The church prospers as disciples are empowered and led by the Spirit.

July 31, 2013 - Acts 9:19-31

^19-21 Saul spent a few days getting acquainted with the Damascus disciples, but then went right to work, wasting no time, preaching in the meeting places that this Jesus was the Son of God. They were caught off guard by this and, not at all sure they could trust him, they kept saying, “Isn’t this the man who wreaked havoc in Jerusalem among the believers? And didn’t he come here to do the same thing—arrest us and drag us off to jail in Jerusalem for sentencing by the high priests?”

   ²² But their suspicions didn’t slow Saul down for even a minute. His momentum was up now and he plowed straight into the opposition, disarming the Damascus Jews and trying to show them that this Jesus was the Messiah.

   ^23-25 After this had gone on quite a long time, some Jews conspired to kill him, but Saul got wind of it. They were watching the city gates around the clock so they could kill him. Then one night the disciples engineered his escape by lowering him over the wall in a basket.

   ^26-27 Back in Jerusalem he tried to join the disciples, but they were all afraid of him. They didn’t trust him one bit. Then Barnabas took him under his wing. He introduced him to the apostles and stood up for him, told them how Saul had seen and spoken to the Master on the Damascus Road and how in Damascus itself he had laid his life on the line with his bold preaching in Jesus’ name.

   ^28-30 After that he was accepted as one of them, going in and out of Jerusalem with no questions asked, uninhibited as he preached in the Master’s name. But then he ran afoul of a group called Hellenists—he had been engaged in a running argument with them—who plotted his murder. When his friends learned of the plot, they got him out of town, took him to Caesarea, and then shipped him off to Tarsus.

   ³¹ Things calmed down after that and the church had smooth sailing for a while. All over the country—Judea, Samaria, Galilee—the church grew. They were permeated with a deep sense of reverence for God. The Holy Spirit was with them, strengthening them. They prospered wonderfully.

Saul was converted and passionate to preach that Jesus was the Messiah. Initially, disciples were afraid to receive Saul but Barnabas took care of this new believer Saul and sponsored and referred him to the apostles that Saul became accepted in the primary church community in Jerusalem. Saul continued his preaching ministry but later was forced to leave Jerusalem because of the opposition by the Jews. Nevertheless, the church continued to prosper as the Holy Spirit was with them. 

Dear Holy Spirit, conversion stories occurs in your church as the Holy Spirit works and empowers in His people's lives. The Holy Spirit empowers Saul that he preached Jesus with boldness; the Holy Spirit filled up with Barnabas that he mentored new believer Saul with wisdom and love of Jesus; all other disciples were strengthened by the Spirit to continue witnessing the Name of Jesus. The church grew and prospered. May the Holy Spirit continue to work in your church that we can see people's conversion, lives changed, Jesus' Name be exalted. Amen.

Jesus reveals and transforms our lives.

July 30, 2013 - Acts 9:1-19

    ^1 1-2 All this time Saul was breathing down the necks of the Master’s disciples, out for the kill. He went to the Chief Priest and got arrest warrants to take to the meeting places in Damascus so that if he found anyone there belonging to the Way, whether men or women, he could arrest them and bring them to Jerusalem.

   ^3-4 He set off. When he got to the outskirts of Damascus, he was suddenly dazed by a blinding flash of light. As he fell to the ground, he heard a voice: “Saul, Saul, why are you out to get me?”

   ^5-6 He said, “Who are you, Master?”

   “I am Jesus, the One you’re hunting down. I want you to get up and enter the city. In the city you’ll be told what to do next.”

   ^7-9 His companions stood there dumbstruck—they could hear the sound, but couldn’t see anyone—while Saul, picking himself up off the ground, found himself stone-blind. They had to take him by the hand and lead him into Damascus. He continued blind for three days. He ate nothing, drank nothing.

   ¹⁰ There was a disciple in Damascus by the name of Ananias. The Master spoke to him in a vision: “Ananias.”

   “Yes, Master?” he answered.

   ^11-12 “Get up and go over to Straight Avenue. Ask at the house of Judas for a man from Tarsus. His name is Saul. He’s there praying. He has just had a dream in which he saw a man named Ananias enter the house and lay hands on him so he could see again.”

   ^13-14 Ananias protested, “Master, you can’t be serious. Everybody’s talking about this man and the terrible things he’s been doing, his reign of terror against your people in Jerusalem! And now he’s shown up here with papers from the Chief Priest that give him license to do the same to us.”

   ^15-16 But the Master said, “Don’t argue. Go! I have picked him as my personal representative to non-Jews and kings and Jews. And now I’m about to show him what he’s in for—the hard suffering that goes with this job.”

   ^17-19 So Ananias went and found the house, placed his hands on blind Saul, and said, “Brother Saul, the Master sent me, the same Jesus you saw on your way here. He sent me so you could see again and be filled with the Holy Spirit.” No sooner were the words out of his mouth than something like scales fell from Saul’s eyes—he could see again! He got to his feet, was baptized, and sat down with them to a hearty meal.

The Holy Spirit continued to work in his people's lives though the enemy Satan fiercely attacked God's church. Saul went on the way to Damascus to further arrest believers and stop the spreading of Gospel. But Jesus revealed and spoke to him and blinded his eyes with great flash of light. Jesus continued to reveal to him in his dream that someone would pray for him. At the same time, Jesus appeared to Ananias in a vision that he was sent to pray for Saul and be filled with the gift of the Holy Spirit, and commission him to be an apostle to Gentiles. Saul resumed his eyesight and was baptized. His life would never be the same again - he was filled with the Spirit and encountered with Jesus, being commissioned to witness the Name of Jesus.

All things are possible in God that even the enemies of God are transformed to be God's servants, like Saul on the way to Damascus as Jesus revealed and spoke to him face to face. Don't be discouraged by the attacks and threatenings of enemies. The enemies want to discourage us but Jesus through the Holy Spirit still dwells in us, speaking to us through his words, dreams and even visions, like the narrative of Saul's conversion and Ananias' prayer ministry. Follow closely with the Holy Spirit each day and be aware of the enemies' schemes in attacking God's church and His people. 

Listen and obey to the voice of the Spirit - turning a desert road into a way of blessing other people's lives.

July 29, 2013 - Acts 8:26-40

    ²⁶ Now an angel of the Lord said to Philip, “Go south to the road—the desert road—that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza.” ²⁷ So he started out, and on his way he met an Ethiopian eunuch, an important official in charge of all the treasury of the Kandake (which means “queen of the Ethiopians”). This man had gone to Jerusalem to worship, ²⁸ and on his way home was sitting in his chariot reading the Book of Isaiah the prophet. ²⁹ The Spirit told Philip, “Go to that chariot and stay near it.”

   ³⁰ Then Philip ran up to the chariot and heard the man reading Isaiah the prophet. “Do you understand what you are reading?” Philip asked.

   ³¹ “How can I,” he said, “unless someone explains it to me?” So he invited Philip to come up and sit with him.

   ³² This is the passage of Scripture the eunuch was reading:

   “He was led like a sheep to the slaughter,
   and as a lamb before its shearer is silent,
   so he did not open his mouth.
³³ In his humiliation he was deprived of justice.
   Who can speak of his descendants?
   For his life was taken from the earth.”

   ³⁴ The eunuch asked Philip, “Tell me, please, who is the prophet talking about, himself or someone else?” ³⁵ Then Philip began with that very passage of Scripture and told him the good news about Jesus.

   ³⁶ As they traveled along the road, they came to some water and the eunuch said, “Look, here is water. What can stand in the way of my being baptized?” ^[37]  38 And he gave orders to stop the chariot. Then both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water and Philip baptized him. ³⁹ When they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord suddenly took Philip away, and the eunuch did not see him again, but went on his way rejoicing. ⁴⁰ Philip, however, appeared at Azotus and traveled about, preaching the gospel in all the towns until he reached Caesarea.

The Spirit of the Lord (the angel of the Lord ) continued His empowering in Philip's ministry, telling him to travel on the road to Gaza. Philip listened to the voice of the Spirit, obeyed the instruction, and seeing how the Spirit prepared him to evangelize to an eunuch. Having baptized the eunuch, the Spirit took him away suddenly to preach in other towns at Caesarea. Jesus proclaimed the God's Kingdom by the Spirit; the apostles prophesied, the deacons (Stephen and Philips) preached the gospel powerfully with the Spirit; and the disciples witnessed the Name of Jesus as they were sent by the Spirit. The early church's community became the priesthood of believers. They listened to the voice and and obeyed the instructions of the Spirit, and they all spoke about Jesus and His Gospel powerfully by the Spirit in the midst of persecutions and oppositions. Signs and wonders followed their works to witness their preaching. Jesus's Gospel was spread and His Name was exalted.

Dear Holy Spirit, the angel of the Lord, please continue to speak to my life and ministry that I know and follow Your instruction like the ministry life of Philip. As I follow your way, even a desert road in people's eyes can become a way to fully experience Your presence and power, and at the same time, greatly bless other people's lives. You are God and living in your disciples' lives. 

The Holy Spirit empowers God's people to continue Jesus' mission to Jews, Samaritans, and to the end of the world.

July 28, 2013 - Acts 8:9-25

 ^9-11 Previous to Philip’s arrival, a certain Simon had practiced magic in the city, posing as a famous man and dazzling all the Samaritans with his wizardry. He had them all, from little children to old men, eating out of his hand. They all thought he had supernatural powers, and called him “the Great Wizard.” He had been around a long time and everyone was more or less in awe of him.

   ^12-13 But when Philip came to town announcing the news of God’s kingdom and proclaiming the name of Jesus Christ, they forgot Simon and were baptized, becoming believers right and left! Even Simon himself believed and was baptized. From that moment he was like Philip’s shadow, so fascinated with all the God-signs and miracles that he wouldn’t leave Philip’s side.

   ^14-17 When the apostles in Jerusalem received the report that Samaria had accepted God’s Message, they sent Peter and John down to pray for them to receive the Holy Spirit. Up to this point they had only been baptized in the name of the Master Jesus; the Holy Spirit hadn’t yet fallen on them. Then the apostles laid their hands on them and they did receive the Holy Spirit.

   ^18-19 When Simon saw that the apostles by merely laying on hands conferred the Spirit, he pulled out his money, excited, and said, “Sell me your secret! Show me how you did that! How much do you want? Name your price!”

   ^20-23 Peter said, “To hell with your money! And you along with it. Why, that’s unthinkable—trying to buy God’s gift! You’ll never be part of what God is doing by striking bargains and offering bribes. Change your ways—and now! Ask the Master to forgive you for trying to use God to make money. I can see this is an old habit with you; you reek with money-lust.”

   ²⁴ “Oh!” said Simon, “pray for me! Pray to the Master that nothing like that will ever happen to me!”

   ²⁵ And with that, the apostles were on their way, continuing to witness and spread the Message of God’s salvation, preaching in every Samaritan town they passed through on their return to Jerusalem.

The Holy Spirit empowered the people of God to actively witness the Name of Jesus in the midst of Samaritans that they believed in Jesus and were baptized. Peter and John even went down to Samaria to pray for them that they can receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. God intended to give His Spirit to God's people that they can be empowered to continue Jesus' mission not only to Jews, but also to Samaria, and even to the end of the world that Jesus' Name can be exalted. Simon, a previous magician, also believed in God's message but was later rebuked by Peter for his wrong attitude of asking for the gift of the Holy Spirit. 

Dear Holy Spirit, You are the promise of Jesus to God's disciples, no matter we are Jews, Samaritans, or Gentiles. You converted us to believe in God's Gospel; You continue to sanctify us and pour out the love of our Heavenly Father into our heart; and You indwell and empower us to witness the Name of Jesus by your power to the ends of the world. The persecution from the enemies is real and fierce; the temptation of sins are not ceasing; the obstacles are not to be underestimated. But the Holy Spirit who indwell in our heart and empower our ministry is the sufficient strength that we can accomplish Jesus' mission to the end of the world. 

The Holy Spirit empowers God's church in the midst of persecution.

July 27, 2013 - Acts 8:1-8

¹ Saul was right there, congratulating the killers.

    ^1 1-2 That set off a terrific persecution of the church in Jerusalem. The believers were all scattered throughout Judea and Samaria. All, that is, but the apostles. Good and brave men buried Stephen, giving him a solemn funeral—not many dry eyes that day!

   ^3-8 And Saul just went wild, devastating the church, entering house after house after house, dragging men and women off to jail. Forced to leave home base, the followers of Jesus all became missionaries. Wherever they were scattered, they preached the Message about Jesus. Going down to a Samaritan city, Philip proclaimed the Message of the Messiah. When the people heard what he had to say and saw the miracles, the clear signs of God’s action, they hung on his every word. Many who could neither stand nor walk were healed that day. The evil spirits protested loudly as they were sent on their way. And what joy in the city!

Stephen became the first martyr of the early church. His death only marked the beginning of the severe persecution of the early church. Saul dragged disciples into the jail. Disciples were forced to leave Jerusalem, but it resulted further proclamation of the Name of Jesus even to Samaria. Samaritans were converted by the words of Philip with the signs and miracles done by Philip with the power of the Holy Spirit. The enemies wanted to destroy the church by persecution but God protected the church and even strengthened the church in the midst of persecution. Stephen were  martyred but God raised up another evangelist, Philip, to continue the missions. God's works will never be defeated by persecution and opposition which rather become the means by which God more blesses His church.

Dear Holy Spirit, the church needs your revival in the midst of opposition of the world. Strengthen your people to face oppositions with blessings and continual proclamation of the Name of Jesus with Your power that people knew that Jesus is the Lord. Help me to listen to Your voice as I await for your direction that I minister alongside the Spirit and witness Jesus all by your might. 

The Holy Spirit transforms us to be like Jesus - a heart of forgiveness.

July 26, 2013 - Acts 7:51-60

^51-53 “And you continue, so bullheaded! Calluses on your hearts, flaps on your ears! Deliberately ignoring the Holy Spirit, you’re just like your ancestors. Was there ever a prophet who didn’t get the same treatment? Your ancestors killed anyone who dared talk about the coming of the Just One. And you’ve kept up the family tradition—traitors and murderers, all of you. You had God’s Law handed to you by angels—gift-wrapped!—and you squandered it!”

   ^54-56 At that point they went wild, a rioting mob of catcalls and whistles and invective. But Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit, hardly noticed—he only had eyes for God, whom he saw in all his glory with Jesus standing at his side. He said, “Oh! I see heaven wide open and the Son of Man standing at God’s side!”

   ^57-58 Yelling and hissing, the mob drowned him out. Now in full stampede, they dragged him out of town and pelted him with rocks. The ringleaders took off their coats and asked a young man named Saul to watch them.

   ^59-60 As the rocks rained down, Stephen prayed, “Master Jesus, take my life.” Then he knelt down, praying loud enough for everyone to hear, “Master, don’t blame them for this sin”—his last words. Then he died.

Stephen, filled with Holy Spirit, powerfully preached Jesus in the midst of God's enemies till to the point that he was stoned to death by the Jews with hostility. Nevertheless, Stephen's face became like an angel and his eyes gazed at the  heaven which was opened for his sake and even Jesus stood at God's side, welcoming him to return to God. Sins caused hostility at the enemies' side while the Holy Spirit transformed God's people, like Stephen, to be like their Master Jesus, still praying for the forgiveness of their enemies who persecuted them. The power of the Holy Spirit empowered God's people to exalt Jesus and convert people in opposition, and also filled up God's people with the love of heavenly Father as they face the hostility from people. 

My dear Holy Spirit, your church needs your empowering as we faithfully witness the Name of Jesus in this world of hostility. People need Jesus. They need to see the love of heavenly Father through your people's lives as they pray and love in the return of persecution and opposition. Speak to me through your means that I can follow and be strengthened with your power to witness your name. 

The Holy Spirit leads us in speaking the words of God for Jesus' Name.

July 25, 2013 - Acts 7:1-53

 ¹ Then the high priest asked Stephen, “Are these charges true?”

   ² To this he replied: “Brothers and fathers, listen to me! The God of glory appeared to our father Abraham while he was still in Mesopotamia, before he lived in Harran. ³ ‘Leave your country and your people,’ God said, ‘and go to the land I will show you.’

   ⁴ “So he left the land of the Chaldeans and settled in Harran. After the death of his father, God sent him to this land where you are now living. ⁵ He gave him no inheritance here, not even enough ground to set his foot on. But God promised him that he and his descendants after him would possess the land, even though at that time Abraham had no child. ⁶ God spoke to him in this way: ‘For four hundred years your descendants will be strangers in a country not their own, and they will be enslaved and mistreated. ⁷ But I will punish the nation they serve as slaves,’ God said, ‘and afterward they will come out of that country and worship me in this place.’ ⁸ Then he gave Abraham the covenant of circumcision. And Abraham became the father of Isaac and circumcised him eight days after his birth. Later Isaac became the father of Jacob, and Jacob became the father of the twelve patriarchs.

   ⁹ “Because the patriarchs were jealous of Joseph, they sold him as a slave into Egypt. But God was with him ¹⁰ and rescued him from all his troubles. He gave Joseph wisdom and enabled him to gain the goodwill of Pharaoh king of Egypt. So Pharaoh made him ruler over Egypt and all his palace.

   ¹¹ “Then a famine struck all Egypt and Canaan, bringing great suffering, and our ancestors could not find food. ¹² When Jacob heard that there was grain in Egypt, he sent our forefathers on their first visit. ¹³ On their second visit, Joseph told his brothers who he was, and Pharaoh learned about Joseph’s family. ¹⁴ After this, Joseph sent for his father Jacob and his whole family, seventy-five in all. ¹⁵ Then Jacob went down to Egypt, where he and our ancestors died. ¹⁶ Their bodies were brought back to Shechem and placed in the tomb that Abraham had bought from the sons of Hamor at Shechem for a certain sum of money.

   ¹⁷ “As the time drew near for God to fulfill his promise to Abraham, the number of our people in Egypt had greatly increased. ¹⁸ Then ‘a new king, to whom Joseph meant nothing, came to power in Egypt.’ ¹⁹ He dealt treacherously with our people and oppressed our ancestors by forcing them to throw out their newborn babies so that they would die.

   ²⁰ “At that time Moses was born, and he was no ordinary child. For three months he was cared for by his family. ²¹ When he was placed outside, Pharaoh’s daughter took him and brought him up as her own son. ²² Moses was educated in all the wisdom of the Egyptians and was powerful in speech and action.

   ²³ “When Moses was forty years old, he decided to visit his own people, the Israelites. ²⁴ He saw one of them being mistreated by an Egyptian, so he went to his defense and avenged him by killing the Egyptian. ²⁵ Moses thought that his own people would realize that God was using him to rescue them, but they did not. ²⁶ The next day Moses came upon two Israelites who were fighting. He tried to reconcile them by saying, ‘Men, you are brothers; why do you want to hurt each other?’

   ²⁷ “But the man who was mistreating the other pushed Moses aside and said, ‘Who made you ruler and judge over us? ²⁸ Are you thinking of killing me as you killed the Egyptian yesterday?’ ²⁹ When Moses heard this, he fled to Midian, where he settled as a foreigner and had two sons.

   ³⁰ “After forty years had passed, an angel appeared to Moses in the flames of a burning bush in the desert near Mount Sinai. ³¹ When he saw this, he was amazed at the sight. As he went over to get a closer look, he heard the Lord say: ³² ‘I am the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.’ Moses trembled with fear and did not dare to look.

   ³³ “Then the Lord said to him, ‘Take off your sandals, for the place where you are standing is holy ground. ³⁴ I have indeed seen the oppression of my people in Egypt. I have heard their groaning and have come down to set them free. Now come, I will send you back to Egypt.’

   ³⁵ “This is the same Moses they had rejected with the words, ‘Who made you ruler and judge?’ He was sent to be their ruler and deliverer by God himself, through the angel who appeared to him in the bush. ³⁶ He led them out of Egypt and performed wonders and signs in Egypt, at the Red Sea and for forty years in the wilderness.

   ³⁷ “This is the Moses who told the Israelites, ‘God will raise up for you a prophet like me from your own people.’ ³⁸ He was in the assembly in the wilderness, with the angel who spoke to him on Mount Sinai, and with our ancestors; and he received living words to pass on to us.

   ³⁹ “But our ancestors refused to obey him. Instead, they rejected him and in their hearts turned back to Egypt. ⁴⁰ They told Aaron, ‘Make us gods who will go before us. As for this fellow Moses who led us out of Egypt—we don’t know what has happened to him!’ ⁴¹ That was the time they made an idol in the form of a calf. They brought sacrifices to it and reveled in what their own hands had made. ⁴² But God turned away from them and gave them over to the worship of the sun, moon and stars. This agrees with what is written in the book of the prophets:

   “‘Did you bring me sacrifices and offerings
   forty years in the wilderness, people of Israel?
⁴³ You have taken up the tabernacle of Molek
   and the star of your god Rephan,
   the idols you made to worship.
Therefore I will send you into exile’ beyond Babylon.

   ⁴⁴ “Our ancestors had the tabernacle of the covenant law with them in the wilderness. It had been made as God directed Moses, according to the pattern he had seen. ⁴⁵ After receiving the tabernacle, our ancestors under Joshua brought it with them when they took the land from the nations God drove out before them. It remained in the land until the time of David, ⁴⁶ who enjoyed God’s favor and asked that he might provide a dwelling place for the God of Jacob. ⁴⁷ But it was Solomon who built a house for him.

   ⁴⁸ “However, the Most High does not live in houses made by human hands. As the prophet says:

   ⁴⁹ “‘Heaven is my throne,
   and the earth is my footstool.
What kind of house will you build for me? says the Lord.
   Or where will my resting place be?
⁵⁰ Has not my hand made all these things?’

   ⁵¹ “You stiff-necked people! Your hearts and ears are still uncircumcised. You are just like your ancestors: You always resist the Holy Spirit! ⁵² Was there ever a prophet your ancestors did not persecute? They even killed those who predicted the coming of the Righteous One. And now you have betrayed and murdered him— ⁵³ you who have received the law that was given through angels but have not obeyed it.”

Stephen was filled with the Holy Spirit, and illuminated by the Spirit to powerfully interpret the salvation history of Israelites while condemning them to be like their ancestors, experiencing God's leading in wilderness, receiving Moses' Law through angels, constantly being taught by the prophets, but at the same time disobeying God, killing the prophets and now murdering the Son of God. Spirit-filled Stephen spoke as he heard from the Holy Spirit, courageously witnessed the Name of Jesus in the midst of oppositions. The way of discipleship is a way of witnessing the Name of Jesus, always preparing for opposition and even persecution. But it is also a way of experiencing the empowering of the Holy Spirit, being illuminated to understand the words of God, speaking what we hear from the Holy Spirit through the words of God, and being empowered to witness the Name of Jesus in this world of enmity and disbelief to God. Dear Holy Spirit, continue to speak to me today that I speak exactly what I hear from You. 

The Face of an Angel.

July 24, 2013 - Acts 6:8-15

^8-10 Stephen, brimming with God’s grace and energy, was doing wonderful things among the people, unmistakable signs that God was among them. But then some men from the meeting place whose membership was made up of freed slaves, Cyrenians, Alexandrians, and some others from Cilicia and Asia, went up against him trying to argue him down. But they were no match for his wisdom and spirit when he spoke.

   ¹¹ So in secret they bribed men to lie: “We heard him cursing Moses and God.”

   ^12-14 That stirred up the people, the religious leaders, and religion scholars. They grabbed Stephen and took him before the High Council. They put forward their bribed witnesses to testify: “This man talks nonstop against this Holy Place and God’s Law. We even heard him say that Jesus of Nazareth would tear this place down and throw out all the customs Moses gave us.”

   ¹⁵ As all those who sat on the High Council looked at Stephen, they found they couldn’t take their eyes off him—his face was like the face of an angel!

Stephen was filled with the Spirit and with His wisdom. He powerfully preached and witnessed the Name of Jesus in the midst of oppositions that no one can counter against. His face even became like an angel - a face of light and beauty in God's eyes - that even the enemies had to admit. 

In the charismatic community of the early church, the Holy Spirit filled up and empowered the apostles, and also the other lay leaders, like Stephen for witnessing the Name of Jesus. They spoke with the Spirit, they suffered by the Spirit, and they were transformed even including their faces as they lived and ministered by the power of the Holy Spirit. Challenges and even persecution never diminished in the era of the early church, but the power and transformation of the Holy Spirit in the disciples' lives grew even bigger and bigger that the world might know that Jesus has resurrected and been exalted as the Lord. My dear Holy Spirit, how can I grow and minister like your servants in the early church? As challenges increases, the strength of my inner soul and the transformative power of my ministry by the Spirit also increase. 

The church, including the leaders and congregants, as a charismatic community.

July 23, 2013 - Acts 6:1-7

    ^1 1-4 During this time, as the disciples were increasing in numbers by leaps and bounds, hard feelings developed among the Greek-speaking believers—“Hellenists”—toward the Hebrew-speaking believers because their widows were being discriminated against in the daily food lines. So the Twelve called a meeting of the disciples. They said, “It wouldn’t be right for us to abandon our responsibilities for preaching and teaching the Word of God to help with the care of the poor. So, friends, choose seven men from among you whom everyone trusts, men full of the Holy Spirit and good sense, and we’ll assign them this task. Meanwhile, we’ll stick to our assigned tasks of prayer and speaking God’s Word.”

   ^5-6 The congregation thought this was a great idea. They went ahead and chose—

   Stephen, a man full of faith and the Holy Spirit,
Philip,
Procorus,
Nicanor,
Timon,
Parmenas,
Nicolas, a convert from Antioch.

   Then they presented them to the apostles. Praying, the apostles laid on hands and commissioned them for their task.

   ⁷ The Word of God prospered. The number of disciples in Jerusalem increased dramatically. Not least, a great many priests submitted themselves to the faith.

Division among God's people may become a great crisis in a church's community. The Hellenists complained against the Hebrew-speaking brothers and sisters as their widows were ignored by the daily provisions. The Spirit-filled church asked for the Holy Spirit's discernment in them. The apostles kept their faithfulness in their preaching and praying ministry, while at the same time, delegating the responsibility to new deacons whom were chosen by the church. The church, led by the Holy Spirit, chose the deacons, while the deacons, including Stephen and Philip, etc, were also full of the Holy Spirit, and wisdom in carrying out God's ministry. The word of God continued to prosper and people were converted in faith. 

Dear Holy Spirit, the church absolutely needs the wisdom and discernment from You as the church has to decide on the issues for the church's life and your kingdom. The church is called to be a charismatic community, filled up with the Holy Spirit for all ministries. The leaders and all the laymen alike are to be filled with the Holy Spirit. No matter how the pastors/elders/deacons decide, and the congregation responds to God's will in the church, the discernment and guidance from the Holy Spirit is the only indispensable factor for making decisions, and causing the advancement of God's Kingdom. 

Miracles happen in our lives as we faithfully obey and preach the Name of Jesus.

July 22, 2013 - Acts 5:17-42

    ^17-20 Provoked mightily by all this, the Chief Priest and those on his side, mainly the sect of Sadducees, went into action, arrested the apostles and put them in the town jail. But during the night an angel of God opened the jailhouse door and led them out. He said, “Go to the Temple and take your stand. Tell the people everything there is to say about this Life.”

   Promptly obedient, they entered the Temple at daybreak and went on with their teaching.

   ^21-23 Meanwhile, the Chief Priest and his cronies convened the High Council, Israel’s senate, and sent to the jail to have the prisoners brought in. When the police got there, they couldn’t find them anywhere in the jail. They went back and reported, “We found the jail locked tight as a drum and the guards posted at the doors, but when we went inside we didn’t find a soul.”

   ²⁴ The chief of the Temple police and the high priests were puzzled. “What’s going on here anyway?”

   ^25-26 Just then someone showed up and said, “Did you know that the men you put in jail are back in the Temple teaching the people?” The chief and his police went and got them, but they handled them gently, fearful that the people would riot and turn on them.

   ^27-28 Bringing them back, they stood them before the High Council. The Chief Priest said, “Didn’t we give you strict orders not to teach in Jesus’ name? And here you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching and are trying your best to blame us for the death of this man.”

   ^29-32 Peter and the apostles answered, “It’s necessary to obey God rather than men. The God of our ancestors raised up Jesus, the One you killed by hanging him on a cross. God set him on high at his side, Prince and Savior, to give Israel the gift of a changed life and sins forgiven. And we are witnesses to these things. The Holy Spirit, whom God gives to those who obey him, corroborates every detail.”

   ^33-37 When they heard that, they were furious and wanted to kill them on the spot. But one of the council members stood up, a Pharisee by the name of Gamaliel, a teacher of God’s Law who was honored by everyone. He ordered the men taken out of the room for a short time, then said, “Fellow Israelites, be careful what you do to these men. Not long ago Theudas made something of a splash, claiming to be somebody, and got about four hundred men to join him. He was killed, his followers dispersed, and nothing came of it. A little later, at the time of the census, Judas the Galilean appeared and acquired a following. He also fizzled out and the people following him were scattered to the four winds.

   ^38-39 “So I am telling you: Hands off these men! Let them alone. If this program or this work is merely human, it will fall apart, but if it is of God, there is nothing you can do about it—and you better not be found fighting against God!”

   ^40-42 That convinced them. They called the apostles back in. After giving them a thorough whipping, they warned them not to speak in Jesus’ name and sent them off. The apostles went out of the High Council overjoyed because they had been given the honor of being dishonored on account of the Name. Every day they were in the Temple and homes, teaching and preaching Christ Jesus, not letting up for a minute.

The apostles obeyed God in preaching the Name of Jesus. Facing persecution and threatening from the enemies were surely a result. They were put into jail and forbidden to preach the Name of Jesus. But obedience also brings God's power to be manifested in their ministries. Even angels appeared and broke the jail (jail-break occurred). Apostles continued to preach that the enemies had no way to stop them. God even worked in the midst of enemies. Through the mouth of Gamaliel, the enemies released the apostles and found no way to stop them. Apostles felt honored of being suffered for the Name of Jesus. Suffering was not a cursing or even a trial to them anymore after the Pentecost, but was a honor as they were dishonored for the Name of Jesus. 

Wow! My Holy Spirit, Christian faith to us is not merely a story but is a life encounter with God through exalting the Name of Jesus by the power of the Holy Spirit. Miracles, the works of God, can happen in our daily lives. God works in our crises, angels appears in the deliverance, enemies' hearts are turned, Spirit empowers in us, etc. as we continue to faithfully obey and preach the Name of Jesus. People need Jesus. 

Rely on the power of the Holy Spirit to set up God-signs among the lost.

July 21, 2013 - Acts 5:12-16

    ^12-16 Through the work of the apostles, many God-signs were set up among the people, many wonderful things done. They all met regularly and in remarkable harmony on the Temple porch named after Solomon. But even though people admired them a lot, outsiders were wary about joining them. On the other hand, those who put their trust in the Master were added right and left, men and women both. They even carried the sick out into the streets and laid them on stretchers and bedrolls, hoping they would be touched by Peter’s shadow when he walked by. They came from the villages surrounding Jerusalem, throngs of them, bringing the sick and bedeviled. And they all were healed.

After Jesus ascended into heaven, the apostles and the church's community continued the work of Jesus in the midst of people as their ministry were manifested by the power of the Holy Spirit. People possessed by demons or diseases were healed by the apostles, and even to the point that the patients hoped that they could get healing as they were touched by Peter's shadow as he walked by. God-signs were established by the hands of the apostles such that more and more people were added onto the primitive church's community. 

My Holy Spirit, by your power and presence, the world can be shattered and the gates of the hell be shaken. The power of God's Kingdom can be mightily manifested by your servants' hands. Let's deepen our desire to see the manifestation of your works. People need Jesus. Without your manifestation, people are still enslaved by all kinds of sins and bondage. They cries for liberation and hope from the Lord. Please use us to be your servants to proclaim the gospel message of liberation and to manifest your power to liberate them from the power of Satan and sins. Dear heavenly Father, have mercy on this world and your church that we people of God shall no longer live in weaknesses but in the strength of the Spirit that Jesus' Name be glorified. 

The Holy Spirit reveals the darkness of people's inner souls.

July 20, 2013 - Acts 5:1-11

    ^1 1-2 But a man named Ananias—his wife, Sapphira, conniving in this with him—sold a piece of land, secretly kept part of the price for himself, and then brought the rest to the apostles and made an offering of it.

   ^3-4 Peter said, “Ananias, how did Satan get you to lie to the Holy Spirit and secretly keep back part of the price of the field? Before you sold it, it was all yours, and after you sold it, the money was yours to do with as you wished. So what got into you to pull a trick like this? You didn’t lie to men but to God.”

   ^5-6 Ananias, when he heard those words, fell down dead. That put the fear of God into everyone who heard of it. The younger men went right to work and wrapped him up, then carried him out and buried him.

   ^7-8 Not more than three hours later, his wife, knowing nothing of what had happened, came in. Peter said, “Tell me, were you given this price for your field?”

   “Yes,” she said, “that price.”

   ^9-10 Peter responded, “What’s going on here that you connived to conspire against the Spirit of the Master? The men who buried your husband are at the door, and you’re next.” No sooner were the words out of his mouth than she also fell down, dead. When the young men returned they found her body. They carried her out and buried her beside her husband.

   ¹¹ By this time the whole church and, in fact, everyone who heard of these things had a healthy respect for God. They knew God was not to be trifled with.

The Holy Spirit spoke to His people and people responded to sell their properties and share with other b/s. They had everything in common. Ananias and Sapphira might hear the voice of the Holy Spirit, but they responded by lying to the Spirit and to the congregation. They sold their property but offered part of it to the congregation, pretending to the Spirit that they had followed His voice. Peter, the apostle, heard the voice of the Holy Spirit directly, condemned Ananias for his lying to the Holy Spirit. Judgement from God occurred on him and he was dead before the congregation. Peter again heard the voice of the Holy Spirit, challenged Sapphira for her motives of selling the property, and again issued the words of judgment from God on her. She was dead as well before the congregation. God was fearful before the congregation as everybody knew that God was holy and His Name must not be abused. 

My dear Holy Spirit, You are the Spirit of truth. You lead us to experience truth and also reveal the darkness from human's inner souls. Speak to me as I follow your will to grow and to serve your people that I know how to live a life of holiness before you and also know how to restore b/s who may be trapped in sins. You desire to purify your people that they may become true witness for the Name of Jesus in this world of darkness.  

Proclaim Jesus as Lord with fearless confidence by the power of the Holy Spirit.

July 19, 2013 - Acts 4:23-37

    ^23-26 As soon as Peter and John were let go, they went to their friends and told them what the high priests and religious leaders had said. Hearing the report, they lifted their voices in a wonderful harmony in prayer: “Strong God, you made heaven and earth and sea and everything in them. By the Holy Spirit you spoke through the mouth of your servant and our father, David:

   Why the big noise, nations?
Why the mean plots, peoples?
Earth’s leaders push for position,
Potentates meet for summit talks,
The God-deniers, the Messiah-defiers!

   ^27-28 “For in fact they did meet—Herod and Pontius Pilate with nations and peoples, even Israel itself!—met in this very city to plot against your holy Son Jesus, the One you made Messiah, to carry out the plans you long ago set in motion.

   ^29-30 “And now they’re at it again! Take care of their threats and give your servants fearless confidence in preaching your Message, as you stretch out your hand to us in healings and miracles and wonders done in the name of your holy servant Jesus.”

   ³¹ While they were praying, the place where they were meeting trembled and shook. They were all filled with the Holy Spirit and continued to speak God’s Word with fearless confidence.

   ^32-33 The whole congregation of believers was united as one—one heart, one mind! They didn’t even claim ownership of their own possessions. No one said, “That’s mine; you can’t have it.” They shared everything. The apostles gave powerful witness to the resurrection of the Master Jesus, and grace was on all of them.

   ^34-35 And so it turned out that not a person among them was needy. Those who owned fields or houses sold them and brought the price of the sale to the apostles and made an offering of it. The apostles then distributed it according to each person’s need.

   ^36-37 Joseph, called by the apostles “Barnabas” (which means “Son of Comfort”), a Levite born in Cyprus, sold a field that he owned, brought the money, and made an offering of it to the apostles.

In the midst of persecution, the people of God worshiped and prayed to God in one heart and one mind, and they were filled with the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is not a spirit of timidity but of power of God. The apostles were empowered to preach Jesus with fearless confidence - even sacrificing their lives for Jesus was a honor and blessing to them. God continued to use the apostles to witness the Name of Jesus with signs of wonders, healing, and miracles. People of God saw the heavenly reality, moved by the Spirit to take care of other b/s in needs, and even sold all their belongings for providing other people's needs. They shared their material things in common. The heavenly reality was realized in the early church which was filled with the Holy Spirit. 

My Father God, we desire to be filled with Your Spirit of power and transformation. Give us fearless confidence and faith in our Master Jesus Christ who has been exalted. Let us rely on Your Spirit to proclaim the Name of Jesus with Your works of wonders, healing, and even miracles. Jesus is the Lord. Revive your church that we live out this heavenly reality that the world knows that Jesus is the only answer to the world's problems. 

Stand firm for Jesus by the power of the Holy Spirit.

July 18, 2013 - Acts 4:1-22

  ^1 1-4 While Peter and John were addressing the people, the priests, the chief of the Temple police, and some Sadducees came up, indignant that these upstart apostles were instructing the people and proclaiming that the resurrection from the dead had taken place in Jesus. They arrested them and threw them in jail until morning, for by now it was late in the evening. But many of those who listened had already believed the Message—in round numbers about five thousand!

   ^5-7 The next day a meeting was called in Jerusalem. The rulers, religious leaders, religion scholars, Annas the Chief Priest, Caiaphas, John, Alexander—everybody who was anybody was there. They stood Peter and John in the middle of the room and grilled them: “Who put you in charge here? What business do you have doing this?”

   ^8-12 With that, Peter, full of the Holy Spirit, let loose: “Rulers and leaders of the people, if we have been brought to trial today for helping a sick man, put under investigation regarding this healing, I’ll be completely frank with you—we have nothing to hide. By the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, the One you killed on a cross, the One God raised from the dead, by means of his name this man stands before you healthy and whole. Jesus is ‘the stone you masons threw out, which is now the cornerstone.’ Salvation comes no other way; no other name has been or will be given to us by which we can be saved, only this one.”

   ^13-14 They couldn’t take their eyes off them—Peter and John standing there so confident, so sure of themselves! Their fascination deepened when they realized these two were laymen with no training in Scripture or formal education. They recognized them as companions of Jesus, but with the man right before them, seeing him standing there so upright—so healed!—what could they say against that?

   ^15-17 They sent them out of the room so they could work out a plan. They talked it over: “What can we do with these men? By now it’s known all over town that a miracle has occurred, and that they are behind it. There is no way we can refute that. But so that it doesn’t go any further, let’s silence them with threats so they won’t dare to use Jesus’ name ever again with anyone.”

   ^18-20 They called them back and warned them that they were on no account ever again to speak or teach in the name of Jesus. But Peter and John spoke right back, “Whether it’s right in God’s eyes to listen to you rather than to God, you decide. As for us, there’s no question—we can’t keep quiet about what we’ve seen and heard.”

   ^21-22 The religious leaders renewed their threats, but then released them. They couldn’t come up with a charge that would stick, that would keep them in jail. The people wouldn’t have stood for it—they were all praising God over what had happened. The man who had been miraculously healed was over forty years old.

Peter boldly preached the Name of Jesus by the power of the Holy Spirit. The enemies were indignant with the people of God. Peter was put to jail and threatened not to preach the Name of Jesus Christ to others. Peter, by the power of the Holy Spirit, did not give in but more courageously witness Jesus before the opposition. There is no other name, except the Name of Jesus Christ, people can be saved. It's always right to listen to God rather than to people no matter how hard the persecution may be. Following the will of God and exalting the name of Jesus by the power of the Holy Spirit, miracles happened again and again. The man who were crippled since his birth was healed, five thousands of people repented, the mouths of the enemies were shut as they found no way to stop the spreading of God's name, Peter was courageous enough to stand firm before the enemies. 

My Father God, you intend to exalt the name of Jesus Christ by the power of your Spirit. We are your witnesses and instruments. Let's submit and entrust ourselves to your leading, listening and relying on the Spirit to speak to us and to minister to people, exalting the name of Jesus Christ to people that our God can be glorified.  

The illumination and empowering of the Holy Spirit in our ministry.

July 17, 2013 - Acts 3:12-26

^12-16 When Peter saw he had a congregation, he addressed the people:

   “Oh, Israelites, why does this take you by such complete surprise, and why stare at us as if our power or piety made him walk? The God of Abraham and Isaac and Jacob, the God of our ancestors, has glorified his Son Jesus. The very One that Pilate called innocent, you repudiated. You repudiated the Holy One, the Just One, and asked for a murderer in his place. You no sooner killed the Author of Life than God raised him from the dead—and we’re the witnesses. Faith in Jesus’ name put this man, whose condition you know so well, on his feet—yes, faith and nothing but faith put this man healed and whole right before your eyes.

   ^17-18 “And now, friends, I know you had no idea what you were doing when you killed Jesus, and neither did your leaders. But God, who through the preaching of all the prophets had said all along that his Messiah would be killed, knew exactly what you were doing and used it to fulfill his plans.

   ^19-23 “Now it’s time to change your ways! Turn to face God so he can wipe away your sins, pour out showers of blessing to refresh you, and send you the Messiah he prepared for you, namely, Jesus. For the time being he must remain out of sight in heaven until everything is restored to order again just the way God, through the preaching of his holy prophets of old, said it would be. Moses, for instance, said, ‘Your God will raise up for you a prophet just like me from your family. Listen to every word he speaks to you. Every last living soul who refuses to listen to that prophet will be wiped out from the people.’

   ^24-26 “All the prophets from Samuel on down said the same thing, said most emphatically that these days would come. These prophets, along with the covenant God made with your ancestors, are your family tree. God’s covenant-word to Abraham provides the text: ‘By your offspring all the families of the earth will be blessed.’ But you are first in line: God, having raised up his Son, sent him to bless you as you turn, one by one, from your evil ways.”

Peter, being filled up by the Holy Spirit, healed the man who was crippled since his birth, and addressed the people as directed by the Holy Spirit. Peter preached with the Spirit to verify that Jesus the crucified was the one promised by God to their ancestors Abraham, Issac, and Jacob. The Holy Spirit illuminated Peter to grasp the full meaning of the Scriptures that he never had before, and the Spirit also empowered Peter to powerfully preach to the inner souls of the audience and invite them to turn their faces to God. Understanding and preaching of the words of God are not merely based on intellectual human faculties but due to the powerful illumination and empowering of the Holy Spirit in Peter's ministry.

My dear Holy Spirit, I also deeply hunger for your works in my life, illuminating my mind that I can grasp the meaning of Your promises in your words, filling up my life with God's love and Jesus' image that I can witness Jesus as the Lord in my ministry. Pl. show me the signs of God's grace in my life that my faith can be strengthened and my way can be straightened as I faithfully follow Your will to glorify your name. 

Listen to the Holy Spirit - Minister to people in the Name of Jesus Christ.

July 16, 2013 - Acts 3:1-11

 ^1 1-5 One day at three o’clock in the afternoon, Peter and John were on their way into the Temple for prayer meeting. At the same time there was a man crippled from birth being carried up. Every day he was set down at the Temple gate, the one named Beautiful, to beg from those going into the Temple. When he saw Peter and John about to enter the Temple, he asked for a handout. Peter, with John at his side, looked him straight in the eye and said, “Look here.” He looked up, expecting to get something from them.

   ^6-8 Peter said, “I don’t have a nickel to my name, but what I do have, I give you: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk!” He grabbed him by the right hand and pulled him up. In an instant his feet and ankles became firm. He jumped to his feet and walked.

   ^8-10 The man went into the Temple with them, walking back and forth, dancing and praising God. Everybody there saw him walking around and praising God. They recognized him as the one who sat begging at the Temple’s Gate Beautiful and rubbed their eyes, astonished, scarcely believing what they were seeing.

   ¹¹ The man threw his arms around Peter and John, ecstatic. All the people ran up to where they were at Solomon’s Porch to see it for themselves.

Peter and John were on the way to the temple for worship and prayer meeting. As they prayed and entered the temple gate, they saw the man who were crippled since birth and the Holy Spirit spoke to them. The man asked an alms while the apostles heard from the Spirit that God would heal him through their hands. The crippled man expected to get some food or money from the apostles and didn't expect to see anything miraculous in his life. But Peter instantly healed his feet and ankles, pulling him up to even walk and jump. Jesus healed people as followed by Father's works; Peter healed the man who was crippled as listened to the voice of the Holy Spirit. Before the Day of Pentecost, the apostles followed Jesus, hearing from what Jesus said, and doing what Jesus did. After the Day of Pentecost, the apostles, being indwelt by the Holy Spirit, walking with the Holy Spirit, listening to the voice of the Holy Spirit, and ministering to people by the power of the Holy Spirit. They spoke in tongues, understood the Scriptures, interpreted the Scriptures, preached the words of God, healed people's diseases as they continued to walk closely with the Holy Spirit, prayed to God and listened to His voice.

My dear Holy Spirit, You desire to fill up our hearts and speak to us in all circumstances that we follow according to your will and not to our flesh and men's intellect. Continue to draw me closely to my heavenly Father's love each day, listening to your voice and ministering to people as You lead and instruct. 

The outpouring of the Holy Spirit - God's words are illuminated.

July 15, 2013 - Acts 2:14-47

    ^14-21 That’s when Peter stood up and, backed by the other eleven, spoke out with bold urgency: “Fellow Jews, all of you who are visiting Jerusalem, listen carefully and get this story straight. These people aren’t drunk as some of you suspect. They haven’t had time to get drunk—it’s only nine o’clock in the morning. This is what the prophet Joel announced would happen:

   “In the Last Days,” God says,
“I will pour out my Spirit
   on every kind of people:
Your sons will prophesy,
   also your daughters;
Your young men will see visions,
   your old men dream dreams.
When the time comes,
   I’ll pour out my Spirit
On those who serve me, men and women both,
   and they’ll prophesy.
I’ll set wonders in the sky above
   and signs on the earth below,
Blood and fire and billowing smoke,
   the sun turning black and the moon blood-red,
Before the Day of the Lord arrives,
   the Day tremendous and marvelous;
And whoever calls out for help
   to me, God, will be saved.”

   ^22-28 “Fellow Israelites, listen carefully to these words: Jesus the Nazarene, a man thoroughly accredited by God to you—the miracles and wonders and signs that God did through him are common knowledge—this Jesus, following the deliberate and well-thought-out plan of God, was betrayed by men who took the law into their own hands, and was handed over to you. And you pinned him to a cross and killed him. But God untied the death ropes and raised him up. Death was no match for him. David said it all:

   I saw God before me for all time.
   Nothing can shake me; he’s right by my side.
I’m glad from the inside out, ecstatic;
   I’ve pitched my tent in the land of hope.
I know you’ll never dump me in Hades;
   I’ll never even smell the stench of death.
You’ve got my feet on the life-path,
   with your face shining sun-joy all around.

   ^29-36 “Dear friends, let me be completely frank with you. Our ancestor David is dead and buried—his tomb is in plain sight today. But being also a prophet and knowing that God had solemnly sworn that a descendant of his would rule his kingdom, seeing far ahead, he talked of the resurrection of the Messiah—‘no trip to Hades, no stench of death.’ This Jesus, God raised up. And every one of us here is a witness to it. Then, raised to the heights at the right hand of God and receiving the promise of the Holy Spirit from the Father, he poured out the Spirit he had just received. That is what you see and hear. For David himself did not ascend to heaven, but he did say,

   God said to my Master, “Sit at my right hand
Until I make your enemies a stool for resting your feet.”

   “All Israel, then, know this: There’s no longer room for doubt—God made him Master and Messiah, this Jesus whom you killed on a cross.”

   ³⁷ Cut to the quick, those who were there listening asked Peter and the other apostles, “Brothers! Brothers! So now what do we do?”

   ^38-39 Peter said, “Change your life. Turn to God and be baptized, each of you, in the name of Jesus Christ, so your sins are forgiven. Receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. The promise is targeted to you and your children, but also to all who are far away—whomever, in fact, our Master God invites.”

   ⁴⁰ He went on in this vein for a long time, urging them over and over, “Get out while you can; get out of this sick and stupid culture!”

   ^41-42 That day about three thousand took him at his word, were baptized and were signed up. They committed themselves to the teaching of the apostles, the life together, the common meal, and the prayers.

   ^43-45 Everyone around was in awe—all those wonders and signs done through the apostles! And all the believers lived in a wonderful harmony, holding everything in common. They sold whatever they owned and pooled their resources so that each person’s need was met.

   ^46-47 They followed a daily discipline of worship in the Temple followed by meals at home, every meal a celebration, exuberant and joyful, as they praised God. People in general liked what they saw. Every day their number grew as God added those who were saved.

On the Day of Pentecost, Peter and other apostles experienced the down-pouring of the Holy Spirit. They experienced how the Holy Spirit spoke through them in various languages - the breathing (like strong wind) and the cleansing (like wildfire) of the Spirit. But that's not the end of the work of the Spirit - the Spirit led Peter to really understand the words of God and start preaching to the audience. Peter now understood what the prophecies of Joel, Psalms, and other Scriptures mentioned about Jesus. Jesus before the Day of Pentecost was meant to be their Master, but after the Day of Pentecost and with the illumination of the Spirit, Jesus was Christ the Messiah as explicated by various OT authors. Peter not only had correct interpretation of the Scriptures, his preaching was also powerful with the Holy Spirit in piercing the hearts of the audience. People's hearts were touched and yearning for repentance. 

My dear Holy Spirit, I also yearn for Your filling and illumination of God's words in my life. With your illumination, God's words become not dead letters but living words for me - words with life-giving power for changing my life and ministry. Life would not be the same anymore. Dear Heavenly Father, lavish your Holy Spirit on us and allow the Spirit speak to us with God's words in dreams, prophecies, visions, signs, wonders, miracles, according to the promise of the Heavenly Father that people know Your Name and Kingdom. 

Holy Spirit! Come on your people like strong wind and wildfire.

July 14, 2013 - Acts 2:1-13

    ^1 1-4 When the Feast of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. Without warning there was a sound like a strong wind, gale force—no one could tell where it came from. It filled the whole building. Then, like a wildfire, the Holy Spirit spread through their ranks, and they started speaking in a number of different languages as the Spirit prompted them.

   ^5-11 There were many Jews staying in Jerusalem just then, devout pilgrims from all over the world. When they heard the sound, they came on the run. Then when they heard, one after another, their own mother tongues being spoken, they were thunderstruck. They couldn’t for the life of them figure out what was going on, and kept saying, “Aren’t these all Galileans? How come we’re hearing them talk in our various mother tongues?

   Parthians, Medes, and Elamites;
Visitors from Mesopotamia, Judea, and Cappadocia,
   Pontus and Asia, Phrygia and Pamphylia,
   Egypt and the parts of Libya belonging to Cyrene;
Immigrants from Rome, both Jews and proselytes;
Even Cretans and Arabs!

   “They’re speaking our languages, describing God’s mighty works!”

   ¹² Their heads were spinning; they couldn’t make head or tail of any of it. They talked back and forth, confused: “What’s going on here?”

   ¹³ Others joked, “They’re drunk on cheap wine.”

The Holy Spirit was poured out from God on the disciples unexpectedly on the Day of Pentecost as a fulfillment of the Abraham's Promise on the New Testament believers. The Holy Spirit was sounded like a strong wind; the Holy Spirit was like a wildfire which spread on the disciples. They spoke in tongues - the various languages of those pilgrims who were in Jerusalem; they praised God with various languages. People around them were puzzled as they never heard or seen this thing before. Without faith and experience of God, they couldn't figure out what and why happened, they joked on their behaviors and considered that the disciples were drunk. 

Dear Holy Spirit, I admit that though I know that You are the third Person of the Triune God, I don't know much about You. You indwell me but You have the sovereignty and will to do things according to God's will that is not under my prediction and control. But I believe that You are like strong wind - You desire to spread across Your church and breath life into Your people; You are like wildfire - You desire to baptize your people, cleanse them, and burn their hearts with holy passion for God. I can only humble myself before You, submitting to Your Lordship that You lead, and You fill up my heart with Your power, peace of Jesus, and the love of my heavenly Father to conquer my weakness and all kinds of sufferings, and to advance the Gospel and Kingdom of God.