Jeff Shackelford's Podcast

We talk often in churches about the Christmas story in Luke 2. We see the narrative about the birth of Jesus but we see in verse 15 that some ordinary shepherds found the truth of the prophecies in the Old Testament were true.
The angels sent them to Bethlehem and there they found the baby Jesus just as they were told.

The great news was then told by the shepherds with deep and rich excitement. The same gospel then is the same gospel that we should all tell as well.

Not just at Christmas but all the time.

Paul models for us how to live a life for Jesus and to be committed to the gospel and to stand up for what is right.
As we examine Acts 23 we see that God provides for Paul the strength to endure the challenges of false accusations as well as tremendous amounts of pressure and hardship.

A life story that gives honor to God for all He has done in Karl's life.

A life story that gives honor to God for all He has done in Jim's life/

Paul issues to the elders of Ephesus in Acts 20 a strong and important warning that is good for all of us. We must stay rooted and grounded in the Word of God. We must stay connected to the source of all life, direction and purpose which is Jesus and we also must be doing His will in all parts and walks of our life.

As we look at Act 20 we see that we are called to a higher level in following Jesus. We are instructed to know Him fully. We are instructed to serve Him with all of our heart, mind, soul and strength.
We are to living a life fully sold out to Jesus.
Are you willing to live that way? Are you willing to lean into Him and finish the race He has set for you and I? Are you willing to rely on Him fully to pursue the Great Commission in all you do?
(Sorry for the long lead on the recording)

As we move through Acts we see countless times that the apostles encountered times of trouble, difficulties and joy. In those moments, they were instructed as we are to be joyful! To have a Grateful Heart! To rejoice when the time may not be joyful. We must recycle joy no matter the time.
How is your heart condition?

As a follower of Jesus Christ, we have the Holy Spirit living inside us. His power is right from the Source of all things, God the Father.
With this, we need to begin to live according to the way the Spirit wants us to live and that requires that we live in the Spirit and walk in step with the Spirit.

As we see tonight in the series on the book of Acts, we examine the way to Live In The Spirit by seeing this from Galatians 5:16-26 and Psalms 51:1-11.

Grab your Bible, a cup of God's Brew and dig in to His Word and also into the offer to Live In The Spirit that the Father makes for us.

As we examine Acts 19:1-10, we see that the 12 believers that Paul encountered had only heard of Jesus to come and had not experienced the life changing impact of Jesus. So, they had never received the Holy Spirit.

It is here we see as with Apollos, they knew of Jesus the Messiah to come, but didn't know Jesus the Savior and in part, had not received the Holy Spirit either.

We begin tonight looking at the Holy Spirit and just who He is in connection with the Trinity as well as His role, purpose and part of our lives in relationship to our walk with Jesus.

So often in our life we have a head knowledge of God and yet, there isn't a real personal connection and relationship with God. We have to take what we know and have it radically impact our lives in order for us to surrender fully and completely to God. Know things of Him or about Him isn't enough, it take a genuine and real acceptance of our need for Him and then receiving what He has for us. Forgiveness of the sins in our lives, freeing us from our bondage and shame, walking with us in good and bad, leading and directing our steps and paths, giving us the Holy Spirit and the assurance of eternal life.
Do you have a head knowledge of God? Do you have a heart knowledge of Him as well? If not, ask Him to reveal Himself to you today.
Acts 18:18-28