Tag Archives: #Jesus

Let Us Arise

. Holy Living . , , , , , . Leave a comment

Peter put all of them outside and then he knelt down and prayed. He turned to the body and said, “Tabitha, get up.” Then she opened her eyes, and seeing Peter, she sat up. He gave her his hand and helped her up. Then calling the saints and widows, he showed her to be alive. This became known throughout Joppa, and many believed in the Lord. Acts 9:40-42

When Tabitha, or Dorcas in Greek, died they called for Peter to come. Probably none of them had the gift of miracles. Swiftly Peter arrives and puts everyone out of the room where Tabitha’s dead body lies as he wrestles in prayer with God. At the Holy Spirit’s good pleasure, when Spirit indicates the fullness of Christ’s loving healing moment is here, Peter says “get up” or “arise.”

Can we imagine the surprise and astonishment of Tabitha when she returns to her life here? Pulled back from the glory of praise around the Holy Throne of Heaven she returns to the joyful rejoicing of her dear widow sisters who need her. Undoubtedly Tabitha’s service unto our Lord and Savior is even more zealously served.

Like Tabitha, I met Jesus and His instruction to me was to preach. In High School the car had had a tire completely blow off the rim and flipped over three times, injuring us. That time I met with Christ was unmistakably glorious and His Words engraved within my soul. I’m hoping and praying my Biblical witness through preaching says to you to arise and get up into Him.

Jesus Heals You

. Holy Living . , , , , , . Leave a comment

Now as Peter went here and there among all the believers, he came down also to the saints living in Lydda. There he found a man named Aeneas, who had been bedridden for eight years, for he was paralyzed. Peter said to him, “Aeneas, Jesus Christ heals you; get up and make your bed!” And immediately he got up. And all the residents of Lydda and Sharon saw him and turned to the Lord. Acts 9:32-35

The end of miracles came with Esther in the Old Testament, and started up with magnificence in Jesus as He is born of a virgin and forgives sins, heals, casts out demons, and gives New Birth to His believers by the power of the Holy Spirit.

Jesus Christ is a miracle man and uses Peter to stir up great faith in Aeneas and open his heart to receive Jesus’ miracle. Like Peter, Christ uses you as you speak His words of healing, “Get up…”. Throughout the Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John) learn from the words that Jesus uses to heal and use His words to speak the Holy Spirit’s healing in Christ’s Name.

The Holy Spirit will give you opportunities, words that are right, and will magnify His power within you so that healing events occur. All Glory be to God our Heavenly Father that this is true! God has made a Way in Jesus Christ for suffering to be relieved, for faith to expand exponentially, and for the Holy Spirit’s love to be manifest in you.

Peace Here

. Holy Living . , , , , , . 1 Comment

Meanwhile the Church throughout Judea, Galilee, and Samaria had peace and was built up. Acts 9:31

Peace in the community of believers is an awesome blessing! Believers who may be fearful, complaining, harsh, and use words that tear down instead of build up disrupt peace. The Holy Spirit actively works within this atmosphere of down-talkers to persuade and realign hearts. We are Spirit’s prospect for peace.

Surely Acts 9 peace in community came about because their bitterest persecutor has been converted. Then came the realization that faith comes by hearing. So the words you and I use daily may be Spirit blessed to bring Spirit unity in community also.

Speak to encourage, uplift, guide gently sourced out of loving affection for the Christ in someone else, and speak words that will continue the transformation Christ gives to others to bring them to Him. Words can help to lock hearts with Christ alive.

Upon meeting, bless others with your silent prayers for them as Spirit knows how to take your simple prayers and enliven them for our Heavenly Father’s ears. Ask in Jesus’ Name and He will give it to you. Asking for peace of the Holy Spirit to come into your community then believe with your heart peace comes.

Jesus says: Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled, and do not let them be afraid. John 14:27

Jesus Shows Us This

. Holy Living . , , , , . Leave a comment

For several days he was with the disciples in Damascus, and immediately he began to proclaim Jesus in the synagogues, saying, “He IS the Son of God.” All who heard him were amazed and said, “Is not this the man who made havoc in Jerusalem among those who invoked This Name? And has he not come here for the purpose of bringing them bound before the chief priests?” Saul became increasingly more powerful and confounded the Jews who lived in Damascus by proving that Jesus was the Messiah. Acts 9:19-22

Our proclamation after our conversion is, “Jesus is Lord!” “Son of God!” “Savior!” It is such with Saul whom, known for his evil persecution of Christians, others amazingly see with complete turnabout. Jesus has said, “Pray for your enemies,” and the believers have obediently been on their knees and had heads bowed in prayer in the marketplace for Saul’s conversion.

No one is beyond hope of conversion. There is not one soul on this good earth that Jesus is not pursuing, that the Holy Spirit is not speaking with deep down in their souls, and who is able to outstep our God’s sight nor His Power. Bow your head in prayer for your enemies and the fruits of your prayers will take hold in the Name of Jesus Christ.

Here is Saul ‘proving’ that Jesus is Messiah by speaking the Word unashamed, in anointing for healing, and through the Holy Spirit’s living witness to fearlessly proclaim that the Lord and Savior has knocked him off his high horse and he repented. Heaven is rejoicing, believers are supporting him in Damascus, and Holy Spirit is advocating and directing him.

Saul Sees The Brilliance Of the Kingdom

. Holy Living . , , , , . Leave a comment

So Ananias went and entered the house. He laid his hands on Saul and said, “Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on your way here, has sent me so that you may regain your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.” And immediately something like scales fell from his eyes, and his sight was restored. Then he got up and was baptized, and after taking some food, he regained his strength. Acts 9:17-19

With the laying on of Ananias’ hands the Holy Spirit powerfully moves to heal Saul of the blindness he experienced when Christ gripped him in his sins after falling off of his high horse. It has been three days of conversion and transformation in Christ for Saul. Saul now brilliantly sees the Kingdom of Christ within him and he knows it in others as the Holy Spirit shows him all things.

Baptism is the outward sign of the inward Holy Spirit cleansing of sin given by the blood of Christ on the Cross. Christ died on the Cross for Saul and He died on the Cross for you. Yes, Christ had you in mind as he died, then arose from the dead. For, just like Saul the Holy Spirit grips your sins and relieves you of sin’s decay when you humble yourself in Christ.

Christ’s love for you is His all in all. He desires that you take up His Cross and follow Him, learn all that you can from Him, and be obedient each day and even unto death with Him. It is with Christ you find the greatest inner joy of living that you’ve ever known, an abundance of guidance by the Holy Spirit, and tremendous restored confidence in His purpose for your life– all within His love for you!

Jesus Speaks To Ananias

. Holy Living . , , , , . Leave a comment

Now there was a disciple in Damascus named Ananias. The Lord said to him in a vision, “Ananias.” He answered, “Here I am, Lord.” The Lord said to him, “Get up and go to the street called Straight, and at the house of Judas look for a man of Tarsus named Saul. At this moment he is praying, and he has seen in a vision a man named Ananias come in and lay his hands on him so that he might regain his sight.” Acts 9:10-12

Notice here that the Lord is speaking to Ananias in a vision by the Power of the Holy Spirit. Ananias does not think he’s dreaming, he’s off his rocker, nor does he believe that he is seeing an apparition. He is a believer and Christians know the Lord when the Lord speaks to us. “Here I am, Lord,” is immediate. This response is readiness!

Then the Lord gives a detailed description of what he is to do. Yet when Ananias hears that he is to go to Saul of Tarsus, he responds that he has heard about this evil man who has authority to bind all who invoke Christ’s Name. The Lord says, “Go for he is an instrument whom I have chosen to bring My Name before the Gentiles and kings and before the people of Israel; I Myself will show him how much he must suffer for the sake of My Name.” Do as I command, Jesus says, and I will take care of the rest.

And so it is revealed to Ananias and to us. How great a dignity Saul has been chosen for! Called on to suffer for the sake of Jesus Christ, to serve Him in loving obedience, to offer Christ to the Gentiles, and to witness to Israel Jesus Christ is Lord!

Saul’s blindness

. Holy Living . , , , , . 2 Comments

Saul got up from the ground, and though his eyes were open, he could see nothing; so they led him by the hand and brought him into Damascus. For three days he was without sight, and neither ate nor drank. Acts 9:8-9

For three days Saul is in the grip of New Birth in Jesus Christ. Three days Saul relived his sins and listened to The Voice speak to him. Jesus tells us of New Birth in John 3:3, “No one can see the Kingdom of God without being born from above.” New Birth is the transformation of the entire soul by the cleansing fire of the Holy Spirit.

Scales had grown over Saul’s eyes, done by the Almighty Power of God, which not only aligned him with the state of blindness to Jesus’ Way but his blindness also turned his thoughts inward to Christ, as he was less capable of conversing with others. Saul’s fasting.

His blindness was a outward manifestation of what had happened to him. God has humbled him and is showing correction to the stiff necked Jews who put Stephen to death. For we see here the necessary elements of the New Birth: our complete humbling, the inward shake down of sins, and the powerful fire of the Holy Spirit that consumes sins by the blood of the Lamb Jesus slain on the Cross.

When God Suddenly Attacks

. Holy Living . , , , , . Leave a comment

Now as Saul was going along and approaching Damascus, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him. He fell to the ground and heard a Voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute Me?” He asked, “Who are you, Lord?” The reply came, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. But get up and enter the city, and you will be told what you are to do.” The men who were traveling with him stood speechless because they heard The Voice but saw no one. Acts 9:3-7

When God suddenly and mightily attacks a sinner it is with the highest act of mercy. Mercy is ours through Jesus Christ for with our sins we may deter others. His attack of mercy may fell us just like Saul who falls to the ground of his guilt. The Lords Voice within our souls may be severe yet that Voice is full of grace while He rights us in Him.

“I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting.” Thus when Saul’s rage against believers comes to height then our Lord powerfully acts, teaching him not to breathe threats and murder. Saul is halted. His is inexpressible terror by light and Jesus speaking to him. Light from heaven flashes. Jesus speaks within their hearts and souls.

The men traveling with Saul now stand for they too were felled to the ground of guilt. It is Jesus’ grace that fells, redeems, then teaches the believer. Jesus next sends Saul to a Damascus believer who will guide him in New Birth. For with New Birth we need a believer’s help and assistance who is Spirit led, Spirit fed, and Spirit sped (quickened).

How to Handle The Breather

. Holy Living . , , , , . Leave a comment

Meanwhile, Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest and asked him for letters to the synagogues at Damascus, so that if he found any who belonged to The Way, men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem. Acts 9:1-2

Early Christians referred to themselves as people of The Way. We still do. The Way of Jesus Christ. Saul is on the ‘my way’ which degrades humanity and services the spoils of evil’s needs. He is The Breather Of threats and murder. Pray ” protect us from evil in My Name,” Jesus says.

Saul connives to take the paper authority received from the governor under Aretas the king, to go to Damascus to round up believers in Christ there and murder or take them back to Jerusalem. He is ruthless for the Roman authorities. The Way prays for him in the Spirit’s Power and strength.

Saul wears Roman blinders, acting on cold hearted and stiff necked faithlessness. Of Jewish birth in Tarsus in Cilicia but brought up in Jerusalem at the feet of Gamaliel, educated in the Torah he breaths threats and murder at Jesus’ followers. “Pray for those who persecute you,” our Lord instructs. “I’ll respond,” Jesus says to you. John 11:9-13

Philip Proclaims The Good News

. Holy Living . , , , , , . Leave a comment

The eunuch asked Philip, “About whom, may I ask you, does the prophet say this, about himself or about someone else?” Then Philip began to speak, and starting with this Scripture, he proclaimed to him the Good News about Jesus. Acts 8:34-35

The eunuch was reading aloud from the Book of Isaiah, the prophesy regarding the servant Messiah who is Jesus Christ. When Philip runs alongside the chariot, then the man asks him to come up to talk with him about the Scripture, we again see the Holy Spirit at work in a heart hungry to receive salvation. Hungry hearts need Jesus.

For you can understand with your mind the humble offer that Christ makes to you as the only servant to salvation yet it is with your heart that by faith you believe. Then the Holy Spirit convicts your heart in such a way that you find that all your hopes, dreams, and desires are actually met in Christ. Christ is everything and His Kingdom is revealed. At Baptism you are sealed in Christ by the power of the Holy Spirit.

Good News began when God came down from heaven with a babe in His arms out of His love for you. That child, born to a virgin woman, was God’s own beloved Servant Son. Read aloud, learn with your heart from Scriptures, which also tell of the suffering Servant at the Cross. After Jesus Christ’s glorious Resurrection and at Pentecost abundant life in Jesus is given to us. Christ breathed the Holy Spirit (His real Presence) into believers back then and into hungry hearts now.