Night is Coming; Bring Glory to Your Name

So Jesus says in John 9:3-5 in regards to the man born blind from birth,

"Neither this man nor his parents sinned but this happened so that the work of God might be displayed in his life. As long as it is day, we must do the work of him who sent me. Night is coming, when no one can work. While I am in the world, I am the light of the world."

Night is coming, when no one can work. That's an important sentence. I do not live as though night is coming. Lord, bless me with the understanding that Your Gospel is a sweet, but urgent, message. And would urgency not turn into fear or hurriedness, but action. Active, rather than passive, action.

Jesus, You are the light of the world. And You are still in the world. Please stay in the world a little longer. Bless people who are outside of You with opportunities to come to faith. Hear the prayers of Your people, who intercede on behalf of those who do not know You. Call people to intercede for New York City, for victims of slavery, for the poor. Break the hearts of Christians in America for what breaks Yours. For those who claim to see, but who are actually blind, please give them sight. Show them their blindness and direct them to You.

For those who are blind, suffering, in pain (emotional, physical, spiritual, mental), deaf to the truth, Call and Shout! Break through their deafness. Shatter darkness and wash away blindness. Give multiple opportunities for second birth Lord, out of Your patience and love and the depth of Your kindness. I pray this would not be a kissup prayer. You are really patient and supremely loving, and so kind. You desire for ALL to know Christ! So please heal. Hearts, bodies, minds Jesus! In the Name of Jesus, the Name that CONQUERED Death. Display the work of God in the lives of those who are hurting and need help. Bring glory to Your Name even through the sin and the pain. Prove true the love of those who follow You; deepen our love for You Father. Draw us close to You.

Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit. Amen.

2:01 pm

Acts 5

Acts 5: 1-16

Ananias and Sapphira

¹ Now a man named Ananias, together with his wife Sapphira, also sold a piece of property. ² With his wife’s full knowledge he kept back part of the money for himself, but brought the rest and put it at the apostles’ feet.

³ Then Peter said, “Ananias, how is it that Satan has so filled your heart that you have lied to the Holy Spirit and have kept for yourself some of the money you received for the land? ⁴ Didn’t it belong to you before it was sold? And after it was sold, wasn’t the money at your disposal? What made you think of doing such a thing? You have not lied just to human beings but to God.”

⁵ When Ananias heard this, he fell down and died. And great fear seized all who heard what had happened. ⁶Then some young men came forward, wrapped up his body, and carried him out and buried him.

⁷ About three hours later his wife came in, not knowing what had happened. ⁸ Peter asked her, “Tell me, is this the price you and Ananias got for the land?”

“Yes,” she said, “that is the price.”

⁹ Peter said to her, “How could you conspire to test the Spirit of the Lord? Listen! The feet of the men who buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out also.”

¹⁰ At that moment she fell down at his feet and died. Then the young men came in and, finding her dead, carried her out and buried her beside her husband. ¹¹ Great fear seized the whole church and all who heard about these events.

The Apostles Heal Many

¹² The apostles performed many signs and wonders among the people. And all the believers used to meet together in Solomon’s Colonnade. ¹³ No one else dared join them, even though they were highly regarded by the people. ¹⁴ Nevertheless, more and more men and women believed in the Lord and were added to their number. ¹⁵ As a result, people brought the sick into the streets and laid them on beds and mats so that at least Peter’s shadow might fall on some of them as he passed by. ¹⁶ Crowds gathered also from the towns around Jerusalem, bringing their sick and those tormented by impure spirits, and all of them were healed.

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Observation

Ananias's sin was against God (verse 3, 4).

What was his sin? Lying to the Holy Spirit (verse 3, 4).

Fear seized the church and all who heard about what happened (verse 5, 11).

Death was the price for not telling the truth. (verse 5, 10). In being dishonest, they were testing the Spirit of the Lord (verse 9).

No one else dared join the believers in Solomon’s Colonnade though they were highly regarded by the people and more men and women believed in the Lord and were added to the believers' number (verse 13, 14; these two verses need to be reconciled for me).

Sapphira had the opportunity to speak for herself. She was not struck down because of the sin of her husband. She died because of her own sin (verses 7-10).

The apostles were still performing miracles and still healing after this event (verse 12, verse 16).

Interpretation

God is good, but He is also still God. There are consequences for people in the Church who do not honor Him.

The sin of Ananias and Sapphira was presenting a sacrifice before the Lord that was not their all/best. Then they lied and claimed that it was their all. God does not take our second-best. Oh no sir.

The apostles were still healing and performing signs. God was still with them.

Perhaps the death of Ananias and Sapphira served as a reminder to the people that though God has been merciful, He is still God.

Sapphira was held accountable for her own sin. She was given a chance to repent.

Is this a difference in God's interaction with us from the Old Testament to the New Testament? Each is responsible for his/her own actions/sins, not the sins of their forefathers/families?

It is foolish to lie, especially in the Church, in front of God's people. Ananias and Sapphira lied to God's people.

Moreover, by not bringing all the money they made from selling the land, they undermined community.

- Undermined community by:

1. Lying to the community

2. Not bringing their all to God

Questions:

1. Why was it that no one dared to join the believers in Solomon’s Colonnade (verse 13)?

2. What does it mean to test the Spirit in this context? Ananias and Sapphira did it in a way that dishonored God. What are the differences between testing the Spirit in a way that strengthens our faith in and trust in God and testing the Spirit in a way that does not bring glory?

3. Why was death their punishment?

4. Why the strike of fear in the Church? What kind of fear of the Lord was it?

5. This incident was an illustration of God's wrath. But as God's people, aren't we no longer under the wrath of God? What made Ananias and Sapphira unique?

Application

I need to bring my best to God and be honest with Him. Not bringing my best/ALL is a sin against the Holy Spirit.

I cannot undermine community by lying or by not giving my all. In my life right now, that looks like being honest and talking to Stephen about what God has told me to talk to him about.

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Lord, help me to fear You. In the way that I should. I pray that my fear of You would be a righteous fear, a holy fear and not a fear that immobilizes me. May I give you my ALL; I pray that I would not sin against the Holy Spirit by giving You less than my best and calling it my best, less than my all and calling it my all. May I know who I serve and understand the great offense it is for me to not give You my all. Lord, please reconcile for me the many parts of Your character; Your mercy, grace, and love, but also Your wrath and expectations of me. Have Your way in my heart, in my life, and in my Spirit Holy God. In the Name of Jesus the Christ I pray, Amen.

Lord, may I not undermine community by lying or by not giving my all. May my aim be to build up community, not to subvert it or subvert the plan that You have for it. Lord, give me the courage to be honest and to give You my all. Give me the strength to take the risk to be vulnerable with community. Guard against even the unconscious undermining of community. Make my spirit so aware of how I serve You. May I be intentional with all the I do in the Name of Jesus Christ. Please keep me blameless at Your coming Lord Jesus, as You have promised in Your word to do. Hallelu Yah. This I pray in Your Name Jesus, Amen.

Acts 4 Continued

Acts 4:23-37

The Believers Pray

²³ On their release, Peter and John went back to their own people and reported all that the chief priests and the elders had said to them. ²⁴ When they heard this, they raised their voices together in prayer to God. “Sovereign Lord,” they said, “you made the heavens and the earth and the sea, and everything in them. ²⁵ You spoke by the Holy Spirit through the mouth of your servant, our father David:

“‘Why do the nations rage
and the peoples plot in vain?
²⁶ The kings of the earth rise up
and the rulers band together
against the Lord
and against his anointed one.^[b]’^[c]

²⁷ Indeed Herod and Pontius Pilate met together with the Gentiles and the people of Israel in this city to conspire against your holy servant Jesus, whom you anointed. ²⁸ They did what your power and will had decided beforehand should happen. ²⁹ Now, Lord, consider their threats and enable your servants to speak your word with great boldness. ³⁰ Stretch out your hand to heal and perform signs and wonders through the name of your holy servant Jesus.”

³¹ After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly.

The Believers Share Their Possessions

³² All the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that any of their possessions was their own, but they shared everything they had. ³³ With great power the apostles continued to testify to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. And God’s grace was so powerfully at work in them all ³⁴ that there were no needy persons among them. For from time to time those who owned land or houses sold them, brought the money from the sales ³⁵ and put it at the apostles’ feet, and it was distributed to anyone who had need.

³⁶ Joseph, a Levite from Cyprus, whom the apostles called Barnabas (which means “son of encouragement”),³⁷ sold a field he owned and brought the money and put it at the apostles’ feet.

Footnotes:

b. Acts 4:26 That is, Messiah or Christ

c. Acts 4:26 Psalm 2:1,2

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Observation

When Peter and John came bad with news of the threats and warnings of the chief priests and elders, the first response of the people was to pray (verse 24).

When the people pray, they start by recognizing who God is. They tell God that He is Sovereign and Creator (verse 24).

When the people pray, they quote Scripture a.k.a., God's own words (verses 25-26).

When the believers pray, they do not ask for deliverance from danger or even protection. They pray for God to enable them to preach with boldness (verse 29).

The believers asked for boldness and God gave it to them (verse 31).

As the apostles continued to testify to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, much grace was upon them all (verse 33).

Joseph was mentioned specifically. Moreover, he was called Barnabas/"Son of Encouragement." I wonder why the specific mention of this man, especially since he was not the only one to sell his own land (verse 36-37).

I assume that the believers gave willingly since they were in one heart and mind (verse 32). So willingly that no one was in need (verse 34).

Even as though believers were living in this deep community, they were not in a

bubble. The gospel continued to be preached (verse 33).

Interpretation

The believers use God's own words in their prayer. This supports their petition to God.

The believers acknowledge who God is. This is not only a way of praising His name, but recognizing how big is the God whom they are praying to.

Knowing/quoting God's word back to Him not only supports petition but helps in understanding God's will and plan. In verses 27-28, the people talk about what God's plan was/how what God intended was fulfilled. By knowing His word, they knew His plan, which allowed them to pray in His will.

God heard them. And He not only heard them, He granted them His spirit that would enable them to do exactly what they asked - speak God's word with boldness.

The believers prayed with faith and expectation (faith was evident in how quickly they went into prayer when the apostles reported to them what had happened with the chief priests and elders. Expectation was evident in the nature of their requests (verse 30)).

Question:

Was grace upon the all believers (verse 33) because the apostles testified to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus with great power, or is the grace independent of the apostles' actions?

Hmmm. Perhaps the latter. So what role does the mention of God's grace on the people play in the meaning of this verse? Maybe to preach requires grace? Wonder wonder...

No one was in need among the believers because "No one claimed that any of his possessions was his own, but they shared everything they had" (verse 32). For there to be a community where everyone's needs are met, people must be willing to give up what they have for the benefit of their fellow man/woman (verse 34). Also a matter of sharing (verse 32).

Application

In my prayers, I should start by telling God who He is, not only as praise to Him, but also for me to understand who I am talking to (He is big enough to answer my prayers and also He is a holy God that deserves reverence).

I need to know scripture so that:

1) I can quote God's words back to Him and "remind Him" of His words/promises to me (side revelation, not really drawn from this passage of scripture).

2) Support my petitions to Him with His very own words.

3) PRAY IN HIS WILL because I have a better understanding of His word, therefore having a better understanding of His character and plan.

In praying in His will, I should pray with faith and in expectation.

I should pray for God to enable me to press forward in spite of threats and opposition. The prayer should not always be that God delivers me from the situation (In a lot of Psalms, though, the psalmist asks for deliverance from trials. Thought to revisit).

The body of believers is supposed to give sacrificially. No one among us should have need. What ways can I give and sacrifice so that my brother or sister in Christ may not be in need?

The members of the church should be of one heart and mind (verse 32). Am I united with my church brothers and sisters in heart and mind?

I am to live in deep community with my brothers and sisters, however, this does not mean stay in Christian bubble. As I take care of those who I in Christ, I am to reach out to those who are not yet in Christ. I should invite them to be a part of the community of believers.

I should strive to be a "Son of Encouragement" (Barnabas). My love should shine through my actions (sacrificial generosity, seeking to meet needs of my Christian community, other ways) to the point where I can be called a "Daughter of Encouragement." My character should shine through, and also develop, the more I live in community. Hallelujah.

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Sovereign Lord, You are the Maker of Heaven and Earth. You are the Ancient of Days, the Alpha and the Omega, the One who is the same yesterday, today and tomorrow. THANK YOU for loving me and caring to have anything to do with me. I praise You Lord for having incredible patience and focus that You are able to bring into fruition the plan that You have for mankind. Lord, I am grateful to You for continuing to lead me back to You every time I stray. Thank You for reminding me of how sweet You are each time I read and study Your word. Thank You for feeding my spirit, it has been starving these past days. Holy Spirit, thank You for reaping so much out of this passage! And I also thank You that what You are teaching me is actually staying with me and not leaving my mind and heart. Thank You for growing me through these lessons and even just the discipline reading Your word everyday. Praise Yahweh! Praise the God who Is all that Is! Thank You Lord for the example of these believers from the early church and for this raw model of what the church is supposed to be and do. May the churches of today bring honor and glory to Your name as this one did! Thank You Father, Son, Holy Spirit, I praise You. Please be with me as I go about the rest of the day and week and as I go to church on Sunday. May I die to my flesh and bring honor and glory to Your name. In the name of Jesus the Christ I pray, Amen.

Acts 4

Acts 4:1-22

Peter and John Before the Sanhedrin (which, simply put, is an assembly of Jewish leaders)

¹ The priests and the captain of the temple guard and the Sadducees came up to Peter and John while they were speaking to the people. ² They were greatly disturbed because the apostles were teaching the people, proclaiming in Jesus the resurrection of the dead. ³ They seized Peter and John and, because it was evening, they put them in jail until the next day. ⁴ But many who heard the message believed; so the number of men who believed grew to about five thousand.

⁵ The next day the rulers, the elders and the teachers of the law met in Jerusalem. ⁶ Annas the high priest was there, and so were Caiaphas, John, Alexander and others of the high priest’s family. ⁷ They had Peter and John brought before them and began to question them: “By what power or what name did you do this?”

⁸ Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them: “Rulers and elders of the people! ⁹ If we are being called to account today for an act of kindness shown to a man who was lame and are being asked how he was healed, ¹⁰ 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. ¹¹ Jesus is

“‘the stone you builders rejected,
which has become the cornerstone.’^[a],

¹² Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved.”

¹³ When they saw the courage of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished and they took note that these men had been with Jesus. ¹⁴ But since they could see the man who had been healed standing there with them, there was nothing they could say. ¹⁵ So they ordered them to withdraw from the Sanhedrin and then conferred together. ¹⁶ “What are we going to do with these men?” they asked. “Everyone living in Jerusalem knows they have performed a notable sign, and we cannot deny it. ¹⁷ But to stop this thing from spreading any further among the people, we must warn them to speak no longer to anyone in this name.”

¹⁸ Then they called them in again and commanded them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus. ¹⁹But Peter and John replied, “Which is right in God’s eyes: to listen to you, or to him? You be the judges! ²⁰ As for us, we cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard.”

²¹ After further threats they let them go. They could not decide how to punish them, because all the people were praising God for what had happened. ²² For the man who was miraculously healed was over forty years old.

Footnotes:

1. Acts 4:11 Psalm 118:22

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Observation

Priests, captain of temple guard, and Sadducees were disturbed by the apostles' teaching about and proclamation of Jesus (v. 1-2).

The number of men who believed the message they preached grew to about 5,000 (v. 4).

Peter was filled with the Holy Spirit (v. 8)

*Salvation is found in no one else* (Acts 4:12).

Peter and John were unschooled, ordinary men. Rulers and elders noticed this and were astonished (v. 13).

Even though unschooled and ordinary, under the Holy Spirit, Peter quoted scripture (v. 11).

The rulers and the elders were speechless for the healed man was standing there, so they could not refute the apostles (v. 14).

Peter and John expressed that they would still preach--a direct disobedience to the rulers and elders' command to not teach in the name of Jesus (v. 18-20).

The people were praising God for what happened (v. 21).

The man who had been healed was over 40 (v. 22).

Interpretation

Peter and John were met with opposition after doing God's work, even by the spiritual leaders of the people. I will be met with opposition when I do the work of God.

The Holy Spirit used ordinary men to share His gospel. Through the testimony of the beggar and the opportunity to preach the gospel that came through that testimony, the number of men (I'm assuming that were added to the Christian body) grew to about 5,000.

In Mark 13:11, Jesus tell Peter, James, John, and Andrew "Whenever you are arrested and brought to trial, do not worry beforehand about what to say. Just say whatever is given you at the time, for it is not you speaking, but the Holy Spirit." This word is proven true in this passage of scripture.

In response to the leaders and rulers' command to not preach in the name of Jesus, Peter and John declare that they and will do what is right in the sight of God, not man. They respond with boldness and courage instead of fear.

The Sanhedrin could only threaten them. They had no control over what Peter and John would do after they let them go. They did not have true power.

Question:

Even though the people were praising God, the Sanhedrin really wanted to punish Peter and John for teaching in the name of Jesus. Why? What was their motivation for being leaders and teachers of the law? Did they truly believe that teaching in His name was heretical, or were they set of preserving what had always been/maintaining their status?

The beggar that God healed through Peter was over 40 years old. God radically changes things that seem impossible/people that seem like they will be the same forever. He brought glory and praise to His name by healing the beggar and added to the church. My testimony is a means of salvation. Through it, if I make use of the opportunity, God saves.

Under the Holy Spirit, Peter spoke with authority and courage. As I look through other passages where the Holy Spirit is at work, we will see if this is characteristic of the Holy Spirit.

Under the Holy Spirit, Peter declared that "Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved" (v. 12). Words of God, not man.

Application

Will I respond like Peter and John did when there is opposition against the proclamation of Christ's name? Boldly and without apology?

Under the Spirit, Peter spoke with courage and authority. But he also had knowledge of the Scriptures and of Jesus. I can be a ready vessel for the Spirit to use/prepare myself to be used by Him by making myself knowledgeable about the Scriptures and about the life and purpose of Jesus.

In verse 4, many who heard the message believed. I need to share the message in order for people to believe. And not all who heard believed, but Peter was called to preach.

Moreover, when Peter healed the beggar, I do not know if he knew that that action was going to turn into a gospel-sharing moment. In any case, when the opportunity presented itself, he made use of it. He used the testimony of this man to share the good news of Jesus Christ. I must make the most of every opportunity to share the gospel:

Colossians 4:5

Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity.

Ephesians 5:15-16

Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil.

1 Peter 3:15

... Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have....

What would it look like if in the face of opposition, I still said that I would preach in the name of Jesus? If I obeyed man rather than God?

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Lord, I pray that it would be so. That I would serve You and love You above man. I pray that I would obey You no matter what the circumstance or the outcome, even to the death. Make my faith in You that strong. I thank You Lord for being who You are. I praise You for having superb character. Hallelujah. In the name of Jesus the Christ I pray, let it be so, Amen.

1:36 am (Tuesday 6/21/11)

Acts 3 Continued...

Acts 3:11-26

Peter Speaks to the Onlookers

¹¹ While the man held on to Peter and John, all the people were astonished and came running to them in the place called Solomon’s Colonnade. ¹² When Peter saw this, he said to them: “Fellow Israelites, 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? ¹³ The God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, the God of our fathers, has glorified his servant Jesus. You handed him over to be killed, and you disowned him before Pilate, though he had decided to let him go. ¹⁴ You disowned the Holy and Righteous One and asked that a murderer be released to you. ¹⁵ You killed the author of life, but God raised him from the dead. We are witnesses of this. ¹⁶ By faith in the name of Jesus, this man whom you see and know was made strong. It is Jesus’ name and the faith that comes through him that has completely healed him, as you can all see.

¹⁷ “Now, fellow Israelites, I know that you acted in ignorance, as did your leaders. ¹⁸ But this is how God fulfilled what he had foretold through all the prophets, saying that his Messiah would suffer. ¹⁹ Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord, ²⁰ and that he may send the Messiah, who has been appointed for you—even Jesus. ²¹ Heaven must receive him until the time comes for God to restore everything, as he promised long ago through his holy prophets. ²² For Moses said, ‘The Lord your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among your own people; you must listen to everything he tells you. ²³ Anyone who does not listen to him will be completely cut off from their people.’^[a]

²⁴ “Indeed, beginning with Samuel, all the prophets who have spoken have foretold these days. ²⁵ And you are heirs of the prophets and of the covenant God made with your fathers. He said to Abraham, ‘Through your offspring all peoples on earth will be blessed.’^{[b] 26} When God raised up his servant, he sent him first to you to bless you by turning each of you from your wicked ways.”

Footnotes:

1. Acts 3:23 Deut. 18:15,18,19
2. Acts 3:25 Gen. 22:18; 26:4

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Observation

v. 11 - The beggar is still holding on to Peter and John.

v.11 - People are astonished and come running to them.

v.13-15 - Peter lets them know that they gave over and betrayed Jesus.

v. 16 - Peter places emphasis on Jesus' name and on faith.

v. 17 - Peter acknowledges that they acted in ignorance.

v. 19 - Peter tells the people that through repentance, their sins can be forgiven.

Peter preached this message after the beggar had been healed. He had the people's attention, so he shared the gospel through the beggar's testimony.

Interpretation

The sharing of our testimony is an opportunity through which we can tell the good news of Jesus. Through our testimony, we can offer the opportunity to repent and to God (v. 19).

Verse 16

By faith in the name of Jesus, this man whom you see and know was made strong. It is Jesus’ name and the faith that comes through him that has completely healed him, as you can all see.

Question:

Was it the faith of the beggar or the faith of Peter that healed the him? What does Peter mean when he says "faith that comes through Him"? Who's faith came through Him?

Peter does not hide the fact that the people gave over God's Chosen One (v.13-15). He makes it clear that they betrayed Him. But He also acknowledges that they acted in ignorance and gives them the opportunity to repent (v. 17, 19). We must know our sins and where we have done wrong yes, but the next step is to turn to God so that those sins may be wiped out.

Faith in the name of Jesus brings healing (v. 16). The is power in His name.

Application

When I end my prayers with "in the Name of Jesus" do I really believe that change and healing will come? Do I pray understanding that there is power in praying in the name of Jesus?

I need to be aware of my sins so that I can turn from them. Cannot turn away from something if you do not know it is there.

Verse 12

When Peter saw this, he said to them: “Fellow Israelites, 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 acknowledges and is fully aware that the healing power is not by him. When God does awesome things through me, do I acknowledge that it is Him, not me, doing the work?

I should be willing to share my testimony and use that opportunity to share the gospel. Every testimony should be a gospel sharing moment. Revelation 12 says that that is how we triumphed over Satan; "by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony" (v. 11). I should be ever eager to share!

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Lord, thank You for Your word. Thank You that it is ever-living and that You are always speaking through it. Thank You for the power that is in the name of and in faith in Jesus Christ. Lord, may I be like Peter, ever-ready to share the gospel, making use of every opportunity. May I know that it is by Your Spirit and power that awesome things happen, not my own. May I not run away from You Holy Spirit. Be with me over the next week as I seek to hear Your voice. Please show me what You would have me do. I pray for clarity and direction. In Christ's Name -- the powerful name, in which mighty and awesome things happen -- I pray, Amen.

Acts 3

Peter Heals the Crippled Beggar

¹ One day Peter and John were going up to the temple at the time of prayer—at three in the afternoon. ² Now a man crippled from birth was being carried to the temple gate called Beautiful, where he was put every day to beg from those going into the temple courts. ³ When he saw Peter and John about to enter, he asked them for money. ⁴ Peter looked straight at him, as did John. Then Peter said, “Look at us!” ⁵ So the man gave them his attention, expecting to get something from them.

⁶ Then Peter said, “Silver or gold I do not have, but what I have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk.” ⁷ Taking him by the right hand, he helped him up, and instantly the man’s feet and ankles became strong. ⁸ He jumped to his feet and began to walk. Then he went with them into the temple courts, walking and jumping, and praising God. ⁹ When all the people saw him walking and praising God, ¹⁰ they recognized him as the same man who used to sit begging at the temple gate called Beautiful, and they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him.

Peter Speaks to the Onlookers

¹¹ While the beggar held on to Peter and John, all the people were astonished and came running to them in the place called Solomon’s Colonnade. ¹² When Peter saw this, he said to them: “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? ¹³ The God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, the God of our fathers, has glorified his servant Jesus. You handed him over to be killed, and you disowned him before Pilate, though he had decided to let him go. ¹⁴ You disowned the Holy and Righteous One and asked that a murderer be released to you. ¹⁵ You killed the author of life, but God raised him from the dead. We are witnesses of this. ¹⁶ By faith in the name of Jesus, this man whom you see and know was made strong. *It is Jesus’ name and the faith that comes through him that has given this complete healing to him*, as you can all see.

¹⁷ “Now, brothers, I know that you acted in ignorance, as did your leaders. ¹⁸ But this is how God fulfilled what he had foretold through all the prophets, saying that his Christ^[a] would suffer. ¹⁹ Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord, ²⁰ and that he may send the Christ, who has been appointed for you—even Jesus. ²¹ He must remain in heaven until the time comes for God to restore everything, as he promised long ago through his holy prophets. ²² For Moses said, ‘The Lord your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among your own people; you must listen to everything he tells you. ²³ Anyone who does not listen to him will be completely cut off from among his people.’^[b]

²⁴ “Indeed, all the prophets from Samuel on, as many as have spoken, have foretold these days. ²⁵ And you are heirs of the prophets and of the covenant God made with your fathers. He said to Abraham, ‘Through your offspring all peoples on earth will be blessed.’^{[c] 26} When God raised up his servant, he sent him first to you to bless you by turning each of you from your wicked ways.”

Footnotes:

1. Acts 3:18 Or Messiah; also in verse 20
2. Acts 3:23 Deut. 18:15,18,19
3. Acts 3:25 Gen. 22:18; 26:4

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Observation

v. 1 - Peter and John going to the temple at the time of prayer.

v. 2 - The beggar was put at the temple gates every day to beg -- did not go into the temple to pray.

v. 4 - Was the beggar looking at their hands instead of their face? Assuming that he was sitting down and sought monetary gain, perhaps.

v. 7 - Peter took the cripple by the right hand and helped him up. When Jesus healed, did he usually just command them to walk or rise?

v. 8 - After the beggar was healed, he went inside the temple courts with Peter and John. He entered praising God.

v.9 & v. 10 - The people were filled with wonder and amazement at what happened to him.

Interpretation

The beggar did not seek the face of God (he did not go inside the temple to pray). Instead, he sought money from the people who went inside the temple to pray. What does this say about the beggar's relationship with God?

Peter says that he does not have silver or gold, but what I have I give you. Then he heals the beggar. Peter deals with the actual problem and does not treat the symptom. The easy thing to do would be to give him money and be on his way. But he brought glory to God by healing the beggar.

The reaction of the beggar was to go into the temple courts and praise God. He was sharing his testimony. Through that, Peter was able to share the gospel. Go God.

v.6 - There is mad power in the name of Jesus. His name was able to heal a cripple from birth!

Questions:

God is worthy of praise, regardless of whether or not the beggar was healed. Aren't we supposed to praise God for who He is, not what He has done. His actions point to His character yes, but we are supposed to praise Him for His character right?

Application

Christ's name and faith in His name (v. 16) was able to heal this cripple from birth. There is POWER in the name of Jesus! When I pray, do I pray in faith?

Peter was not content to give the beggar money and be on his way. He went much deeper than that. When I have the opportunity to go deeper with someone who is in poverty, will I take advantage of it?

When God does something awesome for me and in my life, do I proclaim it in the temple? Will I allow God to use the testimony as a means to share His gospel?

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Lord Jesus, I thank You for these verses. You have taught me and drawn out so much in just the first 10 verses. Thank you for examples like Peter and John who, though far from perfect, were men of God who gave their lives to serve You. I pray for a boldness and wisdom like Peter's. I pray that I will be so in tune with Your will. I pray for a better understanding of and a stronger belief in the power of Your Name Jesus. Please increase my faith in You, my capacity for You, and my desire for You. In the Name of Jesus I pray, Amen.

Psalm 9:10

Psalm 9:10
Those who know Your name will trust in You, for You, Lord, have never forsaken those who seek You.

Name, in this context, means so much more than just something we call another person. I make a motion to state that the words "Your name" can be substituted with "who You are." So then, the verse reads as follows.

Psalm 9:10
Those who know who You are will trust in You, for You, Lord, have never forsaken those who seek You.

Hallelu Yeshua.

2 Peter 1: 1-11

2 Peter 1

¹ Simon Peter, a servant and apostle of Jesus Christ,

To those who through the righteousness of our God and Savior Jesus Christ have received a faith as precious as ours:

² Grace and peace be yours in abundance through the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord.

Making One’s Calling and Election Sure

³ His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. ⁴ Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.

⁵ For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; ⁶ and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; ⁷ and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love. ⁸ For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. ⁹ But if anyone does not have them, he is nearsighted and blind, and has forgotten that he has been cleansed from his past sins.

¹⁰ Therefore, my brothers, be all the more eager to make your calling and election sure. For if you do these things, you will never fall, ¹¹ and you will receive a rich welcome into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

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Wow. This absolutely is the living Word of God. I needed to hear that. Thank You Lord. God, by his glory and goodness, has given me His promises so that I can partake of the divine nature (look into what "the divine nature" really means) and "escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires" (verse 4). Evil desires, in my situation, include a desire for the self to be the center of worship; a desire to usurp the position that belongs to God. Also, it includes the desire to make God fit into our lifestyle and what we think is a better version of who He is. How dare I. This evil desire leads to corruption in the world, evident through many world views and religions. In Hinduism, we can choose the gods that we want to worship, in Buddhism, there is no God. How dare we!

I love this passage, because through it, God has told me to do something that I have not been doing; I have not been seeking to know Him. I have been ineffective and unproductive in my knowledge of Jesus the Christ and I am nearsighted and blind and have forgotten that God has cleaned me of my sins (I have forgotten what He is has done for me, how He has healed me). No wonder why my doubt is so great! How can you trust somebody you don't know? And I'd like to say that I know Jesus because of the experiences I have with Him, but I don't really. I don't read His Word!!

Lightbulb. I have been praying for deeper faith and trust in God this year. And as I just wrote the sentence about trusting somebody you don't know, the Lord showed me that in order to trust Him, I have to know Him. And the way that I will know Him, is by reading His word. And if I pursue the qualities in verses 5-7, qualities of goodness, knowledge, self-control, perseverance, godliness, brotherly kindness, and love, they will keep me from being ineffective in my knowledge of Jesus. I love how the New American Standard Version puts it: "For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they render you neither useless nor unfruitful in the true knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ" (verse 8). Hallelu Yah. Thank You Jesus for meeting me. PLEASE, Holy Spirit help me to abound in these qualities that I may honor and glorify You! I want to make my calling and election sure and not take Your grace and mercy for granted. Please help me Lord. For Your glory may my life be lived. Help me to engage with You meaningfully DAILY in Your Word and through prayer. Make me far-sighted and give me great insight and may I not forget what You have done for me. Hallelu Yah Jesus! Please help me grow and get through.

In the Name of Christ Jesus I pray,

Amen.

Sitting in Intro to Asian Philosophy...

Lord, have Your way in my heart and have Your way in this class. Thy will be done, Amen.

The Joy of the Lord is our Strength

We stand and lift up our hands,
For the joy of the Lord is out strength.

Nehemiah 8:10b (NIV)
Do not grieve, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.

What does this mean? I mean, I figure that what this verse is saying is that the joy that we have in God is what will give us strength. But is not the Lord Himself our strength? I think I am definitely reading too much into this. And it is not so black and white. God is my strength; how I become strong in Him, though, is by keeping my joy.

Psalm 16:5-11 says:

⁵ LORD, you have assigned me my portion and my cup;
you have made my lot secure.
⁶ The boundary lines have fallen for me in pleasant places;
surely I have a delightful inheritance.

⁷ I will praise the LORD, who counsels me;
even at night my heart instructs me.
⁸ I have set the LORD always before me.
Because he is at my right hand,
I will not be shaken.

⁹ Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices;
my body also will rest secure,
¹⁰ because you will not abandon me to the grave,^a]">[a]
nor will you let your Holy One^b]">[b] see decay.
¹¹ You have made^c]">[c] known to me the path of life;
you will fill me with joy in your presence,
with eternal pleasures at your right hand.

Footnotes:

1. Psalm 16:10 Hebrew Sheol
2. Psalm 16:10 Or your faithful one
3. Psalm 16:11 Or You will make

I will have joy in the Lord because I know that He counsels me, is at my right hand, will not abandon me to the grave, nor let me decay. Why not have joy in the Lord?!

Here is a story taken from the Campus Crusade for Christ International (CCCI) website.

Your Source of Strength

"......the joy of the Lord is your strength" (Nehemiah 8:10b, KJV).

At a London train station one day, a woman was stopped by an elderly man.

"Excuse me, ma'am," he said, "but I want to thank you for something."

"Thank me!" the woman exclaimed.

"Yes'm, I used to be the ticket collector, and whenever you went by you always gave me a cheerful smile and a 'good mornin'." You don't know what a difference it made to me.

"Wet weather or dry, it was always the same, and I thought to myself, "Wonder where she gets her smile from; one can't always be happy, yet she seems to.' I knew that smile must come from inside somehow."

"Then one morning you came by and you had a little Bible in your hand. I said to myself, 'Perhaps that's where she gets her smile from.' So on my way home that night I bought a Bible, and I've been reading it, and I've found Christ. Now I can smile, too, and I want to thank you."

As you and I seek to be God's witnesses today, in dependence on the supernatural power of the indwelling Holy Spirit, we should be mindful constantly of the fact that the joy of the Lord can indeed be our strength. That joy inevitably will shine on our faces, regardless of circumstances.

In the words of an anonymous poem:

If you live close to God
And His infinite grace, You don't have to tell; It shows on your face.

TODAY'S ACTION POINT: I will make a conscious effort to reflect the joy of my indwelling Lord in such a way that it will glow on my very countenance. While it is true that joy is a fruit of the Spirit, it is also true that the reflection of that joy is my responsibility. But I will go a step further. I will tell everyone who will listen about the one who is the source of my joy.

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Lord Jesus, praise be to Your Name. You are worthy and deserving of praise. I thank You that You even care about me and that You are so good that You will not let my foot slip nor will let me be shaken. Hallelu Yah. Lord, as I take away from this lesson, help me to be joyous in You and to let that joy shine in my life and on my FACE. Praise the Name of the Lord! Hallelu Yah! Hallelu Yah! Thank You Jesus. Please keep me in my stage/phase of doubt. May I be more powerful and ever stronger when I come out of it. This I boldly pray in the name of Jesus the Christ, Amen.