Acts 1, 2 [NIV Dramatized Audio]

When the disciples were baptized in the Holy Spirit, the must have made so much noise that many outside the room where they were gathered to observe and listen. Many thought they were drunk. It must have been an overwhelming and consuming experience for it to have commanded such attention.

This same experience is available today. The promise was to “children’s children and all who are afar off.”

God, send a mighty wave of your Holy Spirit to touch us today. Let it happen not just at church youth camp, but in our church services. Set us free, Lord.

John 21. [NIV Dramatozed Audio]

Jesus asked Peter 3 times, “Do you love me?” Each of Peter’s positive responses was met with instructions to care for Christ’s flock – people.

We can be good little Christians, go to church, sing praises with the best of them, and fall way short in the area of loving and caring for people. Even then we think we’re hitting the mark by scratching the back of those who can suitably return the favor. Jesus wants us to serve “the least of these.”

(Jesus) will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of Mine, you did for Me.’ [Matt. 25:40]

John 21. [NIV Dramatized Audio]

After Hus resurrection, Christ came to His disciples who were fishing on the Sea of Galilee. They had caught nothing. He merely said, “Cast your net on the other side of the boat. Immediately, they caught 153 fish. It was a miracle! It was also a miracle that the net did not break.

When we are living life with Jesus near our boat, we will experience a miracle existence. Nets won’t break, supernatural bounty will happen, stuff won’t break … just stay close to Jesus and call out to Him.

John 19 cont. [N I V Dramatized Audio]

Jesus stated that all authority comes from Him. Authority descends and flows from The Author, the Heavenly Father. The authority that men now have is only permitted and “authorized” by God and will have to give account for what they did with it and how they used it.

It’s like a fishing line in the water. The Great Fisherman holds the rod and reel and will eventually bring it in to see what the line has accomplished. We are the hook and line. We can be “fishers of men.” Everything else on the line will be discarded and burned.

John 19. [NIV Dramatized Audio]

Pilot, the Roman ruler of Palestine, conducted a trial of Jesus… BUT FOUND NO FAULT IN HIM. It was the Jews who controlled the outcome. They hollered, “Crucify Him!”

Christ was unjustly accused of crimes He had not committed. He submitted to the process, however, because His Father in Heaven had the final say.

The seeming defeat was actually the greatest victory humanity could hope for.

Trust God.

John 18. [NIV Dramatized Audio

Jesus answered one of His hostile interrogaters and the High Priest with an accurate, truthful answer in response to their incriminating questions. He was slapped for the boldness with which He spoke to the High Priest. His response … “I spoke the truth.”

Speaking the truth may be painful and cost us. However, it will have positive eternal consequences and gives God something to work with. Lies and deception uproot His operation.

John 17 [NIV Dramatized Audio]

Wow. This is a gem! Verse 13 says we can have the same joy that Jesus had. THIS is the “Joy of the Lord.”

“I am coming to You (the Father in Heaven) now, but I say these things while I am still in the world, so that they may have the full measure of My joy within them.” [Jn 17:13 NIV]

The context declares that Christ KEEPS us by the power of His Name and by the Word the Father gave Him. Stay in His Name and in His Word. Then, you will abound in this joy.

This is traditional congregational singing with

John 16 [NIV Dramatized Audio]

It’s simple! Open your mouth and ask for what you need. (You don’t need a Maserati)

It’s the Father’s good pleasure to give us the Kingdom. God is a GIVER! He told us to ask for what we need. The only qualification is to ask in Jesus’ Name. Christ’s name needs to be on the check as endorser for it to be approved.

All God’s promises say, “Ask, and you SHALL receive.”

Hitherto have ye asked nothing in my name: ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full. [Jn. 16:24]

John 15 [NOV Dramatized Audio]

Jesus said, They hate me without reason.” We see this trend more and more. TV hates Him, politicians won’t acknowledge Him, government agencies seem positioned against Christ and anyone who loves Him. It’s a sign of the times.

This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, … [2 Tim. 3]

John 14, 15 [NIV Dramatized Audio]

Jesus warned, “Every branch (person in His Kingdom) who doesn’t bear fruit will be cut off.” Horrors! None of us wants that!

As believers, we need to get busy and bear fruit. I love to eat fruit. It’s generally sweet and since I’ve cut way back on my sugar, fruit fills a gap in my appetite. When we serve others or do deeds of Christian service, we are bearing fruit. As others taste the sweetness of our lives and acts of kindness, they will have also eaten the seeds that are contained in the fruit. In a sense, we are reproducing ourselves and the Life of Christ.

Men are known by their fruit. [Matt. 7:16, 20]