian the Holy Spirit teaches us primarily through the study of the Bible. It is critically important that we develop the habit of daily studying God’s Word. Study is more than just reading; it includes carefully observing, accurately interpreting, and applying the lessons we learn. Our study should impact our lives as we learn more about how God wants us to live.

The second important aspect of the Christian life is that of fellowship. We need to be careful about whom we spend time with and who influences us. Spending time with others who love the Lord and desire to grow in Him will help us grow in our relationship with Him. If we are around Christians who are more interested in the things of this world, we are likely to pick up their habits.

But we need to associate with non-believers also. That is not really fellowship. Our purpose in being with non-believers should be to lead them into a relationship with Christ. Those relationships take place in school, at work, and in our neighborhood. In those situations the non-believers should recognize that, as Christians, we are different than them. We have different priorities.

An important part of fellowship is helping to meet the needs of others. We see in Acts 2:45 the Christians were “selling their property and possessions and were sharing them with all, as anyone might have need”. We need to be sensitive to the needs of others and share with them as the Lord has blessed us. We are told in I Timothy 6:18 to “do good, be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share.” The next verse tells us that in doing that we “take hold of that which life is indeed”.

Prayer is also an integral part of the Christian life. God wants us to communicate with Him regularly and constantly. Every decision we make, every action we take should be bathed in prayer. One way we learn God’s will for us is to earnestly seek for His will in our prayer life. He has promised to respond and I can tell you from personal experience He is faithful in doing that.
I pray that you will consistently practice these essentials of the Christian faith.

Salvation From Two Perspectives

Acts 2:38-39

“And Peter said to them, “Repent, and let each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise is for you and your children, and for all who are far off, as many as the Lord our God shall call to himself.”

In these two verses we see both the human and divine side of salvation. From the human side we are called to repent from our sins and that is a decision we must make ourselves. The baptism mentioned here is water baptism, or identification, which is another decision we make for ourselves. Water baptism is an outward sign, a public indication of a decision we have previously made. Although I trusted the Lord as my Savior when I was twelve years old I was not baptized until I was almost 20. I did not understand baptism for a long time and knew that I was “baptized” as a child. As I came to understand the meaning of baptism I wanted to make that public identification.

The last portion of this verse could be misunderstood when we read “you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit”. It is a promise given by God that the gift is one you receive the moment you trust Christ as your Savior. It is not tied to the process of water baptism.

The divine side is mentioned in v. 39 “as many as the Lord our God shall call to himself”. Paul explains in Ephesians 1:3 that “He chose us in Him before the foundations of the world…” This teaching is difficult to understand but we can be sure God knows each one of us who will come to trust the Lord Jesus as their Savior.

I appreciate the phrase in v. 39 “all who are far off”. I don’t think this phrase speaks of a distance perspective, but from a time perspective. It is referring to you and me. Think of the fact that almost 2,000 years have passed since that statement was made, but God already had you in His plan. We should give Him praise often that He called us to be His children

Peter’s Leadership

Acts 2:14-36

We noticed in the first chapter how Peter stood up in the upper room and began the discussion concerning Judas’ replacement (1:15-22). Now we see him delivering his first sermon. He is answering the mockers who said that those who were full of the Holy Spirit were “filled with sweet wine”.

As he delivers this sermon we see evidence of the Holy Spirit ministering to him. First, notice how he quotes a long passage of the book of Joel (v. 17-21) and then a passage from a psalm David wrote (Psalm 16:8-11). I don’t know how Peter had previously been exposed to these passages, but it is evident that the Holy Spirit helps him recall them. I discovered some time ago, that if I memorized Scripture, the Holy Spirit would give me recall of those passages when it was appropriate for me to use them.

Note also Peter’s boldness. In v. 23 we see him boldly declaring that these men were responsible for Jesus’ death. He then confidently assured them that God, the Father, raised Jesus from the grave revealing that He had power over death. Peter said he knew Jesus had been raised because he personally saw Him and talked to Him after His resurrection. It is an awesome thing to think that God has power over physical death and realize that even though we may die some day we may be assured that we will be raised again to new life in Him. He then quotes another Psalm of David (110:1) concerning Christ’s present role.

Peter closed his sermon with a powerful statement (v. 36). “Therefore let all the house of Israel know for certain that God has made Him both Lord and Christ—this Jesus whom you crucified.” Peter is beginning to carry out his responsibility as a disciple with confidence and boldness. He probably was amazed himself as the Holy Spirit gives him recall of Old Testament Scriptures. And we know that just a few days earlier he had denied knowing Christ because of fear of physical harm. This experience will give him confidence to be bold about his testimony in the future. An important factor in developing this confidence is the realization that, although they may harm him physically, there is nothing they can do to harm him spiritually.

I can tell you from experience the Holy Spirit acts in our lives the same way. He has given me recall of Scripture when I am sharing with others and He has also given me confidence and boldness. On the other hand I’ve learned that when I try to do things in my own power I am a failure. I encourage you to be bold in your Christian testimony.

The Day of Pentecost

Acts 2:1-13

The event recorded in this passage is very important because it marks the beginning of the church. Pentecost means fifty and this feast gets its name because it follows the Feast of Firstfruits by 50 days (Lev. 23:15-22). In a dramatic scene those that were there heard a noise like a tornado and saw tongues of fire resting on each one of them. They were actually able to see themselves being filled with the Holy Spirit as promised in 1:8 and as evidence of this filling they spoke in other languages so that everyone could understand each other (v. 8). The tongues of fire represent the presence of God. Everyone was amazed but not everyone understood what was happening. Some even began to mock the others saying that they were drunk.

The subject of speaking in tongues, introduced here, is one that has caused confusion among Christians today and should be studied carefully. First we must realize that this event represented the filling of the Holy Spirit and not the baptism of the Spirit. The Spirit’s baptism occurs once for each believer at the moment of Salvation (Acts 11:15-16, Romans 6:3, I Cor. 12:13). The filling of the Spirit occurs not only at the moment of Salvation, but also at other times during our lives.

There is a difference in responsibility concerning the baptism of the Spirit and the filling of the Spirit. The baptism of the Spirit occurs to all at the moment of salvation. The responsibility to be filled with the Spirit is ours. Paul, in Ephesians 5:15 explains that we should “be careful how you walk” and then in v. 18 exhorts us to “be filled with the Spirit”. He also challenges us in I Thessalonians 5:19 “Do not quench the Spirit”. We must assume from these passages that we can hinder the Spirit’s work in our lives and we do that by sinning against God. When we quench the Spirit we are not filled with the Spirit. When we confess our sin and are in right relationship with God we are filled with the Spirit.

It is very important that we realize the Spirit’s ministry in our lives and allow Him to minister effectively to us. We do that by living our lives in a way that is pleasing to God.

An Apostle Appointed

Acts1:21-26

Judas had abdicated his apostleship by betraying Jesus and then hanging himself. Peter tells us in this passage that he should be replaced. Judas is the only apostle who is replaced when he died. Note in Acts 12:2 that when Herod had James (the brother of John) put to death there is no mention of replacement. A primary reason for the need to replace Judas was so that the prophecy in Matt. 19:28 could be fulfilled. There Jesus promised that the twelve apostles would sit upon twelve thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel. Psalm 109:8 also prophesied that Judas would be replaced “His office let another man take.”

There are men today who claim to be apostles, but they are not. We know that because one of the requirements of apostleship was that the individual must have witnessed the resurrection of Jesus. Of course, there is no one around today that meets that requirement.

We must be careful about who we allow to influence us and who we learn from as we grow in our Christian faith. One of the ways Satan leads us astray is by bringing bad influences into our lives. That is why it is critical that we measure everything we are taught by men by the Word of God. Men can take passages of Scripture and twist them to appear to mean something they don’t. If we are not mature enough in our faith and have not studied the Bible carefully enough we can be led into believing these false teachings.

I know this is true because I have witnessed this several times in our church. People in our congregation have become enamored with a false teaching from someone (outside our congregation) in whom they erroneously placed their trust. Even in our church I’ve had to challenge an adult Sunday School teacher who claimed the Bible was not inerrant.

I would encourage you to study the Bible carefully enough so that you will recognize when someone tries to teach you something other than its truths. I pray that you will be strong enough to stand up to that teaching and walk away from it so your faith is not hindered.

Jesus Return Promised

Acts 1:11

“and they also said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into the sky? This Jesus, who has been taken up from you into heaven, will come in just the same way as you have watched Him go into heaven.”

Immediately after Jesus shared with the disciples their responsibility as witnesses He was “lifted up while they were looking on, and a cloud received Him out of their sight” (1:9). The disciples were awe struck and gazing intently at Him as He departed. Two angels standing beside the disciples told them that Jesus would come back just as He departed. This scene took place at the Mount of Olives and I remember standing there with Nana, your Mom and Dad, and uncle Gary reflecting on that occasion. It was an awesome experience, being there on the Mount of Olives and looking toward the city of Jerusalem, thinking of all the Biblical history that had taken place.

That is a promise the disciples really held onto and one that all Christians today cherish. One day Jesus is going to return for all of us. The apostle Paul reveals more about that day in I Thes. 4:16-17 “For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trumpet of God; and the dead in Christ shall rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up to meet the Lord in the air, and thus we shall always be with the Lord.” Paul thought the Lord was going to return before he died and we as Christians can have that same expectation. His return is imminent. There is nothing else in the prophetic calendar that needs to occur before Jesus returns for us.

That event is called the rapture. It is distinguished from the Second Coming in that Jesus calls us up into the clouds to be with Him at the rapture. His second coming is a time of judgment for those who have not believed in Him.

An important message from the angels can be drawn from the question “why do you stand looking into the sky?” We should be looking for the Lord’s return but we should not be standing around waiting for it. We should be about the purpose the Lord gave us as well as the disciples of telling others about the Lord Jesus. We should be obedient to the Lord’s command recorded in Matt. 28:19 “Go therefore and make disciples”. God has chosen us to be the instruments of sharing the gospel and we should be faithful in doing that.

A Promise And A Fact

“But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you;

and you shall be My witnesses both in Jerusalem,

and in all Judea and Samaria, and even to the remotest part of the earth.”

Acts 1:8

The promise in this verse is “you shall receive power; the fact is “you shall be My witnesses”. The promise of the Holy Spirit coming into the lives of the disciples was fulfilled just a few days later and occurs today immediately when an individual trusts the Lord Jesus as his personal Savior. We can count on that because it is a promise from the Lord. The fact is that as a Christian we are a witness to those around us. The quality of our witness depends on our relationship with the Lord.

Let’s dwell for a moment on the thought that we are a witness. We may be a good witness or we may be a poor witness. If we are known as a Christian do others see in the quality of our lives something they desire or do we live in such a way that we hinder them in trusting the Lord. We can be either a positive influence or a negative influence. The Bible gives us an example of a poor witness as we read of Peter denying any relationship with the Lord (Matt. 26:69-75). We also read of him being a positive witness many times.

The disciples were also being challenged in this verse to spread the gospel all over the world. That same command applies to us today. God doesn’t ask everyone to go to a remote part of the world to be a witness, but he does want our availability if that is what He desires. Rev. 5:9 says “Worthy art Thou to take the book, and to break its seals; for Thou wast slain, and didst purchase for God with Thy blood men from every tribe and tongue and people and nation.” Jesus also challenged the disciples in Matt. 28:19-20 “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you…”

As a child of God you are a privileged person. You are also one who has responsibilities to Him. I pray that you will be sensitive to the Lord’s leading in your life and will be willing to go wherever He leads. Many Christians do not lead fulfilled lives because of their unwillingness to be obedient in this area. I can assure you that you will be most satisfied in your life by following God’s will.

Baptism – Water vs. Holy Spirit

“for John baptized with water,

but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.”

Act 1:5

This is another verse that has created some controversy among Christians. Two types of baptism are mentioned here. In fact, two different Greek words are used; “bapto” and “baptize”. “Bapto” means to be dipped and “baptize” is an act that produces a permanent change. When cucumbers are made into pickles they are first dipped (“bapto”) into boiling water and then they are immersed (“baptize”) into vinegar. The vinegar produces a permanent change in the cucumber to make it a pickle.

John baptized with water as a sign of identification with his belief in Christ. We are told as Christians in Mark 16:16 that those who believe should be baptized. Paul describes this process in Romans 6:4 “Therefore we have been buried with Him through baptism into death, in order that as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so we too might walk in newness of life.” When we are immersed in water we are identifying with Christ’s death and when we are raised out of the water we are identifying with His resurrection.

The baptism of the Holy Spirit Jesus mentions in Acts 1:5 means a permanent indwelling. Jesus says in John 14:16-17 “And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may be with you forever; that is the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it does not behold Him or know Him, but you know Him because He abides with you and will be in you.”

One of the immediate benefits of salvation is that the Holy Spirit indwells us and will never leave. We may quench His ministry in our lives (I Thes. 5:19), but He will never depart from us. In Ephesians 5:18 we are exhorted to “be filled with the Spirit”. The filling of the Spirit in our lives is our responsibility. When we sin we quench His ministry and are not filled. When we confess our sins (I John 1:9) and live our lives in a way that pleases God, we are filled with the Spirit and recognize His benefits to us.

You can be sure that when you accepted Christ as your Savior the Holy Spirit came into your life as a helper and He will never leave you. It is your responsibility to live in a way that allows the Spirit to be most effective and allows you to be full of joy.