Devotionary

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Ep 382 – Acts 3:17-26 Jan 02, 2018

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In Acts 3:17-26, Luke continues his record of Peter's address to the crowds gathered in Solomon's Portico. Peter has placed the responsibility for the death of Jesus on the shoulders of the Jews in his audience. They had rejected and been complicit in the murder of the Righteous One of God. But now he is going to give them some great news. First of all, he'll let them know that they had acted in ignorance. Then, he'll assure them that God is not done with them. And he'll refer to a coming day which he calls the times of refreshing. In spite of their unfaithfulness, God will prove faithful, doing for the people of Israel what they never could have done for themselves, and providing for them a blessing they in no way deserved. Peter longs to see his fellow Jews come to faith in Christ. He wants them to recognize that Jesus was the fulfillment of all the Old Testament prophecies and that He was the Messiah for whom they had so long waited. Jesus was the fulfillment of the covenants made with Abraham and with David. He was the chosen seed, the descendant of both men, who would bless the nations. But the people of Israel were going to have to repent, or change their minds, regarding who Jesus was and what He came to do. They were going to have to accept Him as their Messiah. But remarkably, even if they failed to do so, the day was coming when God bless them by turning them from their wickedness.

Ep 381 – Acts 3:11-16 Jan 01, 2018

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Peter and John have just healed a man born lame. The crowds are amazed and perplexed by what they have just witnessed. They had just seen a miracle and it must have brought back memories of the kinds of things Jesus had done when He was still alive. The people of Israel had been amazed at His capacity to heal the sick and lame, cast out demons, and even raise the dead. In fact, just weeks prior to Jesus triumphal entry into Jerusalem, news had spread regarding His raising of Lazarus from the dead. It had happened in the nearby town of Bethany, and when Jesus had arrived in Jerusalem, He had been accompanied by Lazarus. But Jesus had died. Lazarus had returned home. But here were the disciples of Jesus performing similar miracles and preaching in the name of Jesus, even claiming that He had risen from the dead. It was too much for the Jews to handle. They are at a loss as to how to explain what they have just witnessed. So, in Acts 3:11-16, Luke records Peter's response to their questions and concerns. For Peter, this was nothing more than the continuation of the very same works Jesus had done when He was with them. And it should have been more than enough proof that Jesus was risen from the dead. This man walked because Jesus lived. The Spirit had come because Jesus had left. And the disciples were doing the works of God, because they were filled with the Spirit of God.

Ep 38- – Acts 3:1-10 Dec 31, 2017

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In verses 1-10 of Acts 3, Luke provides us with a retelling of an encounter Peter and John had with a man who had been lame since birth. While Luke seems to present this as a chance encounter, it was anything but that. This was a God-ordained appointment, providing these two apostles with an opportunity to perform a miraculous sign and validate their role as ambassadors for Christ. What we have here is a continuation of the very same work Jesus had done when He was doing His earthly ministry. He had performed signs and wonders. He had healed. He had cast out demons. And He had told the disciples that they would do the same. "I tell you the truth, anyone who believes in me will do the same works I have done, and even greater works, because I am going to be with the Father. You can ask for anything in my name, and I will do it, so that the Son can bring glory to the Father. Yes, ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it!" (John 14:12-14 NLT). Peter and John were going to rock this man's world. They were going to shock and astonish the crowds gathered in the Temple grounds that day. And the miracle they performed would going to shatter any and all expectations, including those of the lame man and of the crowd who had gathered at the Temple for prayer. None of them had showed up that day expecting anything spectacular to happen. They had come to the Temple to worship God, but never expected Him to show up.

Ep 379 – Acts 2:42-47 Dec 30, 2017

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What should a true, New Testament church look like? For an answer to that question, many have turned to the book of Acts. They see in Luke's account a detailed, God-ordained agenda for the church of Jesus Christ in any and all ages. But is that what Luke was really out to provide? Was he writing a manual on church polity and ecclesiastical methodology? In Acts 2:42-47, we have some very familiar verses that some would use as proof that Luke is out to describe and prescribe that proper manifestation of the church for not only the 1st-Century, but for the 21st. But while there are some aspects of the early church that we can find helpful, we must not lose sight of Luke's primary objective in writing this book. He opened up with the words, "In the first book, O Theophilus", referring to the gospel that bears his name. Then he stated that in his gospel he "dealt with all that Jesus began to do and teach, until the day when he was taken up, after he had given commands through the Holy Spirit to the apostles whom he had chosen" (Acts 1:1-2 ESV). Now, in Acts, the second half of his treatise, he is dealing with all that happened after Jesus was taken up. He is chronicling the events surrounding the coming of the Holy Spirit and the spread of the gospel. And while we can learn a great deal about the church, Luke seems much more interested that we learn about the work of God among His people through the presence and power of the Spirit.

Ep 378 – Acts 2:29-41 Dec 29, 2017

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What better way to address a crowd of Jews than to quote their revered patriarch and former king, David. Which is what we have recorded in Acts 2:29-41. In his ongoing address to the crowd that had gathered as a result of the Spirit's indwelling and the disciples speaking in foreign languages, Peter uses the words of King David to prove that Jesus was the long-awaited Messiah and that what they had just witnessed was the work of God. Crucial to Peter's explanation of what had just happened that day was his attempt to link the events to the resurrection of Jesus. While the Romans and the Jews had seen fit to put Jesus to death, God had chosen to raise Him back to life. And Peter uses David's psalm to prove it. This was all part of God's divine plan and, David, acting as a prophet, had predicted Jesus' death and His subsequent resurrection. The one they had crucified, God had crowned Lord and Christ. He was the Messiah. And He had come, but had now returned to glory. Yet, He had sent His Holy Spirit to take His place and to provide His followers with power from on high. What the crowd had seen that day was not the work of men, but the handiwork of God. And when the people heard the words of Peter, they responded, "What shall we do?" And Peter was more than happy to provide them with an answer.

Eo 377 – Acts 2:22-28 Dec 28, 2017

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In Acts 2:22-28, Luke records part of Peter's address to the crowd of Jews who had gathered as a result of the Holy Spirit's coming and the apostles' miraculous display of the Spirit's power as they spoke in foreign languages. Peter took the opportunity to speak to the very people who had been complicit in the death of Jesus. It had been the Jewish citizens of Jerusalem who had rejected Pilate's offer to release Jesus, screaming instead, "Crucify Him!" They had demanded that Pilate release to them a known and notorious criminal, Barabbas, rather than seeing Jesus set free. But Peter wants them to know that all of this had been the will of God. He states that Jesus was "delivered up according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God." In other words, it had been God's decision that His Son die, not theirs. That doesn't mean they were guiltless or unworthy of God's judgment for the role they played. It simply means that Jesus wasn't put to death, but as He Himself stated, He "willingly gave His life as a ransom for many." The death of Jesus was not a setback or an unexpected glitch in God's eternal plan, but the main point and the essential outcome that God had preordained. This was the way it had always been meant to be. Jesus had to be put to death for eternal life to become possible and forgiveness of sins to become available.

Ep 376 – Acts 2:14-21 Dec 27, 2017

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God is always at work, but not everyone recognizes His efforts. Some refuse to acknowledge God's presence and power, simply writing it off or attributing it to something or someone else. That is exactly what we see going on in Acts chapter 2, in the immediate aftermath of the Spirit's coming. The disciples, filled with the Holy Spirit, had spoken in foreign languages and communicated verbally the mighty works of God. But some in the crowd had tried to discredit what had happened, saying that it was the result of the disciples having imbibed a bit too much wine a bit too early in the day. But in verses 14-21, Peter is going to address this accusation and use the Old Testament Scriptures as proof that what had taken place that day was the work of God. And it was just the beginning. The beginning of the end. With the Holy Spirit's arrival, the end times had begun. God was doing something new and it would all culminate one day with His Son's second coming and the final judgment of the world and all who live in it. The Jews in the audience that day could try and discredit what they had seen by blaming it on public intoxication, but Peter was going to make it perfectly clear that the last days had come and the last thing they should want to do is miss it.

Ep 375 – Acts 2:5-13 Dec 26, 2017

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When God shows up, He always makes an impact and leaves an impression. In the Old Testament, His appearance typically left people face down in the dirt, quivering in fear. When His presence was announced with smoke, thunder and lightning on Mount Sinai, the people of Israel begged Moses to speak to God, so they wouldn't have to. They were petrified. God's presence is powerful and palpable. It's impossible to ignore. So, when the Spirit of God showed up at Pentecost, it was spectacular and memorable. There were flames of fire. There were Galilean disciples speaking in foreign tongues. There was the ear-splitting sound of rushing wind. And those in attendance were left bewildered, amazed and perplexed. They weren't sure what had happened, but there was no question that something incredible had just taken place. In verses 5-13 of Acts 2, Luke records the reactions of the people as they witnessed the supernatural display of the Spirit's indwelling presence in the disciples. They were stunned. They were left scratching their heads in wonder. Some expressed their disbelief with questions. Others tried to write off what they had seen with human explanations. But there was no denying that something incredible had just taken place.

Ep 374 – Acts 2:1-4 Dec 25, 2017

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God moves in a mysterious way His wonders to perform. Contrary to popular belief, those words are not from the Bible, but are the lyrics from a hymn penned by William Cowper in 1774. But while not Scripture, they do reflect the words of Paul found in Romans 11:33: "Oh, how great are God's riches and wisdom and knowledge! How impossible it is for us to understand his decisions and his ways!" And they certainly illustrate the unexpected and inexplicable way in which God worked on the day of Pentecost when the Holy Spirit arrived on the scene. The events described by Luke in Acts 2:1-4, are extraordinary and certainly not what the disciples had been anticipating. In fact, they had been completely in the dark as to exactly what was going to happen when the promised Holy Spirit showed up. All they had known was that Jesus had commanded them to return to Jerusalem and wait. And so, they had. What was going to happen remained a mystery to them. And, if while they waited, they happened to think back on the words of God found in the book of Isaiah, they would have realized that what was going to happen was not going to be what they expected. "My thoughts are nothing like your thoughts," says the LORD. "And my ways are far beyond anything you could imagine" (Isaiah 55:8 NLT).

Acts 1:12-14 Dec 24, 2017

Show notes

Jesus had told His disciples to return to Jerusalem and wait. Sounds easy enough. But think about how difficult that assignment would have been. Jerusalem had been the scene of one of the darkest days of their lives. They had seen their friend and Messiah put to death. Yes, they had been eye-witnesses to His resurrection, but He was gone again, having returned to His Father's side in heaven. Now, they were alone once again, and to obey the command to return to Jerusalem, the scene of the crime against God's anointed Son, was far from easy. They knew there were those in Jerusalem who hated them and held them in contempt. They were not welcome in Jerusalem. But Jesus had told them to go back, and had instructed them to watch and pray. Watching requires waiting. They were having to await the arrival of the Holy Spirit, whom Jesus promised He would send in His absence. But waiting is difficult. It requires patience. And praying isn't exactly easy either, because it demands that we trust. Jesus didn't tell them what to pray, but only that they should. Watching and praying are two things that require us to put our hopes in someone or something else. We must watch, but have no control over when that which we are looking for will show up. We must pray, but we have no guarantee when our requests will be answered or whether they will be answered at all. But in Acts 1:12-14, we will find the disciples faithfully watching and praying, not knowing what was going to happen, but willing to wait nonetheless.

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