Pastor A

Today we begin with “Dr.” Luke. The writer of the third Gospel also set down the history of the early church as recorded in the book of Acts. Unlike the other Gospel writers, Luke was a physician and a Gentile. That means, of course, that he was not one of the twelve disciples, for they were all Jews.

Again, the question probably comes to your mind, where did Luke get his information in order to write his book? Well, like Mark, Luke was also a companion of the Apostle Paul. In writing Acts, he often used the pronoun “we” to describe what he and Paul did together. No doubt Luke talked with men who were eyewitnesses to the life of the Lord.

The fourth writer of the Gospels is considered the “beloved” disciple. The writer of this last Gospel record was one of the twelve disciples and perhaps the youngest. Along with Peter and James, he was the closest of the Lord’s companions. Jesus apparently had a special affection for John who, although at first he was what we would call a “hot head,” because of his quick temper, turned out to exemplify the patient love he so often wrote about, especially in his letters: I, II, and III John.

Here, then, are the four men whom God chose to be the biographers of His Son. Were it not for their written records, we would have no reliable, first-hand accounts of the life of Christ.

Tomorrow we will examine how God used four vastly different men to help us see Christ!

Don’t try today; DO today!

Peter was, without a doubt, the most “human” of all the disciples. Perhaps this is why he demonstrates so well the whole idea of being controlled by the master. Peter’s “self” was dynamic, aggressive, ambitious, talented, successful. But “self” on the throne of his life had led only to inconsistency and spiritual defeat.

How did the Master gain control of Peter’s life? How did Jesus transform the unstable Simon Bar-Jona of the Gospels to Peter, the Rock of the Book of Acts? It began when Peter quit running his own life and quit operating by his own ambitions, his own ideas, and his own strengths. When Peter let God, in the person of the Holy Spirit, control him completely; Peter’s life changed forever.

How will Jesus control your life as a Christian in this twenty-first century? Just as he did Peter’s: when you stop doing it yourself and yield to His control in every area. Then He, through the Holy Spirit, will fill you, empower you, and use you in ways you could never have imagined. It won’t be easy to die to self. But Jesus cannot control you unless you willingly step aside and make Him your Lord and Master.

Acts 1:8, “But ye SHALL receive power, AFTER that the Holy Ghost is come upon you…“

During the time Jesus was tried, crucified, buried, and resurrected from the dead, Peter was living a tumultuous life on earth. However, something happened in Peter’s life after the roller coaster ride of denial of his Lord. For forty days Jesus lived with the disciples prior to His ascension into heaven. For ten more days, the disciples stayed in Jerusalem, waiting and praying. Some have suggested that the new power in Peter’s life was his knowledge of the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

Unquestionably, that was a thrilling thing to know; but it was not the key to Peter’s consistent spiritual victory. He had known about the resurrection for all but three days of those seven weeks and had experienced no new power. The “secret” was what Peter and the other disciples were waiting and praying for during those ten days in Jerusalem. The Lord Jesus Christ Himself, before He ascended into heaven, had said to them in Acts 1:8, “But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.“

The new power in Peter’s life was not the result of something: it was the result of Someone – the Holy Spirit. Once Peter was controlled by the Holy Spirit, he became a powerhouse for his Lord. No longer did he have to rely on his own abilities to motivate and lead others. Now he was charged with the very power of God Himself. Of course, Peter sinned and blundered even after his discovery; but these failures were the exception, not the rule.

Maybe you are riding a spiritual roller coaster like the one Peter rode for such a long time. You want to get off, but you do not know how. Take heart, because you can experience in your life the same transforming power that changed Peter from an unpredictable disciple to the “rock” of the early church.

Of all the men portrayed in the drama of the Scriptures, Peter is perhaps the most popular. He was the kind of guy you would vote for as “Most Likely to Succeed.” He was the extrovert of the twelve disciples. Peter was impulsive, aggressive, dynamic, enthusiastic, and more! But Peter was not perfect, not by any stretch of the imagination. He has more than his share of faults. He was very accustomed to doing the wrong thing at the wrong time in the wrong way. Maybe this is why we can identify with Peter. When we think about the tremendous way in which God used him, in spite of his failures, the thought occurs: “Maybe there is hope for me, after all!”

The turning point in Peter’s life was the day he discovered a “secret” which revolutionized his service for his Lord. The Gospels reveal the “old” Peter, riding a spiritual roller coaster. The book of Acts reveals the “new” Peter, experiencing consistent spiritual victory.

In the Gospels we read of Peter denying the Lord, spiritually defeated by a young servant girl in Matthew 26:69-75, “Now Peter sat without in the palace: and a damsel came unto him, saying, Thou also wast with Jesus of Galilee. 70 But he denied before them all, saying, I know not what thou sayest. 71 And when he was gone out into the porch, another maid saw him, and said unto them that were there, This fellow was also with Jesus of Nazareth. 72 And again he denied with an oath, I do not know the man. 73 And after a while came unto him they that stood by, and said to Peter, Surely thou also art one of them; for thy speech bewrayeth thee. 74 Then began he to curse and to swear, saying, I know not the man. And immediately the cock crew. 75 And Peter remembered the word of Jesus, which said unto him, Before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice. And he went out, and wept bitterly.“

But in the book of Acts we witness thousands being saved and baptized after Peter boldly preached the Gospel. Acts 2:41, “Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls.“

Tomorrow we will examine, what happened in the seven short weeks between Peter’s denial and his first sermon!

Continuing with yesterday’s thought of examining mistakes that Christians make concerning God’s will, let’s look at three more mistakes that are made in one’s thinking:

Mistake #4: “Well, Lord, I’ve decided that the best way I can serve you is…” Some Christians get the idea they can decide God’s will on their own. For instance, it sounds very spiritual to say, “Lord, I am going to be a businessman and give lots of money to you.” But, this does not impress God.

Mistake #5: “Man, everything is going so good, I must be in God’s will.” Just because we are having no problems or stress is certainly no indication that we are doing what God wants us to do. The book of I Peter has a lot to say about how much we may expect to go through while we are in the very center of His will. The apostle calls it the “test of faith.”

Mistake #6: “I’ve disobeyed the Lord. I missed His will some time ago, and now I am doomed to ‘second best.‘” This kind of thinking certainly does not result from a careful study of God’s Word. Think about Peter. He blew is so many times. Once he even denied knowing the Lord. Yet he became the great preacher of the early church. God used him in spite of all his limitations and failures. He will do the same in your life.

Let’s not make these six mistakes in our discovery of God’s perfect will for our life. May we each immerse ourselves in the truth of His Word. May we allow the Holy Spirit to guide us!

Philip was a Jew with a Greek name. Historians suggest that he was probably given his name in honor of Philip the Tetrarch, a Greek king who had ruled the region where the disciple was born. Understandably, there had been a strong Greek influence in Philip’s life, and this was to play an important part in God’s will for Philip’s ministry. One Bible passage illustrates this fact:

John 12:20-21, “And there were certain Greeks among them that came up to worship at the feast: 21 The same came therefore to Philip, which was of Bethsaida of Galilee, and desired him, saying, Sir, we would see Jesus.“

Was it coincidental that these Greeks came to Philip and not to Peter or John or some other disciple? No. It was a part of God’s plan for Philip’s life. The Gospel was to be shared with all people (Greeks included) and Philip was to be instrumental in spreading the good news throughout the Grecian world. God used Philip’s knowledge and understanding of the Greek culture to accomplish this vital mission. The most reliable records of Philip’s later life show that his ministry was centered in the areas populated with Greeks. The life of Philip is a simple yet significant example of the way God directs His children into His will.

God has a wonderful plan for your life. To say that He does not is to insult His character. It is ridiculous to question whether the God Who so masterfully created and redeemed you would fail to also provide a plan for your life. The simple truth is that the primary reason for your existence is to live according to His plan, which is called, “the will of God.”

Jesus Himself said, “My meat is to do the will of Him that sent me.” John 4:34. So, the purpose of your life is identical to the purpose of Jesus’ life – to do the will of God. But perhaps you are confused about how the will of God is revealed. Certainly there are a lot of wrong ideas about this; but it is safe to say that much confusion can be cleared away by understanding the two aspects of God’s will: written and unwritten.

Tomorrow we will have a few thoughts regarding God’s written will.

Jesus was an advocate of self-love. Consider His words in Matthew 22:39, “…thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself…” Jesus taught that a natural, respectful love for yourself is normal; and it is essential in our relationships with others. Without a proper love for yourself, you are sure to have a rough time loving anyone else.

When we think of loving our friends, we are reminded that Jesus said that the identifying mark of the Christian is love for fellow believers. A famous Jewish historian wrote that it was said of the first-century Christians, “Behold, how they love one another.” Today, some historians might be prompted to write, “Behold, how they stab one another in the back.” How tragic it is that unbelievers often to a better job of showing concern than Christians do. We need to continually remind ourselves that our Lord commanded us to love our neighbors as we love ourselves.

What about our enemies. Should we love our enemies? Yes, Jesus said we are to do this too. Perhaps you wonder: can I do it? The answer is yes and no. Yes, we can do it; but no, not on our own. Romans 5:5 says that the Holy Spirit supplies the love we need. “And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.“

In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus said that it is normal to love those who love you and hate those who hate you. But He then pointed out that when you love those who hate you, you demonstrate spiritual maturity. And God’s Word reveals that when we love this way, we are loving with agape love.

The demonstration of genuine love in a Christian’s life draws attention to Christ. This truth is illustrated by a thrilling experience of Peter and John. They were going into the Temple on one Sabbath day when they met a crippled man. Peter spoke to the man and commanded him in the name of Jesus to stand and walk. Miraculously, the cripple’s legs were healed. He not only stood, but began leaping with joy. Peter used the opportunity to preach to the people gathered around. The City Council of Jerusalem got very uptight about this and called Peter “on the carpet” so to speak. They asked him to testify and he gave them just what they asked for. How did they respond? Acts 4:13 says,

“Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men, they marvelled; and they took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus.“

Peter and John were not geniuses. In fact, in the eyes of the world, they were just two dumb fishermen. But they showed a real love in their lives and in so doing, they magnified the Lord Jesus Christ.

God wants the same wonderful thing to happen in your life.