Category: Acts - Jethro TOOLS

Participate as a Witness

8/11/2024

Acts 1:1-8
Just down the street, from my home, a new house is being built. Have you ever paid attention to the process of building a home? Several months ago several large pieces of heavy equipment arrived on the site and began digging the foundation. Then concrete was poured and now the walls and roof are going up. There is a small crew of workers at the new house site each day moving the project toward its designed completion. But what if each of the workers decided to construct what they wanted without regard or communication with the others? The end result would be nothing but disorganization and chaos. There would be wall without doors and stairs going to nowhere. However, each of the workers reads the house plans, listens to the boss, and does what is being communicated. The same is to be true in the church. The early church, in the book of Acts, saw continued growth with many people coming to faith in Jesus. In Acts 2:41 about 3000 people believed and were baptized. Stop and ask yourself why. The answer is found in looking back to the beginning of the book. In His last words to His disciples Jesus promised power through the Holy Spirit to be His witnesses (Acts 1:8). This promised individual spiritual power brought change to each disciple and they spoke of Jesus the savior who is alive and no longer in the grave. God gave His power to His disciples to build His church through their witness. The same is true for us today. The promise of the Spirit’s indwelling and transforming power is true for everyone who believes in Jesus. God desires that we listen to Him, point others to faith in Him and thus see His body, the church, built for Him. As believers we are empowered by God’s Spirit for God’s glory to proclaim God’s message! Let us live each day using His power by participating as His witness.

For More See ACTS

Participate in Service

8/4/2024

Matthew 20:20-28
Have you ever been to a restaurant where the service was poor? One time, we as a family stopped at what appeared to be a good restaurant. We walked in, found a seat and waited, and then waited some more. Our stomachs began to growl. The kids began getting restless and started to complain. If my memory serves me correctly, we were there about 40 minutes and not a single waiter stopped at our table. Needless to say we eventually got up and walked out because the service did not meet the need of our hunger. In Acts 2:42-47 we see that the early church had been changed by placing their faith in Jesus, and now they were intent on serving. Their work was done to benefit others through their sacrifice. They were not concerned about positions or power, instead they were intent on serving. Through their work of service they continually gave testimony to the fact that Jesus changed them. Yet, if we go back in time we find that the disciples previously had been more interested in positions of importance rather than serving. In Matthew 20 we pick up the recorded story when two disciples approached Jesus, along with their mother, asking for a favor (20). In their ambition and pride they desired positions of greatness alongside Jesus (21). Hearing this conversation the other disciples became angry (24). Jesus stops the argument and reminds them that He has come, not seeking a position, but to serve and sacrifice Himself for the benefit of all (28). Jesus, the greatest servant, served to meet our greatest need of salvation from sin. Christ chose service over self in contrast to the disciples. He came and served sacrificially to meet the hunger of our soul. Like the early church, our service is to be a living testimony of the gospel message and how our savior met our greatest need.

For More See MATTHEW

Participate in Fellowship

7/28/2024

1 John 1:6-7
Some years ago I borrowed a canoe from a church member and placed it in front of the church as an illustration of fellowship. So how would an old canoe describe fellowship? Well, the best way to travel in a canoe is with two people. However, two people in a boat does not mean that they have fellowship. They merely exist together without participating in any meaningful activity. But if those two people are in a boat and paddling the same direction they share the experience and are able to benefit from each others efforts as they glide through the water. In Acts 2:42 the early church spent time in fellowship. What is fellowship? Biblical fellowship is defined as participation or sharing, as in sharing in and participating in an activity. In the book of 1 John the author confronts false teaching and beliefs that circulated in the early church by addressing true fellowship. In verse 6 and 7 John challenges his audience to a proper conduct and imitation of Christ that walks as He does. In order to do this we need to align our life and participate in fellowship with Christ our savior. In other words, the correct practice of our relationship with Jesus will impact and direct our correct God honoring relationships with others. Our fellowship with one another is to be a living reflection of our relationship with Christ. Like the early church, we are challenged to live the life changing truth of the gospel in our fellowship with one another. By being in fellowship with Christ and following Him we will see the power of the gospel transform us and transform our relationships with others. Just as we benefit from others being in a canoe and paddling in the same direction with us, so we also benefit others by our walk with the Lord and see the reciprocal effects in our relationships.

For More See 1 JOHN

Participate in the Word

7/21/2024

Psalm 119:105-112
How often do you read directions? When I much younger I remember being at a meeting with my father. The speaker gave each attender a test with a page full of questions. The instructions were to read everything before beginning the test. I still remember that day. I turned the page and began frantically trying to answer questions before the allotted time ran out. As my time ran out I looked at my Dad sitting calmly, looking around the room. He was done, and I was not. The test was actually a test to see if you would listen to and obey the instructions. I did not listen, and I did not read everything first before beginning. The final line at the bottom of the page said this, “Now that you have read this entire page please write your name at top right corner of the page and wait for further instructions.” In life directions are important, but it also important to have reliable instructions from a reliable source. In Acts 2:41-42 the early church had a devotion and dedication to the Word of God. The apostles taught the Word of God and the new converts were faithful in listening and acting on what it said. Psalm 119:105 teaches us that the Bible contains the words of God that provide clarity in the present and direction for the future. Like a lamp the Bible allows us to see what is at our feet and guides us as we take another step of faith. The problem is that we as people do not listen carefully to instructions. We will often search everywhere else for answers without examining the truth in the Bible and God’s words recorded for us. Like the early church in Acts 2, we need to love the Lord, love His Word, and live His Word. That only happens by listening to His directions.

For More See PSALMS

Participate in Worship

7/14/2024

Psalm 95
Last night I walked outside before heading off to bed. The evening was quiet except for the singing of crickets, the occasional faint rumble of distant thunder, and the systematic staccato flash of lightning. The pitch black night sky was illuminated by the continued and consistent bursts of lightning that almost hurt the eyes to look at. Without a doubt, I knew there was a storm brewing because of what I saw. The pulsating flashes in the night sky announced that God was doing something. Just as the night sky as not silent about God’s work neither should the believer in Jesus be silent about His work in their life and world. In Acts 2:46-47 we see that the believers in the early church were beacons that displayed God’s greatness through their committed worship and devotion to God. What is our worship like? Do we have the same enthusiasm for God like the early church? Did you realize that believers in Jesus Christ are designed by God to be worshipers? Just as lightning lights up the night sky, we are to declare the praises of God who has saved us (1 Peter 2:9). So how do we worship? Psalm 95 provides a good starting point in directing our worship. The author begins with an invitation, and challenges his audience to participate in worship of the LORD (1-2). We are to worship God who is great (3-5) and proclaim His greatness (7). However, like the Psalmist, we must come to worship in humility (6). Worship is more than the songs we sing. Worship is a personal and corporate lifestyle honoring God. We are to sing and declare His praises, but we are also to daily live the reality of His power displayed through us. Like lightning, we as believers we are to be beacons that display God’s greatness through our committed worship of Him.

For More See PSALMS

Why Evangelize?

3/12/2023

2 Corinthians 5:14-21
One day a man who had not been feeling well went to see the doctor. After an examination and tests the doctor sent the man home, promising to call him with the results. The next day the doctor called and said, “Well I have good news and bad news. Which do you want first?” The man thought for a moment and asked for the good news. The doctor replied, “Good news is that you have 24 hours to live.” Confused, the patient asked, “If that was the good news what is the bad news?” “Well,” the doctor said, “the bad news is that I should have called you yesterday.” In a similar manner we, as believers in Jesus, often have a problem when it comes to telling others about Him. Often we turn the truth of scripture into a hammer and try to beat people into belief in Jesus. Then, on the other extreme, we take grace too far and it turns into friendship with no message proclaiming Christ. John 1:14 & 17 record that Jesus was full of grace and truth. He did not back away from the truth and He did not neglect to use grace. Jesus came full of grace and truth, and we should be the same. We need to speak the truth with words of grace so others will see Jesus in our message of evangelism. We need to live the truth with actions of grace so others will see Jesus in our method of evangelism. In Acts 4:12, Peter is speaks of Jesus saying, “Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved.” Christ’s love for us on the cross compels us to act on our belief of Him as savior, and serve as His messenger of good news (2 Corinthians 5:14-21) to those living with the bad news of sin.

For more see 2 CORINTHIANS or DISCIPLESHIP

The Disciple's Characteristic: Persuasion

2/5/2023

Acts 17:1-15
Physical therapy is not something that is pleasant, but often it is necessary. Physical therapy is the process of getting your body to move the way it is was designed. The problem is that, because of injury or illness, our body has stopped moving in certain ways. In order to overcome this, we must stretch and restrengthen certain muscles to regain motion, mobility, and balance. However, physical therapy can be painful and tiring. It is much like someone twisting your arm behind your back to get you to change your mind or action. Physical therapy has a way of convincing your mind and your body that you can do this. When we think of persuasion, it is not just on a physical level. There is also a mental persuasion that takes place on a spiritual level. All of us become persuaded by certain beliefs and we live our lives convinced of these truths. In Acts 17 Paul presents new information that confronts the beliefs of the people in Thessalonica. Some were persuaded (4) to believe and follow Jesus, while others were not. So, what did Paul do? He simply reasoned with them from the scriptures (2-3). How did God use Paul to convince this audience of the truth of Jesus and to place their faith in Jesus? He dealt with their questions by explaining who Jesus was. He dealt with their doubts by giving evidence of the resurrection. All of his teaching dealt with the Savior. To be a committed disciple of Jesus, we must be persuaded of who He is, so we can present Him to others. A disciple believes Jesus, follows His leading like Paul (Acts 16:6-10), and tells others that He is the Savior. Knowing about Jesus is one thing. Being persuaded to live out our faith is something completely different. Are we disciples who live like we are persuaded?

For more see ACTS or DISCIPLESHIP

Empowered

8/21/2022

Acts 1:1-8
The courtroom is packed. Witnesses are called to tell the truth of what is known; while everyone else is there to hear the outcome of the trial. Most of the time when we think of a witness we think in terms of a courtroom setting. However, in the book of Acts, there is a description of witnesses that are to go anywhere and everywhere. Luke, the author of Acts, provides a record of the early church and its growth. Luke simply records how the gospel is communicated in the present culture and cross-culturally in such a way that the message of Jesus Christ is spread around the world. In the first chapter of Acts, Jesus gathers His followers and gives them a promise. He tells them that they will be empowered to be His witnesses (8). The source of power is the Holy Spirit and the purpose of the power is to be witnesses of Jesus. The future task of His disciples is to tell others what they know about Him. The disciples of Jesus are to start witnessing where they are and go to the ends of the earth proclaiming the good news that Jesus is the Savior. From the beginning of this book, Luke reports that God’s Spirit works through God’s people to spread God’s message. The same is true for us today. The spreading of the gospel message begins where you are. Some will be called to take the message of Jesus to other cultures in the remotest parts of the earth while others will be witnesses to friends, neighbors, and coworkers at home. The point is that all who claim Jesus as their Savior are to be witnesses of who He is. In a court of law, if witnesses were called, would there be enough evidence to convict you of being a committed witnessing follower of Jesus?

For more see ACTS

Why Are You Persecuting Me?

5/8/2022

Acts 9:1-9
Years ago one of my elderly uncles caught a raccoon. I do not recall all of the details, but as you know raccoons can be a bit of a bit of a nuisance getting into garbage cans and even into your house. Knowing my uncle, this was probably the case with this troublesome critter. Rather than moving the animal from his farm he decided to make the animal his pet. To make a long story short he succeeded. The raccoon would eat from my uncle’s hand. However, if anyone else walked up the raccoon would snarl and hiss aggressively. My uncle had taught the raccoon to submit and to trust him alone and not fight him. In the same way, Acts chapter 9 records Saul submitting to Jesus Christ. Saul was a bitter enemy of the church (1) who sought the imprisonment of as many as possible (2). However, human power is no match for God’s power and God caused Saul to lose his eyesight (8). Immediately Saul realized that persecution of the church is actually persecution of Christ. Jesus asked him the question in verse 4, “Why are you persecuting me?” That question is important because it points to the reasons and beliefs behind the actions. Saul became a changed man after Jesus confronted him with the truth of his actions. He no longer sought to save himself and what he thought to be religiously correct. Instead he began preaching that Jesus is the Son of God (20). Saul’s spiritual transformation began with the submission of his will and his way to God’s will and God’s way. His action, vision, perspective, and speech all changed. Like Saul, God may use any number of things in any number of ways to get our attention and submission. God may need to break us before He can use us. Today God still asks, "Why are you doing this which is against me?"

For more see QUESTIONS FROM GOD

Who is God? Creator, Redeemer, Restorer

6/13/2021

Genesis 1, Genesis 3, Acts 2, Revelation 7
This past week I was saddened when I was made aware of the passing of two people. One was an elderly man and the other was a young woman. Both were described as adventurous and joyful, both had contracted cancer, but both had trusted Jesus as their savior. They lived life differently because of Christ and they lived to bring honor to God their savior as His image bearer. We are created by God and bear His image (Genesis 1:26-27). We resemble our creator in the aspect of being relational people in need of relationship with God and others (Genesis 1:28-29). The results of Adam and Eve’s sin (Genesis 3) have led to broken relationships with God and others, distorted worship of our self and others instead of God, and the destruction of murder by taking the life of others created in God’s image. Peter proclaims that Jesus came and was crucified thus becoming the source of salvation for all people (Acts 2:36). This message rang true and 3000 people respond (Acts 2:37-41). The church was started and redeemed people were now restored to worship their creator and redeemer. All those who are redeemed from sin by faith in Jesus Christ will one day be united together in their praise of their savior (Revelation 7:9-10). In Christ the divisions of geography, race and language are removed as people from every tribe, and nation worship their creator and redeemer as part of the family of God. We start our journey of faith here on earth but it continues forever in heaven through the worship of our creator, redeemer and restorer. The two that I mentioned earlier are doing just that.

For more see QUESTIONS & ANSWERS