Listening

 DEVOTION

THE ACTS OF THE APOSTLES

LISTENING

Acts 3:17-23

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.'  

NIV

We considered the time of refreshing that comes from the Lord for those who repent and turn to God and that in doing so our sins are wiped out which means complete, as with all our sins, past, present, and future, written on a whiteboard and He wipes that board so clean that is like a brand new, as never ever written on, rather than just been cleanse. We could say it was born again. Now, Peter quotes the words of Moses, and these are a warning with dire consequences. He is saying there are two ways to live. One is to listen to everything Jesus tells us, and the other is to not listen to him. It is easy to understand that those who reject what Jesus tells them will be cut off from among his people. This would also imply that his people are the ones who listen to everything he tells them. The operative word here is everything. The Greek word translated as everything has this meaning of the whole. Therefore, we need to listen to the whole of Jesus’s words. This would also imply that if we are listening to the whole of his words, then we are supposed to act upon that which we hear, as he is our Lord and Savior. The question is whether we are truly acting on or are having the attitudes that he has told us. We could say we have in the sense that we accepted him as our Lord and Savior by calling on his name. But that is only the first step that gives us eternal life. However, are we in danger of being cut off if we do not listen to all that he has said, which implies doing or behaving in the manner he said and having the attitudes he said we are to have? Within the next sentence, Peter speaks about turning from our wicked ways. Would that imply that is just this turning from our old life to our new life in Christ? Then there is nothing else we need to do and we can just go about our lives as we always have. That does not seem right in any sense of the word. We have to change from our wicked ways and live in a manner that pleases the Lord and that would mean listening to the whole of his teachings. This could take a lifetime to incorporate every aspect of all the teachings of Jesus into our attitude and behavior. Of course, we have the Spirit to lead us in all this truth from Jesus. Certainly, the first and foremost is to remain in him for apart from him we can do nothing. This would mean that anything we do on our own is nothing, worthless, meaningless, or unimportant. The key to successful living is first, listening, second, doing what we hear.

 

times of refreshing

 DEVOTION

THE ACTS OF THE APOSTLES

TIMES OF REFRESHING

Acts 3:17-23

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.'  

NIV

As Luke records, Peter has more to say about this, but we need to stop here and consider how Peter is showing mercy by telling them how they acted in ignorance. This word simply implies that did not have the knowledge about what they did. However, Peter also says they did not accomplish killing Jesus in their own strength, as it was the plan of God and they were just doing the bidding of God in order that their sins could be wiped away. And that they could be refreshed from the Lord. Here is where we step into the history of mankind. At one time in our life, we too were ignorant of the knowledge concerning Jesus Christ and his fulfillment of the plan of God. However, because of the plan of God and his intervention, we have become aware that our sin was the reason He sent Jesus to die on the cross. Therefore, our sins have been wiped away because we have accepted Jesus as the Christ and as our Lord and Savior. The point is sin weights a man down even if unaware that is what happens when we are captive to the whims of self. Once we have been told, as Peter told those people, that through Jesus our sins are wiped away, there is a lightness of heart that happens, a relief, a refreshing of our spirit that can only be explained as being born again. There is an inner joy that comes, and it must be expressed in our outer continence. We certainly cannot hide the glory of God residing within. We do not have veils covering our faces; hence we reveal in ever-increasing amounts the glory of God. It would seem impossible to sit solemnly in our spirit and therefore in our faces. How can we have a spirit that is filled with overwhelming joy and hide it, our mask it, with a blank face, or as it were, veiling any sighs that Jesus has wiped away all our sin and are so filled with joy? No, we cannot help but live a life of rejoicing, and shining as the light of the world throughout our daily comings and goings. In addition, because we are assured that Jesus is alive and well and is in heaven, not only making intercession for us but waiting for the time when the Father has predetermined for Jesus to come back and gather us up to be with him. How can we contain our excitement about that day? How can we not live refreshed? 

In His Name

 DEVOTION

THE ACTS OF THE APOSTLES

IN HIS NAME

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

Once again, Peter takes the opportunity to tell the people they are the ones who killed Jesus. However, in reality, all mankind, including Peter, John, and us have put Jesus on that cross because of our sin. Although, historically, it was the chief priests, teachers of the law, and the elders who plotted to have Jesus killed. We know Peter, John, and all of us did not plot such a thing, but we are still responsible for Jesus going to the cross. However, it was also not the actions of those people who put Jesus on the cross, for it was predetermined by God that this was the way he was going to redeem us and why Jesus came to earth in the form of his creation for that very purpose. Nevertheless, it is our sin that nailed Jesus to that cross. However, Peter goes on to say that although Jesus gave up his spirit and left his body dead on the cross and was buried, he was raised up to life. Therefore we serve a risen Savior that is in the world today, we know that he is living, no matter what man may say, we see His hand of mercy, we hear His voice of cheer, and just the time we need Him He’s always near, He lives, He lives, Christ Jesus lives today, He walks with us and talks with us, along life’s narrow way, He lives, He lives, salvation to impart, you ask us how we know He lives, He lives within our heart. The second truth that Peter makes sure the people know about the crippled man who was healed, is that he did not become healed of any power of man whatsoever. All healing comes from the hand of God because we invoke, through faith, the name of Jesus Christ. It is always because of faith in Jesus that all things are accomplished according to the will of God. We can ask for anything in the name of Jesus. He told us that Himself, as John records, “You can ask me anything in my name, and I will do it”. John also writes in his first letter that we can have the confidence in approaching God, that if we ask anything in accordance with His will, He hears us. And if we know that he hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we will have what we ask for. Peter and John knew this truth, as it was John that wrote all these words. He and Peter were intensely aware of the power in the name of Jesus, and they did many more powerful acts of mercy because of giving themselves over to the power of the Spirit within them, thus knowing all things are done through faith in the name of Jesus. We would do well, to call upon the name of Jesus in and for all situations in life.

 

It Takes Faith

  

DEVOTION

THE ACTS OF THE APOSTLES

IT TAKES FAITH

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

It is difficult to pass up a man who is crippled and not look at him with some amount of compassion, but Peter not only had compassion on this man, but he also took action and did something to bring glory to the Lord. This is faith at work and not in the sense that Peter worked or did good deeds, but that simply believing that if he told this man to get up and walk in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth that the man would get up and walk. Maybe we get confused about good works by thinking that it is about doing something at church, like volunteering in some program or doing some ministry. Maybe that is the right way to express the faith that James talks about. There are good ministries that meet the needs of people, homeless shelters, food pantries, and such, that are an expression of faith. We do have to consider faith without works is dead.  Peter’s faith was not dead, for the cripple man had a need to be healed, and Peter did not have coins to give him, but he had the power of God through the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth to heal that man, to put strength in legs and ankles that have never ever been used before. This is faith at work in ways we have not seen in a while. We wonder, again, if we simply do not believe in our faith or in the power of the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth enough to tell someone they are healed. All the physical labor type of good works, the ministries, helping hands, giving things to people can be done by non-believers with the same compassion as believers, it is called humanitarianism, but having the faith to tell a cripple to get up takes faith in Jesus Christ of Nazareth that not a single unbeliever could ever do. It was said that we can only give what we have. We can give time if we have it. We can give money if we have it. We can give actually food or clothing if we have it. We can give whatever it is if we have it, but it takes faith to tell a person they are healed because then we would have faith that we can give. We say we have faith. First, are we giving that faith away to someone in need? That is are we telling them they can be healed from death by accepting Jesus as their Lord and Savior. That would be giving what we have, salvation or faith.  Second, if we have faith, then we would be using that faith to tell someone they are healed from whatever ails them and it would be done to them as it was this crippled man. In both cases would we see a person jumping and leaping and praising God. But it takes faith. 

Signs and Wonders

 DEVOTION

THE ACTS OF THE APOSTLES

SIGNS AND WONDERS

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

The power of the Spirit was at work within the Apostles as many wonders and miraculous signs were being done. Has the Holy Spirit quit working? Did he only work in the lives of the Apostles and then stopped doing anything? Are we not supposed to believe that the Spirit comes to all who repent and are baptized like Peter just said? He just told the people when they asked, “What shall we do”, to repent and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ and they would receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. We have done that and therefore we have this gift. We believe we have received his fruit and gifts, although it seems the church in general only prays for healings, and then it does not seem many are healed, if any, through the power of prayer unless there is intervention from the medical profession. Should there not be many wonders and miraculous signs still going on? Of course, we do not have all things in common anymore either. It does not seem that anyone sells any possessions to make sure those who are in need have enough. That is surely a thing of the past. However, at least we meet in the sanctuary once a week, even though it is not every day. Didn’t any of them have jobs? Didn’t they ever do anything else? How did they support themselves? Was it only the fact they sold all their possessions? Peter does not explain all this in enough detail to give us sufficient information to make any conclusions. We know they did not sell their homes for they gathered in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts. We don’t even do that very much in our society, with all the hustle and bustle that fills our time. A few of us might get together occasionally, and even then it seems we only have a few we gather with, developing little cliques, so to speak. What has happened to the church? It doesn’t seem we are enjoying the favor of all the people either. Of course, the church has divided itself up into hundreds of little denominations because we cannot agree on every point in the scripture or have different opinions regarding the scripture. It would seem all the people see us as something other than what the people saw back in those days in light that we do not have numbers added daily that are saved. In fact, many churches have dwindling numbers as the old people die off, leaving the rest to wait their turn. What are we to do? Should we not look to God, look to the Spirit for his working in our lives? Should we not believe the Spirit does not change as He is God, and we surely believe God does not change for we are told that very truth. So, we must believe the Spirit is still active and will if we allow him to, perform many wonders and miraculous signs in our lives. 

Cut to the Heart

 DEVOTION

THE ACTS OF THE APOSTLES

CUT TO THE HEART

Acts 2:36-41

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

It is interesting that although Jesus is one of the persons of the triune God, that Peter makes this statement, of course under the inspiration of the Spirit, that God made Jesus Lord and Savior. We know that all authority has been given to Jesus and we have to believe this authority was given to him by the Father, who in all practical sense is the one whom we call God. However, we also know in a theological sense the Father, Son and Holy Spirit are the three in one Godhead, therefore each one is God, but each one is not the other. Nevertheless, Peter indicated that it was God who made Jesus Lord and Savior, and it was the Jews who Peter was talking to who had handed Jesus over to Pilate to be crucified. However, Peter does not say they handed him over, as he blames them for crucifying Jesus. Although it was mainly the chief priests, teachers of the law, elders and Pharisees that had conspired to kill Jesus, there were hundreds, even thousands of normal Jews, many from nations that surrounded Israel who were listening to Peter. These, as well as the Jews who lived in Jerusalem and nearby villages in Israel who were the ones that were insighted by the chief priests to yell, “Crucify him”, were the ones who responded to Peter's message. These were the ones who were cut to the heart. What we must also realize is that we too have been guilty of this same act of crucifying Jesus, because of our sin. This is the reason Jesus went to the cross, for the sin of the whole world, which included us and all those who were before and after us, until the Last Day. Once we became aware of our guilt, just as those people had, we repented of our sin and accepted Jesus as our Lord and Savior. This is what happened to those people as they asked, “Brothers, what shall we do?”, they knew some change had to occur, that they needed to do something because they now felt the guilt and shame of their sin. Here is where we get this theological position of the need to repent and be baptized in the name of Jesus for the forgiveness of sin. It is true that all who call upon the name of the Lord will be saved. That would carry the meaning that all we need to do is call on Jesus and that has the implication that we are accepting him as Lord and Savior. Here, it indicates that for the complete forgiveness of sin a person needs to follow through with accepting Jesus as Lord and Savior, by repenting, changing the way they live, the way they think, and the what or who they believe in, by being baptized, being submerged under the water, being buried in a sense and then rising from the water a new, resurrected person, in a fashion, being born again. We can see this scene that happened, and how glorious it must have been to watch three thousand or so people being baptized, accepting Jesus as their Lord and Savior. The key to all that happened that day was the fact the truth cut their hearts to the core. We too have had our heart cut by the truth, and we need to always remember and not allow our hearts to become dull to that cut, but to leave our hearts wounded, although at the same time realizing that our hearts have also been healed through Jesus and the power of the Spirit. Still, our hearts need to remain soft and supple, and always open to the truth. Yet, everything, all that we are, all that we believe, and all that we do is a result that we were cut to the heart.

 

 

 

                                                                                                                                                                             

Promised

 DEVOTION

THE ACTS OF THE APOSTLES

PROMISED

Acts 2:29-35

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." '   

NIV

Are we to believe that David’s body is still in the grave and has decayed beyond to point of existence? It has been so long that even his bones might have decayed away to nothing but dust. Is Jesus the only one who was physically resurrected? Does that mean we too will remain in the grave? Is that what Peter is saying? We know there is a day when we will all be changed. On that day we will exchange this corruptible body for one that is incorruptible. Our bodies will also be changed from this perishable form to one that is imperishable, and they will also transform from a mortal body to an immortal one. When that day is, we can not say with certainty, but we know that we are not going to be abandoned to the grave, for death cannot hold on to us for eternity. Has David been resurrected since the time Peter spoke of his tomb still being there, or will David be resurrected on the same day we are if we die before the Lord returns? What we know for certain is that Jesus is alive and sits at the right hand of the Father and is forever making intercession for us. Now, with that knowledge, we can also be sure that Jesus is going to return for us to take us to the place where he is. That is his promise, and we will not be going to that place as a dead people, but rather as resurrected children of God. We also know that as we humble ourselves before the Lord, he will exalt us in the same manner that he exalted Jesus. Jesus humbled himself before the Father when he prayed if there was any other way, but nevertheless, the Father's will be done. This showed how Jesus humbled himself to the will of the Father and was therefore exalted to the place of honor. The one thing we understand is that we too must humble ourselves before the Father, not overriding his will for us with our own will. We know that we will be exalted if we submit ourselves to the Father. Jesus made that truth when he said that anyone who exalts himself will be humbled and whoever humbles himself will be exalted. The other truth here is that Jesus received the promised Holy Spirit from the Father to send forth into the world to be poured out upon all people. Because we can attest to at least one of the promises of Jesus that has already come true, that is we have the Holy Spirit within us and have experienced his power and his manifestation of his fruit and gifts in us, we can be sure that all rest of the promises of Jesus will happen. Therefore we live in complete confidence that we will be with our Lord, whenever it happens is not the point, for it will happen, just as Jesus promised.