Author: Good Life Church

Scripture:

Acts 5:38-39 – “So in the present case I tell you, keep away from these men and let them alone, for if this plan or this undertaking is of man, it will fail; but if it is of God, you will not be able to overthrow them. You might even be found opposing God!” So they took his advice

Observation:

In Acts chapter 5 the disciples of Jesus are facing difficulty because of their preaching of Jesus. They were imprisoned for preaching, God released them, then they went right back to the public to preach about Jesus again! The disciples were put before the Jewish council to be silenced but one of the leaders made a prophetic claim we see in verses 38-39. The idea being that if what the disciples were saying was untrue then it would not survive but, if what they are preaching is true then who could possibly stand against God?

Application:

These words in Acts chapter 5 have proved prophetic because to this day over two thousand years later Jesus’ church is still thriving and the message of the disciples is still being preached! How amazing that I get to continue in the legacy of believers knowing that God has promised to build His church. The disciples were so compelled by the message of Jesus that they couldn’t stop speaking about Him. I want this zeal and devotion in my life.

Prayer:

God thank you for your promise to build your church. Thank you for the amazing gospel of Jesus and that I am free! I pray that the same zeal of the disciples would be found in me and that I would proclaim your truth to my community.

Scripture:

Acts 4:1-4
And as they were speaking to the people, the priests and the captain of the temple and the Sadducees came upon them,greatly annoyed because they were teaching the people and proclaiming in Jesus the resurrection from the dead. And they arrested them and put them in custody until the next day, for it was already evening. But many of those who had heard the word believed, and the number of the men came to about five thousand.

Observation:

The preaching of the gospel was annoying to some and life to others. Some responded negatively because It threatened their customs and power. For others, it was the very hope and truth they had been longing for.

Application:

Not much has changed in 2000 years. When the gospel is preached and the proclamation of the cross and resurrection is presented the response is varied. Some are annoyed by it. The presentation and application threaten their way of life and the status quo. If that is us, we don’t want change. We like life as it is. Not that it is perfect, but at least it is predictable. The story of the gospel demands us to place our faith in the actions of Jesus and trust Him with our tomorrow. For some, that is simply too much to ask.

For others though, the gospel is life. The number grows from 3000 in Acts 2 to 5000 in Acts 4. This was not a result of simply mass preaching. It was a mixture of the apostles messages and the people sharing their own stories.

The church was taking off for three clear reasons. The Holy Spirit was moving. The gospel was being proclaimed. The people were sharing their stories with those they influenced. These are still the three keys to church growth. All three must be true for growth to happen.

A handful of things…

-I can’t get discouraged if people are annoyed with the message. The gospel demands change and some people don’t want or are afraid of change.

-I must instead celebrate when some of the crowd experience life. Even if the majority are reluctant, I must focus on the few.

-The Holy Spirit’s presence is mandatory if the gospel is going to spread. He speaks into the depths of the soul where mere man cannot.

-The gospel must be preached. In a world where it seems watered down,cookie cutter, feel good, life coaching is what everybody wants, I must be dedicated to preach Christ’s death, resurrection and the only hope for eternity in Him. If I am not preaching this, I’m simply not preaching.

-The church cannot rely solely on the message of the preachers. The church grew from 3000 to 5000 because people were telling the story themselves. I must do my role as a preacher, but the congregation must also do theirs. Exponential growth happens when the things that happen in the gathering spread to the community.

Prayer:

Lord, you are so good. I needed this. I want to see your movement in our city. I know our church does as well! We need you! Move! Even if some are annoyed, others will embrace the message as their very Life source!

Scripture:

Acts 3:6 Then Peter said, “Silver or gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk.”

Observation:

Peter heals a lame beggar and then uses the opportunity to preach the Gospel. Like Jesus, Peter had been given the power to heal. There was a significant difference, however, in that power. Jesus healed by his own authority. Peter healed “in the name of Jesus”. The power was not his own but given to him by Jesus and through Jesus.

The beggar was not expecting to be healed. He had not even asked to be healed. Instead, he had asked for money. Peter gave him what he had. And, it was what the man needed most. This event occurred out in the open. It was meant to draw a crowd so God’s word could be spread.

Application:

I need to give credit where credit is due. Often, I take credit for something without giving proper credit to God. “I”, “My”, or “Mine” takes the place of God’s glory. Peter was very specific about where his power to heal came from. It does not need to be the power to heal, but God has given me gifts. These gifts are from God, not man, not something I developed. He should receive all the glory.

I need to be ready to seize my opportunities to share the Gospel. Peter healed the beggar and then, when everyone was gathering and amazed at what occurred, Peter used the opportunity to give credit to Jesus for the power and to share the Gospel with unbelieving Jews. He was matter of fact. He did not pull punches. He used Old Testament scripture, familiar terms and metaphors they would understand to identify them as sinner and for their need to repent.

Prayer:

Use me as you used Peter. Help me to recognize the situations where I can use events in my life to spread the Gospel. Allow me to step aside and give you the gory you deserve so others can see and experience your power.

Scripture:

Acts 2

4 And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance.

5 Now there were dwelling in Jerusalem Jews, devout men from every nation under heaven.

6 And at this sound the multitude came together, and they were bewildered, because each one was hearing them speak in his own language.

7 And they were amazed and astonished, saying, “Are not all these who are speaking Galileans? 8 And how is it that we hear, each of us in his own native language?

Observation:

Here we have Pentecost. The Holy Spirit has been sent to the apostles and those who were gathered with them.

Beyond the shocking experience of having the Holy Spirit come in like a mighty rushing wind, they were “amazed and astonished” that they could hear each other in their own native language.

Application:

This reminds me of another time when God came down.

I’m thinking way back in Genesis when the people were building the Tower of Babel.

But the motivations and reactions of the people in these two situations were exactly the opposite.

The people of Babel were filled with pride and ego and wrong motivations.

They wanted to hold something for themselves.

God came down then, too, but scattered them into different nation and languages so that they were not able to understand each other or collaborate any longer in their wrong endeavor to lift themselves above God.

Here, just prior to Pentecost, the believers were not prideful, they were actually afraid.

But then God come down again.

God empowered the people here.

The Holy Spirit unified the believers from every nation … “the multitude came together”.

The people were amazed and bewildered, but not out of confusion or chaos, by their understanding and hearing of each other.

And while the people of Babel were weakened, the people at Pentecost were empowered.

They were empowered to build something, but not something that would lift themselves, but would lift God.

They were empowered to accomplish the mission of the Church … form believers “in every nation under heaven”.

I must not be shocked when the Holy Spirit “shows up”.

He is here with me. He will grant me hearing and understanding.

He will empower me to come together with Himself and other believers to build His Church.

Will I be faithful to His mission or my own?

Prayer:

Father thank you for your word.

Holy Spirit thank you for your presence.

Help me hear You.

And help me hear other wise believers you put in my life.

Help me to continue to me amazed at what you do!

In Jesus name

Amen

Scripture:

Acts 1:3
He presented himself alive to them after his suffering by many proofs, appearing to them during forty days and speaking about the kingdom of God.

Observation:

Jesus did not only come alive again after the cross, but walked the earth for 40days appearing to his followers and continuing to teach about the kingdom.

Application:

Sometimes it is easy to smash everything about the cross, resurrection and ascension of Jesus together. Yet we find here that there was 40 more days of teaching before Jesus gave the great commission and ascended into heaven. What we see follow from the apostles is not only a result of Jesus’ teachings during His life, but also His teachings after He rose.

A couple things:

Jesus rose from the dead. That is enough reason to pledge my whole being to Him.

Jesus still wanted His followers to understand the kingdom. It wasn’t just about dying and going to heaven. It was about the Kingdom advancing on Earth. If Jesus stayed 40more days to make sure His followers understood the importance of the Kingdom, I probably should see Christianity through the lens of the Kingdom.

Prayer:

Jesus help me see your Kingdom come through my life and ministry today.

Scripture:  

You have tried my heart; You have visited me by night.  You have tested me-and You will find nothing.  I have purposed that my mouth will not transgress.  With regards to the works of man, by the word of Your lips I have avoided the ways of the violent.  My steps have held fast to Your paths; my feet have not slipped. Ps 17:3-5
For I have kept the ways of the Lord and have not wickedly departed from my God.  Ps 18

Observation:

 In Psalms 17 and 18, the Psalmist observes two things: God is a God of equipping and He has enabled me to persevere purposely.

Application:

 I have been focused on two things lately: God’s Sovereignty and my Human Responsibility.

Our God is a God of power and might, full of Grace and Mercy, able to more than adequately sustain me in whatever issue I am in.  None is like our God.

That’s the amazing side of things.  There is also that piece that says “uh, Yeah! That’s why He is God and I am not.”  If I dwell on the fact that He “upholds me with His right hand”, etc., could I lapse into apathy?  Good possibility.  Add my tendency to coast with my indwelling sin towards resisting God and I come up with adequate reasons to coast.  Sinfully coast, but coasting all the same.

That is why this Psalm (and in fact all of the Scriptures) are peppered with functional imperatives; those declarative Noun/Verb pairings like “I will” or “I shall” and statements like that.  “I have” is past tense and means the same thing.

So, what?  And…?  In the scriptures there are examples and statements that plainly indicate Christians are to “endure to the End.”  That does not mean “suck it up and grit it out.”  It means that I (and we) are to “pursue God all of our days, to the End of Days.”  If I ask “does that mean I can lose my salvation if I don’t or I slip?” I am missing the point-by a wide margin.

Our calling is to pursue God: with all of our heart, mind, and soul.  All of our being.   God wants us to do that too.  That is why He gives us His Holy Spirit to empower us to do this simple and oh, so difficult thing.  Look how hard the Psalmist says it is: My heart has been tried; woke me up to short sleep; tested me.  For my part I have: Purposed to shut my mouth to not transgress; avoided violent ways; held my feet firmly to the Paths; kept the ways of the Lord.

Did you happen to notice this is hard?

And yet, we are to rest in Him.  Somehow, in some mysterious way, pursuing hard with strenuous effort after Jesus is parallel to a supernatural rest. Think about that some…

Prayer:

Lord God.  How majestic and mysterious are Your Ways.  Keep me plugging along after You.  Steady plodding reaps results; it is the marathoner not the sprinter that reaps this prize.  Help me to persevere to the End.  AMEN.

Scripture:

Psalm 14:1-2 – The fool says in his heart, “There is no God.” They are corrupt, they do abominable deeds, there is none who does good. The Lord looks down from heaven on the children of man, to see if there are any who understand, who seek after God.

Observation:

Paul tells us in Romans 1:20, “For his invisible attributes, namely his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse.” It is a very foolish person who in his heart thinks there is no God. That person has a hardened heart and is unable or unwilling to see the truth. This is not what God wants from us. In verse two, we see God looking down at His creation to see who gets it and seeks a relationship with Him!

Application:

“The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy one is insight.”(Proverbs 9:10) Let me be someone who seeks after God not things of this world. I need to be in the word to have the truth of God’s word speak to me. I must communicate regularly through prayer in order to build our relationship and listen carefully for His direction. As I seek to follow God, I have to submit all of my life to Him. Worship and praise to God for sending Jesus to save me from my sin should be my daily response. The same love that God offered through Jesus on the cross that saved me is available to an atheist when the Spirit convicts them.

Prayer:

Father,
Thank you for loving us so much. Let me be someone who understands my role in your play. Help me to seek you and give you the glory!

Scripture:

Psalm 11:7
For the Lord is righteous; he loves righteous deeds; the upright shall behold his face.

Observation:

The psalmist states that The Lord is righteous and that he loves when people act righteously. Those who walk in righteousness will see his face.

Application:

Righteousness is natural to God. What He says, thinks and does is always right. Righteousness is not natural to me. Actually my nature is far from righteous. Naturally I act in selfishness and in impurity. As a believer I have been given a new heart, a new way of life, and a new Spirit. I am deemed righteous by Jesus’ sacrifice and resurrection. I am able to act in righteousness because His spirit lives in me.

A few things…

-The Lord is always right. I must remember that when it seems like He is missing something in my life.

-The Lord loves when I act like Him. Acting in righteousness can be overlooked in our society. Righteousness seems lame or old fashioned. However, knowing that God is pleased can motivate me to keep walking in righteousness.

-Because Jesus has made me righteous I will one day see His face. My righteousness is because of Him and I owe it all to Him.

Prayer:

May I live and walk in righteousness today because you have already made me righteous.

Scripture:

 Psalm 9:15 The nations have sunk in the pit that they made; in the net that they hid, their own foot has been caught. Higgaion Selah.

Observation:

David is giving thanks and praise to God for who He is and what He does. He urges others to join him in his praise of God. In this verse, David is thankful for God’s judgement. He judges us fairly and judges by our beliefs. Our beliefs are consistent with our actions and it is our actions that serve as the trap and basis for God’s judgement. David adds a couple of words to the end of this verse. Higgaion Selah. This is to be interpreted as “meditate, pause.”

Application:

Often my plans and actions come back to haunt me. What I thought would happen doesn’t or the opposite of what I intended sometimes occurs. It is the same with the world. What the world does or wants to happen is often what will trap the world. They are trapped in their sin. Whether they have good intentions or not, our sin will trap us.

 David is urging us to praise God because He is just and He will judge the wicked. I don’t have to judge people. God will judge them so I should just let the judging come from God. This is hard. I want people to get what’s coming. I want things to be “right”. That is not up to me to determine. God is more patient than I am and I need to learn that God’s timing is not my timing. His ways are not my ways. I should be aware of what I am doing and not worry about whether God will judge or when He will judge.

Peoples actions will be known. Their good deeds, their beliefs but also their sin, wickedness, and true heart. Just like the Miranda rights, everything I do can be and will be used for me and against me in God’s “court”. God will use my actions to judge me fairly. While David was praising God for his judgement on his enemies, there is a magnitude of reality that David suggests needs to sink in. God judges us all. He will judge me and you. My actions need to match my beliefs.

Prayer:

Father, I praise you for who you are and what you have done for me. You have provided your son as a sacrifice so I may have a life with you in Heaven. Thank you for your righteous judgement.

Scripture:

Psalm 4:7
You have put more joy in my heart than they have when their grain and wine abound.

Observation:

David explains the security of the righteous in God. He describes lying in bed in peace though the world is in turmoil. Praising God, though circumstances seem rough. In this verse he describes the joy found in God as exceeding the joy that others find in material possessions.

Application:

Joy. This same man will write years later, “restore me to the joy of your salvation”, after failing morally. David understood the joy of the Lord. It was a state of happiness that was not easily robbed by pain and problems. It was a spirit of contentment, even when pressure and circumstances weighed heavy. It was satisfaction with position, even when others climbed higher.

The joy David had is the same joy I can have. It comes from having peace with God and knowing my greatest need has already been met. It comes when I trust He is in control and I stop carrying burdens that are not my own. It’s when I lay my head down and even though the
world isn’t as it should be, my world is in His Hands.

A few things…

-The joy of the Lord is mine. He gave it to me at salvation. It is mine to claim and enjoy.

-The joy of the Lord is above circumstances. Happiness comes when stuff goes well. Joy comes every morning. I choose joy.

-I need to remember that what I have is lasting and better. It is easy to think others have it better and that others have more. However there is nothing better or more than the joy of Jesus.

Prayer:

I know that your joy is my portion. It is enough. May I Iive in it, rest in it and share it today.
Restore to me the joy of my salvation!

Scripture:

  Blessed is the man (who does not) walk in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners nor sits in the seat of scoffers. [But] his delight is in the Law of the Lord, and on His Law he meditates day and night. Ps 1:1-2

Why do the nations rage and the people plot in vain?  The kings of the earth set themselves and the rulers take counsel together against the Lord…He who sits in the heavens laughs; the Lord holds them (kings and rulers) in derision…Ps 2:1-2, and v4.

Observation:  

 In Ps 1 and 2, I see the Scriptures clarifying our place and position concerning our God: What should be the optimal conduct; what is a lot of our conduct; and the promise of a Savior and of certain falling of the Wrath of God.

Application:  

 I chuckle with these two chapters.  Can’t help it.  Note that I chuckle in fear but still I see the Holy Spirit making the positions of Men and God clear-He alone is God and me?  I am but a speck in the timeline of eternity.

How so?  Why such a downer set of statements?  Can’t I find something light and uplifting to write about?  Answer: I must exercise “delight” in the testimony of God, of His Word-and don’t turn away from the hard sayings of old.

These two chapters are great (however general) “either/or statements”: If I don’t walk in the ways of the wicked but walk in the delight of the Law of the Lord, I am in the category of “blessed.”

However, Psalms 2 begins talking about how “leaders” plot; they conspire; they set themselves against the Lord.  And the Lord God shakes His head, laughs, and holds them in derision (see also: scorn, mockery, disdain, ridicule, contempt, disrespect, etc.).  “Think about it, guys, you who are clay and finite trying to come up with a plan to thwart Me?  Inconceivable!”

Here’s how this applies to me, the guy in the mirror: Do I recognize the counsel of the Wicked in my daily walk, conduct, and conversation?  What about the stuff I read?  Politics, church stuff/religion, business, etc.?   To be fiercely transparent with myself probably not as much as I should.  For all Men everywhere, it is the stuff that we do not pay attention to (with purpose) that trips us up daily.

To grow in righteousness (which should be the attitude and purpose in every Christian) is to grow increasingly aware of the details of the Christian Walk according to the Scriptures.  Learning more about the Scriptures, growing in theological knowledge, exercising the full palate of the Spiritual Disciplines is what we should be doing.  The watch out is being determined to make this growth of knowledge show up in Godly Conduct.  In a lot of ways, our learning is directed to be Vo-Tech in nature.

So: Delight in the Word of God; Don’t be a scoffer either on purpose or in neglect; Meditate day and night (is this like Pray without Ceasing?  Sounds like it); Don’t be the target of God’s laughter at you.  It is much better for both God and I to laugh with each other.

Prayer:

 Father, You are aware of my current family issue.  It is very easy to “walk in the counsel of the wicked”; that is: Counseling with myself in my own mind about what I should be doing?  So many scenario’s I concoct to address this “issue”-and candidly hardly any of them Godly.  Goodness-I don’t need someone else for wicked counsel, I have me!  Help me fiercely embrace Your Word.  Let my mind transform.  Let the conviction of the Counsel of God flow through me on purpose and with purpose.

Scripture:

Mark 16:6-7 – And he said to them, “Do not be alarmed.  You seek Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified.  He has risen; he is not here.  See the place where they laid him.  But go tell his disciples and Peter that he is going before you to Galilee.  There you will see him just as he told you.”

Observation:

The angel tells the women to be calm, everything has happened just as Jesus told you.  Jesus, who was crucified, dead and buried in the tomb has resurrected.  The women are to go and tell the disciples that Jesus has risen and is going before them to Galilee.

Application:

The tomb is empty, on the third day he rose!  Jesus has overcome our sin and death to be with the Father just as he told the disciples.  Jesus is alive and nothing can separate us from his love!  Through the cross, an instrument of death, we are given the greatest sacrifice and love ever.

Prayer:

Father,

Thank you for your love, underserving grace and mercy by sending Jesus to the cross to overcome sin/death so we can be reconciled with you.  Let me to remember this daily and never stray from the gospel.  Help me to be a strong witness and disciple to others.

Scripture:

Mark 15:11
But the chief priests stirred up the crowd to have him release for them Barabbas instead.

Observation:

The religious leadership of the first century used their influence to stir up the crowd into making a decision they wouldn’t have made without their leadership.

Application:

Leadership and influence can’t be overstated. People in positions of leadership have the ability to influence a crowd. We see this in politics, in business, in sports and in religion. Sometimes the influence is used for good and sometimes for bad. In this instance the “bad” ended up leading to the greatest “good” of all time. The misguided leadership led the people to cry out for the release of a criminal instead of an innocent man. However God, who can overturn any leadership decision of man, had a bigger plan.

A few things…

-Who am I following? Where do they get their direction from?

-As a leader, do I realize the importance of using my voice for good?

-God still has a bigger plan. When I make a misstep as a leader, God is still in control. I must not allow poor decisions of the past to hinder my ability to lead lead in the future.

Prayer:

As a leader I am sure I have led people the wrong way before. I have taken missteps in leadership. God thank you for your grace. May I seek to influence and lead people towards wise and spirit led decisions. Thank you for even using poor decisions to lead to a greater good.

Scripture:

Mark 14:4
There were some who said to themselves indignantly, “Why was the ointment wasted like that?

Observation:

People thought that the woman’s expensive sacrifice was a waste.

Application:

We learn in this story that no matter how much is given; time, energy, money, stuff, it is never wasted on Jesus.

Why?

A couple reasons…

-Jesus is worthy of everything because of who He is.

-Jesus is worthy because what he has done. For the woman, He raised her brother and gave her a new life. For us, he rose again and have us a new life.

We can never give too much of anything to honor and worship Jesus. Not everyone will understand, but it doesn’t matter. We should give anyway.

Prayer:

Jesus, my time, relationships, money and stuff are yours. You deserve it for who you are and what you’ve done.