The Power of the Resurrection.

Acts 13

In reading through chapter 13 for about the fourth time this morning, one word kept jumping out at me: Raised. It is used four times within the span of seven verses in the New American Standard Version. It starts in verse 30:

But God raised Him from the dead.

Then Luke uses it again in verses 32-33:

And we preach to you the good news of the promise made to the fathers, that God has fulfilled this promise to our children in that He raised up Jesus...

He picks it up again in verse 34:

As for the fact that He raised Him up from the dead, no longer to return to decay."

Then he uses it one last time in verse 37:

He whom God raised did not undergo decay."

It seems that Paul is trying to make a point by stressing the resurrection of Jesus to his listeners. Why? Because the resurrection is central to the message of Jesus Christ. Without it, we have nothing. With it, we have hope and the promise of eternal life.

The resurrection has been the focal point of the message of Christ from the beginning. In fact, Jesus Himself talked about it long before it happened. Back in John 11:25 we have these words of Jesus recorded for us:

I am the resurrection and the life; he who believes in Me will live even if he dies...

Jesus tied our eternal life to His resurrection. You can't have one without the other. In his letter to the Corinthians, Paul reminds us of this fact:

But if there is no resurrection of the dead, not even Christ has been raised; and if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is in vain, your faith also is vain.- 1 Corinthians 15:13-14

If Christ has not been raised, then we can't hope in a resurrection of the dead or eternal life. Without the resurrection, Paul is wasting his time preaching, and we are wasting our time believing. Because we would have nothing to believe in.

Later, Paul would write to the Philippians believers:

I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death.. - Philippians 3:10

You see, the resurrection is all about power. When Paul spoke about Jesus being raised, he is describing an impossible, not improbable event. No one could be raised from the dead! It was impossible. Yet, the message of the apostles was that Jesus had done just that. By the power of God, Jesus had been raised from death to life again. He had done what no other man had ever been able to do before. Defeat death.

And it is on this amazing fact that all our hope rests as believers. The apostle Peter states this fact clearly in his letter:

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead... - 1 Peter 1:3

We have a living hope. It is a living Jesus. And it is because He is living that we can have forgiveness of sins and freedom from the law and its condemnation. Paul states that clearly in verses 38-39:

Therefore let it be known to you, brethren, that through Him forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you; and through Him, every one who believes is freed from all things, from which you could not be freed through the law of Moses."

Through Him. Because of His resurrection. Because He was raised. We have a living hope and an eternal future.

But do we live like it? Do we live as if we believe in the resurrection of Jesus? Do we live as if we have hope? Do we recognize the kind of power it would take to raise a man from the dead? It is that kind of power that is at our disposal. It is a power that can only come from one place: The hand of God. When God raised Jesus up, He validated Who He had claimed to be. He was the Son of God. His resurrection was proof of His deity, and a guarantee of all the promises Jesus had made.

Jesus is alive! He has been raised from the dead. And we have a living hope. We don't have to fear death, man, sin, condemnation, the law, the grave, our future, or anything else.

Father, like Paul, I want to know Christ and the power of His resurrection. I want to understand just what kind of power I have at my disposal because I worship the God who raised up Jesus from the dead. I want to see Him raise me up every day from my death to sin and the flesh. I want to crucify my old self daily, and see my new life in Christ raised up to live in obedience to and dependence on God. This Easter, may I see more clearly than ever the power of the resurrection. Amen

The inscrutable ways of God.

Acts 12

Chapter 12 is an action-packed passage and one of my favorites. In fact, I like it so much that I had a hard time looking past all the familiar parts of the storyline in order to see it in a different light this morning. I mean, who doesn't love the fantastic story of Peter getting released from prison by an angel? Herod intends to kill him, but instead God releases him. Then there's the part about the friends of Peter praying for his release, then failing to believe it's really him when he shows up on their doorstep. Oh, and if you're cheering for the good side, you can't help but do a little fist pump when you hear what happens to Herod in the end.

But then I looked closer. I read the passage a few more times. And there is was. The death of James. Luke matter-of-factly records this event in one sentence, then moves on. Here is the first martyrdom of an apostle and all Luke does is give it a mention. But it was obviously important to him. It was important to the rest of the story. But how many times have I read right past it without even taking notice of the fact that James, the brother of John, and one of the three apostles who made up Jesus' inner circle, was put to death right at the beginning of the church age. I mean the martyrdom of Stephen gets more press than the death of James. Which prompts me to ask why?

Why?

When you read this story, it's easy to get excited about the miraculous release of Peter from prison. God stepped in and saved the day. He thwarted the plans of Herod with His own divine plan. He answered the prayers of the believers who had gathered to lift up their brother in Christ. He gave Peter an incredible boost to his faith and an unbelievable story to share with his friends.

But what about James? Was nobody praying for Him? Did God not care about Him? Was he less important than Peter? Was his death just payback for his arrogant request for Jesus to give he and his brother prominent places of authority in His coming kingdom (see Mark 10:38-45)? Why did James have to die, yet Peter was set free to serve another day?

Our unsearchable, unfathomable God

Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and unfathomable His ways! - Romans 11:33

The fact is, we don't know why God chose to spare Peter, but not James. But we do know that "all His ways are just" (Deuteronomy 32:4). We know that God has a plan and He is working it to perfection. Stephen was cut down in the prime of his ministerial life, and we struggle with that. James was martyred for his faith and would never get to see the rapid expansion of the kingdom of God he so longed to be a part of. But God was at work. God was in control. God was working His plan.

There is much about God we will never understand., because He is God and we're not. But we do know that God is a just and loving God. We know that God has a redemptive plan that is unstoppable and bigger than any one individual. It's bigger than James, bigger than Stephen, bigger than Peter, and bigger than Herod. No man can prevent it or improve it. We may not even be able to understand it. But we can rely on it.

An Unstoppable Force

I love the way chapter 12 ends.

But the word of the Lord continued to grow and to be multiplied. - vs 24

James was gone. Herod was dead. Peter was free. And the gospel continued to spread. I may not understand His methodologies. I may not agree with His plans. But I have to admit that the results speak for themselves. He is God and He knows what He is doing. And the one man who would probably echo that statement the loudest is James himself.

Father, help me trust You. Help me realize that You can be trusted because you are righteous and all Your ways are just. You know what you're doing even when it makes no sense to me. You are the potter and I am the clay. Forgive me for the many times when I question you and ask "what are you doing?" (Isaiah 45:9). You know what you're doing and I need to learn to trust You more. Amen

The Visible Grace of God.

Acts 11

Then when he [Barnabas] arrived and witnessed the grace of God, he rejoiced... - Vs 23

How do you see the grace of God? Well, for Barnabas it was as easy as looking at the faces of strangers he met in Antioch who had believed the message about Jesus Christ and turned from their old way of life to new life in Him. They had stepped out of death into eternal life. They had once been blind, but now they could see the truth of the gospel message. And Barnabas got to see it with his own eyes.

Changed lives. Redeemed souls. Freed prisoners. Forgiven sinners. They are all around us, but we fail to see them as a visual illustration of the matchless grace of God. They are our friends, family members, neighbors, fellow church attenders. But when we look at their lives, we do not rejoice as Barnabas did, because we don't recognize that none of these people, including ourselves, could ever have earned what they received or deserved what they have been given. But for the grace of God, we would still be dead, the walking dead. We would still be lost, but unaware of our true condition. We would still be debt to God, with no capacity to pay Him back. We would still be sinners, with no hope of salvation.

And you were dead in your trespasses and sins, in which you formerly walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, of the spirit that is now working in the sons of disobedience. Among them we too all formerly lived in the lusts of our flesh, indulging the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, even as the rest. But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when were dead in our transgressions, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up with Him, and seated us with Him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the ages to come He might show the surpassing riches of His grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, so that no one may boast.- Ephesians 2:1-9

Grace: The Visible Gift of God

What is this grace that Barnabas saw? Well, according to The Complete Word Study Dictionary grace is ...

A favor done without expectation of return;  the absolutely free expression of the loving kindness of God to men finding its only motive in the bounty and benevolence of the Giver; unearned and unmerited favor.

God's grace is made visible in the lives of people - sinful people to be exact. So when we look around us and see people who stepped from darkness into light, we are seeing the grace of God. When we see sinners who understand their need for a Savior, and take God up on His gift of salvation through Christ, we are seeing the grace of God. When we see undeserving, unrighteous individuals transformed day by day by the power of the Holy Spirit, we are witnessing the grace of God. And it should cause us to rejoice.

God's grace does the unexpected

What Barnabas saw that day in Antioch was something he never expected: Sin-loving, idol-worshiping, Jew-hating pagans coming to faith in Christ. Here was God's grace being extended in an unexpected way to an undeserving people. But isn't that how God's grace always works?

Barnabas was blown away by God's grace. So much so, that he immediately went on a search for Saul so that he could bring him back to help him extend God's grace to more people in the city of Antioch. And they ended up staying there for an entire year - teaching, preaching, encouraging, and witnessing the grace of God in action. With a smile on their face and a song in their heart.

Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound,

That saved a wretch like me.

I once was lost but now am found,

Was blind, but now I see.

T'was Grace that taught my heart to fear.

And Grace, my fears relieved.

How precious did that Grace appear

The hour I first believed.

Through many dangers, toils and snares

I have already come;

'Tis Grace that brought me safe thus far

and Grace will lead me home.

The Lord has promised good to me.

His word my hope secures.

He will my shield and portion be,

As long as life endures.

Yea, when this flesh and heart shall fail,

And mortal life shall cease,

I shall possess within the veil,

A life of joy and peace.

When we've been here ten thousand years

Bright shining as the sun.

We've no less days to sing God's praise

Than when we've first begun.

Father, thank you for the grace you extended to me! Don't ever let me take it for granted. And help me to see your grace all around me in the lives of those you have redeemed. Like me, none of us deserved what you have given us. We were beggars invited to a feast. We were murderers given full pardon. We were the hopelessly guilty given complete forgiveness. All because of your incredible grace. Thank you! Amen

New Rules For A New Kingdom.

Acts 10

What God has cleansed, no longer consider unholy. - Vs 15

Have you ever had your world rocked, your paradigm shifted, your status quo shaken to its core? Well, the disciples did. Ever since Jesus had arrived on the scene, He had made it a habit of turning their religious world on its ear. He pursued a crown instead of a cross. He came to serve, not be served. He came to defeat sin and death, not the Roman occupiers. Chapter ten in the book of Acts gives us a perfect picture of how God was going to continue this process of turning the world of His early followers on its ear.

The early converts to Christianity were primarily Jews. For generations they had relied on the centuries-old habits and traditions of their forefathers. They viewed themselves as God's chosen people. They were the seed of Abraham. They were the apple of God's eye. So when these God-fearing Jews came to faith in Jesus Christ, Himself a good Jew, they brought along with them all the baggage of their Jewish belief system. And old habits die hard.

Competing visions

In chapter ten we get a glimpse into God's ongoing re-education plan for the apostles. And it starts with Peter and a Roman centurion. As He did in chapter nine, God continues His habit of using all kinds of people to accomplish His will and reveal His power. This time He uses a God-fearing Roman commander. This guy had two strikes against him: First, he was a Gentile, and therefore looked down on by the Jews. Secondly, he was a Roman soldier, which made him an object of hatred and derision. Now this man helped his cause by being generous to the Jews and a lover of their God, but he would still have been looked down on by the average Jew. Including Peter.

So in a dream, God gives this Roman commander instructions to send for Peter. He responds by sending three of his (Gentile) servants to seek out Peter. Meanwhile Peter has his own dream. And this would have been one disturbing dream for a Jew. It involved visions of all kinds of unclean, unholy creatures and instructions from God to sacrifice them and then eat them! This wasn't a dream. It was a nightmare. And Peter responds like any God-fearing Jew would: "By no means, Lord!"

Get up and go!

Peter was appalled. But God was persistent. He repeated His command for Peter to "Get up, kill, and eat!" and then adds, "What God has cleansed, no longer consider unholy" (Vs 15). This whole scenario takes place three times, leaving Peter perplexed and confused. But before he has time to gather his thoughts, the three servants of Cornelius appear at the gate. What timing!

God tells Peter to "get up, go downstairs and accompany them without misgivings" (Vs 20). Why? Because He had sent them. Now it all began fitting together for Peter. He was beginning to understand.

Three times in the span of 10 verses, Luke uses the same word. Two times it comes from the mouth of God. The third time, it involves the response of Peter. That phrase in the Greek is anistemi and it means to "get up" or "stand up." In verse 13, God commands Peter to "get up (anistemi), kill and eat!" Then in verse 20, God commands Peter again, using the same word "get up (anistemi), go downstairs and accompany them without misgivings." Finally, Lue uses the word a third time when he says in verse 23 that Peter "got up " (anistemi) and went away with them."

A paradigm shift

This had to have been hard for Peter. The dream was bad enough. Now he was having to drop all his preconditioned beliefs and long-held views on religion and embrace God's plans for life in His kingdom. You can sense Peter's internal struggle what he says upon arrival at Cornelius' home.

You yourselves know how unlawful it is for a man who is a Jew to associate with a foreigner or to visit him; and yet God has shown me that I should not call any man unholy or unclean. - Vs 28

Everything in Peter screamed that he should not be here. He was breaking long-established rules. He was violating iron-clad laws determining religious life and conduct. Yet God was commanding him to do so.

So what does Peter do? He shares the good news of Jesus Christ with those he had been trained to despise. He offered the gift of life to those he had grown up wishing God would strike dead. He preached the name of Jesus to Gentiles, just as God had commanded him to do. And the result? "The Holy Spirit fell upon all those who were listening to the message" (Vs 43). Salvation came to a Gentile's home because Peter was willing to "get up," to rise above the earth-bound rules of religion and embrace the life-transformational principles of the kingdom of God.

Now it's your turn

So what religious rules could God be asking you to let go of? Is He telling you to get up and go? Is He commanding you to walk away from your comfortable embrace of the status quo and wrap your arms around His life-changing rules of engagement in His kingdom? His is a new kingdom with new rules, new standards, new expectations and a new power to deliver true life change. But first we have to let go of the old, get up, and go!

Father, help me let go of my old expectations, my old way of understanding things, of seeing things, of doing things. Show me Your way. Help me embrace life in the kingdom on Your terms, instead of mine. Thank you for sending Your Son and introducing a "new and living way" (Heb. 10:20) through Him. Amen

Vessels For Honor.

Acts 9

He is a chosen vessel of Mine... - Vs 15 (NKJV)

At first blush, this looks like the story of Saul's conversion, and rightfully so. But there seems to be a lot more to this passage than a recap of Saul's Damascus road experience. In fact, he is just one of a number of actors in this play. There's Ananias the disciple, there's Peter the apostle, Aeneas the paralytic, and Dorcas the deceased. And while Saul takes up a large part of the narrative, this story is really not about him. It is about God. It is about how God has chosen to use men and women to accomplish His divine plan through the ages. It is about how God uses fallen creatures to proclaim His glory.

In verse 15, when Ananias shares with God his reluctance to go and minister to Saul because of his reputation as a persecutor of the church, God tells him, "Go, for he is a chosen instrument of Mine" (NASB). That word translated "instrument" is skeuos in the Greek. It can refer to "a vessel, implement, or household utensil." It is the same word used by Paul when he later wrote to the Corinthians:

But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, so that the surpassing greatness of the power will be of God and not from ourselves. - 2 Corinthians 4:7

You find Paul using the same word in his letter to Timothy:

Therefore, if anyone cleanses himself from these things, he will be a vessel for honor, sanctified, useful to the Master, prepared for every good work. - 2 Timothy 2:21

This chapter is all about people being used by God as vessels for his honor and glory. Some are active participants like Ananias and Peter. Others are passive, like Dorcas and the paralytic, yet God uses them nonetheless. Just take a look at all that takes place by the hand of God through the lives of His chosen vessels in this one chapter alone:

A disciple obeys - Vs 17

A persecutor is converted - Vs 18

The body of Christ ministers - Vs 25

A brother in Christ supports - Vs 27

The church grows - Vs 31

A paralytic is healed - Vs 34

A woman is raised from the dead - Vs 40

The lost are saved - Vs 42

Every one of these are a picture of the mighty hand of God reaching down and using "earthen vessels" - clay pots - to accomplish His will. Each of them ended up bringing honor and glory to God. God used each of these individuals in such a way "so that the surpassing greatness of the power will be of God and not from ourselves" (2 Corinthians 2:7).

God chose Saul, a religious zealot who was out to destroy the church, as a vessel to grow His church

He chose Ananias,an obscure disciple with a fear of persecution, as a vessel to anoint Saul with the Holy Spirit

He chose a group of unknown disciples to spare the life of the very man who had been out to imprison them

He chose Aeneas, a man debilitated by paralysis, as a vessel to witness to the power of Christ

He used Dorcas, a deceased woman, as a vessel to testify to Christ's power over death and the grave

And the result was that "many believed in the Lord" (Vs 42). When God chooses and uses, results happen. Lives are changed. The lost are found. The lame walk. The dead are restored to life. The enemies of God become lovers of God.

God is still in the choosing business. And He still chooses vessels of clay. People who are spiritually paralyzed, spiritually dead, spiritually His enemies, spiritually reluctant, and spiritual nobodies. He chooses people like us to do His will and to reveal His power. Earthen vessels that He transforms into vessels for honor. Have you been chosen?

Father, thank you for choosing me. Thank you for using me. Even though I am little more than a clay pot with nothing to offer, and no value in and of myself. But You have chosen to use me so that my life can be a witness to Your power and glory. Make me a vessel for honor, sanctified, set apart for You, useful and always prepared for every good work you have for me to do. Amen

Where Is Your Faith?

Acts 8

And He said to them,"Where is your faith?" They were fearful and amazed, saying to one another, "Who then is this, that He commands even the winds and the water, and they obey Him?" – Luke 8:25

Where is your faith? This isn't so much as a question of its existence as to its focus? In other words, we all have faith. We all trust in something or someone. The issue has to do with the who or what our faith is in. For the disciples, they were having to learn to have faith in Christ. And every time they turned around they were having their misguided, misdirected faith exposed. In the case of verses 22-25, they had their misguided faith in themselves exposed. Think about it, a good portion of these guys were professional, seasoned fishermen. They had been around and on the water for most of their lives. They had seen their fair share of storms. So they knew what to do when one blew in while they were out on the water in a ship. They could probably predict the weather without fail. The could read the signs. They could ride out the worst of storms like the best of sailors. In other words, they had faith in themselves and their own abilities.

In this story they found themselves in a storm on the sea of Galilee and they began to panic. They woke up Jesus who was calmly sleeping in the bow of the boat. They fearfully explain the gravity of their situation to Jesus. "Master, Master, we are perishing!" (Luke 8:24 NASB). What happened to all their boating acumen and experience on the waves of the Sea of Galilee. It was all gone. They suddenly discovered that they were no match for this storm. They weren't going to be able to get themselves out of this one. No, from their perspective, they were about to drown. Which is right where Jesus seems to want them. Jesus heard their cries and calmly rebuked the wind and waves. The sea suddenly calmed and so did the disciples. To a degree. They were now fearful because of what they had just witnessed. They realized that they had just been part of something truly amazing. They had just seen a power displayed that that they had never seen before. A power greater than the waves and winds of nature. A power greater than anything they could bring to bear on the situation. Jesus asked them, "Where is your faith?" It seems to be a rhetorical question. He knew the answer. Their faith was non-existent. At one time it would have been in themselves and their own abilities. Now it was nowhere. Nothing they had ever relied on before was going to help them out of this predicament. Only Jesus!

That's where we need to be each and every day. We need to stop putting our faith in anything or anyone other than Christ. And every day they spent with Him was going to be a lesson in faith. They would watch Him heal. They would hear Him teach. They would see His power on display. They would take in all His parables and witness Him casting out demons and healing the sick. They would even see Him raise the dead. They were eyewitnesses to the power of Christ. And it was rocking their faith system. Over time they would learn to put their faith in Him and not in themselves. That is the journey of the disciple. Before we can place our faith in Christ, we must openly admit where our faith has been. In whom or what have I been trusting? Where have I been turning for comfort and consolation? Tearing down the idols we have erected and the sorry substitutes we have turned to for years is the first step in putting our faith in the One who is always faithful.

Father, I feel as though you are asking me each and every day, "Where is your faith?" And the truth is, I still struggle with putting my faith in the wrong things. I still want to trust myself and others more than I trust You. Forgive me for that and show me how to trust You more. Your power is limitless. You alone are worthy of my faith. Everything and everyone else will fail me. They don't deserve my faith. But You do. Amen.

Persecution and Proclaimation.

Acts 8

... and beginning from this Scripture, he preached Jesus to him. - Vs 35

Two words jump out of this chapter at me: Persecution and proclaiming.

At the stoning of Stephen in chapter seven, a young man stood by watching this godly man's death, holding the coats of those who threw the stones that killed him. That young man was Saul. He was already in the employ of the high priest with the responsibility of rounding up Christians and throwing them in jail. The joy of Pentecost had quickly turned into the hatred of persecution for the early Christians. Stephen had been their first martyr.

But God has a way of turning tragedy into triumph and oppression into opportunity. The persecution of Saul ended up scattering the thousands of believers who had been gathered in Jerusalem since the days immediately following Pentecost. These Jewish converts had become Christ-followers and now, out of the fear of possible imprisonment,  were "scattered throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria." God had never intended for them to remain in the city of Jerusalem. He wanted them to take what they had heard and received, and share it. Little did Saul know that his plan for destroying the church would actually end up causing its growth.

Verse four tells us they "went abroad preaching the word." This included Philip, one of the seven men "of good reputation, full of the Spirit and of wisdom" who had been chosen to oversee the distribution of food to the widows (6:3). Philip ends up in the city of Samaria and he begins "proclaiming Christ to them" (vs 5). Like Stephen, Philip ends up being a lot more than just some administrative type with the gift of service. Along with his preaching, he casts out demons, heals the lame and the sick, and leads one of the town's leading celebrities to the Lord. But God isn't done with Philip. An angel of the Lord gives him a new assignment. He is to get up and go to the desert road that leads from Jerusalem to Gaza. That's all the information he received. But he obediently went. Once he arrives on the scene, he meets a visiting dignitary, the treasurer for the Queen of Ethiopia.

A "Chance" Encounter

When Philip gets to his destination on the desert road, he meets this Ethiopian official from Candace's court. He has his chariot parked and he just happens to be reading from the writings of the prophet Isaiah. Philip, sensing that this is his divine appointment, asks the gentleman if he understands what he's reading. The visitor pleads ignorance and invites Philip, a perfect stranger, up into his chariot to explain to him the meaning of this obscure passage from the Hebrew scriptures.

It just so happens that this Ethiopian has been reading from what we now know as chapter 53 of the book of Isaiah. For whatever reason, he had chosen to read from a section of Isaiah's writings that are Messianic in nature. They prophesy of the coming of the Messiah. The Ethiopian is intrigued and wants to know who Isaiah is referring to in these verses. What a set up? Philip has got to be thinking to himself, "Lord, can you make this any easier?" Luke tells us that Philip "opened his mouth, and beginning from this Scripture he preached Jesus to him" (vs 35).

He Preached Jesus

When I go back and read Isaiah 53, it makes me think that Philip probably didn't have to go very much further than this single passage to preach Jesus to this spiritually starving man. In this prophetic passage, Isaiah tells of the One to come:

... our griefs He Himself bore ...

... our sorrows He carried ...

... He was pierced through for our transgressions ...

... the chastening for our well-being fell upon Him ...

... the Lord has caused the iniquity of us all to fall on Him ...

... the Lord was pleased to crush Him ...

... putting Him to grief ...

... He would render Himself as a guilt offering ...

... [He] will justify the many, as He will bear their iniquities ...

... He Himself bore the sin of many, and interceded for the transgressors ...

Wow! There it is right there. I think Philip had a field day with this passage. He was able to preach Jesus right from the writings of Isaiah. And the result is that this Ethiopian dignitary recognizes that he is a sheep who has gone astray. He sees that he has turned to his own way. He understands that the Lord had caused his iniquity to fall on Jesus. That Jesus had died in His place as his sin substitute. His eyes are opened and he steps from unbelief to belief, from lostness to salvation, as he confesses, "I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God" (vs 37).

Are You Going and Telling?

Philip was obedient. When the angel of the Lord said, "Go!", Philip went. Not knowing what was going to happen when he got there. But God had prepared the way. He had been working on the heart of a stranger, drawing him to Himself, fertilizing the soil so that Philip could plant the seed of Truth. All Philip had to do was preach Jesus. He had to be ready to proclaim Jesus as Lord and Savior. He simply had to tell the Ethiopian that Jesus was the one he had been reading about. Jesus was the one who had accomplished all those things. And all for him.

So what about you? Are you willing to go? Are you ready to tell someone else about Jesus? God still arranges divine appointments. He still brings people into our path who want to hear, who are dying to know. But are we ready to preach Jesus to them? Philip was. And it changed one man's life forever.

Father, I want to be ready to go when you call. I want to be ready to tell when the opportunity presents itself. Give me a heart like Philip and a sensitivity to all those around me, so that I can see the ones You place in my path who are fertile soil for the good news of Jesus Christ. Amen.

God's perfect plan.

Acts 7

At first glance, this chapter seems to be nothing more than a history lesson chronicling the key events in the lives of the people of Israel. It appears to be less a sermon than a chronology of the Hebrew nation. But if you look closer, you see that Stephen is weaving together the story of God's redemptive plan. He is sharing with his Jewish audience the divine outline of God's intricate plan to send His Son. Stephen is attempting to show the Jews that their history is a vivid reminder of God's hand at work in their midst - paving the way for the coming of His Son, Jesus Christ. For Stephen, this is all a "God thing."

Vs 2 - The God of glory appeared...

Vs 4 - God had him [Abraham] move to this country...

Vs 5 - He [God] gave him no inheritance in it...

Vs 5 - He [God] promised that He would give it to him as a possession...

Vs 6 - But God spoke...

Vs 8 - He [God] gave him the covenant of circumcision...

Vs 9 - God was with him [Joseph]...

Vs 10 - God rescued him from all his afflictions...

Vs 10 - God granted him favor and wisdom...

Vs 20 - He [Moses] was lovely in the sight of God...

Vs 30 - An angel appeared to Him in the wilderness...

Vs 33 - The Lord said to him...

Vs 35 - This Moses whom they disowned...God sent...

Vs 42 - God turned away and delivered them up...

Vs 45 - God drove out [the nations] before our fathers...

Stephen weaves throughout his lecture a picture of God's intimate involvement in the history of the people of Israel. He was there every step of the way, directing, guiding, moving, calling, orchestrating every event with a future purpose in mind: The arrival of His Son as the Savior of mankind.

That is exactly where Stephen takes his historical account. He accuses the Jews of doing just what their fathers had done, rejecting the underlying message of God's redemptive plan. They had not only rejected the messengers, they had rejected the Messiah. Their fathers had killed the prophets who were only announcing the coming of the Righteous One. Stephen's listeners had killed the Righteous One Himself.

But while these words caused the Jews to be "cut to the quick," it was Stephen's announcement that he saw the heavens opened up and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God that caused the people to cover their ears and rush him. They drove him out of the city and stoned him. Why? Because Stephen simply testified that Jesus was alive, and not only that, He was at the right hand of God the Father, a place of power and authority. That was too much for the Jews to handle. They had no problem believing that Jesus had lived, because they had seen Him. They had even killed Him. But they could not deal with the idea that He truly was the Messiah, the anointed One of God. To accept that would mean that Jesus was the One the prophets had predicted. It would mean that God's divine plan had culminated with the arrival of this obscure Rabbi from the city of Nazareth. It would mean that God's plan did not match their own.

But isn't that what most people struggle with today? They have no problem believing that Jesus lived. They have no problem believing that He was a good man, a great teacher, and an example worthy of following. But to believe that Jesus was somehow the final step in God's divine plan to redeem mankind from sin and death, that's a bit hard to swallow. Because it doesn't fit our plan. And our plan is all about us. We can redeem ourselves. We can earn our own way into heaven. We can live righteous lives on our own.

But until men and women recognize that Jesus really does sit at the right hand of God, they will never understand all of human history points to Him. He is the focal point. He is the solution to all our problems. He is God's answer to the question of mankind's future.

But even as Christians we can struggle with that. We say we believe in Him. We say we trust in Him. But then we live our lives as though we don't need Him. We refuse to look up and see Him for Who He really is. The Son of God, who is the answer to all our problems. He is the solution to all our needs. So He is worth living for, and as Stephen illustrated, worth dying for.

Father, help me to have eyes that see Jesus for who He really is. Give me a vision of His power, authority, divinity, and help me recognize that He is the answer to all of my needs. Give me the boldness to speak about Him to others - even in the face of rejection or possible persecution. Show me how to point all men to Him and to nothing else. May I be willing to live for Him and, if necessary, die for Him. Amen.

Qualified To Serve Tables.

Acts 6

Choose seven men from among you who are known to be full of the Spirit and wisdom. - Vs 3

Leadership in the local church is critical. It has been since the beginning. And chapter six gives us a glimpse into the selection process practiced by the apostles when it came time for them to choose qualified leaders to help with the needs of a growing congregation.

Since that first exciting day when the church was birthed at Pentecost, a growing number of people had placed their faith in Christ. In fact, their numbers had skyrocketed, with as many as 3,00o being added in one day! Many of these, if not most, were Jews who had come to Christ. These people had been in Jerusalem in order to celebrate the Feast of Pentecost. According to chapter two, verses 9-11, there were "Parthians and Medes and Elamites, and residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the districts of Libya around Cyrene, and visitors from Rome, both Jews and proselytes, Cretans and Arabs." Talk about a melting pot.

As is often the case in a church, a conflict arose. It seems that the rapid expansion of the local fellowship there in Jerusalem had resulted in the need for food to be distributed among the thousands of new converts. Many of these were not permanent residents of Jerusalem, but had chosen to remain in town since their witness of the apostles' speaking in tongues, and their own conversions. According to chapter two, people were sharing what they had and generously meeting one another's needs. But there seemed to be a problem with the distribution of the food. It could have been due to the language barrier, because the Greek-speaking Jews are the ones who raised the complaint. But regardless of the cause, the apostles determined that a plan was needed. Their solution: Additional leadership.

This is where it gets interesting. Because the qualifications the apostles looked for in these men seem to make them overqualified for the job. I mean, even the apostles admit that these guys were going "to serve tables." They weren't asking them to teach or lead a small group. They were going to distribute food. But notice what they look for when they start their search for possible candidates:

Select from among you seven men of good reputation, full of the Spirit and of wisdom, whom we may put in charge of this task.

Luke gives us even more insight into the character of these men when he introduces us in greater detail to one of them in particular -- Stephen.

They chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit. - Vs 5

Stephen, full of grace and power... - Vs 8

But they were unable to cope with the wisdom and the Spirit with which he was speaking. - Vs 10

This guy seems WAY over-qualified for the job. But was he? Obviously not. In fact, I suspect that the six others chosen that day were men of similar character. Stephen just happened to be singled out by Luke because of the part he was going to play as this story unfolds. But according to verse 3, all of them were men of good reputation, full of the Spirit and of wisdom. And yet their job was to distribute food and wait on tables.

So why was it important to choose men of this caliber? What was it about their role that would require them to be men of good reputation, Spirit-filled, and wise? I think the answer is a simple one. In the body of Christ there is no small task, no unimportant role. Every servant of the Savior is to be a person of spiritual integrity, able to perform their role in the power of the Spirit, whether they are an elder, deacon, Sunday School teacher, greeter, small group host, usher, or senior pastor.

These men were going to be working with people and for God. So it was important that they be men of God. But isn't the same thing true today? Don't we each need to have the character of Christ if we are going to act as representatives for Christ? Stephen and his co-committee members were:

1. Spirit-filled
2. Of good reputation
3. Wise
4. Full of faith
5. Full of grace
6. Full of power
7. And finally, servants

Stephen was selected to "wait on tables," but because he was a man who was full of grace and power, he would have greater impact than even the apostles ever imagined. I am sure he faithfully performed the responsibilities associated with his new role, but he didn't stop there. Why? Because he was Spirit-filled and God-directed. He was a man of God doing the work of God. Faith-fully.

So what kind of men and women are we? Are we of good reputation, full of the Spirit and of wisdom? Are we full of faith. grace, and power? As Christ-followers, that is exactly what we are supposed to be. Men and women under the influence of the Spirit, serving in the power of the Spirit, all for the glory of God. Whether we're distributing food, handing out worship folders, greeting visitors, hosting a small group in our home, rocking babies in the nursery, teaching a group of 3rd-grade boys, or visiting someone in the hospital. As the church continues to grow, so do the needs. And among the greatest needs of the church is leadership. Men and women like Stephen who are people of God, willing to do anything and everything in the service of God. Are you ready? Do you qualify?

Father, make me a man like Stephen - full of the Spirit and of wisdom. Increase my faith. Fill me with your grace and power, that I might continue to serve you and your church in whatever way you may need me to. Raise up an army of men and women who will step in the gap and serve sacrificially and selflessly. Men and women like Stephen. Amen.

The Whole Message.

Acts 5

Go, stand and speak to the people in the temple the whole message of this Life. - Vs 20

It's the middle of night and the apostles find themselves imprisoned, "guests" of the high priest. Their crime? Preaching in the name of Christ. performing signs and wonders, and making disciples. But in spite of the high priest's paranoia, the disciples are miraculously set free by an angel of the Lord, who gives them the instructions found in verse 20.

He tells them to speak "the whole message of this Life." The life of Jesus Christ to be exact. You see, the angel wasn't instructing them to tell about their own lives or the Christian life in general, but about the life of Jesus Christ, the Messiah. Which is exactly what they did upon their release. They made a beeline to the temple and began to teach. What did they teach? Well, we get an idea of the content of their message a little bit later in the passage.

It seems that when the high priest sent for the apostles the next morning, the guards found locked doors, but no prisoners. Instead, he gets the news that they are in the temple teaching the people! So he has them picked up again, and confronts them about their behavior: "We gave you strict orders not to continue teaching in this name, and yet, you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching and intent to bring this man's blood upon us." The apostles were teaching in Jesus' name. But what were they teaching? They were teaching the "whole message of this Life." Take a look at verses 30-32 and you can see an outline of what this "whole message" contained.

1. Jesus was crucified and put to death
2. But God raised Him to life again
3. Jesus now sits at the right hand of the Father - a place of authority
4. He has been confirmed as a Prince (literally "one that takes the lead in any thing and thus affords an example, a predecessor in a matter, pioneer")
5. He has been exalted as Savior (literally "deliverer")
6. His position gives Him theauthority to grant repentance and forgiveness of sins
7. God has sent the Holy Spirit as a witness that all these things are true

This is the message, the whole message, and nothing but the message! It is what is meant to proclaim the name of Jesus. It is to tell of His life. Which is the reason the religious leaders wanted to stifle their preaching. Look at Vs 40: "They flogged them and ordered them to speak no more in the name of Jesus." They didn't want to hear His life story any more, especially the part about His resurrection. Because it put a huge crimp in their religious style. If what they said about His life was true, then His claims about who He claimed to be would have to be true. And they didn't want to go there.

So how did the apostles respond to the warning?

So they went on their way from the presence of the Council, rejoicing that they had been considered worthy to suffer shame for His name. And every day, in the temple and from house to house, they kept right on teaching and preaching Jesus as the Christ. - Vs 41-42

How could they do that? What was their motivation? Peter makes it clear in verse 29. "We must obey God rather than men." Peter and the apostles couldn't help but tell the whole message. They couldn't help but speak the name of Jesus. They couldn't help but teach and preach Jesus as the Christ, the Messiah, the Savior of the world. Even if it meant imprisonment. In fact, they rejoiced that they had been considered worthy to suffer shame for His name.

To speak His name is to proclaim Him as Jesus the Christ. It is to announce Him as Savior. It is to declare Him to be God and the Lord of this earth. It is to freely admit that He is exactly who He claimed to be. And...

...there is salvation in no one else; for these is no other name under heaven that has been given among men by which we must be saved. - Acts 4:12

Father, forgive me for failing to proclaim Your Son's name, for refusing to speak the whole message of His life. His name represents who He is and what He has done. Give me increasing boldness to tell His story to all those I meet. Let my life be a increasingly clearer picture of the life-transforming power of His name. I want others to see Him in me. Amen.

What's in a name?

Acts 4

Yesterday we talked about what it is that we have that we might give to someone else. As believers, we possess the same thing that Peter did -- the name of Jesus -- and all the power associated with it.

As a result of the healing of the lame man in chapter three, 5,000 men come to faith in Jesus Christ. They are set free from their sins. But Peter and John end up in jail, confined by the religious leaders for their role in this "disturbance." In this we see Luke continue his emphasis on the theme of the name of Jesus.

When they had placed them in the center, they began to inquire,“By what power, or in what name, have you done this?" - Vs 7

Peter responds: "By the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene -- by this name this man stands before you in good health." - Vs 10

Then he adds: "And there is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among men by which we must be saved." - Vs 12

The religious leaders are speechless. They don't know how to respond, so they decided "let us warn them to speak no longer to any man in this name" - Vs 17. And "they commanded them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus" - Vs 18.

After being warned and released, Peter and John return to the other disciples and share what has happened. They end up praising God and praying, "And now, Lord, take note of their threats, and grant that Your bond-servants may speak Your word with all confidence, while You extend Your hand to heal, and signs and wonders take place through the name of Your holy servant Jesus" - Vs 29-30.

The name of Jesus. To speak the name of Jesus in that day was risky business. Especially in the days and weeks immediately after His crucifixion. Because the religious leaders wanted Him dead and gone. But the disciples were proclaiming to be alive and well. To talk about His name was to talk about His resurrection and His power. To talk about His name was to proclaim that He was Who He said He was: The Messiah, the anointed One, the Son of God and the Savior of the world.

To proclaim the name of Jesus took guts back then. But has anything really changed? It takes real guts to speak His name today. No, it's not difficult to talk about Jesus. A lot of people do that. They talk about Jesus the teacher, Jesus the prophet, Jesus the doer of good deeds. But that's not the Jesus Peter and John were proclaming. No, if we proclaim Jesus as the Messiah, the Savior, and the one and only way to receive forgiveness of sins and eternal salvation, we will catch some heat. If we proclaim that Jesus' name is synonomous with life-transforming power, then we will face rejecting and ridicule, just as Peter and John did.

So if we speak the name of Jesus like Peter and John did, we will face persecution. We will encounter problems. So what should we do? We should pray for confidence and boldness just like they did. They didn't attempt to pray their problem away. They didn't ask God to remove the persecution, to get rid of their enemies. They prayed, "take note of their threats, and grant that Your bond-servants may speak Your word with all confidence" - Vs 29.

They knew that power was associated with the name of Jesus. They knew that lives would be changed through the name of Jesus. They knew that trouble would come as a result of speaking the name of Jesus. But they also knew it was worth it. So they asked for boldness to speak His name in the midst of the threats. And God answered their prayer. He still wants to answer that prayer today. Are you and I ready to pray it?

Father, give me the boldness and confidence to speak the name of Jesus Christ. To tell of His resurrection and the power it brings to deliver men and women from slavery to sin and the penalty of death. There is no other name worth talking about. There is no other name under heaven that is worthy of mentioning. So give me the guts to talk about it to everyone I meet. Amen.

What Do You Have To Give?

Acts 3

But Peter said, "I do not possess silver and gold, but what I do have I give to you. In the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene – walk! - Vs 6

"But what I do have I give to you."

What do you have to give today? What is in your possession that the world around you desperately needs? Do you have anything worth having, anything that could truly transform another person's life?

Peter did. When he and John arrived at the entrance to the Temple courtyard that day to pray, they encountered a familiar sight: A lame man begging for alms. This guy was a regular fixture at the Gate Beautiful. He had picked out this spot a long time ago and made it a habit to be there every day at the ninth hour, the hour of prayer, to take advantage of all the pious people making their way into the Temple courtyard to pray. It was a good spot for someone looking for a handout, or this man wouldn't have been there. Religious people are always giving people. It's what we do. We may not give a lot, but we do give. And this man knew that to be the case.

So when he saw Peter and John, he simply saw two more potential "givers." But he was about to get more than he ever expected. According to verse 5, he was "expecting to receive something from them." But the first words out of Peter's mouth probably disappointed him: "I do not possess silver and gold" Peter knew what he wanted. He knew that this guy had money on his mind. That was all he had come to expect. Even though money could do nothing to change his circumstances. At the end of the day, he would go home just the way he came: "Lame from his mother's womb."

But Peter's response to the man had a second part: "But what I have I give to you." This is the part that hit me between the eyes this morning. In essence, Peter was saying, "I don't have what you want (silver and gold), but I do have what you NEED."

So what did Peter possess? Well, if we're not careful, we'll just jump to the conclusion that Peter had the power to heal, because that's exactly what he did. He grabbed the guy's hand, lifted him up, and told him to walk. But Peter tells us exactly what it was that he had that he given to this man. You find it in verses 12 and 16:

A power greater than himself - Peter tells the astonished onlookers, "Why do you gaze at us, as if by our own power we had made him walk?"

Peter knew he was nothing more than a conduit, a pipeline, of God's power. He was a resource that God was using to touch and transform lives.

The name of Jesus - Peter goes on to reveal that it was Jesus' name "which has strengthened this man." That's where the power and the authority comes from. Look at verse 6 again. Peter said, "In the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene -- walk!" We tend to focus on the faith it took for Peter to say the last word, "Walk." But Peter's real act of faith was recognizing that the very name of Jesus had power attached to it. And as Jesus' representative, Peter knew he had the authority to use that name to transform the lives of those around him.

And faith in that name - It was not the lame man's faith that healed him, but Peter's faith in the name of Jesus. Peter is the one who said, "Walk!" Peter is the one who grabbed the man's hand and raised him up. Peter is the one who knew that he possessed something that would change this man's life forever.

So what do you possess today? What do you have today that could change the life of those in need around you? They're out there. Needy people waiting at the gate for someone to give them what they think they need. But as Christ followers, we possess what they really need. The life-changing, transforming power of the name of Jesus Christ. You see, people don't need another handout, they need to hear about Jesus. People don't need our sympathy, they need to hear about Jesus. People don't need to be ignored, they need for us to step out by faith and speak the life-changing name of Jesus Christ into their lives.

So let's give the greatest gift we could ever give another human being. The gift of the name of Jesus. Let's share Him with someone today. His name has the power to change, heal, and transform. But do we believe it?

Father, help me believe in Your Son's name. Not just for salvation, but so that I might speak the name of Jesus into the lives of all those with whom I come into contact. Help me trust in the power of your name to transform lives. Help me remember that this isn't about my power and piety, it's about the name of Jesus. The name above every other name. Amen.

God’s Mighty Deeds.

Acts 2

Speaking of the mighty deeds of God. - Vs 11

I think it's interesting that when most of us read this passage we get hung up on the theatrics: The noise of the rushing wind, tongues of fire, speaking in tongues, wonders and signs.

It's a case of form versus function. And that has always been a problem for us as Christians. We read a passage like this and the temptation is to try and replicate the methodology used to get the results they received. But we risk leaving out some key ingredients. We stress the how and lose sight of the what.

In the midst of all the excitement, what was really going on? The disciples, under the influence of the Holy Spirit, were "speaking of the mighty deeds of God" (vs 11). Sure, they did it in a pretty spectacular manner - in a wide variety of languages that none of them naturally knew how to speak. But it was NOT the tongues that brought about the conversions that day, it was the disciples proclaiming the incredible deeds that God had done. Peter summarized what those deeds were in his address to the people.

1. God delivered Jesus up to die as part of His predetermined plan
2. God raised up Jesus from the dead
3. God exalted Jesus back to His position of authority at His right hand
4. God poured out the Holy Spirit as promised
5. God made Jesus both Lord (master) and Christ (Messiah)

What was the result of Peter telling the people about God's mighty deeds?

Now when they heard this, they were pierced to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, "Brethren, what shall we do? - Vs 37

Peter answers their question by telling them to repent and be baptized, so that they might "be saved from this perverse generation" (vs 40).

The results are pretty amazing:

1. They added 3000 converts to the church that day
2. They were devoting themselves to hearing the Word of God
3. They practiced fellowship and community
4. They experienced an ongoing sense of awe
5. They witnessed signs and wonders from the hand of God
6. They were meeting each others needs
7. They were glad and sincere in heart
8. They were praising God daily
9. They were attractive to the lost community around them
10. They saw their numbers grow daily

Pretty amazing stuff. But we risk missing out on it all if we just focus in on the spectacular nature of the tongues. The truth is we have all the ingredients to see these same kind of results today.

A hand-full of dedicated followers + the Holy Spirit + telling the mighty deeds of God = transformed lives

Are you telling others of the mighty deeds of God? Or to ask it another way, are you sharing the Good News of Jesus Christ? That's what this story is all about. It is the plan of God as lived out through the life, death, and resurrection of His Son Jesus Christ. That is what we are to tell. Like the disciples, we are witnesses to the reality of this story, because it has changed our lives. We are witnesses to the transformational, life-changing power of Jesus Christ and the empowering presence of the Holy Spirit. So let's start telling and watch what happens.

Father, your deeds are indeed mighty. But sometimes I want to see more. I want to see you do additional mighty deeds and lose sight of the ones you have already done. Help me to never forget that the greatest deed has already been done - You sent Your Son! And because of that, my life has never been the same. Give me the boldness to tell others. Amen.

Our Of Sight. Not Out Of Mind.

Acts 1

This Jesus, who was has been taken up from you into heaven, will come in just the same way as you have watched Him go into heaven. - Vs 11

Jesus has just disappeared into the clouds. After a 40-day reunion with His disciples, some last-minute instructions, and an exit any Hollywood producer would love to capture on film, Jesus leaves His disciples and returns to His Father in heaven.

In verse 11, two angels give the disciples some words of comfort. They tell them that Jesus is going to come back just the way He left, but only in reverse. It's a not-so-subtle reminder that this is NOT the end. It is the beginning. The beginning of the church age. You see, verse 11 contains an unseen parenthesis. Jesus' departure and future return bookend the age in which the church, the body of Christ, takes up the Lord's work. His departure marked the arrival of the Holy Spirit and the beginning of the church. That is what the rest of the book of Acts will explain.

In a way, verse 11 is a reminder to the disciples that they have work to do. They are not to be staring up into the sky, sadly recounting what has been or anxiously anticipating what is to come. They are to be busy. And Jesus gave them their marching orders just before His feet left the dirt of the Mount of Olives. You find their job description (and ours) in verse 8:

But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be My witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and even to the remotest part of the earth.

Verse 11 should be exciting news to any follower of Jesus Christ. Because it tells us that there's an end to the story. Jesus left, but He is coming back. He is not done yet. His work is not complete yet. The disciples were hopeful that with Jesus' appearance on the scene just days after His death, it must have been time for Him to set up His earthly kingdom. They even ask Him in verse 6: "Lord, is it at this time you are restoring the kingdom to Israel?"

"This is it!" they thought. We just had the timing off a little bit. Now that He has foiled the plans of the Jewish leaders and the Romans, Jesus will be taking over. There was a new sheriff in Jerusalem! But that was not to be the case and Jesus tells them so. No, it was now their turn to shine. The Lord's ascension was vital to the continuation of His work on earth. His leaving put in motion the Holy Spirit's coming. No ascension - no Comforter. No Comforter - no power. No power - no church. No church - no chance for the good news to be spread all over the world.

I can get real excited about Jesus coming back. Why? Because our side wins! Just take a look at these passages:

Behold, He is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see Him, even those who pierced Him; and all the tribes of the earth will mourn over Him. So it is to be. Amen. - Revelation 1:7

And I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse, and He who sat on it {is} called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and wages war. His eyes {are} a flame of fire, and on His head {are} many diadems; and He has a name written {on Him} which no one knows except Himself. {He is} clothed with a robe dipped in blood, and His name is called The Word of God. And the armies which are in heaven, clothed in fine linen, white {and} clean, were following Him on white horses. From His mouth comes a sharp sword, so that with it He may strike down the nations, and He will rule them with a rod of iron; and He treads the wine press of the fierce wrath of God, the Almighty. And on His robe and on His thigh He has a name written, "KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS." - Revelation 19:11-16

In that day His feet will stand on the Mount of Olives, which is in front of Jerusalem on the east; and the Mount of Olives will be split in its middle from east to west by a very large valley, so that half of the mountain will move toward the north and the other half toward the south . . . then the Lord, my God, will come, and all the holy ones with Him. - Zechariah 14:4, 5

He is going to come back right to the very spot from which He left! That's incredible. But until then, He has given each of us a job to do. Matthew records them in His gospel.

Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age. - Matthew 28:19-20

He has gone, but He has not left us. He is with us. He is within us. And He has empowered us to be His ambassadors, spreading the news of His kingdom to every corner of the globe. So how are we doing? How are you doing? Are you making disciples? Are you representing your King well in your little corner of the world? In your office, your home, your neighborhood? Let's get busy. Let's make Him famous.

Father, help me to remember that the story is not over. Your Son is coming back some day. And when He does, He is going to set all things right. In the meantime, help me focus on your agenda and not mine. Help me live for your kingdom instead of mine. Help me catch the vision of making disciples. Don't let me be satisfied with anything else. Amen.