Establishment of the Church

Acts 1:1. In the book of Acts, Luke continues the story he began in his gospel, covering the 30 years after Jesus was taken up into Heaven. During that short time the church was established, and the gospel of salvation was spread throughout the world, even to the capitol of the Roman empire. Those preaching the gospel, though ordinary people with human frailties and limitations, were empowered by the Holy Spirit to take the good news all over the world. In the book of Acts we learn about the nature of the church and how we, like these early believers, can turn our world upside down.
Act 1: 3. Luke says that the disciples were eyewitnesses to all that had happen to Jesus Christ, his life before his crucifixion, and the 40 years after his resurrection as he taught them more about the Kingdom of God. Today people still doubt Jesus’ resurrection. But Jesus appeared to the disciples on many occasions after his resurrection, proving that he was alive. Consider the change the resurrection made in the disciples lives. At Jesus’ death, they had scattered , were disillusioned, and feared for their lives. After seeing the resurrected Christ, they became fearless and risked everything to spread the Good News about him around the world. They faced imprisonment, beatings, rejection, yet they never compromised their mission. They knew Jesus was alive, and the early church was fired with their enthusiasm to tell others. Twenty centuries later we can still be confident that our Faith is based on fact.
Acts 1: 4,5. The Trinity is the description of the unique relationship of God the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. If Jesus would have stayed on earth, his physical presence would have limited the spread of the Gospel, because physically he could only be only in one place at a time. After Christ was taken up into Heaven, he would be spiritually present everywhere through the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit was sent so that God would be with and within his followers after Christ returned to Heaven.
Acts 1:6. During the years of Jesus’ ministry on earth, the disciples continually wondered about his Kingdom. When would it come? What would be their role? In the traditional view, the Messiah would be an earthly conqueror who would free Israel from Rome. But the Kingdom Jesus spoke about was, first of all a spiritual kingdom established in the hearts and lives of believers. God’s presence and power dwell in believers in the person of the Holy Spirit.
Acts 1:8. Jesus had instructed his disciples to witness to people of all nations about him ,but they were told to wait first for the Holy Spirit. God has important work for you to do for him, but you must do it by the power of the Holy Spirit. We often like to get along with he job, even if it means running ahead of God. But waiting is sometimes part of God’s plan. Are you waiting and listening on God’s complete instructions, or are you running ahead of his plans. We need God’s timing and power to be truly effective. God’s gospel has not reached it’s final destination if someone in your family, your workplace , your school, or your community hasn’t heard the Good news about Jesus Christ.
Acts 1:13,14. When you face a difficult task, an important decision, or a baffling dilemma, don’t rush into the work and just hope it comes out the way it should. Instead, make your first step prayer for the Holy Spirit’s power and guidance.

Waiting for God to work does not mean sitting around doing nothing. We must do what we can, while we can, as long as we don’t run ahead of God.

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The day of the Locust

Joel 1:1. Joel was a prophet to the nation of Judah, also known as the southern kingdom. Although the 12 tribes of Israel had been united under David and Solomon, after David’s death, the kingdom had been divided into two parts. Two of the tribes, Judah and Benjamin, stayed loyal to David’s line and accepted Solomon’s son Rehoboam as king. They became the southern kingdom, also called Judah. The other ten tribes followed Jeroboam, set up a new kingdom with a new capitol at Samaria, and called themselves Israel or the northern kingdom. The book does not mention when Joel lived, but many believe that he prophesied during the reign of King Joash. But the date of Joel’s book is not nearly as important as its timeless message:sin brings God’s judgment, yet with God’s justice there is also great mercy.
Joel 1:3. God urged parents to pass their history down to their children, telling over and over the important lessons they learned. One of the greatest gifts you can give younger people is your life’s story to help them repeat your successes and to avoid your mistakes.
Joel 1:4. A locust plague can be as devastating as an invading army. Locusts gather in swarms too great to number and fly several feet above the ground, seeming to darken the sun as they pass by. When they land they devour almost every piece of vegetation, covering and entering everything in their path. Joel’s detailed description has caused many to believe that he was referring to an actual locust plague that had come or was about to come upon the land. Another view is that the locust symbolize an invading enemy army. Both may be foreseen. The locusts represent devastation, and Joel’s point was that God would punish the people because of their sin. Joel calls this judgment the ‘’ day of the Lord’’.
Joel 1:5. The people’s physical and moral senses were dulled, making them oblivious to sin. Joel called them to awaken from their complacency and admit their sins before it was to late. Otherwise , everything would be destroyed , even the grapes that caused their drunkenness. Our times of peace and prosperity can lull us to sleep. We must never let material abundance hinder our spiritual readiness.
Joel 1:15. The ‘’ Day Of The Lord’’ is a common phrase in the Old Testament and in the book of Joel. It always refers to some extraordinary happening, weather a present event, like a locust plague, an event in the near future, like the destruction of Jerusalem or the defeat of enemy nations, or the final period of history when God will defeat all the forces of evil.
Joel 1: 15-19. Without God, destruction is sure. Those who have not personally accepted God’s love and forgiveness will stand before him with no appeal. Be sure to call on God’s love and mercy while you have the opportunity.

God judges all people for their sins, but he is merciful to those who turn to him and offers them equal salvation.

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The Book Of the Law Found

2 Kings 22:1,2. In reading the Biblical list of kings, it is rare to find one who obeyed God completely. Josiah was such a person, and he was only eight years old when he began to reign. For 18 years Josiah reigned obediently, then when he was 26, he began the reforms based on God’s laws. Children are the future leaders of our churches and our world. A person’s major work for God may have to wait until he or she is an adult, but no one is ever too young to take God seriously and obey him. Josiah’s early years laid the base for his later task of reforming Judah. God can use you regardless of your age.
2 Kings 22:4. The doorkeepers controlled who entered the temple and supervised the collection of the money.
2 Kings 22:8. This book may have been the entire Pentateuch or just the book of Deuteronomy. Because of the long line of evil kings, the record of God’s laws had been lost. Josiah , who was about 26 years old at this time, wanted religious reform throughout the nation. When God’s Word was found, drastic changes had to be made to bring the kingdom in line with God’s commands. Today you have God’s word at your fingertips. How much change must you make in order to bring your life into line with God’s word.
2 Kings 22:11,14. When Josiah heard the law, he tore his robes in despair. He immediately instituted reforms. With just one reading of God’s law, he changed the course of the nation. Today many people own Bibles, bur few are affected by the truths found in God’s Word. The Word of God should cause us , like Josiah, to take action immediately to reform our lives and bring them into harmony with God’s will. God freely selects his servants to carry out his will, rich or poor, male or female, king or slave.
2 Kings:19. The hardest part of repentance is changing the attitudes that originally produced the sinful behavior.

The easiest thing about telling the truth is that it is never questioned !!!!

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