Acts 2:1-13 Effects of Pentecost

My commentary had powerful insights for us today:  "We are not going to move this world by criticism of it nor conformity to it, but by the combustion within it of lives ignited by the Spirit of God," Vance Havner is quoted as saying.  "The early church had none of the things that we think are so essential for success today -- buildings, money, political influence, social status -- and yet the church won multitudes to Christ and saw many churches established throughout the Roman world.  Why?  Because the church had the power of the Holy Spirit energizing its ministry.  They were a people who were ignited by the Spirit of God."

In this chapter, we see four experiences in the life of the church.  Two of them are found in these verses:

The church waiting for the Spirit -- for ten days they waited as they'd been instructed and the Holy Spirit was given to them.  One important note:  "We must not conclude that this ten-day prayer meeting brought about the miracles of Pentecost, or that we today may pray as they did and experience 'another Pentecost'.  Like our Lord's death at Calvary, Pentecost was a once-for-all event that will not be repeated.  The church may experience new fillings of the Spirit, and certainly patient prayer is an essential element to spiritual power, but we would not ask for another Pentecost any more than we would ask for another Calvary."

The church worshiping the Lord -- The Spirit came, baptized, filled, and spoke.  "The baptism of the Spirit means that I belong to His body; the fullness of the Spirit means that my body belongs to Him.  The baptism is final; the fullness is repeated as we trust God for new power to witness.  The baptism involves all other believers, for it makes us one in the body of Christ, while the fullness is personal and individual.  These are two distinct experiences, and they must not be confused."

Father, thank You for the gift of Your Spirit.  Quicken my heart to listen to Him, to understand, and to obey.

 

Your Brother In Christ,
Gary Ford

Acts 1:12-23 What Else They Believed In

My commentary continued describing the faith of the first Christians.  In the first twelve verses of Acts, they proved their belief in the Risen Christ.  In these verses, they also showed that they believed in each other.  "It is not enough for Christians to have faith in the Lord; they must also have faith in one another.  To these 120 people, the Lord had given the solemn responsibility of bearing witness to a lost world, and none of them could do the job alone.  They would experience severe persecution in the days ahead ... It was not a time for asking, 'Who is the greatest?' or, 'Who committed the greatest sin?'  It was a time for praying together and standing together in the Lord.  As they waited and worshiped together, they were being better prepared for the work that lay before them."

They also believed in prayer and in God's leading.  "The Lord Jesus was no longer with them to give them personal directions, but they were not without the leading of the Lord, for they had the Word of God and prayer ... Peter has been criticized for taking charge, but I believe he was doing the will of God.  Jesus had made it clear that Peter was to be their leader (see Matthew, Luke, and John).  Peter was first among equals, but he was their recognized leader ... we must also remember that the Lord had opened up their minds to understand the Scriptures (Luke 24:45)."

Father, open up my mind and show me what You would have me do.  Let Your Spirit guide me into Your will.

 

Your Brother In Christ,
Gary Ford

Acts 1 -- About The Holy Spirit

My commentary said, "The book of Acts is the account of the work of the Holy Spirit in and through the church.  The gospel of Luke records what Jesus began to do and teach in His human body, and the book of Acts tells us what Jesus continued to do and teach through His spiritual body, the church."

"They believed in the Risen Christ.  He'd taught them the reality of the resurrection, the coming of His kingdom, the power of His Holy Spirit, and the assurance of His coming again ... Jesus did not rebuke them when they kept asking about the future Jewish kingdom.  After all, He had opened their minds to understand the Scriptures, so they knew what they were asking.  But God has not revealed His timetable to us, and it is futile for us to speculate.  The important thing is not to be curious about the future but to be busy in the present, sharing the message of God's spiritual kingdom."

"Acts 1:8 is a key verse.  To begin with, it explains that the power of the church comes from the Holy Spirit and not from man.  God's people experienced repeated fillings of the Spirit as they faced new opportunities and obstacles.  Ordinary people were able to do extraordinary things because the Spirit of God was at work in their lives.  The ministry of the Holy Spirit is not a luxury; it is an absolute necessity."

Father, let me never forget how much I need Your Spirit.  Fill me back up whenever I run low.  Empower me to be a witness to all Christ has done!

 

Your Brother In Christ,
Gary Ford

Romans 16 -- Friends, Foes, and Faithful Servants

Paul told us about some friends, some foes, and some faithful servants here, my commentary said.

The significance of this?  "Paul was a friend maker as well as a soul winner.  He did not try to live an isolated life:  he had friends in the Lord and he appreciated them.  They were a help to him personally and to his ministry ... I have discovered that the servants whom God has used most were people who could make friends.  They multiplied themselves in the lives of their friends and associates in the ministry," my commentary added.

Many of the names might seem unimportant to readers today, but what they had done was certainly important to God!  Some had helped the poor and sick, some had been imprisoned with Paul, and some had laid down their own lives for him.

Paul did issue warnings about some foes to avoid who were diving the churches rather than working with him to spread the gospel.  "Paul gave two instruction:  mark them (meaning identify them) and avoid them.  It is a matter of obedience to the Lord and testimony to others.  The issue is not making or keeping friends, but pleasing the Lord and maintaining a consistent testimony."

Father, thank You for reminding us to be friend makers and to honor faithful servants -- not after they've died, but while they are still serving.  Thank You also for again warning us about those who divide churches.  Give us the discernment to know who is doing what.

 

Your Brother In Christ,
Gary Ford

Romans 15:25-33 The Gentiles' Ministry To The Jews

Paul next describes the Gentiles' ministry to the Jews.

"Paul and his associates had received a special offering from the Gentile churches in Greece for the suffering Jewish saints in Jerusalem ... It was an expression of love on the part of the Gentiles toward their Jewish brethren.  Second, it meant practical relief at a time when the poor Jewish believers needed it the most.  Third, it helped to unite Jews and Gentiles in the church."

"Paul looked on this offering as the paying of a debt.  The Gentiles had received spiritual wealth from the Jews.  They now returned material wealth, paying their debt."

"It was also a fruit ... the natural result of their walk with the Lord.  When the life of the Spirit flows through a church, giving is no problem."

Romans 15:30 suggests wrestling together, my commentary said.  "This verse does not mean that we must fight with God to get what we need.  Rather, it means our praying must not be a casual experience that has no heart or earnestness.  We should put as much fervor into our praying as a wrestler does into his wrestling!"

Father God, stoke up my prayer life.  Let me feel Your presence and help me to wrestle with You to get Your will done on earth.

 

Your Brother In Christ,
Gary Ford

Romans 15:14-24 The Characteristics of Paul's Ministry

Paul explained the characteristics of his ministry:

1)  It was received by grace:  "It was God's grace that saved him and it was God's grace that called him and made him an apostle."

2)  It was centered in the gospel:  "Paul looked on himself as a priest at the altar, offering up to God the Gentiles he had won to Christ."

3)  It was done for God's glory:  "Paul was not bragging about his ministry.  He was boasting in what the Lord had done."

4)  It was done by God's power:  "The Holy Spirit empowered Paul to minister and enabled him to perform mighty signs and wonders."

5)  It was according to God's plan:  "God had a special plan for Paul to follow:  he was not to preach where any other apostle had ministered ... He took the gospel and left behind witnessing churches and Christians who would carry on the work.  Paul finished one job before he started another one."

Father, please help me to receive what You've given me to do, to center it on the gospel, and to do it for Your glory and not my own.  Empower and enable me by Your Spirit and according to Your plan.

 

Your Brother In Christ,
Gary Ford

Romans 15:8-13 Jesus' Ministry & Paul's Ministry

"The supreme example of ministry must always be Jesus Christ."  If we try to compare ourselves to others instead, we will be subject to pride and we will fall far short of what God has planned for us," my commentary began.

Jesus' ministry had been first to the Jews, and now Paul shows how it applies to the Gentiles as well.  My commentary mentioned "a beautiful progression" Paul quoted in verses 9-12:

First, the Jews glorify God among the Gentiles.

Then, the Gentiles rejoice with the Jews.

Next, All the Jews and Gentiles together praise God.

Finally, Christ shall reign over Jews and Gentiles.

My commentary also believes that verse 8 covers the period of the Gospels and Acts 1-7.  Verse 9 describes Paul's ministry to the Gentiles.  Verse 10 could be applied to the church council in Acts 15 when the Gentiles were given equal status 'with His people.'  And today, Jews and Gentiles in the church are praising God together.

Father, thank You for providing hope for me, too.  I had no hope, but You stooped down and gave it to me when Your Son died on the cross for me!

 

Your Brother In Christ,
Gary Ford