Acts 5:12-16 Video Devotional

Posted on May 29, 2020 by admin in Video Devotional | Tags: , , , , ,

“Now many signs and wonders were regularly done among the people by the hands of the apostles. And they were all together in Solomon’s Portico. None of the rest dared join them, but the people held them in high esteem. And more than ever believers were added to the Lord, multitudes of both men and women, so that they even carried out the sick into the streets and laid them on cots and mats, that as Peter came by at least his shadow might fall on some of them. The people also gathered from the towns around Jerusalem, bringing the sick and those afflicted with unclean spirits, and they were all healed.” (Acts 5:12-16)

I am guessing that some of that fear was a direct result of what happened with Ananias and Sapphira, the married couple who withheld some of their money from the sale of their home and lied about it. God took care of them swiftly and fatally. Their execution at the doorposts was not because of they didn’t sell everything or give every penny they had – it was because they lied and hid back some. Had they been honest, there wouldn’t have been an issue.

As shown in that story and after, Peter and the apostles were letting the Holy Spirit be fully in control and following with abandon. Chapter 5 showcases how little the apostles themselves had anything to do with what was going on. Peter did not tell Ananias he would die, he just called him out for lying to God; with Sapphira however, he guessed she would receive the same fate her husband was given. He also had little to do with his shadow healing the sick.

These, to me, are clearly the Acts of the Holy Spirit and show God’s will in bringing people to Himself in a massive way to get this movement started. On our own, we have zero power or ability; it is only with Christ in us that we have the power to move mountains or do all things.

Friends, I implore you to stop trying to be powerful on your own. We all have our thorns in the flesh that prove we rely on the sufficiency of God, so let’s together stop denying that. We are weak and frail (and I know I feel that all the more during this pandemic). God, however, our Creator and Sustainer is most certainly not. He is powerful and vibrant, quickening our spirit and our bodies to accomplish His work. In fact, in Him, we are invincible until He calls us home. So don’t be afraid – but don’t you dare try to do this on your own. Ask for His strength from His Spirit to fill you and flood you with His Power.


Acts 3:1-10 Video Devotional

Posted on May 22, 2020 by admin in Video Devotional | Tags: , , ,

“Now Peter and John were going up to the temple at the hour of prayer, the ninth hour. And a man lame from birth was being carried, whom they laid daily at the gate of the temple that is called the Beautiful Gate to ask alms of those entering the temple. Seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple, he asked to receive alms. And Peter directed his gaze at him, as did John, and said, “Look at us.” And he fixed his attention on them, expecting to receive something from them. But Peter said, “I have no silver and gold, but what I do have I give to you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk!” And he took him by the right hand and raised him up, and immediately his feet and ankles were made strong. And leaping up, he stood and began to walk, and entered the temple with them, walking and leaping and praising God. And all the people saw him walking and praising God, and recognized him as the one who sat at the Beautiful Gate of the temple, asking for alms. And they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him.” (Acts 3:1-10)

Peter is often a very maligned biblical character. Whether it is the “get behind me, Satan” line from Jesus or the sinking in the water, or the denial at the trail, Peter is usually set up as a “don’t be like him” kind of person. That, however is a small part of his history and minor contributions to the biblical story. Aside from authoring 2 books (and most likely being the source behind Mark’s gospel), Peter was a major player in the book of Acts and even in Galatians (though that was not one of his shining moments).

Peter himself, I think, is one of the most completely fleshed out characters in scripture. We see him grow through his experiences, change (both over time and drastically at Pentecost), and get a sense of his motivations and how he sees things through the Lord. It is also quite obvious that pre-Holy Spirit Peter and post-Holy Spirit Peter couldn’t be more different from each other. Though clearly the same person, Peter’s impetuousness in the gospels is replaced with power and Spirit-led intensity in Acts. Fear is replaced with confidence in God and even though he still sins (see Galatians 2), God is clearly using him to lead the early church.

This is exactly why the main character in Acts (and in the church age) is the Holy Spirit. Who is the One responsible for Peter’s change? Who is the One able to perform these miracles? Peter was always the same person – but in him was someone who was far greater and who often goes forgotten: the Holy Spirit. Praise the One who inspired Peter to tell that man to get up! Praise the One who restores the soul! Praise the One who is currently working individually in each believer to will and to work for God’s good pleasure!

Celebrate and enjoy that God the Spirit is working in you, growing you closer to Himself and using you to bring life to other people. The power comes from the Spirit; the same Spirit that healed the lame man, the same Spirit that made all the people hear the apostles in their own language, the same spirit that turned Peter into a powerhouse. It is that Spirit in you. Praise God!


Acts 2:5-13 Video Devotional

Posted on May 20, 2020 by admin in Video Devotional | Tags: , , , , ,

“Now there were dwelling in Jerusalem Jews, devout men from every nation under heaven. And at this sound the multitude came together, and they were bewildered, because each one was hearing them speak in his own language. And they were amazed and astonished, saying, “Are not all these who are speaking Galileans? And how is it that we hear, each of us in his own native language? Parthians and Medes and Elamites and residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya belonging to Cyrene, and visitors from Rome, both Jews and proselytes, Cretans and Arabians—we hear them telling in our own tongues the mighty works of God.” And all were amazed and perplexed, saying to one another, “What does this mean?” But others mocking said, “They are filled with new wine.” (Acts 2:5-13)

I love this passage. Not only does this start the “church age” with the arrival of the Holy Spirit, but His arrival causes such a change in people that outsiders (non-believers) think they are drunk! The miracle of this story is that once the Spirit arrived, the believers started talking in their native language, but they were in a crowded place where there was a large, multi-cultural (and therefore multi-language) gathering. Even though the believers were speaking in their own language, each person heard them in their native tongue! God is really wanting to get His message out.

What strikes me about this most is the line about them thinking they are drunk. Partially because it makes me chuckle, but mostly because the power of the Holy Spirit is so strong that the onlookers in this story notice such a drastic and immediate of a change in people that leads them to conclude they must be drunk. This happened quick and was overt. And that’s the key, which is also the challenge for today.

How much of a noticeable difference does the Holy Spirit make in you? If it’s not drastic – or even noticeable, then you might want to check on your spiritual health. The Holy Spirit in you is a deposit, guaranteeing your inheritance with Jesus. He regenerates our souls, reviving us from spiritual death to life. And He works in us towards God’s good pleasure, to do good works which He created beforehand that we should walk in them.

That sounds nothing like a life under our own power. It shouldn’t look like it either to an onlooker. What does it look like to you?


Acts 1:21-26 Video Devotional

Posted on May 19, 2020 by admin in Video Devotional | Tags: , , , , ,

“So one of the men who have accompanied us during all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us, beginning from the baptism of John until the day when he was taken up from us—one of these men must become with us a witness to his resurrection.” And they put forward two, Joseph called Barsabbas, who was also called Justus, and Matthias. And they prayed and said, “You, Lord, who know the hearts of all, show which one of these two you have chosen to take the place in this ministry and apostleship from which Judas turned aside to go to his own place.” And they cast lots for them, and the lot fell on Matthias, and he was numbered with the eleven apostles.” (Acts 1:21-26)

The story about Matthias being named as one of the 12 is a very intriguing story to me. You have this little snippet of the disciples in the time between the ascension and Pentecost (about a week and a half), wherein which they (through prayer) decide to select the one to take Judas’ place. Scripture prophesied his office would be replaced and Mathias was chosen by casting of lots.

There isn’t anything wrong or any glaring sin shown in this story – in fact, it comes across as a very normal and expected thing to do. Except for one glaring omission. Throughout the rest of Scripture, we hear nothing of Matthias. I am sure he was around for some things, and who knows, we don’t know the identity of the author of Hebrews (no evidence suggest it was him, just to be clear), but it is hard to make an argument from silence that Matthias’s promotion was anything noteworthy. Maybe that’s just because it wasn’t noted anywhere.

Again, this is nothing against Matthias, but I have always been very curious as to why this story (with no follow-up about him) is mentioned in Scripture, especially when juxtaposed against one of the main characters of the book, Paul. My theory is simple – looking at this book as Acts of the Holy Spirit, Paul is God’s choice to “replace” Judas and be the 12th apostle. However, before the arrival of the Holy Spirit, the 11 disciples jumped in with both feet (as per usual) and acted on impulse, to which God allowed them (it certainly didn’t interrupt His plans any).

With its place in the book (right at the beginning of the sequel of Luke), it appears more to me that Luke places this there to act as a recap of sorts – reminding his readers of how the disciples acted and what power they had before the arrival of the Holy Spirit. This makes a perfect comparison to the strength and power on full display once Pentecost happened. Thus, we see without the Holy Spirit: impetuousness and the same old disciples; and after: POWER.

Why is this important? Because it sets up the main character – the Holy Spirit! His arrival changes everything! With Him on the scene, a dripping faucet turns into a raging river of God’s power flowing through these people and the consequences are on full display – people starting turning to Jesus by the thousands! Friends, we can do nothing on our own power, but by the power of God, there is nothing that can stand against us! Run to Him, dear friends. Run to the Spirit and let it be all Him. “Then he said to me, “This is the word of the LORD to Zerubbabel: Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, says the LORD of hosts” (Zechariah 4:6).


^