Rooted Together

How do we speak the Word of God with boldness? Step one is we will not be able to unless we have been with and met with Jesus. Two, the Holy Spirit must be working through us. We see in this chapter the Holy Spirit has filled Peter and John and they boldly proclaim the gospel. When they face threats from the religious leaders of their day they go to the church and pray for more boldness. God grants them more boldness and they continue speaking the word of God with all boldness. 

#Acts #God #gospel #newtestament #holyspirit 

What a revolutionary thought for modern times from ancient times. We don't have to live according to the cravings of our earthly bodies. Our modern culture screams that we must live according to the orientations of our "true selves" as if the apex of existence is self-realization. Yet God has called us to self-sacrifice. We must be and are called to be more than the sum of ourselves, likes, orientations, and feelings. We are called to something far greater; we are called to be children of God. The Spirit leads us to a new, true identity; adopted sons and daughters of God. We live according to His Spirit, to His Word. We become heirs to his kingdom. We are invited into the sufferings of Christ so that we may also embrace and share in the glory of Christ which He will share with us as well! 

Peter and John heal a man in the Temple. The healing draws a large crowd and Peter and John seize the opportunity and share the gospel fulfilling the call of Jesus to be His witnesses. Will we be in awe of God today? Be in awe of the gospel! 

#Acts #healing #newtestament #God 

What does it look like for the people of God to be filled with the Holy Spirit? It looks like a people, who are proclaiming the gospel, listening to and digging into the Word of God, devoting themselves to fellowship, and devoting themselves to prayer. Does this reflect your life? If so, continue to grow in Christ. If not, I implore you to reflect on this chapter and to reflect on the gospel. These are not suggestions but marks of followers of Jesus. 

#bemywitnesses #Acts #God #NewTestament #HolySpirit 

How do you view the resurrected Jesus? Is he a means to establish your kingdom, or is Jesus the Savior of all who has commanded His people, bought by His blood, to grow His kingdom. Jesus has called all of his people to be his witnesses. No, he does not give you a suggestion, but says, "you will be" my witnesses. But Jesus does not ask us to do this in our power but in the power of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is the power and engine behind the expansion of the church. 

#Jesus #NewTestament #Bible #God #witnesses #power #HolySpirit

What comes to mind when you think of the book of Acts? I think of, Spirit baptism, casting lots, tongues of fire, shipwrecks, snake bites, and many more exciting stories. But most of all I think of a mass movement of God through His people. I think of a movement of God that would turn the world upside down. A movement that would take scared, trembling fishermen and transform them into brave fishers of men, no longer afraid of death and completely sold out to Christ. I think of a brother who thought His older brother was crazy transforming into a leader in the early church. I think of a community of about 120 people, transforming into a community of expanding thousands. I think of a former enemy of God transforming into a man of God that no earthly power could dissuade. I think of a fledging movement in Jerusalem that would go on to touch every corner of the known world.

These are the images that come to mind when I think of Acts. And all of these great movements find their source of power from the indwelling Holy Spirit. May we also be Jesus’s witnesses empowered and emboldened by the Holy Spirit. May we be the people that turn the world upside down. I hope you can join me as we journey through the book of Acts, I'll see you there. 

#acts #newtestament #bible #god #thebookofacts 

Our spouse is to be a seal on our hearts. Only they have access. They are to be a seal on our arms so that others may see our love for our spouse. In this finale we see the main themes of the book revisited. We are to awaken love at the right time and we are to teach others to do the same. We are to do the same spiritually. Set God as a seal upon your heart. Seek Him exclusively. Love God and do not chase the gods of this world. 

#songofsolomon #love #marraige #oldtestament #bible #biblestudy

Our couple spends these two chapters reconciling from their fight. A godly reconciliation is not rushed through. 

#journeyingthroughthescripture #marriage #love #oldtestament #songofsongs #Bible #God 

It happens. Conflict is much like Thanos, it's inevitable. It is not if conflict happens that is the mark of a good marriage, it is how the couple deal with conflict. In this chapter, our couple has a fight. Let's see how they handle conflict.

Instagram: Journeying through Scripture 

#conflict #marriage #love #oldtestament #God #grace #repentance