“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… Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord,” Acts 3:16, 19 NIV
Today is Acts 3.
Miracle! A lame man, who was well known for begging at the gate of the temple, was healed in Jesus name as Peter and John spoke to him! He began to leap and jump and praise God. Crowds started to gather. Peter, once again, testified of Jesus and His resurrection. He spoke of the power of Jesus name and having faith in His name. This power “completely healed” the man.
Peter speaks to the greatest need of the crowd, their spiritual hearts. Wholeness starts there. The people were sick with sin. “Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord.”
God never changes. He is still the God of miracles. I have seen more than one miracle in my own life. These miracles testify to us of a God who is able to bring complete healing not only to us physically, but spiritually. Our hearts have been darkened, diseased by our own sin and selfishness. We are burdened by the weight of our guilt. But God offers us a New Beginning. Our sins can be blotted out and “times of refreshing may come from the Lord.”
Repent and turn back to the God! He longs to live connected to us in a deep and intimate relationship where we receive His life, wholeness, and healing. moment by moment of each day.
“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. The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off—for all whom the Lord our God will call.”” Acts 2:38-39 NIV
Acts 2 is one of my favorite chapters of the Bible. It is when the men and women who had been following Jesus as He walked and talked with them on earth were filled to the overflowing with His Holy Spirit. They had known “God with Us/ Emmanuel” now they KNEW (Intimately) God within us — the Holy Spirit.
Rushing wind, tongues of fire, each of the disciples speaking in other tongues, then they went out onto the streets below. They were “declaring the wonders of God.” (Verse 11)
Then Peter stood up to preach with BOLDNESS. Peter, who had a little over a month and a half before denied Jesus three times in the garden as Jesus stood trial and was later led off to be crucified, that same Peter preached! What a difference the presence of the Holy Spirit within the life of a believer makes! The words that the Holy Spirit enabled Peter to speak that day “cut to the heart” (verse 37) of the people. They wanted to know what to do. These words have stood true throughout the centuries of what we should all do when we hear the Holy Spirit calling to us. “Repent and be baptized… and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.”
What a promise! The promise of the Holy Spirit and all the wonderful works that He does in and through a believer were not a one and done deal. “The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off— for all whom the Lord our God will call.” (Verse 39)
Jesus promised that the Holy Spirit would come to give us power. (Acts 1:8) With the Holy Spirit in our lives, we too can live our lives with a new beginning. We do not have to remain in our old patterns of selfishness and sin. We can live with our lives full of the Holy Spirit. May we hunger to know “the fellowship of the Holy Spirit” (2 Corinthians 13:14) each and every day! Then we will be empowered to do what the disciples did on the day of Pentecost— KNOW God and make Him known!
“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
Acts begins where the Gospel of Luke left off. For 40 days after His resurrection, Jesus appeared to the disciples and spoke to them about the kingdom of God. Could you imagine what the disciples had witnessed with their own eyes? They had seen Jesus as the soldiers arrested Him in the garden. They had seen Jesus as He was beaten and nailed to a cross. They had seen Him as He breathed His last breath. Then they had seen the empty tomb! They had seen Him, in His risen form, as He showed them the nail prints in His hands. They had shared meals with Him, listened to Him teach them, and then they saw Jesus as He ascended into heaven!
But in all this, Jesus instructed them to wait. Jesus wanted to empower them to be “witnesses.”
Jesus had already told them that the Holy Spirit was going to come. Jesus came to us as “Emmanuel, God with us”, but the Holy Spirit would come to begin something new — God IN us!
Jesus said “… in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit…” (verse 5) The disciples obeyed the words He spoke to them. They went to the upper room and were “constantly in prayer.” (Verse 14)
Jesus and God the Father are one. Jesus said that He did what He saw the Father doing. “The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being.” Hebrews 1:3. When we see Jesus, we see God the Father.
Jesus repeatedly spoke about “the one who sent” him. He wanted us to understand that He was not working on His own. He was connected in a real and intimate relationship with His Heavenly Father. Jesus said, “… but I know Him because I am from Him and he sent me.” Jesus had and still has an intimate relationship with God the Father and the Holy Spirit. They are one.
Jesus came to show us what our Heavenly Father is like. He revealed God to us. He also came to restore the relationship mankind lost long ago in the Garden of Eden. He came to restore our connection to Him through the Holy Spirit, who we can now receive to live within us.
When the Holy Spirit lives within us, we are able to identify with Jesus in His own words, “My teaching is not my own. It comes from the one who sent me.” May this be our desire. That we do nothing from ourselves and for our own ambitions, but that we live for the glory of God. That He is lifted up in our lives, and that we will display God as His visible representation — Image Bearer — to the World around us.
Today is the big day, the launch or the “Bible Book of the Month Club — The Gospel of Mark” Let’s read Mark 1:1-20 ❤️🔥🙌 Here’s what I got out of today’s reading:
What sticks out to me in what we are reading is the lengths God has gone to in order for us to know Him. First He sends a messenger to announce Jesus’s arrival, John the Baptist. John the Baptist talks about Jesus coming. He describes Jesus as being more powerful than him and able to Baptize with the Holy Spirit. Then God the Father speaks about who Jesus is in front of everyone when Jesus is baptized. Plus Jesus, Himself, tells the ones He is calling to follow Him that He wants to teach them how to fish for people so they will come and follow Him too. God wants us to know Him! That is awesome news! What is God showing you? Post it below 👇👇👇
Today is a very special day for me. After many years of being held captive by anxiety and trying many things to get free, God heard my cry for freedom and set me free. After 6 years on anxiety meds, I no longer needed them. Two years ago on this date was my first day of freedom from taking both Prozac and Buspar.
God has worked a change in my life, and for those of you who know me, it may be a bit of a surprise for me to tell you this. Because I have always been active in church and made it no secret that I believed in Jesus. In fact, I have thought throughout my adult years that I was living my life surrendered to God. The truth is In some ways I was, but in many ways I was not. ‘Make no mistake, God wants all of us.
About 5 months prior to taking my last anxiety pill I was at a revival service at my church with Pastor Denbow speaking (October 2021). He was speaking about “syncretism”- trying to mix the gospel with the worlds ways. In that service I realized that I had been trying to mix secular humanist thought and practices, as well as the widely accepted practice of eastern meditation, with the Bible. That does not work! In my love for God, He does not want to compete with me having other “spiritual” lovers — my ways or the worlds. He wants all of me, all of my heart— entirely, totally, and completely given up to Him. This is Teachings that the Bible Study group WOW has helped me to come to understand better and better through the past few years. (God has used WOW tremendously in my life to help me walk in freedom)
At that revival 2 1/2 years ago, I went to the front and repented for the sin I had held in my heart, and told God He could have all of me. On a morning, shortly after that I went to my pill box and heard the Holy Spirit tell me “that is not your inheritance.” I quit one medicine instantly. The other one I weaned off and took my last pill almost 5 months later.
Two years later to this day, I am free! The change in me since that time has been huge. So much so that I have told my friends, “I feel like I have been born again…again.”
Friday night I was talking to my husband, his brother, and my sister in law about this change. I said it almost makes you think about getting baptized again. I didn’t think I needed to since I was baptized as a teenager. Saturday morning I woke up with the desire to be baptized burning within my heart.
So tonight, I am going to be baptized. I want to publicly declare that I have been changed by Jesus and His power alone. I want to do whatever He tells me to do. Because He is life. And I do not want my way of doing things ever again. They have died. I am raised to new life.
”And you also were included in Christ when you heard the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation. When you believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession—to the praise of his glory.“ Ephesians 1:13-14 NIV
”“All this I have spoken while still with you. But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.“ John 14:25-26 NIV
The one who truly believes in God has embarked on a journey to know God. This should be the focus of our lives. God has given us everything we need to truly know Him because He desires to be known by us. One of the greatest evidences of His desire to be known is the presence Holy Spirit within a believer.
We are all aware that our blessed Savior Jesus came to us as a baby and lived among us. He is “God with us.” But after His resurrection we were not abandoned to be left as orphans here. The Holy Spirit came to be “God in us.”
He is the precious “seal” and “deposit” within our lives “guaranteeing our inheritance”. When we come to God in faith the Holy Spirit comes to reside within us. He is more than willing to fill us to overflowing as we are baptized with the Holy Spirit so that we can walk with His power and be a witness to all who are around us.
The Holy Spirit is our Teacher. As we read the Word, it is the Holy Spirit who makes it come alive within us. He gives us understanding and He brings change within us through the Word.
The Holy Spirit is our Advocate. He intercedes for us. He is our Comforter and our Helper. He is our dearest Friend.
The Apostle Paul prayed this prayer for the Corinthian believers:
”May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.“ 2 Corinthians 13:14 NIV
Paul wanted them to know closeness and friendship with the Holy Spirit. Our desire can and should be the same. As we come to the Holy Spirit and asking Him to speak to us and to teach us, He will. The Holy Spirit has come so we can know God intimately.
Our loving God truly has provided all that we need to know Him.
Years ago the President of the United States spoke at a venue 30 minutes drive from my home. The preparations for his arrival were extensive. Security, the press, state officials were all in action. Publicity of his arrival was everywhere. If you wanted to see him you had to prepare for him to come.
Someone greater than the President has arrived, Jesus the Son of God. In our chapter today, John announced Jesus’s coming. Curiosity consumed the common people.
John preached a baptism of repentance from sin to prepare the peoples’ hearts for Jesus to appear. People despised by the religious elite wanted to know how to be prepared for “God’s salvation.”
“Even tax collectors came to be baptized. “Teacher,” they asked, “what should we do?””
Luke 3:12 NIV
We know the story goes on. Jesus did indeed come. He became our Emmanuel, God with us. How do we respond to our invitation to come to Him? Have we “Prepared the way for the Lord” in our hearts?
The tax collectors, the most despised of sinners by the Jewish religious elite came because they wanted more than the wealth they had amassed and approval of the occupying army, the Romans. They asked a question that rings in my heart today. “Teacher, what should we do?”
As we take a few moments each day to prepare our hearts to celebrate the arrival of Jesus to our world during the first Christmas, may we ask the same question. He will not turn away the most despised and desperate one who is trapped by sin. He will not turn us away. What should we do in response to the one who longs to baptize us with the Holy Spirit and fire and bring us into a relationship of oneness with Him?
May we ask Jesus the same question the tax collectors asked John all those years ago. “Teacher what should we do?”
A few months ago, I was praying. I heard the Holy Spirit tell me, “Janet, do you know that Satan uses noise warfare?” Since the term “noise warfare” was not exactly on my mind, I decided to do a google search. When I did, I found an article about Manuel Noriega. The implications of his story have been eye opening to me as one who has been subject to “noise warfare” for most of my life.
US Soldiers blaring rock and roll music in 1989
On Christmas Day 1989, The United States decided it was time to arrest and bring to justice General Manuel Noriega, the dictator of Panama. Indicted for drug trafficking charges, Mr. Noriega had holed himself up in the embassy of the Vatican in Panama. The US forces did not want to destroy buildings in order to accomplish a surrender of the surrounded General. So, they engaged in “noise warfare”. They surrounded the Embassy and with a flight of Humvees that were mounted with loudspeakers from which they blasted rock in roll music, nonstop for three days. Noriega, who loved classical music surrendered shortly after. As I read the news report of the events surrounding Noriega’s surrender, the truth set in. This is the exact type of spiritual warfare I have been engaged in most of my life.
Make no doubt about it. Our enemy, Satan, is a liar. Not only is he a liar, he takes great pleasure in repeating lies in our ears over and over and over again. His voice does not tire from spewing lies 24/7 that lead us to choose anxiety, anger, depression, hatred, bitterness, envy, selfishness, jealousy, etc. However, we do not have to be subject to the noise warfare going on within our heads.
About three years ago, I contacted my friend from college. In our conversation, I revealed to her that I was suffering from horrible anxiety. She told me something that to this day rings true, “Janet, you have the Holy Spirit living within you. You know His voice. All you have to do is listen.” It occurred to me that moment that I had listened to the lies of the enemy so long that I had forgotten what it was like to listen for the “still small voice” of the Holy Spirit. I had allowed Satan to shout in my ears and I had been internalizing his lies. It was time to draw a line in the sand and FIGHT!
Do you know that God has a victory plan for the “noise warfare” of our enemy? It is the praise of our glorious God! It silences Satan!
“Lord, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth! You have set your glory in the heavens. Through the praise of children and infants you have established a stronghold against your enemies, to silence the foe and the avenger. “ Psalm 8:1-2 NIV
We must make a determined effort to use this weapon we have graciously been given. Satan knows this is true. So he once again will shout his lies, “That won’t work! You look like an idiot praising when you are who you are!” May I encourage you, tell him to “shut it!” and then get your praise on!
Even if the praise you struggle to get out starts with a feeble, “I praise you God, because you are good.” Build on those words with more and more praise. He cannot continue to blare his noise when the praises start! The truth of who God is as you praise Him with His Word will prevail! So, praise and then listen. You will hear His voice. It has been gently speaking all along. In Him is the Victory!
I have rediscovered the past few years how beautiful the sound of God’s voice is! I love it! What I did not know as I listened to the noise of the enemy is that God’s voice was speaking the whole time. Praise helped me to turn the channel of what was being broadcasted in my head. God’s voice is loving. His voice is peace. It is gentle, kind, patient, and good. And best of all, it can be heard! In fact, God longs for us to hear it! He wants us to know His voice and follow no other! Because He loves us and wants what is best for us!
We do not have to live under the constant barrage of the enemy’s lies and his “noise warfare”! We must immerse ourselves in the truth- God’s Word, the Bible, and lift up our voices in praise! Our God still breaks the chains of torment off of the minds of His children! Believe it is so!
“Jesus asked the boy’s father, “How long has he been like this?” “From childhood,” he answered. “It has often thrown him into fire or water to kill him. But if you can do anything, take pity on us and help us.” “ ‘If you can’?” said Jesus. “Everything is possible for one who believes.” Immediately the boy’s father exclaimed, “I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!”” Mark 9:21-24 NIV
Jesus encountered a man with a desperate situation. His boy was demon possessed and was harmful to himself. There is an exchange between the father of the boy and Jesus, in this account, that stands out to me.
Jesus tells the man “Everything is possible for one who believes.” This man had the kind of belief that I have come to Jesus with so many times. I know in my head Jesus is good, He can do whatever He wants, He is all powerful, etc. but I haven’t truly believed or lived in faith. Faith is to the assent of the mind to the truth. Assent is the act of admitting or letting in. So often we hold God at a distance saying as the father did in this account, “I believe.” But we have not truly let the truth into our hearts. We have not taken in, grabbed ahold of it, or let God and His truth be a part of us. We are content to see Him at a distance and understand He is good and wants to help us, but we have not really believed.
Jesus said “everything is possible for the one who believes.” When Jesus is truly residing within us through the Holy Spirit and we have let Him into every corner of our lives; When we have ascended or admitted His Truth into our minds and we hold tightly to His truth clinging to it; it is then that God works the impossible in our lives.
Jesus wanted the father of the boy to see that he needed more than his son being well and in his right mind. The father needed to believe. He needed to admit and take Jesus into his heart.
The father spoke words to Jesus that are beautiful. “I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!” If you find yourself distant from Jesus, this is the place to start. Jesus, I open my heart to you in belief. Help me where I am unbelieving.” We can cry out to Him and ask Him to change our hearts. In fact we need to ask Him to do just that. Hebrews 11:6 says this:
“And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.” Hebrews 11:6 NIV
We need to live in faith! It is impossible to please God without it, but this Faith is more than simply saying “I believe.” It is deep within us and it will be evidenced by what we do and what we say. If we are just living our own way, apart from that faith, we cannot please God. True Faith will be evidenced by us seeking God earnestly, following Him. It is not simply believing God is out there somewhere as we do whatever we want, when and how we want to.
Your Love 