Do You Believe?

 N.T. #822 "Do You Believe?"

June 24, 2026 

Acts 2-Part 3-witnesses 

LET IT GLOW

Peter continued his sermon centered around the death, burial, and resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ. It was God's purpose that the Messiah should suffer death for us. Since His suffering and death was ordained, so was His resurrection and glory. (verses 23-24) It was all in God's plan in order to save souls. 

Peter's sermon includes:

• the prophecy of David (verses 25-28)
• Peter's testimony (verses 29-31)
• the eye-witnesses (verse 32)
• the exaltation and ascension of Jesus into heaven (verses 33-36).

LET IT GROW 

David overheard God the Father telling the Messiah, Sit at My right hand until I make your enemies your footstool. (verses 34-35)

Peter's conclusion is God hath made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ. (verse 36)

The hearts of the people in the crowd was pricked and asked what they should do. 

Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. (verse 38)

Salvation is independent of baptism. Baptism, emersion in water, illustrates what has happened in our heart to others. We die to self and are raised a new person in Christ.

Have you believed in Jesus? Have you admitted your sins to Him and asked His forgiveness? Have you been baptized in a Bible-teaching church?

LET IT GO

Thank You Jesus for loving us sinners so much that You died for us.

Where Will You Spend Eternity?

 N.T.#821 "Where Will You Spend Eternity?"

June 23, 2026 

Acts 2-Part 2

LET IT GLOW

Peter began preaching in the church age of grace before the return of Christ. He quoted Joel 2:28-32. (verses 14-20) Keep in mind that it was less than 2 months since Christ's crucifixion and resurrection. People recalled the darkness that occurred when Jesus died. Our Christian faith rests on the basic fact of the empty tomb. 

Is your faith alive, too? 

LET IT GROW

And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved. (Acts 2:21)

Friend, have you been saved from the penalty of your sin-death and eternal punishment in hell? Simply ask Jesus to forgive you your sins, believe He is the Son of God who died in your place.

LET IT GO

Pride can get into our way of coming to Jesus.

Or maybe you think you have done so many wrong things that you can't be saved.

Dear one, just believe, for Jesus' love covers a multitude of sins.

We have all sinned and come short of the glory of God.

The Day He Came

N.T.#820 "The Day He came"

June 21, 2026

Acts 2

 And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance. (verse 1-4)

Pentecost means fiftieth.

What is Pentecost?

• *It was the third Israelite feast mentioned in Leviticus 23. 
• *It was a harvest festival of thanksgiving for the crops some 50 days after the Passover week. 
• *The Old Testament Pentecost occurred 50 days after the Israelites left Egypt and the Passover  
•    Lamb was slain. 
• *Jesus was crucified at Passover time, and He ascended 40 days after His resurrection. 
• *The Holy Spirit came 50 days after the resurrection, 10 days after the ascension. 
• *An offering of first-fruits was made. (Lev. 23:20) (Liberty Bible Commentary)
• *This was the birth of the church. 
• *Individuals were filled with the Holy Spirit. 
• *There was witnessing, devout men heard the Word. 
• *There were different reactions. (verses 12-13)

What a unique and significant day! 

LET IT GROW

What do we observe:

1. 1. There was obedience. Believers and the apostles gathered together as Christ had told them. They went to Jerusalem and waited for the Holy Spirit in spite of the great danger. 
2. 2. There was unity among the believers, in one accord. 
3. 3. A mighty wind/sound came through the upper room from heaven. It was sudden, abruptly, unexpected, startling all present. (Like a tornado, hurricane, or gale.)
4. 4. It filled all the house where they were sitting.
5. 5. Cloven (divide) tongues of fire came upon each believer. Fire often denotes the divine presence. 
6. 6. This symbolized the Holy Spirit enabling them to speak and preach and share the Gospel.

God still commands us to be filled with the Spirit. (Eph. 5:18) 

Galatians 5:22-23 tells us the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.

When the apostles were able to speak in tongues, it meant each heard the Gospel in their own language, for the Holy Spirit interpreted it for them. It was not gibberish. Speaking in tongues was for that time, not needed today. We have interpreters for us who knows both languages.

LET IT GO

We confess sins so we are right with God. 

When we obey and submit to Jesus, His Spirit comes upon us so we can witness for Him.

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Chosen by God

 N.T.#819 "Chosen by God"

June 19, 2026

LET IT GLOW 

Here is the first church business meeting. The disciples, some women, Mary and Jesus' brothers all met together in the upper room. The group of believers grew from 11 to more than 120.  They had been praying, seeking God's guidance and getting organized.

They were meeting to replace Judas, the betrayer of Jesus. Judas gave his heart to greed and sold out Jesus for 30 pieces of silver. Judas realized how serious his actions had been. He hung himself, fell down head first to the ground, and his body burst open. Judas' legacy is tragic. A field was bought by Judas  but never used. It was known as the "field of blood," for that is where he committed suicide. Psalm 69:25 and Psalm 109:8 tell of this desolation place. 

Not all stories have a good ending. Judas mad his choice of denying the Lord Jesus. Which choice have you made-follow Jesus or deny Him?

LET IT GROW 

So Joseph called Barsabas and Matthias were believers nominated to replace Judas and to join the group of apostles. They had been with Jesus from His baptism and ascension. Also, they had witnessed the resurrection. Lots were cast and Mathias was chosen to join the 11. This meant he was chosen by God.

LET IT GO 

Thank You Father that You choose us to be Your child.

Give us faith to carry on Your business/kingdom work.

Bless those who are Your faithful ones.

Stop Gazing and Go

 N.T.#818 "Stop Gazing and Go"

June 18, 2026 

Acts 1-Part 2

LET IT GLOW

Jesus had commissioned His disciples in verse 8 to be His witnesses. They would have the Holy spirit to empower them to do so. Then when Jesus was finished speaking, He was taken up into a cloud and disappeared to heaven. 

What happened net?

• They were gazing upward when 2 men appeared to them in white clothing. 
• They asked why the guys were gazing up into heaven. 
• They informed the guys that Jesus would come back in the same way He left-in clouds of glory. (verse 11)

Wow! What a thing to experience! How would you react to an extraordinary thing happening before your eyes?

LET IT GROW

What a dramatic departure! It was a confirmation for the disciples, and us, that Jesus is exactly who He claimed to be:

• He is Mediator between man and God.
• He is the Son of God who came out of heaven to earth to save souls. 
• He is our High Priest who makes reconciliation for the sins of men.
• He is the Christ Savior who intercedes for people before God.
• He is the High Priest who is touched with the feelings of our infirmities and delivers  us.

(The Preacher's Outline & Sermon Bible)

This same Jesus in the same way, would descend for believers as they had seen Him ascend from them. Before Jesus returns, His Holy Spirit empowers His church to carry on the ministry of worldwide evangelization. (Liberty bible Commentary)

Are we still standing, gazing up, looking for our Savior to return instead of serving and witnessing for Him?

LET IT GO

Stop gazing and go tell.

How Does the Church Act?

N.T.#817 "How Does the Church Act?"

June 17, 2026 

Introduction to Acts

Background

This is the second book which is written by Luke, the physician and disciple of Jesus Christ. Luke was Paul's close friend and traveling companion, as well as personal physician. (Col. 4:14) some think Luke wrote Acts before the end of Paul's first Roman imprisonment instead of  after the fall of Jerusalem in A.D. 70. 

Acts emphasizes that Jesus was Israel's long-awaited Messiah, shows the gospel is offered to all people, and the work of the Holy Spirit (mentioned over 50 times). (MacArthur)

We will be studying:

• the birth of the church at Jerusalem
• its persecution and espansion
• Peter and the beginning of Gentil Christianity
• Paul's three missionary journey
• Paul's final journey to Rome. (Liberty Bible Commentary)

Luke wrote to Theophilus, a former Roman official of high rank. He was possibly a new convert who need to be grounded in Christ. Maybe Luke led him to the Lord. He was an example of humility and love so needed by the world and among God's people.

Jesus had shown Himself for 40 days after the resurrection to people. He spoke of things pertaining to the kingdom of God. (verse 3) His followers were to wait in Jerusalem for the Holy Spirit.

But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto Me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth. (verse 8)

What are we to be a witness sharing? Jesus died on the cross as our replacement for punishment of our sins and rose from the dead to give us eternal life through faith in Him.  

What kind of witness are we? Are we loving toward others? Do we share our faith? How does the church act? Is it meeting people's needs?

Comfort, Peace, and Love

N.T.#816 "Comfort, Peace, and Love"

June 16, 2026 

Summary of John-Part 4 

Are you in need of some comfort and peace? Jesus has it to give.

But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in My name, He shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have sad unto you. Peace I leave with you, My peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. (14:26-27)

What are the new commandments Jesus gave us? 

• First, abide in Jesus. (15:7) Obedience to Christ Jesus means we are His friends.
• Love one another as He has loved us. (15:12) Jesus gave sacrificially for others.

Jesus warns us that the world is going to hate us believers in Jesus. He warns us 8 times. They will put us out of the synagogue, kill us. We may even experience loss of employment and rejection by our own family because we stand up against sin, stand for the Word of God, live differently. However, be of good cheer, Jesus has overcome the world. (16:33)

John wrote these things so we might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the son of God, and as we believe, we have life through His name. (20:31)

Friend, are you a believer in Jesus today? Your eternity depends upon it.

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