Archives for 2024

Good morning,

How did God transform the disciples of Christ? They were baptized by the Holy Ghost. Who stepped up and preached the first sermon of the church age? Peter did. It is found in Acts 2:14-47. We will focus on Peter’s sermon.

Peter’s Preaching at Pentecost

The response to Peter’s preaching (2:37-41)

³⁷ Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do? ³⁸ Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.³⁹ For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call. ⁴⁰ And with many other words did he testify and exhort, saying, Save yourselves from this untoward generation.⁴¹ Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls.

The Holy Spirit was at work convicting the hearers of their sin and need to repent.

Four things happen at the end of Peter’s message.

First, conviction. “…they were pricked in their heart…” The Holy Spirit used Peter’s message to convict the hearers that were sinners, in need of the Savior, Jesus Christ.

Second, a question. “…what shall we do?” If an unbeliever is under conviction by the Holy Spirit, there will be a need to know what to do.

Third, the answer to the question. “Repent and be baptized.” All unbelievers must deal with their sin. God wants us to confess all our sin before Him. Repent means to turn in the opposite direction. Follow Jesus.

Fourth, decision. “Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls.” The hearers could choose to accept or reject God’s message of salvation. Three thousand chose to accept.

Tomorrow, we will see if this decision had any impact on their lives.

Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001 chaplain@alaskaseniors.com

Good morning,

Christ died to pay the sin debt for all mankind. He was buried in a rich man’s tomb. He arose the third day.

So what happens next? Christ ascending back to heaven, waiting in the upper room, the replacement of Judas as an apostle, the 120 are filled with the Holy Ghost, and the 120 preaching and every one hears them in their own language.

We will explore each of these this week.

The Holy Ghost fills the 120 (Acts 2:1-4)

“And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place.² And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting.³ And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them.⁴ And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.”

Picture in your mind. You are involved in a prayer meeting. All of a sudden, a hurricane force wind, (rushing mighty wind), blows through. You are frightened because of the wind, when “…cloven tongues like as fire…”, sits on you. Nothing like this has ever happened before and you are scared out of your mind. Then you are filled with the Holy Ghost (Spirit) and begin speaking in languages you have never spoken before. For most of us, this would freak us out.

This surreal picture is what happened to the 120 believers in the upper room. They had been patiently waiting for the baptism of the Holy Ghost. This probably shocked them, as it would us.

That moment changed their lives forever. They left that room bold witnesses for Jesus Christ.

All hear in their own language (Acts 2:5-13)

And there were dwelling at Jerusalem Jews, devout men, out of every nation under heaven.⁶ Now when this was noised abroad, the multitude came together, and were confounded, because that every man heard them speak in his own language.⁷ And they were all amazed and marveled, saying one to another, Behold, are not all these which speak Galilaeans?⁸ And how hear we every man in our own tongue, wherein we were born?⁹ Parthians, and Medes, and Elamites, and the dwellers in Mesopotamia, and in Judaea, and Cappadocia, in Pontus, and Asia, ¹⁰ Phrygia, and Pamphylia, in Egypt, and in the parts of Libya about Cyrene, and strangers of Rome, Jews and proselytes,¹¹ Cretes and Arabians, we do hear them speak in our tongues the wonderful works of God.¹² And they were all amazed, and were in doubt, saying one to another, What meaneth this?¹³ Others mocking said, These men are full of new wine.”

The 120 now descend on Jerusalem. They began to preach and the people understood them in their own language. The city was made up of many different ethnic groups, which spoke different languages. What was happening was amazing.

There is a two-fold reason God allowed the residents of Jerusalem to understand in their own language.

First, it confirmed the message was from God. Only God could allow the residents of Jerusalem to hear the gospel message in their own language.

Second, it authenticated the messenger was from God. God was the one who filled the 120 with the Holy Ghost. These messengers were God’s witnesses.

We have the Holy Spirit of God dwelling within us. It is one thing to be indwelled with the Spirit and quite another to be controlled by the Spirit. How often does the Spirit of God move us to do something and we say no. When the Spirit shows us clear Bible teaching and we reject it. This is called quenching the Spirit.  God wants us to be sensitive to the moving of the Holy Spirit in our lives. He wants the Spirit of God to be in control of our lives.

Will we let Him?

Next we will look at Peter’s preaching at Pentecost. His life was dramatically changed from the night he denied Christ three times to standing before a great group and preaching about Christ.

Peter’s preaching at Pentecost

Prophecy of Joel (2:14-21, Joel 2:28-32)

But Peter, standing up with the eleven, lifted up his voice, and said unto them, Ye men of Judaea, and all ye that dwell at Jerusalem, be this known unto you, and hearken to my words:¹⁵ For these are not drunken, as ye suppose, seeing it is but the third hour of the day.¹⁶ But this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel;¹⁷ And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams:¹⁸ And on my servants and on my handmaidens I will pour out in those days of my Spirit; and they shall prophesy:¹⁹ And I will shew wonders in heaven above, and signs in the earth beneath; blood, and fire, and vapor of smoke:²⁰ The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the great and notable day of the Lord come:²¹ And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved.

The prophet Joel prophesied that the Spirit of God would be poured out on all believers. The purpose was that believers would have the boldness to tell others about Jesus Christ. The end result being men and women, boys and girls, would call upon the name of the Lord and be saved.

The last days refers to the time from Christ’s resurrection all the way to the end of the church age.

Are we willing to allow the Spirit of God to work through us to lead unbelievers to Christ? Please remember, it is our responsibility to tell others about Christ, the Spirit of God’s responsibility to convict unbelievers of their need for salvation, and Jesus’ responsibility to bring them to salvation. We do not win souls. God does.

God raised up Jesus (2:22-24)

²² Ye men of Israel, hear these words; Jesus of Nazareth, a man approved of God among you by miracles and wonders and signs, which God did by him in the midst of you, as ye yourselves also know: ²³ Him, being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, ye have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and slain: ²⁴ Whom God hath raised up, having loosed the pains of death: because it was not possible that he should be holden of it.

Peter now expounds on Joel’s prophecy. He explains who Jesus is, a man approved of by God, who did miracles, wonders, and signs, in their presence. How these evil men had Jesus crucified and how God raised Him from the dead. Peter always brings them back to the resurrection.

God is still in the business of doing the miraculous. Every soul won to Christ since Pentecost is a miracle in itself. The very fact that believers in Christ go to heaven when we die, instead of hell, is a miracle of God.

I fear we take these acts of God for granted. Yet we do not deserve the breath we breathe apart from the miraculous blood sacrifice Jesus made on the cross for us. We live today because of what Christ did for us. But Jesus didn’t just give us life, He empowered us to live life. He baptized us with the Holy Spirit of God. We have the Spirit of God living within us. The Spirit of God leads us, guides us, and comforts us.

Allow the Holy Spirit to lead, guide, and comfort you today.

David’s testimony of Christ (2:25-28, Psalm 16:8-11)

²⁵ For David speaketh concerning him, I foresaw the Lord always before my face, for he is on my right hand, that I should not be moved: ²⁶ Therefore did my heart rejoice, and my tongue was glad; moreover also my flesh shall rest in hope: ²⁷ Because thou wilt not leave my soul in hell, neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption.²⁸ Thou hast made known to me the ways of life; thou shalt make me full of joy with thy countenance.

David’s life is characterized by a close walk with God. Whether as a shepherd, servant, warrior, fugitive, adulterer, or King, David always sought God. He knew God was always near him. His heart rejoiced, was glad, he had hope, he knew God would not leave him in hell, and that God had made known to him the ways of life.

Do we live a life this close to God?

Psalm 16 is also a prophetic Psalm. Full disclosure, I do not understand how this is prophetic. However, my research, plus the understanding of Peter’s day, made this obvious. Included below is the question and a very good answer.

Peter preaches Jesus’ resurrection (2:29-36)

²⁹ Men and brethren, let me freely speak unto you of the patriarch David, that he is both dead and buried, and his sepulcher is with us unto this day. ³⁰ Therefore being a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him, that of the fruit of his loins, according to the flesh, he would raise up Christ to sit on his throne; ³¹ He seeing this before spake of the resurrection of Christ, that his soul was not left in hell, neither his flesh did see corruption.³² This Jesus hath God raised up, whereof we all are witnesses.³³ Therefore being by the right hand of God exalted, and having received of the Father the promise of the Holy Ghost, he hath shed forth this, which ye now see and hear.³⁴ For David is not ascended into the heavens: but he saith himself, The Lord said unto my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand,³⁵ Until I make thy foes thy footstool.³⁶ Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made the same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ.

Why does Peter proclaim that Psalm 16 applies prophetically to Jesus and not king David? 

1. David…is both dead and buried: Peter points out that this Psalm cannot be speaking of its human author, David – he is dead and remains buried. The Psalm must speak prophetically of the Messiah, Jesus.
a. “The Davidic authorship of the Psalm was common ground between Peter and his Jewish listeners. Peter argues, however, that the Psalm cannot be taken as referring to David himself. Since he died and was buried, and since for the Jews to be buried was the same thing as to suffer corruption and descend to Sheol, it followed that he himself was abandoned to Hades (the Greek word for Hebrew Sheol) and suffered physical corruption. Peter was entitled to make his point with confidence; after all, the proof of David’s burial was visible for all to see.” (Marshall) 

b. “If David was not speaking about himself, it followed that he must have been speaking prophetically. Two factors suggested this. First, David himself was gifted with prophetic powers. The same assumption is made in 1:16 and Mark 12:36, and is implicit in Jewish understanding of some of the Psalms as having a future reference. Second, David knew that God had promised faithfully that one of his descendants would sit on his throne. Here Peter has in mind Psalm 132:11. with its divine oath, ‘One of the sons of your body I will set on your throne’ (cf. 2 Sam. 7:12–16; Ps. 89:3., 35–37). To be sure, these references indicate that David would be the father of a line of kings; the throne would remain in his family and not be taken over by usurpers from some other family. Nevertheless, Peter takes it that one descendant in particular is in mind.” (Marshall)  

c. “He therefore claims that what David was doing in Psalm 16 was to utter a prophecy regarding the Messiah, who would be his descendant. Instead of being abandoned to Hades, the Messiah would be raised from the dead. The wording of Psalm 16:10 is slightly altered to fit its new context; the word flesh, which has been taken over from Psalm 16:9, refers to the person of Jesus as a whole, and does not suggest that a flesh/soul dualism is in mind.” (Marshall)

Jesus: The Way, The Truth, & The Life Systematic and Practical Theology (http://jesusisgod316.blogspot.com/2015/05/acts-225-36-peters-sermon-on-day-of.html)

The resurrection changes everything. Thursday we will see the results of Peter’s preaching.

The response to Peter’s preaching (2:37-41)

³⁷ Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do? ³⁸ Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.³⁹ For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call. ⁴⁰ And with many other words did he testify and exhort, saying, Save yourselves from this untoward generation.⁴¹ Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls.

The Holy Spirit was at work convicting the hearers of their sin and need to repent.

Four things happen at the end of Peter’s message.

First, conviction. “…they were pricked in their heart…” The Holy Spirit used Peter’s message to convict the hearers that were sinners, in need of the Savior, Jesus Christ.

Second, a question. “…what shall we do?” If an unbeliever is under conviction by the Holy Spirit, there will be a need to know what to do.

Third, the answer to the question. “Repent and be baptized.” All unbelievers must deal with their sin. God wants us to confess all our sin before Him. Repent means to turn in the opposite direction. Follow Jesus.

Fourth, decision. “Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls.” The hearers could choose to accept or reject God’s message of salvation. Three thousand chose to accept.

Tomorrow, we will see if this decision had any impact on their lives.

The commitment of the new believers (2:42-47)

⁴² And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.⁴³ And fear came upon every soul: and many wonders and signs were done by the apostles.⁴⁴ And all that believed were together, and had all things common;⁴⁵ And sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all men, as every man had need.⁴⁶ And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart,⁴⁷ Praising God, and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.

So, did their decision have an impact on their lives? Yes it did.

There are six things that characterize their changed lives.

First, they obey God’s word. “And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine…” The apostle’s doctrine is the word God passed down to the apostles. These new believers were willing to learn and obey.

Second, they fellowshipped together.

Third, prayer. They learned and then practiced prayer.

Fourth, they sold all they had and had all things in common. They were committed.

Fifth, they ministered to the saints.

Sixth, they praised God.

When they believed in God’s word, they turned away from their old lives and turned entirely to Christ.

Are we that committed? These were brand new believers. They came knowing nothing. They gave up everything. They turned their world upside down for Christ.

How about us? We have extensive years of Bible teaching, no real persecution, lavish churches in which to worship, ample transportation, and Bibles to transmit the word of God to whoever will listen.

But will we go?

Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001 chaplain@alaskaseniors.com

Good morning,

How did God transform the disciples of Christ? They were baptized by the Holy Ghost. Who stepped up and preached the first sermon of the church age? Peter did. It is found in Acts 2:14-47. We will focus on Peter’s sermon.

Peter’s preaching at Pentecost

Prophecy of Joel (2:14-21, Joel 2:28-32)

But Peter, standing up with the eleven, lifted up his voice, and said unto them, Ye men of Judaea, and all ye that dwell at Jerusalem, be this known unto you, and hearken to my words:¹⁵ For these are not drunken, as ye suppose, seeing it is but the third hour of the day.¹⁶ But this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel;¹⁷ And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams:¹⁸ And on my servants and on my handmaidens I will pour out in those days of my Spirit; and they shall prophesy:¹⁹ And I will shew wonders in heaven above, and signs in the earth beneath; blood, and fire, and vapor of smoke:²⁰ The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the great and notable day of the Lord come:²¹ And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved.

The prophet Joel prophesied that the Spirit of God would be poured out on all believers. The purpose was that believers would have the boldness to tell others about Jesus Christ. The end result being men and women, boys and girls, would call upon the name of the Lord and be saved.

The last days refers to the time from Christ’s resurrection all the way to the end of the church age.

Are we willing to allow the Spirit of God to work through us to lead unbelievers to Christ? Please remember, it is our responsibility to tell others about Christ, the Spirit of God’s responsibility to convict unbelievers of their need for salvation, and Jesus’ responsibility to bring them to salvation. We do not win souls. God does.

God raised up Jesus (2:22-24)

²² Ye men of Israel, hear these words; Jesus of Nazareth, a man approved of God among you by miracles and wonders and signs, which God did by him in the midst of you, as ye yourselves also know: ²³ Him, being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, ye have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and slain: ²⁴ Whom God hath raised up, having loosed the pains of death: because it was not possible that he should be holden of it.

Peter now expounds on Joel’s prophecy. He explains who Jesus is, a man approved of by God, who did miracles, wonders, and signs, in their presence. How these evil men had Jesus crucified and how God raised Him from the dead. Peter always brings them back to the resurrection.

God is still in the business of doing the miraculous. Every soul won to Christ since Pentecost is a miracle in itself. The very fact that believers in Christ go to heaven when we die, instead of hell, is a miracle of God.

I fear we take these acts of God for granted. Yet we do not deserve the breath we breathe apart from the miraculous blood sacrifice Jesus made on the cross for us. We live today because of what Christ did for us. But Jesus didn’t just give us life, He empowered us to live life. He baptized us with the Holy Spirit of God. We have the Spirit of God living within us. The Spirit of God leads us, guides us, and comforts us.

Allow the Holy Spirit to lead, guide, and comfort you today.

David’s testimony of Christ (2:25-28, Psalm 16:8-11)

²⁵ For David speaketh concerning him, I foresaw the Lord always before my face, for he is on my right hand, that I should not be moved: ²⁶ Therefore did my heart rejoice, and my tongue was glad; moreover also my flesh shall rest in hope: ²⁷ Because thou wilt not leave my soul in hell, neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption.²⁸ Thou hast made known to me the ways of life; thou shalt make me full of joy with thy countenance.

David’s life is characterized by a close walk with God. Whether as a shepherd, servant, warrior, fugitive, adulterer, or King, David always sought God. He knew God was always near him. His heart rejoiced, was glad, he had hope, he knew God would not leave him in hell, and that God had made known to him the ways of life.

Do we live a life this close to God?

Psalm 16 is also a prophetic Psalm. Full disclosure, I do not understand how this is prophetic. However, my research, plus the understanding of Peter’s day, made this obvious. Included below is the question and a very good answer.

Peter preaches Jesus’ resurrection (2:29-36)

²⁹ Men and brethren, let me freely speak unto you of the patriarch David, that he is both dead and buried, and his sepulcher is with us unto this day. ³⁰ Therefore being a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him, that of the fruit of his loins, according to the flesh, he would raise up Christ to sit on his throne; ³¹ He seeing this before spake of the resurrection of Christ, that his soul was not left in hell, neither his flesh did see corruption.³² This Jesus hath God raised up, whereof we all are witnesses.³³ Therefore being by the right hand of God exalted, and having received of the Father the promise of the Holy Ghost, he hath shed forth this, which ye now see and hear.³⁴ For David is not ascended into the heavens: but he saith himself, The Lord said unto my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand,³⁵ Until I make thy foes thy footstool.³⁶ Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made the same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ.

Why does Peter proclaim that Psalm 16 applies prophetically to Jesus and not king David? 

1. David…is both dead and buried: Peter points out that this Psalm cannot be speaking of its human author, David – he is dead and remains buried. The Psalm must speak prophetically of the Messiah, Jesus.
a. “The Davidic authorship of the Psalm was common ground between Peter and his Jewish listeners. Peter argues, however, that the Psalm cannot be taken as referring to David himself. Since he died and was buried, and since for the Jews to be buried was the same thing as to suffer corruption and descend to Sheol, it followed that he himself was abandoned to Hades (the Greek word for Hebrew Sheol) and suffered physical corruption. Peter was entitled to make his point with confidence; after all, the proof of David’s burial was visible for all to see.” (Marshall) 

b. “If David was not speaking about himself, it followed that he must have been speaking prophetically. Two factors suggested this. First, David himself was gifted with prophetic powers. The same assumption is made in 1:16 and Mark 12:36, and is implicit in Jewish understanding of some of the Psalms as having a future reference. Second, David knew that God had promised faithfully that one of his descendants would sit on his throne. Here Peter has in mind Psalm 132:11. with its divine oath, ‘One of the sons of your body I will set on your throne’ (cf. 2 Sam. 7:12–16; Ps. 89:3., 35–37). To be sure, these references indicate that David would be the father of a line of kings; the throne would remain in his family and not be taken over by usurpers from some other family. Nevertheless, Peter takes it that one descendant in particular is in mind.” (Marshall)  

c. “He therefore claims that what David was doing in Psalm 16 was to utter a prophecy regarding the Messiah, who would be his descendant. Instead of being abandoned to Hades, the Messiah would be raised from the dead. The wording of Psalm 16:10 is slightly altered to fit its new context; the word flesh, which has been taken over from Psalm 16:9, refers to the person of Jesus as a whole, and does not suggest that a flesh/soul dualism is in mind.” (Marshall)

Jesus: The Way, The Truth, & The Life Systematic and Practical Theology (http://jesusisgod316.blogspot.com/2015/05/acts-225-36-peters-sermon-on-day-of.html)

The resurrection changes everything. Thursday we will see the results of Peter’s preaching.

Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001 chaplain@alaskaseniors.com

Introduction to Acts

Timeline

Author and Date

Acts is a sequel to the Gospel of Luke. Both were written by Luke, a physician who traveled with the apostle Paul. Acts ends with Paul under house arrest, awaiting trial before Caesar, c. A.D. 62. Many scholars assume Acts was written then because it does not record Paul’s defense, release, and further gospel preaching.

Theme

The Holy Spirit empowers believers to declare the gospel among both Jews and Gentiles. In doing so they establish the church. The church is the fulfillment of God’s promises from the beginning of time.

Purpose

Luke’s purpose for writing his Gospel (see Luke 1:3–4) applies to Acts as well: to give an “orderly” account of the early church after Christ’s resurrection. Dedicating the two-volume work to Theophilus, Luke wanted him to have “certainty” about what he had been taught.

Key Themes

Acts tells of the witness of the early church to the truth of the gospel—a theme first introduced in 1:8:

1. The witness is worldwide—Judea, Samaria, the “end of the earth” (1:8).
2. The witness includes all kinds of people (chs. 2–5; 10:1–11:18; 14:8–18; 16:11–15, 25–34; 17:22–31).
3. God guides the church’s witness (4:5–22; 23:12–22; 24:1–23; 27:21–26).
4. Faithful witnesses must be prepared to suffer and even die because of their testimony to Christ (5:41–42; 7:54–60).
5. The Holy Spirit empowers the witness (1:8; 2:1–13; 8:17; 13:2–12; 19:6).
6. Effective witness demands unity in the church (2:42–47; 4:32–37; 5:12–14).
7. Jesus’ resurrection is a key part of the witness (1:22; 2:22–36; 17:30–31).
8. Acceptance of the message depends both on human response and on God’s sovereign will (2:47; 11:18; 13:48).
9. The witness to the gospel calls for a response (26:27–29). It requires repenting of one’s sins in the name of Christ. This brings forgiveness of sins (e.g., 2:38).
10. Witnesses must always maintain integrity before the world (18:12–15; 23:29; 25:18; 26:31–32).
11. Christian witnesses continue the ministry that Christ “began” (1:1).
12. Faithful witness can bring great results (4:4; 13:48–49; 17:4; 28:30–31).

Outline

1. Preparation for Witness (1:1–2:13)
2. The Witness in Jerusalem (2:14–5:42)
3. The Witness beyond Jerusalem (6:1–12:25)
4. The Witness in Cyprus and Southern Galatia (13:1–14:28)
5. The Jerusalem Council (15:1–35)
6. The Witness in Greece (15:36–18:22)
7. The Witness in Ephesus (18:23–21:16)
8. The Arrest in Jerusalem (21:17–23:35)
9. The Witness in Caesarea (24:1–26:32)
10. The Witness in Rome (27:1–28:31)

The Setting of Acts

c. A.D. 30–60

The book of Acts records the spread of the gospel from Jerusalem to Rome, thus fulfilling the risen Christ’s words to his apostles in Acts 1:8.

Good morning,

Christ died to pay the sin debt for all mankind. He was buried in a rich man’s tomb. He arose the third day.

So what happens next? Christ ascending back to heaven, waiting in the upper room, the replacement of Judas as an apostle, the 120 are filled with the Holy Ghost, and the 120 preaching and every one hears them in their own language.

We will explore each of these this week.

The Holy Ghost fills the 120 (Acts 2:1-4)

“And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place.² And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting.³ And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them.⁴ And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.”

Picture in your mind. You are involved in a prayer meeting. All of a sudden, a hurricane force wind, (rushing mighty wind), blows through. You are frightened because of the wind, when “…cloven tongues like as fire…”, sits on you. Nothing like this has ever happened before and you are scared out of your mind. Then you are filled with the Holy Ghost (Spirit) and begin speaking in languages you have never spoken before. For most of us, this would freak us out.

This surreal picture is what happened to the 120 believers in the upper room. They had been patiently waiting for the baptism of the Holy Ghost. This probably shocked them, as it would us.

That moment changed their lives forever. They left that room bold witnesses for Jesus Christ.

All hear in their own language (Acts 2:5-13)

And there were dwelling at Jerusalem Jews, devout men, out of every nation under heaven.⁶ Now when this was noised abroad, the multitude came together, and were confounded, because that every man heard them speak in his own language.⁷ And they were all amazed and marveled, saying one to another, Behold, are not all these which speak Galilaeans?⁸ And how hear we every man in our own tongue, wherein we were born?⁹ Parthians, and Medes, and Elamites, and the dwellers in Mesopotamia, and in Judaea, and Cappadocia, in Pontus, and Asia, ¹⁰ Phrygia, and Pamphylia, in Egypt, and in the parts of Libya about Cyrene, and strangers of Rome, Jews and proselytes,¹¹ Cretes and Arabians, we do hear them speak in our tongues the wonderful works of God.¹² And they were all amazed, and were in doubt, saying one to another, What meaneth this?¹³ Others mocking said, These men are full of new wine.”

The 120 now descend on Jerusalem. They began to preach and the people understood them in their own language. The city was made up of many different ethnic groups, which spoke different languages. What was happening was amazing.

There is a two-fold reason God allowed the residents of Jerusalem to understand in their own language.

First, it confirmed the message was from God. Only God could allow the residents of Jerusalem to hear the gospel message in their own language.

Second, it authenticated the messenger was from God. God was the one who filled the 120 with the Holy Ghost. These messengers were God’s witnesses.

We have the Holy Spirit of God dwelling within us. It is one thing to be indwelled with the Spirit and quite another to be controlled by the Spirit. How often does the Spirit of God move us to do something and we say no. When the Spirit shows us clear Bible teaching and we reject it. This is called quenching the Spirit.  God wants us to be sensitive to the moving of the Holy Spirit in our lives. He wants the Spirit of God to be in control of our lives.

Will we let Him?

Next we will look at Peter’s preaching at Pentecost. His life was dramatically changed from the night he denied Christ three times to standing before a great group and preaching about Christ.

Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001 chaplain@alaskaseniors.com

Good morning,

In the Father’s eternal dwelling!

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John 14:1-3, “Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in Me. In My Father’s house are many dwelling places . . . I am going there to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with Me, that you may be where I am!”

In these comforting words from Jesus, the Christian finds a profound reassurance for his troubled heart.

The Savior acknowledges the very real anxieties and fears that can weigh us down, but He responds with a call to unwavering faith. “You believe in God,” He says, “believe also in Me!” This is an invitation to place our trust in the Son of God who has come to redeem His people from their sins. For in the Father’s eternal home, Jesus declares, there are many dwelling places.

This is a promise of the glorious eternity that awaits all who follow Him. This is no mere earthly abode, but a heavenly home where the redeemed will dwell with their Lord forever.

And though Jesus has gone to prepare this glorious home for us, He assures us that He will return to receive us unto Himself.

What a profound and life-changing hope–that where Christ is, there we shall be forever!

In the midst of our troubled hearts, these words of Jesus offer the peace that surpasses all understanding. They remind us that our eternal destiny is secure in Him, and that the difficulties of this world are but temporary, for an eternity of joy with our Savior awaits.

Let us cling to these promises with unwavering faith, finding comfort in the knowledge that our heavenly home is being prepared, and that one day soon, we shall be united with our beloved Jesus forevermore!

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Good morning,

A horrible and shocking thing is done!

(J.C. Ryle, “Calvary”)  LISTEN to audio!  Download Audio

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I know no greater proof of man’s depravity, than the fact that thousands of so-called professing Christians see nothing lovely in the cross.

Well may our hearts be called stony,
well may the eyes of our mind be called blind,
well may our whole nature be called diseased,
well may we all be called dead in sin
–when the cross of Christ is heard of, and yet neglected!

Surely we may take up the words of the prophet, and say, “Hear, O heavens, and be astonished, O earth: A horrible and shocking thing is done!” Christ was crucified for sinners, and yet many professing Christians live as if He was never crucified at all!

Would I know how exceedingly sinful and abominable sin is in the sight of God?

Shall I turn to the history of the flood, and read how sin drowned the world?

Shall I ponder what sin brought on Sodom and Gomorrah?

No! I can find a clearer proof still–I look at what happened on Calvary! There I see that sin is so black and damnable, that nothing but the blood of God’s own Son can wash it away! There I see that sin has so separated me from my holy Maker, that all the angels in Heaven could never have made peace between us. Nothing could reconcile us, short of the death of Christ.
Ah, if I listened to the wretched talk of proud men, I might sometimes imagine sin was not so very sinful; but I cannot think little of sin when I look at Calvary.

I find no balm for a sore conscience and a troubled heart, like the sight of Jesus dying for me on the accursed tree! There I see that a full payment has been made for all my enormous debts.

When I look at the cross, I feel sure that there is a way to Heaven for the very vilest of men.

Would I find strong reasons for being a holy man?
I will look at Calvary and the crucifixion.

There I see that Jesus gave Himself for me, not only to redeem me from iniquity–but also to purify me. He bore my sins in His own body on the tree, that I being dead unto sin, should live unto righteousness.

Ah, reader, there is nothing so sanctifying as a clear view of the cross of Christ!
It crucifies the world unto us, and us unto the world.

How can we love sin when we remember that because of our sins, Jesus died for our sin?

Would I learn how to be contented and cheerful under all the cares and anxieties of life?
What school shall I go to? How shall I attain this state of mind most easily?
Shall I look at:
  the sovereignty of God,
  the wisdom of God,
  the providence of God,
  the love of God?
It is well to do so.
But I have a better argument still. I will look at Calvary and the crucifixion!

I feel that He who did not spare His only begotten Son, but delivered Him up to die for me–will surely with Him, give me all things that I really need.

He that endured that pain for my soul, will surely not withhold from me anything that is really good.

He that has done the greater things for me, will doubtless do the lesser things also.

He that gave His own blood to procure an eternal home for me, will unquestionably supply me with all that is really profitable for me along the way.

Ah, reader, there is no school for learning contentment that can be compared with Calvary and the foot of the cross!

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Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001 chaplain@alaskaseniors.com

Good morning,

Sovereign absolute uncompromising control!

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Psalm 115:3, “Our God is in the heavens; He does all that He pleases!”

Psalm 135:5-6, “I know that the LORD is great, that our Lord is greater than all gods. The LORD does whatever pleases Him, in the heavens and on the earth, in the seas and all their depths!”

Isaiah 46:10, “My purpose will stand, and I will do all that I please.”

Ephesians 1:11, “In Him we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of Him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of His will!”

Scripture clearly teaches that the Almighty Creator maintains sovereign, absolute, uncompromising control  over every aspect of His vast universe.

Not a single molecule or particle in all of existence operates outside of God’s sovereign dominion.

The same divine hand that sets the stars in their courses, also directs the smallest details of our individual lives.

Whether triumph or tragedy; whether success or suffering–nothing occurs without first passing through the filter of God’s all-wise and sovereign will, and His eternal plan.

The notions of chance or luck or accident–are merely heathen philosophies.

Every event, every circumstance, and every outcome is meticulously orchestrated by the sovereign Lord who reigns supremely over all.

As Christians, we should find unwavering confidence, comfort and security in the truth that the same God who governs His universe, also intimately directs and wisely orders every detail of our lives.

“And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose!” Romans 8:28

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Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001 chaplain@alaskaseniors.com

Good morning,

His abiding presence and inexhaustible resources!

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In the book of Isaiah, the Lord gives a powerful and comforting message to His redeemed people:
“Do not be afraid, for I am with you.
Do not be discouraged, for I am your God.
I will strengthen you and help you.
I will hold you up with my victorious right hand!” Isaiah 41:10

This profound declaration speaks directly to the hearts of all Christians who are facing trials, afflictions, and times of uncertainty. No matter what challenges we may be confronting, we need not succumb to fear or discouragement, for our Almighty God is steadfastly by our side. He is our strength and our help, ready and willing to lift us up and sustain us through the darkest of circumstances.

The imagery of God’s “victorious right hand” reaching down to support us, is a beautiful visual of His sovereign power and unwavering commitment to His people. In a world that so often leaves us feeling small, helpless, and overwhelmed, this promise from our God stands as a beacon of hope–a reminder that He will provide the needed grace to sustain us in every struggle that we will ever encounter!

By trusting in His abiding presence and inexhaustible resources, we can walk forward in courage, confidence, and an unshakable peace, for our Heavenly Father has declared that He will be . . .
  our strength,
  our shield,
  our refuge,
  and our ever-present help in times of trouble!

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Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001 chaplain@alaskaseniors.com

Good morning,

This baffles all comprehension!

(John MacDuff, 1874)  LISTEN to audio!  Download Audio

John 1:14, “The Word became flesh and made His dwelling among us!” 

Philippians 2:7-8, “He emptied Himself, by taking the form of a slave, by being made in the likeness of men. Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross!”

What a stoop for that Infinite Being who proclaimed Himself as the Alpha and the Omega! What a transition for “the Ancient of days” to assume the nature and take the form of a helpless infant, sleeping on a virgin mother’s bosom!

We have no plumb line to sound the depths of His humiliation.
We have no arithmetic with which it can be calculated.

If we can entertain for a moment the shocking supposition of the loftiest angel in Heaven laying aside his angel nature, and becoming an insect or a worm–we can, in some feeble degree, estimate the humiliation involved in that angel’s abasement.

But, for the Infinite and eternal God Himself, to become incarnate;
  for the Creator, to take the nature of a creature;
  for Deity, to be linked with dust–
this baffles all comprehension!  

We can only fall down in adoring reverence, and exclaim with the apostle, “Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and unfathomable His ways!” Romans 11:33
“Wonder, O heavens, and be astonished, O earth!”

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Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001 chaplain@alaskaseniors.com

Good morning,

The days of your mourning shall be ended!

(John MacDuff)  LISTEN to Audio!  Download Audio

(You will find it helpful to listen to the audio above, as you read the text below.) 

“The days of your mourning shall be ended!” Isaiah 60:20

Christ’s people are a weeping band, though there is much in this lovely world to make them happy. Yet when they think of their sin, need we wonder at their tears in their pilgrimage in this “valley of tears?”  

Bereavement, sickness, poverty, and death follow the track of sin, adding to their mourning experience; and with many of God’s best beloved, one tear is scarcely dried when another is ready to flow!

Mourners rejoice! When the reaping time comes–the weeping time ends! When the white robe and the golden harp are bestowed, every remnant of the sackcloth attire is removed.

The moment the pilgrim, whose forehead is here furrowed with woe, bathes it in the crystal River of Life–that moment the pangs of a lifetime of sorrow are eternally forgotten!

Reader! If you are one of these careworn ones, the days of your mourning are numbered! A few more throbbings of this aching heart–and then shall sorrow, and sighing, and mourning, be gone forever!

“Never again will they hunger; never again will they thirst. The sun will not beat upon them, nor any scorching heat. For the Lamb at the center of the throne will be their Shepherd. He will lead them to springs of living water. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes!” Revelation 7:16-17

“He will wipe every tear from their eyes! There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain–for the old order of things has passed away!” Revelation 21:4 

“The days of your mourning shall be ended!” Isaiah 60:20

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Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001 chaplain@alaskaseniors.com