Verse 21 - "And everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved."
EVERYONE!
I bet there were drunks, adulterers, tax evaders, liars, criminals, drug addicts, racists, bigots......in the crowd that day when Peter spoke these words.
EVERYONE!
This includes the people that I don't like. It includes people like Hitler, Sadaam Hussein, Jack the Ripper, Hollywood celebrities, rapists, murderers......EVERYONE!
God wants no one to be lost. I need to remember that when I try to avoid certain people that I encounter each day and week. God loves them. I should to. EVERYONE!
Karen Hewitt said... Acts 2:38-"Peter said, 'Turn back to God! Be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ, so that your sins will be forgiven. Then you will be given the Holy Spirit.'"
I was baptized as an infant, confirmed as a youth, and asked for and accepted my salvation as a teen.
With all of the amazing youth and adult baptisms that happen at COC, I wonder about the necessity of being baptized as an adult and publicly proclaiming my affirmation of Jesus as my Savior. I would be interested in hearing bloggers' comments about that.
My grandmother was baptized as an adult. I remember that day so clearly, even though I was just a young child. I knew it was an important day in her life, but I did not understand its significance until much later. She was a role model of faith to me.
Lord, thank you for your gift of the Holy Spirit. Help me to re-accept that gift every day, and share the good news of your saving grace with everyone I meet today.
I think you go with what your gut is telling you. I always believe that "gut" feeling is the Holy Spirit's urging. Regardless, baptism is a public declaration of our recognition as Christ as our Savior; and our intention to lead our life in a way that is pleasing to Him. We do that by our actions in public, so in a strange way - we have the opportunity of the declaration of baptism each and every day.
Bloggers:
After re-reading my entry, it could be interpreted that I think I am better than these people (drunks, adulterers, etc.) I am definitely not. I am just like them. EVERYONE means I have no right to judge who is saved or not. EVERYONE means I need to love those I find difficult to love, or even like. EVERYONE!
verse 41, "...and about three thousand were added to their number that day."
verse 47, "...And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved."
They went from 120 followers of Jesus to 3,000 with the pouring out of the Holy Spirit. It didn't stop there. The work of the Lord continued - people became followers of Jesus every single day!
Two things really stick out to me on this - first, the writer of Acts counts people. People represent souls in heaven or hell. When we count how many people are here and how many people are baptized and how many people give their lives to Jesus we do it because it is biblical, not to get attention.
Second thing that jumps out at me is that the changing of lives is done by God. It was the Lord that added to their number. It doesn't say that it was Peter's great message. It was God. Jesus will build the church and the gates of hell will not stand against it.
I know God is using me, but it is God at work. God is here at Charter Oak Church. Lives are being changed for eternity. People are being equipped to become more like Jesus. I love it! I believe that God loves it too;-)
2Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. 3They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. 4All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues[a] as the Spirit enabled them.
8Then how is it that each of us hears them in his own native language?
Too many people today think that talking the jibber jabber that some other churches might teach is what we are to do today.
IT said GOD FILLED all of them with the holy spirit, and they were able to speak other languages as the spirit enabled them. NOT as other churches will teach them, but AS the HOLY SPIRIT enabled them. If the holy spirit found that we needed to get HIS message to someone in another country HE would equip us to do so.
IT then goes to say how is it that each of us hears them in his own native language?
Think back to the time when you first tried to read God's message. For most people it is confusing, and very hard to read. But when God reaches out to each of us, HE enables us to understand HIS word in a way that we can understand it. In our own language. It enables us to be better witnesses. That it why small groups are the best. You can have so many different people read the same verses and everyone will interpret it a different way. God allows the scriptures to speak to us at different times. Then HE gives us the ability to share with others so that they might get an understanding meant for them ONLY IF GOD wants them to understand it at that time. GOD puts on our hearts what HE needs us to understand. That's why you can read the scriptures at another time and you might take something different back.
That is why we are to renew our minds daily thru God's word. God teaches us, and when we speak to others about God's teaching, or listen to other sermons on tv, or read other christian books, then GOD will confirm to us again what HE needed us to learn.
Heavenly Father, we PRAISE your HOLY NAME that you speak to us in our own language, so that we might gain FULL knowledge and understanding about who YOU truly are, and that you WANT a close LOVING relationship with us. Father, help us to clearly hear your word for us to day, help us to clear the fog from our heads so that we may get a perfect understanding of you.
46 Every day they continued to gather together by common consent in the temple courts, breaking bread from house to house, sharing their food with glad and humble hearts, 47 praising God and having the good will of all the people. And the Lord was adding to their number every day those who were being saved.
Make a committment to go to church every week, bring someone with you, join a small group, talk about Christ, share each others joys and concerns...let's "do" life together.
Dear Lord, Thank you for Charter Oak Church, this is what it is all about.
Charter Oak Church is a family of Jesus followers who want to reach out to those who are searching and equip believers to become fully devoted followers of Jesus.
Verse 21 - "And everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved."
ReplyDeleteEVERYONE!
I bet there were drunks, adulterers, tax evaders, liars, criminals, drug addicts, racists, bigots......in the crowd that day when Peter spoke these words.
EVERYONE!
This includes the people that I don't like. It includes people like Hitler, Sadaam Hussein, Jack the Ripper, Hollywood celebrities, rapists, murderers......EVERYONE!
God wants no one to be lost. I need to remember that when I try to avoid certain people that I encounter each day and week. God loves them. I should to. EVERYONE!
Preview
ReplyDeleteKaren Hewitt said...
Acts 2:38-"Peter said, 'Turn back to God! Be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ, so that your sins will be forgiven. Then you will be given the Holy Spirit.'"
I was baptized as an infant, confirmed as a youth, and asked for and accepted my salvation as a teen.
With all of the amazing youth and adult baptisms that happen at COC, I wonder about the necessity of being baptized as an adult and publicly proclaiming my affirmation of Jesus as my Savior. I would be interested in hearing bloggers' comments about that.
My grandmother was baptized as an adult. I remember that day so clearly, even though I was just a young child. I knew it was an important day in her life, but I did not understand its significance until much later.
She was a role model of faith to me.
Lord, thank you for your gift of the Holy Spirit. Help me to re-accept that gift every day, and share the good news of your saving grace with everyone I meet today.
Karen:
ReplyDeleteI think you go with what your gut is telling you. I always believe that "gut" feeling is the Holy Spirit's urging. Regardless, baptism is a public declaration of our recognition as Christ as our Savior; and our intention to lead our life in a way that is pleasing to Him. We do that by our actions in public, so in a strange way - we have the opportunity of the declaration of baptism each and every day.
Bloggers:
After re-reading my entry, it could be interpreted that I think I am better than these people (drunks, adulterers, etc.) I am definitely not. I am just like them. EVERYONE means I have no right to judge who is saved or not. EVERYONE means I need to love those I find difficult to love, or even like. EVERYONE!
verse 41, "...and about three thousand were added to their number that day."
ReplyDeleteverse 47, "...And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved."
They went from 120 followers of Jesus to 3,000 with the pouring out of the Holy Spirit. It didn't stop there. The work of the Lord continued - people became followers of Jesus every single day!
Two things really stick out to me on this - first, the writer of Acts counts people. People represent souls in heaven or hell. When we count how many people are here and how many people are baptized and how many people give their lives to Jesus we do it because it is biblical, not to get attention.
Second thing that jumps out at me is that the changing of lives is done by God. It was the Lord that added to their number. It doesn't say that it was Peter's great message. It was God. Jesus will build the church and the gates of hell will not stand against it.
I know God is using me, but it is God at work. God is here at Charter Oak Church. Lives are being changed for eternity. People are being equipped to become more like Jesus. I love it! I believe that God loves it too;-)
2Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. 3They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. 4All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues[a] as the Spirit enabled them.
ReplyDelete8Then how is it that each of us hears them in his own native language?
Too many people today think that talking the jibber jabber that some other churches might teach is what we are to do today.
IT said GOD FILLED all of them with the holy spirit, and they were able to speak other languages as the spirit enabled them. NOT as other churches will teach them, but AS the HOLY SPIRIT enabled them. If the holy spirit found that we needed to get HIS message to someone in another country HE would equip us to do so.
IT then goes to say how is it that each of us hears them in his own native language?
Think back to the time when you first tried to read God's message. For most people it is confusing, and very hard to read. But when God reaches out to each of us, HE enables us to understand HIS word in a way that we can understand it. In our own language. It enables us to be better witnesses. That it why small groups are the best. You can have so many different people read the same verses and everyone will interpret it a different way. God allows the scriptures to speak to us at different times. Then HE gives us the ability to share with others so that they might get an understanding meant for them ONLY IF GOD wants them to understand it at that time. GOD puts on our hearts what HE needs us to understand. That's why you can read the scriptures at another time and you might take something different back.
That is why we are to renew our minds daily thru God's word. God teaches us, and when we speak to others about God's teaching, or listen to other sermons on tv, or read other christian books, then GOD will confirm to us again what HE needed us to learn.
Heavenly Father, we PRAISE your HOLY NAME that you speak to us in our own language, so that we might gain FULL knowledge and understanding about who YOU truly are, and that you WANT a close LOVING relationship with us. Father, help us to clearly hear your word for us to day, help us to clear the fog from our heads so that we may get a perfect understanding of you.
46 Every day they continued to gather together by common consent in the temple courts, breaking bread from house to house, sharing their food with glad and humble hearts, 47 praising God and having the good will of all the people. And the Lord was adding to their number every day those who were being saved.
ReplyDeleteMake a committment to go to church every week, bring someone with you, join a small group, talk about Christ, share each others joys and concerns...let's "do" life together.
Dear Lord, Thank you for Charter Oak Church, this is what it is all about.