Acts 2:1-7, 17-21, 24, 31, 41, 46; 1 Samuel 10:10-11; Joel 2:28-31; 2 Corinthians 1:22.

Pentecost is the day of Jesus's promise. It was a day when the disciples and the rest of the first church members received the indwelling of the Holy Spirit forever, which Jesus promised and God delivered.

Acts 1:1-11, 18, 21-26; 2 Timothy 1:7; Galatians 5:22-23; Matthew 27:5-8.

The book of Acts. Written by Luke

In this book, we will explore how the promise of the Holy Spirit was realized in the early church. We will delve into the communal living of the early church, where members bought, sold, shared, and lived in unity. Following the death of Stephen, the church faced persecution, prompting many members to flee from Jerusalem to Judea and Samaria. It was during this time that Paul encountered Jesus on his way to Damascus, an event that transformed his life. Paul then began preaching and spreading the message of Jesus to the Gentiles during his missionary journeys, resulting in significant church growth. In the final seven chapters of Acts, Paul, inspired by the Holy Spirit, wrote many of the epistles found in the New Testament. This book is a collection of inspiring stories meant to encourage us to share the gospel and cultivate community, drawing from the example set by the early church.

John 21:2, 15-23, 13:36-38; Matthew 26:75

John 20:26-31; Romans 1:20

In this chapter, Jesus appears to the disciples after His resurrection, but He wants Thomas to see and touch Him more. Jesus's invitation to Thomas is not a general call to belief, but a personal one. Thomas does not believe after the disciples tell him of Jesus's resurrection; he wants to see and touch Jesus for himself, to have his own personal experience of faith.

Jesus asked Thomas to touch Him in this second appearance to the disciples, and he did. However, in these final verses of the chapter, John writes that Jesus did many more things that were not recorded. But He wrote this account for us to see these important things so that we would recognize Jesus as the Christ, the Son of God, and in doing so, find life, purpose, and meaning in Him. This recognition is not just a belief, but a powerful realization that can transform our lives.

Therefore, today I urge you to embrace Jesus as Lord, for He is present in all aspects of nature and divine powers. He is our light and our salvation, as stated in Psalm 27:1. Once we acknowledge Him as the source of life, we discover profound meaning in this life.

John 19:1-11, 27, 35.

In this chapter, Jesus experiences beating and even death on a cross. His accusers prefer for a criminal to be realized than Jesus, who was on the town's healing and caring for people. Jesus, while being interrogated by Pilate, warned him that he had no authority other than the one given to him by God. Also, He testified that the greater sin was on the one who delivered him to be crucified. Pilate, even though he had power, was still afraid of Jesus's responses, for he had no power over him, for Jesus knew that he was going to die this gruesome death, and better yet, they did not take his life. He gave up His spirit. This act of giving up His spirit, His death on the cross, is a profound demonstration of His love and obedience to God, and it is through this sacrifice that we are offered salvation.

I am deeply moved by John's testimony in verse 35. He was not just a historian, but a messenger chosen by God to deliver a message that we can all connect with on a personal level. John's role as a messenger, delivering a message from the highest Authority, makes the biblical events more relatable and meaningful to each of us. It's as if God, in His infinite wisdom, knew that we would need this personal connection to fully understand His divine plan.  

Today, I want to reassure you that the only power we have on this earth is that which has been granted from above. God's complete control over this world, both inside and out, should bring us comfort and security. He created us, placed us here, and will receive us back when our time is up. The world does not operate independently, but is sustained by the all-powerful from above. Understanding and accepting this divine control can instill a deep sense of trust and reliance in us, knowing that we are always under His watchful eye.

John 18:1-8; Exodus 3:14; Isaiah 53:6

John 17:11-26; Galatians 3:26-28.

John 16:1-13; 2 Timothy 3:16; 2 Peter 1:21

In this Chapter, Jesus reveals to the disciples the profound role of the Spirit of Truth in our lives. It is the Spirit of Truth that convicts us of sin, righteousness, and judgment, offering us hope and inspiration for transformation. This divine presence has come to be our Helper and guide, leading us towards a brighter spiritual path.

God Himself is the source of the word of God, for the term 'inspired' translates to theopneustos in Greek, meaning 'God-Breathed '. His word is not just a by-product, but the divine result of His own inspiration, conveyed through the hands of human authors. This understanding should instill in us a deep sense of reverence and respect for His word.

God has allowed the Holy Spirit or the Spirit of Truth to come so that in Him we will recognize we need him, or else we would do all the things that are against God and his people. Such as killing believers, thinking that doing so is an offering to God. This is a reference to historical and contemporary instances of religious persecution, where some groups have justified violence against others in the name of God. The Spirit of Truth, when present in us, guides us away from such harmful beliefs and actions.

Today, allow the Spirit of Truth to emerge and bring conviction of all your wrongdoing so that you may find restoration and Salvation through Him and Jesus, the author of Salvation.

John 15: 1-5, 13, 26-27; Romans 8:8; Ephesians 3:20

In this chapter, Jesus explains to the disciples the great benefit of abiding in Him: We will bear much fruit through the help of the Spirit of Truth, our Helper, the Holy Spirit.