Tag: bible

Don’t Play It Safe, Paul Didn’t! Acts 13:1-14.

~ Robert Spiller ~ Leave a comment

Pause for thought

This was the starting point of Paul’s first missionary journey. This was no spur of the moment decision, I believe it had always been Gods plan. The church leaders were seeking the Lord in fasting and worship, when the Lord spoke through one of the prophets that Barnabas and Paul should be sent out. (were these two already sensing the call?) It’s noteworthy that they continued in fasting and prayer before laying hands on them and sending them out. Verse 4 makes it very clear that the call and commissioning and sending forth was the work of the Holy Spirit.

It was at this time that Paul became known as and called Paul. His Hebrew name was Saul but his Roman name was Paul. As the Apostle to the gentiles was this a further reason he chose to use his gentile name?

It’s worth noting that for Barnabas, Cyprus was home territory 13:4. After leaving Salamis they went from town to town preaching the gospel, little did they know what lay ahead at Paphos 13:6! It was not an easy place Paphos was a centre for the worship of Venus, the goddess of love, and was a byword for lustful immortality. Paul led by the Spirit never chose the easy way. The Proconsul of the Island was Sergius Paulus a man who wished to hear the gospel, it seems the Holy Spirit was drawing him and causing him to be open to the gospel. Whenever men turn and receive the gospel, opposing demonic forces will try to stop the work one way or another. Paul did not retreat! Full of the Holy Spirit he looked the sorcerer in the eye ( looked the demon in the eye) and taking authority and naming the works of the devil in the sorcerers life, bound him in physical darkness for a time so that he became dependent on others to lead him. By experiencing physical blindness Paul revealed to the sorcerer first hand how dark were his works and how misled by the devil he was, that he now needed someone to lead him by the hand, We don’t know what the outcome was but hope he repented? That is a possibility as Paul bound him in physical darkness for a limited time 13:11.

Paul remembered his commission was by the Holy Spirit. Which was why he was so bold. He relied totally upon the Holy Spirit to lead him and knew that if that was where God wanted him and who it was he was to lead to repentance and faith in Christ, nothing was going to stop him. The result the Proconsul believed the gospel and as astonished at the power of God13:12

Something to think about

Don’t play it safe Paul didn’t !

Please send your feedback, questions, or prayer requests to jesusinprint@gmail.com.

Peter defends God’s Grace. Acts 11:1-23.

~ Robert Spiller ~ Leave a comment

Pause for thought

This incidence is of such importance that it must never be overlooked, which is why the Holy Spirit led Luke to record it twice first in Acts 10 and again in Acts 11 about what happened when Peter preached at Caesarea. Jesus Himself showed his message was for all people as recorded by the Holy Spirit in -John 4:1-42 for Samaritans, Mark 5:1-20 for Greeks, Luke 7::1-10 for Romans.

Peter’s defence was not an argument ; it was a statement of facts. The Holy Spirit had been poured upon these Gentiles in the same way as had been given to the Jewish Christians at Pentecost. What Peter related could be attested to by the six brothers who traveled with him and who witnessed the Gentiles being filled with the Holy Spirit. This was God’s doing therefore there could be no argument 11:17.

Before Acts 10:44-46 the gospel was preached to Jews only, afterwards it was deliberately preached to Gentiles. Peter teaches us that we must work with God not against Him 11:17. I well remember Dick Bells words to me in the mid seventies “find out what God is doing and get in on it!” Here are three thoughts that come to me, 1 good ideas are not always from God, 2 Talent is not the same as Holy Spirit anointing, 3 Wait on the Lord for His timing. Remember Jesus only did what He saw His Father doing John 5:19.

The Holy Spirit led Peter to preach in places where if he had held on to his prejudices he would never of gone!

A verse to remember

And since God gave these Gentiles the same gift He gave us when we believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I to argue? Acts 11:17 N.L.B.

Please send any feedback, questions, or prayer requests to jesusinprint@gmail.com

The Heart Of The Gospel Acts 10:34-48.

~ Robert Spiller ~ Leave a comment

Pause for thought

God made it clear to Peter and through Peter to us that the Gospel, the good news about Jesus Christ is for everyone! There is no barrier outside of ourselves that can stop us hearing or telling others about Jesus 10:34-35.

Peter preaches the gospel as recorded in verses 34-43 it is a concise statement of all that Jesus did starting at His baptism and anointing with the Holy Spirit. He showed His Father was a good God who loves people by healing many and delivering them from the devil’s oppression. He was taken and crucified showing what man’s sin can do. He rose again to life, showing that Gods power can not be defeated. Peter witnessed to the truth of what he was telling to those assembled, he was a witness to the truth of all these events. The result of all this is the redemption of everyone who believe and forgiveness of sins through the name of Jesus.

I love it ! The Spirit fell upon all who heard Peters message, this description of the Holy Spirits interaction with these new believers is so similar to the parable Jesus told and how the Father of the prodigal showed his heart of love to his returning son by falling upon his son in love 10: 44 ,Luke 15:20.

Just as the Jewish believers had received the gift of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost, now the Jewish believers who had accompanied Peter to Caesarea witnessed the Holy Spirit falling upon these gentile believers in an identical way, for they. heard them speak with tongues and magnify God in the same way as they had. The filling of the Holy Spirit is the same for these gentile Christians here in Caesarea, as it had been in in Jerusalem for the Jewish Christian’s 10: 44-48

Please note believers baptism immediately followed conversion as was always the case in Acts, a very good example that we should strive to follow. Peter was asked to stay for a few days no doubt he did some teaching but this was not to prepare these converts for baptism, that first step in discipleship was behind them!

A verse to remember

He is the one all the prophets testified about, saying that everyone who believes in him will have their sins forgiven through his name. Acts 10:43 N.L.B.

Please send any feedback, questions, or prayer requests to jesusinprint@gmail.com

Peter is given an object lesson, What Jesus did on the Cross was for the whole Gentile world, as well as the Jewish world. Acts 10:1-23.

~ Robert Spiller ~ Leave a comment

Pause for thought

Despite his devotion and his prayers to the one true God, and his charitable giving to the poor, Cornelius was an unsaved man who needed to hear the gospel. He believed in God but this did not make him a Christian! Sadly there are many today who attend church and believe in God who deceive themselves and others because association with Christian’s doesn’t make you one. Happily for Cornelius his prayers and actions were noticed by the Lord, who prepared Peter so that Cornelius and his household could hear and respond to the Gospel 10:1-2.

Peter while praying falls into a trance, it was while Peter was in this state of mind that God spoke to him through a vision of ritually unclean animals, and a voice from heaven insisting he should kill and eat. This was against his Jewish convictions and must of been extremely hard for Peter to understand 10:14

The Holy Spirit breaks into Peters musings and tells Peter not to doubt but go with Cornelius’s servants, “because I have sent them” Sometimes we can spend too much time before obeying God. With a few notable exceptions, most of those called by God to specific tasks responded quickly 10:19.

God answers the sincere prayers of those who seek Him, often by sending the right person and answer at the right time 10:4

We must always be open to letting the Holy Spirit change our long held wrong views !

A verse to remember

The voice spoke again, “ If God says something is acceptable, don’t say it isn’t “ Acts 10:15 N.L.T.

Please send any feedback, questions, or prayer requests to jesusinprint@gmail.com

The dishonesty of Ananias and Sapphira Acts 5:1-16

~ Robert Spiller ~ Leave a comment

Pause for thought

The church faced internal and external problems as today. Outside, the church faced the pressure of persecution, while inside was pride, dishonesty, and greed. All the while the Apostles didn’t loose their focus on spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ. They didn’t cave in to the problems at all but the Holy Spirit made them stand firm. Problems wether within or without can be stepping stones in the purposes of God rather than stumbling blocks 5:12. See also Romans 8:28.

The account of Ananias and Sophia reminds us that Satan prowls around seeking whom he may devour 1 Peter 5:8 This couple were seeking to be noted for their giving, the proceeds from the sale of land that was theirs to do with as they pleased but when they lied to Peter that they were giving all the proceeds of the sale they were lying to God the Holy Spirit. We can’t be certain if these two were Christian’s if so they lost their lives but not their souls. or perhaps they were hangers on like those who now through fear dared not join the church 5:13.

In Mathew 6:3 Jesus said “don’t let your left hand know what your right hand is doing” he is teaching that our motives for giving to God and to others must be pure. When in leadership I had no idea what members of the fellowship were giving, this was for benefit of all involved for obvious reasons. Best be a secret giver!

A verse to remember

No one else dared join them, though everyone had high regard for them. And more and more people believed and were brought to the Lord, crowds of both men and women. Acts 5:13-14. N.L.T.

Please send any feedback,questions,or prayer requests to jesusinprint@gmail.com

Peter preaches powerfully in Solomon’s Porch Acts 3:12-26

~ Robert Spiller ~ Leave a comment

Pause for thought

The healing of the man at the Beautiful gate was orchestrated by God, it was a “God incident” in fact Luke makes it clear in Acts 1:1 that what Jesus did and taught until He was taken up into heaven was just the beginning and would continue through the Apostles. When Peter saw his opportunity to speak to the gathered crowd he was not limited by what he could see with his eyes, he was given what to say by the Holy Spirit. No well prepared sermon here! 3:12.

We should always pray for guidance for help with decision making, for not every opportunity is what it seems at first, but there are definitely God opportunities and God moments but they still require faith to proceed 3:11.

Peter pointed out to the astonished crowd that the evidence before them proved that Jesus Christ is alive! And by His power the man was healed. The statement of Peter is most important because it showed the Apostles fully understood that the power was delegated to them by Jesus to do Gods will. This is made very clear in verse 16 Yes the faith that comes through Him (Jesus) has given him this perfect soundness.

Peter showed the crowd who gave him the authority and power to heal, Jesus name proclaimed in faith is a saving name. We must remember that it is Jesus Christ Himself, not the sound of His name who answers our prayers 3:16.

Gods covenant promise to Abraham was never limited in its scope 3:25 -26

A verse to remember

You killed the author of Life, but God raised Him to life. And we are witnesses of this fact! Acts 3:15 N.L.T.

Please send any feedback, questions, or prayer requests to jesusinprint@gmail.com

Peter preaches powerfully in Solomon’s Porch Acts 3:12-26

~ Robert Spiller ~ Leave a comment

Pause for thought

The healing of the man at the Beautiful gate was orchestrated by God, it was a “God incident” in fact Luke makes it clear in Acts 1:1 that what Jesus did and taught until He was taken up into heaven was just the beginning and would continue through the Apostles. When Peter saw his opportunity to speak to the gathered crowd he was not limited by what he could see with his eyes, he was given what to say by the Holy Spirit. No well prepared sermon here! 3:12.

We should always pray for guidance for help with decision making, for not every opportunity is what it seems at first, but there are definitely God opportunities and God moments but they still require faith to proceed 3:11.

Peter pointed out to the astonished crowd that the evidence before them proved that Jesus Christ is alive! And by His power the man was healed. The statement of Peter is most important because it showed the Apostles fully understood that the power was delegated to them by Jesus to do Gods will. This is made very clear in verse 16 Yes the faith that comes through Him (Jesus) has given him this perfect soundness.

Peter showed the crowd who gave him the authority and power to heal, Jesus name proclaimed in faith is a saving name. We must remember that it is Jesus Christ Himself, not the sound of His name who answers our prayers 3:16.

Gods covenant promise to Abraham was never limited in its scope 3:25 -26

A verse to remember

You killed the author of Life, but God raised Him to life. And we are witnesses of this fact! Acts 3:15 N.L.T.

Please send any feedback, questions, or prayer requests to jesusinprint@gmail.com

The New Church after Pentecost. Acts 2:25-47.

~ Robert Spiller ~ Leave a comment

Pause for thought

Peter told the people to listen carefully as he explained to them that David when writing Psalm 16.: 8-11 was not speaking of himself, but writing as a Prophet of the Messiah’s resurrection and glorification 2:25-29.

Another of David’s prophecies in psalm 101:1 records the conversation between God the Father and God the Son 2:34.

Peter proves that the resurrection of Jesus the Christ is prophesied by King David in the scriptures, and expects his hearers to readily accept Jesus of Nazareth as their promised Messiah 2:36.

Peters call to those devout Jews to repent, was a call to change their minds about who Jesus really was. They responded and believed that Jesus really was the one David had spoken of, their long promised Messiah who had died to take away their sins. On day one over 3000 new Christians joined the church 2:41-47.

Acts 2:38 Baptism is not a means of forgiveness and salvation ( This verse is better understood as “because of remission of sins” Believers are baptised in water because their sins have already been remitted and because of their faith in Christ, not that sins should be remitted) Although baptism doesn’t save us for the early church there was not a long separation between believing in Christ and getting baptised as is often the case today. And the same can be said about the gift of the Spirit. The words of Peter need to be heard and acted upon today “ repent, believe, and be baptised and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit” ( I feel todays church keeps new believers hanging about to long)

A verse to remember

Now He sits on the throne of highest honour in heaven, at God’s right hand. And the Father as He had promised, gave Him the Holy Spirit to pour out upon us, just as you hear and see today Acts 2:33 N.L.T.

Please send any feedback, questions, or prayer requests to jesusinprint@gmail.com.

The coming of the Holy Spirit Acts 2:1-24

~ Robert Spiller ~ Leave a comment

Pause for thought

The coming of the Holy Spirit was by the predetermined purpose of God. The Apostles and disciples were gathered together in one place, and they were of one accord, Greek Holothuroideamadon meaning unanimous, being in agreement, group unity, having one mind and purpose. Strongs #3661:

The rushing mighty wind reminds us of the felt yet unseen power of God John 3:8.

This is the only record in the New Testament of cloven tongues like fire that rested upon each one, and was the fulfilment of the prophecy of John the Baptist concerning Jesus Matt 3:11.

They were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak as the Spirit gave them utterance, God put words in their mouths. Notice the tongues were understood by the hearers because what they heard was in the hearers mother tongue. They each heard in their own languages the wonderful works of God. Paul teaches in 1 Corinthians 14:2 that a believer who speaks in an unknown tongue speaks to God, these were the praises towards God the devout Jews were hearing in their own languages Acts2:8.

Peter led by the Holy Spirit Quotes from Joel 2:28-32 which is a last days prophecy for-telling the events starting with the day of Pentecost and the events that are yet to happen at the coming of Christ. Joel’s prophecy was only partially fulfilled at Pentecost and through the generations until now, but we could be the final generation that sees the whole prophecy fulfilled in our life time?

Verses to remember

And it shall come to pass in the last days, says God, That I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh; Your sons and your daughters shall prophecy, Your young men shall dream dreams. And on My menservants and on my maid servants I will pour out my Spirit in those days; And they shall prophecy. Act 2:17-18. N.K.J.T.

Please send any feedback, questions, or prayer requests to jesusinprint@gmail.com

True Riches. 1 Timothy chapter 6.

~ Robert Spiller ~ Leave a comment

Pause for thought

Christians should avoid overfamiliarity with fellow believers, especially in the employee/employer relationship 6:1-2.

Paul makes it pretty clear to Timothy and to everyone who reads his letter that some so called teachers are in it for the money! They can be identified by their novel teaching that conflicts with the teaching of Jesus Christ. Don’t argue with them simply run from them! 6:11

Money doesn’t bring happiness! Some rich people seem never to be satisfied in their quest for more, they can easily get caught in the devils trap that leads to ruin. Riches only last for a season but heavenly treasures last forever. “But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth or rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also” Matthew 6:20-21

Fight the good fight with all thy might, Christ is thy Strength and Christ thy right; Lay hold on Life, and it shall be thy joy and crown eternally. J.S.B.Monsell. 6:19.

A verse to remember

Fight the good fight of faith for what we believe. Hold tightly to the eternal life that God has given you, which you have confessed so well before many witnesses. 1 Timothy 6:12 N.L.T.

Please send any feedback, questions, or prayers to jesusinprint@gmail.com

Thank you everyone for praying for Pam during her recent illness, I am pleased to say the Lord has heard and she is well on the road to recovery. Praise the Lord!

We both wish you all a very happy and blest Christmas season.

The next series of Bible Truth will start in the New Year.