There is a big difference between power tools and hand tools. With a powered drill, you can get the job done in a fraction of time and often cleaner than you can with a manual drill. The same can be said for your Spiritual life. There is a big difference between life under the power of the Holy Spirit and one that operates under its own power.

‭‭Acts‬ ‭8:15-16

Now when the apostles at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent to them Peter and John, who came down and prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit, for he had not yet fallen on any of them, but they had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.

God started working in others areas of the region besides Jerusalem. Samaria and Antioch were such places. Phillip went to Samaria, and many of them received Jesus. The church in Jerusalem heard about this and sent Peter and John to minister to them. When they got there, they found that the people had received salvation but not the baptism of the Holy Spirit. They prayed for them, and the Spirit fell on them.

Have you ever sensed God wanting to use you? Maybe it was in your church or to witness to a loved one. Whatever it may be, there is a certain level of fear that comes with stepping out in faith to be used. Amos was a simple man who was busy in his job when God called him to be His voice to Israel. He was following the flock when the call came.

‭‭Amos‬ ‭7:15

But the LORD took me from following the flock and the LORD said to me, ‘Go prophesy to My people Israel.’

Amos was working as a shepherd on the family’s ranch when God called him to be a prophet. He wasn’t from a priestly family or raised in Jerusalem; he tended sheep. Every person can relate to Amos. He was an average person that’s God plucked out of his normal activities. He smelled of sheep, but God wasn’t concerned with his outer appearances. He looked at Amos’ heart. When God calls you, it will serve you well to have to the Amos’ attitude.

It can be pretty discouraging to turn on the TV or browse the internet. All you see are evil acts done by wicked people, and many of them are not getting the punishment they deserve while innocent people are wronged. It was the same during David’s time. King Saul was crazed and had it out for anyone associated with the anointed king. There were moments David questioned what was happening, but he gives hope for the humble.

‭‭Psalms‬ ‭10:17

“O LORD, You have heard the desire of the humble; You will strengthen their heart, You will incline Your ear.”

David writes Psalm 10, wondering where God has gone. He has prayed for deliverance from the oppression and hasn’t heard anything. The wicked seem to be prospering, but God seems so far away from him. This is one of the common prayers of David in the Psalms. How does it seem like the wicked can get away with anything they want while the righteous struggle? Where is the loving God who takes care of His children? David is asking questions that many of us have asked. At the end of the chapter, David gives hope for the humble.

Everybody loves a good underdog story. They like when the little guy stands up to the giant and prevails. That was the story of the early church. They were a small group of committed Christians who tirelessly preached the Gospel and stood fearless in the face of opposition. Because of that, they added to their numbers every day.

‭‭Acts‬ ‭6:7

“The word of God kept on spreading; and the number of the disciples continued to increase greatly in Jerusalem, and a great many of the priests were becoming obedient to the faith.”

When the Gospel is preached and the power of the Holy Spirit is moving, the church grows exponentially. In a city where the newly found church was vehemently opposed by the Chief Priest and the religious leaders, it defied the odds and kept growing. Even those who were priests and Pharisees were giving their life to Jesus and joining the church. All it took were a committed group of people who were fearless in the face of opposition.

Several years ago, we sold our home and moved to another city close to the school our children would be attending. We moved into a smaller home while waiting to purchase a bigger home and a more desired neighborhood. The housing market exploded, prices went up, and we are still in that small house. It hasn’t been bad, but it is not our final destination. As Christians living in this world, we need to remember this is not our home.

‭‭Revelation‬ ‭14:14

“Then I looked, and behold, a white cloud, and sitting on the cloud was one like a son of man, having a golden crown on His head and a sharp sickle in His hand.”

As you get closer to the end of the book of Revelation, you can see the finish line. The judgments are coming to an end, the time of tribulation is ending, and the Son of God is becoming more evident. The time for Jesus to take His throne in Jerusalem for the millennial reign is getting close. Satan, his demons, and all of mankind that rejected God will soon be judged, and the church will come and rule and reign with Christ. It will be a glorious day when Jesus comes on His white horse and defeats the armies of the world.

One thing COVID has done is increase the gap between the wealthy and poor. Most of the jobs that were lost were the low-paying ones that the poor often hold. With most of these businesses closed, workers were furloughed, or worse, the business closed, and the job was...

Have you ever felt defeated when God has led you to do a work, and it faced resistance? Did you give up or push through? It is normal to question what you are called to do when you face any opposition. The Jewish leaders wanted to kill Peter and John, but they backed down because of some wise counsel. If it is of God, it won’t fail.

‭‭Acts‬ ‭5:39

“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,”
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In the early days of the church, there was a movement by the Sanhedrin to snuff it out. They went after the leaders, Peter and John. They wanted to kill them until a wise Pharisee named Gamaliel stepped in and provided some counsel, “if this is of man, it will fail, but if it is of God, you won’t be able to stop it.” Fortunately for the Jewish leaders, they listened. They weren’t going to stop the new work that God was doing through the church.

Most people are so focused on what is urgent or in front of them that they never stop to look at the big picture. Seeing things from another perspective can help you see that things are not as bad as you might think. David shows us God’s perspective in today’s passage. He thinks about you and cherishes above everything else. You are crowned with glory.

‭‭Psalms‬ ‭8:4-5

“What is man that You take thought of him, And the son of man that You care for him? Yet You have made him a little lower than God, And You crown him with glory and majesty!”

David has a great way with poetry. In this passage, he expresses his awe of God. He ponders why God would even think about man, who is so small. God doesn’t only give us a thought, but He cares for us and bestows us with glory and majesty. This is amazing, considering that mankind is below the angels. God cares about us so much that He pours out His blessings on His children. When you think that no one cares, remember this passage. God doesn’t have to give you one bit of notice, but he dotes on you instead.

If you have ever lived through an earthquake, you know what it is like for the ground to move beneath your feet. I’ve been in tall buildings and lying on a waterbed when an earthquake hit. Both personified the shaking and made it feel worse than it was. The Holy Spirit is in the business of shaking the foundations of our spiritual world. He wants to see us grow and be fruitful.

‭‭Acts‬ ‭4:31‬

“And when they had prayed, the place where they had gathered together was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak the word of God with boldness.”

The Holy Spirit is in the business of shaking things up. He tugs on our hearts to accept Jesus, He convicts us of sin we don’t want to repent of, and He pushes us to serve the Lord in areas we are uncomfortable with. So it should be no surprise when He moves on a group of people and shakes the foundations. That is what He did in the early church as they prayed for boldness to preach the Gospel and strength to stand against persecution. The Spirit wants to move similarly in today’s church, but He is finding very few takers. Most Christians want their ticket into heaven and to be as safe and comfortable as possible.

There were some old cartoons when I was a kid that showed an angel on one shoulder and a devil on another as the character tried to decide. The devil always tried to get the character to do the wrong thing, while the angel did the opposite. Sadly, the devil has been reduced to some cartoon character. Satan is real, and ultimately Christ wins, but you need to be prepared.

‭‭Revelation‬ ‭12:9

“And the great dragon was thrown down, the serpent of old who is called the devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world; he was thrown down to the earth, and his angels were thrown down with him.”

At one time, Satan, otherwise known as Lucifer, was an angel in heaven. He was in charge of all the worship and was on the same level as Michael and Gabriel. In his heart, he began to desire the worship being given to God. Satan led a rebellion, and one-third of all the angels were cast out of heaven. Lucifer became the devil, and the fallen angels became demons. He was allowed to roam the earth and tempt man, but he was also still allowed in heaven to accuse man of his sins before God. One day, during the great tribulation, that access will be cut off, and God will ready the Judgement Seat of Christ to judge Satan and all those who have rejected God.

Are you a person who is always on time or always late? There doesn’t seem to be another category people fall into. Timing is everything for those who are on time. When the schedule gets out of whack, these people lose their minds. Trusting God’s time can challenge those who

‭‭Acts‬ ‭3:6‬

“But Peter said, “I do not possess silver and gold, but what I do have I give to you: In the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene-walk!”

Peter was a changed man after Pentecost and the filling of the Holy Spirit. He was able to preach the Gospel to thousands and discern when the Spirit wanted to work through him. Quite a contrast from the Peter we knew in the Gospels. You can see flashes of potential, but his mouth always got in the way. Now we see him being used by the Spirit to heal this man who had been lame his whole life. He was a well-known beggar who made his place at the gate every day to beg for money. Peter gives him something better, his physical health.

For years builders and governments have been trying to build the ideal community. They always start with the housing and amenities and then add the attractive shopping destinations, all with the hopes of achieving a safe environment for families to raise their children. As lovely as these can get, they always fail because they can’t address the issue that tears cities down, and that is sin. In Act 2, we see a model community based on the work of the Holy Spirit.

‭‭Acts‬ ‭2:42

“They were continually devoting themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.”

Luke identifies the four main characteristics that made the early church a model community. They were devoted to the teaching of God’s Word, true fellowship, communion, and prayer. This didn’t happen in a large facility but from house to house as the church grew. The people came from all walks of life and from all over the Roman empire. They weren’t focused on themselves or their needs but on being apart of something bigger than themselves. This group turned the known world upside down, and millions of lives were changed.

There are few things more miserable than being cold and wet. Being out in the elements with no shelter can leave you frustrated. Once you get inside and warm, everything changes. The same can be said when we are wandering through life lost and confused. King David...

You don’t need a scientific survey to tell you that people are getting more impatient these days. All you have to do is pull out onto a public road and interact with other drivers. You can also sense it in the church. People expect a quick fix to their problems, and waiting on the Spirit to do a work in their heart and church is unthinkable. If we want to see Jesus bring revival to our land, we need to be willing to wait.

**Acts 1:8 **

“but you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be My witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and even to the remotest part of the earth.”

Jesus’ final words to His disciples were to tarry in Jerusalem until they received the power of the Holy Spirit. It was ten days between the ascension and Pentecost, and the early church of about one hundred and twenty people prayed in the Upper Room. They waited and worshipped in expectation of something special. We don’t have that expectation anymore. We want it now, or we lose interest. Waiting on the Spirit to do something in church service can seem like an eternity, but good things come to those who seek in expectation

Do you ever feel like no one is listening to you? Does it seem like everyone is distracted and doing their own thing? Are you feeling alone? If this is the case, then understand that the Lord hears when you call Him. He has set apart His children and loves to listen...

I can’t imagine the range of emotions that Peter went through from the time of his denial to this encounter with Jesus in Galilee. Always the brave and brash disciple, he was humbled by a rooster crowing and then distraught as Jesus was crucified. After thinking it was all over, his emotions shot up again at the news from Mary Magdalene that Jesus was alive only to find an empty tomb. Finally, Jesus appeared out of nowhere in the Upper Room, and at first, there was elation, but then it spiraled downward as Peter remembered how he had failed Jesus. After a morning of fishing, Jesus gently restored Peter to what he was called to be.

‭‭John‬ ‭21:16

“He said to him again a second time, “Simon, son of John, do you love Me?” He said to Him, “Yes, Lord; You know that I love You.” He said to him, “Shepherd My sheep.”

Three times Jesus asked Peter if he loved Him. Three times Peter answered that he did. Jesus then proceeded to tell Peter to “shepherd my sheep.” When Jesus first met Peter, he told him that he would make him a fisher of men. He wasn’t going to let him turn his back on that. Jesus wasn’t asking Peter if he loved Him to pump Himself up. He was asking to remind Peter of his love and his calling. Peter was going to be instrumental in the beginning days of the church, and Jesus needed him to be of the right mind.

The church today is lacking the power of the Holy Spirit. It is full of activity and good works, but it sees minimal life transformation. People are busy doing these works under their own power but soon fall victim to burnout. What you need is a fresh filling of the Holy Spirit. Let God pour out His Spirit upon you.

‭‭Joel‬ ‭2:28

“It will come about after this that I will pour out My Spirit on all mankind; and your sons and daughters will prophesy, Your old men will dream dreams, Your young men will see visions.”

The second chapter of Joel is packed with spiritual goodness. First, God warns that the Day of the Lord is coming, then He tells them to rend their hearts and return to Him, now He promises that He will pour out His Spirit on all people, and people will prophesy, dream, and see visions. In this capsule, you see God’s heart for His wayward people. He sees them living far under what He intended for them.

You will hear people say, “God is love.” Usually, that means God accepts who I am and whatever I do. There are serious issues with that thinking because it overlooks your sin. Instead, we need to look at how He treats us. The prophet Joel tells us that God’s abounding love is gracious, compassionate, and slow to anger. We all need that.

‭‭Joel‬ ‭2:12-13

“Yet even now,” declares the LORD, “Return to Me with all your heart, And with fasting, weeping, and mourning; And rend your heart and not your garments.” Now return to the LORD your God, For He is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger, abounding in lovingkindness and relenting of evil.”

Israel had strayed from the Lord, and God was calling them back through the prophet Joel. He tells them to return to Him with all their heart. This was more than a feeling. They had to do it through fasting, weeping, and mourning. This meant that it was a process they had to go through. Israel was used to pretending when it came to their repentance. They would make a public showing of tearing their garments and act sorrowful. Everyone was convinced except God. He wanted true repentance

Every once in a while, I will veer off the trail when I am riding my mountain bike. Usually, I can correct quick enough to get back on, but sometimes I crash and end up in a bush. The funny thing is that there were warnings that I didn’t heed before I crashed. Often I am going too fast or took my eyes off the path. Veering off the path for Christians can bring correction from the Lord

‭‭Joel‬ ‭2:1‬

“Blow a trumpet in Zion, And sound an alarm on My holy mountain! Let all the inhabitants of the land tremble, For the day of the LORD is coming; Surely it is near,”

Your first reading of this verse may have you thinking this is a good thing. The “Day of the Lord” sounds like it could something exciting, but it’s not. Usually, when you blow a trumpet, it announces the arrival of a king, and to a certain extent, that is true. The King of the World, Jesus, is coming, but it is to judge. The first sign we get something is wrong is when it says “sound the alarm.” An alarm means that trouble is coming, and people need to take appropriate measures. The “Day of the Lord” is a coming judgment against Israel for its past transgressions.

Are you expecting an inheritance when your parents pass away? Maybe there is a trust with your name on it? It is a good thing to set aside something to help your family after you are gone. Did you know that God is going to give His Son Jesus an inheritance? God tells Jesus in Psalm 2, “Here’s Your Inheritance.”

‭‭Psalms‬ ‭2:8

“‘Ask of Me, and I will surely give the nations as Your inheritance, And the very ends of the earth as Your possession.”

Psalms 2 is known as a Messianic Psalm. That means it has something in it that refers to the coming Messiah. God is telling His Son to ask for the nations because they are His inheritance. He will come one day and rule with an iron rod, something we know as the thousand-year reign. All of the nations and all of the earth will be His. He will sit on a throne in Jerusalem and rule with an Iron Scepter. The church, as His Bride, will rule with Him. Yesterday we talked about how He will be like a lamb on His eternal throne in Heaven, but here He will be the Lion of Judah.