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30/10/2024

Understand

Acts 11:1-2 The apostles and the brothers throughout Judea heard that the Gentiles also had received the word of God. 2 So when Peter went up to Jerusalem, the circumcised believers criticized him 3 and said, “You went into the house of uncircumcised men and ate with them.”

WHY did the church ruling body in Jerusalem criticize, even judge Peter for his ministry to Gentiles? Tthese men confessed faith in Jesus, who had ministered to many Gentiles: Mark 3:8 When they heard all he was doing, many people came to him from Judea, Jerusalem, Idumea, and the regions across the Jordan and around Tyre and Sidon. Did they not understand the Scriptures such as Isaiah 42:1 42 “Here is my servant, whom I uphold, my chosen one in whom I delight; I will put my Spirit on him and he will bring justice to the nations.”

There is a fundamental truth in our relationship with Jesus: We must continue to learn. Peter’s new ministry was the Spirit’s method to help them Jesus’ disciples understand. The Spirit made good use of Peter’s gift to speak and confirm the gospel is for the Gentiles:

Acts 11:4 Peter began and explained everything to them precisely as it had happened: 5 “I was in the city of Joppa praying, and in a trance I saw a vision. I saw something like a large sheet being let down from heaven by its four corners, and it came down to where I was. 6 I looked into it and saw four-footed animals of the earth, wild beasts, reptiles, and birds of the air. 7 The I heard a voice telling me, ‘Get up, Peter. Kill and eat.’ 8 I replied, ‘Surely not, Lord! Nothing impure or unclean has ever entered my mouth.’ 9 The voice spoke from heaven a second time, ‘Do not call anything impure that God has made clean.’ 10 This happened three times, and then it was all pulled up to heaven again. 11 Right then three men who had been sent to me from Caesarea stopped at the house where I was staying. 12 The Spirit told me to have no hesitation about going with them. These six brothers also went with me, and we entered the man’s house. 13 He told us how he had seen an angel appear in his house and say, ‘Send to Joppa for Simon who is called Peter. 14 He will bring you a message through which you and all your household will be saved.’ 15 As I began to speak, the Holy Spirit came on them as he had come on us at the beginning. 16 Then I remembered what the Lord had said: ‘John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.’ 17 So if God gave them the same gift as he gave us, who believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I to think that I could oppose God?” 18 When they heard this, they had no further objections and praised God, saying, “So then, God has granted even the Gentiles repentance unto life.”

The Spirit has granted clarity to the speaker and to the listeners. When the church does not understand, it is good and right the listen to what God is teaching and commanding. It is good to watch what he is doing. This is the only way we can more fully live into his will.

29/10/2024

A Third Pentecost

Acts 10:44-48 While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit came on all who heard the message. 45 The circumcised believers who had come with Peter were astonished that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out even on the Gentiles. 46 For they heard them speaking in tongues and praising God. Then Peter said, 47 “Can anyone keep these people from being baptized with water? They have received the Holy Spirit just as we have.” 48 So he ordered that they be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they asked Peter to stay with them for a few days.

LET’S begin with Jesus’ final words to his apostles as recorded in Acts 1:8 “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” Writing the early church’s history in Acts, Luke used Peter’s ministry to illustrate God’s plan to fulfill Jesus’ command.

The Spirit first revealed the gospel in Jerusalem on the Day of Pentecost. Acts 2:4 All of the apostles were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them. The apostles spoke in other tongues as God’s sign of his supernatural power. Peter preached the gospel, so all could understand. And those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day. (Acts 2:41) The gospel is in Jerusalem.

Then Acts 8 reports the Spirit advancing the gospel to Samaria. Peter and John investigate. Acts 8:17 Then Peter and John placed their hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit. Repeating his work at Pentecost, the Holy Spirit gave an outward sign to the people of Samaria he was transforming lives. The gospel is in Samaria.

Then God used Peter to advance the gospel to the ends of the earth – to the Gentiles. The Spirit instructed Peter to go to Cornelius’ home. On his arrival, Peter began to speak. And just as had happened in Jerusalem and in Samaria, the Holy Spirit unveiled God’s salvation. Once again as an outward sign, the people who had traveled with Peter heard the Gentiles speaking in tongues and praising God. Peter’s and the other Christians’ response was the same as in Jerusalem and Samaria. Acts 10:48 So he ordered that they be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. For the third time, the Spirit had come to empower Peter’s preaching. People confessed Jesus is Lord. People were baptized. The gospel is now in Jerusalem, Samaria and going to the nations.

Because the speaking of tongues is the Spirit’s gift on both the apostles and some believers, some believe one is not saved until he receives the gift of tongues. But the Bible is clear first of all that our salvation is not by a gift but only by faith (Romans 10:9-19). And second the Spirit gifts new believers with different gifts (See Romans 12:6-8 and other scriptures).

The gift of speaking in tongues was the Spirit’s particular tool to help both the apostles and the witnesses know God was directing these events to advance his kingdom. We must remember all of this is God’s new revelation of Jesus’ atoning death to redeem the sins of the world. Everyone had much to learn. God was using all his tools to reveal his truth.

How is he using you? Your church?

22/10/2024

Expect Life

Acts 9:36-43 In Joppa there was a disciple named Tabitha (which, when translated, is Dorcas), who was always doing good and helping the poor. 37 About that time she became sick and died, and her body was washed and placed in an upstairs room. 38 Lydda was near Joppa; so when the disciples heard that Peter was in Lydda, they sent two men to him and urged him, “Please come at once!” 39 Peter went with them, and when he arrived he was taken upstairs to the room. All the widows stood around him, crying and showing him the robes and other clothing that Dorcas had made while she was still with them. 40 Peter sent them all out of the room; then he got down on his knees and prayed. Turning toward the dead woman, he said, “Tabitha, get up.” She opened her eyes, and seeing Peter she sat up. 41 He took her by the hand and helped her to her feet. Then he called the believers and the widows and presented her to them alive. 42 This became known all over Joppa, and many people believed in the Lord. 43 Peter stayed in Joppa for some time with a tanner.

ACTS 9 begins with Jesus’ power coming to the violent Saul. Through Jesus’ power, Saul is born again into a new life to be the apostle Paul. We thank God he has determined to tell many, “Get up!” from sin’s death into an eternal living relationship with him.

“Born again” is physical. As Acts 9 concludes, Jesus’ power works through Peter to resurrect Tabitha, a disciple. The Lord really does choose to resurrect some from physical death.

Note Peter’s faith. He didn’t say a long prayer to exhort God to bring life into Tabitha’s dead body. He merely said, “Tabitha, get up.” This is a powerful faith command from heaven’s throne. Peter had listened to Jesus when Jesus said, “Lazarus come out.” (John 11:43) “Little girl, I say to you, get up!” (Mark 5:41) “Young man, I say to you, get up!” (Luke 7:14) God is life. With direct commands he has spoken, “Let there be…” into a void to create a glorious universe. Dying on the cross, Jesus spoke. “It is finished.” (John 19:30) to announce his mission on earth is done. God’s plan to raise the dead sinner into new life is now bearing fruit.

We note the power of faith and hope in the church. This resurrection would not have happened if Tabitha’s friends had no hope of resurrection. They were Jesus’ disciples, and they believed in the power of the risen Christ. These believers had heard testimonies of Jesus’ life-giving, healing work and of Jesus’ resurrection. They believed his resurrection power would raise their friend. The people were faithful to seek Peter’s prayers. They were faithful to obey his instructions. Peter was faithful to seek God.

He prayed. He spoke. The Lord replied. Tabitha opened her eyes as if from a night’s sleep. Peter took her hand and helped her return to life.

By faith, Peter stayed in Joppa to minister the gospel, prepared for the next new work God had planned for him. A living faith is expecting life from God.

MR. HARE MARRIES THE KING’S DAUGHTER1. Once upon a time, there lived a king who had a lovely daughter. He loved her so m...
18/10/2024

MR. HARE MARRIES THE KING’S DAUGHTER

1. Once upon a time, there lived a king who had a lovely daughter. He loved her so much that he did not let any man marry her. He said to every man who came to ask to marry her, 'if you can drink a pot of boiling water, I’ll let you marry my lovely daughter.'

2. It was a hard thing for anybody to drink hot water, he would die. But because the King's daughter was very beautiful, many men came to ask the king to let them marry her. Every man would have liked to marry the daughter, but no one was able to drink the hot water.

3. One day, Mr. Hare came to the king. He was told that if he wanted to marry the lovely daughter, he had to drink a pot of boiling water. Hare asked, "is that all I have to do to marry the lovely daughter ? It's very easy! His friends asked, "Can you drink hot water, Hare? Can you do it ? Won't you die ? If you drink boiling water, you will die." The Hare said to them, "Wait and you'll see.”

4. The next day, Mr. Hare went to the King's house again. He said he wanted to speak to the King. When the king came, Mr. Hare said, "I want to marry your daughter. I'm ready to do anything you tell me to. I can drink the boiling water."

5. The King answered, "I’ll make a bargain with you. If you can drink a pot of boiling water, then I shall let you marry my daughter." Mr. Hare asked the King to let his parents, brothers and sisters, nephews and nieces, and all his cousins and neighbours be present as he drank the hot water. The King agreed.

6. The following morning all Mr. Hare's relatives and friends came to the king's house. The drums were beaten und the king appeared. He told his servants to bring hot water. Mr. Hare bowed in front of the king He held the pot of hot water and went round. He said, "My friends, it is good for you to come here to see me drink this. Here is the hot water. Look at it. I'm going to drink it so that I may marry the lovely daughter.

7. Everybody who looked at the hot water thought Mr. Hare would die Mr. Hare's mother and his sisters cried. For twenty-five minutes he went round showing everybody the hot water. Finally, he stood in the middle of the people He drank the water without taking the pot from his lips. When it was empty. he held it up, and bowed to the king

8. "My lord," Mr. Hare said, "I've done what you asked me to do. Now, may I ask you to let me marry your lovely daughter?" The king was not happy, but he had to keep his side of the bargain. The daughter was brought. The King joined her hand with Mr. Hare's. The drums were sounded again. A lot of food was prepared for the big day.

Adapted from 'The Nile English Course'

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