Tagged: message of the day

“Better for us to obey God than men!” –Acts 5:29 The Holy Spirit is given to those that obey God (Acts 5:32). Additional movements of the Spirit are given to those who obey God in greater ways. The experience of Jesus’ disciples illustrates this principle. They obeyed Him by devoting themselves to constant prayer for nine days (Acts 1:14). Then they received the Holy Spirit at Pentecost. Before they received the Spirit a second time (Acts 4:31), they obeyed the Lord to a much greater degree. “They devoted themselves to the apostles’ instruction and the communal life, to the breaking...

“Yes, God so loved the world that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in Him may not die but may have eternal life.” —John 3:16 Those who believe in Jesus have eternal life (Jn 20:31). Jesus came that we may have life and have it to the full (Jn 10:10). Jesus is the Life (Jn 11:25; 14:6), and He gives life (Jn 5:21). The angel who freed the apostles from prison told them: “Preach to the people all about this new life” (Acts 5:20). This full eternal life is the life of heaven which Christians begin to experience...

“The community of believers were of one heart and one mind. None of them ever claimed anything as his own; rather, everything was held in common.” —Acts 4:32 Go back and re-read the above verse. Then close your eyes for a moment and picture the lifestyle of the early Christians. Our ancestors in faith “were of one heart and one mind. None of them ever claimed anything as his own; rather, everything was held in common” (Acts 4:32). “Nor was there anyone needy among them, for all who owned property or houses sold them and donated the proceeds. They used...

“The Lord is with you.” —Luke 1:28 Love songs of all cultures express the desires of a lover who yearns to be with the beloved, no matter what it takes. Likewise, it wasn’t enough for Jesus to love us from heaven. Whatever it took, He just had to be with us. Jesus took on human flesh so He could be with us (Jn 1:14). Jesus’ very name is “Emmanuel, a name which means ‘God is with us’ ” (Mt 1:23). Even if He had to die for our sins, even if He had to suffer in His humanity, Jesus loved...

“Everyone who lives in Jerusalem knows what a remarkable show of power took place through them. We cannot deny it.” —Acts 4:16 How do we know that Jesus has risen from the dead? The historicity of the Resurrection accounts in the Bible is more credible than other ancient documents because of the number and accuracy of the manuscripts of the Gospels and the reliability of the authors of the Gospel. This has been confirmed by the Gospels’ internal consistency and by archaeological discoveries. We have an intellectual, factual basis for believing that Jesus has risen. However, to know the significance...