Podcast appearances and mentions of john acts

“The members of the council were amazed when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, for they could see that they were ordinary men with no special training in the Scriptures. They also recognized them as men who had been with Jesus.” (Acts 4:13 NLT) A short time after the miracle at Pentecost, Peter and John went to the temple in Jerusalem for an afternoon prayer service. They were approached by a man who had been a paraplegic since birth. The man was well-known to temple-goers because every day he was carried to the temple gate, where he begged for money. Newly filled with the Holy Spirit, Peter and John opted for something much, much better. Peter said, “I don’t have any silver or gold for you. But I’ll give you what I have. In the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene, get up and walk” (Acts 3:6 NLT). The man was instantly healed—and filled with joyous gratitude. “Walking, leaping, and praising God, he went into the Temple with” Peter and John (Acts 3:8 NLT). People recognized him as the (formerly) lame beggar and gathered around, absolutely astounded by his healing. Peter saw a faith-sharing opportunity and addressed the crowd. That’s right, the man who, only a short time earlier, had been too afraid to identify himself as Jesus’ disciple was now speaking boldly to the temple crowd. That’s the power of Jesus’ resurrection. Peter pulled no punches in explaining where the power for the man’s healing had come from. Jesus—whom the people in the crowd had rejected and demanded be crucified—had been raised from the dead. Faith in Him is what caused the man to be healed. Peter helped the people see that Jesus had fulfilled the prophecies about the Messiah. He urged them to repent of their sins and receive God’s forgiveness. About two thousand of them did just that. (Compare the figure in Acts 2:41 with the one in Acts 4:4.) The Jewish religious leaders quickly put an end to the preaching and arrested Peter and John. The next day, the two disciples were brought before “the council of all the rulers and elders and teachers of religious law” (Acts 4:5 NLT)—the same people who had overseen Jesus’ trials two months earlier. “By what power, or in whose name, have you done this?” they asked. (verse 7 NLT). That’s a risky question to ask two men filled with the Holy Spirit. “Let me clearly state to all of you and to all the people of Israel that he was healed by the powerful name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene, the man you crucified but whom God raised from the dead.… There is salvation in no one else! God has given no other name under heaven by which we must be saved” (verses 10, 12 NLT). Peter and John knew full well that the Jewish officials could have them killed. In fact, they had been hiding from these very men when Jesus appeared to them after His resurrection. But they had been empowered by the One who conquered death. So they spoke the truth boldly and left the consequences in the Lord’s hands. The Lord doesn’t shield His followers from the repercussions of being bold for His sake. But He stays with us through the challenges, the discomfort, and the consequences. He gives strength, wisdom, and perspective. And He rewards our faithfulness in ways we can’t imagine. Reflection question: What would boldness in sharing the Good News of Christ look like in your life? Discuss Today's Devo in Harvest Discipleship! — Listen to the Greg Laurie Podcast Become a Harvest PartnerSupport the show: https://harvest.org/supportSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Exposition of Acts

Topics: Heretic, Tongues, Matthew 3, Water Baptized for Repentance, Baptize with Holy Spirit and Fire, Two Types of Baptism, Water Baptism, Spiritual Baptism, To be Placed Inside Of, 1 Peter 3. Pledge of Clear Conscience Toward God, Repent, Metanoia vs. Metanoeo, Spirit and Fire Prophecy in Acts 2, First Permanent Indwelling of Holy Spirit, Mark 16:16, Whoever Believes and is Baptized, Water Baptism in Acts Did Not Save, Water Showed What You Now Believed, Acts 19 Not Evidence of Second Baptism, Disciples of Synagogue, Disciples of John the Baptist, Luke 11, Matthew 6, Law-Based Question, Law-Based Answer, Acts 19:4 Baptism of Water for Repentance, Metanoia Repentance, Acts 8 Not Evidence of Second Baptism, New Believers in Acts 8, Peter and John Acts 8, Not Everyone Who Hears or is Baptized Has Believed, Receive Spirit by Hearing With Faith, Don't Have Spirit Don't Belong to God, Confusion With Acts Not Being Doctrine, Ananias and Saphira, Timothy Circumcised, James Pushing Law With Grace, Tongue of Fire When Received Spirit, Second Baptism and Tongues from 1901 Topeka Kansas Prayer Meeting, 125 Year Old Tradition, Acts 9 Saul/Paul Conversion, Acts 9:17 Received All of the Spirit, Laying on of Hands, Jedi Force, Trip to Damascus, Chief of Sinners, John 3 Born of Water and Spirit, Can't Be Unborn of God, John 4 Living Water, John 1:33 Jesus Would Baptize With His Spirit, Experiences of People, Chasing Feelings, Trust God Instead, First Peter Three Water Now Saves You, Water Symbolizes What Saves You, Pledge of Clear Conscience Toward God, Saved By the Resurrection of Christ, Saved By His Life, Hebrews 7:25, Indestructible Life, Because I Live You Will Live, No Chance to Be Water Baptized, Determine Which Baptism and Which Repentance, Acts 2:38, Repent and Be Baptized Different Than Matthew 3 and Acts 19, 3000 Died and 3000 Saved, Acts 10 Holy Spirit Fell on Who Heard and Believed, Hearing With Faith, Christ In You, Hope of Glory, Don't Hope For what You Have, Acts 2, Holy Spirit GiftSupport the showSign up for Matt's free daily devotional! https://mattmcmillen.com/newsletter

Welcome to the Pulpit Fiction Podcast, the lectionary podcast for preachers, seekers and Bible geeks. This is episode 574 for Sunday, January 7, 2023, Baptism of Christ Sunday, in year B. Genesis 1:1-5 When God began to create… with Charles Dirico Mark 1:4-11 Jesus baptized by John Acts 19:1-7 Baptism of the Spirit  

Your “trials” are not about you. Our first reaction to hardship is to think about how we are affected. But what does God's word say about going through hard things? In this lesson, Pastor Philip Jackson begins a new series from the letter of James on the basics of discipleship entitled, “Tests and Temptations.”  After the persecution of the church following the murders of Stephen (Acts 7) and James the brother of John (Acts 12), Jewish Christians found themselves scattered all around the known world. This meant that families were uprooted, estates were lost, and entire social structures were changed. Rich and poor were now in the same situation, on the run and seeking to make sense of what was happening. The letter of James gave them hope and practical instruction in the midst of their struggle. He was the half-brother of Jesus and the pastor of the church in Jerusalem. And yet, he designates himself as simply a “slave of the Lord Jesus Christ.” James' words continue to inspire believers today through practical instruction that calls us all to live out our faith as disciples of Christ.

Brother Singh welcomes questions from saints living overseas. One such question concerns the church that Jesus started; the one launched at Pentecost, and that church today. In that regard, let us understand that the purpose of the church was to prepare people for God's coming kingdom. We must understand that none of the epistles or the words of the prophets were written for us in the 21st Century. Although we can often apply those exhortations to our modern lives, they were addressed to specific issues faced by the saints millennia ago. For instance, the church in Ephesus was started on the wrong foundation by Apollos, who taught only the baptism of John (Acts 19:1-3). Paul needed to reestablish it on the proper foundation.

11/22/22. Five Minutes in the Word scriptures for today: Acts 2:4-6. Peter, through the power of the Holy Spirit and in the name of Jesus of Nazareth commands a lame man to walk. Resources: enduringword.com; Matthew Henry Complete Commentary; logos.com; and Life Application Study Bible. #Podchaser list of "60 Best Podcasts to Discover for November 2021" #MinutesWord; @MinutesWord; #dailydevotional #christianpodcast #MinutesWord #christianpodcaster Listen, like, follow, share! Available on Spotify and most podcast apps! Financial support is welcome at https://anchor.fm/esbc-webmaster #prayforukraine #pray

Acts 19:1-7 ESV And it happened that while Apollos was at Corinth, Paul passed through the inland country and came to Ephesus. There he found some disciples. 2 And he said to them, “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?” And they said, “No, we have not even heard that there is a Holy Spirit.” 3 And he said, “Into what then were you baptized?” They said, “Into John's baptism.” 4 And Paul said, “John baptized with the baptism of repentance, telling the people to believe in the one who was to come after him, that is, Jesus.” 5 On hearing this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. 6 And when Paul had laid his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came on them, and they began speaking in tongues and prophesying. 7 There were about twelve men in all. THE BAPTISM OF JOHN To begin with, the Jews had already practiced baptism in ritual cleansing ceremonies of Gentile proselytes. John applied it to those who received his message of cleansing for both Jewish and Gentiles. He clearly declared the purpose of baptizing, that is, “I baptize you with water for repentance.” [Matt 3:11a] Paul had affirmed this saying, “John baptized with the baptism of repentance, telling the people to believe in the one who was to come after him, that is, Jesus.” It was a recognition of one's sin, a desire for spiritual cleansing, and a commitment to follow God's law in anticipation of the Messiah's arrival. In other words, John prepared the way for Christ by calling people to acknowledge their sin and their need for salvation. His baptism was a purification ceremony meant to ready the peoples' hearts to receive Jesus, the Messiah. It foreshadowed what Jesus would accomplish, resembling much to the Old Testament sacrificial system did. Notedly, John had emphasized the exaltation of Christ. He said, “He who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.”[Matt 3:11] When he knew that Jesus was baptizing as He began His public ministry, he was elated to say, “ You yourselves bear me witness, that I said, ‘I am not the Christ, but I have been sent before him.' The one who has the bride is the bridegroom. The friend of the bridegroom, who stands and hears him, rejoices greatly at the bridegroom's voice. Therefore this joy of mine is now complete. He must increase, but I must decrease.”[John 3:28-30] Christian baptism, however, is a mark of one's identification with the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ. It symbolizes of a cleansing that is complete and a commitment that is the natural response of one who has been made new. The sarifice of Jesus only on the cross does completely wash away our sins, and we are raised to new life empowered by the Holy Spirit (see 2 Cor 5:17–21; Rom 6:1–11). Paul met these twelve Jewish disciples at Ephesus, who were baptized in John's baptism only. The problem was not that they did not want it. They did not know about it, even hear about the Holy Spirit. They believed, were baptized and spoke in tongues. This does accentuates the need of discipleship, does it not? Today, many become believerss and receive the Holy Spirit with little understanding of who Jesus is and who the Trinity is. ------------------------- Visit and FOLLOW Gospel Light Filipino on YouTube, Facebook and Instagram

The healing of a lame man in the Temple caused quite a stir (Acts 3) and led to the arrest of Peter and John (Acts 4:1-4).

By [wbt_preacher_link preacher=”Susy DiCecco”] Ephesians 4:1 NIV: As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. CEV: As a prisoner of the Lord, I beg you to live in a way that is worthy of the people God has chosen to be his own. God called you to be His own! What should our response be? To live a life worthy of that calling. Ephesians 4:1 (Amplified):   So I, the prisoner for the Lord, appeal to you to live a life worthy of the calling to which you have been called [that is, to live a life that exhibits godly character, moral courage, personal integrity, and mature behavior—a life that expresses gratitude to God for your salvation. Paul: Acts 28:31   “He proclaimed the kingdom of God and taught about the Lord Jesus Christ—with all boldness and without hindrance!” Peter & John: Acts 4:20   “As for us, we cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard.” Esther chapter 4:1-17 And who knows but that you have come to your royal position for such a time as this? John 13:12-15 Love and serve like Jesus!The post Get Up! Get Moving! God Has Called YOU! first appeared on Living Hope.

Today's meditation and retelling comes from Luke 1:5-25, 39-80. Background music by www.bensound.com. Foreword:  Zacharias and Elizabeth are the only other truly elderly couple in scripture to bear a child, besides Abraham and Sarah. There are a lot of parallels between Isaac and John the Baptist. Why this couple, and why now? Why did his need to be a “miraculous” birth?  Gabriel did tell Zacharias that his prayers for a child were heard (Luke 1:13), so we know that Zacharias and Elizabeth wanted children long before this. Zacharias's response to Gabriel's good news was skepticism, based upon their ages (Luke 1:18), which suggests that he'd given up praying for children long ago, when he thought that it was too late. But given all the promises in scripture for fertility for those who followed the Lord, and the fact that this couple was blameless (Luke 1:6), I'm sure they wondered why it seemed that the Lord had not fulfilled His end of the promise. Elizabeth also called her barrenness a “reproach” (Luke 1:25). We know from the question the disciples asked Jesus about the man who was blind from birth (John 9:1-5) that it was a common belief among Israelites that physical ailments were a direct punishment for personal sin. Thus, like blameless Job, the people likely would have believed that it was some sin on their part that had kept them from bearing children all these years.  Yet God had not forgotten them… it just took faith and patience (a lot of it!) for them to inherit this particular promise (Hebrews 6:12). One reason for this likely is because John's conception and birth would have caused such a stir, and attracted such attention. Gabriel appears to Zacharias while he is performing his duties at the Temple, and the fact that he is subsequently struck dumb alerts everyone who was waiting for him outside the temple that he must have seen a vision (Luke 1:21-22). Then, after five months of seclusion, elderly Elizabeth reveals to all that she is pregnant. Imagine the whispers! She gives birth to the child, and then on the eighth day they break with all tradition and name him John, a name found nowhere in their lineage. As soon as Zacharias complies with Gabriel's final decree, his tongue is loosed, and he announces to all the onlookers that this is to be the prophet they have all been waiting for these four hundred years. Had his conception and birth been ordinary, this child would not have caused such a stir, or such expectation (Luke 1:65-66).  That's one reason why the Lord probably chose an elderly, faithful couple to be the parents of John the Baptist. But I suspect the other reason is because Elizabeth and Mary were close relatives (Luke 1:36). (In my retelling, I imagined that she was her great aunt, though the scriptures don't say what their exact relationship is.) They obviously knew each other well, though, because Mary goes to stay with Elizabeth for three months. This close relationship with another woman who had a miracle pregnancy was probably very important for Mary, who was being asked to take such an enormous step of faith, knowing she would be ostracized for getting pregnant out of wedlock. Not only does Elizabeth's pregnancy confirm Gabriel's words for Mary, but then the Lord reveals to Elizabeth that Mary, too, is pregnant, by the Holy Spirit, and with the Son of God (Luke 1:42-45)! I'm sure Mary very much needed this confirmation of the angel's word to her, and the encouragement.  While scripture never talks about the relationship between Jesus and John the Baptist as children, given the relationship between Mary and Elizabeth and the prophetic connection between the two boys' lives, they must have known each other before they each stepped into their ministries. And Jesus was born “in the fullness of time” (Galatians 4:4-7); he could not have come any earlier than He did. His forerunner had to just barely precede him. So had the Lord granted Zacharias and Elizabeth's prayer for children any earlier, they could not have been the parents of John the Baptist. I also suspect that John's later evangelistic success was in part due to the widespread knowledge of his miraculous birth. This great honor was reserved for a faithful couple, a couple who would continue to believe in Him, even when it looked like His word had failed. But this couple—or Elizabeth, at least—knew that God's promises never fail (1 Kings 8:56). He cannot lie (1 Samuel 15:29). His word is firmly fixed in the heavens (Psalm 119:89-90).  Zacharias's muteness may have been a punishment for his unbelief, but I think Elizabeth's interpretation in the retelling is more accurate. Scripture makes very clear that death and life are in the power of the tongue (Proverbs 18:21, and throughout Proverbs), and that we will have what we say (Numbers 14:28-29). Zacharias's protest to Gabriel expressed unbelief; it may well have been that Gabriel struck him mute so that he could not stop John's conception and birth from coming to pass by speaking forth his doubts.  The end of Malachi 4:6, prophesying the return of Elijah before the Messiah, says, “lest I come and strike the earth with a curse.” That was the last word from the prophets for four hundred years. What a strange statement—that without the forerunner to prepare the way for the Lord, Jesus might have cursed the earth rather than redeem it! It's hard to imagine Jesus doing such a thing; yet in His second coming, He will judge those who refuse to repent. Apparently the first and second coming could have been one and the same, without John's six month ministry calling the people to a baptism of repentance (Luke 3). In those six months, John became incredibly well known, and his impact continued even long after his death. In fact, after Jesus' resurrection and ascension, the great apostle Apollos preached the Word accurately, but he knew of only the baptism of John (Acts 18:25). Paul found that even Gentile believers in Ephesus knew only the baptism of John, and had not heard of the Holy Spirit (Acts 19:1-5). John's teaching of repentance from sins clearly spread far and wide, long after both his death, and the death and resurrection of Jesus. His ministry, preparing the way for the Messiah, long outlasted him. Many churches today, and many believers, in a way still only preach the baptism of John. They focus exclusively on repentance from sins, a necessary first step to prepare the way for the fruits and gifts that come from the baptism of the Holy Spirit. But repentance is meant to be the preparation, not the end in itself. John himself said this (Luke 3:16). We need the baptism of the Holy Spirit, just as the disciples did in order to fulfill their calling (Luke 24:49). We can't do it without Him.  Fictionalized Retelling: “Goodbye, my love.” Zacharias kissed me, and threw his traveling cloak around his shoulders before mounting his donkey. Then he added with a teasing wink, “Try to stay out of trouble.” I smiled at his little joke. We lived in the hill country of Judea, we kept no servants, and we were childless—so I would be all alone, and could not possibly get up to any trouble even if I had wanted to. Usually when Zacharias's turn came to serve as a priest in the temple, I spent the time gardening, tending our few livestock, and experimenting with new dishes to feed Zacharias when he returned home.  “What will you do with yourself?” he asked the customary question, expecting my answer to be the same as always. Today, though, it wasn't. “You know… I've been drawn to the books of the kings lately, for some reason. I think I'll study that.” My husband had taught me to read in our early marriage. When I was younger, I required his help in interpreting what I read. Now that I was in my seventies, though, I knew the texts almost as well as he did. Zacharias pursed his lips before moving his donkey forward. “Elijah?” he guessed, and I nodded. “Funny. I've been drawn to those passages too, of late.”  “Oh really?” I mused. “Perhaps the time is drawing near?” After four hundred years of prophetic silence, the last verse in Malachi promised that Elijah himself would return as the forerunner of the Messiah.  Zacharias chuckled. “Perhaps. Every generation has believed that theirs would be the one to see the Lord's anointed. But, someone will have to be right eventually!” He winked and dug his heels in to his donkey's side. I watched him ride to the top of the hill, waving, until he was out of sight.  Then I looked up at the sky to judge how much time I had to spend upon my studies, and went inside, withdrawing the scrolls Zacharias kept of the Hebrew texts. I meant to go straight to the records of the kings, but the scroll unrolled of its own accord to Exodus. A passage that I had meditated on years ago practically leapt off the page at me: None shall miscarry or be barren in your land. I blinked, and tried to shake it off. I kept unrolling, and one of the scrolls fell to the table, exposing a text opened to Deuteronomy.  There shall not be male or female barren among you. I closed my eyes, breathing through the unexpected stab of an old wound. I had clung to these verses and many others that promised the same thing in my youth, even in to middle age. But when my cycles had ceased, I realized I had a choice. Either I would believe that God had forgotten to honor His covenant, that His promises to me had failed, that He had forsaken me—or, I would consider my continued barrenness a mystery and decide to trust in Him anyway, believing that one day it would make sense. I chose the latter, since I knew the former would lead only to bitterness.  God is good. He is faithful. I had staked my entire life upon that, and I would not waver now.  Yet I had never revisited those passages in all these years. They were too painful.  I breathed through it until the emotion subsided. Another scroll slipped free, revealing the latter psalms.  Children are a heritage from the Lord, the fruit of the womb His reward. Like arrows are in the hand of a mighty man, so are children born in one's youth. Blessed is the man whose quiver is full of them. “Stop,” I gasped out loud, clutching my chest. I wasn't sure if I was begging the Lord to stop, or some outside force… I only knew I did not want to revisit this subject.  There was more to the issue of being a barren woman than not having a child. That by itself would have been bad enough. But Deuteronomy made it very clear that God would bless those who obeyed Him, and curse those who disobeyed Him. Because of this, the common belief among the Jews was that those who suffered a curse of any kind were receiving their just deserts. The story of Job should have dispelled the concept that affliction is always connected to personal sin, and yet the idea persisted.  Zacharias and I were not perfect of course, but we believed in the Lord and in His promises, like Abraham had done. I was sure that like Abraham, our faith was counted to us as righteousness. Yet despite this, and despite the very clear promises in scripture, we remained childless. I knew that many secretly wondered what sin I had committed to merit such a punishment. I had asked the Lord about this for almost a year after my cycles had ceased, but eventually I stopped asking. I had to. The question was driving me crazy.  I took another deep breath, and opened, finally, to the records of the kings. I reread the familiar story of Elijah's sudden arrival, announcing the famine to King Ahab. What a man he was! He reminded me a bit of King David in his outrageous faith. Without any direct word from God, he  decided to take God's statement of a famine as part of the curse in Deuteronomy, and just go declare it to the king. I could just see God watching Elijah in heaven, shaking his head and smiling—almost with incredulity, if God could be incredulous. This guy was incredible.  Over the next couple of days of Zacharias's absence, I pored over the story of the famine, the ravens that fed Elijah by the brook Cherith, the widow of Zarephath, and the first recorded story of the resurrection of the dead. How did Elijah know that resurrection was even possible? It had never been done before, and there was no record that God had told him anything about it. But if anybody was going to test the boundaries of what was possible in God, it was he.  My favorite was the story of Mount Carmel. Surrounded by enemies, Elijah was supremely in control of himself, jeering at all the 750 false prophets. Perhaps your god did not answer because he was relieving himself! he taunted. I laughed out loud at that every time. Then he doused his own offering in water multiple times to make it as hard as possible to set ablaze before he called upon the Lord. Fire fell from heaven at once, of course, consuming not just his offering, but his entire altar, and every last drop of water!  I realized I was grinning with pride, and stopped to wonder at my own reaction. Pride implied ownership, didn't it?  Strange. I paused in my reading, and prepared for myself an easy supper of bread and milk. I could cook, but I didn't feel like it right now—I had no one to feed but myself, and I was too otherwise engrossed.  The day I expected Zacharias's return, I skipped to the story in the latter kings, where God took Elijah up to heaven in a chariot of fire. Elisha, meanwhile, stood down below and watched, as Elijah's prophetic mantle passed to him.  Then I opened to the passage at the end of Malachi: “Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord.”  What did this mean? I wondered. Send Elijah? Would he return the way he left, in a chariot of fire? Would he return in the same body, with the same mind and personality? The scripture gave no indication that a person who died could return to earth in a new body—but then, Elijah had never actually died. He was one of only two people recorded in scripture who had not, the other being Enoch from Genesis.  “And he will turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the hearts of the children to their fathers, lest I come and strike the earth with a curse.”  Lest I come and strike the earth with a curse? I had never thought about this passage before either. Did this mean that without Elijah preceding the coming Messiah, the Messiah might find that the hearts of his people had grown cold, and might curse the earth, rather than redeem it?  That was a chilling thought. It certainly made Elijah's second coming critical.  It occurred to me that Zacharias should have been here by now. I looked out the window at the position of the sun: it was late afternoon. Usually he returned on the last day of his service by midday. I determined not to worry about it, since there was nothing I could do anyway, and rose from my studies, grabbing my basket. I went out into my garden and began to collect vegetables and herbs for supper that evening. I rose when I heard the faint clop of donkey's hooves behind me.  “Finally!” I cried out, turning around. I shielded my eyes from the late afternoon sun, squinting to see Zacharias atop the donkey in his traveling cloak. “It's almost sunset, what kept you so long?”  He did not answer, though the donkey plodded on. I frowned. Hadn't he heard me? “Zacharias?”  Still he did not reply, though he waved and nodded that he had heard me. Something was very strange. I dropped my basket and walked forward to meet him. When I came close enough, he made an exaggerated mime of writing. Then he pointed at the house. I read his lips and saw that he mouthed the words, Get me a scroll and pen. “Can… can you not talk?”  He shook his head no, and dismounted, leading his donkey by the reins to the stable. I stood dumbfounded as well, wondering what to make of this. Was it an illness of some kind? But if that were the case, if he had merely lost his voice, surely he could still at least whisper. Yet no sound escaped his lips at all.  Finally Zacharias joined me, putting a hand on my lower back and ushering me inside. I found for him the scroll, jar of ink, and pen, and set them on the table beside the open scriptures. He scribbled as fast as he could, I saw an angel in the temple. He said his name was Gabriel.  My heart started to gallop. “The same one who appeared to Daniel?” I gasped, and my husband nodded vigorously.  The very same, he wrote. He says you are going to bear a son. He stopped writing and looked at me. I stared at the words. My mind went blank, but my knees suddenly gave out, and I sank to a seat beside him. Zacharias reached out and took my hand in his, nodding at me as if to say, I mean what I say.  Children are a heritage of the Lord, the verse echoed in my mind. Heritage, as in, inheritance. It's a promise.  I looked up to heaven and whispered, “Why now? Why not… I don't know, forty years ago?”  Zacharias wrote, We are to call him John. I know there is no one in our family by that name, he added, as if he thought that would be my next question. He is to be the forerunner of the Christ, and will come in the spirit and power of Elijah.  My mouth fell open.  That was why the Lord had taken me back to all those passages. The promises for a child. The story of Elijah. The promises for the forerunner.  That meant the Messiah was coming—soon. Probably in my lifetime.  My hands absently sought my belly. Zacharias placed his hand over mine. I looked up at him.  “But… why can't you talk?” I whispered.  He looked a little bit bashful, and hesitated before he wrote, I talked back to Gabriel.  I let out a short little guffaw. “You did what?”  He nodded, gave me a sheepish grin, and wrote, I told him we were too old to have children. He said I would be mute until the day of John's birth. Now I laughed out loud. “Well, it serves you right!” I teased him, wiping away the tears that I suddenly realized had leaked onto my face. Then I caught my breath. “Wait a minute—Zach.” I shook my head. “‘Death and life are in the power of the tongue. Those who love it will eat its fruit'… that wasn't a punishment. It's because our words can stop it from coming to pass if they don't agree with what the Lord said…” I clamped my hands on my cheeks, squeezing my eyes tightly shut. In a strange way, I was grateful for my husband's affliction, because it served as a sign to me. I had not seen Gabriel, but Zacharias would not invent such an ailment. He never even would have thought of it. Without his muteness, I might have wondered in time whether he had imagined the encounter. But here was proof! I lifted both hands in the air and whispered, “Praise You, Lord of heaven and earth. You have not forgotten me. You have taken away my reproach among my people. You have granted me the high honor of not only bearing a child past the age of childbearing, like Sarah, but the honor of bearing a great prophet, like Hannah.” I grinned at Zacharias. “He'll be a firebrand, too, if Elijah was any indication!” I sniffled, wiping my tears away with the back of my hand. “I can hardly wait to meet him!”    Over the next several days, I pumped Zacharias for information until he had written down every detail of his encounter with Gabriel. I wanted to know exactly what the angel looked like, and exactly what he had said. I wanted it to be as if I had seen him myself. For the thousandth time, I was grateful that my husband had taught me to read. He wrote of how he had lingered in shock inside the temple long past the end of his service, which was why he had been late getting home. Then when he finally emerged, the people guessed that he had seen a vision when he could not speak to them.  “But you haven't told anyone,” I pressed. “Right?” He shook his head no, and I breathed a sigh of relief. “Good.” He gave me a quizzical look, and I tried to put my feelings into words. Finally I said, “You know what people will say, Zach. I'm seventy, and I was barren even when I was young. They'll be well-meaning, but they'll try to talk me out of it, because they don't want me getting my hopes up. Death and life is in the power of the tongue, and—” I groped for words. “I just don't want anyone to see me until it's undeniable. Right now, let's just keep this between us. We'll study Elijah, study the Messianic prophecies so we can guide John in his purpose when the time comes, rehearse what Gabriel told you, and then just… introduce the world to our son.”  Zacharias reached out, took me by both hands, and squeezed. Then he moved one of his hands to my soft, slightly sagging belly. He leaned forward and kissed me.   For five months I remained at home, meditating upon what the Lord had done for me, and dreaming of the days to come. Then, finally, I came out of seclusion.  I said nothing to anyone about the little bulge as I went into the marketplace, whistling like I had a great secret. I saw people looking and whispering, but no one was brave enough to ask me. They probably had convinced themselves that I had just put on weight in a strange way. Or perhaps that I had a tumor.  In my sixth month, Zacharias and I were at home, and I heard that we had a visitor. He answered the door, though I ran to intercept whoever it was, since of course Zacharias could not speak to them. I heard the young female voice of my grand-niece Mary, and at once, I felt little John give a great kick. It doubled me over, and in the moment I tried to catch my breath, a flash of insight came to me.  Mary is pregnant with the Messiah!  I blinked, tears of joy pricking my eyes. The thought arrived with such absolute conviction that the Lord might as well have said it out loud.  I heard Mary awkwardly trying to understand why my husband would not greet her, and I straightened, calling out as I approached, “God has blessed you above all women, and your child is blessed!” She startled, and grew suddenly pale. I grinned back knowingly. “Why am I so honored, that the mother of my Lord should visit me? When I heard your greeting, the baby in my womb jumped for joy. You are blessed because you believed that the Lord would do what he said!”  Mary gave me a quavering smile, her eyes full of tears, and I understood that the Lord had given me those words for her sake. She was unmarried, a virgin, and newly pregnant—her miracle was even greater than mine. But she was not showing yet, and she was struggling to believe. That was why the Lord sent her to me: to see my miracle, as an encouragement to her! Her eyes went to my belly, and I beamed proudly, putting a hand on either side of it. She ran forward and hugged me, and burst into a song of praise worthy of King David, bless her little heart. I joined in, and though Zacharias could not, he watched us and raised his hands up to the Lord in worship.  “Stay with us,” I urged Mary when we had finished, all three of us grinning and exultant. “At least until you are showing. It's easier that way, believe me.”  Mary's joyful expression faltered. “But… Joseph doesn't know yet.” “Who's Joseph?” I asked.  “My betrothed,” she murmured. “He had only just asked for my hand, when the angel Gabriel appeared to me—” “Oh, Gabriel was the one who came to you too!” I cast a fond look at my husband, who looked bemused. Mary nodded, and confessed, “I love Joseph. But I know what he will think—obviously. What else could he possibly think? Why would he believe such a story?”  I squeezed Mary's hand. “Let the Lord take care of it,” I advised her. “It's His problem, after all. He got you into this mess; He'll work out the details.”  Mary giggled, and I watched her fondly. She was so very young. What an incredible weight to place upon those narrow shoulders! And yet, the Lord would never have chosen her if He did not know she was up to the task.  “Stay with us,” I urged her again. “Until John is born, at least.” I gasped, as it had just occurred to me right then—“They'll be cousins, then! John and the Messiah!”  “Yes!” Mary laughed. “And only six months apart in age…”  “They will have to play together as children,” I asserted at once. “They'll grow up to be great friends.” Then I added, musing aloud, “I wonder when we should tell them?” Mary puffed out a heavy breath. “One problem at a time, please!”  I chuckled. “Very wise, child. Very wise.”    Mary did remain with us for three months. I still went out to the marketplace until just before my time, and by then, all my friends and neighbors knew my real condition, and marveled.  When I gave birth, I was so enamored with my child that it took me almost a full day to notice that Zacharias still could not speak. I was rather used to his silence now, but this confused me, and upset him. When the time came for the child's circumcision on the eighth day as prescribed by the law, it was also time to officially declare his name. They asked me what he was to be called, whether we would name him Zacharias, after his father. This had never occurred to me.  “No!” I asserted at once, “his name is John.”  “John?” asked the priest, perplexed. “But there is no one among your relatives who is called by that name. Surely, he will be Zacharias.”  They turned to my husband, who gestured for a writing tablet. He wrote very clearly, His name is John. As the priests stared at the tablet in wonder, Zacharias burst forth, “Praise the Lord!”  I gasped. “You can speak!”  Zacharias, laughing and crying at once, hugged me and took the little bundle from my arms. He gazed down at John with such love that for a second, I had the strange thought that I was looking into the face of God, seeing His love for my newborn child reflected in my husband's face. “Praise the Lord, the God of Israel,” he proclaimed, “because he has visited and redeemed his people. He has sent us a mighty Savior from the royal line of his servant David,just as he promised through his holy prophets long ago. Now we will be saved from our enemies and from all who hate us. He has been merciful to our ancestors by remembering his sacred covenant— the covenant he swore with an oath to our ancestor Abraham. We have been rescued from our enemies so we can serve God without fear, in holiness and righteousness for as long as we live”  I blinked at Zacharias, astonished, and looked around the room to see the reactions of the rest of the priests. It was clear to me, at least, that the words were not Zacharias's own. Something—the Holy Spirit, surely—had taken hold of him. He went on, gazing down at John, “And you, my little son, will be called the prophet of the Most High, because you will prepare the way for the Lord. You will tell his people how to find salvation through forgiveness of their sins. Because of God's tender mercy, the morning light from heaven is about to break upon us, to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, and to guide us to the path of peace.”  I suddenly realized I wasn't breathing. I sucked in a breath, and turned to one of the priests.  “Did you write all that down?” I demanded.  As if galvanized by my words, he jumped up to find a scroll and ink. I looked at Zacharias and whispered as I caressed our son's head, “He'll want to hear his father's prophecy about him when he grows up.” I kissed his forehead and added tenderly, “Our little Elijah.” 

Doug's guest today is Pastor/Comedian Al Fike "The Cleanest Comedy You've NEVER Heard!" https://www.alfike.com/ "Positive Vibes" Sawlent Night Pumping in the new... Proverbs and John ------------------ Acts 10:44-48 (ESV Strong's) The Holy Spirit Falls on the Gentiles 44 While Peter was still saying these things, the Holy Spirit fell on all who heard the word. 45 And the believers from among the circumcised who had come with Peter were amazed, because the gift of the Holy Spirit was poured out even on the Gentiles. 46 For they were hearing them speaking in tongues and extolling God. Then Peter declared, 47 “Can anyone withhold water for baptizing these people, who have received the Holy Spirit just as we have?” 48 And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they asked him to remain for some days. ------------------ 5 Core Values of SWAT 1. God's Word 2. Prayer 3. Evangelism 4. Discipleship 5. Community ------------------ https://swatradio.com/ SWAT - Spiritual Warriors Advancing Truth Call us Toll-Free at: +1-844-777-7928 Email Us a Question: ask@swatradio.com FIND A SWAT MEETING Woody's Bar-B-Que 226 Solano Rd Ponte Vedra, FL 10611 Wed. 6:30-7:30 am IHOP 3250 Hodges Blvd Jacksonville, FL 32224 Wed. Night 7-8 pm Salem Centre 7235 Bonneval Rd Jacksonville, FL Wed. 12:00-1:00 pm Jumping Jax House of Food 10131 San Jose Blvd #12 Jacksonville, FL Thursday 6:30-7:30 am The Village Inn 900 Ponce De Leon Blvd St. Augustine, FL Friday 9:00-10:30 am Woodmen Valley Chapel - Woodmen Heights Campus 8292 Woodman Valley View Colorado Springs CO 80908 Thursdays 8-9:15 pm

We come to a miraculous healing passage. Peter and John are going to the temple to pray when a man calls out to them. He has been "lame from birth," and he asks for alms. But Peter and John have no money, so they give him something even better. Stories like this invite the thought: does the Church still have something better to offer today? This man began with very low expectations (and probably a healthy dose of cynicism) yet ended up dancing with joy. Most of us may not be "lame from birth" but I imagine we still share some of his cynicism and his yearning for real joy. How do we get that kind of miracle? Let's talk about Jumping for Joy. Discussion Questions In some cultures and situations, people will do anything to get to church, for teaching and fellowship. Are the urgency and eagerness lost for good here in our free society and indulgent culture? Russ opened with the Apostle Paul enduring prison and persecution while focusing on Christ. How would you characterize your motivation and practices about going to church? We tend to have low expectations. The lame beggar wanted money, but he got much more from Peter and John (Acts 3:6). As you assess your main priorities and routine, what are you hoping to achieve or acquire? "If I had these things, I'd be alright." Now having heard the sermon, are there better goals for you to pursue? Would your expectations be raised in any way for God, yourself, or others? What is your experience with shame? How can we cope with or manage shame? What exactly is shame? Can you tell a personal story about shame, or is it too difficult (i.e., ashamed)? Is there a greater gravitational force that keeps us down than shame, or is that the biggie? (Genesis 2:25) Now, what is your experience with joy? We've all felt good, happy, or euphoric. But what does it mean to have joy in Jesus? (Acts 3:8-10) Do you live with more shame or more joy in your life? Underneath diets, clothes, and vacations is a desire for newness. Can you identify what you're trying to recover or renew, in whatever you tend to pursue apart from Christ? What is the mess, mistake, disappointment, or tragedy you'd like to cover over or replace? Can you imagine swimming toward a shark so as not to behave like prey? Gospel: What are you worth? What gives a person value? Most are quick to be self-deprecating, which can be exaggerated or out of balance. Yet Paul called himself the chief among sinners. (1 Timothy 1:15) So do you beat yourself up too much, or rightfully so? Is there another way to change this self-talk into more of a Gospel orientation that's balanced and encouraging? (1 Timothy 1:16) Talk about the ring in the toilet. What did you need to hear in the sermon or during this conversation?

Pastor David Catoe, recorded LIVE on Sunday, July 11, 2021, at Danbury Baptist Church

Based on our reading for this week, there are consequences to speaking Christ's name. Though this may seem the case, Peter and John (Acts 4) are on trial because they did the more heinous act of loving someone who had been cast out of the community. They saw the presence of God in a man whose life others considered mattering less, and for that they must stand trial. And they do not stand alone. We do not stand alone when we speak or act or care for God's people whom our culture has pushed aside and denied life. How will we rise and speak Christ's name for the restoration of others? #sermon #blacklivesmatter #LGBTQrights #restoringhope #OffWeGo 

For more info about The Grove Church, visit us at lifeatthegrove.org.

Something is to be gained by bringing today’s two readings, Nehemiah 8 and Acts 18, into juxtaposition.Much of Acts 18 is devoted to preaching and teaching the Word of God and to the issue of how to understand God’s revelation aright. When Silas and Timothy arrive in Corinth from Macedonia (Acts 18:5), presumably bringing with them some support money, Paul is set free to devote himself “exclusively to preaching, testifying to the Jews that Jesus was the Christ” (Acts 18:5). Eventually the heat of opposition drives him to spend more time with Gentiles. No longer free to use the synagogue, he uses the house of Titius Justus next door. Soon the synagogue ruler himself is converted (Acts 18:8). Some Jews mount a legal challenge against Paul, but the local magistrate perceives that the dispute essentially involves controverted interpretations of Scripture (Acts 18:12–16). The end of the chapter introduces Apollos, learned in the Scriptures and a powerful speaker, but still somewhat ill-informed regarding Jesus. He “knew only the baptism of John” (Acts 18:25). He may well have known enough of John the Baptist’s teaching to announce the coming of Jesus and perhaps even details of Jesus’s life, death, and resurrection; but like the “believers” at the beginning of the next chapter, he might not have known of Pentecost and the gift of the Spirit. After all, many Jews from around the empire visited Jerusalem at the time of the feasts and then returned home. If Apollos and others had left Jerusalem after the resurrection but before Pentecost, it was not impossible that years could have elapsed before they became better informed. And information is precisely what Priscilla and Aquila provide Apollos, explaining to him “the way of God more adequately” (Acts 18:26).In Nehemiah 8, Ezra begins a seven-day Bible conference. He carefully reads “the Law” to the assembled crowd. The Levites join in; they “instructed the people in the Law.… They read from the Book of the Law of God, making it clear and giving the meaning so that the people could understand what was being read” (Neh. 8:7–8). The expression “making it clear” could be rendered “translating it”; after all, the Law was written in Hebrew, and by this time most of the people spoke Aramaic. The Bible had become a closed book to them. Whether through translation or exposition or both, the people are understanding it again. Joy dawns “because they now understood the words that had been made known to them” (Neh. 8:12).Whether under the old covenant or the new, nothing is more important for the growth and maturation of God’s people than a heart hungry to read and understand what God says, and people to make it plain. This podcast is designed to be used alongside TGC's Read The Bible initiative (TGC.org/readthebible). The podcast features devotional commentaries from D.A. Carson’s book For the Love of God (vol. 2) that follow the M’Cheyne Bible reading plan.

Jay the Truth Barista and Amazing Larry continue their study of obedience to God. What happens when God's commands clash with human authorities? Peter and John (Acts 4) are the prime examples as they are confronted by the spiritual authorities of their day.Visit High Beam Ministry, The Truth Barista

As we continue to look at the relationships formed in the early church, how do we see friends supporting each other in their interactions with the world? Today, we look at the story of Peter and John (Acts 3:1-4:22) and see how two friends support each other as they pursue unexpected mission work in their day-to-day lives.

Northwest Bible Church - April 19, 2020 - Book of Acts - Alan Conner Acts 18:22-28 Apollos, Priscilla and Aquila Intro A. APOLLOS IN EPHESUS (Acts 18:24-26a) 1. An Egyptian Jew (Acts 18:24). 2. Eloquent (Acts 18:24). 3. Mighty in the Scriptures (Acts 18:24). 4. Instructed in the way of the Lord (Acts 18:25). 5. Fervent in spirit, spoke out boldly (Acts 18:25, 26). 6. Accurate teacher (Acts 18:25). 7. Acquainted only with the baptism of John (Acts 18:25). 8. Possible author of the book of Hebrews after his enlightenment. B. PRISCILLA AND AQUILA (Acts 18:26b). 1. Why is Priscilla listed first? 2. Their ministry to Apollo. 3. Apollos’ response to their teaching. C. APOLLOS IN CORINTH (Acts 18:27-28). 1. Endorsed by the church (Acts 18:27a). 2. A powerful ministry (Acts 18:27b-28). D. PAUL AND APOLLOS (1 Cor. 1-4). Applications 1. 2.

Bible 101 - New Testament: Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, Acts, Romans - Summary by David K. Ewen, M.Ed. of the Resurrection Center in Springfield. http://www.theKradio.com/ --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/trc413/support

Scripture Reading: Colossians 4:10,14 When we compare the 'greetings' section of Colossians with some other passages in the New Testament, a marked contrast comes to the surface.  Two of the men from whom Paul sends greetings to the church in Colossae are Mark (Col 4:10) and Demas (Col 4:14). Their individual stories are a study in contrast.  One story is a sober warning and one story is a beacon of hope. Mark (also called John - Acts 12:25) started out with Paul and Barnabas on Paul's first missionary journey, but soon abruptly left the group and went home (Acts 13:13).  When a second missionary trip was being discussed Paul refused to allow John Mark to join them (Acts 15:38,39).  As a result of a marked disagreement, Barnabas also did not go on the trip, but took Mark with him to Cyprus. With this background, it is significant that during Paul's first imprisonment, Mark is with him and during Paul's second, and final, imprisonment Paul asks Timothy to bring Mark to see Paul because "he is very useful to me for ministry" (2 Tim 4:11). Demas is also with Paul during his first imprisonment and Paul sends greetings from Demas to the Colossians (Col 4:14).  In his letter to Philemon, Paul describes Demas as "my fellow worker" (Phlm 24).  But during Paul's second imprisonment, some 6 years later, Paul writes "Demas, in love with this present world, has deserted me and gone to Thessalonica" (2 Tim 4:10). The story of Demas is a warning to us to that past service in Christ's name does not insure future usefulness in His kingdom.  Oh, how we must guard our hearts.  The story of Mark holds out hope that past failures do not exclude the prospect of change and future usefulness in Christ's kingdom.

2018/06/03 - Whole Bible: John-Acts | Pastor Michael Chung by Indelible Grace Church

118. Make Yourself A Saviour of Men

전도자의 삶 - 지 속 (다니엘 6:10-23) 지속의 응답을 받은 성경의 인물들이 있습니다. 1. 이삭(창세기 26:12~24) 2. 모세(신명기 6:4~9) 3. 다윗(사무엘상 17:1~49) 4. 다니엘(다니엘 6:10) 5. 베드로와 요한(사도행전 3:1) The life of Evangelist - Continuation (Daniel 6:10-23) There were people in the Bible who received the answer of “continuation”. 1. Isaac (Genesis 26:12~24) 2. Moses (Deuteronomy 6:4~9) 3. David (1 Samuel 17:1~49) 4. Daniel (Daniel 6:10) 5. Peter and John (Acts 3:1)

The life of Evangelist - Continuation (Daniel 6:10-23) There were people in the Bible who received the answer of “continuation”. 1. Isaac (Genesis 26:12~24) 2. Moses (Deuteronomy 6:4~9) 3. David (1 Samuel 17:1~49) 4. Daniel (Daniel 6:10) 5. Peter and John (Acts 3:1)

Northwest Bible Church - Dec. 16, 2018 - Book of Acts - Alan Conner Acts 8:4-17 Philip and the Holy Spirit Intro A. THE MINISTRY OF PHILIP (Acts 8:4-8). 1. Who is Philip (Acts 8:4-5)? 2. Who are the Samaritans? 3. Philip preached Christ with miraculous signs (Acts 8:5-7). 4. Attentive audience resulting in much rejoicing (Acts 8:6, 8). 5. Phase two of the Great Commission (Acts 1:8). B. THE DELAYED GIFT OF THE HOLY SPIRIT (Acts 8:14-17). 1. Does this support the charismatic view of a two-stage Christian life? 2. Evidence for this being the exception, not the rule. a) Apostolic teaching: b. Apostolic practice: 3. The gift of the Holy Spirit in the new covenant. 4. The gift of the Holy Spirit to non-Jews. 5. The role of Peter and John (Acts 8:14-17). a. John the fireman. b. Peter the key-keeper. Conclusion

John the Apostle (John, Acts, Revelation) from 30 Biblical People You Need to Know by Dr. Randy White. Released: 2018. Track 30. Genre: Speech. Additional Materials: ( Outline | Website | YouTubeChannel | ZoHo ) The post John the Apostle (John, Acts, Revelation) appeared first on RWM Podcasts.

The Ministry of the Deacons (1Timothy, Hebrews, Revelation, John, Acts, Proverbs, James) from Rethinking Church by Dr. Randy White. Released: 2017. Track 5. Genre: Speech. Additional Materials: ( Outline | Video | Website | YouTubeChannel | ZoHo ) The post The Ministry of the Deacons (1Timothy, Hebrews, Revelation, John, Acts, Proverbs, James) appeared first on RWM Podcasts.

The Way of Unity: Walking Through Valleys of Disagrement: Philip's Purple State Strategy: The spread of Christianity started, in part, because of the persecution of the church. Philip is taking the message of the Gospel to the Samaritans...just like Jesus did. (2 Kings 17:24-34 shows a negative image of Samaritans). Philip breaks the barriers of religion and race in his mission to Samaria. God's mission is to all. The Jerusalem Church was so troubled by this that they had to send an investigative committee to check it out - Peter and John (Acts 8:14). Philip's interaction with the Ethiopian eunuch in 26-40 shows a few things: First, we are told he is an Ethiopian - a black African - and the treasurer of "The Candace" the queen mother of Ethiopia. Second, he is probably a "God-worshiper" since he is returning from pilgrimage to Jerusalem and reading the prophet. Third, the Ethiopian has been castrated, which meant he was not acceptable in Jewish society (Deut 23). The Ethiopian wanted more...he may have wanted to convert to Judaism, but that would not have been allowed due to his physical condition. Philip already breaks the walls of religion and race in Samaria...now he breaks the third, very serious barrier of sexuality. Philip baptizes him and he becomes a FULL member of the household of faith.

As we examine instances in which Christians experience persecution, the belief in the resurrection of Jesus becomes a very prominent area of persecution for a lot of people. In this sermon we attempt to answer four questions concerning the resurrection of Jesus. What is the issue? What are the challenges? What is the evidence? What does it prove?