Acts 9 - 4.21.25

Scripture

Acts‬ ‭9:17-21‬ ‭NIV‬‬

“Then Ananias went to the house and entered it. Placing his hands on Saul, he said, “Brother Saul, the Lord—Jesus, who appeared to you on the road as you were coming here—has sent me so that you may see again and be filled with the Holy Spirit.” Immediately, something like scales fell from Saul’s eyes, and he could see again. He got up and was baptized, and after taking some food, he regained his strength. Saul spent several days with the disciples in Damascus. At once he began to preach in the synagogues that Jesus is the Son of God. All those who heard him were astonished and asked, “Isn’t he the man who raised havoc in Jerusalem among those who call on this name? And hasn’t he come here to take them as prisoners to the chief priests?””

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Observation

Saul was someone who used to persecute and kill Christians. He did this because he thought he was honoring God. Jews, especially religious Jewish leaders, believed that Jesus wasn’t God, so Christians were “blaspheming” God by preaching in Jesus’ name. They had to pay the consequences for their behavior. Saul was a key person in the stoning of Stephen, a Christian who was described as full of the Holy Spirit in Acts 7.

On the road to Damascus, Saul had an encounter with Jesus and Jesus spoke directly to Saul asking him why he was persecuting Him. The Lord made Saul blind for a few days and his life forever changed after that.

God spoke to Ananias in a dream to locate Saul and lay hands on him. The first work of the Spirit in this chapter was the fact that Ananias was able to obey God’s commands despite Saul’s former reputation of persecuting and killing Christians. The second work of the Spirit was the change in Saul’s life after Ananias laid hands on him so that he could see and be filled with the Holy Spirit.

Saul, who began as one of the chief religious Jewish leaders who persecuted believers, would soon be known as Paul, one of the greatest leaders in the Christian faith recorded in the Bible! That’s a true testament to the work of the Holy Spirit. Saul’s conversion turned his life completely around!

Application

Be obedient to the Holy Spirit’s leading.

The work of the Holy Spirit changes us and He continues to do impossible things!

What would happen if we were one of those vessels that the Holy Spirit could freely work through? What would happen if we were obedient to His leading?

In this chapter alone, there is evidence of so much of the Holy Spirit’s work. I already mentioned 2 in the observation section. The Holy Spirit also changed the hearts of the believers towards Saul. The disciples weren’t fully convinced of Saul’s conversion, but the Holy Spirit worked through Barnabas and he convinced the apostles not to be afraid of Saul because he was a changed man. The Holy Spirit continued to do things in Scripture that was impossible in a human’s own strength. He continues to do things today that are impossible in our own strength!

As verse 31 said, “....They stopped living in the fear of man and started living in the fear of the Lord.” As a result, the church increased in numbers again!

Don’t underestimate the power of the Holy Spirit. There’s no stopping Him when He’s at work.

Prayer

Dear Lord,

Thank You for Your Word and the reminders of the power of the Holy Spirit to change hearts and lives towards Your desires. May I always be humble and obedient to wherever He leads me and never underestimate His power. Amen.

-Michelle Gaddi

Acts 6 - 4.18.25

Scripture: Acts‬ ‭6‬:‭8‬-‭10‬, ‭15‬ ‭NIV‬‬

“Now Stephen, a man full of God’s grace and power, performed great wonders and signs among the people. Opposition arose, however, from members of the Synagogue of the Freedmen (as it was called)—Jews of Cyrene and Alexandria as well as the provinces of Cilicia and Asia—who began to argue with Stephen. But they could not stand up against the wisdom the Spirit gave him as he spoke. All who were sitting in the Sanhedrin looked intently at Stephen, and they saw that his face was like the face of an angel.”

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Observation:

• Stephen was one of the 7 chosen to assist the ministry and be sure everyone was treated fairly as there were complaints about some widows being overlooked in the food distribution.  

• It says twice he was full of faith and the Holy Spirit. 

• It also says he was full of grace and power and that he performed great wonders and signs among the people. 

• Opposition arose and members of the synagogue argued with him. They also got false witnesses to testify against him. 

• Their arguments could not stand up against the wisdom the Spirit gave him as he spoke. 

Application:

God gave Stephen wisdom as he spoke ahead of time so he knew what he would be saying. That took a lot of faith. I want to grow to do this too. 

His trust in God reaped great rewards. He walked with God following Jesus’s example. This caused many to believe and others to protest.  He also was able to perform “great wonders and signs.”  He had bold faith. 

What a great goal to have - Be like Stephen whose face shone like an angel. 

Prayer:

Lord, what a great example Stephen was. He walked in complete surrender and You did mighty things through him. Please help me to first look to you and follow your plan in complete surrender to your will. Help me be humble and know it is you moving. May I bring you glory as You work.  You are full of power and glory. Thank you for making that power available to your followers as we extend you had of healing and more to others. Amen

- Cindy Howard

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