Acts 3 - 10.05.23

SCRIPTURE -Acts 3:12, 16 NIV

“When Peter saw this, he said to them: “Fellow Israelites, why does this surprise you? Why do you stare at us—as if—by our ‘own power’ or ‘godliness’ we had made this man walk? 

By faith in the name of Jesus, this man whom you see and know was made strong. 

It is Jesus’ name and the faith that comes through HIM that has completely healed him, as you can all see.”

“… many who heard the message believed; so the number of men who believed grew to about five thousand.”

(Acts 4:4 NIV)

OBSERVATION:

Peter and John are heading to the Temple for afternoon prayer.

Something they likely did many times.

They encounter a man who was lame from birth being carried to the Temple gate called Beautiful.

He was laid there every day so he could beg for money from those going into the Temple courts.

The Gate Called Beautiful

the word beautiful here is not how we would typically translate it’s meaning.

It’s something SO much greater. hóraios is taken from a Greek word meaning ‘beautiful in timing’—the time of fulfillment. And surely it was.

Peter and John stopped as they heard this lame beggar’s cry for money. 

But it wasn’t money he would receive that day At the Gate called Beautiful—God’s timing of fulfillment had come…

“Peter looked straight at him, as did John.

Then Peter said, “Look at us! Silver or gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you. 

In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk.” Taking him by the right hand, he helped him up, and instantly the man’s feet and ankles became strong.” (Acts 3:4, 6-7 NIV)

This man who had been lame for over 40yrs was instantly healed.

BUT there is MORE!

This man was laid at the gate every day as we are told. (Acts 4) So Jesus Himself along with the disciples must have passed him many many times.

Why did Jesus not heal him—Why— Today?

APPLICATION:

Trusting God for horaios—Beautiful in Fulfillment—

We may never fully understand all of the reasons in our waiting…

But in this one story there are a couple of key encouragements that I am holding onto.

First-

Jesus knew HE would heal this lame beggar using Peter and John to do it. The Day was planned long before the world was formed—at the gate called Beautiful.

—Jesus would be teaching Peter and John to Step out in Faith as HE released HIS  power to equip them to be HIS witnesses.

Peter was given supernatural Faith that day. And I’m marveling at it today…Here was a man he knew was lame and had probably seen many times. Peter didn’t just pray from a distance and say “be healed” and let the cards fall where they may. Peter took this lame man by the right hand and helped him up—AS he did this—the man’s feet and ankles became strong.

“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”” (Acts 1:8 NIV)

Second-

This miracle became the catalyst for Peter’s second opportunity to Share about Jesus Saving Grace as thousands gathered at the Temple Courts marveling at this man’s healing— leaping and jumping—who they ALL recognized as the lame beggar!

5,000 men were saved that day—at the Gate called Beautiful—which means the number was higher—because they weren’t counting the women.

Trust God for His Beautiful—Timing in Fulfillment!

 His Timing is Perfect!

PRAYER:

LORD Jesus,

May I pray without ceasing. When I get weary, May I press in all the more. Draw me closer to You. Draw me deeper. You Alone know YOUR timing in everything. You Alone know the Beautiful that awaits…FILL me Lord, I pray with Supernatural Faith for All you purpose to do—to bring YOU Glory!

“Now to HIM who is able to carry out His purpose AND do superabundantly more than all that we dare ask or think—infinitely beyond our greatest prayers, hopes, or dreams—according to HIS power that is at work within us, to HIM be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations forever and ever. Amen.”

(Ephesians 3:20-21 AMP)

Tina L Kudelka

Acts 2 - 10.4.23

Scripture

Acts 2:17-21, 38, 41 NIV 

In the last days, God says, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions, your old men will dream dreams. Even on my servants, both men and women, I will pour out my Spirit in those days, and they will prophesy. I will show wonders in the heavens above and signs on the earth below, blood and fire and billows of smoke. The sun will be turned to darkness and the moon to blood before the coming of the great and glorious day of the Lord. And everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.’….Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit……Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day.”

Observation

It was the day of Pentecost. Pentecost was the Greek name for a festival known as the Feast of Weeks in the Old Testament. The Greek Word means fifty and is the fifty days after the Passover. In the Book of Acts, it signified the beginning of the church age, after Jesus’ ascension, when the Holy Spirit came upon the Believers. (Source: gotquestions.org)

God will use whatever means necessary to get our attention and to make our ministry more effective to the lost. When the Holy Spirit came upon the Believers at Pentecost, they were able to speak in different languages. Although they were Galileans, the Word of God spread to those who spoke different languages because of the Holy Spirit’s work in each of their lives. A total of 3,000 people repented, were saved and baptized that day! 

Application

Be open to the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives.

Whether it is speaking in tongues, prophesying or healing, God distributes the Holy Spirit’s gifts as He wills in order to edify the believer and the Church. We believe that those gifts are still being distributed and available today! 

On Wednesday, October 11th, during our worship and small group Bible study, Justin Eaves will be teaching us how to activate one of the Spirit’s gifts, which is prophecy. We will be learning to hear God’s voice and how to give prophetic words to each other. 

In kids church, last month’s memory verse described the purpose and importance of prophecy within the church. “But the one who prophesies speaks to people for their strengthening, encouraging and comfort.”  1 Corinthians 14:1

Prayer

Dear Lord, we pray that we wouldn’t hinder the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives, however that looks like, and that we would be open to all the gifts of the Spirit that You desire us to have. Thank You that the power of Your Spirit is still alive and available to us today! I pray for an abundance of salvations and baptisms as a result of His work through us and in the church. May we experience the same power of ministry and love that the early church did. Amen. 

-Michelle Gaddi

Proverbs 11 - 10.3.23

SCRIPTURE:  Proverbs 11:24-25   "One person gives freely, yet gains even more; another withholds unduly, but comes to poverty.  A generous person will prosper; whoever refreshes others will be refreshed."

OBSERVATION:  The theme flowing out of this portion of the Book of Proverbs describes how to model generosity.  We are taught about the blessings of generosity as well as the consequences of our selfish ambitions. 

In the Old Testament the focus was on the law and obedience.  In the New Testament God introduced another concept for generosity, which is GRACE.

In the Old Testament there were actually 3 different tithes that were required by law:  1)  Tithes that took care of the Levites and the priests.  2)  Tithes that were designed to make trips to Jerusalem to worship God.  3)  Every 3rd year they were to tithe in order to take care of the widows and the orphans.

In the New Testament, a beautiful thing happened after Jesus died and was resurrected!  It's called God's Grace!  God poured out His grace on us when Jesus died on the cross for our sins, making a way for ALL to come near Him through Jesus.   We are no longer under law, but under grace.  

APPLICATION:  In view of ALL that God has given to us, our genuine love for God is modeled by the way we willingly and generously give back to Him and others.  Statistics have shown that the average Christian only gives about 2 percent of their tithes to the Lord, verses what is required, which is 10 percent.  When we "short change" God we are literally taking advantage of all that He has given us!  When we hold back our tithes, we are actually putting other things ahead of Him!  In Malachi 3:8-10 it says that they were robbing God by not bringing their whole tithes.  God has blessed us with 100 percent of all we have, and by faithfully giving at least 10 percent back to Him, we will be blessed by the One Who is faithful to reward our obedience.  A super neat thing about the Lord is that He sees everything, and He never forgets anything!  He sees when we use our talents, our time, and our resources to give generously back to Him.  "Remember this, whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously.  Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.  And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work."

PRAYER:  I thank You Lord for the gift of grace.  I pray that the motives of my heart will be pure, and that I will trust You with my whole tithe, and be willing to give generously towards the needs of others. And, thank You that even when we do a simple thing like giving a cup of cold water to someone, it increases our eternal account in heaven. 

- Robin Orefice