Acts 4-6 (Monday June 9th)

The Apostles where doing good, they where healing people, but in the name of Jesus!!

That irritated the leaders of the day, why do you think that is?

In acts chapter 4 we see number of things worth taking note of: 

1. We see how the spiritual leaders of that day did not really care about the well-being of their people. 

2. We see how the spirit of antichrist was already working, even in the religious people.

3. We see the boldness that the disciples had when they stood up against that spirit of antichrist (in of all people the religious leaders). At one point they said "Jesus the Christ, the one whom you crucified" . That's not the best way to win someone over. 

4.We see that the disciples had confidence in their God, they had power, they had evidence of Gods word by the anointing they had.

5. We see they were put in jail for doing good.

6. NOTE: Acts 4:24-30 prayer, what was Gods response? The place was shaken then, they received great power, great grace, great unity, and none of them lacked ANYTHING. 

Chapter 5 

Oh yeah, Ananias and Sapphira. If THAT story does not make you say "Hum", nothing will. Good thing this was in the Old Testament... That would never happen in the New Testament! Wait, that was in the New Testament! What? 

          The idea here is that they did it because they wanted to save face and "look" like good godly people, religious. It was not in their heart. God wants real. Period. In front of people, in front of him. How many times do WE feel the pressure (temptation) to "put a face on" in front of others, because we have the thought that every one else is perfect and I am not so I have to fake it in front of others? Who cares what others think, if they are that shallow to judge you when your real, they have bigger issues than what they think of you. 

               Lyrics from a song I love:

Now Granny said: Sonny, stick to your guns,"If you believe in something, no matter what,

"'Cause it's better to be hated for who you are, than be loved for who your not". 

Let this burn in your soul like a tattoo. 

What do YOU think about this very interesting passage?

Might we expect to see such things happen again as we come to the end of this age?

ANY ideas about the REST of the chapter? It is all very good!! Lots of signs and wonders, lots of jail time... FUN FUN FUN!!

Chapter 6

The choosing of those to "work tables"(really serve in the administration of service to people so the disciples could not be busy with stuff but perform their call of God).

Interesting here in verse 8 that they picked a guy who was full of faith and power and did great wonders and miracles... and he did not fuss about it. If you had that type of a resume, don't you think it a waste to use your "powers" to wait tables??? Stephen must have been a very humble guy... 

Question: Do you think your self to be a humble person? What does humble REALLY look like?

Jesus said the GREATEST is the servant. If your doing what God wants you to do and you are where God wants you to be, it does not mater what your doing or how much anointing you have. YOUR doing Gods will because you said YES.

Then, what do you know? He gets martyred by a guy named Saul...hum...The guy just waits on table and then he is killed. What a life huh?

Do you think people in America will ever get martyred for Jesus?

Do you think persecution will ever come to America?

What IS persecution?

One definition of persecution is: a program or campaign to exterminate, drive away, or subjugate (to bring under control) a people because of their religion,race, or beliefs: the persecutions of Christians by the Romans.

Is there a need to persecute Christians in America? Why or Why not?