ONLY ONE WAY OF SALVATION After certain Judaizers came to Antioch, teaching that circumcision was required for salvation, Paul and Barnabas were sent to bring the question to the apostles at Jerusalem. After much deliberation, Peter stood and reminded everyone that he had been the first one chosen to carry the gospel to the Gentiles.
THE OFTEN OVERLOOKED MEDICINE Solomon was given wisdom from God to write many proverbs on many topics. Among them, is this proverb on the connection between body, mind, and spirit, and how the health of one affects the other. Modern medicine attempts to treat the body absent the soul and spirit, often failing to recognize
RELY ON THE GRACE OF GOD, NOT MEN In town after town, as people came to faith after hearing the gospel proclaimed by Paul and Barnabas, they would begin to follow them. But the two men always urged the people to rely on the grace of God, not men. For Paul and Barnabas wanted them
WHOSE PLANS ARE YOU TRYING TO FOLLOW? Even in the midst of troubles, David trusted that the Lord was at work in his life. For even when things didn’t go according to his own plans, he believed in the faithful love of God to work out His plans for his life. David trusted that God
A PRAYER SERVICE THAT BECAME A COMMISSIONING SERVICE Five key leaders in the Antioch church were fasting and praying one day when the Spirit spoke to them. The Scripture does not say how the Spirit communicated. Did all of the men or only one hear the instruction? Was it an audible voice or an internal
BEWARE THE VALLEY THAT FOLLOWS THE MOUNTAIN TOP Elijah, in the power of the Spirit, called fire down from heaven and defeated the 450 prophets of Baal. He called on God to break a 3-year drought and the rains came pouring down. He pulled up his robe and outran King Ahab’s chariot in sandaled feet.
RUNNING LIFE’S RACE WITH GOD’S STRENGTH After using Elijah to defeat the prophets of Baal in a fire from heaven contest, and sending rain in response to the prophet’s prayer, the Lord strengthened Elijah to outrun Ahab’s chariot. Some have suggested that he ran the 16 miles from Mount Carmel to Jezreel before the king’s
MOBILIZED FOR MISSION The apostle Peter told the Roman centurion named Cornelius that Jesus had ordered the apostles to “preach and testify that Jesus is the one.” He was appointed by God to be the “judge of all” and everyone who believes in Him will be forgiven their sins. Hearing this message, Cornelius and his
BEING LED BY THE SPIRIT IN SPREADING THE GOSPEL Around noon, the apostle Peter went up onto the roof of the house he was visiting to pray. Morning, midday, and evening prayers were his habit. On this day, the Lord gave Peter a thrice-repeated vision that prepared him to meet with the men that would
A SEASON OF PEACE, STRENGTH, AND GROWTH FOR THE CHURCH Previously, a “great wave of persecution” (Acts 8:1) had swept through the church at Jerusalem. It began with the stoning of Stephen and continued until the believers were scattered throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria. Yet, following this season of persecution, there came a