Month: July 2012

Others mocking said, “They are full of new wine.”
Acts 2:13

It’s amazing to me how easily the world dismisses the mighty works of God!  As the Holy Ghost filled the disciples on the day of Pentecost, they began to preach the gospel in languages they had never learned.  It was an amazing miracle of God!  But, look at how easily the world explained the miracle away.  Mocking, they said, “These men are drunk!”  Really?  I’ve never met a drunk man that by his intoxication was able to speak in a foreign language!  It was a foolish notion, and yet, it was explanation enough for those who did not believe.

The child of God sees the Lord’s hand in all things.  I remember once sharing with an unbeliever the amazing ways God had worked in my life in a particular situation.  I excitedly shared instance after instance of God’s tender care for me in that circumstance, but when I finally finished my story, the man simply said, “I would just say that was coincidence.”  In one brief sentence, he had dismissed God’s deliverance in my life.  There was no room for further discussion.  He was satisfied to push God out of his mind once again.  But, there is something that all men need to understand: there are no coincidences!  Consider the following thoughts and supporting verses:

God is in absolute control in this earth, doing what He wants when He wants.

Isa 46:9-10  Remember the former things of old, For I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like Me,  declaring the end from the beginning, And from ancient times things that are not yet done, Saying, ‘My counsel shall stand, And I will do all My pleasure‘…

Eph 1:11  In Him also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestined according to the purpose of Him who works all things according to the counsel of His will…

Dan 4:35 All the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing; He does according to His will in the army of heaven and among the inhabitants of the earth.  No one can restrain His hand or say to Him, “What have You done?”

He determines when and where we live as well as how long; He creates and sustains the life of every living creature.

Ecc 3:1-2 To everything there is a season, A time for every purpose under heaven:  A time to be born, And a time to die…

Act 17:25-26  Nor is He worshiped with men’s hands, as though He needed anything, since He gives to all life, breath, and all things.  And He has made from one blood every nation of men to dwell on all the face of the earth, and has determined their preappointed times and the boundaries of their dwellings…

Col 1:16-17 All things were created through Him and for Him.  And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist.

Psa 36:6 Your righteousness is like the great mountains; Your judgments are a great deep; O Lord, You preserve man and beast.

Psa 65:9 You visit the earth and water it, You greatly enrich it; the river of God is full of water; You provide their grain, for so You have prepared it.

Psa 104:24-29 O Lord, how manifold are Your works!  In wisdom You have made them all.  The earth is full of Your possessions—This great and wide sea, in which are innumerable teeming things, living things both small and great…These all wait for You, that You may give them their food in due season.  What You give them they gather in; You open Your hand, they are filled with good.  You hide Your face, they are troubled; You take away their breath, they die and return to their dust.

God is actively involved in this universe, and no one can do a single thing, good or bad, that will hinder God’s plans.

Pro 16:9 A man’s heart plans his way, but the Lord directs his steps.

Pro 16:1 The preparations of the heart belong to man, but the answer of the tongue is from the Lord.

Amo 3:6 If a trumpet is blown in a city, will not the people be afraid?  If there is calamity in a city, will not the Lord have done it?

Pro 16:4 The Lord has made all for Himself, yes, even the wicked for the day of doom.

And, to perhaps comfort your hearts in this election year:
Even those in authority over us can only ultimately fulfill the purpose of God.

Pro 21:1 The king’s heart is in the hand of the Lord, like the rivers of water; He turns it wherever He wishes.

Jn 19:11 Jesus answered, “ You could have no power at all against Me unless it had been given you from above. Therefore the one who delivered Me to you has the greater sin.”

Rom 13:1 Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God.

So, the next time someone tries to dismiss God working in your life and tells you, “I would just say that was coincidence,” remind them that the Lord is reigning over all of His creation and accomplishing His perfect will in all the earth.  There are no coincidences.  All men are God’s servants, whether they like it or not!  Even the wicked will be limited in their sin and only allowed to go as far as will work for God’s glory and the good of His people.  “Surely the wrath of man shall praise You; with the remainder of wrath You shall gird Yourself.” (Psa 76:10) God will see to it that “all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.” (Rom 8:28)

Jamie

Psa 145:9 The Lord is good to all, and His tender mercies are over all His works.

…who also said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will so come in like manner as you saw Him go into heaven.”
Acts 1:11

Has your life ever been turned upside down in a second?  It’s not necessarily that what was coming caught you completely off guard.  You may have had some indication of what was on the horizon, but when it got there, you felt totally unprepared.  You were left standing in uncertain territory, unsure of your next move.  It’s that surreal feeling that hits you when you realize things will never be the same, that you can’t go back, that you must go on though you have no idea what you’re going to do.  You feel lost, alone, distracted, disconnected…it’s almost like you don’t even know where you are or how you got there!  That’s the feeling I imagine was creeping over the disciples at this time.

What must it have been like for them between the ascension and Pentecost?  They must have felt suspended between heaven and earth.  They stood there gazing, jaws dropped open!  “He’s finally gone!!  We knew this day was coming, but what do we do now?”  We read right over this passage without an awareness of the great trial they would endure in this brief period.  So, what should you do in such a time?  How do you make it when the world as you know it falls apart?  The disciples in Acts 1 are a tremendous example of what we should do when we don’t know what to do next!

1. Obey the Lord’s command
   There are some things that will be fuzzy at such a time, but there are also things that are crystal clear!  Whatever it is you know you’re supposed to be doing, do it!  Jesus had just instructed them in Ac 1:4 to wait at Jerusalem until the Spirit was given.  In Ac 1:12, they did just that, without any delay!  “Then they returned to Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet…”  Be busy about the Lord’s business—whatever you understand that to be at this present hour, and guess what God will do?  When we walk in the light we have, He’ll give more light! “I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.  Therefore let us, as many as are mature, have this mind; and if in anything you think otherwise, God will reveal even this to you.” (Ph 3:14-15)
2. Gather with the church
   In Ac 1:13-14, we find the disciples gathered together in the upper room with “the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with His brothers.”  Settle it in your hearts and minds.  You’re not going to get any advice from the world that’s going to provide the spiritual help you need in these times, so don’t go looking for it there!  You need to hear what Christ has to say, and the place to hear that is from His body!  I imagine Paul felt a bit like the disciples here when he and Barnabas split. (Ac 15:39) Who would have ever thought these two apostles (Ac 14:14) would disagree to the point that they would go separate ways!  But, it was among the church that Paul found direction.  Though he lost Barnabas, he gained Silas and Timothy because they were recommended “by the brethren”! (Ac 15:40, 6:2) There are areas where you lack, things that need to be taken care of that you are no good at.  What has God given to supply this need?  According to Eph 4:11-16, it is His spiritual body, the church, that is “for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ…”
3. Be steadfast in prayer
   In Ac 1:14, we find that “these all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication”.  Do you feel overwhelmed and unsure of your next step?  Jesus said the key to moving that mountain is to “ask in prayer, believing”. (Mt 21:22)  We overcome and receive direction through the prayer of faith!  How important is prayer?  It’s important enough that in times of heaviness, the Son of God would pray all night long! (Lk 6:12) In times of great stress, the world might say, “Take a break and get some rest,” but Jesus by His example shows us prayer is more needful in these times than physical rest.  When Paul was keenly aware of the weight of his upcoming responsibility, the one thing he begged the brethren to do in Rom 15:31 was to “strive together with me in prayers to God for me”.  That word strive means “struggle”, and reminds us that prayer is not the easy way out.  It is a struggle, a spiritual battle, but we must be steadfast in it to survive the times where we seek direction.
4. Refresh yourself in God’s word
   It’s clear in Ac 1:15-16 that Peter had been meditating on the word of God as he stands up among them and says, “Men and brethren, this Scripture had to be fulfilled…”  In these times, stay in God’s word, and you’ll receive direction!  What did they do during this time?  They picked another disciple to replace Judas.  Why did they do that?  “For it is written in the Book of Psalms…’Let another take his office.’ (Ac 1:20) In meditating on the word of God, the Spirit will speak to you and give you the direction you desperately desire at this uncertain time!

One final encouraging thought is that, though the disciples may have been a little blindsided by the coming of this time, Jesus knew it was on the horizon in the disciples lives, and He made sure they had all they needed to survive the period between His ascension and Pentecost.  In Jn 20:22, Jesus breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit.”  He gave them a measure of His Spirit that they would have the strength to endure this season until the fullness of the Spirit should come.  Thank God He doesn’t always give us what we want, but He always provides what we need!  How did it turn out for them?  This small group of 120 grew to over 3000 just one chapter later!  God is able, dear soul.  Are you at a crossroads, needing direction?  Obey the Lord.  Encourage yourself among His people.  Be constant in prayer and the study of His word.  The answer is coming.  God will NEVER leave you nor forsake you! (Heb 13:5)

Jamie

But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”
Acts 1:8

There is no denying that when the Spirit of God came upon His people on the day of Pentecost that the power of God was displayed among them.  As the gospel was preached by the twelve disciples, men from multiple regions who spoke different languages heard these Galileans speaking in their own tongue. (Ac 2:5-11) Of course, these wonders didn’t stop there because as we read on in Acts how people were healed, miraculously delivered from prison, and even raised from the dead!  But none of these things were the greatest of the miracles taking place.

Today, men continue to look for these mighty, outward manifestations of the work of the Spirit, but Jesus rebuked men in His day for the such an attitude.  “Then Jesus said to him, ‘Unless you people see signs and wonders, you will by no means believe.'” (Jn 4:48) He said further in Mt 16:4: “A wicked and adulterous generation seeks after a sign…”  We know people like this today.  They run from place to place chasing one exciting experience after another.  If they don’t find the these things at the meeting they attend, they assume the Spirit was not a part of the gathering, but such an assumption puts them in grave spiritual danger.

In 2 Th 2:3, we see that the Lord’s second coming will be preceded by a great falling away from the truth.  What is it that will draw multitudes away from Christ?  They will be caught up in a spirit of antichrist that “is according to the working of Satan, with all power, signs, and lying wonders…” (2 Th 2:9) Signs and wonders will be the deception that attracts these deceived souls!  Jesus warns of this same deception in Mt 24:24: “For false christs and false prophets will rise and show great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect.”  Seeking signs and wonders leads us away from Christ rather than drawing us to Him.

If focusing upon those things reveals a spirit of wickedness, then why did the Lord and the apostles perform miracles?  Very simply, to manifest that were who they said they were!  These natural miracles revealed that the promises of God declared by the prophets were indeed coming to pass.  Things happened as they did on Pentecost so that Peter could point back to the prophet Joel and say, “His prophecy is coming true!” (Ac 2:16-21)  He continued in v. 22: “Jesus of Nazareth, a Man attested by God to you by miracles, wonders, and signs…”  Jesus’ miracles revealed that He was the Messiah of whom the prophets had foretold!  Finally, if the church is to be built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ being the chief cornerstone (Eph 2:20), then we needed to understand clearly which men were apostles.  When Paul was compelled by the Corinthians to give his credentials, he said, “Truly the signs of an apostle were accomplished among you with all perseverance, in signs and wonders and mighty deeds.” (2 Cor 12:12) These signs revealed him to be one of the apostles, called of God, and given the Spirit-inspired word upon which the church would be built.

As I said earlier, the greatest of miracles in the early church was not those visible healings and audible manifestations of the Spirit.  The greatest of miracles was happening on a spiritual level as the souls of men were saved!  Jesus said that His power in the spiritual realm was a greater display of His strength, and that the outward, visible miracles He performed were merely to reveal He could perform the greatest of all miracles–forgive men of their sins!  “For which is easier, to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven you,’ or to say, ‘Arise and walk’?  But that you may know that the Son of Man has power on earth to forgive sins”—then He said to the paralytic, “Arise, take up your bed, and go to your house.” (Mt 9:5-6)

The greatest manifestation of the power of God displayed among men today is the saving of souls through the preaching of the gospel!  “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes…” (Rom 1:16) You, church, are the true signs and wonders in this dark world!  As Paul told the Corinthian church, “You are our epistle written in our hearts, known and read by all men…” (2 Cor 3:2) Don’t make the mistake of running after visible miracles as if an outward manifestation is more glorious than the inward work God does in the hearts of men.  Remember, we are to walk by faith and not sight! (2 Cor 5:7) Without faith, it is impossible to please God, and faith doesn’t set its gaze on the things that are seen but focuses instead on the spiritual things which cannot be visibly seen. (Heb 11:1, 6) “…while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal.” (2 Cor 4:18)

Jamie

“But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”
Acts 1:8

We saw last week that the primary function of the Holy Spirit is to testify of and to glorify Christ. (Jn 15:26, 16:14) If that is His role, then it should be no surprise that those in whom the Spirit dwells will perform the same function.  As Jesus spoke to His disciples in our text above, He reminded them that the power of the Holy Ghost would soon enter them, and the result would be that “you shall be witnesses to Me…to the end of the earth.” This witness, our spiritual fruit, is the evidence that we do indeed possess the Spirit of God.

The word “witnesses” in our text is an interesting one in the original Greek–not because it means something other than we might think, but because of the English word that comes from it.  In the Greek, the transliterated word is “martures”.  Look familiar?  It’s where we get our English word “martyr’!  This associated word really drives home the extent of this witness that the churh is called to be in the earth.  Whether in life or death, the true church faithfully testifies of her Lord and Savior.

It would be worth examining our own hearts when it comes to this point.  What defines you?  When people hear you talk and see you live your life, what stands out?  Is it the car you drive, the neighborhood in which you live, or your place of employment?  Perhaps the one thing clear about you is who your favorite sport’s team is.  Or, is there something far more important that’s evidenced in your life?  My personal prayer is that everyone who spends time with me knows one thing about me–that I love and am forever indebted to my Lord Jesus!  I pray that the song of the redeemed rings clearly from my life: “Worthy is the Lamb that was slain”! (Rev 5:12)

To be a witness of Jesus Christ is indeed to be a martyr. In Lk 9:23-24, the Lord is very clear about our responsibility day in and day out: “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me.  For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will save it.”  The picture of daily carrying a cross isn’t a symbol of spiritual exercise; it’s a symbol of dying daily to the world and to ourselves!  Paul says plainly in 1 Cor 15:31, “I die daily!”  To be Christ’s witness means to live my life in such a way that it’s very obvious that this life is not about me but about Him.

The reality is that this martyrdom is not only internally inflicted through self-denial, but it will also originate from outside of us.  If following Christ doesn’t cost you, you’re not really following Him!  Following Christ has cost me friends, fellowship with family, and advancement in this world.  God’s children are rejected, despised, overlooked, taken advantage of, ignored, slandered, and hated of men because they are witnesses of Christ!  If “the whole world lies under the sway of the wicked one” (1 Jn 5:19), how can the world possibly love those who are of God?  Darkness hates the light, and the church is the light of the world!  “If you were of the world, the world would love its own. Yet because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you.” (Jn 15:19)

It’s very clear that we live in an ungodly age.  Things that were once shameful are not only accepted, but they are applauded!  Do you desire that someone would stand up and be a witness among this wicked generation?  Quit looking around for someone else to do it.  “…you shall be witnesses to Me…”  Are you willing to be Christ’s martyr?  Are you willing to offer yourself for His glory no matter the cost?  “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service.” (Rom 12:1) Those that are witnesses of Christ will find that He is also a witness for them!  “Therefore whoever confesses Me before men, him I will also confess before My Father who is in heaven.” (Mt 10:32)

Jamie