Tag Archives: turn

THE BOOK OF ACTS – TURN TO FACE GOD

Bible Study, , ,

TURN TO FACE GOD 

“When Peter saw he had a congregation, he addressed the people:

“‘Oh, Israelites, why does this take you by such complete surprise and why stare at us as if our power or piety made him walk? The God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, the God of our ancestors, had glorified His Son Jesus. The very one that Pilate called innocent, you repudiated. You repudiated the Holy One, the Just One, and asked for a murderer in His place. You no sooner killed the Author of Life than God raised Him from the dead – and we’re the witnesses. Faith in Jesus’ name put this man whose condition you know so well, on his feet – yes, faith and nothing but faith put this man healed and whole right before your eyes.'” Acts 3:12-16 (The Message).

What an opportunity! Peter made good mileage out of the situation. It was very current. Some of his hearers were still smarting from his last sermon. They had been part of the mob that had bayed for Jesus’ blood and when the Holy Spirit came with indisputable evidence, they were forced to acknowledge their guilt and seek the forgiveness His death offered.

Now it had happened again — another phenomenal miracle which pointed to a Power outside their everyday experience. Peter quickly jumped in with another explanation and another accusation which once again hit home. They had to face the cold, stark fact that they had mindlessly demanded the release of a known murderer and condemned an innocent man to a horrible death, but not only an innocent man, the very Son of God whom they refused to acknowledge.

No one could deny the miracle. This man was so familiar to them that no one would even question that he was once a crippled beggar and now he walked and was whole again. But how did it happen?

Peter explains. “This Jesus you killed is alive again. God raised Him from the dead as a witness to the identity you refused to acknowledge – the Son of God. Through the power of His name, this man was made whole and can walk again. This is the same God you claim to worship – the God of our ancestors, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.”

The evidence was irrefutable. They had only one option – to turn to the one they had spurned and acknowledge that He is Lord. The kingdom He represented is one of mercy and compassion. The Ruler of this kingdom has the power to restore what the devil had lured man into destroying. In spite of what they had done, He offered forgiveness, cleansing, healing and a new life of faith in Him.

The crippled man ,now healed and whole, was a startling declaration that God’s desire is not to condemn and destroy but to restore and heal as a witness to His love and grace. What other God would come Himself to a broken world, pay the debt for man’s sin and offer forgiveness and a new start to anyone who is willing to take up His offer and stake themselves on the reliability of His character and His promise?,

THE BOOK OF ACTS – THE PROMISE IS FOR YOU

Bible Study, , ,

THE PROMISE IS FOR YOU

“Cut to the quick, those who were there that day listening asked Peter and the other apostles, ‘Brothers! Brothers! So now what do we do?’

“Peter said, ‘Change your life. Turn to God and be baptised, each of you in the name of Jesus Christ, so your sins are forgiven. Receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. The promise is targeted to you and your children, but also to all who are far away — whomever, in fact, our Master God invites.'” Acts 2:37-39 (The Message).

The gospel in a nutshell!

Peter’s hearers had got it! They were guilty and they knew it. No excuses, no blame-shifting, no procrastinating. In an agony of conviction, they cried out, ‘What shall we do?’ Peter’s response was equally simple and direct: ‘Change your life. Turn to God. Be baptised. Receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.’ Thank God there was an answer for their dilemma.

Four simple steps to a brand new life and the invitation is wide open to anyone and everyone who responds. No need for special knowledge, for practising rituals or keeping rules, for trying to get to God through a priest or through Mary or any other human mediator.

Step one: Own your guilt. You are estranged from God because of your sin nature and your rebellion against Him. Own it! You did it! You put Him to death as though you were there. He had to die because of you. Change your attitude. You are blind and deceived. You thought you could live your way but your way doesn’t work. It only leads you deeper into guilt.

Step two: Turn to God. Your blindness caused by deception and unbelief will be taken away. “Whenever anyone turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away.” 2 Corinthians 3:15 (NIV).

Step three: Be baptised into the name of Jesus Christ. For them, no baptismal classes were necessary. They understood baptism, ritual washing in running water signifying cleansing and identification. Baptism was practised regularly in Jewish culture – new priests were baptised into their priestly office, Gentiles were baptised into the Jewish religion etc. They were “washed” and initiated into a new status.

Step four: Receive the Holy Spirit. This is the step that is either ignored or overstated with a lopsided emphasis on gifts or “goose-bumps’. The Holy Spirit is God’s ultimate gift to every believer on the basis of Jesus’ sacrifice. He is the “Spirit of sonship” who fuses us to Himself, guarantees and makes real who we are in Christ and administers to us everything we have inherited as sons of God.

We must receive Him as purposefully as we received Christ. We must acknowledge His presence in us, with or without evidence, and respond to Him with increasing understanding and recognition. He will do what He does if we do what we are supposed to do.

The promise is for everyone and that means you!

The Promise is for You

Christian Life, , ,

THE PROMISE IS FOR YOU

“Cut to the quick, those who were there that day listening asked Peter and the other apostles, ‘Brothers! Brothers! So now what do we do?’

“Peter said, ‘Change your life. Turn to God and be baptised, each of you in the name of Jesus Christ, so your sins are forgiven. Receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. The promise is targeted to you and your children, but also to all who are far away — whomever, in fact, our Master God invites.'” Acts 2:37-39 (The Message).

The gospel in a nutshell!

Peter’s hearers had got it! They were guilty and they knew it. No excuses, no blame-shifting, no procrastinating. In an agony of conviction they cried out, ‘What shall we do?’ Peter’s response was equally simple and direct: ‘Change your life. Turn to God. Be baptised. Receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.’ Thank God there was an answer for their dilemma.

Four simple steps to a brand new life and the invitation is wide open to anyone and everyone who responds. No need for special knowledge, for practising rituals or keeping rules, for trying to get to God through a priest or through Mary or any other human mediator.

Step one: Own your guilt. You are estranged from God because of your sin nature and your rebellion against Him. Own it! You did it! You put Him to death as though you were there. He had to die because of you. Change your attitude. You are blind and deceived. You thought you could live your way but your way doesn’t work. It only leads you deeper into guilt.

Step two: Turn to God. Your blindness caused by deception and unbelief will be taken away. “Whenever anyone turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away.” 2 Corinthians 3:15 (NIV).

Sep three: Be baptised into the name of Jesus Christ. For them no baptismal classes were necessary. They understood baptism, ritual washing in running water signifying cleansing and identification. Baptism was practised regularly in Jewish culture – new priests were baptised into their priestly office, Gentiles were baptised into the Jewish religion etc. They were “washed” and initiated into a new status.

Step four: Receive the Holy Spirit. This is the step that is either ignored or overstated with a lopsided emphasis on gifts or “goose-bumps”. The Holy Spirit is God’s ultimate gift to every believer on the basis of Jesus’ sacrifice. He is the “Spirit of sonship” who fuses us to Himself, guarantees and makes real who we are in Christ and administers to us everything we have inherited as sons of God.

We must receive Him as purposefully as we received Christ. We must acknowledge His presence in us, with or without evidence, and respond to Him with increasing understanding and recognition. He will do what He does if we do what we are supposed to do.

The promise is for everyone and that means you!