Through his name

Bible Reading: Acts 10

Acts 10:43 To him give all the prophets witness, that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins.

Peter was preaching to those gathered in Cornelius’ house.  He was sent by the Holy Ghost to preach Jesus to these Gentiles.  Peter was learning that the gospel applies to ever tongue, tribe and nation.  All people need Jesus, not just Jews.  As he preached, he pointed out two things that are of vital importance.  First, all men are sinners.  This fact is trying to be diminished in our day. People do not want to think about sin, righteousness and judgment.  They want to believe the lie of psychology that says people are basically good and getting better all the time.  Peter dealt with the sin issue at Cornelius’ house.

Second, Peter preached how a person can get rid of their sin.  There is only one way – to believe in Jesus.  When a person tries to get rid of their sin by themselves, they always use either ritual or repayment.  Think of what people do.  They say prayers, they go to confession, they light candles, they go on a pilgrimage, they fast, they punish themselves, etc…  They also use repayment.  They try to make recompense for what they have done by righting the wrong.  If that is impossible, they try to right another wrong to pay for what they have done.  Why do people do this?  They know that redemption is necessary for the remission of sin.  The problem is that human beings lack the currency to pay for sin.  Sin is costly.  No one has enough to pay for sin.

Psalms 49:7-8 None of them can by any means redeem his brother, nor give to God a ransom for him: (For the redemption of their soul is precious, and it ceaseth for ever:)

The only commodity that has enough intrinsic value to redeem a human soul is the blood of the Lamb of God, Jesus Christ.  

1 Peter 1:18-19 Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot.

This blood is absolutely the only thing in the universe that can take away sin.

Hebrews 9:26b …now once in the end of the world hath he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself.

This is what we must believe about Jesus Christ.  This is why we must believe in Jesus Christ.  In him is redemption and remission of sins.  What a wonderful reality!  

In Christ,

Rody

Prayer and the Ministry of the Word

Bible Reading: Acts 6

Acts 6:4 But we will give ourselves continually to prayer, and to the ministry of the word.

The apostles had to prioritize their responsibilities.  There was much ministry to be done, but they could not do it all.  They needed some faithful, Spirit-filled men to help them take care of ministering to the widows.  It is interesting to me that they told the people to choose spiritual men.  They would not just ‘fill slots’ with anyone they could find.  They encouraged the people to look out men who were:

Acts 6:3 Wherefore, brethren, look ye out among you seven men of honest report, full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business.

All ministry is spiritual.  All ministry is important.  The apostles knew that they would wind up neglecting their ministry of the word and prayer if they handled the other ministry.  They were wise and knew they could not do it all.  

What about you?  What ministry are you involved in?  What has God led you to?  How do you serve in your local church? Do you look around and see what needs to be done, or do you just show up and take part not really knowing how all that happens takes place?  Do you expect the ministry to be done by the pastors or do you know that all of the members of Christ’s body are to minister to one another?  

These are some important questions to ask.  We live in a time of consumerism and many in the church are just consumers of the goods and services the church is providing.  Steven was a man who was willing and able to serve.  He was filled with the Holy Spirit and he took ministry seriously.  Will you do the same?

In Christ,

Rody

They ceased not to teach and preach Jesus Christ

Bible Reading: Acts 5

Acts 5:42 And daily in the temple, and in every house, they ceased not to teach and preach Jesus Christ.

The apostles had just received a beating from the religious leaders for preaching in the name of Jesus Christ.  They were warned that they should no longer preach in the name of Jesus.  They response of the apostles is amazing.

Acts 5:41 And they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for his name.

They were doing exactly what Jesus told them to do when they were persecuted for his name’s sake.

Matthew 5:11-12 Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.

Not only did they rejoice, but they did not stop teaching and preaching Jesus Christ.  He was their message!  They knew the Truth and nothing would stop them from spreading the truth.  

Are you continually teaching and preaching Jesus Christ?  Do you regularly share the gospel with others?  The Greek word translated ‘preach’ in Acts 5:42 is the word from which we get evangelizing.  They taught people about Jesus Christ and the evangelized by preaching Jesus Christ.  

I wonder what kinds of obstacles get in our way when we consider sharing the gospel with others.  It certainly isn’t getting beaten by the authorities.  We live in a place where it is not against the law to share the gospel.  Let us be witnesses for Christ and overcome the obstacles that Satan puts in our way.

In Christ,

Rody

The times of restitution of all things

Bible Reading: Acts 3

Acts 3:20-21 And he shall send Jesus Christ, which before was preached unto you: Whom the heaven must receive until the times of restitution of all things, which God hath spoken by the mouth of all his holy prophets since the world began.

Peter was preaching to the crowd gathered at the temple and watching a lame man jumping and praising God.  He told them to repent and be converted.  They killed the Prince of Life, but he would forgive them if they would change their minds and trust him.  A part of his preaching was a promise that Jesus was coming again.  He said that heaven must receive him until the time but he is going to return.  When he returns, he will do all the things that the prophets said would happen.

A major stumbling block for many Jews is the fact that Jesus did not restore the Davidic kingdom.  This is something that is prophesied in the Old Testament.  The Kingdom was not established during the earthly ministry of Jesus.  This was one of the questions that the disciples asked of him after his resurrection.

Acts 1:6-7 When they therefore were come together, they asked of him, saying, Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel? And he said unto them, It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power.

It is not time, yet…  But it will happen.  Many preachers have spiritualized the kingdom promises and do not believe there will be an earthly millennial kingdom.  But the Bible tells us there will.

Revelation 20:4 And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years.

The kingdom is delayed, but not done away with!  Jesus will sit upon his throne in Jerusalem and rule the nations with a rod of iron.  All that the prophets foretold will come to pass.  

In the meantime we are told to focus on the preaching of the gospel.  This is a time of grace and God is calling out a people for his name.  Just like the three thousand saved on the day of Pentecost, many will be saved during this time.  Wait patiently for the kingdom.  Focus on preaching the gospel of Jesus Christ now.

In Christ,

Rody

How hear we every man in our own tongue?

Bible Reading: Acts 2

Acts 2:8-11 And how hear we every man in our own tongue, wherein we were born? Parthians, and Medes, and Elamites, and the dwellers in Mesopotamia, and in Judaea, and Cappadocia, in Pontus, and Asia, Phrygia, and Pamphylia, in Egypt, and in the parts of Libya about Cyrene, and strangers of Rome, Jews and proselytes, Cretes and Arabians, we do hear them speak in our tongues the wonderful works of God.

Some were amazed and some mocked and said the people were drunk!  I guess that is the way with all witnessing.  Some people listen and others mock.  But the truth of the situation was that this was the beginning of what the apostles and others in the upper room had been waiting for – The Promise of the Father.  At Pentecost the church was born when they were baptized with the Holy Spirit.  This began the mission that Jesus had given them before he ascended up to heaven.  They were to be his witnesses starting in Jerusalem and continuing to the uttermost part of the earth.  

The mission in Jerusalem was interesting because at that time, Jews lived all over the world.  They were in Jerusalem for the Feast of the Lord called Pentecost.  They spoke many different languages.  When the disciples were filled with the Holy Ghost, they began speaking the wonderful works of God in the languages of the people.  Can you see it?  One person was witnessing in Hebrew and another was talking to a group who spoke Arabic.  There were 120 disciples and they scattered out through the crowd witnessing in the language that people spoke.

It is not coincidence that Jesus is called the Word of God.  He is about communication.  In his mission to seek and to save that which was lost (Luke 19:10), he wants his Word to be heard and believed on in the world.  Tongues are languages that are spoken and understood by people.  The purpose of this gift is to communicate and to show as a sign to unbelievers that someone is a believer (1 Corinthians 14:22).  

Our God confused the languages at Babel (Genesis 11:7-8).  He did this so that people would not all work together in their rebellion and false religion.  Now he is calling out a people for his name from all the different Gentile peoples of the earth.  He wants all to be able to hear the good news of Jesus Christ.  God desires communication.  Jesus is the Word of God.  God gave us a Bible to read and hear his Word.  

Who are you communicating with?  I pray it is with God in prayer, with believers in fellowship and with the lost as you witness for Jesus Christ.

In Christ,

Rody

Wait for the Promise of the Father

Bible Reading: Acts 1

Acts 1:4-5 And, being assembled together with them, commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father, which, saith he, ye have heard of me. For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence.

Jesus spent some intimate time with his apostles before he was betrayed on the night they celebrated the Passover.  There in the Upper Room discourse (John 13-17), he spoke of the abiding Holy Spirit that the Father would send in his name.  He told them it was expedient that he go to the Father because when he went, the Comforter would come.  After the resurrection and prior to his ascension to heaven, he instructed them to stay in Jerusalem and wait for the promise of the Father.  

They were waiting for the baptism with the Holy Ghost that would happen on Pentecost.  What would be the result of this baptism?

The Holy Spirit from this point on would dwell in the believer and teach the believer all things in reference to the Lord Jesus Christ.

John 14:17 Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.

John 14:26 But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.

The Holy Spirit baptism actually unites believers with Jesus in his body which is the church.

1 Corinthians 12:13-14 For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit. For the body is not one member, but many.

They were waiting for the inauguration of the church.  The promised Holy Spirit who came from the Father was going to be poured out on Pentecost and He would accomplish many things in the lives of believers.  Not only would the constant presence of Jesus be theirs because of the indwelling Holy Spirit, but the resident teacher would be teaching believers the mind of Christ.  He also has another vital ministry in the life of the believer.

Acts 1:8 But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.

He empowers for witness.  What a wonderful work the Holy Spirit does in our lives.  You need not wait for the Promise of the Father now.  You need only receive Jesus Christ and realize that if you have Christ, you have the Holy Spirit (Romans 8:9) and he will be in you to comfort, teach, and empower for witness as a member of the body of Christ.

In Christ,

Rody