Wiped Out

 DEVOTION

THE ACTS OF THE APOSTLES

WIPED OUT

Acts 3:17-26

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 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.'   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.'   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."

NIV

First things first, our sins have been wiped out by Jesus. There is one caveat: we need to repent, change the way we think, turn from wrong thinking to right thinking, and turn toward God. Having our sins wiped out makes it clearer than having our sins forgiven. The Greek word exaleifoo carries this direct meaning to wipe off, wipe away. It has also been used in the sense of anointing or washing every part. That means God not only forgives our sins because of Jesus, but he wipes them out, blots them out, so they are no longer there, or visible. Because our sins have been wiped out and are no longer seen, we must accept that truth and not hold ourselves guilty. God does not declare us guilty, as he wiped out our sins and has declared us innocent, holy, and blameless in his sight. When we accept that truth, then and only then will we find that refreshing, a cooling as the Greek word means. Jesus told us to learn from him, for he is gentle and humble of heart, and we would find rest for our souls. That is this refreshing, this cool feeling within our soul, our spirits, knowing we are his. We no longer have to be heavily laden or burdened because we came to Jesus and he gave us rest, which the Greek word translated as rest means to repose or be refreshed. This is the best way of living in Jesus, to have a refreshed soul, restored, at peace, first, with God, and secondly, within our own selves, our inner selves. We are also among all the people on earth who will be blessed because we are in Christ, and He is in us. So let us live with that refreshing, knowing our sins have been blotted out. 

Believe It or Not

 DEVOTION

THE ACTS OF THE APOSTLES

BELIEVE IT OR NOT

Acts 3:11-16

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.

NIV

This should give us the clue to how we should live. Peter knew he and John had no power within themselves. In fact, not only do we not have any power, but we have no righteousness of our own. Everything is about Jesus. Peter makes that clear in his explanation of why this crippled man is now walking. It is the name of Jesus and the faith that comes through him that gives complete healing to the man who was once lame, but is no longer. That is the question we must ask ourselves when we face an infirmity. Do we have faith in the name of Jesus for a complete healing? We wonder if sometimes we would rather just talk about our infirmity, even comparing ours with others, to see who has the worst one, or more pain and suffering. We may complain at times, so others will feel bad for us. The point is, have we accepted our crippled state, not looking, with the measure of faith God has given us, to Jesus, or using the power in the name of Jesus to have a complete healing? Do we really believe? If not, why not? We know our spirits have been healed. Once we lived in the darkness, and at some time in our lives, the Spirit came to lead us into the Light of Jesus, and we were changed from being dead to having life. That is the grandest healing of all, yet within our bodies we may experience many problems, sickness, diseases, infirmities, and pain. Maybe that is just part of the aging process, or maybe it is the lack of believing in the power of the name of Jesus. Peter asked the men of Israel why a healing in the name of Jesus should surprise them.  If we saw or experienced a complete divine healing in the name of Jesus, would we be surprised? It still comes down to one point: it is Jesus' name and the faith that comes through him that gives complete healing. We either believe it or not. 

In The Name of Jesus

 DEVOTION

THE ACTS OF THE APOSTLES

IN THE NAME OF JESUS

Acts 3:1-10

3:1 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.

NIV

We are at one of the great examples of the power in the name of Jesus. This crippled man received something more precious than gold or silver. We are told that Peter and John did not have any gold or silver to give this man, but they had the authority in the name of Jesus to heal this man. Peter invoked the name of Jesus and commanded the man to walk. Peter did help up; however, the man's feet and ankles became strong. He was healed, and he went walking, leaping, and praising God. Interestingly, the people who had walked by this man every day on their way to the temple were amazed to see him walking, leaping, and praising God. These people, filled with wonder and amazement, were religious men as they went to the temple during prayer time. Did they not know the power of God? We will see Peter speak to them, accusing them of disowning Jesus and handing him over to Pilate. Yet they should have known better, as they had all the words of the prophets and the history of their forefathers, led by the power of God, into the place they now called theirs. They practiced their religion, followed the laws given to Moses, and celebrated the festivals: Passover, the Feast of Unleavened Bread, Shavuot (the Feast of Weeks), and the Feast of Booths (tabernacles), among others. Yet, they could not accept Jesus as their Messiah. It is good that we are not like those men; however, we are filled with wonder and amazement because we know the power of the name of Jesus. Yet do we avail ourselves of the name of Jesus, or do we just practice our religious traditions? We have accepted the free gift of salvation because of Jesus. We have accepted the forgiveness of our sins because of Jesus. We have accepted the Holy Spirit because Jesus sent him to us. But have we accepted the power in the name of Jesus? We do go through all the motions of religion, but are we truly walking, leaping, and praising God? Are we ready for the power that is in the name of Jesus? Do we really want this power, or do we just believe in the power? Silver and gold can buy the things of this world, but the name of Jesus can heal the sick, raise up the lame, restore sight, give hearing to the deaf, and speech to the mute. Peter and John had faith in Jesus, in the power of his name. Would we forfeit that measure of faith God gave us and resign ourselves to a crippled life? We wonder. Just a thought to ponder. Maybe we could start by first walking, leaping, and praising God, in the name of Jesus

Filled with Awe and Devoted

 DEVOTION

THE ACTS OF THE APOSTLES

FILLED WITH AWE AND DEVOTED

Acts 2:42-47

42 They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. 43 Everyone was filled with awe, and many wonders and miraculous signs were done by the apostles. 44 All the believers were together and had everything in common. 45 Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need. 46 Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, 47 praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.

NIV

This was the New Testament church in its early days, when the believers took care of one another, sharing what they had. They were devoted to the apostle's teaching and to fellowship. It seems the church today has lost some of what the early church experienced. We have not witnessed, in the years we have been associated with the church, people selling their possessions and goods and giving to anyone who had a need. For the most part, we all work to meet our own physical needs, but we also give to support various missionaries and those who serve us in full-time ministry. We may not break bread together, meet every day in church, or gather in our homes to eat together with glad and sincere hearts. The modern church does not resemble that early church very much, although we still gather together once a week. We wonder how glad the members of this modern church are to meet together. We wonder how much we are praising God, or whether we are just going through the motions. We have not seen the Lord add to our numbers daily those who were being saved. Why is that? There was something about that early church that we are missing. Are we filled with awe? Are there even some signs of wonders by any ambassadors of the gospel, or anyone who is a commissioner of Christ? We may not be as devoted or committed to following Jesus as we think we are. We know that we have nothing to boast about or be prideful about when we compare ourselves to that early church. Even without the comparison, we still have nothing to boast about or be proud of. We know that we should be seeking his kingdom first and foremost in our lives. We know that we should be following Jesus, that is, following the way he showed us how to worship and in our relationships with others. The question is whether we are succeeding, at least, in being anything like a New Testament church. Are we devoted to teaching the word? Are we devoted to learning the word? Are we devoted to the Lord, or are we trying to live with a divided heart, part devoted to self or our own pursuits, while giving a part to the Lord? We want to be filled with awe and devoted to Jesus. 

The Gift

 DEVOTION

THE ACTS OF THE APOSTLES

THE GIFT

Acts 2:37-41

37 When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, "Brothers, what shall we do?" 38 Peter replied, "Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39 The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off — for all whom the Lord our God will call." 40 With many other words, he warned them; and he pleaded with them, "Save yourselves from this corrupt generation." 41 Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day.

NIV

When they heard about Jesus, the people were cut to the heart. That is the clue of the whole gospel. There is a difference between saying or even believing we are Christians and being cut to the heart. We wonder if it is just that one day when we repented, changed our mind, as the Greek word Metanoeoo means. Once, we did not think of Jesus as Lord and Savior, but when we were cut to the heart, we changed how we thought about him, and all we wanted to do was follow him. Peter told them to repent and be baptized, which is in line with what Jesus did. That would give us the clue that all new believers should be baptized. It is not that baptism saved them from their sins, for Jesus has accomplished the forgiveness of our sins. But baptism is following Jesus. Receiving the Holy Spirit is also following Jesus, as when John the Baptist baptized Jesus, the Spirit descended upon him. We cannot make that a hard-and-fast rule about the Holy Spirit descending upon us at the moment of baptism, as we also know the Spirit came as a mighty rushing wind, and what appeared as fire rested on each of the heads of all those in the upper room. We believe all the disciples were baptized at some time as they walked with Jesus. We know that the apostles, or disciples, baptized people who came to believe in Jesus. It is the way of life for all new believers. However, there is also power that comes upon us when we are baptized with the Holy Spirit. We know from the next verses that the Apostles did many signs and wonders, as they were filled with the power of the Holy Spirit. How can we believe that we would not have power if we are baptized or filled with the Spirit? Have we quenched the Spirit and therefore live as a disabled Christian? Just as our salvation is a gift from God, so is the Holy Spirit. Because the Spirit comes from God and dwells within us, we believe we should have an untold amount of power, even with signs and wonders. It is the most wonderful truth in our lives that in the name of Jesus Christ, our sins have been forgiven, and we have received the gift of the Holy Spirit. 

The Throne

 DEVOTION

THE ACTS OF THE APOSTLES

THE THRONE

Acts 2:29-36

29 "Brothers, I can tell you confidently that the patriarch David died and was buried, and his tomb is here to this day. 30 But he was a prophet and knew that God had promised him on oath that he would place one of his descendants on his throne. 31 Seeing what was ahead, he spoke of the resurrection of the Christ, that he was not abandoned to the grave, nor did his body see decay. 32 God has raised this Jesus to life, and we are all witnesses of the fact. 33 Exalted to the right hand of God, he has received from the Father the promised Holy Spirit and has poured out what you now see and hear. 34 For David did not ascend to heaven, and yet he said,

"'The Lord said to my Lord: "Sit at my right hand 35 until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet." '   

36 "Therefore let all Israel be assured of this: God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ."

NIV

Peter makes it clear that all men are like David; we die and are buried, or at least our bodies are. Christ, or the Messiah, died on the cross, or at least his earthly body did. Jesus gave up his spirit, leaving his body that he came in the form of a man, hanging there without life to be taken down and buried. Peter also makes it clear that God raised Jesus from the grave, for his body did not see decay, and all the disciples are witnesses to the fact that Jesus is alive and is sitting at the right hand of God. This brings us to the idea that has floated around for centuries. If God has a right hand, then he must be in some form like the man he created. Michelangelo’s painting in the Sistine Chapel in the Vatican conveys the idea that God’s finger touched Adam's, giving the man life; therefore, God was portrayed as a physical, older, gray-haired man.  However, we also know that to be seated at the right hand of a king is the place of honor, and Jesus has been given the place of honor with the Father. We know that God is Spirit and his worshippers must worship in spirit and in truth. There is some question about the form of Jesus as he ascended in his physical form, although he was in a glorified state. What we can be assured of and have complete confidence in is that although we die, we will live. When this body comes to its end, we will leave it behind to ascend into the presence of our Lord and Savior, Jesus. We will be in spirit, just as Jesus was when he left his body on that cross. Yet his body was raised from the dead, just as ours will be, and somehow we will be reunited with it, just as Jesus was. Our bodies will be in that glorified state, just as Jesus was, and we will live in the new city of Jerusalem with Jesus for all eternity. This is the truth that Peter expressed when he called Jesus both Lord and Christ. Jesus has saved us from our sins and freed us from death, giving us life and life abundantly. Peter said that Jesus sits on the throne of David, as it was promised. Once, we might have thought we sat on our own throne, being in charge of our own lives, but we have abdicated, making Jesus our King, our Lord, and now he sits on the throne over our lives. He is high and lifted up on his throne. 

Joy Unspeakable

 DEVOTION

THE ACTS OF THE APOSTLES

Acts 2:25-28

JOY UNSPEAKABLE

25 David said about him:

"'I saw the Lord always before me. Because he is at my right hand, I will not be shaken. 26 Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices; my body also will live in hope, 27 because you will not abandon me to the grave, nor will you let your Holy One see decay. 28 You have made known to me the paths of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence.'  

NIV

Although we considered what Peter quoted from David and looked at us as being the holy ones of God, even if Peter was talking about Jesus being the Holy One. There is something else in this Psalm of David that strikes a chord in our hearts. First, the Lord does show us, or makes known to us, the paths of our lives. The problem could be that we are not listening or are unwilling to follow the path he has laid out before us. Do we want to travel our own paths? We know those who refuse to accept Jesus surely travel their own paths down that wide road that leads to hell. However, we have confessed that Jesus is our Lord and Savior and submitted our wills to the will of the Father. That would mean we should not be making our own way in life, but rather watching and listening so we will know the path he has for us. He will make known our path, both the one we walk in the worldly sense and the calling of our walk of faith. This walk of faith would be both in the world and in the church. It is who we are, holy ones who belong to the Lord; our lives do not belong to ourselves. Because of who we are, the second truth appears directly to our hearts. When we walk the path the Lord has laid out for us, he fills us with the joy of his presence. Can there even be any joy if we are not filled with his presence? Do we try to make ourselves happy with the material goods of this world? But stuff can be temporary; we can obtain it, but we can just as easily lose it. The purpose of our lives is not to obtain stuff, but to seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and He will make sure we have enough, which is not the reason we seek him first. When we walk with the Lord, listening to his plans and his path for us, and following them, we will be filled with the joy of his presence. This is true joy, which far surpasses happiness. The word that David used in the Psalm means pleasure, that is, we will know the pleasure of his presence. In a small way, it is like the pleasure we experience when we are in the presence of the one we love, our spouse. But being in the presence of our Lord, enjoying His presence in our lives, fills us with a joy that cannot be contained and measured. It is joy unspeakable and full of glory. Although those are the words of a hymn, they are from one of Peter's letters to the church. Joy unspeakable and full of  glory because we are in His presence.