GOD CAN’T BE BOUGHT…OR SOLD!

Posted on October 25, 2021 by randscallawayffm

When we think we know all there is to know—we don’t.  When we think we have finally arrived—we haven’t.  Learning, growing, and maturing in our faith and trust in God never stops as long as we are alive on earth, bound for heaven.  When we invite Jesus Christ to truly “take the wheel”, He drives us to places we have never been before.  His Holy Spirit goes with us on this new journey that is filled with side trips that challenge us to grow in His character in ways we never imagined!  We also discover that we are consistently getting closer to Jesus as we let Him do all the driving.  We also discover that we love and relate better to each other on this road trip of love, mercy and grace!  

When we give all we are and all we have to Jesus, while letting go of the baggage we desperately cling to, we discover that all we needed was Jesus.  The closer we grow in our love for Jesus, we pack lighter and carry less on our journey with Him.  When we learn and apply what Jesus taught His disciples about God and His ways, we begin living our best life with Him as followers.  As we live this best life, we desire it for others, so we begin to tell The Story of Jesus’ saving grace.  This telling comes from a heart yielded to Christ and Holy Spirit led.  This knowing and growing cannot be bought or sold.  It is a gift from God.

“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”  –Jesus (John 3:16) 

“’If you love me, keep my commands’. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever—the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you.”  –Jesus  (John 14:15-17)

“All this I have spoken while still with you. But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.” –Jesus (John 14:25-26) 

“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.” –Jesus (John 14:27)

NOT OF THIS WORLD

The world led by the Prince of Darkness barters, buys and sells trinkets, tricks and treasures that only satisfy for seconds.  Eternity living is not of this world. Simon the wizard soon learns the difference and begs for mercy and help to overcome his need for trickery and giving dazzling performances.  God cannot be bought or sold.  God gives…

“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”  –Jesus (John 3:16) 

The sooner we wrap our minds, hearts and souls around this Gift of salvation through Jesus Christ, our Lord, the more we grow in gratitude for all God has done, is doing and will do forever!

The stoning of Stephen lit a wild fire of persecution, led by a zealous man named Saul.  He stood by and held the coats of the stoners.  This only brought on a “missionary movement” to outlying towns and districts.  Wherever the disciples and followers went the story of Jesus, Messiah was told. 

Then there was Simon, a Wizard of Oz character, that caused Philip to call in the “big guns” of authority, Peter and John.  Read on…

ACTS—God’s Acts through His Disciples

Acts 8:1-25, The Message

Simon the Wizard

1-2 That set off a terrific persecution of the church in Jerusalem. The believers were all scattered throughout Judea and Samaria. All, that is, but the apostles. Good and brave men buried Stephen, giving him a solemn funeral—not many dry eyes that day!

3-8 And Saul just went wild, devastating the church, entering house after house after house, dragging men and women off to jail. Forced to leave home base, the followers of Jesus all became missionaries. Wherever they were scattered, they preached the Message about Jesus. Going down to a Samaritan city, Philip proclaimed the Message of the Messiah. When the people heard what he had to say and saw the miracles, the clear signs of God’s action, they hung on his every word. Many who could neither stand nor walk were healed that day. The evil spirits protested loudly as they were sent on their way. And what joy in the city!

9-11 Previous to Philip’s arrival, a certain Simon had practiced magic in the city, posing as a famous man and dazzling all the Samaritans with his wizardry. He had them all, from little children to old men, eating out of his hand. They all thought he had supernatural powers, and called him “the Great Wizard.” He had been around a long time and everyone was more or less in awe of him.

12-13 But when Philip came to town announcing the news of God’s kingdom and proclaiming the name of Jesus Christ, they forgot Simon and were baptized, becoming believers right and left! Even Simon himself believed and was baptized. From that moment he was like Philip’s shadow, so fascinated with all the God-signs and miracles that he wouldn’t leave Philip’s side.

14-17 When the apostles in Jerusalem received the report that Samaria had accepted God’s Message, they sent Peter and John down to pray for them to receive the Holy Spirit. Up to this point they had only been baptized in the name of the Master Jesus; the Holy Spirit hadn’t yet fallen on them. Then the apostles laid their hands on them and they did receive the Holy Spirit.

18-19 When Simon saw that the apostles by merely laying on hands conferred the Spirit, he pulled out his money, excited, and said, “Sell me your secret! Show me how you did that! How much do you want? Name your price!”

20-23 Peter said, “To hell with your money! And you along with it. Why, that’s unthinkable—trying to buy God’s gift! You’ll never be part of what God is doing by striking bargains and offering bribes. Change your ways—and now! Ask the Master to forgive you for trying to use God to make money. I can see this is an old habit with you; you reek with money-lust.”

24 “Oh!” said Simon, “pray for me! Pray to the Master that nothing like that will ever happen to me!”

25 And with that, the apostles were on their way, continuing to witness and spread the Message of God’s salvation, preaching in every Samaritan town they passed through on their return to Jerusalem.

THINK FOR A MOMENT…

What do we learn and must avoid in living our best life with Jesus? 

“You’ll never be part of what God is doing by striking bargains and offering bribes”, Peter responds to Simon who wants to buy the “secret sauce” of the devote disciples.  There’s more to Peter’s words, but we get the picture.  We are even appalled and irritated at Simon who can’t seem to leave world thinking. 

However, do we try to strike bargains with God at times? 

“God, if you will do this, I will do what you want.” 

“If you will fix my finances, I will serve you more.”

Yikes!  Do we find we are too close to the world of Simon?  We must stay alert to the pull of the world and be drawn even closer to Christ.

Lord,

We pray for repentance of chasing after what is not good for us.  We repent of bargaining with you as if we had anything to top your gift of grace.  Let us be on our way with You in the lead today, proclaiming who you are—the God of forgiveness through Jesus Christ, Your Son.  Thank you for saving our souls.  Thank you for your consistent and continual teaching and correcting on our journey to grow in your character.  We’re not there yet!  Thank you for your patience.

In Jesus Name, For Your Glory, Amen.  I believe. 

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WHAT DO YOU HAVE TO SAY FOR YOURSELF?

Posted on October 23, 2021 by randscallawayffm

How many times did we hear our parents or teachers ask this of us after misbehaving?  As children, most reprimands began with questions like, “What were you thinking?” These and other popular questions asked upon rude and weird misbehaving are asked of children who really do not have the answers.  The problem is they weren’t thinking.  Children see what others are doing and mimic it in their way or simply act first with no thought to consequences.  They don’t plan, they just act without really realizing what might come next after doing the deed. 

“What do you have to say for yourself” is a question of reprimand more than a probing for real answers. As parents, we don’t really want an answer from our child, we want them to know how wrong the act was.  If caught “red-handed”, we are not really wanting them to give us a summation of what they will say in their defense.  We are ready to act as judge, jury and executioner.  As a teacher I learned that asking “Why?” is not really productive either.  Asking why was merely amusing to me as a first grade teacher as the child would make up a story of why but in the process would forget what they did wrong.  But the stories were interesting to say the least.

Now we come to the story of God performing great acts through a man called Stephen.  Stephen was one of those chosen from the followers of Jesus to lead food distribution fairly among the widows.  (Read Acts 6:5-6).  He was described as a trusted man, “a man full of faith and the Holy Spirit”.  We read that he was one of the first chosen for this audacious task. 

But then trouble arose among the jealous and envious of Stephen.  Stephen did what God wanted, “brimming with God’s grace and energy”.  If I were to say this does not happen in our churches today, I would be lying.  Satan is still at work using the same tireless, limited tools of gossip.  Gossip can kill the church if we allow it.  Many hard working, God loving people, brimming with God’s grace and energy are still struck down by evil’s tools that tempt us to look inside ourselves causing the sin of selfishness that gives birth to jealousy that grows into gossip.  Gossip tears down what God is doing in and through other people.  Gossip hinders the work of God.  Gossip kills those who succumb to it.

Stephen, who “had the face of an angel”, was stoned with rocks of hate, jealousy, envy, selfishness with gossiping men and women who twisted his words and belittled God’s work through him.  Evil gossip killed Stephen.

Gossip stills maims and kills followers today in churches built upon Jesus, God’s Son who loved us enough to die for our sins.  Gossip is one of those sins. 

“What do we have to say for ourselves?”

ACTS—God’s Acts through His Disciples

The Story of Stephen

Acts 6:8-15 – Acts 7, The Message

8-10 Stephen, brimming with God’s grace and energy, was doing wonderful things among the people, unmistakable signs that God was among them. But then some men from the meeting place whose membership was made up of freed slaves, Cyrenians, Alexandrians, and some others from Cilicia and Asia, went up against him trying to argue him down. But they were no match for his wisdom and spirit when he spoke.

11 So in secret they bribed men to lie: “We heard him cursing Moses and God.”

12-14 That stirred up the people, the religious leaders, and religion scholars. They grabbed Stephen and took him before the High Council. They put forward their bribed witnesses to testify: “This man talks nonstop against this Holy Place and God’s Law. We even heard him say that Jesus of Nazareth would tear this place down and throw out all the customs Moses gave us.”

15 As all those who sat on the High Council looked at Stephen, they found they couldn’t take their eyes off him—his face was like the face of an angel!

Stephen, Full of the Holy Spirit

7 Then the Chief Priest said, “What do you have to say for yourself?”

2-3 Stephen replied, “Friends, fathers, and brothers, the God of glory appeared to our father Abraham when he was still in Mesopotamia, before the move to Haran, and told him, ‘Leave your country and family and go to the land I’ll show you.’

4-7 “So he left the country of the Chaldees and moved to Haran. After the death of his father, he immigrated to this country where you now live, but God gave him nothing, not so much as a foothold. He did promise to give the country to him and his son later on, even though Abraham had no son at the time. God let him know that his offspring would move to an alien country where they would be enslaved and brutalized for four hundred years. ‘But,’ God said, ‘I will step in and take care of those slaveholders and bring my people out so they can worship me in this place.’

8 “Then he made a covenant with him and signed it in Abraham’s flesh by circumcision. When Abraham had his son Isaac, within eight days he reproduced the sign of circumcision in him. Isaac became father of Jacob, and Jacob father of twelve ‘fathers,’ each faithfully passing on the covenant sign.

9-10 “But then those ‘fathers,’ burning up with jealousy, sent Joseph off to Egypt as a slave. God was right there with him, though—he not only rescued him from all his troubles but brought him to the attention of Pharaoh, king of Egypt. He was so impressed with Joseph that he put him in charge of the whole country, including his own personal affairs.

11-15 “Later a famine descended on that entire region, stretching from Egypt to Canaan, bringing terrific hardship. Our hungry fathers looked high and low for food, but the cupboard was bare. Jacob heard there was food in Egypt and sent our fathers to scout it out. Having confirmed the report, they went back to Egypt a second time to get food. On that visit, Joseph revealed his true identity to his brothers and introduced the Jacob family to Pharaoh. Then Joseph sent for his father, Jacob, and everyone else in the family, seventy-five in all. That’s how the Jacob family got to Egypt.

15-16 “Jacob died, and our fathers after him. They were taken to Shechem and buried in the tomb for which Abraham paid a good price to the sons of Hamor.

17-19 “When the four hundred years were nearly up, the time God promised Abraham for deliverance, the population of our people in Egypt had become very large. And there was now a king over Egypt who had never heard of Joseph. He exploited our race mercilessly. He went so far as forcing us to abandon our newborn infants, exposing them to the elements to die a cruel death.

20-22 “In just such a time Moses was born, a most beautiful baby. He was hidden at home for three months. When he could be hidden no longer, he was put outside—and immediately rescued by Pharaoh’s daughter, who mothered him as her own son. Moses was educated in the best schools in Egypt. He was equally impressive as a thinker and an athlete.

23-26 “When he was forty years old, he wondered how everything was going with his Hebrew kin and went out to look things over. He saw an Egyptian abusing one of them and stepped in, avenging his underdog brother by knocking the Egyptian flat. He thought his brothers would be glad that he was on their side, and even see him as an instrument of God to deliver them. But they didn’t see it that way. The next day two of them were fighting and he tried to break it up, told them to shake hands and get along with each other: ‘Friends, you are brothers, why are you beating up on each other?’

27-29 “The one who had started the fight said, ‘Who put you in charge of us? Are you going to kill me like you killed that Egyptian yesterday?’ When Moses heard that, realizing that the word was out, he ran for his life and lived in exile over in Midian. During the years of exile, two sons were born to him.

30-32 “Forty years later, in the wilderness of Mount Sinai, an angel appeared to him in the guise of flames of a burning bush. Moses, not believing his eyes, went up to take a closer look. He heard God’s voice: ‘I am the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.’ Frightened nearly out of his skin, Moses shut his eyes and turned away.

33-34 “God said, ‘Kneel and pray. You are in a holy place, on holy ground. I’ve seen the agony of my people in Egypt. I’ve heard their groans. I’ve come to help them. So get yourself ready; I’m sending you back to Egypt.’

35-39 “This is the same Moses whom they earlier rejected, saying, ‘Who put you in charge of us?’ This is the Moses that God, using the angel flaming in the burning bush, sent back as ruler and redeemer. He led them out of their slavery. He did wonderful things, setting up God-signs all through Egypt, down at the Red Sea, and out in the wilderness for forty years. This is the Moses who said to his congregation, ‘God will raise up a prophet just like me from your descendants.’ This is the Moses who stood between the angel speaking at Sinai and your fathers assembled in the wilderness and took the life-giving words given to him and handed them over to us, words our fathers would have nothing to do with.

39-41 “They craved the old Egyptian ways, whining to Aaron, ‘Make us gods we can see and follow. This Moses who got us out here miles from nowhere—who knows what’s happened to him!’ That was the time when they made a calf-idol, brought sacrifices to it, and congratulated each other on the wonderful religious program they had put together.

42-43 “God wasn’t at all pleased; but he let them do it their way, worship every new god that came down the pike—and live with the consequences, consequences described by the prophet Amos:

Did you bring me offerings of animals and grains
    those forty wilderness years, O Israel?
Hardly. You were too busy building shrines
    to war gods, to sex goddesses,
Worshiping them with all your might.
    That’s why I put you in exile in Babylon.

44-47 “And all this time our ancestors had a tent shrine for true worship, made to the exact specifications God provided Moses. They had it with them as they followed Joshua, when God cleared the land of pagans, and still had it right down to the time of David. David asked God for a permanent place for worship. But Solomon built it.

48-50 “Yet that doesn’t mean that Most High God lives in a building made by carpenters and masons. The prophet Isaiah put it well when he wrote,

“Heaven is my throne room;
    I rest my feet on earth.
So what kind of house
    will you build me?” says God.
“Where I can get away and relax?
    It’s already built, and I built it.”

51-53 “And you continue, so bullheaded! Calluses on your hearts, flaps on your ears! Deliberately ignoring the Holy Spirit, you’re just like your ancestors. Was there ever a prophet who didn’t get the same treatment? Your ancestors killed anyone who dared talk about the coming of the Just One. And you’ve kept up the family tradition—traitors and murderers, all of you. You had God’s Law handed to you by angels—gift-wrapped!—and you squandered it!”

54-56 At that point they went wild, a rioting mob of catcalls and whistles and invective. But Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit, hardly noticed—he only had eyes for God, whom he saw in all his glory with Jesus standing at his side. He said, “Oh! I see heaven wide open and the Son of Man standing at God’s side!”

57-58 Yelling and hissing, the mob drowned him out. Now in full stampede, they dragged him out of town and pelted him with rocks. The ringleaders took off their coats and asked a young man named Saul to watch them.

59-60 As the rocks rained down, Stephen prayed, “Master Jesus, take my life.” Then he knelt down, praying loud enough for everyone to hear, “Master, don’t blame them for this sin”—his last words. Then he died.

Saul was right there, congratulating the killers.

THINK ABOUT IT…

Stephen did not defend himself to the gossipers but stayed focused on the history of God’s acts to His people.  Staying focused on God, Jesus, and Holy Spirit, Stephen’s accusers “were no match for his wisdom and spirit when he spoke”.  Stay focused on God, not the gossip.

Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit, told the council what he knew, Truth–not what he didn’t know, gossip.  “As all those who sat on the High Council looked at Stephen, they found they couldn’t take their eyes off him—his face was like the face of an angel!”  No doubt!

Stephen told Truth keeping his eyes on Jesus.  “At that point they went wild, a rioting mob of catcalls and whistles and invective. But Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit, hardly noticed—he only had eyes for God, whom he saw in all his glory with Jesus standing at his side. He said, “Oh! I see heaven wide open and the Son of Man standing at God’s side!”  In the midst of gossip and ridicule, focus on God and the voices fade in the background.  God needs no defense.  Stick to the Truth.  God is with us when we do.

Like Jesus on the cross prayed, “Forgive them for the know not what they do”, Stephen prays for his enemies.  Stephen knew The Law, the Story of God, passed down through the generations well, as he recites it without skipping a beat.  He also knew Fulfillment and Completion of God’s Law—namely Jesus, Son of God, Savior and Lord. 

Gossip may have killed the body but did not take the soul of Stephen.  The acts of God were not stopped.  Evil has limited power; only want we allow.  God is all power.  Tapping into the power of God is beyond our wildest thinking. 

A man named Saul held Stephen’s coat as he watched the stoning.  We will learn more about this young man called Saul later.  God acts in Saul.

Lord,

We are appalled by the twisted minds of jealous people which led to the stoning of your precious Stephen.  We are even more appalled by the enemy’s tools that are still used today to divide people, cause wars, drive hatred to the end result of murder.

No one is perfect but You, Lord.  You are the only reason, the only answer, that sets us free of these sins because of your work on the cross.  Today, help us not to return to our sin that holds us in bondage while hurting others around us.  Help us to run from the temptations that rain down on us daily.  Keep us close to you in prayer conversation and communion with you that withstands the devil’s stones of his character meant to mislead us and eventually kill.  Grow and mature your character traits in us.

And Lord, help us to run from gossip.  Words of gossip hurt as deeply as physical pain.  Words of hate last in our memory bank forever, it seems.  May the hurt be reminders of avoiding gossip at all cost.  Thank you, Lord for this lesson today.  We’re not there yet, so continue your transforming work in us.

In Jesus Name, For Your Glory, Amen.  I believe.

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CALLED OF GOD, LED BY HIS SPIRIT

Posted on October 22, 2021 by randscallawayffm

When any group grows in number, most humans automatically begin to organize in ways to work smarter, not harder.  Our perfect God who created orderly systems in His perfectly working universe in highly intelligent, beyond our thinking, ways put this need to organize in our DNA.  It happens in every group I’ve been a part of or observed.  It happens in the animal world, too.  A leader emerges.  The group figures out quickly who is good at what task and then the work is divided and assigned.  Remember those study groups in college?  Good ones organized in this manner.  Groups floundered if they did not organize.  The unorganized, individualistic thinking group’s presentation to the class immediately showed their lack of skill in working together.  Individuals worked harder, groups work smarter.

I’ve seen this phenomenon demonstrated over the years as I observed large families successfully operate.  I am amazed at their tenacity and regimen.  I didn’t come from a large family so it was fun to watch every person do their task without thinking.  Parents instinctively knew that to survive, they must assign.  Older siblings take care of the younger siblings.  Younger siblings have their tasks to do until they grow and mature to take on more complex tasks.  But for sure, everyone has their place, their work to do, in the family. Leaders were built with servant attitudes in believing families.  It is a great study in family relationships to watch and learn.

The early church became a large family, outgrowing their primary ways of doing life.  Something had to be done in order for life to grow and mature in helping others know and follow Jesus.  If a few leaders do all the work, how will others God is calling be given a chance to grow into leadership?  God is indeed leading the thousands who have given their all to Him, believing in His Son, Jesus Christ who died for their sins and rose again with the promise of life eternal.  The acts of God are amazing!

God acts in the lives of those He has ordained.  God gives the new life believers the gift of organization.  His Holy Spirit teaches them how to work smarter, wiser, not harder while raising up leaders who will teach other leaders.  

Sound familiar?  Paul speaks of this to Timothy, his young protégé in 2 Timothy 2:2.  Read it to get a clear understanding of what God is building into the lives of His church body with Jesus as the foundation and the Head of it all.  Paul writes, “You have heard me teach things that have been confirmed by many reliable witnesses. Now teach these truths to other trustworthy people who will be able to pass them on to others.”  Read the entire chapter and we understand what is going on in today’s passage as God acts through His disciples.

ACTS—God’s Acts through His Disciples

Acts 6:1-7, The Message

The Word of God Prospered

1-4 During this time, as the disciples were increasing in numbers by leaps and bounds, hard feelings developed among the Greek-speaking believers—“Hellenists”—toward the Hebrew-speaking believers because their widows were being discriminated against in the daily food lines. So the Twelve called a meeting of the disciples. They said, “It wouldn’t be right for us to abandon our responsibilities for preaching and teaching the Word of God to help with the care of the poor. So, friends, choose seven men from among you whom everyone trusts, men full of the Holy Spirit and good sense, and we’ll assign them this task. Meanwhile, we’ll stick to our assigned tasks of prayer and speaking God’s Word.”

5-6 The congregation thought this was a great idea. They went ahead and chose—

Stephen, a man full of faith and the Holy Spirit,

Philip,

Procorus,

Nicanor,

Timon,

Parmenas,

Nicolas, a convert from Antioch.

Then they presented them to the apostles. Praying, the apostles laid on hands and commissioned them for their task.

7 The Word of God prospered. The number of disciples in Jerusalem increased dramatically. Not least, a great many priests submitted themselves to the faith.

Lord,

Even the priests who had forgotten about you and joined in the crucifixion, came to real faith in You!  You are God and we are not.  Your acts are amazing!  We pray and You always act in ways that are best for us.  You know what we need before we know we need it.  You love us beyond our human way of thinking.  Help us to love like you love us—unconditionally, forgiving, full of mercy and grace.  Thank you for your gift of organizing so that we grow from the inside out and outside in.  Grow and mature as individuals and as your Body.

In Jesus Name, Amen

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LOCKED UP BUT NOT BOUND

Posted on October 21, 2021 by randscallawayffm

I remember and still laugh about the story of the little girl who was wreaking havoc on a commuter plane.  Her mom had little control of her daughter who was out of her seat running around bothering businessmen and others who wanted peace.  The flight attendant was summoned to solve this “problem child”. She leaned in to tell the exasperated mom she needed to have her daughter belted in her seat. 

When the mom failed, the flight attendant took over.  “You will have to sit in your seat right now to be safe”, said the attendant while buckling the child in her seat.  Her humiliated mom gave her child the death stare for her behavior, but then noticed that the obstinate little girl was still smiling after being locked down.  “Why are you smiling?” said the tired mom.  The determined little girl replied, “They may have tied me down, but in my mind, I’m still running around!”

I wonder if the chief priests were as exasperated as this mom in trying to lock up Peter and his crew for preaching Jesus?

ACTS—God Acts through His Disciples

Acts 5:17-42, The Message

To Obey God Rather than Men

17-20 Provoked mightily by all this, the Chief Priest and those on his side, mainly the sect of Sadducees, went into action, arrested the apostles and put them in the town jail. But during the night an angel of God opened the jailhouse door and led them out. He said, “Go to the Temple and take your stand. Tell the people everything there is to say about this Life.”

Promptly obedient, they entered the Temple at daybreak and went on with their teaching.

21-23 Meanwhile, the Chief Priest and his cronies convened the High Council, Israel’s senate, and sent to the jail to have the prisoners brought in. When the police got there, they couldn’t find them anywhere in the jail. They went back and reported, “We found the jail locked tight as a drum and the guards posted at the doors, but when we went inside we didn’t find a soul.”

24 The chief of the Temple police and the high priests were puzzled. “What’s going on here anyway?”

25-26 Just then someone showed up and said, “Did you know that the men you put in jail are back in the Temple teaching the people?” The chief and his police went and got them, but they handled them gently, fearful that the people would riot and turn on them.

27-28 Bringing them back, they stood them before the High Council. The Chief Priest said, “Didn’t we give you strict orders not to teach in Jesus’ name? And here you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching and are trying your best to blame us for the death of this man.”

29-32 Peter and the apostles answered, “It’s necessary to obey God rather than men. The God of our ancestors raised up Jesus, the One you killed by hanging him on a cross. God set him on high at his side, Prince and Savior, to give Israel the gift of a changed life and sins forgiven. And we are witnesses to these things. The Holy Spirit, whom God gives to those who obey him, corroborates every detail.”

33-37 When they heard that, they were furious and wanted to kill them on the spot. But one of the council members stood up, a Pharisee by the name of Gamaliel, a teacher of God’s Law who was honored by everyone. He ordered the men taken out of the room for a short time, then said, “Fellow Israelites, be careful what you do to these men. Not long ago Theudas made something of a splash, claiming to be somebody, and got about four hundred men to join him. He was killed, his followers dispersed, and nothing came of it. A little later, at the time of the census, Judas the Galilean appeared and acquired a following. He also fizzled out and the people following him were scattered to the four winds.

38-39 “So I am telling you: Hands off these men! Let them alone. If this program or this work is merely human, it will fall apart, but if it is of God, there is nothing you can do about it—and you better not be found fighting against God!”

40-42 That convinced them. They called the apostles back in. After giving them a thorough whipping, they warned them not to speak in Jesus’ name and sent them off. The apostles went out of the High Council overjoyed because they had been given the honor of being dishonored on account of the Name. Every day they were in the Temple and homes, teaching and preaching Christ Jesus, not letting up for a minute.

WHAT DO WE LEARN?

Peter and the apostles were on mission for God, obedient to God and led by God.  As soon as we give our lives to God, He shows us His perfect plan.  He always provides a way to accomplish His plan as we daily commune with Him, trusting and obeying.   

Look back and observe the acts of God:

  1. Protection. God sent angels to bring Peter and the apostles out of lock down.
  2. The Path. God gave Peter and the apostles one clear mission.  Speak Truth about Jesus including their own testimonies about being with Jesus.  “…we are witnesses to these things”.
  3. Boldness to obey. “It’s necessary to obey God rather than men.”
  4. Intervening Presence. God used Gamaliel to run inference for the apostles.  “If this program or this work is merely human, it will fall apart, but if it is of God, there is nothing you can do about it—and you better not be found fighting against God!”
  5. Power in the Name of Jesus.  With fearless confidence, Peter and the apostles “never let up for a minute” with a God-joy that filled their souls no matter what they faced in opposition.

Lord,

We learn that You and Your Redeeming Truth will always be told and cannot be stopped.  You guide and provide along the way of obedience.  Each step of obedience brings us closer to you.  Seeking you and your will first each day brings a joy that is indescribable.  Every day is a learning experience with how great you are!  Thank you for life now and forever.

In Jesus Name, Amen 

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TRUST IN JESUS, THE REASON FOR MEETING!

Posted on October 20, 2021 by randscallawayffm

I grew up in the church.  No, seriously, from birth, I grew up physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually inside a church building surrounded by people who made up what we call “church”, a group of family and friends.  My parents’ lives revolved around what was best for the church, how we could tell others about Jesus, with devoting their lives to prayer and communion with God.  This passion for Jesus was passed down from their parents.

As a young child, living among this group of believers, I assumed we were all related because of my grandpa, Jesse Lacquement.  He was led to gathered his relatives and all their friends and family just before I was born to begin this group.  Being a carpenter by trade, he found an old building to renovate as a meeting place.  He called and visited everyone he knew and encouraged others to do the same.  Because he was a man of wisdom and always ready to help the down and out, everyone went to him for advice and help it seemed.  They all called him “Uncle Jesse”.  This is one of the reasons I thought we were all related.

THE CHURCH PLANT

Upon moving from his farm to the city to find work to support his family, he missed his church at home.  He noticed many others had also come to city to find work like he did.  I am certain that God laid this idea on his heart.  For Jesse Lacquement, the logical thing to do was to gather a group of people to fulfill that need to learn and grow together in Jesus. So, he did.  The term for that now is “church planter”.  Grandpa never claimed to be a preacher, he was only a song leader, who loved Jesus and wanted others to love Jesus, too.  His wife, my grandma, Blanche Lacquement, loved to cook meals for people which was her way of leading people to Jesus.  She never met a stranger that didn’t become her friend within moments.  Together, they made quite a team.  As soon as the group was formed, Grandpa “ordered” a preacher from our denominational office to lead us.  And they obliged.  My legacy in Jesus.

Like Peter in our passage today, Grandpa pointed people to Jesus, not him.  Grandpa urged people to meet together for learning more about Jesus, not for impressing other people.  Meager beginnings resulted with long lasting rewards—souls saved.  Lives changed in subsequent generations.  Maturity in God’s love grew in each one who came.  And I was one of them.  This precious legacy of “meeting together regularly” to find and follow Jesus is in my DNA because of one man who obeyed God’s leading, in Jesus Name, for God’s glory.     

We find this legacy of meeting together, doing life together in Jesus Name, began with Peter, the one Jesus proclaimed, “upon whom I will build my church”.  It is amazing what God continues to do in obedient men and women.  This is yet another “act” of God—church—a group of believers, doing life together, to grow in Jesus Name.

ACTS—God Acts through His Disciples

Acts 5:12-16, The Message

They All Met Regularly

Through the work of the apostles, many God-signs were set up among the people, many wonderful things done. They all met regularly and in remarkable harmony on the Temple porch named after Solomon. But even though people admired them a lot, outsiders were wary about joining them. On the other hand, those who put their trust in the Master were added right and left, men and women both. They even carried the sick out into the streets and laid them on stretchers and bedrolls, hoping they would be touched by Peter’s shadow when he walked by. They came from the villages surrounding Jerusalem, throngs of them, bringing the sick and bedeviled. And they all were healed.

POINTS TO PONDER—The Basics

They all “met regularly” in remarkable harmony.

What mattered to the believers was not admiration but that others would put their trust in Jesus.

Because of their trust in Jesus, they brought the sick to be healed—and they all were healed.  God’s acts through Peter and Jesus’ disciples.

“So let’s do it—full of belief, confident that we’re presentable inside and out. Let’s keep a firm grip on the promises that keep us going. He always keeps his word. Let’s see how inventive we can be in encouraging love and helping out, not avoiding worshiping together as some do but spurring each other on, especially as we see the big Day approaching.”  Hebrews 10:22-25, The Message

Lord,

I took for granted far too long what was given to me as a legacy—All trust, hope and faith in You.  I do not take your love, care, mercy and grace for granted no longer.  You are my life.  You are my way of life.  All of my life belongs to you.  I want what you want for even this day.  Show me your ways and I will follow. 

In Jesus Name, For His Glory, Amen.  I believe. 

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DON’T MESS WITH GOD!

Posted on October 19, 2021 by randscallawayffm

Pride is monstrous, evil trait that comes on us in an instant when we feel threatened or fearful of being recognized.  If we allow and don’t stop this attitude, it will spread in us in ways that destroy all that God has done in us in certain seasons of growth.  Jealousy is another devil characteristic that rises up in believers when we think someone else looks better than us in God’s work.  Envy follows closely behind when we want to do good exactly like others are doing good without consulting God about what HE wants from us.

This trifecta of pride, jealousy and envy drove a couple in the work of the early church to lie about their donation to the early church.  Their giving was good, their hearts were not.  But the Holy Spirit knew.  Peter, therefore knew.  Most of all, God knew.  And God acted.

ACTS—God’s Acts Through His Disciples

Acts 5:1-11, The Message

Ananias and Sapphira

1-2 But a man named Ananias—his wife, Sapphira, conniving in this with him—sold a piece of land, secretly kept part of the price for himself, and then brought the rest to the apostles and made an offering of it.

3-4 Peter said, “Ananias, how did Satan get you to lie to the Holy Spirit and secretly keep back part of the price of the field? Before you sold it, it was all yours, and after you sold it, the money was yours to do with as you wished. So what got into you to pull a trick like this? You didn’t lie to men but to God.”

5-6 Ananias, when he heard those words, fell down dead. That put the fear of God into everyone who heard of it. The younger men went right to work and wrapped him up, then carried him out and buried him.

7-8 Not more than three hours later, his wife, knowing nothing of what had happened, came in. Peter said, “Tell me, were you given this price for your field?”

“Yes,” she said, “that price.”

9-10 Peter responded, “What’s going on here that you connived to conspire against the Spirit of the Master? The men who buried your husband are at the door, and you’re next.” No sooner were the words out of his mouth than she also fell down, dead. When the young men returned they found her body. They carried her out and buried her beside her husband.

11 By this time the whole church and, in fact, everyone who heard of these things had a healthy respect for God. They knew God was not to be trifled with.

SEEM HARSH?  WHAT DO WE LEARN?

All the traits of evil are opposite those of God. Evil took the offensive against the church built on the foundation of Jesus Christ, God’s Son.  God dealt with evil swiftly that day so that evil could not take root in this new growing church build on four principles we read earlier in Acts 2:42-46:

“All the believers devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching, and to fellowship, and to sharing in meals (including the Lord’s Supper), and to prayer. A deep sense of awe came over them all, and the apostles performed many miraculous signs and wonders. And all the believers met together in one place and shared everything they had. They sold their property and possessions and shared the money with those in need. They worshiped together at the Temple each day, met in homes for the Lord’s Supper, and shared their meals with great joy and generosity.”

What Ananias and his wife, Sapphira did was not in character with God–just the opposite.  They gave to be noticed—Pride.  They gave to look as if they were just like everyone else—Envy.  They gave as much as they thought others had given while holding back—Jealousy with dishonesty thrown in.  God sees hearts.  God responds quickly in sadness for these two people bent on following evil.

The Holy Spirit grows God’s character in us as a gift of God’s love. God knows we cannot do this awesome work all by ourselves.  Jesus told his disciples before He left earth about The Helper and Counselor who would guides and correct their course, always show them what to do, what to say and how to think in God’s ways and character.  The Holy Spirit dwelling in Peter alerted him to what had happened.

THE HOLY SPIRIT TEACHES

Paul summarizes the gift and work of the Holy Spirit in our lives in Galatians 5.  Here are portions of that letter to the early church;

“So, I say, let the Holy Spirit guide your lives. Then you won’t be doing what your sinful nature craves. 17 The sinful nature wants to do evil, which is just the opposite of what the Spirit wants. And the Spirit gives us desires that are the opposite of what the sinful nature desires. These two forces are constantly fighting each other…”

“When you follow the desires of your sinful nature, the results are very clear: sexual immorality, impurity, lustful pleasures,idolatry, sorcery, hostility, quarreling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition, dissension, division,envy, drunkenness, wild parties, and other sins like these. Let me tell you again, as I have before, that anyone living that sort of life will not inherit the Kingdom of God.”

“But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things!

Those who belong to Christ Jesus have nailed the passions and desires of their sinful nature to his cross and crucified them there. Since we are living by the Spirit, let us follow the Spirit’s leading in every part of our lives. Let us not become conceited, or provoke one another, or be jealous of one another.”  Galatians 5, NLT

Read all of Galatians 5, it’s worth a read to understand the heart of God a bit better in dealing with evil attacking His church built on the blood of Jesus Christ, His Son.

Lord,

Thank you for teaching me about how to be holy instead of following my old sinful ways that lead me to places I really don’t want to go.  Turn my repentant messes into messages of truthful testimonies about you.  Grow me in Your Holy Spirit.  Enlarge the work of your salvation in me.  Keep me from harm or causing harm.  Keep me focused on You in Holy Communion with you today for I need you every hour.

In Jesus Name, Amen

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FEARLESS CONFIDENCE IN JESUS NAME!

Posted on October 18, 2021 by randscallawayffm

I asked myself this morning, what IS the measure of my confidence?  Is it fearless?  Is it conditional on circumstance?  Is my confidence dependent on what others say about me using descriptive words of who they think I am inside?  Is my confidence based on past achievements and honors?  The answer lies in front of us in this very passage.  Our fearless confidence is not man-made but Holy Spirit led and fed.  Fearless confidence builds, has meaning and purpose, when we think, speak and act, led by God’s Spirit, in Jesus Name!

When a group of believers decides to think, speak and act in Jesus Name for His glory, His will be done, unity blossoms in a beautiful  garden of healthy growing relationships that are of one heart and one mind based on the foundation of Jesus Christ.  The early church believers quoted David who wrote what would happen long before it did.  Jesus, the Word made Flesh, brought this group under His authority from God.  He passed on this God-authority to the believers with a new gift—the Power of His Holy Spirit!

In Jesus Name, with the Power of His Holy Spirit, they became “married” together in beautiful unity—one heart, one mind for God’s purpose.  I am reminded of how much God spoke of this unity from another writing of David found in Psalm 133:1-3; “How wonderful, how beautiful, when brothers and sisters get along!  It’s like costly anointing oil flowing down head and beard, Flowing down Aaron’s beard, flowing down the collar of his priestly robes.  It’s like the dew on Mount Hermon flowing down the slopes of Zion. Yes, that’s where God commands the blessing, ordains eternal life.” (The Message) Read the last sentence again.  God commands blessings, ordains eternal life when we are in unity with Him and each other!  Yes, unity is beautiful, peaceful and full of God’s love.

Our fearless confidence builds as we call out for help, guidance, direction in Jesus Name trusting that God will fill us with the power of His Spirit to accomplish whatever He gives us to do. That is fearless confidence that dwelt in these new believers.  Fearless confidence is ours for the asking, too.  In Jesus Name, By His Power, For His Glory, Amen. 

Yes, God continues to act through us who are developing fearless confidence in Him!

“They were all filled with the Holy Spirit and continued to speak God’s Word with fearless confidence.”

ACTS—God’s Acts through His Disciples

Acts 4:23-37, The Message

One Heart, One Mind

23-26 As soon as Peter and John were let go, they went to their friends and told them what the high priests and religious leaders had said. Hearing the report, they lifted their voices in a wonderful harmony in prayer: “Strong God, you made heaven and earth and sea and everything in them. By the Holy Spirit you spoke through the mouth of your servant and our father, David:

Why the big noise, nations?
Why the mean plots, peoples?
Earth’s leaders push for position,
Potentates meet for summit talks,
The God-deniers, the Messiah-defiers!

27-28 “For in fact they did meet—Herod and Pontius Pilate with nations and peoples, even Israel itself!—met in this very city to plot against your holy Son Jesus, the One you made Messiah, to carry out the plans you long ago set in motion.

29-30 “And now they’re at it again! Take care of their threats and give your servants fearless confidence in preaching your Message, as you stretch out your hand to us in healings and miracles and wonders done in the name of your holy servant Jesus.”

31 While they were praying, the place where they were meeting trembled and shook. They were all filled with the Holy Spirit and continued to speak God’s Word with fearless confidence.

32-33 The whole congregation of believers was united as one—one heart, one mind! They didn’t even claim ownership of their own possessions. No one said, “That’s mine; you can’t have it.” They shared everything. The apostles gave powerful witness to the resurrection of the Master Jesus, and grace was on all of them.

34-35 And so it turned out that not a person among them was needy. Those who owned fields or houses sold them and brought the price of the sale to the apostles and made an offering of it. The apostles then distributed it according to each person’s need.

36-37 Joseph, called by the apostles “Barnabas” (which means “Son of Comfort”), a Levite born in Cyprus, sold a field that he owned, brought the money, and made an offering of it to the apostles.

Lord,

Until you come, the enemy continues to attack and distract us from you. The believers’ prayer then is my prayer today, “Give your servants fearless confidence in preaching your Message, as you stretch out your hand to us in healings and miracles and wonders done in the name of your holy servant Jesus.”  May all believers be unified in You, by the power of Your Holy Spirit.

In Jesus Name, Amen.  I believe.

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“CALLED ON THE CARPET” TO TESTIFY!

Posted on October 16, 2021 by randscallawayffm

When will we learn that God’s Holy Spirit cannot and will not be silenced?  His Spirit will be heard not matter what is happening to us, around us, in us or through us.  Believers who repent and commit their hearts, minds and souls to Jesus immediately embody a holy confidence that comes solely from Christ in us.  Paul spoke about it because he experienced it for himself.  He writes to the church, “This message was kept secret for centuries and generations past, but now it has been revealed to God’s people. For God wanted them to know that the riches and glory of Christ are for you Gentiles, too. And this is the secret: Christ lives in you. This gives you assurance of sharing his glory.” Colossians 1:26-27, NLT

I’m reminded of this scripture passage as Peter and John, full of God’s Holy Spirit, stand to speak after being thrown into jail for doing what God wants, which is now a new way of life, compelling and compassionate, driven with words directly from the Holy Spirit.  They say want needs to be said in the right way, at the right time in the right Spirit—this is the definition of being a disciple of Jesus!  They are so confident with assured mature delivery that the teachers have to stop and remember these men are unlearned, former fishermen, common as dirt, from the community.  But this the secret—Christ lives in them!

When Jesus comes into our lives, everything changes!  Our lives are never the same.  Our language becomes different along with our behaviors.  We don’t even notice at first until someone else notices who knew us before Christ in us.  Growing, with Jesus in us, we think of how we would have reacted to life before Jesus came to live in us and we are grateful, in awe even, of the difference HE makes in our behaviors because of living a new life with Him.  This is the secret—Christ in us!

Don’t miss the message in the mess Peter and John have found themselves in!  They are confident and assured that the Jesus in them is totally in control of the circumstance.  They speak Jesus’ words through His Spirit that is powerful and effective in their release.  There is Power in the Name of Jesus spoken, testified and praised!  The healing of the crippled man brought them to this place, in front of those who killed Jesus, (or thought they did), to testify of the power of salvation that is available to all who believe.

Peter proclaims: “Salvation comes no other way; no other name has been or will be given to us by which we can be saved, only this one.”  Jesus, the One and Only, saves us.  This is the secret to a new, abundant, free, assured, confident eternal life—Jesus in us! This is another act of God in his disciples.  God acts in our lives, too!

ACTS—God’s Acts through His Disciples

Acts 4:1-22, The Message

Nothing to Hide

1-4 While Peter and John were addressing the people, the priests, the chief of the Temple police, and some Sadducees came up, indignant that these upstart apostles were instructing the people and proclaiming that the resurrection from the dead had taken place in Jesus. They arrested them and threw them in jail until morning, for by now it was late in the evening. But many of those who listened had already believed the Message—in round numbers about five thousand!

5-7 The next day a meeting was called in Jerusalem. The rulers, religious leaders, religion scholars, Annas the Chief Priest, Caiaphas, John, Alexander—everybody who was anybody was there. They stood Peter and John in the middle of the room and grilled them: “Who put you in charge here? What business do you have doing this?”

8-12 With that, Peter, full of the Holy Spirit, let loose: “Rulers and leaders of the people, if we have been brought to trial today for helping a sick man, put under investigation regarding this healing, I’ll be completely frank with you—we have nothing to hide. By the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, the One you killed on a cross, the One God raised from the dead, by means of his name this man stands before you healthy and whole. Jesus is ‘the stone you masons threw out, which is now the cornerstone.’ Salvation comes no other way; no other name has been or will be given to us by which we can be saved, only this one.”

13-14 They couldn’t take their eyes off them—Peter and John standing there so confident, so sure of themselves! Their fascination deepened when they realized these two were laymen with no training in Scripture or formal education. They recognized them as companions of Jesus, but with the man right before them, seeing him standing there so upright—so healed!—what could they say against that?

15-17 They sent them out of the room so they could work out a plan. They talked it over: “What can we do with these men? By now it’s known all over town that a miracle has occurred, and that they are behind it. There is no way we can refute that. But so that it doesn’t go any further, let’s silence them with threats so they won’t dare to use Jesus’ name ever again with anyone.”

18-20 They called them back and warned them that they were on no account ever again to speak or teach in the name of Jesus. But Peter and John spoke right back, “Whether it’s right in God’s eyes to listen to you rather than to God, you decide. As for us, there’s no question—we can’t keep quiet about what we’ve seen and heard.”

21-22 The religious leaders renewed their threats, but then released them. They couldn’t come up with a charge that would stick, that would keep them in jail. The people wouldn’t have stood for it—they were all praising God over what had happened. The man who had been miraculously healed was over forty years old.

Lord,

How amazing you are in the way you work in our lives today, too.  Your Holy Spirit prompts us and we obey with assurance that you will give us the right words at the right time in the right Spirit of love and grace with confidence—all because of you in us.  Thank you, Lord.  Show me your ways, O Lord and I will follow for I am yours.  I found the secret!

In Jesus Name, Amen.  I believe.

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IN THE NAME OF JESUS—FOR THE GLORY OF GOD!

Posted on October 15, 2021 by randscallawayffm

Hopelessness from seemingly unsurmountable circumstances cause our faces to fall.  Our eyes only look down at our feet.  This physical action comes from an inward feeling of brokenness.  Because we feel we are broken, we don’t feel worth, value or the significance to do anything.  We cannot bear to look into the eyes of others who have hope and seem to be well and have it altogether. There might be a shred of humble pride holding us up enough so others will not know our struggle.  We try to hide it and ignore it.  Then one day it becomes a way of life.  We give up.  We accept the struggle.  We don’t ask for anything else but help to get by for each day.

Then Jesus, with the Power of His Holy Spirit working in His disciples, enters our circumstance with His Holy compassion.  The Name of Jesus changes everything!  At first, we do not and can not believe it.  Why bother?  We think we’re getting by the way we are.  We’ve had this problem since birth.  We know how to deal with life as it is. But God has other plans. 

ACTS—God’s Acts Through His Disciples

Acts 3, The Message

1-5 One day at three o’clock in the afternoon, Peter and John were on their way into the Temple for prayer meeting. At the same time there was a man crippled from birth being carried up. Every day he was set down at the Temple gate, the one named Beautiful, to beg from those going into the Temple. When he saw Peter and John about to enter the Temple, he asked for a handout. Peter, with John at his side, looked him straight in the eye and said, “Look here.” He looked up, expecting to get something from them.

6-8 Peter said, “I don’t have a nickel to my name, but what I do have, I give you: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk!” He grabbed him by the right hand and pulled him up. In an instant his feet and ankles became firm. He jumped to his feet and walked.

8-10 The man went into the Temple with them, walking back and forth, dancing and praising God. Everybody there saw him walking around and praising God. They recognized him as the one who sat begging at the Temple’s Gate Beautiful and rubbed their eyes, astonished, scarcely believing what they were seeing.

11 The man threw his arms around Peter and John, ecstatic. All the people ran up to where they were at Solomon’s Porch to see it for themselves.

Turn to Face God

12-16 When Peter saw he had a congregation, he addressed the people:

“Oh, Israelites, why does this take you by such complete surprise, and why stare at us as if our power or piety made him walk? The God of Abraham and Isaac and Jacob, the God of our ancestors, has glorified his Son Jesus. The very One that Pilate called innocent, you repudiated. You repudiated the Holy One, the Just One, and asked for a murderer in his place. You no sooner killed the Author of Life than God raised him from the dead—and we’re the witnesses. Faith in Jesus’ name put this man, whose condition you know so well, on his feet—yes, faith and nothing but faith put this man healed and whole right before your eyes.

17-18 “And now, friends, I know you had no idea what you were doing when you killed Jesus, and neither did your leaders. But God, who through the preaching of all the prophets had said all along that his Messiah would be killed, knew exactly what you were doing and used it to fulfill his plans.

19-23 “Now it’s time to change your ways! Turn to face God so he can wipe away your sins, pour out showers of blessing to refresh you, and send you the Messiah he prepared for you, namely, Jesus. For the time being he must remain out of sight in heaven until everything is restored to order again just the way God, through the preaching of his holy prophets of old, said it would be. Moses, for instance, said, ‘Your God will raise up for you a prophet just like me from your family. Listen to every word he speaks to you. Every last living soul who refuses to listen to that prophet will be wiped out from the people.’

24-26 “All the prophets from Samuel on down said the same thing, said most emphatically that these days would come. These prophets, along with the covenant God made with your ancestors, are your family tree. God’s covenant-word to Abraham provides the text: ‘By your offspring all the families of the earth will be blessed.’ But you are first in line: God, having raised up his Son, sent him to bless you as you turn, one by one, from your evil ways.”

FOR GOD’S GLORY AND STORY…

When Peter saw he had crowd, he was also prompted by the Holy Spirit to make the most of this opportunity to tell the Truth of what just occurred.  “Faith in Jesus’ name put this man, whose condition you know so well, on his feet—yes, faith and nothing but faith put this man healed and whole right before your eyes.”  Peter took no credit.  Impetuous Simon now Peter, the “Rock”, had learned his lessons about humble obedience well.

Peter, full to overflowing with God’s Holy Spirit, preaches the bottom line, in Jesus Name for the glory of God, “Now it’s time to change your ways! Turn to face God so he can wipe away your sins, pour out showers of blessing to refresh you, and send you the Messiah he prepared for you, namely, Jesus.”

Peter, from personal experiences with Jesus, now has a powerful testimony!  “God, having raised up his Son, sent him to bless you as you turn, one by one, from your evil ways.”

Yes, there was more than one reason to heal a crippled man in front of the Temple Gate that day, in Jesus Name, for the Glory of God.  This is yet another “act” of God in the lives of His disciples so people will come to know that Jesus came to save them from their sins.

Believe and be saved.

Lord,

There is always more to the story than the people in the story.  It is always all about You!  Your Word was written to tell about Your love, compassion, mercy and grace through salvation provided by You, dear Jesus!  To You be the Glory and praise for all You have done to heal my brokenness, save my soul, renew my spirit and restore the joy of Your salvation in me.  Yes, To YOU be the glory!  I love you, Lord with all my heart, mind and soul.  Thank you for loving me the way your do.  And I’m dancing in the Temple of my heart…

In Jesus Name, For His Glory, Amen.  I believe.

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THAT DAY, GOD ADDED

Posted on October 14, 2021 by randscallawayffm

The Acts 2:42 church has begun with Peter’s yielding to the Spirit of God to boldly announce the Truth of the crucified but now risen Savior, Jesus Christ.  The Holy Spirit-led apostles stand together to teach the Truth of Jesus, why He came with how to be saved from eternal death and live for Him.  The Holy Spirit-led church is discovering that the closer they come to Jesus, the closer they come to each other. 

Instead of looking inward, the believers first look up to God and then side to side at each other with a new love that is joyful and exciting, unconditional and merciful, and full of grace.  Yes, the attitude of this holy group of over three thousand men, woman and children is contagious.  They gather daily to celebrate their new life with Christ.  They understand that He is for everyone who believes so they are, too.  They cannot seem to get enough of His Presence among them as they live in harmony with each other—all because of His love newly born in them. 

However, we must realize that God’s people are still living among the oppression of the Romans as well as the greed and power-hungry religious leaders who manipulated the government into humiliating Jesus, their opponent of popularity, in their eyes.  These same leaders think they are still “in charge” after managing to have Jesus nailed to a cross.  We wonder, friends, if some of them were persuaded to repent.

No matter what, the Spirit of God came, as promised by Jesus to his followers, and now new life in Jesus is taking off like a wild brush fire.  That day, God added to their numbers.  There was no media blitz, no huge plan to gather the people, only God speaking through totally yielded Peter.  Peter, the Rock upon whom Jesus said he would build His church, has done exactly what He said.  And God added. 

God not only added numbers of believers to the group for strength, for there is always strength and encouragement from large groups of people all going in the same direction to God, He added all they needed to begin His great work.  He added His Power to do His work of salvation.

God added the power of His Holy Spirit who washed over the group with His gifts of love for each other that went deeper, beyond what anyone had ever experienced before believing.  The apostle Paul, who was dramatically saved by grace, will later write of these gifts of God’s Holy Spirit that all believers eventually exhibit in their new yielded, maturing life with Jesus: 

“…The Holy Spirit produces love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things! Those who belong to Christ Jesus have nailed the passions and desires of their sinful nature to his cross and crucified them there. Since we are living by the Spirit, let us follow the Spirit’s leading in every part of our lives. Let us not become conceited, or provoke one another, or be jealous of one another.”  (Galatians 5)

Paul understood clearly the work of God’s Holy Spirit in our lives!  We cannot be “good” on our own, it is only by the power of His Spirit that we learn to walk in God’s ways, in Jesus Name, for His Glory!  Believe and be saved.  Grow in His grace.

God added unity and harmony to the group of young believers of all ages.  The awe and wonders of God taking place among them in spite of what was going on in the world, drove them to help each other, love like Jesus, share and not hold back.  Their lives were all for God, because of Jesus.  This is the amazing love of God, permeating the community of believers! 

God added discipline to their lives that resulted in joyful living in spite of current circumstances.  This loving discipline drove them back to commitment to the commandment Jesus gave to the disciples as He ascended to heaven.  “Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”  (Matthew 28)  A promise given.  A promise kept.

God added His never-ending Presence among all who believed.  And the world was never the same.  Hallelujah!  Praise God!  May God add His power to our lives daily!

ACTS—God’s acts through His Disciples

Acts 2:41-47, The Message

41-42 That day about three thousand took him at his word, were baptized and were signed up. They committed themselves to the teaching of the apostles, the life together, the common meal, and the prayers.

43-45 Everyone around was in awe—all those wonders and signs done through the apostles! And all the believers lived in a wonderful harmony, holding everything in common. They sold whatever they owned and pooled their resources so that each person’s need was met.

46-47 They followed a daily discipline of worship in the Temple followed by meals at home, every meal a celebration, exuberant and joyful, as they praised God. People in general liked what they saw. Every day their number grew as God added those who were saved.

Lord,

Thank you for teaching us how to be a community of believers living under the authority of Your Holy Spirit.  Thank you for the public announcement of the washing away of our sins through repentance to you called baptism.  Thank you for pure joy of discipline to come to each morning to begin our day with you.  Thank you for continual celebrations of you with others who believe in communion with common meals where you are praised and lifted high.  Thank you for always enough to share with those in need. 

Thank you for your Holy Spirit that teaches through Spirit-led men and women who teach from Your Word so we stay focused on You and Your ways.  Thank you for the realization of your deep love for us as we remember that you desire an intimate growing relationship with you.  It is so amazing to think that You, the Creator of all, who is in all, and in control of all, desire to talk with me in conversation.  Thank you, Jesus, for the sacrifice you made so I can come boldly to the very throne of God anytime with honesty and sincerity.  Thank you for saving my soul.  Thank you for continuing to transform me to be all you created me to be.  I’m not their yet, but I’m on my way…

In Jesus Name, For Your Glory, Amen.  I believe.

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