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."
We have all been given gifts and talents by God and it is no secret that Jesus requires us to use them. (Mt 25:14-30) Peter was not blessed with wealth, but what he had received from God he gave in the name of Jesus Christ. He gave the beggar something far better than what he asked for.
Peter spent day in and day out next to Jesus and witnessed firsthand the power of his Name to heal. He received this same gift from Christ who appointed him to be a witness for him not by the power of his own wisdom (for he was an unlearned fisherman) but by the power of the Spirit. How sad it would have been if Christ gave him the power to heal and he did not use it!
But in the same way, Christ has given us all the power to heal.
It starts only with giving someone your time and attention, your love and care. Beggars may ask you for money, but if God has given you some spare time and the capacity to love, give them that. Give them what they truly need: Their dignity and worth as God's created human beings. One dollar can open the door to a conversation. A cup of coffee and 15 minutes of time can be all you need to save a soul.
Showing posts with label Acts. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Acts. Show all posts
Friday, August 19, 2011
Tuesday, July 12, 2011
Acts 19:2
"[Paul] asked them, "Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?"
They answered, "No, we have not even heard that there is a Holy Spirit."
How is it that someone can be a believer and while having never received or even heard of the Holy Spirit? Doesn't the Holy Spirit indwell all believers? The text makes clear that these were disciples, but does not make clear whose disciples they are. They were baptized once with the baptism of repentance, but the text then goes on to say that they were re-baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.
It seems that their first baptism was inadequate and whoever discipled them left the job undone. These were nominal Christians. John's baptism was good, but it was insufficient for salvation. Some others had come before Paul to Ephesus and preached only a small part of the good news of Christ and went on their way, unknowingly leaving behind a remnant of shallow half-Christians who only think they are saved.
How much of a burden then lies on us, as members of Christ's body, to preach the whole gospel in order to make whole Christians? We have a charge to make disciples of all nations, not just to baptize but to teach them to obey all things Christ has commanded. Paul taught in the area two years, making sure all have heard the message and were rightly taught before he moved on. We ought follow him as he follows Christ.
They answered, "No, we have not even heard that there is a Holy Spirit."
How is it that someone can be a believer and while having never received or even heard of the Holy Spirit? Doesn't the Holy Spirit indwell all believers? The text makes clear that these were disciples, but does not make clear whose disciples they are. They were baptized once with the baptism of repentance, but the text then goes on to say that they were re-baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.
It seems that their first baptism was inadequate and whoever discipled them left the job undone. These were nominal Christians. John's baptism was good, but it was insufficient for salvation. Some others had come before Paul to Ephesus and preached only a small part of the good news of Christ and went on their way, unknowingly leaving behind a remnant of shallow half-Christians who only think they are saved.
How much of a burden then lies on us, as members of Christ's body, to preach the whole gospel in order to make whole Christians? We have a charge to make disciples of all nations, not just to baptize but to teach them to obey all things Christ has commanded. Paul taught in the area two years, making sure all have heard the message and were rightly taught before he moved on. We ought follow him as he follows Christ.
Friday, July 1, 2011
Acts 10:15
"Again a voice came to him a second time, "What God has cleansed, no longer consider unholy.""
Are you holy? Have you been washed by the blood of Jesus Christ? Has the cross taken away all of your sins?
Truly if you are in Christ by faith in his blood then you are holy. God has pardoned you. Because you believed God has done what he has promised, it has been credited to you as righteousness.(Gen 15:6) So what God has cleansed, no longer consider unholy. You are a new creation (2Cor 5:17) not because of anything you did, but because God cleansed you. You are holy because God is holy and is the one who makes you holy. (Lev 21:7,15,23;22:9,16,32)
So do not blaspheme God by calling what is holy unholy. If you have believed in Christ, do not dare to deny what Christ has done through confessing your sinful nature. You are no longer sinners, but you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God. (1Cor 6:11) You have died to it,(Rom 6:2) how can you still confess to be in it? Profess that "Though I was once a sinner, Christ took away my sin, and by his Power I am kept holy, pure, and blameless" lest you deny the reality of that which justifies you, Christ Jesus and him crucified.
Or do you not believe the gospel of grace so generously poured out on your behalf?
Are you holy? Have you been washed by the blood of Jesus Christ? Has the cross taken away all of your sins?
Truly if you are in Christ by faith in his blood then you are holy. God has pardoned you. Because you believed God has done what he has promised, it has been credited to you as righteousness.(Gen 15:6) So what God has cleansed, no longer consider unholy. You are a new creation (2Cor 5:17) not because of anything you did, but because God cleansed you. You are holy because God is holy and is the one who makes you holy. (Lev 21:7,15,23;22:9,16,32)
So do not blaspheme God by calling what is holy unholy. If you have believed in Christ, do not dare to deny what Christ has done through confessing your sinful nature. You are no longer sinners, but you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God. (1Cor 6:11) You have died to it,(Rom 6:2) how can you still confess to be in it? Profess that "Though I was once a sinner, Christ took away my sin, and by his Power I am kept holy, pure, and blameless" lest you deny the reality of that which justifies you, Christ Jesus and him crucified.
Or do you not believe the gospel of grace so generously poured out on your behalf?
Thursday, June 16, 2011
Acts 9:4-5
He fell to the ground and heard a voice say to him, “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?”
“Who are you, Lord?” Saul asked.
“I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting,” he replied.
Curiously, Jesus tells Saul that he is persecuting him when clearly it says in verse 1 Saul is persecuting the Church of the Lord's disciples who called themselves "The Way". Jesus makes no distinction between the persecution of his Church and of himself for the Church is his body.
Jesus Christ has made his will and the will of the Father known. Because there exists a holy God, there is a holy church. Because there is one God, there is one church. Because God is universal, so too is the church universal (catholic). And because the Father sent his Son to do this work through the sanctifying Spirit, so too does Christ send us to be his body in the world animated by His Holy Spirit. We believe in one, holy, catholic, and apostolic church because we believe in one, holy, catholic, and apostolic God.
And thus those who try and frustrate the interests of the Church try and frustrate the interests of God. For this reason they will fail, for no one frustrates the will of God. Therefore as the Church, we seek not our own interests, but the interests of God and his interest is in the salvation of mankind to the glory of His name. So here we remain until the Lord calls us home.
“Who are you, Lord?” Saul asked.
“I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting,” he replied.
Curiously, Jesus tells Saul that he is persecuting him when clearly it says in verse 1 Saul is persecuting the Church of the Lord's disciples who called themselves "The Way". Jesus makes no distinction between the persecution of his Church and of himself for the Church is his body.
Jesus Christ has made his will and the will of the Father known. Because there exists a holy God, there is a holy church. Because there is one God, there is one church. Because God is universal, so too is the church universal (catholic). And because the Father sent his Son to do this work through the sanctifying Spirit, so too does Christ send us to be his body in the world animated by His Holy Spirit. We believe in one, holy, catholic, and apostolic church because we believe in one, holy, catholic, and apostolic God.
And thus those who try and frustrate the interests of the Church try and frustrate the interests of God. For this reason they will fail, for no one frustrates the will of God. Therefore as the Church, we seek not our own interests, but the interests of God and his interest is in the salvation of mankind to the glory of His name. So here we remain until the Lord calls us home.
Saturday, May 14, 2011
Acts 3:6-8
"Then Peter said, “Silver or gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk.” Taking him by the right hand, he helped him up, and instantly the man’s feet and ankles became strong. He jumped to his feet and began to walk. Then he went with them into the temple courts, walking and jumping, and praising God."
True worship is a response to what God has done. True worship can only come from a recognition of God's presence and character through an intimate encounter with a wholly other God. No matter how many songs we sing, how many people we convert, and no matter how long our prayers, if it isn't in reaction to a Divine God, it isn't worship.
True worship is impossible for us alone. Who among us has come to God where he dwells in Heaven? Rather, if not for the revelation of God himself to unto us, who could worship? But praise God that he has revealed the fullness of his glory to us through his Son, the word become flesh, Immanuel, God with us, crucified on the cross and displayed for all to see.
It is through radical encounters with His Holy Spirit that anyone can say they worship God. It is a direct response to the power of God. Let this crippled beggar be our model for true spiritual worship.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)