Tag Archive | Christian

Are You Recognized?

Nov15

Now as they observed the confidence of Peter and John and understood that they were uneducated and untrained men, they were amazed, and began to recognize them as having been with Jesus. — Acts 4:13

WOW!!! This is an awesome verse.

Peter and John had confidence. Confidence in what? Apparently it wasn’t their education since they were uneducated. They were not trained to be “religious” speakers, consultants or experts on the Word of God. They simply (?!) sat at the feet of Jesus, the best Teacher, Master, Professor of “religion”.

Those around Peter and John were amazed AND recognized they had “been with Jesus”. Wow!!!!!!

Do you, like Peter and John, have confidence and assurance that is only found at the feet of Jesus? Do those around you recognize that you have been with Jesus?

Continually seeking Him,

Sharon

No Other Way

Nov14

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And there is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among men by which we must be saved.” — Acts 4:12

NO OTHER WAY

Continually seeking Him,

Sharon

Time of Refreshment

Nov13

Therefore repent and return, so that your sins may be wiped away, in order that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord; and that He may send Jesus, the Christ appointed for you, — Acts 3:19

Are you in need of refreshment? Here is the solution. The burdens we carry everyday causing us frustration, fatigue, discouragement . . . and the list goes on, making life a drudgery with no hope or lack there of. We can get so caught up in life that we don’t turn to God for refreshment. We continue to carry the sins of our life from one day to another without spending time with Jesus confessing and turning from those sins back to God. The only one who can wipe away our sins? Jesus. Spend time in His presence and receive a time of refreshment.

Continually seeking Him,

Sharon

Living In Ignorance

Nov12

But you disowned the Holy and Righteous One and asked for a murderer to be granted to you, but put to death the Prince of life, the one whom God raised from the dead, a fact to which we are witnesses. — Acts 3:14

“And now, brethren, I know that you acted in ignorance, just as your rulers did also. — Acts 3:17

Are we still acting in ignorance today? Are we still putting to death the Prince of Life, disowning the Holy and Righteous One? When was the last time you spoke with Jesus? When was the last time you read His Holy Word? When was the last time you worshipped and praised God? When was the last time you thanked Him? It is time to wake up and honor and glorify the One true, worthy God.

Our choice. Seek or continue to live in ignorance.

Continually seeking Him,

Sharon

I Give You Jesus

Nov11

Now Peter and John were going up to the temple at the ninth hour, the hour of prayer. And a man who had been lame from his mother’s womb was being carried along, whom they used to set down every day at the gate of the temple which is called Beautiful, in order to beg alms of those who were entering the temple. When he saw Peter and John about to go into the temple, he began asking to receive alms. But Peter, along with John, fixed his gaze on him and said, “Look at us!” And he began to give them his attention, expecting to receive something from them. But Peter said, “I do not possess silver and gold, but what I do have I give to you: In the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene—walk!”  And seizing him by the right hand, he raised him up; and immediately his feet and his ankles were strengthened. With a leap he stood upright and began to walk; and he entered the temple with them, walking and leaping and praising God. And all the people saw him walking and praising God; and they were taking note of him as being the one who used to sit at the Beautiful Gate of the temple to beg alms, and they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him. — Acts 3:1-10

But Peter said, “I do not possess silver and gold, but what I do have I give to you: In the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene—walk!” We, who have Jesus as our Savior and Lord, have something to give the world more precious than silver and gold. Hope, power of the Holy Spirit and Jesus Himself. When we live under the authority and power of God people will be amazed. Lives will experience transformation that will bring about praise to God. The evidence of the work of God is recognizable because the result is glory and praise to God.

Continually seeking Him,

Sharon

Has Salvation Changed You?

Nov10

Peter said to them, “Repent, and each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off, as many as the Lord our God will call to Himself.” 40 And with many other words he solemnly testified and kept on exhorting them, saying, “Be saved from this perverse generation!” So then, those who had received his word were baptized; and that day there were added about three thousand souls. They were continually devoting themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Everyone kept feeling a sense of awe; and many wonders and signs were taking place through the apostles. And all those who had believed were together and had all things in common; and they began selling their property and possessions and were sharing them with all, as anyone might have need. Day by day continuing with one mind in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they were taking their meals together with gladness and sincerity of heart, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord was adding to their number day by day those who were being saved. — Acts 2:38-47

The Lord was adding to their number — those who were being saved. We need to realize that it is the Lord who saves.

What factors were involved in many being saved? Repentance, forgiveness and receiving of the Holy Spirit.  Lives changed.

Transformation happened: they were continually devoting themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. This brought about awe as they witnessed the movement of God amongst themselves and the world. Many wonders and signs were taking place through the apostles. Being one with Christ they had all things in common, cared for one another by meeting needs, were like minded, fellowshipped together and praised God together.

Could this be why God was adding saved ones to their numbers day by day?

Continually seeking Him,

Sharon

Sacrificial Worship

Nov9

Nebuchadnezzar responded and said, “Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-nego, who has sent His angel and delivered His servants who put their trust in Him, violating the king’s command, and yielded up their bodies so as not to serve or worship any god except their own God. — Daniel 3:28

How much are you willing to give up to worship the One and Only True God?

Praying your worship today is a sacrificial one. Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship. (Romans 12:1)

Continually seeking Him,

Sharon

Witnesses By The Holy Spirit

Nov7

“Brethren, I may confidently say to you regarding the patriarch David that he both died and was buried, and his tomb is with us to this day. And so, because he was a prophet and knew that God had sworn to him with an oath to seat one of his descendants on his throne, he looked ahead and spoke of the resurrection of the Christ, that He was neither abandoned to Hades, nor did His flesh suffer decay. This Jesus God raised up again, to which we are all witnesses. Therefore having been exalted to the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, He has poured forth this which you both see and hear. For it was not David who ascended into heaven, but he himself says:

‘The Lord said to my Lord,
“Sit at My right hand,

Until I make Your enemies a footstool for Your feet.”’

Therefore let all the house of Israel know for certain that God has made Him both Lord and Christ—this Jesus whom you crucified.” — Acts 2:29-36

The patriarch David, entrusted with the throne of Israel, knew of and spoke of the King of kings long before He physically came. The disciples witnessed the resurrection of this eternal King. By the Holy Spirit, received of the Father, we are witnesses of what He reveals — Jesus is both Lord and Christ.

Are you certain that God has made Jesus both Lord and Christ?

Continually seeking Him,

Sharon

Listen to These Words

Nov6

“Men of Israel, listen to these words: Jesus the Nazarene, a man attested to you by God with miracles and wonders and signs which God performed through Him in your midst, just as you yourselves know— this Man, delivered over by the predetermined plan and foreknowledge of God, you nailed to a cross by the hands of godless men and put Him to death. But God raised Him up again, putting an end to the agony of death, since it was impossible for Him to be held in its power. For David says of Him,

‘I saw the Lord always in my presence;
For He is at my right hand, so that I will not be shaken.
‘Therefore my heart was glad and my tongue exulted;
Moreover my flesh also will live in hope; Because You will not abandon my soul to Hades, Nor allow Your Holy One to undergo decay. ‘You have made known to me the ways of life; You will make me full of gladness with Your presence.’ — Acts 2:22-28

Are you listening? Words of hope. Words of gladness. Words of victory.

Continually seeking Him,

Sharon

Casting Lots

Nov5

Therefore it is necessary that of the men who have accompanied us all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us — beginning with the baptism of John until the day that He was taken up from us — one of these must become a witness with us of His resurrection.” So they put forward two men, Joseph called Barsabbas (who was also called Justus), and Matthias. And they prayed and said, “You, Lord, who know the hearts of all men, show which one of these two You have chosen to occupy this ministry and apostleship from which Judas turned aside to go to his own place.” And they drew lots for them, and the lot fell to Matthias; and he was added to the eleven apostles. — Acts 1:21-26

I could imagine that “lots” could be “resumes”. What would have happened if Peter and the others had just drawn lots instead of praying and seeking God’s will? The reason I bring this up is that I have a concern regarding selection of Pastors to a church. So many leave God out of the equation because we already know what we are looking for. The applicant must have a Seminary Masters degree. He must be within a certain age group and other stipulations that puts God in a box. We, after all, know what is best for our congregation and community – right?

Yesterday, being election day in the USA, I wonder if God was consulted before voters went to the polls. Consulting the King of kings (Senator of senators, Pastor of pastors, etc.) should be our first step in deciding our leaders.

To God be the glory in seeking His desire, decision, choice and will. Pray.

Continually seeking Him,

Sharon