Acts 5 - 04.17.25
SCRIPTURE
“Nevertheless, more AND more men and women believed in the Lord and were added to their number.”
Acts 5:14 NIV
OBSERVATION
“And more than ever believers were added to—the LORD
multitudes of both men and women,” (Acts 5:14 ESV)
We now see “men AND women” being included in the numbers added—AND—we see the first appearance of the word church (ekklesia) in Acts 5 —interestingly it is relating to God’s judgment of Ananias and Sapphira’s sin within the community of believers. God is Jealous over His Church and takes sin seriously.
As people join together in Church we are actually joining ourselves to a Holy sinless—all powerful, Sovereign, and all knowing God.
Jesus had promised The Gift of The Holy Spirit. These believers were all FILLED with the Power and the Grace of the Holy Spirit to be in One accord. They met daily at Solomon’s Portico-sharing about Jesus. Many were added daily to their number.
The Apostles were given special Power and worked many miraculous signs and wonders pointing people to Jesus. The Holy Spirit had given Peter great insight into Ananias and Sapphira’s deception and called on Peter to renounce it. God immediately judged them for their sin and great Fear swept through the entire church.
“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”” (Acts 1:8 ESV)
APPLICATION
KEEP THE MAIN THING—THE MAIN THING
Love God—Love Others—Make Disciples
Resurrection Sunday is COMING!
Jesus changed EVERYTHING!
The POWER of the Holy Spirit is STILL Available for us Today!
And Jesus Calls me as a Believer to Be His Witness.
One day I will stand before Him to be Judged—and give an account for how I Stewarded the Gifts HE gave me. There are certainly financial resources, skills, and talents we each possess. However, The MOST Important Gift of ALL is Our Gift of Salvation. This is a GIFT that is Meant to BE Shared—with EVERYONE.
Every Single Believer has a Call to BE a DISCIPLE, THEN—to MAKE Disciples.
“Jesus came and told HIS DISCIPLES,
“I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth.
Therefore, GO and MAKE DISCIPLES of all the nations,
baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.
Teach these NEW DISCIPLES to OBEY all the commands I have given you.
[in other words-Follow Jesus commands AND also—Make More Disciples]
And be sure of this: I AM with you always, even to the end of the age.””
(Matthew 28:18-20 NLT)
Jesus said that The POWER of The Holy Spirit was for us to BE His Witnesses!
Like Asha so beautifully shared yesterday…
Here in Jerusalem Santa Clarita (Jerusalem), in adjacent areas we may travel to Palmdale or San Fernando Valley, Los Angeles etc (Samaria), and (to the ends of the earth) through Zoom I travel across the United States weekly.
PRAYER
LORD Jesus
Thank YOU that YOU sacrificed Everything for me. Thank you that You came and suffered every single aspect of the Cross. Thank You that You nailed my sins to the cross and covered them with Your blood. Thank You that You Rose again and there is NO doubt. Death has no sting. Heaven is an assurance. Jesus, You are the same-Yesterday, Today, and Forever. You have the Same Love, Grace, and Forgiveness to Give Generously. You also See Sin the Same way. You hate it. Help me to never take for granted your gracious forgiveness of my sins. Forgive my thoughts and forgive me for giving myself a pass when I’m overtired or feeling pain. Give me Patience and endurance. You are able to meet every need. Fill me with Your Holy Spirit Fresh each day. Give me Fresh Faith and Boldness for each day. Use me Lord.
Here I am Lord, send me. Amen
“If you openly declare that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.
For it is by believing in your heart that you are made right with God,
and it is by openly declaring your faith that you are saved.
As the Scriptures tell us, “Anyone who trusts in Jesus will never be disgraced.””
(Romans 10:9-11 NLT)
Tina L Kudelka