Something Greater

Suffering Servant Acts 9:15 What has gone before... Saul seemed near to death. Struck down with blindness, confronted by a man he'd thought long dead by crucifixion, his Jewish life of rigid righteousness and violent religious rule seemed gone in an instant. All he could do was pray. Meanwhile, God was preparing Ananias to go to Saul, to heal his blindness and commission him to be a witness for Jesus. And to suffer. Moving on... "The Lord said to him, - Go, for he is a chosen instrument of mine to carry my name before the Gentiles and kings and the children of Israel. For I will show him how much he must suffer for the sake of my name." Acts 9:15-16 (ESV) SUFFER: pascho "PAS-kho" (to experience a sensation or impression, usually painful) Much of the Book of Acts is an account of how Saul suffered as a Christian. Jews plotted to kill him early in his ministry (9:23). Fellow Christians suspected him of being a spy (9:26). He was persecuted a...

Saved to Serve Acts 9:8 What has gone before... Saul, "breathing threats and murder", traveled to Damascus to rout Jewish Christians. His mind and heart were engorged with lust for violent, crushing punishment of people he regarded as traitors to Judaism, idolaters of a false god. The writer of the Book of Acts described Christians as ones "belonging to the Way", reminding all of us to see our life as a road, with many changes in terrain and direction, but leading to a greatly desired destination. Midway on his chosen road of retribution, Saul was brought to his knees with physical blindness and spiritual clarity. The Jesus he had sought to grind into forgotten history was suddenly very real, and very persuasive. Moving on... Blind, perhaps confused, probably frightened and emotionally spent, Saul seemed near death: "Saul rose from the ground, and although his eyes were opened, he saw nothing. So they led him by the hand and brought him into ...

Threats and Murder...and Glory Acts 9:1 What has gone before... Directed by an angel, Philip meets a man in the desert, an Ethiopian official who had visited Jerusalem to worship God and was then returning to his home. The minister of state was described as a "eunuch", which likely was used figuratively, rather than literally. "Eunuch", whether literally or figurative, reminded us of circumstances in which God has placed each of us that have brought personal loss or injury, yet God gives us comfort in the midst of loss. A passage from the Book of Isaiah overwhelmed the Ethiopian's heart and he embraced the truth of Jesus Christ as his Savior and Lord. Immediately after baptizing the man, Philip is "teleported" miles distant, finding himself on the coast of the Mediterranean Sea. Filled with joy at God's miraculous timing and power, Philip travels north up the coast, settling down in Caesarea, marrying and raising a family. Moving on.....

Acts 8: Christian or Churchian? Acts 8:18-19 What has gone before... Simon believed, and was baptized, and must have been among the crowd that received the Holy Spirit. He understood that Peter and John had a special relationship with God that gave them the authority, or the power, to confer the Holy Spirit upon others. Simon wanted the same authority, the same power, as Peter and John. Moving on... Acts 8:18-19 (ESV) "Now when Simon saw that the Spirit was given through the laying on of the apostles’ hands, he offered them money, saying, - Give me this power also, so that anyone on whom I lay my hands may receive the Holy Spirit." POWER: exousia (privilege, force, capacity, competency, freedom, master, superhuman, potentate, token of control or influence); from exesti (it is right, as if being out in public); from ek (origin) and eimi (I exist) This is the same word used to describe the authority and power of Christ (Matthew 7:29; 9:6). This is the powe...

Acts 8: Baptism, The Holy Spirit, and Tongues Acts 8:18-19 What has gone before... Philip's preaching brought crowds in Samaria to accept Jesus Christ as their Savior and Sustainer. They gladly proclaimed their repentance and dependence upon God through water baptism. But something more was yet in store for these new believers. Peter and John prayed for the Samaritan Christians and they received the Holy Spirit. Moving on... "Now when Simon saw that the Spirit was given through the laying on of the apostles’ hands, he offered them money, saying, - Give me this power also, so that anyone on whom I lay my hands may receive the Holy Spirit." Acts 8:18-19 (ESV) Simon the Magician was a believer , baptized along with crowds of men and women who had listened to Philip and saw the signs that he did. Simon must have also been among those for whom Peter and John prayed, and upon whom the Holy Spirit had fallen. Luke does not describe what "receiving the Holy Sp...

Baptism of the Holy Spirit What has gone before... Simon the Magician was a big fish in the small pond of Samaritan mystics , but that all changed when Philip came to town. Now it was Simon's turn to be amazed. "But when they believed Philip as he preached good news about the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women. Even Simon himself believed, and after being baptized he continued with Philip. And seeing signs and great miracles performed, he was amazed." Acts 8:12-13 (ESV) Philip's preaching transformed Samaria . Moving on... BELIEVED: pisteuo (to have faith, to credit or entrust); from pistis (persuasion or credence; conviction of truth or reliance upon; constancy); from peitho (to convince by argument, whether true or false; to pacify or conciliate; to assent to or rely upon) Philip preached about the kingdom ( the royalty, rule and realm ) of God and the name (history, teaching, reputation and fame) of ...