Acts 9

We hear rumblings about what governments want to do to Christians and The Church. It’s nothing new. Saul of Tarsus was hell-bent on destroying The Church and imprisoning its members. The Lord had a very direct and convincing way of changing his mind. Blindness! Knocking him to the ground, Jesus Himself spoke to Saul, “Why are you persecuting Me?”

The impact of Christ’s intervention was life-changing. Saul became Paul, the greatest advocate of The Church our world has ever known.

In a sense, the threats against God’s people are empty. He defends them. What’s more, He uses their aggression against us to CHANGE THEIR MINDS.

No doubt, the wise Christians who were threatened by Saul’s threats and actions were probably praying about their well-being. God showed up in His Infinite Wisdom (Christ Jesus) and righted the wrong.

LET’S KEEP PRAYING!

Acts 8

The Holy Spirit clearly and specifically spoke to Philip to approach the chariot of important and distinguished an Ethiopian eunuch and stay near it. When Philip heard the man reading the book of Isaiah, he asked a strategic question. “Do you understand what you are reading?” His question and obedience to God’s Spirit yielded an marvelous opportunity to share the Gospel with the man. He obviously presented baptism because the man asked to be baptized when they got near water.

God speaks to us to give us cues to present opportunities to witness. Using this example from scripture, we can see how our simple obedience to a directive can change the course of eternity for someone.

The following are two paraphrases of the same verse, Prov. 8:34, a verse that changed my life.

Blessed is the one who listens to me, watching daily at my gates, waiting at my doorposts.
The one who listens to me, who carefully seeks me in everyday things and delays action until my way is apparent, that one will find true happiness.

Acts 7

When Stephen was brought before the Sanhedrin because God had used him mightily in preaching and miracles, he gave a stunning synopsis of how God revealed Himself to the Jews. The religious system of the day essentially was totally resistant to the Holy Spirit’s moving, For his fervor and unwavering commitment to faithfully represent Christ to his generation, he was sadly stoned to death. His message was upsetting to the religious leaders.

His main accusation was that they had resisted the Holy Spirit.

It’s too easy for men to fall into a similar stupor when they don’t seek God daily on their own. Letting the religious and political systems of the day displace God’s fresh touch on our lives kills His Power.

Acts 5

Ananias and Sapphira BOTH lied to Peter and the Holy Ghost about their fraudulent contribution to the early church. They falsely represented the percentage they gave compared to the selling price of their land. Both were stricken dead by the Lord for their deceit.

When we lie to anyone, something in our inner integrity dies. A lie to a human is a lie to God. Stop lying.

My mentor, Moses Vegh, often said this story was God’s way of saying Communism never works. They were to have all things common, but the human inclination to cheat corrupted the process.

Acts 3, 4

Peter and John boldly preached Christ to the Jews of Jerusalem. The number of new converts approached 5000 souls. It was a marvelous response to God’s witness through the Disciples. Because they had created such a religious uproar, they were brought before the High Priest and others of the ruling element. Again, they boldly proclaimed that Christ was Lord, and that there was salvation in no other way. They could have easily been immediately taken outside and stoned to death for speaking what was considered heresy by the Jews.

The boldness of Peter and John is available to us through the power of the same Holy Spirit.

Acts 2

There are nearly 650 million Pentecostals in the world and nearly as many Evangelicals. Pentecostals believe that the Baptism in the Holy Spirit can be experienced by believers today as it happened in Acts 2. I am a Pentecostal. When I was 16 years old, I received the Baptism of the Holy Spirit with evidence of speaking in tongues. I still speak in tongues. Paul said he did too … more than you all. [1 Cor. 14:18]

When our daughter Ashley was born, she experienced a laryngeal spasm whereby her throat closed up and she wasn’t breathing. The nurse in the birthing room punched the red button on the wall and within seconds, the room was filled with medical personnel. Patty was left on the birthing table, unable to do anything for her baby. I was there and began praying in my Heavenly language. We are instructed that it’s the Spirit praying through us when we don’t know how to pray. [ 1 Cor. 14:14] Ashley is wonderfully healthy today, and loves God with all her heart. She has two beautiful, healthy daughters of her own.

John 21; Acts 1

Jesus commanded His Disciples to go back to Jerusalem and wait for the promise of the Father, the Baptism with the Holy Spirit. He said they would receive power … power to be effective witnesses of Christ to the entire world.

If you feel you are lacking in God’s power to tell others about Christ, begin seeking this baptism. I remember when I did, when I was a teenager. I knew I wanted it. I would pray and ask the Lord for the infilling when I laid upon my bed at night. I eventually received the infilling with the evidence described in Acts 2.

I have enjoyed a boldness to witness ever since then. God’s Spirit living within us is an empowering that gives us supernatural assistance to make His power known to others.

John 20

We all react differently to spiritual things. When Peter and John heard from Mary Magdalene that Christ’s body was no longer in the tomb, they ran to see if it was true. John was a faster runner. (He had probably been on the Cross County Team at Jerusalem High School) Peter was a slower runner, but had the boldness and impetuousness to investigate the inside of the tomb first.

Both men had a different response. Both were valid. They both received the truth that Christ had left the grave.We see a difference in physical abilities and personalities. People are different, both all are valuable.

You are different. You are valuable and have a valid response to God. If you are a Peter, be impetuous with all your heart. If you are a John, KEEP RUNNING FOR JESUS.

John 19

As Christ Jesus was suspended on the execution cross, He saw His mother and others grieving at the sight of Him in agony. John was standing next to Mary, and Jesus took the opportunity to establish an important principle … that Mary and John were related NOT in the flesh, but in the Spirit … members of God’s family. This relationship transcended that of mere earthly family relationships.

Often, our church relationships become more close and vital than our natural family relationships. Of course, if our natural family become Christians also, we are related on both levels. This becomes a very strong relationship. After all, the natural earthly family is a picture of the Heavenly, Spiritual family.

When you win a person to Christ, they become so much more than a mere friend or acquaintance. They become related to you in an eternal relationship in God’s family.

John 18

Peter was the prime spokesperson for the early Christian movement . (Acts 1, 2) God mightily used him to declare truths that we still hold essential. Yet, Peter was an imperfect man with big flaws. Of all things, he both cut off a man’s ear and denied he even knew Jesus when Christ was being interrogated by the High Priest.

What is your flaw? Does the knowledge of it deter you from functioning as a disciple? Think of Peter. There must have been a change between John 18 and Acts 2.

Let the resurrected Christ forgive you of your sins and restore you to FULL CHRISTIAN SERVICE. Maybe YOU can be mentioned in Acts 29 … which hasn’t been written yet but is recorded in heaven.