Tag: The Word
Remember the Word!
Scripture reading for May 20: Acts 11
“And he told us how he had seen the angel stand in his house and say, ‘Send to Joppa and bring Simon who is called Peter; he will declare to you a message by which you will be saved, you and your household.’ As I began to speak, the Holy Spirit fell on them just as on as at the beginning. And I remembered the Word of the Lord, how He said, ‘John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.’ If then God gave the same gift to them as He gave to us when we believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I that I could stand in God’s way?” When they heard these things they fell silent. And they glorified God, saying, “Then to the Gentiles also God has granted repentance that leads to life.”” Acts 11:13-18
Although Jesus had shared how the disciples were to wait for the infilling of the Holy Spirit and they had experienced the initial baptism of the Spirit on the day of Pentecost, they needed further and a deeper understanding of God’s desire for all people to received this empowerment. God sent Peter through a vision to the house of Cornelius, a Roman centurion. God had told Cornelius by an angel where to find Peter and how Peter would share a message that would bring salvation to him and his whole household. When these two people listened and obeyed, God showed up through Peter’s preaching and poured out the gift of the Holy Spirit with the evidence of speaking in tongues. Peter and his helpers were amazed!
Peter’s conclusion was that God had given these Gentiles the same gift as the disciples had received. His testimony to the church leaders about this brought initial silence as they processed this amazing event. Then they glorified God and stated their understanding that God had granted these Gentiles repentance and eternal life. Everything was confirmed by the Word of the Lord and took place as the Word of grace through Jesus Christ was preached. It was just as the Lord had said!
Have you ever had your understanding of God’s will expanded through a supernatural event? Do you believe that with God all things are possible and His Word will prove to be true? In what ways did God through the Holy Spirit help those involved in this ‘Gentile Pentecost?’
Prayer: Father God, Your great love and patience with Your people is comforting and amazing to me. Thank You for filling Your people with the Holy Spirit and bringing remembrance of Your Word to help us overcome a faulty world view. Direct me to those who You are desiring to reach and bless. Amen.
Sunday Rest and Reflection!
Sunday February 9th, 2014
Dear Friends of God,
Greetings in the Wonderful Name of Jesus Christ, Son of God and Son of Man! This is another opportunity to connect with God and His people for prayer, worship and the Word! Pastor Brent will be preaching today on relationships. Come to give yourself to God in worship, to pray for other and encourage them, and to listen to God’s Word for instruction and transformation! God loves to meet with His Bride!
In His Love, Pastor John
The One and Only!
Scripture reading for April 30th: John 1:1-28
John was the disciple whom Jesus loved and the youngest of the apostles. John was the brother of James and together they were known as the ‘Sons of Thunder’. John was pictured in all pictures of the Last Supper with his head on Jesus’ breast. Jesus assigned responsibility for His mother to John in His final statements from the cross. John knew Jesus from being in the inner circle of the apostolic band.
John’s clear purpose in writing his Gospel is stated in John 20:31, “These are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God.” John uses many different descriptive words, personal encounters and miracles to prove his point. He wanted everyone who read his account to believe! He knew that in believing, they would find eternal life and the salvation that Jesus made available to whosoever would believe!
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through Him all things were made; without Him nothing was made that has been made. In Him was life, and the life was the light of men.” (John 1:1-4) This introduction identifies Jesus as the ‘Word’ that spoke creation into being from nothing! (Genesis 1:1-3) This ‘Word’ was with God at the beginning of creation. In Him was life and light for men. Apart from God’s Word, man cannot know or understand where he came from or why he is here. The eternal ‘Word’ reveals all that is hidden in darkness.
“The Word became flesh and made His dwelling among us. We have seen His glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.” (John 1:14) Jesus Christ is the ‘Word’ of God that was made flesh. He is the incarnate Word, existing from before the foundations of the world. He is the truth in living form and came to reveal that truth to mankind. When He was revealed, He showed forth the glory of His Father. There is none like Jesus! He alone is the unique ‘Son of God’. He was begotten by the Father supernaturally in the womb of Mary. He is the Truth and the Life! (John 14:6) He is the only way to God. He alone could bear our sins and save us!
Tent-dwellers!
Scripture reading for October 29th: John 1-2
John, the beloved, was the youngest disciples and one of the “sons of thunder”. James and John were in the inner circle of three and John was the one resting his head on Jesus’ chest in the famous picture of the Last Supper. John was also the disciple that Jesus asked from the Cross to take care of His mother. (John 19:26-27) John wrote his Gospel to declare that Jesus was the “Son of God”!
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through Him all things were made; and without Him nothing was made that has been made. In Him was life, and that life was the light of men.” (John 1:1-4)
John began with a revelation of the Son of God as the eternal Word! He was with God in the beginning! He always was, is, and will be. The ‘beginning’ spoken of by John was the beginning of created things. By His powerful Word, He created the visible world and heavens. When we think of how vast the extent of the heavens, we are humbled by the power of that Word!
But at the right time, this Word became flesh and dwelt among His people! The word for “dwelt” is the same word used to describe the pitching of a tent. Moses was given instructions to build a special tent and furniture as a place for God to dwell in the midst of His people, Israel. This tent was called a “tabernacle” or “Tent of Meeting”. God’s presence marked Israel as separate and blessed above all others on the earth. No enemy could defeat them as they marched with Him, no sickness could attack, and even clothes and shoes did not wear out! (Nehemiah 9:19-21)
Jesus Christ came to His own people, but they did not receive Him! (John 1:11-12) Most rejected Him and ended up crucifying Him. But to those who would and did receive Him, Jesus gave the power to become children of God! They would be “born again” into God’s family! He would send them the Holy Spirit to live in them and they would become “living tabernacles” of God’s presence! Why not invite Him to be your Savior today!
The One and Only!
Scripture reading for April 30th: John 1:1-28
John was the disciple whom Jesus loved and the youngest of the Apostles. John was the brother of James and together they were known as the ‘sons of thunder’. John is pictured in all pictures of the Last Supper with his head on Jesus’ breast. Jesus assigned responsibility for His mother to John from in His final statements from the cross. John knew Jesus from being in the inner circle of the apostolic band.
John’s clear purpose in writing his Gospel is stated in John 20:31, “These are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God.” John uses many different descriptive words, personal encounters and miracles to prove his point. He wants everyone who reads this account to believe! He knows that in believing, they will find eternal life and the salvation that Jesus made available to whosoever would believe!
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through Him all things were made; without Him nothing was made that has been made. In Him was life, and the life was the light of men.” (John 1:1-4) This introduction identifies Jesus as the ‘Word’ that spoke creation into being from nothing! (Genesis 1:1-3) This ‘Word’ was with God at the beginning of creation. In Him was life and light for men. Apart from the ‘Word’ man cannot know or understand where he came from or why he is here. The eternal ‘Word’ reveals all that is hidden in darkness.
“The Word became flesh and made His dwelling among us. We have seen His glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.” (John 1:14) Jesus Christ is the ‘Word’ of God that was made flesh. He is the incarnate Word, existing from before the foundations of the world. He is the truth in living form and came to reveal that truth to mankind. When He was revealed, He showed forth the glory of His Father. There is none like Jesus! He alone is the unique ‘Son of God’. He was begotten by the Father God supernaturally in the womb of Mary. He is the Truth and the Life! (John 14:6) He is the only way to God. He alone could bear our sins and save us!