Something Greater

Trust and Obey "And someone came and told them, - Look! The men whom you put in prison are standing in the temple and teaching the people. - Then the captain with the officers went and brought them, but not by force, for they were afraid of being stoned by the people. And when they had brought them, they set them before the council. And the high priest questioned them, saying, - We strictly charged you not to teach in this name, yet here you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching, and you intend to bring this man’s blood upon us. - But Peter and the apostles answered, - We must obey God rather than men. The God of our fathers raised Jesus, whom you killed by hanging him on a tree. God exalted him at his right hand as Leader and Savior, to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins. And we are witnesses to these things, and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey him." Acts 5:25-32 (ESV) The Jewish leaders were greatly perplexed (thoroughly ...

Safe! I sometimes have a hard day at work. No big surprise in that, right? We all have hard days at work, at home, at church. When I have a hard day at work, and I can't let go of the stress when I return home, despite the encouragement and care of my wife, I often will crawl into bed and have only one word of prayer that I can offer up to God: "Safe!" The warmth of the bed, the protection of my blanket, the quietness of the darkness, the security of my home create an image in my mind of safety. With one word, safe, I thank God for His oversight of my life, His guidance and direction and providence , despite the difficulty I've experienced in getting through the day. But my bed and blanket are only an image. Little force is required to violate the security and quiet of my home. My blanket provides small protection from the storms and raging violence of this world . It fails to protect me from even the smallest irritations and upsets. We are surprised...

When Glory Becomes Dim Listen: When Glory Becomes Dim (mp3) Watch: When Glory Becomes Dim (Powerpoint) "When the devil had ended every temptation, he departed from him until an opportune time. And Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit to Galilee, and a report about him went out through all the surrounding country. And he taught in their synagogues, being glorified by all." Luke 4:13-15 (ESV) ENDED: synteleo (to complete entirely, to execute); from syn (with or together) and teleo (to end, complete, execute, conclude, discharge); from telos (the point aimed at as a limit, the conclusion or termination, result, purpose, impost or levy); from tello (to set out for a definite point, goal) Luke says that the devil ended every temptation of Christ. "Ended" is a word of finality...a word for successful completion. In what did the devil succeed? Jesus, after enduring without sinning the temptations of the devil, was empowered by the Holy Spirit to teach...

A Kingdom in Search of a People "Now many signs and wonders were regularly done among the people by the hands of the apostles. And they were all together in Solomon’s Portico. None of the rest dared join them, but the people held them in high esteem. And more than ever believers were added to the Lord, multitudes of both men and women, so that they even carried out the sick into the streets and laid them on cots and mats, that as Peter came by at least his shadow might fall on some of them. The people also gathered from the towns around Jerusalem, bringing the sick and those afflicted with unclean spirits, and they were all healed." Acts 5:12-16 (ESV) PEOPLE: laos (a people) Many signs and wonders were done among "a people" . "A people" held the apostles in high esteem. "A people" brought their sick and demen-oppressed ones to the apostles for healing. "A people" in the Greek is in the genitive form, meaning possession. ...

Worship and Prophecy Many Christians, as well as the world, believe that the word "prophecy" means only one thing: foretelling the future . Prophecy in our society forms headlines in tabloids and newstands. Palm readers and fortune tellers advertise in newspapers and the internet. Doomsday prophets are discredited every year . But the Bible describes prophecy as a gift of God , meant for the building up, encouragement and consolation of Christians. How can we reconcile the tawdry, false image of prophecy in our society, with the high place of honor in which Scripture places it? Does prophecy always mean foretelling the future? Can prophecy be communicated in ways other than by preaching or speaking? Overview Essential facts about inspired, genuine prophecy : Prophecy is one of four types of inspired communication: Prophecy, Revelation, Knowledge and Teaching. Prophecy can mean to speak OR sing by inspiration. Prophecy communicates truth, whether in pred...

Happiness Does the Bible say that Christians should seek happiness? It seems that "happiness" has acquired a bad reputation , at least with many Christians. The word seems to have connotations of cheap worldliness, or fleeting fancifulness. Some try to distinguish between joy and happiness, exalting joy and denigrating happiness . What does "happiness" mean? Is it something less than "joy"? Does the Bible exalt joy over happiness? HAPPINESS: (good luck, good fortune, prosperity; a state of well-being and pleasurable satisfaction; bliss) HAPPY: (favored by hap, luck or fortune) HAP: (chance, happening, luck) "Hap" is an old-fashioned word that simply means an event or incident. To be "happy" means to regard an event or incident as good or fortunate. "Happiness" is an experience that one considers to be favorable, pleasureable, or good . Because experience is closely followed by emotion, happiness has come to...

One Heart and Soul "Now the full number of those who believed were of one heart and soul, and no one said that any of the things that belonged to him was his own, but they had everything in common. And with great power the apostles were giving their testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great grace was upon them all. There was not a needy person among them, for as many as were owners of lands or houses sold them and brought the proceeds of what was sold and laid it at the apostles’ feet, and it was distributed to each as any had need. Thus Joseph, who was also called by the apostles Barnabas (which means son of encouragement), a Levite, a native of Cyprus, sold a field that belonged to him and brought the money and laid it at the apostles’ feet." Acts 4:32-37 ONE HEART: kardia (the heart; figuratively, the thoughts or feelings or the mind; by analogy, the middle); from kar (heart) Kardia literally is the organ that pumps blood through every part of our...