Bible reference:  Acts 20:24;  Acts 2:3-8; Acts 4:31; Ephesians 5:8 Acts 2:3-8, Acts 4:31; and Ephesians 5:18 Acts 2:3 and there appeared unto them tongues parting asunder, like as of fire; and it sat upon each one of them. 4 And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance. 5 Now there were dwelling at Jerusalem Jews, devout men, from every nation under heaven. 6 And when this sound was heard, the multitude came together, and were confounded, because that every man heard them speaking in his own language. 7 And they were all amazed and marvelled, saying, Behold, are not all these that speak Galilaeans? 8 And how hear we, every man in our own language wherein we were born? Acts 4:31 After they had prayed, the meeting place shook. They were all filled with the Holy Spirit and bravely spoke God's message. Ephesians 5:18 Don't destroy yourself by getting drunk, but let the Spirit

Bible reference: Luke 22:18-20 When the grace of God is allowed to work in us, we have access to the risen Lord Jesus.  Jesus was already entered into winning for us the payment for sin.  Yet he indicated he would again celebrate the communion again with them.   Grace was given to lift us from our sin.  The resurrection is one hotly debated subject in history.   Yet there were guards assigned, there was things done to ensure he was in the tomb.  Yet there were too many witnesses.   Jesus is declared to be the resurrected son of God.  He is the sufficient payment for our sins.  Don't keep paying.  Christ is the sacrifice that takes away our sins.  50 days after crucifixion,  the day of Pentecost,  the disciples spoke powerfully in the Spirit.  Acts 2:23-24 In the garden of Eden death came.  The spirit of man died.  Through Christ,  the Spirit of man comes alive.    Acts 2:32 Read the first 4 chapters.   Acts is the book that describes the acts of  the Holy Spirit in the

1. Romans 3:23 “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,…” We’ve all failed to keep God’s Word, the Law, His commandments. At some point we’ve lied, cheated, hurt with actions or words, failed to fully obey the commands set down by God.  We’re all in this together.  No person is exempt.  It’s inclusive for the whole human race. 2. Romans 6:23  “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Sin = missing the mark.  “The mark, in this case, is the standard of perfection established by God and evidenced by Jesus. Viewed in that light, it is clear that we are all sinners.” [https://www.allaboutgod.com/what-is-sin.htm] Eternal life – a gift of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.  That is “knowing God”, now in the present and forever.  Being in relationship with Him now, today, not just when we get to heaven. 3. Romans 5:8 “But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ die

Bible references:  Joshua 3 and 4 The Israelites crossed the Jordon on dry ground.   There were 12 appointments to gather a stone from the Jordon and place them where they stayed that night.  The stones were a memorial to tell what the Lord had done that day. The people faithfully obeyed God.   Joshua led them.  He was God appointed.   He had to be about Gods business.   The people walked after the rule of the word and after the Spirit.   The Spirit gives direction,  freedom,  life. We must be prepared to pass ways we've never passed before,  do things we've not done before.  We are to be bold and courageous. Things can happen to us.  In the world today,  persecution is paramount.  We obey and follow God,  we are following the author and finisher of our faith.    The people had to sanctify themselves.   Walk away from our sin, and follow the Lord.  Let the Lord deal with our sin.   Be careful not to grieve the Spirit.   Whatever place your in depend on the Lord. God has the sam

Bible references:  Jeremiah 1; v1-8; Galatians 1:15 A message for the nations.   Jeremiah came from a suburb of Jerusalem.  He spoke through several king's reigns.   Josiah,  became king at 8 years old.   He takes the people back to God.   He restored the Law of the Lord back.   Jeremiah begins preaching 'beware'. There was a specific time given to Jeremiah to bring the Word of the Lord.  Jeremiah begins his ministry in the thirteenth year of Josiah's reign. He preached that the nation would be going into exile in Babylon.    The word of the Lord came to Jeremiah saying... v5.  He heard the voice of God.   God formed Jeremiah in the womb, set him apart, made him a prophet to the nations.   God chose him, sanctified him, set him apart as a prophet before his birth.  Galatians 1:15 - God called Paul and commissioned him.   God calls people as He needs them.   Think of David,  Gideon.  2 Corinthians 2:15-17 - when God calls you to go, Go.  When He calls you to stand, stand

Bible References:   Ezra 1:2-4; 7-11; Isaiah Isaiah 44:28 The Lord stirred up the spirit of Cyrus.   The heart of kings is in the hand of the Lord. We need to look for the Lord to lead us; lead in the Church and the world. Cyrus was a king God used to help restore Israel back to the land. God wants us to be part of witnessing the morality of God to the world.   Jesus came so God could deal with our sins; let God deal with your sins and we are to get on with what God wants us to do. Cyrus made a proclamation that the gentiles were to assist Israel through gifts to rebuild the temple in Jerusalem, and he proclaimed the greatness of God. Today, the story is God rebuilding the temple - you, me, Christian people God wants us to look to God to find the way.   God’s offering us freedom; we have a walk with Jesus Christ.   It starts when we accept Him.   Be a world-changer – those who went from Babylon to Jerusalem.   Put yourself into God’s hands, not sitting in our sin.   T

Bible references:  2 Samuel 9:1-13 The Son of God looks for his lost and ruined people.  David went looking for those left in the house of Saul,  even though Saul had tried to kill David,  to show kindness to them. Mephibosheth, son of Johnathan,  crippled in both feet.  He had a son.  Ziba was Saul's servant and his whole household.  Mephibosheth had fled to a desert, worthless place.  David shows that he wants to restore people and do things God's way.  He showed kindness and charity to Johnathan's son.  David had to search for family related to Saul.  God is faithful to us, and showed us tremendous kindness.   David did this to Mephibosheth.   David could have destroyed all of Saul's family, including Johnathan's son.  This account tells us of real people.    David comes to restore instead of destroying.  This marks a change in the history of Israel.  Mephibosheth = shame David, like Jesus,  seeks this person out to restore him.  This is what Jesus do

Bible references:  Romans 15:1-33 In following the example of Christ,  we are to tolerate one another and each other's failures.  Christian liberty is a wonderful thing,  but its not for our pleasure but to bring glory to God.  We are not to please men and women,  but to be servants of Jesus Christ.   He is our Lord,  our Saviour and example.   We who have trusted him are called sons and daughters of God.   We are to consider one another at all times.  We are to bear one another.    We are not just believers but disciples, because he first loved us. Jesus was meek, and put up with the lowly.  He stood with the weak, not Lord it over them.   As God's people,  disunity causes strife.  We should be building up people (edification).   God did what he did,  because he loves you.  People will never agree on everything,  but we are to live in harmony.   No one is better than another,  we are to serve one one another.    We are not to despise God's people,  the Jews.  T

Bible references: Acts 20:24; Romans 12:1-2; 2 Corinthians 5:14-16; Romans 6:13-15 Romans 12:1-2 speaks to us about how ought to behave.   We should dedicate ourselves to Jesus Christ every day; a spiritual act of worship.  Often people struggle because they don't know how to think.   Teachers teach us to think.   We need to renew our minds.   We want to love because Christ's love compels us to live for Him. With salvation comes responsibilities. 

Bible references:  Romans 11:1-10;  Psalm 69; Romans 4:3, Elijah 19:18 Did God reject his people?  No! We are saved by grace, not by works.  God has kept a remnant of faithful people.  The Psalm refers to the suffering of His servant,  the passion, and the gentiles.  Its God who gets us saved,  not us.  God makes us good enough.  When we say no, we're telling him he's not good enough.   Pray to God, he can give you the strength,  comfort,  and perseverance to do his will.  Sometimes people will say things about you that will be bad, but count them as suffering alongside Christ.  The psalm tells us some of Christ's suffering.   He went through all on the cross for us.  If people persecute you because of Christ. pray for them,  they are in strife.   The jews sin was that they could not see the light and preferred darkness.   If this is what we desire, we will be given over to their own lust, passion.  God will not shut anyone out from righteousness.  Acts 20:24 - our purpose.

Bible references: Acts 20:24; Romans 10:1-21 Lots of people refuse to come to faith in Christ Jesus.   Jesus is the Way to salvation.   The strictness of the law shows us our need of salvation by grace through faith. In the Old testament there are a number of ceremonies that the Jewish people would celebrate.  God comes now and lives in us.  The ceremonies show us the need for Christ.   We live in the time of tabernacles (booths).   Acts 20:24 - the task of testifying to the good news of God's grace.   We obtained salvation by faith.  Abraham was saved by faith.  Yet the Law came after him.  We put our trust in God to bring us through.   The Law is not destroyed by Christ,  it is fulfilled.  The law wasn't the problem,  it was us.  We're sinners.  Full redemption was made possible by Christ's death on the cross. Jesus paid the price.  When we put our faith in Christ,  we are saved by grace.   God gave us Jesus,  and he saved us from our sin.   Sinners will n

EXODUS 19, ROMANS 9:1-30, Ephesians  To be indifferent to the eternal condition of other people is contrary both to the love required by the law, of God and the mercy of the Gospel.  You are here today to be a witness of the love of God in your life.   You are not insignificant,  but worthwhile to God! Israel was chosen and given special privileges,  but they did not do it. The children of the promise, Abraham's children.   God chose them, Israel to be his witness.  Today, out of all the world,  God chose you, God chose me.  We are His witness in this world.   To go into the fields of white and bring in the harvest. Are we professing Christ,  or are we disciples?  Even Satan believes in Jesus,  but he is not a disciple.   Jesus is our King, He is our Saviour.   The real believer is a disciple.  In the great commission,  we're told to make disciples, not believers.  Eg the rain will come whether they believe in God or not.   Israel took God's laws and started mak

Bible Reference:   Acts 16:1-99, Acts 22:1-99, Acts 24:1-99, Acts 25:1-99, Psalm 119:61-62 Ephesians 6:19 “And pray for me, too. Ask God to give me the right words so I can boldly explain God’s mysterious plan that the Good News is for Jews and Gentiles alike.” “At one point during his ministry, the Apostle Paul was at the Temple Mount in Jerusalem. He was accused by some Jews of bringing a Gentile into the courts where only Jews were allowed. He hadn’t, but they thought he did and a riot started. When Roman soldiers pulled him out of the crowd to flog him, Paul said, “You’d do this to a Roman citizen?” (Acts 21 & 22). The penalty for abusing a Roman citizen without a trial was severe, so instead the terrified soldiers sent him under armed guard to be tried by the governor of the region. What makes this story especially interesting is that seven years earlier, in the city of Philippi, Paul was arrested, flogged, and imprisoned for teaching about Jesus – but he neve

Philippians Chapter 1:1-2 16-18 One day, on our way to the place of prayer, a slave girl ran into us. She was a psychic and, with her fortunetelling, made a lot of money for the people who owned her. She started following Paul around, calling everyone’s attention to us by yelling out, “These men are working for the Most High God. They’re laying out the road of salvation for you!” She did this for a number of days until Paul, finally fed up with her, turned and commanded the spirit that possessed her, “Out! In the name of Jesus Christ, get out of her!” And it was gone, just like that. 19-22 When her owners saw that their lucrative little business was suddenly bankrupt, they went after Paul and Silas, roughed them up and dragged them into the market square. Then the police arrested them and pulled them into a court with the accusation, “These men are disturbing the peace—dangerous Jewish agitators subverting our Roman law and order.” By this time the crowd had turned into a restles