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CONVICTION

 

 

Acts 4: The priests, captain of the temple guard and the Sadducees approached Peter and John while they were speaking to the people. They were very disturbed because of this and put them in jail overnight. Verse 4 says, "But many who heard the message believed, (that day) and the number of men grew to about 5,000." The next day the rulers, elders, and teachers of the law met and had Peter and John brought before them to question their authority to speak to the people. Peter, convicted of the Holy Spirit, told them in no uncertain terms in verses 9-10: "Rulers and elders of the people! If we are being called today for an act of kindness shown to a cripple and are asked how he was healed, then know this, you and all the people of Israel: It is by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified but whom God raised from the dead, that this man stands before you healed." They asked them to leave the room and began to speak among themselves as to their course of action. They realized the consequences of the healing of the cripple and could do nothing about it. They ordered them to stop preaching and Peter asked them whether they should listen to them or God. Again, Peter was so convicted of the Holy Spirit that he told them that they cannot stop preaching the salvation message.

 

After they were released they went to the other believers to share their good news and began to pray and praise the Lord. They prayed and in their prayer mentioned how God knew what the actions of the Jewish people and the rulers of that time would be and used it to allow their conspiracy against Jesus to fulfill prophecy. The place where they were praying was shaken and everyone was filled with the Holy Spirit. The believers were of one heart and began to share their property with those in need so that no one went without. They actually sold their property and shared.

 

They wanted the Apostles to stop preaching and in verse 19-20, "Judge for yourselves whether it is right in God's sight to obey you rather than God. For we cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard."

 

Acts 4:12 says, "Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name given under Heaven given to men by which we must be saved." Simple, straight forward and right on;  'no other name,' no other way to escape Hell and be with God forever.

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THE BREATH OF LIFE

 

Acts 2: All of them were gathered together in one place, and the Holy Spirit, sounding like a rushing wind, came upon them. They saw what appeared to be flames of fire settling on each one. They began to speak in different languages as the Holy Spirit gave them the ability to do so. Verse 6: "When they heard this sound, a crowd came together in bewilderment, because each one heard them speaking in their own language." The crowd was amazed as they heard them speak in their own language. The people came from all over, each with their own language. They accused them of being drunk but Peter assured them they were not.

 

Peter addressed the crowd reminding them of what the prophet Joel said with regard to the last days i.e., people receiving the Holy Spirit when they accepted Jesus as their Savior. Verse 17: "In the last days, God says, I will pour out my Spirit on all the people." He then reminded them how they turned Jesus over to the authorities to be crucified. He continued telling them how God raised Him from the dead; again another prophecy stating that He would not see decay. Verse 24: "But God raised him from the dead, freeing him from the agony of death, because it was impossible for death to keep its hold on him." And there were many witnesses to His resurrection.

 

When the people heard Peter they became concerned and asked what they should do. He said they should "repent and be baptized and they would receive the Holy Spirit and be saved," verse 38. About 3,000 people did exactly that and were added to His family.

 

The Apostles continued in this fashion every day, meeting, preaching the Word and breaking bread in each others houses. They were praising God and He added to their number daily.

 

Believe and you shall receive the Holy Spirit and you will know the truth and it will set you free. The question of how you know is answered for each person when and only when, they in faith, believe in and accept Jesus as their Savior. This is absolutely amazing but it is a fact, believe (knock and it shall be open to you) and you will know the truth. Unsaved people will always wonder why and saved people will always know why.

 

 

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FORGIVENESS UNSURPASSED

 

ACTS 3: This chapter vividly illustrates a type of forgiveness that is most difficult to understand when one considers all the events in the betrayal, torture, humiliation and crucifixion of Jesus. This is clearly a demonstration of a love that is truly one way, (Agape in the Greek, an unconditional love that requires nothing in return). Truly we have a great God.

 

One day Peter and John were on their way to the Temple and they came across a man who was crippled from birth. He was placed at the gate and would beg for money. As soon as he saw Peter he asked for money and Peter said to him that he did not have any but he would give him what he could. Peter then said in verse 6, "in the name of Jesus Christ, walk." Peter took him by the hand and the man instantly got up and began to walk and jump with joy, he was perfectly healed. The people in the Temple could hardly believe their eyes and were completely astonished. Peter asked them why they stared at them as if they had accomplished this miraculous healing. He told them that his healing was a result of his faith in Jesus, verse 12, "Men of Israel, why does this surprise you? Why do you stare at us as if by our own power or godliness we had made this man walk? Peter laid it on them accusing them of killing the very author of life.

 

We now see the truly loving forgiveness of God when Peter told the crowd they had acted in ignorance and in spite of that God was willing to forgive them and give them everlasting life. Indeed this is forgiveness, unsurpassed. Peter told them to 'repent of your sins and they will be forgiven.' Peter then explained to them how the prophets of old had predicted all that had happened. Verse 24: "Indeed, all the prophets from Samuel on, as many as have spoken, have foretold these days."

 

Repent, believe, and accept the free gift of life through Jesus and you will be saved. All His love makes it possible for anyone, regardless of their prior life, to be part of God's family. Eternity is eternal, where do you want to be?

 

   

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THE LORD PROVIDES

 

John 21: We find ourselves at the end of the Gospel of John with seven of His disciples who decided to go fishing. They hadn't had much success and daylight finally came upon them and Jesus was standing on the shore, although they did not know it was Him. He asked then if they had any fish and they told him they hadn't caught any. He told them in verse 6 to: "Throw your net on the right side of the boat and you will find some. Immediately, it was filled with 153 fish, almost too heavy to carry in to shore, (This is an excellent example of the result of obedience to the Lord). The net did not tear even though it was overloaded with fish, which is the way things are when the Lord is involved. Jesus said: "Come and have breakfast." This was the third time Jesus appeared to them since the resurrection.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     

 

After breakfast Jesus asked Peter if he loved Him three times and He told him to tend His sheep (followers) each time. (This could have been an affirmation of Peter's love for Jesus in reference to Peter's three denials). Jesus then prophesied to Peter as to the type of death he would suffer, (crucifixion). Jesus then told Peter to follow Him and as they were walking another disciple followed them prompting Peter to question Jesus about him. Jesus told Peter that the other disciple was of no concern to him, i.e., Peter should be concerned about himself, (a good lesson for all of us).

 

John ends the Gospel with a testimony that every thing he wrote about Jesus was true as they were witnesses of all the events. John goes on to say that he thought if every thing that Jesus did were recorded the world would be not be able to contain the books which were written.

 

What we see in this chapter is a fine example of listening and being obedient to the Word of God. The word says to believe in Jesus and if we do we will have eternal life. In addition we will be able to live in the peace He offers, knowing that He loves us and is looking after us until the day when we will see him face to face. Amen.

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HE IS RISEN

 

 

John 20: On the first day of the week Mary went to the tomb where Jesus was placed only to find that He was not there. Mary, in her grief, ran to the disciples to tell them and some of them went to see for themselves. When they discovered the tomb was empty they were mystified as they did not yet understand that He was going to rise from the dead.

 

Mary was standing outside the tomb, weeping and she decided to look in the tomb and when she did she saw two Angels sitting on the place where they had placed Jesus. They asked her why she was weeping and she told them and as she did she turned and saw a person, who she thought to be a gardener. She inquired of the gardener about Jesus and as she did Jesus who had been standing there called her name, "Mary." Then she recognized Him, she tried to touch Him but He told her not to because He had not yet ascended to the Father. Then Mary went to the disciples and told them she had seen the risen Lord.

 

That evening, Jesus appeared to the disciples in a room where they were gathered and the door was shut. He showed them His wounds and said in verse 19, "Peace be with you." Again He said the same thing and told them He was going to send them into the world  on a mission preaching the Good News. Jesus breathed on them and told them to receive the Holy Spirit and He gave them some of His powers to use with anyone who would believe in Jesus.

 

Eight days later the disciples were gathered together and Jesus appeared to them again. This time doubting Thomas was present and Jesus told him to touch His wounds and when he did he believed, verse 27. Jesus said in verse 29: "Because you have seen me, you have you believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed."

 

There were many, many signs and wonders that Jesus did that were not recorded in this book. See verse 30.

 

The last verse of this chapter is a great ending for this article, for it says that these things have been written and recorded so that people may believe that Jesus is truly the Son of God and that believing in Him gives them eternal life.