The Name of Jesus Christ

 "His name, through faith in His name, has made this man strong, whom you see and know. Yes, the faith which comes through Him has given him this perfect soundness in the presence of you all." Acts 3:16

Observations:

Faith in the name of Jesus Christ is power.

"soundness" = freedom from flaws or defects, not diseased or sick, freedom from error, right.

Faith in Jesus healed the lame man and made him well again.

This could be a metaphor that faith in Jesus can make us right with God.

This soundness is something that other people can see.  

        - This reminds me of Psalm 23... He renews my strength... He prepares a feast for me in the presence of my enemies. 

Application:

Faith in Jesus is very powerful and gives us His strength.

We need to have faith and believe, or else it's all for nothing.

We are to pray in the name of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior.

Prayer:

Dear Lord, I have faith in You. You are faithful to us. Thank You that we can trust You. Help my faith to grow stronger in You Lord. Let my faith in You be an example to others. Help me to be a good witness for You Lord. Thank you Jesus for being my Lord and Savior! Amen

Daily Decisions

 "So, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house they ate their food with gladness and simplicity of heart praising God and having favor with all the people. The Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved." Acts 2:46-47

Observations:

The word "daily" speaks out to me - every day.

"One accord" - they were all in agreement.

They were fellowshipping with each other at each other's homes. 

They were satisfied and content.

They praised God. 

So, because of their example, many people were saved.

Application:

We have daily decisions and choices. 

We need to have fellowship with one another.

We need to be content and praise God for His blessings.

We need to be good examples to others around us so that they can know the love of God.

Prayer:

Please help us Lord to follow You every day. Thank You Lord for all Your many blessings. I am so grateful for all You have done. Please help us to be a good witness for You. Thank you Jesus! Amen!

I don't need to know everything

Jesus said, "The Father alone has the authority to set dates and times, and they are not for you to know. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere... in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth." Acts 1:7-8

Obervation:

We need to be baptized with water and be baptized with the Holy Spirit as well. That is when we receive His power so that we can tell the world about Him. 

We are to be His witnesses in our own hometown, in the next city, in the whole country, and around the world. 

God has plan and a purpose. God's timing is perfect. 

God is in control. God is omniscient, omnipresent, and omnipotent. 

Application:

I can trust God. I don't need to know everything, because God does. I know that God wants what is best for me because I know that He loves me no matter what! I don't need to worry because I have faith and hope in the Lord's promises. I have been given a Helper who gives me His power. I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. I need to use His power and His strength that He gives me to do His will and to be an example to those around me. 

Prayer:

Dear Lord, please let your light shine through me. My identity is in Christ. Thank you, Lord, for your help, your strength, and your power to do your will. Please guide me and direct my path. I can do nothing without you Lord. I'm so tired Lord. Please help me to remember that I don't need to do things in my own strength. With you, the yoke is easy, and the burden is light. I am a leaky vessel and need you to fill me with your Holy Spirit on a daily basis. I need your strength everyday Lord. I cannot do it my own. I love you, Lord. Thank You Lord for all your many blessings! Amen!

Jesus is the perfect sacrifice, once and for all!

Holy, blameless, and without sin, Jesus offered Himself up as the perfect sacrifice. He did this once for all! (Hebrews 7:26-27)

Jesus fulfills all that God requires as the perfect sacrifice, without spot or blemish. We don't have to offer sacrifices for our sins anymore because Jesus paid the price once and for all!

Our sins are forgiven! All means all!  Past, present, and future! 

God no longer remembers our sins! (Jeremiah 31:34)

Jesus is separate from sinners. He is set apart. (Hebrews 7:26)

If we are in Christ Jesus, then we are to be set apart as well. 

Even though Jesus is set apart, Jesus is approachable, because He was tempted as a human here on Earth, so He understands us and what we're going through. (Matthew 4:1)

The Son of God has been perfected forever. (Hebrews 7:28) 

Jesus lives forever! We serve a living God who hears us and speaks to us!

Thank you, Jesus, for what you did for us! 

For God so loved the world, that He sent his one and only begotten Son, so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life. John 3:16

Dear Lord, please help me to understand when I read Your Word. Please give me Your wisdom and Your knowledge. Thank You for teaching me Lord. Please help me to do Your will Lord and to not sin. Help to me to walk in Your Spirit and not in my flesh. Thank You Lord for your help and your guidance. Help me to listen to You and to hear You, Lord. Amen.

Hebrews 6:12

"Show the same diligence to the full assurance of hope until the end that you don't become sluggish but imitate those who through faith and patience inherit the promises." Hebrews 6:12

Don't give up!!  (Galatians 6:9)

Keep pressing on, running the race toward the prize. (Philippians 3:12-14, Hebrews 12:1)

If you love me, you will obey me. (John 14:15)

Hope does not disappoint! (Romans 5:1-5)

Please Lord, help me to be diligent. Help me to persevere against temptation and laziness. Help me to stay in Your Word, to pray continuously, and to do Your will Lord.

Living Faith

Even though faith without works is dead (James 2:14), I have to be careful not to put too much emphasis on "works," because I am justified by faith apart from works. (Rom 3:28)

I don't want to live like Martha anymore! I want to be like Mary at the feet of Jesus! (Luke 10:38-42) 

I have been saved by grace through faith, which is a free gift from the merciful God and not because of anything I have done! (Eph 2:8, Rom 11:6)

Yes, I was created by God, in Christ Jesus for good works, but I don't have to stress about whether I'm doing enough to serve Him! God already prepared the good works for me! (Eph 2:8-10)

I don't have to stress and worry because God is control, and He has a plan and a purpose for me. He wants what is best for me. I trust Him because I am His child so He is providing, protecting, and guiding me.

His yoke is easy and His burden is light. 

"Be still and know that I am God," says the Lord. 

Trust in the Lord and He will direct your path.

So if faith without works is dead, then what is living faith?

I think living faith is walking in the Spirit. 

Since God already prepared the good works for me to walk in, then I need to surrender my flesh and live by the Spirit. Instead of walking in the flesh, I must walk in the Spirit. (Gal 5:25)

The fruit of the spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self control. Galatians 5:22-23 

So living faith is...

Not worrying about what I do, 

Not stressing over doing enough,

Not walking in the flesh, 

Not living like Martha, but 

Worshiping Jesus like Mary,

Trusting the Lord, 

Resting in the Lord,

Seeking first the kingdom of God, 

Depending on God,

Spending quality time with Jesus, 

Walking in the Spirit.

Dear Lord, thank you for your mercy, your grace, your provision, and your guidance. Please fill me with your Holy Spirit every day. Help me to walk in the Spirit. Amen. 

Hebrews 6:4-8

Works without faith are dead. 

Those who give an outward appearance of belief are like the land that produces thorns and thistles. (Hebrews 6:8)

Faith without works is dead. (James 2:17)   

The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. (Galatians 5:22)

No good tree bears bad fruit, and no bad tree bears good fruit. (Matthew 7:15-20)

The farmer waits for the precious produce of the soil, being patient about it, until it gets the early and late rains. You too be patient. (James 5:7-8)

The context of this passage comes directly after the author saying we need to stop laying the foundation over and over again, and that we need to build on that foundation and grow into mature believers and doers of the faith. 

If we continue in an endless cycle of sinning and repenting, our hearts will be hardened so much so that we will eventually turn away from God entirely. Therefore, it's time to grow up spiritually speaking and mature in our faith. 

Thinking we have to do it all in our own strength, fear of not being good enough, and a lack of trusting in God may be contributing factors that hinder or stunt our growth. 

A mature believer receives blessings from God because they are producing a crop that is useful to those for whose sake it is cultivated. Hebrews 6:7

Cultivate (verb) prepare and use for the raising of crops, to loosen or break up the soil; to foster the growth of; to refine; to improve by labor, care, or study; to encourage

There is either an endless cycle of sinning and repenting, or there is an endless cycle of refining and blessing. 

Dear Lord, please help me to produce good fruit. Thank you Lord.