The

Jesus At Work

A Devotional for Acts 1 – 10

Bible Quiz 2015 – 2016

by Rev. Jonathan Srock

The

Table of Contents

1. While We Wait – Acts 1:1 – 11

2. And Then There Were Twelve – Acts 1:13 – 26

3. Pentecost – Acts 2:1 – 13

4. What Just Happened? – Acts 2:14 – 41

5. True Fellowship – Acts 2:42 – 47

6. Happy Dance – Acts 3:1 – 10

7. Give God the Glory – Acts 3:11 – 26

8. No Other Name – Acts 4:1 – 22

9. Game On – Acts 4:23 – 31

10. Trust and Care – Acts 4:32 – 37

11. Don’t Hold Back – Acts 5:1 – 11

12. Unstoppable – Acts 5:12 – 42

13. The Threat of Disunity – Acts 6:1 – 7

14. The Best Weapon – Acts 6:8 – 15

15. You Can’t Handle the Truth – Acts 7:1 – 60

16. Power under Persecution – Acts 8:1 – 8

17. Not for Sale – Acts 8:9 – 25

18. Spirit-Led Abandon – Acts 826 – 40

19. Starting Over – Acts 9:1 – 9

20. Rock Hard Obedience – Acts 9:10 – 19

21. Brazen Boldness – Acts 9:20 – 31

22. Healing Tidal Wave – Acts 9:32 – 42

23. Divine Appointments – Acts 10:1 – 8

24. Breaking the Barrier – Acts 10:9 – 33

25. Holy Spirit Breakout – Acts 10:34 – 48

The

While We Wait

Acts 1:1 – 11

Head

Luke opens his second volume after describing what Jesus did while in the physical body to describe what the

church will do as His body on earth after His ascension. Jesus spent an extra 40 days teaching them about the

Kingdom of God and what will happen. Yet they still ask Him about when these things will happen on earth. If

we have learned anything from Jesus about His Kingdom we know that it is not like these kingdoms on earth.

We get lost in the physical but Jesus is teaching them what will happen in the spiritual realm first and then in

the physical. He teaches us to watch the seasons but not to think we understand the Father’s plans. Only the

Father has authority to know these things and ordain them. But He does give us power in the midst of this in

between time. He promised us the Holy Spirit’s power -this power will be used to fill the expanding of His

Kingdom in the hearts of people. He promised this at the very beginning of His ministry during His baptism.

Before He ascended, He left us the promise of this power to be used for His glory until He returns.

Heart

In John 14, we learn that Jesus is not like others we might know. He does not leave us alone. He is always with

us and one of the ways He is with us is through the power of his Holy Spirit. He did not leave us to finish the

great commission without His help. He gave us the right tools to do what He wants done. This baptism in the

Holy Spirit will give us the power to do what Jesus asked. Not only has he not abandoned us, but He has given

us the most effective tool to win the war against the devil. He is a good Lord and He guides us into victory.

Never doubt the power of God that Jesus has placed within you.

Hands

The word “baptize” is not an English word, it has been carried over from the original language. Instead of using

“baptism” we should use the words “immerse” or “dunk.” These words help us to understand what Jesus was

saying. When He immerses us in his Holy Spirit, it is like when we are immersed in water. The first step after

salvation is to be water baptized. Just like when we come up out of the water it is a sign that we have been water

baptized. When Jesus baptizes us into his Holy Spirit, the physical sign is “speaking in other tongues” showing

that we have been immersed in His power. That power will help us to fulfill the Great Commission and expand

His kingdom until the day that He returns. We need this power if we are to be effective witnesses for Him in

these last days. But we must wait on Him to give that power and immerse us in His Holy Spirit. Only then can

we have the maximum impact on our world.

The

Acts Facts

How to Wait on the Lord

1. Seek the Lord. Continue to seek God for the promise He has given you. Press in to His presence. Be

persistent about what He has promised. Never give up.

2. God grants His promises. God has never failed to do what He said He will do. If it doesn’t happen as

quickly as you think it should, remember that He will do it in His time. Abraham waited 10 years for God to

give him Isaac.

3. Work while waiting. God has given us things to do as we wait for Him. He is growing our faith, character

and patience through trials. He wants us to win the lost for him. And there are other things that we can do

for God. Find out what pleases Him and do it as you continue to seek Him.

4. Don’t try to make it happen yourself. When we try to do God’s job, we complicate what He has made

simple. Abraham allowed himself to have a child with Hagar and Ishmael’s and Isaac’s descendents are still

fighting to this day. Waiting is hard because we grow impatient.

The

And Then There Were Twelve

Acts 1:12 – 26

Head

Several key aspects of the apostles’ meeting can help us today. The apostles were careful to obey Jesus and

returned to Jerusalem. They went to the Upper Room where Jesus began the practice of communion. We find

them in the middle of a prayer meeting as they wait for the Promise. While waiting, they take care of some

church business. Because Judas committed suicide, they felt the need to choose another apostle to make twelve.

The number 12 is used throughout Scripture for leadership and completeness. They had two men, both equally

qualified, that they could choose from. First they prayed, then they referred to Scripture for guidance. Finally,

they cast lots between the two men. But this will be the last time they ever cast lots. The Holy Spirit is about to

change the way they make decisions. Instead of counting on the decision made by dice, they will be able to ask

the Holy Spirit Himself. Peter “strings passages together” from the Psalms like a Rabbi would. The word

“camp” is in both Psalms so he references each one in his quote. It is always a good practice to pray and refer

to Scripture when you make big decisions.

Heart

Life is full of decisions, some very important, others unimportant. The apostles taught us how to make good

decisions. The first step is asking God through prayer to reveal His plan. Keep in mind that God provided tools

to direct us. Prayer is talking to God about what he wants us to do. Next, we look into God’s Word, the Bible,

for direction from the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit can confirm what he God is speaking to us. The Holy Spirit

was not yet dwelling inside the apostles when they were casting lots. When we use these God-given tools we

don’t have to mistrust ourselves or fear decisions.

Hands

Daily decisions like food and clothing, are not so important that they require prayer like those that pertain to our

spiritual or physical life. When we are faced with these big decisions, praying allows us to understand what

God’s will might be. Prayer is about seeking God more than it is about telling God what we want to happen.

When we seek God’s will from the Bible, we must know where to find the wisdom for a situation that is similar

to ours. It’s dangerous to read a couple of lines and take them as God’s wisdom. Today, we have a great cloud

of witnesses, mature Christians who can help us along with these other great tools. These tools will lead to a

Godly life.

The

Acts Facts

Casting Lots in the Bible

Regularly practiced among Gentiles. The Gentiles are credited with using lots as a source of

divination to figure out the will of the gods. The Gentiles are often credited with using lots in the Bible.

The Gentiles were not concerned with morality but gaining the favor of the gods. Examples: The

Gentiles who throw Jonah over the boat and the Roman soldiers who gamble for Jesus’ clothing (Jonah

1:?; Matthew ?:?).

Used by Israelites sparingly. There is very little evidence to suggest the Israelites used lots. Lots were

considered gambling and usually called on the gods of chance instead of the God of Israel. They went to

the priests or to a prophet to get wisdom. If they would have used lots, they would pray to the God of

Israel and ask him to give his judgment before casting them.

Urim and Thummim. Some scholars suggest that these elements of the priestly garments may have

been dice. They are used to discern God’s judgment in national matters like going to war or making a

treaty with a certain nation. Other scholars think based on certain evidence that these were used to

confirm a prophetic oracle through some miraculous sign after using the Urim and Thummim (see

Exodus 28:30; Leviticus 8:8; Numbers 27:21; Deuteronomy 33:8).

Never used again in the Bible. Although the apostles cast lots between two men to decide the 12th

apostle, they prayed to God first to make the decision. The two men are both well qualified to replace

Judas. Either man would have sufficed. After Acts 2, lots are never recorded for use again. When the

Holy Spirit comes and indwells believers they can ask God directly what his will is and there is no need

for lots.

The

Pentecost

Acts 2:1 – 13

Head

Just as Jesus had promised in chapter 1 the Holy Spirit came upon the apostles in chapter 2. God always comes

through on his promises! But this was a strange sign that had never happened before. There are several signs

that the people were filled with the Holy Spirit. The first is the mighty rushing wind, divided tongues of fire and

speaking in other languages. Wind, fire, and other languages are all symbols of the Holy Spirit in the Old

Testament. Of these many signs only speaking in tongues is repeated elsewhere when tied to being filled or

baptized with the Holy Spirit. The words “filled” and “baptized” are used as synonyms by Luke when he

describes this first-time event. You’ll see either “filled” or “baptized” used later in the book. In the Old

Testament the Holy Spirit rested on people for a limited time or special circumstance. The Baptism of the Holy

Spirit is a new relationship in which He dwells inside believers for a lifetime.

Heart

The Promise of the Holy Spirit accomplishes two of Jesus promises. He promises that He will never leave us

and that He will give us power to serve Him on earth until He returns. First, his Holy Spirit dwells within our

hearts. The Holy Spirit leads us, and encourages us, gives us gifts to use for his glory and keeps us holy before

the Lord through conviction. Jesus is still with us by the power of His Holy Spirit in our hearts. He gives us

power to accomplish His mission. He gives us the ability to witness to others with boldness. Jesus has our back.

He is with us empowering us. We are ready to walk through trials and share the Gospel with others.

Hands

The baptism of the Holy Spirit demonstrated here in Acts 2 can be yours today. Because He dwells in us now

we are not alone as we accomplish His mission. The Holy Spirit’s power helps us accomplish His Great

Commission. The baptism of the Holy Spirit happens when we are filled with the Spirit’s power for the first

time, resulting in speaking a language we do not know already. Jesus gave this power so that we could witness

to the whole world, to every nation under the sun. There is no one within earshot who cannot hear about Jesus’

good news! When we are immersed in the Holy Spirit He gives us power to witness verbally and by our

lifestyle. Any believer in Jesus can receive the baptism in the Holy Spirit. All you have to do is ask Jesus for it

and wait on him to receive it. You’ll know when you are filled because you will speak in a language you’ve

never learned. God always does what He has promised.

The

Acts Facts

Baptism in the Holy Spirit

Speaking in Tongues Is…

The First Physical Sign of Spirit Baptism. Just as we become wet when we come out of the water in

water baptism, we know we are immersed in the Spirit when we speak in tongues. Speaking in tongues

is the second work of the Holy Spirit after salvation.

An Unlearned Language. When the Holy Spirit uses you in this way, he is teaching you how to speak

in this language. Because the Holy Spirit is in control, language comes from Him through you. He is

taking your tongue using it for his glory (James 3:1-12).

Used for Bold Witnessing and Prophecy. God uses speaking in tongues to glorify himself through

you. In Acts 2, tongues were used to glorify God in the original languages of the foreigners around the

apostles. When God controls our tongue, He speaks about Himself through us. Our speech is not our

own but is controlled by Him. Speaking in tongues can also be used as a gift in the church, but it must

be interpreted for everyone to understand (1 Corinthians 14:26-32a).

A Barrier Breaker. Just as God confused languages of humans united for an ungodly purpose at the

Tower of Babel (Gen 11:1-9), with spirit baptism, God is uniting humans under his Godly banner of

witnessing for him. Throughout the Book of Acts, God uses spirit baptism as a way to break through

language, geographical, spiritual and cultural barriers (Acts 2:4; 4:29-31; 8:5-8; 10:45-46; 19:6).

Speaking in Tongues Is Not…

A Cool New Toy. It is not used for your pleasure or to show off. It is not the end but the means to an

end. It is a tool for you to glorify God in witnessing and in prayer.

A Way to Be Greater Than Others. Just because one Christian can speak in tongues and another

Christian cannot, does not mean one is better than the other. Speaking in tongues is about having more

power than you would without it. It is not meant to glorify you, but to glorify God.

More Important Than Other Works of the Spirit. Speaking in tongues is not greater than the other

gifts of the Holy Spirit nor the fruit of the Holy Spirit. We must demonstrate both the gifts and the fruit

of the Spirit with excellence. It is a bad witness to be great at speaking in tongues but horrible in

showing love.

The

What Just Happened?

Acts 2:14 – 41

Head

When God does extraordinary signs people tend to misinterpret them. The sign was new and different when

people were not used to seeing signs done before their eyes. Peter stood up with the church leadership in an

attempt to explain that though this looked like a new sign it was fulfilling an old promise. Peter showed that the

baptism in the Holy Spirit fulfilled prophecy about what God wanted to do in the last days. He recounted the

history of events that were unfolding to help them understand what they were seeing. He connected the dots of

how Jesus’ death and resurrection fulfilled the Scriptures and that He is the Messiah or Christ. This helped the

people to see the sign in its context.

Heart

As Peter explained, Jesus had a plan when he left this earth. He went to the right hand of the Father to intercede

for us so we have power to do His will. Every part of Jesus’ life, death and resurrection had a purpose for us.

Throughout his life, Jesus taught us what God is really like and His plans. He died to give us eternal life. He

was raised so that we might have that same power in this world. When he went to heaven, He sent this power of

the Holy Spirit to those of us who believe. Each part of Jesus’ plan provides us with the necessary tools to

powerfully represent Him. You were at the heart of every part of His plan. He cares so much about you that

He perfectly provided to fulfill God’s will in your life.

Hands

Throughout his sermon Peter holds no punches. Several times he reminds the crowd and us that we contributed

to Jesus’ death. Before we met Jesus and His sacrifice for us, we were hostile toward him. It is our sin that

forced Jesus to the cross. So we did not hammer the nails in His hands or scoff at him from the foot of the cross,

he went there because of us. The proper reaction to Jesus’ sacrifice is what Peter told us to do. First, we must

feel the Godly grief that brings us to a place of repentance. Then we must turn away from the sins we did that

put him on the cross. Next, we must make a commitment to serve Jesus instead of being hostile toward him.

Most of all, we have been promised the gift of the Holy Spirit’s power. God will give this to us as we seek him

for it and we will be baptized in the Holy Spirit. This process will lead us into God’s best which he planned for

each of us.

The

True Fellowship

Acts 2:42 – 47

Head

Each church and its ministries will look different according to the needs of the people who make up the church.

The church in Jerusalem was very relevant to its area and time in history. Its priorities focused on teaching,

prayer, fellowship, meeting needs and seeing signs and wonders. Church was fun and very helpful to every

individual. God was using the church in place of Jesus’ physical ministry. That is why the church is called the

body of Christ. We continue Jesus’ ministry physically as he guides us by his Holy Spirit.

Heart

Every person has physical, emotional, relational, and spiritual needs. Jesus wants to minister to the whole

person. When the church began, believers concentrated on this holistic ministry to every person and need.

When people needed something, the church automatically responded with kindness. They spent their time

together ministering to one another. They prayed together, ate together, and shared everything they owned. It

was a community that looked out for each other. Every need was met and God’s power was evident. This is how

the church should be today. Every Pentecostal, Holy-Spirit filled, Bible-believing church should demonstrate

these qualities in their communities as well.

Hands

If you want church to be relevant today, it is up to you. The ministry of meeting people’s needs starts with your

heart and desire to care for others right now. Is there someone in need? Can you help with that need? Do you

know someone else who can help with that need? When we all take responsibility for one another and share

that need together, we can change the church and the world. No one doubts that the church has lost some of its

fervor, or its ability to be helpful. But God wants to use you to change all of that. God wants to use you to

minister to others around you and see Jesus’ body ministering like it did when it first began. You are the

solution to the problems you see around you. Step out in faith, ask God what you can do to help minister to

needs around you.

The

Happy Dance

Acts 3:1 – 10

Head

We see an active devotion to God from the apostles and Christians. They attend prayer meetings at the Temple

in Jerusalem and meet together on a regular basis. This obedience and commitment to Jesus opens up doors for

ministry. In this instance, Peter and John are doing what they typically do and find room for Jesus to use them.

This paralytic is under the world system of welfare. They walked through that gate on a daily basis for many

years. This person is not thinking about being healed. He has learned how to work the system. It’s possible that

he could get comfortable with the way things work. Luke even tells us that the man only paid attention to these

apostles because he thought he would get money out of it. But Jesus takes us beyond the world’s systems to the

kingdom system. God is not interested in keeping is paralyzed or letting us survive on people’s kindness. God is

interested in restoring wholeness to our lives and bodies.

Heart

it gets really easy living by the ways the world expects. Instead of seeking God’s very best we settle for what

works. We get used to way things are. We might even stop asking God for the things that he has promised such

as healing. Peter and John were used by God that day to change this man forever. God did the work through

them, but they were open to hearing from the Holy Spirit as they went throughout the day. We need to be open

to God’s voice so that we don’t miss divine opportunities. God wants to use us to help others. There is nothing

wrong with charity when that’s what God tells us to do, but don’t settle for anything less than the greatness God

has for you. Whether he wants to minister through you or change your life for someone else’s ministry, we must

expect God has better plans and the world.

Hands

long ago, a Roman Catholic scholar named Thomas Aquinas was hanging out with pope innocent II while

people were counting a large sum of money in front of him. The Pope turned to Thomas and said, “you see, the

church no longer has to say, ‘silver and gold have I none.’” Thomas replied, “neither can the church say, ‘get up

and walk.’” We must not sacrifice the power of God for the world’s standards. If we want to see God use us and

see his miracles, we must seek him, listen to him and not to the world. This man was healed because Peter and

John listen to the Holy Spirit, obeyed the Holy Spirit to speak to this man, and allowed God to do what he

wanted to do. We must be open to the Holy Spirit’s voice if we wish to be used by God today. If we wish to see

miracles then we must be available to God. Plan your day was time for God to use you in divine appointments.

Never say no when the Holy Spirit says yes

.

· Give God the Glory

Acts 3:11 – 26

Head

One of the most important things that you can do when God uses you to do a miracle or something amazing

than someone’s life is to give God the glory and credit for what he does. If we take credit for what God has

done, at the very least he may take the Holy Spirit from us. It is a grave danger to take credit for God’s works.

The

In the Bible, this is called blasphemy. Peter is straight up about God’s work. Not only that, but he is more than

willing to address the people directly about what they did to Jesus. We must be straightforward and honest

when people ask us about the incredible things God is doing through us.

Heart

When Peter addresses the crowd, for the second time he immediately places before them their sin of rejecting

Jesus and sending him to the cross. It is most likely that some of the people listening may have been in the

crowd that yelled, “Crucify him!” Peter is unafraid and unashamed to be direct about their sin. He does not

beat around the bush. He speaks to them about what they have done. We must realize that our sin put Jesus on

that cross. Even if we were not part of the crowd yelling those words of hate about Jesus, we did lead a life of

sin until Jesus saved us from ourselves and our sin. We must realize our sin is the reason He had to come and

die. He did that for us because we needed a Savior. We must always keep our hearts humble and open before

him.

Hands

We must always give God the glory for what He does. Of course, He uses us as His instruments. He gives us

gifts so that we can serve him. Even when we are obedient to the Lord, we still cannot take credit because

obedience is always expected of us. Anything good that you do is because of God’s influence and grace. When

we take this humble approach God can use our willingness to serve him and our humility to give him the glory.

If we remain pure before God in our hearts and open to the moving of his Holy Spirit in us, he can use us in

powerful and amazing ways.

The

No Other Name

Acts 4:1 – 22

Head

Peter becomes the spokesman for the church in the very beginning of Acts. As the Holy Spirit uses his human

speech, he becomes even bolder. Remember that the baptism of the Holy Spirit gives us the boldness to

witness for Jesus. Peter does that here. He uses an idea from one of the prophets in the Old Testament about

Jesus being the cornerstone of our salvation. He challenges the authorities and leaves no question about their

culpability in Jesus’ death. There boldness goes even further when they are challenged to no longer speak of

Jesus. There is a principle about how to live under leadership that does not follow God’s commands. If we are

ever put in a place where we must choose between what our leaders tell us and what Jesus has said we choose

what Jesus has said over our earthly leaders.

Heart

We must never forget that our own sins put Jesus on the cross. Although we want to blame the Romans and the

Jews of Jesus day for doing this, every single one of us were the reason Jesus had to go to the cross. Our sin is

what Jesus had to cure. But Jesus did go to the cross for our sins. We must realize that Jesus died for us as much

as for everyone else. Don’t minimize the fact that Jesus loved you so much that he went to the cross for you.

Take the freedom that Jesus has given you from sin and use the power of the Holy Spirit in your life as part of

your gratitude for what Jesus has done for you.

Hands

Peter tells the leaders that there is no other name given under heaven and earth for people to be saved. We

should go no farther in our reading of Acts without taking this to heart. Jesus died so that you can be united with

God forever. Have you accepted Jesus as your Lord and Savior? There is no other way to have a relationship

with God except through Jesus. When you die God will be unconcerned with how good or bad you were. The

only thing that God wants to know is if you know his son Jesus. If you have not accepted Jesus into your heart

and you are not living in obedience to his commands, take a moment now and ask him to forgive your sins.

Repent of what you have done that does not please God. Thank him for his sacrifice for you and commit to

living for him the rest of your days. If you have accepted Jesus one of your goals as a Christian is to let others

know the standard for getting into heaven. Jesus is counting on you to be bold like Peter and John and tell others

the truth. Find a way to do it in love.

The

Game On

Acts 4:23 – 31

Head

Two themes run through the prayer of the church as Peter and John returned and told them of the events that

occurred. The church in its infancy was constantly referring to the Old Testament Scriptures, which show us

that Scripture is paramount as we make life decisions. The Scripture that they highlight from Psalm 2 concerns

the bullheaded human rebellion against Jesus. There is no way that humans will be the divine son of God, but

they do their very best to destroy his good works, especially the church. The church is Jesus’ body on earth after

his ascension. The second theme, aside from seeing the larger picture of the struggle of leadership to deny Jesus

is going to God in prayer. We are learning a lot from the church as they begin to minister as the body of Christ.

We learn that you go to the word of God and prayer when faced with danger. The church actually asks for

boldness to do more of what got Peter and James in trouble. When the ruling body goes against God’s

standards, we must stand for Christ. The only time, we are allowed as Christians to break the rules is when they

go against the higher rules of God.

Heart

Jesus said it himself that we would have tribulations and troubles as we serve him. But he has given us the

power of the Holy Spirit and boldness to move on past these trials. We must take a stand when we are

challenged by those who are not following God’s laws. Like King David who faced Goliath when he

challenged God, we must have the boldness to stand up for him. The church prays for the right thing here.

They pray for power to witness and watch as God does healing, signs and wonders. Despite the danger set

before them the church learned long ago to pray God’s Word and move ahead in faith. We must do the same.

Hands

Because we will face the great dangers as we proclaim Christ and move in the power of the Holy Spirit, we

must be prepared for the danger that will come. Our best preparation is in knowing the Bible as well as we

possibly can and praying for the issue at hand. Just like the church, we must always be praying for the Holy

Spirit and boldness. We must always know Scripture and how it applies to our situation. This is one of the

reasons we memorize Scripture. It is a weapon of understanding for us and against the enemy. It is never a good

idea to be on the opposite side of God’s servants. As long as we obey God’s laws above the laws of leaders who

don’t follow God, he will continue to answer our prayers and teach us his ways. And we will continue to see

his miracles and power demonstrated through us.

The

Acts Facts

Terms for the Holy Spirit’s Actions in Us

Baptism of the Holy Spirit. The very first time that a person is immersed in the Holy Spirit’s power is

called the baptism of the Holy Spirit. It is only this first time that it is given that term. The Holy Spirit

may use that person many more times, but it is not referred to in the same way again.

Filled with the Holy Spirit. There should be regular fillings of the Holy Spirit in your life as a Spirit-

filled believer. This refers to every time that the Holy Spirit uses us. Throughout the week, because of

the world around us and temptation, we will need times of his filling.

Holy Spirit came upon him/her. This is one of the most general terms for the Holy Spirit’s activity.

Especially in the Old Testament, this meant that it was only for a period of time or to speak through the

person.

The Promise of the Father. This terminology is used especially early on in the book of Acts. It refers

back to ask chapter 1 where Jesus promised that the Holy Spirit would come after the apostles returned

to Jerusalem and waited.

The Holy Spirit Fell on Him/Her. This terminology happens less often the book of acts but still speaks

of the power of the Holy Spirit through speaking in tongues. This particular example can be seen in acts

10.

The

Trust and Care

Acts 4:32 – 37

Head

As we saw earlier in chapter 2, the church that began in Jerusalem built a system of community to serve the

needy. Wealthier Christians had no problems with selling their possessions to take care of their brothers and

sisters in Christ. This model may not be regularly seen in every local church. Charity must be encouraged in

other local churches. In some churches, there may be another way of helping the poor. Certain communities and

their situations require that the church be creative in its approach when caring for the poor. However, in every

church there must be a method to fulfill this need.

Heart

the poor have always been close to God. One of the four groups that God always took care of in his law is the

poor. We also must have a heart for the poor. In the book of Luke in the Beatitudes, Jesus says that the poor are

blessed and will inherit the earth. Their struggles should break our hearts. In our country, there are all types of

attitudes toward the less fortunate. They should find soulless in the community of faith. Look at the trust that

developed in the Jerusalem church where landowners would sell their possessions out of love for their brothers

and sisters in Christ. We should trust one another explicitly because we have in common our Lord Jesus Christ.

How do you feel about the poor in your church and your community? Our actions will start with the attitude of

our hearts.

Hands

Jesus mentioned that we will always have the poor among us. Taking care of the poor tends to become an issue

of resources personally. Sometimes we do not have anything that we can give to the poor. But, the poor do not

only need money. The best thing that we can do is find what is needed and see if we can help supply at least

part of that need. Where there is a will there is a way. Sometimes sacrificial giving may be asked in us by the

Holy Spirit. Usually it is a good principle of stewardship to not give to the point that we become part of the

poor. But when the Lord speaks to us about helping, we must be obedient. What are some ways that your

church is helping the poor, and are you a part of them?

The

Don’t Hold Back

Acts 5:1 – 11

Head

Part of the Fellowship of this new thriving community of Christ was taking care of the needy. Those who were

wealthy began to sell off their properties bringing all of the money to the apostles to take care of their brothers

and sisters in Christ. This new family was willing to do anything to take care of one another. This passage starts

out with the word “but” because Ananias and Sapphira are contrasted with Barnabas. Barnabas wholeheartedly

gave all of the proceeds of his sale, while Ananias and Sapphira held back some of the money but claimed they

gave all of it. They betrayed the Holy Spirit by lying to him, being selfish and creating a backup plan because

they did not trust the body of Christ. Greed is also an issue here. None of these attributes has a place in the

children of God.

Heart

We seem to be born with trust issues these days. From a very young age we learn not to trust other human

beings along with what seems to be the benefits of lying. We feel we are alone in the world and that we must

look out for number one, ME. To accomplish this goal, we learn how to always have a backup plan in case

others fail us, to lie to save our own skin and that greed always provides for us and us alone. We are deceived

into believing this is the best way to not get hurt by others. The pain of being betrayed and deceived can be

avoided by cocooning ourselves from others. But Jesus calls us to trust in Him- without a Plan B. We are called

to help others with little regard for ourselves. This act of caring challenges us to be vulnerable with the

possibility of getting hurt. But the rewards of trusting others who are trustworthy and allowing them to care for

us outweighs the cost. The Kingdom of God requires opposite principles than those of the world. Open your

heart to trust Jesus first, then those who follow Him.

Hands

Through the example of Ananais and Sapphira, we see that the cost of not fully trusting in Jesus and his

kingdom is death, both spiritual and physical. We cannot bet against the Kingdom of God. We should NOT

have a Plan B as it shows that we are not fully submerged in His plan for us. We are holding too closely to our

earthly treasures rather than heavenly treasures. This is the equivalent of treason in the Kingdom of God. We

must devote ourselves to helping others and putting ourselves out there. Sure, some people will abuse our

efforts and sabotage our service, but representing Jesus requires love even for those who misuse us. They just

don’t understand the values of God’s Kingdom. But loving those who mistreat us is also a value of God’s

Kingdom. We are not responsible for others. Our vitality comes from our relationship with Jesus. He is the one

that supplies all we need and serving others is a way to give out. We take in from Christ and we give out to

others. Jesus has been lavish in his blessings and He requires us to do the same to others. You can’t out give

God, but because of our gratitude and love for Christ, we can sure try.

The

Unstoppable

Acts 5: 12 – 42

Head

The church was growing in numbers, power and popularity. God is blessing them for their faith in Jesus while

doing many signs and wonders among them. They were united under the banner of Christ and became a danger

to the establishment. Everyone was recognizing the power of God among them. But that popularity threatens the

religious leaders. The High Priest had the apostles arrested but they escaped by divine intervention. As they

were freed, they went right back into the hot spot and preached in the temple. The Temple guard witnessed a

miracle of finding the prison completely intact except for the missing prisoners. They should’ve believed then.

The High Priest questioned them and they refused to give up. It took the wisdom of Gamaliel to show them that

if this was of God they would never stop it.

Heart

Peer pressure can be a dangerous thing. It can be used positively to help someone get over a fear, but can also

be used negatively to keep someone from doing what is right. We are afraid to be the outcasts, the misfits.

Being a rebel can be a lonely road. We are afraid of what people think of us or what they might do to us for

being different and standing up for Jesus. But only our connection to Jesus and the power of the Holy Spirit

gives us boldness to witness, a boldness that is not afraid to tell the truth no matter what the consequences. Then

He backs this up with the power of his Holy Spirit. He places positive agents like Gamaliel into our lives to

protect us. We must be more afraid of not doing what God wants rather than doing his will. God will protect us

when we stand up for him. We need not fear anyone or anything. He will give us the strength to face whatever

criticism and persecution the world can dole out.

Hands

As long as what we do is within God’s Will, we are protected. We must have courage. Courage does not mean

that we are never afraid. It means that when we are afraid, we choose to act against our fear. The best way to

handle fear is to face it and let God do what he’s going to do with it. God’s got our backs. When we are willing

to do what he tells us to do despite the dangers ahead, He will take care of us. One of my mentors said, “You

can’t scare a Christian with heaven.” Even when we face death, we will be victorious and enter heaven. We are

unstoppable and invincible when we do God’s will. Take your fear, turn it into courage and do God’s will. Let

God decide how he uses it.

The

The Threat of Disunity

Acts 6:1 – 7

Head

Growth is a wonderful thing unless it happens faster than you were prepared to deal with it. If it happens too

fast people get neglected, not because you don’t care, but because you simply don’t have the resources to help

them. This was the problem in the church as it grew by leaps and bounds. The Greek Jewish widows were being

overlooked in the distribution of food since they could not manage to get food for themselves because of their

age. The Hebrew widows were not being overlooked. On the surface, this looks like discrimination, that in

Jerusalem, the Jewish widows are first-class citizens while the Greek widows are second-class citizens. Both

were Jewish but the Greek Jews came from another province and did not speak the native language in

Jerusalem. If the apostles are not careful this could turn into a church split.

Heart

When circumstances get out of control, certain perceptions of leaders can happen that aren’t true. The apostles

were not trying to neglect one group over another. There were simply too many tasks for each apostle to do. It

got to the point where they were neglecting their primary ministry of preaching the word. It is not that they were

too good to “wait on tables” as they put it. It is that they specifically were anointed by Jesus to preach the Word

as the priority above their other duties. When we run into problems that we can’t solve on our own, the Holy

Spirit gives us wisdom to deal with the problems at hand. We must listen to the voice of God so that we know

how to solve these problems that come up. The brilliant idea of delegating to seven disciples the ministry of

taking care of the widows was a direct word of wisdom from the Lord. When we get stuck in hard places, we

need to turn to God and ask him for help. We need to serve wholeheartedly so that we do not favor one group of

people over another.

Hands

One of the best ways to deal with being spread too thin is to delegate and prioritize. To delegate means to pass

some of your duties on to capable people who can help you. To prioritize is to make a list of the most

important goals to the least important. The apostles used this solution to fix it immediately. This showed that

they were not calloused toward one group or another. The apostles were wise in giving criteria for the new

ministry:: These men had to have a good reputation in the church, must be full of the Holy Spirit and wisdom.

It is important to have spirit-led leadership in the spirit-led church. These men would be dealing with various

situations and needed wisdom. Seek God for wisdom in dealing with sticky situations you find yourself in.

God will give wisdom to anyone who asks of Him.

The

The Best Weapon

Acts 6:8 – 15

Head

Jesus had promised that the Holy Spirit will give Christians power and boldness. When the Holy Spirit filled

believers at Pentecost, He began to control their mouths so that they would speak for Him. We see this

boldness and courage in Stephen. No matter what unbelievers threw at him they could not dissuade him or find

any weak spots. When we speak for God, He speaks through us. He does not need us to defend him but will use

us to defend Himself. Of course, this will not make friends with these unbelievers. Despite seeing Steven’s

face glowing like an angel, they turn to violence against him. Nevertheless, Stephen allows the Holy Spirit to

speak and lets the chips fall where they may.

Heart

Speaking by the power of the Holy Spirit and using your gifts for God can become quite enlivening. We get so

excited when God is using us that we take matters into our own hands and speak in place of God. We call this

operating “in the flesh” instead of in the Spirit. We must be like Stephen and only speak for God when He

fills us with his Holy Spirit. He uses us as a vessel or instrument for His power. We must realize it is God’s

power working in us rather than us. Stephen is careful to only speak God’s words through the Holy Spirit. In

allowing God to speak and act through you, remember to ask humbly and give God the credit.

Hands

God wants to use you. He loves you, created you to serve Him and worship Him. Only through the power of

the Holy Spirit can God use you to do great and amazing things for Him. The Holy Spirit gives us boldness to

speak for God when we do not know what to say. What He tells us is better than anything we could think up

on our own. Stephen was indestructible as the Holy Spirit spoke through him, like you can be. You will learn

how to recognize the Holy Spirit’s prompting and leading. It is a learning process. It is good to have a mentor

teach you how to hear the Holy Spirit in your life and respond. Mentor requirements:: be filled with the Holy

Spirit, be more mature in the Spirit, and look after your best interest, needs to love you and desire to see you

obedient to God and his Holy Spirit.

The

You Can’t Handle the Truth

Acts 7:1 – 60

Head

Stephen, one of the seven chosen to help with the widows in the church, was described as being full of the Holy

Spirit and wisdom. When he was arrested he used his opportunity to speak to the Sanhedrin and the High Priest

witnessing about Jesus Christ. His words inflamed the anger of the people as he retold the narrative of Israel’s

history. He spoke of Abraham, Moses, David and Solomon. But he highlighted the fact that the forefathers

tended to fight against the moving of the Holy Spirit in these leaders. Then he pointed out that the current

leaders in the Sanhedrin itself were doing the same thing all over again by rejecting Jesus of Nazareth.

Knowing full well his fate for this action Stephen still spoke about Jesus Christ. He stood in the face of

persecution and delivered the message the Holy Spirit gave him to speak. No matter how illogical it sounds

Jesus calls us to face persecution and allow the Holy Spirit to speak through us with boldness no matter the

consequences.

Heart

Persecution puts the fears of our heart on display. We do not wish to die but if that is what is required to stand

up for Jesus, then we must face it. Being obedient to Jesus is more important than what may happen to us. We

must put our faith before our fear. No one wants to die for their faith but Jesus is worthy of such devotion.

Stephen stood in the face of persecution and danger. The Holy Spirit spoke through him. He knew as he

shared the truth of how his forefathers resisted the Holy Spirit that those listening to his message were also

resisting the Holy Spirit. Despite the fears he must have had, he stood for the Lord. Jesus calls us to face our

fears with courage. That courage and strength is given to us by the Holy Spirit. Jesus is the One who gives us

the strength to face those who hate Him and us.

Hands

We must stand for Jesus in the face of persecution. It is not for our sake, but for His sake. We must face our

fear and allow Jesus to take care of whatever happens to us. Stephen was seized and the anger of the crowd

overwhelmed the message the Holy Spirit spoke. Stephen was given a vision of Jesus to sustain him through

the pain and suffering of dying by stoning. When we are obedient to the Holy Spirit, faithful to Jesus and

speak for His name’s sake, Jesus helps us in our suffering for Him. He gives us what we need to follow

through in the suffering and persecution. He takes away our fears and rewards our faith in Him. Never fear as

you stand up for Jesus. The world cannot take away your trust in him or your joy. They cannot scare us with

that because Jesus overcame sin and death on the cross and in the resurrection. No matter what happens to us,

we are victorious because of Jesus. When we work for Jesus, we are indestructible no matter what the world

throws at us. Stand up for Him and fight the good fight with spiritual weapons.

The

Power Under Persecution

Acts 8:1 – 8

Head

Jesus prophesied in Acts 1:8 that His church would expand from Jerusalem to the surrounding areas of Judea

and Samaria and then to the ends of the earth. We see the Holy Spirit breaking the geographical barriers of

Judea and Samaria. Although the religious leaders persecuted the church, under that persecution the church

grew and expanded beyond Jerusalem. The power of the Holy Spirit was evident in these areas, especially with

Philip in Samaria. The Samaritians were considered half breeds because the Jews mixed with Gentiles. But no

matter what your background, God wants to save you into his Kingdom. God did mighty miracles through

Philip and many others who were scattered from Jerusalem because of persecution. Even under persecution the

church grew in power.

Heart

God can use the worst things in this world like persecution for good. Our God is stronger than evil because He

can wield it into his good purposes. As Paul would later say, God works all things together for the good of those

who love him (Romans 8:28). We do not have to fear persecution and trials because God will use them to

make our character and faith stronger in Him. He will also use them as tools for witnessing. The Holy Spirit

used the scattered disciples for his power and glory. He filled them and did mighty miracles through them to

show the people God’s power and strength despite the persecution. Bad things will probably happen to us in

this world and life, but we need not fear them because God will use them for our good in the long run.

Hands

The Jews rejected the Samartians because they were considered not good enough to be Jews. God accepts

everyone. We must preach the gospel and welcome everyone no matter their background or status. No matter

your background or your past, God can use you. He wants to use you wherever you go to proclaim Jesus. One

Christian once said, “preach Christ, and if necessary use words.” There are many ways to proclaim Christ in

this world. You do not have to be a great speaker. Find your own unique way to share Jesus. When we serve

others, we must also let them know why we serve. We must declare that we are devoted to Christ, our reason

to serve others. If we proclaim Christ in speech, we must follow our proclamation with action. We must

proclaim Christ in Word and deed. It must be clear that we serve him. You may feel like you are unworthy to

serve Christ, but He will use you in powerful ways if you open up to Him and are obedient to the Holy Spirit.

The

Acts Facts

Breaking Barriers

Throughout the book of Acts, the Holy Spirit gives the power to the church to break different types of barriers.

Acts 2: The barrier of language (speaking in tongues)

Acts 3: The barrier of sickness (paralyzed man healed)

Acts 4: The barrier of intimidation (religious authorities)

Acts 6: The barrier of division (Jewish widows and Hellenized widows)

Acts 8: The barrier of geography and racism (Judea and Samaria)

Acts 9: The barrier of disbelief (Saul the persecutor)

Acts 10: The barrier of prejudice (Jews and Gentiles)

Acts 13: The barrier of Gentile ministry (Paul and Barnabas missionaries to the Gentiles)

The

Not for Sale

Acts 8:9 – 25

Head

The Holy Spirit was moving in power in Samaria. His power was so obvious and amazing that even those who

served the devil could not resist listening to the message of Jesus. One of these men was Simon the sorcerer or

magician. His power comes from the devil and his demons. The devil uses the power allowed him by God to

deceive others. The people believed that Simon was a great power until he ran into the Holy Spirit’s power.

Simon believed in Jesus and was water baptized. He began to follow Philip and see the power of God. It amazed

him so much that he found the Holy Spirit’s power worth purchasing. When the apostles laid their hands on

people and they received the Holy Spirit, something physical impressed Simon so much that he asked Peter how

to buy it. Although he was a Christian, his past of wanting to be spiritually powerful reared its ugly head.

Simon learned from Peter that day that to have the Holy Spirit’s power, we must surrender ourselves to his will.

We cannot buy or control the Holy Spirit’s power.

Heart

When we see the Holy Spirit’s power we are impressed with what He can do. We must be careful not to allow

our flesh to overcome us. Our zeal for God must continue to be out of humility. We cannot come into the

Holy Spirit’s power any other way. We cannot buy his power or steal it. To do so would be to profane God’s

power and use his gifts for our own fame rather than his. This would be like taking the Temple objects of

worship and use them for common use. We become an instrument of the Holy Spirit when he fills us and uses

us. But if we think we can control His power or that we are the ones with the power, the Holy Spirit will stop

using us. If we are humble when we come to him, he will want to fill us and use us. We empty ourselves and

surrender to him. When we are empty of ourselves and our own pride, God can fill us with his Holy Spirit. We

must come to the end of ourselves so that God can begin to use us.

Hands

We want to be used by God. Many Pentecostal scholars believe that Simon saw the baptism of the Holy Spirit

when Peter and the apostles laid their hands on people. Something physical and noticeable made Simon want

to buy the power of the Holy Spirit. He thought that it was like the witchcraft and sorcery he did before he met

Christ. But the Holy Spirit does not work like the magic of the occult. He cannot be used by human beings.

He is the one who uses human beings. Whatever physical and observable responses to the Holy Spirit’s filling

Simon saw, it was a power he wanted to purchase. No matter how God is using us, if we don’t continue to

surrender ourselves to him and humbly keep ourselves open to his will, he will use someone else. As one song

says, “Lord, use me. But Oh, Lord don’t refuse me. Surely there is work that I can do.” The Holy Spirit’s

power is not for sale. The Holy Spirit controls us. We must not allow our flesh to ruin the opportunity of being

filled and used by the Holy Spirit.

The

Acts Facts

Controlled by the Holy Spirit

James 3: The tongue is the most powerful muscle but hardest for humans to control.

Acts 2: When the Holy Spirit takes control in Spirit baptism, he first takes control of the tongue with

speaking in tongues. He speaks through us with bold witness about Jesus.

Acts 5, 13: The Holy Spirit takes control of the church and leads it.

Acts 19: The Holy Spirit takes control and empowers ministry.

The

Spirit Led Abandon

Acts 8:26 – 40

Head

Philip listened to the Holy Spirit and did whatever he told him to do. With reckless abandon, Philip was led by

the Holy Spirit alone. He did not argue with God’s Holy Spirit. The Ethiopian eunuch was a man of political

power. The Holy Spirit can use anyone in any position. He was about to use Philip to save the soul of a man

of great power. He will use that power in Ethiopia. But first, Philip must be open to a divine appointment.

When we are Spirit-led, God can use us in extraordinary ways. They may seem ordinary but God is in them

making them extraordinary. When the Holy Spirit guides us He lines us up with His will. We become players

in God’s plan for us and others. We must not be afraid to be led by the Holy Spirit in evangelism.

Heart

We are afraid of being rejected when the Holy Spirit taps our shoulder and calls us to witness to others. We do

not know how the meeting will go. They may reject us, but they may be open to the message of the Holy Spirit

in us. God is going before us and preparing the hearts of those he directs us to. When we are open to the Holy

Spirit’s leading and listening for his voice, he walks before us. The Ethopian eunuch was reading Isaiah and

was ready to hear from Philip. Not every mission of evangelism for Jesus will be a success. Our fear of

rejection to witness should not hold us back from sharing Jesus. It is better to be rejected rather than miss an

eternal opportunity. The rejection from them that we face is better than them facing rejection at Heaven’s gate

later. We must pray for Jesus to give us courage to follow his leading no matter the cost.

Hands

NOW is the time to listen to the Holy Spirit on the front lines of evangelism. Our time for witnessing and their

time for response are both short. Like soldiers we must be obedient to the Holy Spirit’s voice. We stand in the

gap for those who have very little time to turn to Jesus. We live in the last days and when we call ourselves

servants of the Lord, we must obey him as servants. Philip was unafraid to follow the Holy Spirit’s leading

even when it might not make sense. We are part of His larger plan and when we challenge Him or ask

questions, we spend valuable time that could be used to save others. Let the Holy Spirit be the General and us

his soldiers. Follow his leading without question and he will make you great in the Kingdom of God.

The

Starting New

Acts 9:1 – 9

Head

Saul goes from one extreme to another. After an incredible personal introduction to Jesus, Saul is changed

forever. While the change is immediate Saul must start over like a newborn. Salvation is an act of God that

awakens our spirits to the true reality of life. It is the beginning of a process of relearning everything and

growing in Christ. The Bible has several images used to explain salvation. In John 3 Jesus uses the term, being

“born again” because you start over in Christ as a newborn. Paul calls it “a new creation” (1 Thessalonians

5:17) because God changes you from the inside out in an instant. It all starts when you personally meet Jesus

for the first time and surrender to him. This is Saul’s experience on the road to Damascus. You know that you

are saved because you will never be the same again!

Heart

In salvation, Jesus does not change everything about you. He has been molding you uniquely for his purposes

all along. But where your personhood does not glorify God, He will change you. He will transform your heart

from being self-serving to being ready to serve others. Saul started out with great zeal against the church but

found that he was working against God. When Jesus changed him that day, he did not change his zeal but

rather its target. Becoming a Christian doesn’t mean you turn into a Jesus zombie. It allows Jesus to conform

you to His image and bring your gifts into their proper purpose for His Kingdom. Salvation is a unique

experience where you feel like a newborn but you trust that Jesus knows what he’s doing with you. It can be

scary at times to see what Jesus changes and what he keeps the same. As long as you are open to his leading,

surrendering in obedience to what he tells you, you will become exactly what He wants you to be.

Hands

Jesus turns us into active agents for His kingdom when we come to know Him personally. That experience is

the beginning of a new relationship and adventure. Jesus will call you to do crazy things that only you can do.

The earliest lessons we learn as Christians never change. God will always expect us to surrender, obey, and

follow His leading, no matter how mature we become in Him. He will also expect for us to be open to every

change he wants to make in us. Saul had to start out by being blind and fasting for three days. Whether you

have a dynamic encounter with God when you get saved or Jesus changes you instantly at a younger age, you

have a great story that God can use to help others come Jesus through salvation.

The

Rock Hard Obedience

Acts 9:10 – 19

Head

God always has a larger plan that each of us fits into. Ananias showed great obedience to the Lord when he

took on a hard mission. Everyone knew about Saul and how dangerous he was to Christians. And yet God

called Ananias to go and meet this man who could kill him. God’s missions are sometimes very dangerous to

us personally, but we must trust that He has a larger plan. Ananias had to face the danger of going to meet Saul

putting himself out there to a man who can take him into prison. But Ananias demonstrated obedience to the

Lord despite the personal costs. He trusted that God had a plan that was greater than him and that God went

before him. We need to be so willing to unselfishly give our lives despite any danger that we may encounter

allowing God to do His complete plan without our doubts.

Heart

Danger is all around us when we become a believer in Jesus. He never promised us that things would be easy.

In fact, in one place He tells us that we will have tribulation as we serve him. The best part is that He goes with

us and gives us strength. Some people are used to danger and don’t mind it, while others do not like danger.

But we must trust in God that when he calls us to do something dangerous, He also gives us the weapons and

armor to deal with the danger. God goes before us. Like Ananias, we may wish to bring God up to speed on

the dangers that we will face. Ananias reminds God about Saul and how dangerous he is to Christians. But

don’t you think God already knows that? He always knows everything and never sends us into a situation

without His presence and power. The worst thing that can happen is joining him in heaven earlier than we

thought we would. God gives us the tools we need. He gave Saul his sight back and then empowered him by

baptizing him with the Holy Spirit at the hands of Ananias. That was all he needed to complete God’s mission.

Hands

Jesus gives us our marching orders. Soldiers and slaves are some of the most interesting characters in cultures.

A soldier does what he is told without question, while a slave does not have a choice to say no to his Master.

The soldier does not question his superiors or he becomes useless for the mission he’s given. We are like

soldiers and slaves when we enter God’s service and His kingdom. Obedience is one of the most important

qualities effective servants of God’s kingdom can possess. Like a soldier, we place absolute trust in our

Leader. We take on the mission without question, doing exactly as we are told. We face the music knowing

that God has our very best in mind. We have learned from previous engagements that God always has our

back. He trusts us to do this mission as we trust him to have our back.

The

Acts Facts

Three Types of Baptism in Acts

1. Water Baptism for repentance of sins, John’s baptism (Acts 19:3-4)

2. Water Baptism for salvation in Jesus (Acts 2:38a; Acts 10: 47; Acts 19:5)

3. Spirit Baptism for boldness (Acts 2:4, 38b-39; Acts 10:45-46; Acts 19:2, 6)

The

Brazen Boldness

Acts 9:20 – 31

Head

Jesus used Saul’s same zeal for His name’s sake. Saul was bold for Christ, preaching and proclaiming Him no

matter what the cost. Jesus blessed him with a mind that served Christ now. He was intellectually unstoppable

for Jesus and no one could defeat him. They turned to plots to kill him, but Jesus rescued him out of their

hands. The Jerusalem disciples were afraid of Saul at first because they didn’t believe he was on their side, and

his zealousness put their safety and ability to evangelize in jeopardy. When we first come to Christ, we may

not fully understand our niche and where Jesus wants to use us. God sends us people like Barnabas to advocate

for us to others what they see is our God-given role. Sometimes God works through arguments, our zeal and

other times He works through peaceful relationship building.

Heart

At first, when we are being used by Jesus, we must listen to those leaders He places in our lives. It may take a

while for our gifts to fit into the larger plan in the Christian community. He can use us with the gifts He has

given, but you can be sure it will be strategic. We must not take offense or get hurt when we are placed in

different roles until we find what God has designed for us. Saul was sent to Caesarea away from Jerusalem

because his gifts were not quite working the way that God intended they should. We have already heard that

Jesus wanted to use some to reach the Gentiles before the Jews, but Saul had not yet realized this. We must be

patient with Christian leaders and Jesus as he puts us exactly in the place he made just for us to fit. We must

not take it personally when leaders try to help us find our best fit in God’s Kingdom.

Hands

Jesus made Saul to serve the purpose of zeal, but not where he was at. His gifts were not wrong. His strategic

placement in the body of Christ was not the right fit for his gifts. Right gift, wrong pew. He had to be obedient

to the leadership God placed over him in the Church to help him find his niche. Sometimes it seems we are not

properly using our gifts, but many times, we simply have not found the most effective place God wants to use

us in his Body. It requires patience and surrender as we figure out exactly how we can serve Christ most

effectively. We must listen to those God has given Leadership to, trusting they have the wisdom to know

where we fit best. They will help us become the most effective we can be for Jesus, if we listen and are patient

with their leadership direction.

The

Healing Tidal Wave

Acts 9:32 – 42

Head

God was powerfully using Peter to demonstrate God’s power through healing and even a resurrection. We must

realize that God does not do these things purely for show. God heals people with the larger plan to save them

and others through their testimony. These are stories the Church calls a testimony because we bear eyewitness

to Jesus’ power to change us. We must pay close attention to the last verse of this section that says many turn

to the Lord because of the healing and resurrection they heard about. In one situation, most likely a man who

did not know Jesus was healed from paralysis of eight years. In the second example, a faithful servant of the

Lord is raised up from the dead to continue serving the Lord and the Saints. Once again, verse 42 tells us that

many turn to the Lord. When Jesus uses us for such dynamic miraculous signs, while they benefit those

healed, they are for the Lord’s glory and expansion of His kingdom.

Heart

Jesus can use anyone who is obedient and willing to be used by him. The same power that raised Jesus from

the dead and saved our soul, is in us to do God’s works. We must trust and have faith that Jesus can use us in

both ordinary and extraordinary ways. Some are specifically gifted to believe God for healing and have the gift

of great faith in God for extraordinary things. As long as we trust God to use us as He designed, we will see

unique and powerful results. We must be careful not to envy others who have different gifts than us. God

does His extraordinary works through every obedient servant. Each gift obediently used for Jesus is

extraordinary in its results. People place different values on the results of God’s gifts. Don’t allow anyone to

look down on you for God’s gifts at work in you.

Hands

Peter saw many great things done through his hands by Jesus and the power of the Holy Spirit. The reason he

saw these things in his lifetime is because he learned to be obedient to the Holy Spirit and to God. He accepted

the dangers of being used by God in dynamic ways and surrendered himself to God’s plan. God made you with

unique, specific gifts designed for your service in His kingdom. First, we must show humility when we are

used with the gifts He has given. Second, we must obediently use the gifts the way God instructs. Finally, we

must surrender ourselves to the end results. Using your gifts for God’s glory is a learning experience. We

must learn how to be led by the Spirit, when and how He directs their use. Always be teachable, accepting the

lessons that God’s leaders pass onto you for effective Kingdom service. God will only do great things through

us when we are surrendered to His kingdom and His priorities. It is not about us. It is all about Him and for

Him.

The

Divine Appointments

Acts 10:1 – 8

Head

Before God sends Peter into the next barrier: breaking open the church’s doors to the Gentiles, he sets up

Cornelius to hear the gospel and respond. Sometimes in the Bible we are given a backstage pass to see how

God sets things up, but other times like in life we see how he did things after the fact. Here in Acts 10, God

sets up the divine appointment that breaks the barrier of Jewish-Gentile relationships in the church. First he

will prepare Cornelius to receive the gospel message from Peter, a Jew. The gospel is rooted in Isreal’s history

and the idea of a Messiah. But the gospel itself is not just for Jews, but for everyone. Like Peter, we must

keep the message but find the best ways to communicate it to our changing world. God will use visions to

prepare both Cornelius and Peter for their meeting.

Heart

When we realize that God orchestrates divine appointments in our lives, our fears of being rejected when we

share with others or the end results will be reduced. When the Holy Spirit prompts us to share the story of how

we met Jesus and what he means to us, He goes before us preparing the heart of the person we are witnessing to.

We need not worry about rejection when the Holy Spirit goes before us. He tenderizes the hearts of those who

need to hear the gospel from us. We need not worry that our story is not good enough or dramatic enough

because Jesus is part of our story. Whether or not we get it right every time that we share Jesus with others,

God will still use what is said and use it to speak to their heart. We cannot save anyone. That is up to Jesus to

do. All we have to do is be obedient in sharing when the Holy Spirit tells us to.

Hands

Cornelius has already been prepared to hear the message from Peter. Even though he is a Gentile, and a

Roman soldier to boot, he is also open to the message of Jesus. He has already become the closest thing to a

Jewish convert that is possible for a Gentile. He gives alms to the poor out of a heart that is open to serve

God. He is limited by the Jewish rules for Gentile converts to Judaism. But Christianity has no rules for

converts. It doesn’t matter what your past is when you come to Jesus. When Peter breaks the barrier of

Jewish-Gentile relations within the church, this will open the doors for Gentiles everywhere. We think that

evangelism is completely up to us, we are the ones who make or break the message, but that is not true at all.

God goes before us and prepares hearts to hear the word. The Holy Spirit prompts us to share our heart and

story. But it is up to the Holy Spirit to direct the heart of that person. Don’t be ashamed if everyone you talk

to about Jesus does not accept Him right away. Sometimes you are a link in a chain of God speaking to that

person and you prepare them to hear the word by another person after you.

The

Breaking the Barrier

Acts 10:9 – 33

Head

Throughout the Bible God uses dreams to give instruction or direction to his servants. Peter is a devout Jew,

who follows Jewish laws even as a Christ Follower. One of those laws is not to associate with Gentiles. Some

other laws include what to eat and what not to eat. Foods considered unclean by the Jews were forbidden. The

Gentiles were also considered unclean and Jews had no interactions with them considering them pagans and

worthless fellows. These cultural laws were followed by the Jews only. In Peter’s dream, the animals

symbolized other rules about Jewish interaction with Gentiles. Peter would have never met with Cornelius on

his own. He would have missed a divine opportunity to share the gospel with willing listeners. Sometimes

God has to break us of our rules before we can be obedient to His will.

Heart

As we read on, we find out that Cornelius and Peter were supposed to meet. While Peter is still contemplating

the meaning of the dream, people come that he would never associate with. And yet, if he does not listen to

them and go with them, the Gentiles will not be reached even by the apostle to the Jews. Sometimes we think

we know what God wants, black and white lines we dare not cross. But God is the One who decides what we

do and who we do it with. Sometimes we are so thick headed and hardhearted about where God wants to send

us and with whom He wants us to associate for the sake of his Gospel that we would refuse to do His will. We

must be open to whatever God wants whenever he wants it. If Peter had not received this dream and responded

obediently by going with these Gentiles, he would’ve never seen the growth of Jesus’ into the Gentile world.

Hands

Be open to the heart of God. Keep an open dialogue with God about what He wants you to do even if it seems

strange to you. There are “fields, white for harvest” as Jesus would put it, that we may not even think about

without the prompting of the Lord. But even when He prompts us, if we do not listen to His word, we might

miss a great opportunity that He has prepared for us. Do not be afraid to follow God’s heart even if it doesn’t

make sense to other believers around you. The time for witnessing is way too short to hold back the gospel

now. We must also search our hearts to make sure that we have no prejudices or biases that would keep us

from sharing Jesus with everyone we meet. Jesus came to save sinners. At one time, we were that person.

The

Holy Spirit Breakout

Acts 10:34 – 48

Head

Peter shared the background about Jesus, how it all began and how they followed him. He opened his mouth

and spoke led by the Holy Spirit. Salvation only happens by the power and working of the Holy Spirit. He is

the One that speaks the words through us awakening the hearts of unbelievers to hear the gospel and believe.

He did not even get through his entire message before the Holy Spirit fell upon the Gentiles. Very quickly, He

saved them, filled them and caused the Jewish Christians to want to water baptize them. When we are obedient

like Peter, we see the Holy Spirit move quickly. When the Holy Spirit broke the barrier between Gentiles and

Jews we see once again the same picture as in Acts 2 where He baptizes new believers into Himself and they

speak in tongues, preparing them with boldness to proclaim Jesus to those around them.

Heart

Peter finally realized the interpretation of his dream when he met with Cornelius, his family and friends. He

understood that God was showing him that the Gentiles were not unclean, rather just like him they needed

Jesus. Once God can get rid of our pre-conceptions and prejudices, He can do extraordinary things through us.

His Holy Spirit gives the message through us and does all the work the moment that we are obedient to speak

His word. Being baptized in the Holy Spirit with the evidence of speaking in tongues gives us that boldness as

the Holy Spirit begins to control us instead of us being in control. Baptism in the Holy Spirit is the first step to

effective evangelism because we learn to surrender our control over to Him. Although we like to be in control,

or think that we’re in control, we must surrender everything to God so He is able to use us to win the lost.

Hands

Surrender and obedience are the top priorities when we are in service to Jesus and His kingdom. He has

commissioned us to do impossible things with Him. If Jesus and his Holy Spirit did not take control, we would

fail Him in this position. We need His power and His Holy Spirit to completely surround us and fill us inside

so that He can do the work that we cannot do. You need the baptism in the Holy Spirit to be immersed in the

One who has all the power you do not. He gives you the courage and the words to speak. He makes you an

instrument of His salvation when you are obedient and wholly surrendered to him. Sure, anyone can

evangelize, but to be most effective for the kingdom we must be baptized in the Holy Spirit for greater

effectiveness in His kingdom. Seek the baptism and receive everything that the Holy Spirit has for you!

The

Acts Facts

Physical Signs of Spirit Baptism in Acts

Acts 2 – The Holy Spirit immerses Jewish believers in Himself with the physical evidence of speaking

in tongues and speaking the praises of God. Other physical signs of his presence include a mighty

rushing wind, flames of fire on people’s heads,

Acts 10 – The Holy Spirit immerses Gentile believers in himself with the physical evidence of speaking

in tongues and speaking the praises of God.

Acts 19 – Paul sees the baptism in the Holy Spirit is crucial to doing ministry for the Ephesian elders,

lays his hands on them and they received the Holy Spirit and spoke in tongues and prophesied.

Acts 8 – Simon, the sorcerer sees something physically different when the apostles lay their hands on

new believers. It is such a powerful event that he wishes to buy it. Many Pentecostal scholars believe

that the physical evidence he saw was the power to speak God’s praises in someone else’s language, or

speaking in tongues.

Common Denominator – Holy Spirit baptism accompanied by the physical sign of speaking in tongues and

praising God

The

About the Author

Born in Central Pennsylvania, I grew up in the Assemblies of God. I became a minister in the Assemblies of

God in 2005. I was born with cataracts and have been legally blind my whole life. God has always provided

whatever I’ve needed. Not only has He provided for my needs, but He has empowered me to fulfill His call

upon my life by preparing me for full-time ministry and service to His people.

At five years old, I became a Christian and was water baptized and baptized in the Spirit. I received a call to

minister to God's people as a full-time pastor at the age of seven. Since that time, I have worked toward

accomplishing all of the academic and personal goals of a pastor.

Four years at Central Bible College, earned two Bachelors of Arts degrees: one in Pastoral Ministries and the

other in Biblical Languages. In December 2008, I completed the work needed to receive a Master of Divinity

from Assemblies of God Theological Seminary. Immediately after my education, I became the Lead Pastor of

New Life Assembly in Shillington PA from 2009-2014. I loved offering my leadership and servanthood to

God’s people.

I have worked as an Associate Pastor and preached in many different churches. I enjoy preaching very much,

but my favorite part of ministry is to help people in whatever way I can, whether it be through teaching the

Word of God or through ministering the gift of time.

In September 2013 I received the largest challenge of my life so far. Within a matter of half an hour I became a

quadriplegic, paralyzed from head to toe. This Job experience has created the trial of a lifetime. I fully trust in

God’s complete healing for my body. I have found that even in these places God opens doors for ministry. I

currently preach once a week at the center in which I dwell and give a Bible Study every Wednesday. I have

more time to devote to writing. It will not be long before God’s healing will place me back in full-time

pastoral ministry.

Over the period of time I have been hospitalized, I have gained movement from my head to my neck. I am

currently working on being able to breathe on my own without the ventilator each day. Please keep me in your

prayers as I believe for complete restoration of my body. I believe this is God’s plan for me.

I also enjoy sports, computers, and several other activities. I have been called a bibliophile (a lover of books), a

suitable term for an academically minded pastor. My life goal is to impart the image of Christ to as many people

as I can possibly reach and to proclaim Christ! To that end, my life motto has become "All for Christ, Christ

for All." I know the three musketeers declared a similar motto, but I devote all I am and have to Christ,

seeking, following, and obeying Him. I believe the message of Christ is for every human being and to that end

I proclaim Christ.