Monthly Archives: May 2021

Memorial Day

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When I think about Memorial Day, one word comes to mind “Sacrifice” On Memorial Day in America , we honor those who have paid the ultimate sacrifice to save others, our soldiers in the Military, our first line responders , our Police Officers or Fire Fighters. There are many brave men and women who gave us the freedom and liberty we have today

Why did these heroes lay down their lives? It all because of Love, its a love for your country, or a love for justice, or a love for your neighbor and family. Sacrifice is often motivated by Love

So as we celebrate and honor our hero’s, lets not forget our Lord who payed the ultimate sacrifice for the sin of the world, Jesus Christ! Even when we were still sinners, Christ still died for us and paid the ultimate sacrifice. Why would Jesus do this? Because He loves us before we even loved him. God didn’t want to see anyone perish, so he sent his only begotten Son to be the atoning sacrifice for our sins

So this Memorial Day, remember and honor your loved one who paid the price, but also remember our Lord Jesus Christ who paid the ransom for all of us! For God so loved the world that He gave his Only Begotten Son, whoever believes in Him shall not perish!

Acts 3- Better Than Money

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And a certain man lame from his mother’s womb was carried, whom they laid daily at the gate of the temple which is called Beautiful, to ask alms of them that entered into the temple; Who seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple asked an alms. And Peter, fastening his eyes upon him with John, said, Look on us. And he gave heed unto them, expecting to receive something of them. Acts 3:2-5

The paralyzed man , who would spend all his days , sitting in front of the temple, hoping that somebody would throw him some change so he can make it through the day, was about to experience something radical. Often we can envision ourselves as this beggar, as we sit on the floor of the Lords table begging for crumbs

But today this beggar, and hopefully you, will find out that God has something better in store for us than just temporal satisfaction. Yes money can solve this mans trouble for a day but what about tomorrow or next week? The salvation of Christ solves your eternal problems, and makes you Born Again!

Then Peter said, Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have give I thee: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk. And he took him by the right hand, and lifted him up: and immediately his feet and ancle bones received strength. And he leaping up stood, and walked, and entered with them into the temple, walking, and leaping, and praising God. Acts 3:6-8

The Apostles didn’t have money , but what they did have was the Holy Ghost! Today this beggar thought it was going to be just another ordinary day, however he felt the touch of God and was changed forever! In the name of Jesus he was commanded to walk, and notice by his faith he was healed and praised God!

And all the people saw him walking and praising God: And they knew that it was he which sat for alms at the Beautiful gate of the temple: and they were filled with wonder and amazement at that which had happened unto him. And as the lame man which was healed held Peter and John, all the people ran together unto them in the porch that is called Solomon’s, greatly wondering. Acts 3:9-11

Why did God heal this man? Because notice he was a testimony to the power of Jesus Christ! Everyone recognized him as the beggar who would sit on the ground everyday begging for money, but today he was healed, everyone was filled with amazement and wonder

Why motivates or drives you in life? Are you driven by money, success, stature? How about being driven by things that are eternal and good for your soul. As Jesus said “What does it profit a man to gain the whole world and lose your soul” (Mark 8:36) Seek Jesus and find everlasting life Amen!

Acts 2- The Revival

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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? 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. 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. Acts 2:37-39

The great revival of Pentecost happened, over 3,000 people became saved and baptized by the Holy Spirit. Notice the people were “pricked in their heart” because of their sin, so they asked Peter what they should do, Repent and be baptized and receive the Holy Spirit! This is what becoming Born Again is about, true repentance coming to Jesus for salvation and being baptized with the Holy Spirit

The promise is for you and your families, whoever God shall call! The New Covenant established by the blood of Christ is for whoever calls upon The Lord to be saved! The Covenant that does not show any favoritism or partiality on who you are or where you were born, but only are you covered by the blood of Christ!

And with many other words did he testify and exhort, saying, Save yourselves from this untoward generation. Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls. And they continued stedfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers. Acts 2:40-42

The book of Acts should be the model for all Churches, as we see the first Century Church, the Body of Christ, starting to take formation. Notice what the Church did, the studied the Apostles doctrine, meaning the New Testament scriptures. They continually had fellowship with one another and broke bread. The breaking of bread I believe means having communion together, it also could just mean having a meal together, however communion originally was always taken with a meal, like the Lords Supper. 

And fear came upon every soul: and many wonders and signs were done by the apostles. And all that believed were together, and had all things common; And sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all men, as every man had need. Acts 2:43-45

The Church became a family, a community of believers. Christianity wasnt a religion or organization, it was a way of life. Everyone sold what they had and shared it among each other, like a family. Everyone took care of one another and feared The Lord. How far have our Churches strayed from this today?

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, Acts 2:46

The Church gathered together daily, not just weekly and they broke bread from house to house. Again I believe breaking bread means communion or what was known as a “Love Feast” the early Church would have dinner together with communion. This was done daily, and it was done in unity and gladness. 

When we study the early Church in the book of Acts, we see how far today’s Church has fallen away. We wonder why we don’t see the signs and wonders that the early Church experienced, however we don’t realize today’s Church is nothing like the early Church. It’s time for a Pentecostal Revival once again Amen!

Acts 2- Pentecost- Part 2

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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: For these are not drunken, as ye suppose, seeing it is but the third hour of the day. But this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel; 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: And on my servants and on my handmaidens I will pour out in those days of my Spirit; and they shall prophesy: Acts 2:14-18

Some people believe this was the first sermon for the Church delivered by Peter, the day of Pentecost when God poured down his Holy Spirit upon the Church. Peter demonstrates how this was a fulfillment of prophecy foretold by the prophet Joel. Peter confirms these men are not drunk with wine, they are drunk with the Holy Spirit!

Not who the Holy Spirit will be poured down upon, ALL Flesh, meaning everyone who’s a believer. Men, Woman, Sons, Daughters, Brothers , Sisters, ect once you become a Born Again Christian you get baptized by the Holy Ghost (John 3)

And I will shew wonders in heaven above, and signs in the earth beneath; blood, and fire, and vapour of smoke: The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before that great and notable day of the Lord come: And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved. Acts 2:19-21

Everyone who calls upon the name of Jesus Christ, shall be saved! This is the New Covenant, no longer is Israel just God’s people but everyone who is Born Again through Christ! We are now Children of God through faith in Jesus!

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: Him, being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, ye have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and slain: Whom God hath raised up, having loosed the pains of death: because it was not possible that he should be holden of it.  Acts 2:22-24

Peter preached the gospel, the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ! This is the central theme of all the sermons in the book of Acts, this should be the central theme of all our sermons today! It’s only by the gospel we can be saved, only by the blood of Christ can we be cleansed of our sin, only by the resurrection of Christ can we be risen again eternally, and now the Holy Spirit has been poured down upon us to seal us forever!

This is why many feel Pentecost was the birth of the Church, as a Born Again Christian remember , the Holy Spirit lives inside of you, the same power that rose Jesus from the grave Amen!

Acts 2- Pentecost Part 1

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And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance. Acts 2:1-4

The Day of Pentecost , the day when the promise of the Holy Spirit was fulfilled as promised by Christ, many believe this is the day when the Church officially began, as God poured down the Holy Spirit upon his believers, and the gospel spread like wild fire, and gifts and miracles were distributed accordingly.

This is one of the reasons the Ascension of Christ was necessary, so Christ can send the promise of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit enabled the believers to preach the gospel in different languages , that reached a wider audience, this began a revival as many getting baptized and coming to Christ as their Lord

And there were dwelling at Jerusalem Jews, devout men, out of every nation under heaven. Now when this was noised abroad, the multitude came together, and were confounded, because that every man heard them speak in his own language. And they were all amazed and marvelled, saying one to another, Behold, are not all these which speak Galilaeans? And how hear we every man in our own tongue, wherein we were born? Parthians, and Medes, and Elamites, and the dwellers in Mesopotamia, and in Judaea, and Cappadocia, in Pontus, and Asia, Phrygia, and Pamphylia, in Egypt, and in the parts of Libya about Cyrene, and strangers of Rome, Jews and proselytes,  Cretes and Arabians, we do hear them speak in our tongues the wonderful works of God. Acts 2:5-11

Many were amazed to hear the gospel preached in their own native language, this was possible because of the Holy Spirit! It’s no surprise God used the feast of Pentecost as the platform to pour down the Holy Spirit, as this was a feast when Jews from all around the world came to Jerusalem. 

And they were all amazed, and were in doubt, saying one to another, What meaneth this? Others mocking said, These men are full of new wine. Acts 2:12-13

People were in shock and disbelief, they were amazed to be hearing the gospel preached in their own native language. Some even accused the believers of being drunk on wine, but these believers were not drunk on wine but drunk on the Holy Spirit

The Holy Spirit is still with us today, living inside of us, being our intercessor, imagine if we obeyed the Holy Spirit today and sparked another revival such as in the day of Pentecost! Come Holy Spirit and fill us with your wisdom and words to preach in Jesus name Amen!