Acts 4 - 12.8.25

Scripture

‭‭Acts‬ ‭4‬:‭13‬ ‭NIV‬‬

“When they saw the courage of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished and they took note that these men had been with Jesus.”

Observation

In this passage, Peter and John were preaching to the people that through Jesus, there is a resurrection of the dead. This disturbed all the religious leaders. They wanted to stop the message of Jesus being spread amongst the people. So, they had Peter and John arrested and questioned. But, something happened as Peter and John spoke to these religious leaders. Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, spoke with such boldness and courage that it amazed all these religious leaders. I mean, how can these two ordinary, uneducated men speak with such authority? It was then that they realized that these men spent a significant time with Jesus.

Application

When people see you, can they tell that you spend time with Jesus?

You know as a parent, it’s funny to see your kids develop similar habits, (some good and some bad), the more and more they spend time with you. Whether it’s the way they talk, the way they behave, the music they like listening to or even their facial mannerisms towards certain things, they begin to look and act just like you. The funny thing is they don’t even know it! 😆 It comes so naturally to them because they spend day in and day out with you.

I believe the same can be said when we spend some good quality time with Jesus. Day in and day out, we communicate with Jesus through prayer, reading our Bible and just allowing His ways to rule over our own. You begin to hang out with others who follow Jesus so you can help encourage and pray for one another to grow in your faith. You keep doing these things long enough, you become more and more like Jesus every day (sanctification). It’s only natural that we begin to talk like Jesus, walk like Jesus, act like Jesus, and even “glow” like Jesus because we are shining His light onto others. ☺️

So, my question to you out there is, can people tell that you spend time with Jesus by the way you act? If not, I want to encourage you to spend some good quality time with Him daily by doing the things I just mentioned. Allow the power of the Holy Spirit to transform you each day to become more like Him. 

“So all of us who have had that veil removed can see and reflect the glory of the Lord. And the Lord—who is the Spirit—makes us more and more like him as we are changed into his glorious image.” -2 Corinthians‬ ‭3‬:‭18‬ ‭

Prayer

Father God, thank You for coming out of the comforts of Heaven and sending Jesus to show us how to live. Thank You for giving us Your Word to instruct us and remind us of Your ways. Thank You for leaving us Your Holy Spirit to strengthen us, encourage us and convict us to repent when we wrong You. I pray for You to fill me with Your Holy Spirit today each and every day. May You continue to mold me and transform me to be more like Jesus each day. May others see it and be blessed by it. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.🙏🏽 

-Moses Gaddi

Acts 2 - 12.6.25

Scripture: Acts 2: 1-4

1 When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. 2 Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. 3 They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. 4 All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.

Observation

The disciples were celebrating The Feast of Pentecost; The Feast of the Harvest. They were all together in a house when the Holy Spirit came upon each one of them like tongues of fire, then everyone was filled with the Holy Spirit. They began to speak in other languages. There were many voices, one spirit. Their voices spilling out into the streets. People from all over, different nations heard their own native tongue. They were speaking of the wonderful works of God. They were not speaking opinions or politics; they were announcing the Glory of God. They were declaring the majesty of the risen Christ and speaking forth the mysteries of the Kingdom.

This was the fulfillment of the prophecy of Joel 2:28, In the last days, God says, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions, your old men will dream dreams.

In the Old Covenant, fire would fall on altars, but we are now the altars. The fire of the Holy Spirit came to live in human sacrifices. There was an outpouring on all flesh, the Holy Spirit no longer behind the veil, no longer in silence.

Romans 12:1-2

1 Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God — this is your true and proper worship. 2 Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is — his good, pleasing and perfect will.

Application

God unlocked a new realm of power, presence and purpose for His people. A power that is still available to us today. We can experience the same power as the first church, the transforming power of the Holy Spirit. They were filled with the Holy Spirit, their empty places were overflowing, their fears were replaced with boldness. Their doubts were washed away by His living presence. They were filled by the very breath of the Living God. The same spirit that hovered over the waters of creation, the same spirit that filled Samson, the same spirit that whispered to Elijah, the same spirit filled every corner of their hearts…and that same spirit lives in us.

When you ask Jesus to come into your heart, he not only comes in and takes residency, but He fills us with the Holy Spirit. He transforms our lives from the inside out…one heart at a time. He makes us into a vessel that can be used by the Living God. He fills the empty spaces; He heals and restores us.

The day of Pentecost passed not as a moment but as the opening of a divine river that still flows. What began from a sound from heaven in tongues of fire became a movement of hearts. A baptism of souls and the birth of a Holy People. The spirit moved gently but powerfully, gathering, filling, speaking, revealing and transforming. The breath of God fell upon flesh.

Prayer

Dear Lord, Thank You for giving us the Holy Spirit to teach us your ways, transform our broken lives and make us into your Holy People. Lord, help us to allow the Holy Spirit to transform our lives so we are truly a Living Sacrifice for you. We ask for a Fresh Fire to burn in our hearts and lives. We love you, Lord!

- Michelle Craig

Psalm 114 - 12.5.25

Scripture: ‭‭Psalm ‭114‬:‭3‬-‭4‬ ‭ NIV

“The sea looked and fled, the Jordan turned back; the mountains leaped like rams, the hills like lambs.”

Psalm ‭114‬:‭3‬-‭4 NLT: “The Red Sea saw them coming and hurried out of their way! The water of the Jordan River turned away. The mountains skipped like rams, the hills like lambs!”

Observation

The psalmist in this chapter is reminding the reader of the “good old days”. These were the days when God delivered His people out of slavery in Egypt and led them into the Promise Land of Canaan, a land flowing with milk and honey. The psalmist tells the reader how God provided safety for His people by literally moving seas, rivers, and mountains for them. God made what seemed impossible, possible. It’s a psalm that not only shows you just how great and awesome our God is, but also the great lengths God will go through to provide for His children.

Application

What’s there to worry about when God is on our side.

“If God is for us, who can ever be against us?” - Romans‬ ‭8‬:‭31‬b

We tend to forget sometimes just how BIG and AWESOME our God is. It’s like I heard from Pastor Greg Laurie: “If you have a big God you will have small problems. If you have big problems, do you have a small God?”

Well, for those of you that don’t know, we serve a BIG God! He is AWESOME in power! And as you can see from this psalm, God will literally move heaven and earth for His people. Why?..because He loves us soooo much! We are precious to Him. So much so that He came out of the comforts of Heaven and died on a cross for us, to free us from our sins, and to give us the opportunity to spend eternity with Him in Heaven. ❤️ Now who wouldn’t want a God like that in their life? 

Prayer

Father God, You are AWESOME! Nothing compares to You. I am humbled that a God like You, loves me so much. Forgive me for forgetting just how powerful and sovereign You are. May I always be reminded of who You are and what You have done in my life, and in Your people’s lives. May it strengthen my faith and hope in You, especially when I hit difficult times. I thank You for Your faithfulness. In Jesus name I pray, Amen. 🙏🏽

-Moses Gaddi

** Special treat - tomorrow, Saturday, 12/6, there is a one-time Saturday SOAP for all to enjoy **