Category: Scripture

Going Deeper

The Power of God (10-4-14)

Grab your bible and let’s go deeper into Acts 1 & 2

Read: Acts 1:6-11

Can you picture it? Jesus’ best friends and family had just watched him be tortured and die and then rise from the dead. They must be thinking, “This is it, right?  Now you make all things new?” But, Jesus says, “Buckle up, there is still more work I have for you to do” And then he says one of the most popular verses in all of scripture: “You will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth” (Acts 1:8). This is in the same vein as the words we hear Jesus tell them in what is known as the Great Commission.

Read: Matthew 28:18-20 

We who have been redeemed by the blood of the lamb need to take very seriously this battle cry of Jesus. These are our orders from our General. What we have to see today is that we can’t even begin to think about participating in, fulfilling, this GREAT COMMISSION if we don’t have and depend on the power of God living in and through us.

So here is the main point that I think Jesus is teaching us:  Special power is essential for an expanding witness of the Gospel.  We cannot and will not effectively and consistently bear witness of the life changing Gospel to those who do not have it, if we first do not have the Power of God in and moving through us!  In other words, if you and I are ever going to authentically, effectively, consistently LOVE OTHERS, we must have a power that is beyond our own!

Read: Acts 2: 1-4 

The anointing and the fire of God falls upon us when we place our faith and trust in Jesus Christ. The third person of the Trinity, named the Holy Spirit, is the one who dwells in the life of every believer at the moment of Salvation.  The problem with many modern Christians is we tend to either all too casually engage the Holy Spirit in our daily lives or often give very little credit to the active work of the Holy Spirit in our lives. This creates a huge problem in the witness and work of the church in the world we are called to be a light in.

John Stott said it well when He said, “The Christian landscape is strewn with the wreckage of derelict, half-built towers – the ruins of those who began to build and were unable to finish. For thousands of people still ignore Christ’s warning and undertake to follow him without first pausing to reflect on the cost of doing so. The result is the great scandal of Christendom today, so-called ‘nominal Christianity’.  In countries to which Christian civilization has spread, large numbers of people have covered themselves with a decent, but thin, veneer of Christianity. They have allowed themselves to become somewhat involved; enough to be respectable but not enough to be uncomfortable. Their religion is a great, soft cushion. It protects them from the hard unpleasantness of life, while changing its place & shape to suit the convenience. No wonder the cynics speak of hypocrites in the church and dismiss religion as escapism.”

Soldiers:  Let me ask you this: If you are on fire, is there anything about your life or actions that are casual or comfortable?  If the fire of God is upon us we will not casually engage God and others who need him! The early Christians who were in the upper room and who took the Gospel of Jesus out to strange and lost people were mostly tortured and murdered for their faith!  There was nothing casual or convenient about how God wants to move through his people to share his good news!

Now, in a modern American western society, you and I most likely will never get the privilege of dying for the one who died for us!    But that doesn’t mean the Fire of God is not able to do remarkable and sacrificial things through you and I every day!

The LOVE of God that is growing within you as you press into Christ is a sacrificial love.  It is a love that causes you to lay your life down on the altar of God as a living sacrifice.  Not so that you can earn his favor or love, you already have that, but because of what Christ has done for you on the cross.  The sacrificial love that moves through you and I equates to a life that willingly follows Jesus’ example to lay your life down, so that it can be an aroma to God that is pleasing.  And so that it would be a counter-cultural testimony to a lost and hurting generation of a loving God who can set them free as well!

The Fire of God will change your life.  The question is:  Are you letting the Holy Spirit reign in your life? Is the Fire of God burring so bright and white hot in your life that the sacrificial LOVE of God is mobilizing you out of your comfortable lifestyle and into the lives of hurting people?  Hear this today:  The children of God who are walking in the Holy Spirit ARE on fire with passion…a sacrificial love that burns bright and changes the lives of the lost and hurting around them.

At our National Run in 2011, Rev Todd said it so well when he challenged us with this:

“If your definition of Passion for God is low commitment and little sacrifice but faithful attendance to the events of your church where you can be fed a good sermon or enjoy some fellowship then all you really want to do is date God.   Hear this today,  God did not send his son to die for us and send his Holy Spirit to ignite us so that we could enjoy the benefits of hanging out with him but not be willing to put on the ring of Commitment!    The modern church will be impotent and ineffective if we are only into the benefits of God… kind of like a religious gold digger girlfriend who loves the chocolates and jewelry and companionship of her boyfriend.”

The last time I checked my bible it said that Jesus is coming back for his Bride.   Not a girlfriend!

We need the Fire of God to purify us and mobilize us to walk in the power of the Holy Spirit.  God is not looking for a bride who is playing games with his resources.  God is not a warm and fuzzy feeling in the pit of your stomach. God is not temporary joy when he causes something to go your way. God is an all-consuming FIRE!”

The question is:  Have you put your life on the altar of God? Your most prized possessions and relationships? Your safety and comfort? If so, the all consuming fire of God will burn inside of you and compel you to GO! To LOVE! To SERVE!  To SACRIFICE!

Read: Acts 2: 22- 41 

This is the testimony of Revival! This is the evidence of a God at work through his people by the power of the Holy Spirit after Jesus ascended to heaven!  This is the testimony of the Gospel that we are to share with all those we come into contact with, saying, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.” Soldiers, we can’t do it on our own.    We need FIRE!     We need power!     We need JESUS!

Finally, Read: Acts 2: 42-47

Two things to take from this:

1. There is a huge temptation and unfortunately practice in Christianity to sometimes act only on the leading of the Holy Spirit. The Problem is sometimes our interpretation of the leading of the Holy Spirit is influenced by our selfish or fleshly desires. This is why we constantly see the in the NT the practice of Christians doing live together in community.  The way we test and confirm the leading of the Holy Spirit is the authority of the Word of God and the counsel of the mature Christians in our lives.  This is what we see happening here.  There was no power in Christians running solo.  They did everything together.  We too need to remember that God has saved us and empowered us to fight this fight together in true authentic regular community.

2. They gave themselves away. They shared with each other. They sold their prized possessions so that they could give to those who were in need! They didn’t complain for what they didn’t have, they rejoiced in God for what they did. “They had FAVOR WITH ALL PEOPLE!” And what happened? God added to their number day by day those who were being saved! This is a picture of the Power of God moving his life changing Gospel in and through his people.

May this be a growing reality for our ministry as we press forward in all God has before us.

By His grace and for His glory,

-Shepherd

Soldiers for Jesus MC

Bakersfield CA

Acts 4

Peter and John Before the Council

4:1 And as they were speaking to the people, the priests and the captain of the temple and the Sadducees came upon them, 2 greatly annoyed because they were teaching the people and proclaiming in Jesus the resurrection from the dead. 3 And they arrested them and put them in custody until the next day, for it was already evening. 4 But many of those who had heard the word believed, and the number of the men came to about five thousand.

5 On the next day their rulers and elders and scribes gathered together in Jerusalem, 6 with Annas the high priest and Caiaphas and John and Alexander, and all who were of the high-priestly family. 7 And when they had set them in the midst, they inquired, “By what power or by what name did you do this?” 8 Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, “Rulers of the people and elders, 9 if we are being examined today concerning a good deed done to a crippled man, by what means this man has been healed, 10 let it be known to all of you and to all the people of Israel that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead—by him this man is standing before you well. 11 This Jesus¹ is the stone that was rejected by you, the builders, which has become the cornerstone.² 12 And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men³ by which we must be saved.”

13 Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated, common men, they were astonished. And they recognized that they had been with Jesus. 14 But seeing the man who was healed standing beside them, they had nothing to say in opposition. 15 But when they had commanded them to leave the council, they conferred with one another, 16 saying, “What shall we do with these men? For that a notable sign has been performed through them is evident to all the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and we cannot deny it. 17 But in order that it may spread no further among the people, let us warn them to speak no more to anyone in this name.” 18 So they called them and charged them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus. 19 But Peter and John answered them, “Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you rather than to God, you must judge, 20 for we cannot but speak of what we have seen and heard.” 21 And when they had further threatened them, they let them go, finding no way to punish them, because of the people, for all were praising God for what had happened. 22 For the man on whom this sign of healing was performed was more than forty years old.

The Believers Pray for Boldness

23 When they were released, they went to their friends and reported what the chief priests and the elders had said to them. 24 And when they heard it, they lifted their voices together to God and said, “Sovereign Lord, who made the heaven and the earth and the sea and everything in them, 25 who through the mouth of our father David, your servant,⁴ said by the Holy Spirit,

  “‘Why did the Gentiles rage,
    and the peoples plot in vain?
26   The kings of the earth set themselves,
    and the rulers were gathered together,
    against the Lord and against his Anointed’⁵—

27 for truly in this city there were gathered together against your holy servant Jesus, whom you anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, along with the Gentiles and the peoples of Israel, 28 to do whatever your hand and your plan had predestined to take place. 29 And now, Lord, look upon their threats and grant to your servants to continue to speak your word with all boldness, 30 while you stretch out your hand to heal, and signs and wonders are performed through the name of your holy servant Jesus.” 31 And when they had prayed, the place in which they were gathered together was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and continued to speak the word of God with boldness.

They Had Everything in Common

32 Now the full number of those who believed were of one heart and soul, and no one said that any of the things that belonged to him was his own, but they had everything in common. 33 And with great power the apostles were giving their testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great grace was upon them all. 34 There was not a needy person among them, for as many as were owners of lands or houses sold them and brought the proceeds of what was sold 35 and laid it at the apostles’ feet, and it was distributed to each as any had need. 36 Thus Joseph, who was also called by the apostles Barnabas (which means son of encouragement), a Levite, a native of Cyprus, 37 sold a field that belonged to him and brought the money and laid it at the apostles’ feet.

Footnotes

[1] 4:11 Greek This one

[2] 4:11 Greek the head of the corner

[3] 4:12 The Greek word anthropoi refers here to both men and women

[4] 4:25 Or child; also verses 27, 30

[5] 4:26 Or Christ

(ESV)

Acts 3

The Lame Beggar Healed

3:1 Now Peter and John were going up to the temple at the hour of prayer, the ninth hour.¹ 2 And a man lame from birth was being carried, whom they laid daily at the gate of the temple that is called the Beautiful Gate to ask alms of those entering the temple. 3 Seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple, he asked to receive alms. 4 And Peter directed his gaze at him, as did John, and said, “Look at us.” 5 And he fixed his attention on them, expecting to receive something from them. 6 But Peter said, “I have no silver and gold, but what I do have I give to you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk!” 7 And he took him by the right hand and raised him up, and immediately his feet and ankles were made strong. 8 And leaping up, he stood and began to walk, and entered the temple with them, walking and leaping and praising God. 9 And all the people saw him walking and praising God, 10 and recognized him as the one who sat at the Beautiful Gate of the temple, asking for alms. And they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him.

Peter Speaks in Solomon’s Portico

11 While he clung to Peter and John, all the people, utterly astounded, ran together to them in the portico called Solomon’s. 12 And when Peter saw it he addressed the people: “Men of Israel, why do you wonder at this, or why do you stare at us, as though by our own power or piety we have made him walk? 13 The God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, the God of our fathers, glorified his servant² Jesus, whom you delivered over and denied in the presence of Pilate, when he had decided to release him. 14 But you denied the Holy and Righteous One, and asked for a murderer to be granted to you, 15 and you killed the Author of life, whom God raised from the dead. To this we are witnesses. 16 And his name—by faith in his name—has made this man strong whom you see and know, and the faith that is through Jesus³ has given the man this perfect health in the presence of you all.

17 “And now, brothers, I know that you acted in ignorance, as did also your rulers. 18 But what God foretold by the mouth of all the prophets, that his Christ would suffer, he thus fulfilled. 19 Repent therefore, and turn back, that your sins may be blotted out, 20 that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, and that he may send the Christ appointed for you, Jesus, 21 whom heaven must receive until the time for restoring all the things about which God spoke by the mouth of his holy prophets long ago. 22 Moses said, ‘The Lord God will raise up for you a prophet like me from your brothers. You shall listen to him in whatever he tells you. 23 And it shall be that every soul who does not listen to that prophet shall be destroyed from the people.’ 24 And all the prophets who have spoken, from Samuel and those who came after him, also proclaimed these days. 25 You are the sons of the prophets and of the covenant that God made with your fathers, saying to Abraham, ‘And in your offspring shall all the families of the earth be blessed.’ 26 God, having raised up his servant, sent him to you first, to bless you by turning every one of you from your wickedness.”

Footnotes

[1] 3:1 That is, 3 p.m.

[2] 3:13 Or child; also verse 26

[3] 3:16 Greek him

(ESV)

Acts 2

The Coming of the Holy Spirit

2:1 When the day of Pentecost arrived, they were all together in one place. 2 And suddenly there came from heaven a sound like a mighty rushing wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. 3 And divided tongues as of fire appeared to them and rested¹ on each one of them. 4 And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance.

5 Now there were dwelling in Jerusalem Jews, devout men from every nation under heaven. 6 And at this sound the multitude came together, and they were bewildered, because each one was hearing them speak in his own language. 7 And they were amazed and astonished, saying, “Are not all these who are speaking Galileans? 8 And how is it that we hear, each of us in his own native language? 9 Parthians and Medes and Elamites and residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, 10 Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya belonging to Cyrene, and visitors from Rome, 11 both Jews and proselytes, Cretans and Arabians—we hear them telling in our own tongues the mighty works of God.” 12 And all were amazed and perplexed, saying to one another, “What does this mean?” 13 But others mocking said, “They are filled with new wine.”

Peter’s Sermon at Pentecost

14 But Peter, standing with the eleven, lifted up his voice and addressed them: “Men of Judea and all who dwell in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and give ear to my words. 15 For these people are not drunk, as you suppose, since it is only the third hour of the day.² 16 But this is what was uttered through the prophet Joel:

17   “‘And in the last days it shall be, God declares,
  that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh,
  and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy,
    and your young men shall see visions,
    and your old men shall dream dreams;
18   even on my male servants and female servants
    in those days I will pour out my Spirit, and they shall prophesy.
19   And I will show wonders in the heavens above
    and signs on the earth below,
    blood, and fire, and vapor of smoke;
20   the sun shall be turned to darkness
    and the moon to blood,
    before the day of the Lord comes, the great and magnificent day.
21   And it shall come to pass that everyone who calls upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.’

22 “Men of Israel, hear these words: Jesus of Nazareth, a man attested to you by God with mighty works and wonders and signs that God did through him in your midst, as you yourselves know—23 this Jesus,³ delivered up according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God, you crucified and killed by the hands of lawless men. 24 God raised him up, loosing the pangs of death, because it was not possible for him to be held by it. 25 For David says concerning him,

  “‘I saw the Lord always before me,
    for he is at my right hand that I may not be shaken;
26   therefore my heart was glad, and my tongue rejoiced;
    my flesh also will dwell in hope.
27   For you will not abandon my soul to Hades,
    or let your Holy One see corruption.
28   You have made known to me the paths of life;
    you will make me full of gladness with your presence.’

29 “Brothers, I may say to you with confidence about the patriarch David that he both died and was buried, and his tomb is with us to this day. 30 Being therefore a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him that he would set one of his descendants on his throne, 31 he foresaw and spoke about the resurrection of the Christ, that he was not abandoned to Hades, nor did his flesh see corruption. 32 This Jesus God raised up, and of that we all are witnesses. 33 Being therefore exalted at the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, he has poured out this that you yourselves are seeing and hearing. 34 For David did not ascend into the heavens, but he himself says,

  “‘The Lord said to my Lord,
  “Sit at my right hand,
35     until I make your enemies your footstool.”’

36 Let all the house of Israel therefore know for certain that God has made him both Lord and Christ, this Jesus whom you crucified.”

37 Now when they heard this they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?” 38 And Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39 For the promise is for you and for your children and for all who are far off, everyone whom the Lord our God calls to himself.” 40 And with many other words he bore witness and continued to exhort them, saying, “Save yourselves from this crooked generation.” 41 So those who received his word were baptized, and there were added that day about three thousand souls.

The Fellowship of the Believers

42 And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. 43 And awe⁴ came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles. 44 And all who believed were together and had all things in common. 45 And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need. 46 And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, 47 praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved.

Footnotes

[1] 2:3 Or And tongues as of fire appeared to them, distributed among them, and rested

[2] 2:15 That is, 9 a.m.

[3] 2:23 Greek this one

[4] 2:43 Or fear

(ESV)

Acts 1

The Promise of the Holy Spirit

1:1 In the first book, O Theophilus, I have dealt with all that Jesus began to do and teach, 2 until the day when he was taken up, after he had given commands through the Holy Spirit to the apostles whom he had chosen. 3 He presented himself alive to them after his suffering by many proofs, appearing to them during forty days and speaking about the kingdom of God.

4 And while staying¹ with them he ordered them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the promise of the Father, which, he said, “you heard from me; 5 for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with² the Holy Spirit not many days from now.”

The Ascension

6 So when they had come together, they asked him, “Lord, will you at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?” 7 He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or seasons that the Father has fixed by his own authority. 8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” 9 And when he had said these things, as they were looking on, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight. 10 And while they were gazing into heaven as he went, behold, two men stood by them in white robes, 11 and said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into heaven? This Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven.”

Matthias Chosen to Replace Judas

12 Then they returned to Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is near Jerusalem, a Sabbath day’s journey away. 13 And when they had entered, they went up to the upper room, where they were staying, Peter and John and James and Andrew, Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew, James the son of Alphaeus and Simon the Zealot and Judas the son of James. 14 All these with one accord were devoting themselves to prayer, together with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and his brothers.³

15 In those days Peter stood up among the brothers (the company of persons was in all about 120) and said, 16 “Brothers, the Scripture had to be fulfilled, which the Holy Spirit spoke beforehand by the mouth of David concerning Judas, who became a guide to those who arrested Jesus. 17 For he was numbered among us and was allotted his share in this ministry.” 18 (Now this man acquired a field with the reward of his wickedness, and falling headlong⁴ he burst open in the middle and all his bowels gushed out. 19 And it became known to all the inhabitants of Jerusalem, so that the field was called in their own language Akeldama, that is, Field of Blood.) 20 “For it is written in the Book of Psalms,

  “‘May his camp become desolate,
    and let there be no one to dwell in it’;

and

  “‘Let another take his office.’

21 So one of the men who have accompanied us during all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us, 22 beginning from the baptism of John until the day when he was taken up from us—one of these men must become with us a witness to his resurrection.” 23 And they put forward two, Joseph called Barsabbas, who was also called Justus, and Matthias. 24 And they prayed and said, “You, Lord, who know the hearts of all, show which one of these two you have chosen 25 to take the place in this ministry and apostleship from which Judas turned aside to go to his own place.” 26 And they cast lots for them, and the lot fell on Matthias, and he was numbered with the eleven apostles.

Footnotes

[1] 1:4 Or eating

[2] 1:5 Or in

[3] 1:14 Or brothers and sisters. In New Testament usage, depending on the context, the plural Greek word adelphoi (translated “brothers”) may refer either to brothers or to brothers and sisters; also verse 15

[4] 1:18 Or swelling up

(ESV)