Podcasts about lord acts

In this message, Pastor Jake unpacks Acts 19:1–10 to show how the early church multiplied through ordinary disciples clothed with extraordinary power. Beginning with Paul's encounter with the “about twelve” in Ephesus, we see the clear biblical distinction between repentance, water baptism, and Spirit-empowerment for mission (Acts 18:24–28; Acts 19:1–7; Luke 3:16).Drawing on Luke–Acts, Pastor Jake explains how Scripture contrasts John's baptism of repentance with Jesus' baptism in the Holy Spirit (Luke 3:15–17; Acts 1:4–8; Acts 2:1–4, 38–39). He highlights how Luke consistently describes the Spirit's work as being “filled,” “receiving,” “poured out,” and “coming upon” (Acts 2:4; 4:8, 31; 8:14–17; 10:44–48; 19:6), emphasizing that this is an ongoing, available gift—not a one-time religious formality.This sermon calls listeners to:• Move from being mere beneficiaries of the gospel to empowered agents of the gospel (Acts 8:4; 11:19–21; Romans 10:14–15).• Pray prophetic promises into fulfillment, like Daniel did with Jeremiah's word (Daniel 9:1–3; Jeremiah 29:10–14; 1 Timothy 1:18–19).• Renounce divided allegiances and rival spiritual powers—crystals, tarot, horoscopes, new age practices, and manipulative anger—as modern forms of sorcery (Acts 19:18–20; Ephesians 4:26–27; 1 Corinthians 10:20–21; Galatians 5:19–21).• Seek fresh fillings of the Holy Spirit amid opposition, as in Acts 4:23–31, recognizing that God empowers soldiers, not spectators (Ephesians 6:10–18; 2 Timothy 2:3–4).Through the story of Ephesus becoming a missional hub—so that “all who lived in the province of Asia heard the word of the Lord” (Acts 19:10; cf. Colossians 1:6–8; Revelation 2–3)—Pastor Jake casts vision for churches today as apostolic centers in cities and regions, multiplying campuses and works by the Spirit's power, not human ambition (Zechariah 4:6; Acts 13:1–3).If you hunger for more than comfortable Christianity and long to see bold proclamation, spiritual gifts, repentance, and city-shaping impact, this message will call you to the altar of availability, to be clothed with power from on high (Luke 24:49; Acts 1:8).

Send us Fan MailIn Acts 5:1–11, we encounter one of the most sobering and challenging passages in the entire New Testament—the story of Ananias and Sapphira. Why did God judge them so severely? What was their real sin? And what does this account teach the modern church about holiness, hypocrisy, and the fear of the Lord?In this message, Pastor Timothy Stewart explores how the early church faced not only persecution from the outside, but also deception from within. Through the story of Ananias and Sapphira, we discover that God desires authenticity over appearance, integrity over image, and hearts that fear Him more than they seek the approval of others.Most importantly, we learn that the fear of the Lord is not terror that drives us from God—it is awe that keeps us from playing games with God. At the cross, God's holiness and mercy meet, revealing why the Gospel is the shortest path to a healthy fear of the Lord.Whether you're studying the Book of Acts, wrestling with questions about God's judgment, or seeking a deeper understanding of authentic Christianity, this message will challenge and encourage you.

7 takeaways from this study God's presence is not limited by place. Ezekiel's chariot vision reminds you that God sees and reaches you even in “exile” seasons—geographical, emotional, or spiritual. You are not forgotten. Outsiders can become family. Ruth shows that anyone, regardless of background, can genuinely say, “Your people shall be my people, and your God, my God” (Ruth 1:16). Treat sincere “Ruths” as true family in God. Holiness means real-life distinctions. Leviticus 11 and Sinai teach you to distinguish between holy and common. Practically, this means asking in everyday choices: “Does this belong in a life set apart for God, or not?” The Spirit empowers obedience, not lawlessness. Jeremiah 31 and Ezekiel 36 show that the רוּחַ ruach (Spirit) writes Torah on the heart and “causes” you to walk in God's ways. Depend on the Spirit to obey; do not use grace as permission to ignore God's commands. Look for the Spirit's work where you do not expect it. On Shavuot in Acts 2 and at Cornelius's house in Acts 10, many misread what God was doing. Ask: “Could this be the Spirit at work?” before you dismiss something that does not fit your expectations. Your story can be a seed, not a waste. Like exile, like the cross, and like a seed buried in the ground, seasons that look like loss may be God's way of planting something for a future harvest— often in others, not just in you. You carry a watchman's responsibility. Ezekiel's call and Peter's Shavuot sermon together imply this: you are not only saved; you are sent. Warn, invite, and testify — especially to those “far off” — so their blood is not on your hands and so they can join God's covenant family. A theme of the biblical festival of Shavuot (Pentecost) God's harvest from all nations. God joins those who are “far off” to His people and writes His instructions on their hearts by His Spirit. We’ll consider how believers live in covenant faithfulness and the relationship between Torah and Spirit, obedience and grace, and Israel and the nations. Ruth: From foreign outsider to covenant insider “But Ruth said, ‘Do not urge me to leave you or turn back from following you; for where you go, I will go, and where you lodge, I will lodge. Your people shall be my people, and your God, my God. Where you die, I will die, and there I will be buried. Thus may the LORD do to me, and worse, if anything but death parts you and me.'” Ruth 1:16–17 NASB 1995 Ruth comes from Moab. That nation has a difficult origin (Genesis 19:30–38). Moab also opposes Israel in the wilderness journey from Egypt to the Promised Land (Numbers 22–25). Therefore Ruth does not come from a neutral background. She comes from a historically hostile nation. Yet Ruth chooses Israel's people and Israel's God. She crosses a covenant boundary by faith and loyalty. She moves from being a foreigner to being part of Israel's story. Boaz recognizes this. The nearer kinsman refuses to redeem Ruth. He says it may “jeopardize” his own inheritance (Ruth 4:6). The subtext is clear. He does not want to bring a Moabite into his family line. Boaz responds differently. He sees Ruth's faith and covenant loyalty. He acts in line with the heart of the God of Israel, who welcomes the one who truly turns. The book ends by placing Ruth in the line of King David (Ruth 4:17–22). This shows that God can place a former outsider at the very center of His redemptive plan. In Hebrew, the word “holy” is קָדוֹשׁ qadosh (set apart). Ruth moves from being outside the set-apart people to being included among them. Her story anticipates a larger harvest from the nations. Shavuot: From Passover to Sinai The traditional reading of Ruth on Shavuot (Pentecost) fits the holy day’s lessons. Shavuot links Passover to the giving of the Torah at Sinai: “You shall also count for yourselves from the day after the sabbath, from the day when you brought in the sheaf of the wave offering; there shall be seven complete sabbaths. You shall count fifty days to the day after the seventh sabbath; then you shall present a new grain offering to the LORD.” Leviticus 23:15–16 NASB 1995 The counting of the fifty days (the Omer) ties together three elements: Passover (Pesach): deliverance from bondage in Egypt. Unleavened Bread (Matzot): removal of old leaven. Shavuot: firstfruits of the harvest and, traditionally, the giving of the Torah at Sinai (Exodus 19–20). This recalls God's purpose: “You yourselves have seen what I did to the Egyptians, and how I bore you on eagles' wings, and brought you to Myself. Now then, if you will indeed obey My voice and keep My covenant, then you shall be My own possession among all the peoples, for all the earth is Mine; and you shall be to Me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.” Exodus 19:4–6 NASB 1995 The goal is not only freedom from slavery. It’s a covenant identity as a “kingdom of priests” and “holy nation.” The Hebrew for “holy” here is again קָדוֹשׁ qadosh (set apart). God marks out Israel as distinct because of His presence and His word. The first of the Ten Commandments begins with identity and history. “I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery. You shall have no other gods before Me.” Exodus 20:2–3 NASB 1995 Only this God redeemed Israel from bondage. Therefore Israel must not turn to other gods or make images (Exodus 20:4–6). The covenant is rooted in what God has already done. Israel receives the commandments after redemption. God does not redeem them because they obey. He redeems them, then calls them to obedience. The pattern is grace first, then covenant response. Holiness, distinction and Leviticus 11 Shavuot also connects to Leviticus 11, the list of “clean” and “unclean” animals. The passage ends with a key principle. “For I am the LORD your God. Consecrate yourselves therefore, and be holy, for I am holy. And you shall not make yourselves unclean with any of the swarming things that swarm on the earth. For I am the LORD who brought you up from the land of Egypt to be your God; thus you shall be holy, for I am holy.” Leviticus 11:44–45 NASB 1995 The Hebrew verb “to consecrate” is קִדֵּשׁ qiddesh (set apart, make holy). God teaches Israel to distinguish. Some things belong in the category of God's people. Others do not. In one sense, God simply says about the “clean” list, “Because I said so.” However, the deeper purpose lies in training Israel to see categories: clean and unclean, holy and common. This forms a pattern. Later God will also draw lines between righteous and wicked, sheep and goats, good fish and bad fish (cf. Matthew 13:47–50; 25:31–33). God present in exile The vision of Ezekiel 1 appears during ancient Israel’s second exile. The people of Judah have gone into Babylon. It might seem that Israel's story has ended. Yet God shows Ezekiel a vision of His glory by the river Chebar (Ezekiel 1:1–3). Ezekiel sees living beings with four faces and many eyes. They move straight in every direction and do not turn (Ezekiel 1:5–14). Wheels within wheels move with them (Ezekiel 1:15–21). The imagery resembles a heavenly chariot. This vision as a message about God's presence. In ancient warfare, a chariot moves only in one direction. The “business end” faces forward. Its power and weapons point one way. God's chariot differs. It goes straight in every direction. It sees everywhere. It reaches even into exile. Therefore, even in Babylon, God remains with His people. He is not bound to a geographical border. This message continues in Ezekiel 2–3. God gives Ezekiel a scroll to eat: “Then He said to me, ‘Son of man, eat what you find; eat this scroll, and go, speak to the house of Israel.' So I opened my mouth, and He fed me this scroll. He said to me, ‘Son of man, feed your stomach and fill your body with this scroll which I am giving you.' Then I ate it, and it was sweet as honey in my mouth.” Ezekiel 3:1–3 NASB 1995 The scroll contains words of lamentation and woe, yet it tastes sweet. The message includes judgment, but also hope. God has not forgotten His people. The exile itself lies within His plan of correction. The 70 years prophesied by Jeremiah (Jeremiah 25:11–12; 29:10) have begun, but they will end. There’s a parallel to Ruth. She once stood outside Israel, yet God brought her into His purpose because of her faith and rejection of the ways of her past. Hundreds of years later, Israel now stands in exile, yet Ezekiel’s vision of God's chariot shows that He has not abandoned them. The same God who reached into Egypt when Israel was enslaved there now reaches into Babylon. The New Covenant: Torah written on the heart The key to adoption into God’s family is the new covenant. Here’s where it’s foretold, then repeatedly quoted in the New Testament: “‘Behold, days are coming,' declares the LORD, ‘when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah, not like the covenant which I made with their fathers in the day I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt, My covenant which they broke, although I was a husband to them,' declares the LORD. ‘But this is the covenant which I will make with the house of Israel after those days,' declares the LORD, ‘I will put My law within them and on their heart I will write it; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people.'” Jeremiah 31:31–33 NASB 1995 The Hebrew word for “law” is תּוֹרָה Torah (instruction). God promises to place the Torah “within them” and write it “on their heart.” The Hebrew for “heart” is לֵב lev (inner being, mind and emotions). In a parallel new covenant prophecy, a key verb for obeying appears in the causative stem (הִפְעִיל hif'il). God does not only command His people to walk in His ways. He causes them to do so by His Spirit. “Moreover, I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; and I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you will be careful to observe My ordinances.” Ezekiel 36:26–27 NASB 1995 The Hebrew word for “Spirit” is רוּחַ ruach (spirit, wind, breath). God's ruach empowers obedience from the inside. Thus the new covenant does not remove Torah. Instead, it internalizes Torah. It removes the heart of stone and gives a heart of flesh. Acts 10: Holy, common, and the nations The study then connects Leviticus 11 to Acts 10. Peter sees a sheet with all kinds of animals. A voice says, “Get up, Peter, kill and eat!” (Acts 10:13 NASB 1995). Peter objects, since he has never eaten anything unholy or unclean (literally, “common”; Acts 10:14). The voice answers, “What God has cleansed, no longer consider unholy” (Acts 10:15 NASB 1995). Peter later interprets this. When he meets Cornelius and his household, he says: And yet God has shown me that I should not call any man unholy or unclean. Acts 10:28, NASB 1995 Peter’s sheet vision centers on people. God has moved some from the “do not eat” category, so to speak, into the “eat” category. He has lifted them up and included them among His own. This does not erase all distinctions. Scripture still speaks of sheep and goats, righteous and unrighteous. However, the boundary now runs through Yeshua the Messiah and the work of the Spirit, not through ethnicity. Those who were “far off” can now draw near (cf. Ephesians 2:11–13). The Greek word for “unclean” is κοινός koinos (common, impure). God commands Peter not to label those whom He has cleansed as koinos. This echoes the principle from Ruth. A Moabite woman becomes part of the royal line. A Roman centurion and his household receive the Holy Spirit. Acts 1: Shavuot and the promise of the Spirit Fifty days after Yeshua’s resurrection came for Shavuot, with massive pilgrimages to Jerusalem. “To these He also presented Himself alive after His suffering, by many convincing proofs, appearing to them over a period of forty days and speaking of the things concerning the kingdom of God. Gathering them together, He commanded them not to leave Jerusalem, but to wait for what the Father had promised, ‘Which,' He said, ‘you heard of from Me; for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.'” Acts 1:3–5 NASB 1995 The forty days recall other periods of testing and preparation in Scripture (e.g., years of wandering in the wilderness). Yeshua remains with His disciples, teaching about the kingdom. Then He ascends. A 10-day gap leads to the 50th day, Shavuot. The disciples ask about the restoration of the kingdom to Israel (Acts 1:6). Yeshua answers that the Father has fixed the times and seasons. He then redirects them. “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be My witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and even to the remotest part of the earth.” Acts 1:8 NASB 1995 The Greek word for “power” is δύναμις dynamis (power, might). The Greek word for “witnesses” is μάρτυρες martyres (witnesses, from which “martyr” comes). The Spirit empowers witness from Jerusalem outward. This echoes God's original purpose at Sinai. Israel was to be a “kingdom of priests” (Exodus 19:6). Now the disciples carry the testimony of Messiah and the Torah written on the heart, through the Spirit, to the ends of the earth. Acts 2: Joel's prophecy and the last days On Shavuot, the Spirit comes with wind and fire (Acts 2:1–4). Those gathered speak in other tongues. Some bystanders mock and say they are drunk. Peter stands up with the eleven and explains: “But this is what was spoken of through the prophet Joel:‘And it shall be in the last days,' God says,‘That I will pour forth of My Spirit on all mankind;And your sons and your daughters shall prophesy,And your young men shall see visions,And your old men shall dream dreams;Even on My bondslaves, both men and women,I will in those days pour forth of My SpiritAnd they shall prophesy.'” Acts 2:16–18 NASB 1995, quoting Joel 2:28–32 The outpouring of the Spirit fulfills the promises of Jeremiah 31 and Ezekiel 36. God pours out His רוּחַ ruach (Spirit) on “all flesh,” crossing age, gender, and social status boundaries. Peter continues with the signs in heaven and earth and the coming “great and glorious day of the LORD” (Acts 2:19–20 NASB 1995). He then declares the key outcome: “And it shall be that everyone who calls on the name of the LORD will be saved.” Acts 2:21 NASB 1995 The Greek word for “saved” is σωθήσεται sōthēsetai (will be saved, from σῴζω sōzō). This includes Jews gathered for the feast and later Gentiles like Cornelius. Ruth's personal confession (“Your God, my God”) now becomes a worldwide invitation. Torah and Spirit: Not opposed but united Some readers claim that the new covenant and the Spirit “do away” with the Torah. They cite passages that call the former commandment “weak and useless” (Hebrews 7:18 NASB 1995). Yet this reading needs to take Hebrews in context. The writer compares the earthly priesthood and sanctuary with the heavenly reality. Earthly priests die. Earthly sacrifices repeat year after year. The pattern remains imperfect. It points beyond itself. “who serve a copy and shadow of the heavenly things, just as Moses was warned by God when he was about to erect the tabernacle; for, ‘See,' He says, ‘that you make all things according to the pattern which was shown you on the mountain.'” Hebrews 8:5 NASB 1995 The weakness lies in the human and temporal side, not in God's righteous standard. Priests fail. The people break the covenant. The temple can be defiled or destroyed. Yet the heavenly sanctuary remains open. The Messiah serves as eternal high priest. In the Prophets, God rejects sacrifices offered with corrupt hearts (Isaiah 1:11–17). The problem lies in the worshipers, not in Torah as God's instruction. The new covenant therefore does not nullify Torah. Instead, it moves the focus to Messiah's once-for-all sacrifice and to the internal work of the Spirit. “For what the Law could not do, weak as it was through the flesh, God did: sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and as an offering for sin, He condemned sin in the flesh, so that the requirement of the Law might be fulfilled in us, who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.” Romans 8:3–4 NASB 1995 The Greek word for “flesh” is σάρξ sarx (flesh, human weakness). The problem is sarx, not Torah. The Spirit enables the “requirement of the Law” to be fulfilled in those who walk by the Spirit. Choice, covenant and watchfulness What about human responsibility for Heaven’s instructions? At Sinai, the people respond, “All that the LORD has spoken we will do!” (Exodus 19:8; 24:3 NASB 1995). Joshua later declares, “But as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD” (Joshua 24:15 NASB 1995). Believers still must choose daily to walk in God's ways. The Spirit writes the Torah on the heart, but the person responds with trust and obedience. This includes resisting sin “crouching at the door” (Genesis 4:7 NASB 1995) and taking thoughts captive (2Corinthians 10:5). This parallel’s Ezekiel's call to the watchmen (Ezekiel 3:17–19). If the watchman does not warn the wicked, the blood lies on his hands. This shapes the call to share truth with family and community. The message of Shavuot, of Ruth, and of Acts 2 must not remain private. Bottom line Shavuot is a hinge in the biblical story. At Sinai, God gives Torah and calls Israel to be a holy nation. In the exile, He shows that His presence reaches even into foreign lands. Through Ruth, He reveals that a foreigner can become central to His redemptive line. In Jeremiah and Ezekiel, He promises a new covenant and the Spirit who writes Torah on the heart. In Acts 1–2 and Acts 10, He pours out the Spirit and gathers a harvest from Israel and the nations. Throughout, Torah and Spirit remain unified. The Spirit does not erase God's instruction. Instead, the Spirit empowers obedience from within. The God who once wrote on stone tablets now writes on living hearts. Those who were “far off” now say, with Ruth, “Your people shall be my people, and your God, my God” (Ruth 1:16, NASB 1995). And everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved. The post Can outsiders belong to God's people? The Bible's bold answer at Pentecost (Ruth 1–4; Ezekiel 1–3; Acts 1–2, 10) appeared first on Hallel Fellowship.

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Verse by verse study through the book of Acts Chapter Ten and Verse Fourteen

Send me a Text Message!So if you didn't listen to my message from this weekend at Calvary, even if you usually take Monday off because it's not part of the normal episode, let me encourage you to listen. If you did listen, maybe this is a good one to hear twice. Not just for you, I'm going to listen to this one again. And I'll be praying,"Lord would you do it again!"

May 14, 2026

Verse by verse study through the book of Acts Chapter Nine and Verse Thirty Five

IntroductionChrist promised his disciples power from on high. This power? The Holy Spirit would come upon them and empower them to carry the gospel from Jerusalem to the ends of the earth. But how do we know this promise is real? How do we know that Christ is truly with us until the end of the age? How do we know that Christ is my Christ? The answer begins at Pentecost, where heaven broke open upon a small, crowded city, and history was radically changed.What are these tongues?The city is packed. People from all over the world fill the streets. Then, all of a sudden, wind and fire descend on the gathered disciples. One might think this is just a storm. However, one quickly realizes that this is God's visible presence. This is what we call a theophany: a visible manifestation of God himself.The rushing wind echoes Ezekiel's breath of God giving life. The fire recalls every terrifying moment in Scripture when people either encounter God or are consumed by him. We think of Mount Sinai and the burning bush. We think of fire falling on Sodom and Gomorrah, or the judgment that came upon those who offered false worship. This kind of fire has a way of reducing things, and people, to ash.Which makes the next detail stunning: the disciples were not consumed. The fullness of God's glory fell upon them, and they were not reduced to a pile of ashes. The tongues of fire did not destroy them, but equipped them to bring the gospel to the nations. This is the great declaration of Pentecost: the people of Christ have passed through the first phase of the day of the Lord. The fire of judgment fell, and they are still standing. Those who bow the knee to Christ pass through fiery judgment, and emerge as heralds.Why the International People? Pentecost is the Feast of Weeks, one of the great pilgrim feasts of Israel. Jerusalem would have been packed with Jewish pilgrims from across the known world making this an international gathering. When the Spirit fell, these Galilean fishermen began proclaiming the gospel in the native languages of their listeners, Galilean accent and all. The crowd was dumbstruck. This was no language course. This was God reversing Babel.Remember the scene at Babel? The earthlings tried to capture God, to harness his power for their own glory. God responded by scattering humanity and confusing their language. Now, at Pentecost, he calls the nations back together. God does this by his own gracious condescension. The gospel is not the property of one nation or one nationality. It goes to all nations, in every tongue, because the God of Israel is the God of the whole earth.Why the double reaction?The crowd split. Some were amazed and perplexed. They could not explain what they saw, but they knew it was the Lord's doing. Others were dismissive, accusing those speaking in tongues of having had too much to drink. We are invited to ask ourselves: what is your reaction? Is this the Lord's divine blessing at work? Or does it seem like a strange, drunken spectacle?There are two reactions to one event. This pattern runs through the whole book of Acts and through all of Christian history. The seed of the woman and the seed of the serpent will always be at war until the final day of the Lord. But even now, we already taste the spiritual blessings of Pentecost, as Paul says the first fruits of the final victory harvest, and we wait for the full physical blessings when Christ returns to fulfill Zechariah 14.ConclusionPentecost is the bridge between heaven and earth. It is the moment God accomplished in Christ what humanity attempted at Babel and failed. Man will not capture God, but God captures man. The glory of God does not stay locked away in the highest heaven. By the Spirit, God's glory dwells within his people. Our God is sanctifying us, uniting us to our Savior, and sending his people out with a gospel that reaches to the ends of the earth. Let us see the beauty of that. Let us draw near to the Christ who has drawn near to us.

Speaking the Word of the LordActs 16:16-34Acts 13:9 But Saul—also called Paul—filled with the Holy Spirit, stared straight at ElymasActs 6:6 They had them stand before the apostles, who prayed and laid their hands on them.Acts 16:11-1511 From Troas we put out to sea and sailed straight for Samothrace, the next day to Neapolis, 12 and from there to Philippi, a Roman colony and a leading city of the district of Macedonia. We stayed in that city for several days. 13 On the Sabbath day we went outside the city gate by the river, where we expected to find a place of prayer. We sat down and spoke to the women gathered there. 14 A God-fearing woman named Lydia, a dealer in purple cloth from the city of Thyatira, was listening. The Lord opened her heart to respond to what Paul was saying. 15 After she and her household were baptized, she urged us, “If you consider me a believer in the Lord, come and stay at my house.” And she persuaded us.Acts 16:16-1816 Once, as we were on our way to prayer, a slave girl met us who had a spirit by which she predicted the future. She made a large profit for her owners by fortune-telling. 17 As she followed Paul and us she cried out, “These men, who are proclaiming to you a way of salvation, are the servants of the Most High God.” 18 She did this for many days.Paul was greatly annoyed. Turning to the spirit, he said, “I command you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her!” And it came out right away.πυθων- python“…who had a python spirit…”Acts 16:19-3419 When her owners realized that their hope of profit was gone, they seized Paul and Silas and dragged them into the marketplace to the authorities. 20 Bringing them before the chief magistrates, they said, “These men are seriously disturbing our city. They are Jews 21 and are promoting customs that are not legal for us as Romans to adopt or practice.” 22 The crowd joined in the attack against them, and the chief magistrates stripped off their clothes and ordered them to be beaten with rods. 23 After they had severely flogged them, they threw them in jail, ordering the jailer to guard them carefully. 24 Receiving such an order, he put them into the inner prison and secured their feet in the stocks.25 About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them. 26 Suddenly there was such a violent earthquake that the foundations of the jail were shaken, and immediately all the doors were opened, and everyone's chains came loose. 27 When the jailer woke up and saw the doors of the prison standing open, he drew his sword and was going to kill himself, since he thought the prisoners had escaped.28 But Paul called out in a loud voice, “Don't harm yourself, because we're all here!”29 The jailer called for lights, rushed in, and fell down trembling before Paul and Silas. 30 He escorted them out and said, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?”31 They said, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved—you and your household.” 32 And they spoke the word of the Lord to him along with everyone in his house. 33 He took them the same hour of the night and washed their wounds. Right away he and all his family were baptized. 34 He brought them into his house, set a meal before them, and rejoiced because he had come to believe in God with his entire household.• These stories show us the assurance found in following the Holy Spirit's guidance.• When we listen to the Spirit, the Lord's ‘no' becomes part of His ultimate ‘yes.'• Being guided by the Spirit involves risk.• There's no better place to be than in the center of God's movement.How do we follow God's 'Yes'?1. Be ready to be surprised by God.2. Be flexible and willing to adjust to God's work.3. Embrace the Lord's ‘no.'4. Pray expectant prayers and be ready to step out of your comfort zone. 

Verse by verse study through the book of Ecclesiastes Chapter Nine and Verse Fifteen

Verse by verse study through the book of Acts Chapter Nine and Verse Five

Get your copy of our 2026 Annual Read: Tozer on the Son of God by A.W. Tozer.First Time?Start Here: https://bit.ly/MarinersconnectcardCan we pray for you? https://bit.ly/MarinersPrayerOnlineYou can find information for all our Mariners congregations, watch more videos, and learn more about us and our ministries on our website https://bit.ly/MarinersChurchSite.FIND US ON SOCIAL MEDIA• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/marinerschurch• TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@marinerschurch• Twitter: https://twitter.com/marinerschurch• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/marinerschurchSupport the ministry and help us reach people worldwide: https://bit.ly/MarinersGive

In this episode of The Hacka Podcast, we are joined by Andrew Koch, missionary to France, to unpack a powerful story of calling, conviction, and obedience.From growing up in West Virginia, to serving as a military linguist, to being baptized in Jesus' Name on a California beach — Andrew shares how God redirected his life toward revival in Europe. We discuss:- The biblical meaning of “calling on the Name of the Lord” (Acts 2)- Why baptism in Jesus' Name matters- The new birth in Titus 3:5- Language learning as a tool for revival- What God is doing in Paris right now- The need for laborers in Europe----------Support the Koch Family - https://truthbetoldmissions.com/give/

This message is from Jan 4th 2026 Part #1 of the Series on Cultivating the Anointing (Surrender) Luke 4:18 (NKJV)  “The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me,Because He has anointed MeTo preach the gospel to the poor;He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted,To proclaim liberty to the captivesAnd recovery of sight to the blind,To set at liberty those who are oppressedSamuel 16:13 (NKJV)13  Then Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the midstof his brothers; and the Spirit of the Lord came upon David fromthat day forward. So Samuel arose and went to Ramah.The purpose of the anointingThe Sixfold Purpose of Christ (Two Words Each)1. Good News(preach the gospel to the poor)2. Inner Healing(heal the broken-hearted)3. Freedom Proclaimed(liberty to the captives)4. Restored Sight(recovery of sight to the blind)5. Oppression Broken(set at liberty the oppressed)6. Grace Season(proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord)Acts 10:38 (NKJV)38  how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit andwith power, who went about doing good and healing all who wereoppressed by the devil, for God was with Him2 Corinthians 1:21 (NKJV)21  Now He who establishes us with you in Christ and hasanointed us is God,Luke 4:1-2 (NKJV)4 Then Jesus, being filled with the Holy Spirit, returned from theJordan and was led by the Spirit ] into the wilderness,  2  being ] tempted for forty days by the devil. And in those days, He atenothing, and afterward, when they had ended, He was hungry.Luke 4:13-14 NK JV13  Now when the devil had ended every temptation, he departedfrom Him until an opportune time. 14  Then Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit to Galilee, and news of Him went out through all the surrounding regions.Hebrews 5:8-9 NKJV8  though He was a Son, yet He learned obedience by the thingswhich He suffered.  9  And having been perfected, He became theauthor of eternal salvation to all who obey Him,Thank you for listening and join us next time for more great teachings from The Word. If you feel led to give towards this podcast ministry you can do so through the same ways that you give your tithes & offerings by writing Podcast ministry.

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Are you ready to die for the Lord? This question is one everyone hates to answer because it is hypothetical. I would venture to say that most of us here would say “yes” without thinking it through like Peter did when our Lord told they would all run away when he was arrested. This may […]

Fromthe New Testament it is obvious that the members of the church at Ephesus weresincere believers, people who were following Christ and had a powerfultestimony. In fact, according to the book of Acts, through this church all Asiaheard the Word of the Lord (Acts 19:1-10). What an incredible testimony. Yet,at the same time, the believers there still struggled with many of the samesins the lost world struggles with. And it is the same today in our presentchurches. Sometimes the old man shows up more visibly than the new man who ismeant to be ruling our lives. Aswe consider these verses, I want to clarify something I may have impliedyesterday. When Paul says in verse 29, “Let no corrupt word proceed out of yourmouth,” I may have given the impression that Christians should instantly beperfect in their speech because I shared that when I was saved, I stoppedcursing immediately. My friend, I realize that this is not the experience ofevery believer. For all Christians, growth in sanctification is a process. Somefind it easier to put off certain sins and old habits than others. God helpssome people quit smoking the moment they are saved, while others struggle withit for years, yet they are sincere believers who love the Lord Jesus Christ. Wecan't make excuses for any kind of sin, but I remind you also that there aresins far worse than smoking, drinking, or cursing—such as bitterness in theheart. Bitterness can destroy not only ourselves, but also other people andeven entire churches. Justbecause I said some things yesterday does not mean a Christian cannot fall backinto sinful speech. Sadly, they can. Look at Peter, who walked with Jesus forthree and a half years, and yet, on the night while Jesus was being triedbefore the high priest, Peter was outside in the courtyard cursing. We allstruggle with the flesh, (Read what Paul wrote in Romans 7.), and old habitscan resurface, especially when we place ourselves under the wrong influences. Theemphasis of verse 29 is not only what we must put off, but what we must put on:speech that builds up, edifies, and ministers grace—speech that flows from alife filled with the Holy Spirit. And this brings us to the final verses ofthis chapter, Ephesians 4:30–32: “And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God,by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Let all bitterness, wrath,anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice. And bekind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God inChrist forgave you.” Theseverses warn us against several sins of the attitude and amplify what Paul wroteabout anger. Bitterness refers to a settled hostility that poisons the wholeinner man. Somebody does something we do not like, so we harbor ill willagainst him. "Husbands, love your wives and be not bitter againstthem" (Col. 3:19). Bitterness leads to wrath, which is the explosion onthe outside of the feelings on the inside. Wrath and anger often lead tobrawling (clamor) or blasphemy (evil speaking). The first is fighting withfists, the second is fighting with words. It is difficult to believe thatChristians would act this way, but they do, and this is why Paul warned us.  Afterthe great faith chapter in Hebrews 11, the writer gives practical instructionin Hebrews 12. In verse 14, we are told to “pursue peace with all people andholiness, without which no one will see the Lord”. Then in verse 15, hewarns us to be diligent “lest any root of bitterness springing up causetrouble, and by this many become defiled.” Bitterness must be dealt with,and it is often rooted in unforgiveness. We will see more about this in ourchat tomorrow. Fortoday, let us be mindful to walk in purity, love, and grace. Let us not grievethe Holy Spirit by allowing bitterness to remain in our hearts toward those whohave hurt us. Godbless you, and may you have a wonderful, wonderful day.

Questions? Comments? Prayer Requests? Let us know: http://cc.gshep.us Stay connected with your Good Shepherd Family by downloading the FREE Church Center App: http://churchcenter.gshep.us Give online: http://give.gshep.us

Verse by verse study through the book of Acts Chapter Five and Verse Fourteen

Verse by verse study through the book of Acts Chapter Five and Verse Nine

Sunday morning ten-year anniversary message from Pastor CJ Elwood. October 26, 2025

How to Deal With Tragedy While Serving the Lord | Acts 20:6-12 | 15 October 2025 - Wednesday Evening | Dr. Brad Weniger, Pastor

Message Take Aways:1. The prophesied return of Jesus Christ should comfort our hearts in times of chaos as we remember that evil will not be victorious over the promised plans of God—“The grass withers, the flower fades, But the word of our God stands forever.” Isaiah 40:8 2. Isaiah's rebuke toward the kingdom of Judah to walk in the light of the LORD rather than embracing the wicked conduct of this world reminds us that we as believers are to live differently as children of light—"The night is far spent, the day is at hand. Therefore let us cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armor of light.” Romans 13:123. While a reckoning is promised to come upon this wicked, fallen world, the Lord in His kindness warns mankind through His word that we might repent and know life more abundantly—“Repent therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord” Acts 3:19

This sermon was preached on July 20th, 2025 as part of Sojourn's "Devoted" series, exploring our Spirit-fueled vision and values at Sojourn as found in the book of Acts. Sojourn is a church committed to the gospel in the context of family living on mission to the city of Portland and our world. For more info, visit our website, ⁠⁠sojournpdx.org,⁠⁠ or follow us on social media:@SojournPDX on ⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠Twitter⁠⁠

2025 Apr 20 SUN: EASTER SUNDAY. Resurrection of our Lord Acts 10: 34a. 37-43/ Ps 118: 1-2. 16-17. 22-23/ Col 3: 1-4/ Jn 20: 1-18.

Verse by verse study through the book of Acts Chapter Two and Verse Thirty Four

Brenten Powers expounds on Peter's discovery in Acts 9, 10, 11 and 15 as we learn how God uses those who are open to saying Yes to the Lord instead of "No, Lord". Is this the key to opening the church to the Nations? Let's discover God's heart for people in this study.

Take Aways:1. David was “a man after God's own heart” who routinely trusted in the Lord, yet he still found himself falling into sin reminding us of the need to guard our hearts from yielding to our flesh—“But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill its lusts.” Romans 13:142. As David responded to the conviction laid upon his heart with godly sorrow, so we are wise to respond to the conviction of the Holy Spirit w/ genuine repentance knowing that it will ultimately produce blessedness—“Repent therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord” Acts 3:193. Once the appropriate sacrifice was offered to atone for his sin, David experienced restored peace and fellowship with God foreshadowing the sacrifice of Jesus Christ which serves to grant peace with God to all those who trust in His completed work—“For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus, who gave Himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time,” 1 Timothy 2:5-6

25 DAYS FASTING AND PRAYER (DAY 1) TOPIC: FASTING SCRIPTURES: JOHN 5:3-7, ACTS 4:33, JOEL 2:1, 2 CHRONICLES, MALACHI 1:8, ISAIAH 58:1   UNDERSTANDING FASTING Fasting is a grace from God that can produce great results. Great power will produce great results through fasting. Fasting is necessary for the manifestation of prophecy. WHAT FASTING DOES Fasting positions you to receive from God. Fasting creates divine alignment to receive what God has made available. Fasting causes people to change around you and creates power to change situations. EFFECTS OF FASTING Fasting changes me (Luke 4:14). Fasting changes the people around me. Fasting changes the situations around me. BIBLICAL REASONS FOR FASTING To minister to the Lord (Acts 13:2). Laying of hands. To draw near to God in times of danger (Matthew 4:2). KINDS OF FAST Supernatural Fast (Moses, Jesus, Elijah). Willful Fast (When you decide to do it). TIPS FOR FASTING Avoid offenses and unnecessary arguments. Focus on God through worship, meditation, and prayer. Be intentional in prayer. BENEFITS OF FASTING Destroys the works of the enemy. Healing and health. Power to walk uprightly. Light and glory of God. Quick answers to prayers. Prominence and honor. Divine direction. Spiritual reflection and protection. Restoration and transgenerational impact. Unusual prosperity. CONCLUSION Fasting is a powerful tool for spiritual growth and breakthroughs. Fasting can bring about transformation and supernatural results.

Follow the order of worship below along with streamed service above. Feel free to view the order online or download it here. Live-streamed service available Sundays 9am until 12:30pm CST. If you're traveling or homebound and miss that window, you can email streaming@covenantchicago.org to get a link to the service. Pentecost_062225

++++ LINKS +++++ Online Gathering Details: http://redhills.church/online Give Online: http://redhills.church/give Connect Card: http://redhills.church/connectcard +++++ JOIN US +++++ In-Person Gatherings // Sundays at 8:00, 9:30 & 11:00 AM Third Street Location // 115 W Third Street, Newberg, OR, 97132 http://redhills.church/online +++++ CONNECT +++++ Website: http://redhills.church Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/redhillschurchnewberg Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/redhillschurchnewberg YouTube: http://bit.ly/rhcyoutube +++++ CONTACT +++++ Email: info@redhills.church Phone: 971.225.3737 Church Office: 200 S Grant Street, Newberg, OR 9713ŵŵ

THE ASCENSION OF OUR LORD (Acts 1:9-11) Our message today is about the ascension of our Lord into Heaven.  Without a doubt, it is significant to our faith that Jesus is alive and working for us today.  Jesus did not just go off into heaven and leave us never to be heard from again.  He has provided us with a perfect, complete, salvation.  He is our great High Priest in the Holy Tabernacle in Heaven, He is our paraclete, our advocate, before the Father.  And He has promised to return for us.   Jesus is alive.  Jesus is working for us, and Jesus is coming back.  These are some of the things that distinguish our faith from all other religions.  These are the things that we base our hope on. You do not place your confidence in a mere man when you place your confidence in Jesus; you place your confidence in the God-man.  Because He is a man, He can sympathize with you and is able to meet your needs.  He is a royal priest.  He is a righteous priest.  He is a peace-promoting priest.  He is also a personal priest—He is for you personally.  He didn't inherit the office; that is, He didn't come in the line of Aaron.  He is an eternal priest.  If the work of Jesus Christ had ended with His death, burial and resurrection, then our salvation would be incomplete.  It is because Jesus is alive today and has ascended into heaven that He is our eternal and perfect High Priest.  It is because Jesus is living today and has ascended to heaven that our salvation was completed.  It is because Jesus is living today and has ascended to heaven that our salvation is being completed today.  It is because Jesus is living today and has ascended to heaven that our salvation will be completed in the future when the Lord gives us our glorified bodies.   We don't often hear messages preached on the ascension of our Lord Jesus Christ.  Rightfully so, the evangelistic message of the death, burial, and resurrection of our Lord is talked about more frequently.  But the ascension of our Lord represents the hope and promise of the believer.  As a believer my Lord is alive, He is my advocate, and He is coming again for me.   This is the message we need to proclaim.  It is because we have the hope, the confident expectation, the promise, of the return of our Lord that we should feel the urgent need to proclaim the gospel message to a lost world.   Click on the play button to hear a message on what the Ascension of Jesus Christ means to you as a follower of Christ. This is a live recording of The Master's Class Bible Study at LifeChange Church Wichita, KS. Amen.

Readings for the Feast of the Ascension of the Lord - Acts 1:1-11; Luke 24:46-53We know the story. We've heard it dozens of times. And we know that it ends up ok in the end. But what about when we apply it to our lives? What about those moments of anxiety when we are given the keys? Or the job training is done and we are now expected to know how to do a task? Or a child is born and is lying in our arms and we haven't the slightest idea what to do next? There you go. Now you understand this feast on a deeper level. You take the next step in trepidation, anxiety, trust and hope. That sounds about right. We don't just watch this one from the sidelines. We are witnesses of these things.And then there was one...one last podcast to go next week on the Feast of Pentecost. I can't thank you all enough for listening these many years or these 1-2 times that you have. Either way, I'm humbled. I hope to do my thanks next week - but in the meantime, thank you all for sharing this, trusting me and living it in whatever way God invited and invites you. That's the best. Final question or comment? I can be reached at pdjoezenk@gmail.com

May 9, 2025

Acts 7:1-8:4 Brothers and fathers, hear me. The God of glory appeared to our father Abraham when he was in Mesopotamia, before he lived in Haran, 3 and said to him, Go out from your land and from your kindred and go into the land that I will show you.' 4 Then he went out […] The post Stephen's Sermon and Stephen's Lord (Acts 7:1-8:4) first appeared on Hope of Christ Church.

Matt Ahrens

Brown Peterson

Acts

Acts

I) Is it commanded/prohibited? II) Is it wise/unwise? III) Has God spoken?

Most Wednesdays, our Communications Director, Michelle Leichty, hosts a Facebook Live discussion with the preaching pastor from the previous Sunday. Visit our Facebook page to watch the discussion shortly after 1pm on Wednesdays: ⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/covenantepc⁠⁠ Be sure to follow our Facebook page for notifications of when the discussion is posted!

Date: January 26, 2025 Scripture: Acts 1:1-2 Preaching: David Henderson Series: Ripples Find notes or a transcript of this sermon on our blog: https://www.covenantepc.org/blog/ripples/

We are in a season where political tensions are high, yes. Our brains are in super-categorization mode, which is made all the easier by the signs on our lawns and the flags that fly in front of our homes. We are quick to put ourselves into categories—and even quicker to do the same for others. SUBSCRIBE to our sister podcasts:Your Daily Prayer: https://www.lifeaudio.com/your-daily-prayer/Your Daily Bible Verse: https://www.lifeaudio.com/your-daily-bible-verse/ Full Transcript Below: Our Brains Like it Simple: Being Aware of the Way We Categorize  By Deidre Braley  Acts 9: 1-5 “But Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest and asked him for letters to the synagogues at Damascus, so that if he found any belonging to the Way, men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem. Now as he went on his way, he approached Damascus, and suddenly a light from heaven shone around him. And falling to the ground, he heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?” And he said, “Who are you, Lord?” And he said, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting.”  The bell jingled as I stepped inside; my little dog Pablo leapt up to greet me, all shorn and shivering and desperate to leave. “How'd he do today?” I sighed as I scooped him into my arms. We had our usual exchange, the groomer and me: he'd been a nervous wreck (per usual), she'd done the oatmeal bath, we'd be coming back in six weeks. Pablo licked my face and begged me to go, but as the groomer handed me his next appointment card, she hesitated.  “There's uh…well, um…could I get your professional opinion on something?” And from under the cushions on her couch, she extracted a notebook: this secret prize, this shimmering of possibility. Amidst the shampoos and shears and flea treatments, this woman held out a collection of poems she'd been working on in private. “Would you read one and tell me what you think?”  She began to ask me how you know when a poem is done, and how you know when it's done well. We talked about the trickery of metaphor and the possibility of publication. Did we tear up at this recognition of kindred-ness—this realization that we were a little less alone in the world than we'd been before my dog's haircut? It's possible.  I share this with you because, before this interaction, I never would have known that our dog's groomer was also a poet. Our exchanges until that point had been limited to conversations around sensitive skin, clipper settings, and Venmo payments. But when she pulled out that notebook filled with poetry, I realized she'd been kindred all along—I just hadn't imagined or known it yet.  I'm afraid that I do this all the time, this designating of spaces and titles for other people. Apparently there's a name for this—it's called social identity theory. See, our brains like to make things as simple as possible, and for that reason, we subconsciously engage in this act of categorizing. We put people into groups so we can understand them better.1  While we can't fault our brains for trying to make things easier, there are spiritual implications that we need to be aware of, here. Because if we aren't aware of the categories we're putting people into, we may begin to make assumptions about the state of their souls that simply aren't true.  1 Saul McLeod, “Social Identity Theory in Psychology (Tajfel & Turner, 1979), Simply Psychology, October 5, 2023, https://www.simplypsychology.org/social-identity-theory.html Think of Saul, for example. As someone who was “breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord” (Acts 9:1), the disciples easily categorized him as an enemy. It's probably safe to say that none of them imagined that the Lord would ever be able to reach him—let alone use him—for the glory of the Kingdom. In fact, even after the Lord struck Saul blind and ordered the disciple Ananias to visit him and lay hands on him so he could regain his sight, Ananias said, “Lord, I have heard from many about this man, how much evil he has done to your saints at Jerusalem. And here he has authority from the chief priests to bind all who call on your name” (Acts 9:13-14). In Ananias' mind, Saul was firmly in the ‘enemy' category.  But God did not relent, instead telling Ananias, “Go, for he is a chosen instrument of mine to carry my name before the Gentiles and kings and the children of Israel” (Acts 9:15).  Intersecting Faith & Life  We are in a season where political tensions are high, yes. Our brains are in super-categorization mode, which is made all the easier by the signs on our lawns and the flags that fly in front of our homes. We are quick to put ourselves into categories—and even quicker to do the same for others. We may even be tempted to make assumptions about what God thinks about people based on the categories we've put them in.  But even outside of politics, we may tend to hang back from certain people, never looking them in the eyes and considering that they, too, are children of the Living God. Never considering telling them about Jesus or the hope we have because we don't believe it will matter or make any difference to them.  If God could soften Saul's heart and then totally revolutionize his actions, perspective, spirit, and life, though, what makes us think he can't do the same for any single person he puts in our midst?  Today, let's look up and around, and let's catch ourselves in the act of categorizing the people we meet. Instead of putting them into neat and tidy boxes, let's remember that groomers can be poets, that Pharisees can be chosen instruments of God, and that the very people before us can be hungry for and receptive to the same hope we've been given.  Further Reading:  Here are some stories of other people whose categories made them ‘unlikely' to follow God—but they did. Be encouraged.  ● Rahab: Joshua 2  ● The woman at the well: John 4:1-42 ● Zaccheus: Luke 19:1-10 Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.