Today, I was reminded how important prayer is to every day life as a follower of Christ. I recognised again that without prayer and an attitude predisposed to ongoing communication with God, my life is likely to go off the rails. What triggered that was reading another chapter in the excellent book Seven Marks of […]
Read More Prayer AssistPart of the story in the book of Acts is the unstoppable spread of the gospel of Jesus Christ. Religious rulers tried to at first to shut up the disciples by warning them. This failed. They then imprisoned them. This failed too. Internal disputes and iniquities threatened the community. This failed as well. They killed a […]
Read More Acts Actually: 9 – Gospel UnstoppableThis morning I was reading Acts 8 and noticing what came out of the followers of Christ when the pressure bore down. It’s always apt when the things you study in scripture have a bearing on what you will subsequently experience. The test is always there to determine what is in each of us. When […]
Read More What Comes OutPhilip, however, appeared at Azotus and traveled about, preaching the gospel in all the towns until he reached Caesarea. (Acts 8:40) The juice does not emerge unless the fruit is put under pressure. The Holy Spirit inspired Stephen to give the speech that would allow the pressure to be applied and now the news that had some […]
Read More Acts Actually: 8 – Philip and the Spread Under Pressure“You stiff-necked people! Your hearts and ears are still uncircumcised. You are just like your ancestors: You always resist the Holy Spirit! Was there ever a prophet your ancestors did not persecute? They even killed those who predicted the coming of the Righteous One. And now you have betrayed and murdered him— you who have […]
Read More Acts Actually: 7 – Stephen, The Spirit and Trouble Part 2Now Stephen, a man full of God’s grace and power, performed great wonders and signs among the people. Opposition arose, however, from members of the Synagogue of the Freedmen (as it was called)—Jews of Cyrene and Alexandria as well as the provinces of Cilicia and Asia—who began to argue with Stephen. But they could not […]
Read More Acts Actually: 6 – Stephen, The Spirit and Trouble Part 1Peter 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? Didn’t it belong to you before it was sold? And after it was sold, wasn’t the money at your disposal? What […]
Read More Acts Actually: 5 – Who Fills Your Heart?Now, Lord, consider their threats and enable your servants to speak your word with great boldness. Stretch out your hand to heal and perform signs and wonders through the name of your holy servant Jesus. And God’s grace was so powerfully at work in them all that there were no needy persons among them. (Acts 4:29, 30, […]
Read More Acts Actually: 4 – Responding to ResistanceThen 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.” (Acts 3:6) The interesting thing about money and the pursuit of it is that it’s not really about the money. It’s always about what the money will get […]
Read More Acts Actually: 3 – Giving What You’ve GotThey devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles. All the believers were together and had everything in common. They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need. Every […]
Read More Acts Actually: 2 – Simple Church
