“So they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for His name” (Acts 5:41 NKJV).

June 7, 2020

THE FELLOWSHIP OF SUFFERING FOR CHRIST’S NAME Peter and some of the apostles were put in the common prison by the high priest for continuing to preach in the name of Jesus. That night, an angel set them free from the prison and instructed them to go and preach in the Temple courts. When the

“So they called them and commanded them not to speak at all nor teach in the name of Jesus” (Acts 4:18 NKJV).

June 6, 2020

WHAT IS IT ABOUT THE NAME OF JESUS? Peter and John healed a crippled man in the name of Jesus and began to preach in the Temple. A great crowd gathered to see the cripple now walking and to hear the preaching of Peter and John. The captain of the Temple arrested them for preaching

‘Then Peter said, “Silver and gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk.'” (Acts 3:6 NKJV).

June 5, 2020

GIVE THEM JESUS Peter and John encountered a cripple asking for money on their way to afternoon prayers at the Temple. While many worshipers passed by the invalid without looking at him, probably even avoiding eye contact, Peter and John looked at him intently, “fixing” their eyes on him. They weren’t afraid of his need.

“The Spirit of the Lord spoke by me, and His word was on my tongue” (2 Samuel 23:2 NKJV).

June 4, 2020

LAST WORDS OF DAVID THE PROPHET KING David’s last words began with the assertion that the Spirit of the Lord had spoken by him. He had an awareness that the multitude of psalms he had written were really from God. They were not merely the “fruit of his genius” (Gill), but by the inspiration of

“But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” (Acts 1:8 NKJV).

June 3, 2020

CHRIST’S GREAT COMMISSION STRATEGY If Matthew 28:18-20 is Christ’s Great Commission, then Acts 1:8 is His Great Commission Strategy. In the former, Christ gave His disciples an overarching mission: “Go and make disciples of all nations.” In the latter, He gave them the strategic process: 1) First, be filled and empowered by the Spirit, 2)

‘He said to him the third time, “Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me?”’ (John 21:17 NKJV).

June 2, 2020

THE LOVE THAT WILL NOT BE DENIED The night Jesus was betrayed, Peter denied Him three times before the rooster crowed, just as Jesus had warned. Surely Peter, the “Rock,” was still struggling with his personal failure when the Lord appeared to His disciples for the third time after His resurrection. Indeed, Peter had become

“Many are my persecutors and my enemies, Yet I do not turn from Your testimonies” (Psalm 119:157 NKJV).

June 1, 2020

WHOSE TESTIMONY WILL YOU BELIEVE? Some say that David wrote Psalm 119 to teach his son, Solomon, to love God’s Word, while at the same time, teaching him the Hebrew alphabet. For this beautiful ode to God’s Word is an acrostic poem, with each stanza beginning with one of the twenty-two Hebrew letters.   Yet

‘When Jesus therefore saw His mother, and the disciple whom He loved standing by, He said to His mother, “Woman, behold your son!” Then He said to the disciple, “Behold your mother!”’ (John 19:26-27 NKJV).

May 31, 2020

THE THIRD WORD OF JESUS FROM THE CROSS WAS A WORD OF CARE Reading the four gospels together, there are seven last words of Jesus recorded. Anyone’s last words are considered important, so shouldn’t our Lord Jesus’ words be even more so? This is the third of Jesus’ last words. It is a word of

‘Then Jesus came out, wearing the crown of thorns and the purple robe. And Pilate said to them, “Behold the Man!”’ (John 19:5 NKJV).

May 30, 2020

BEHOLD THE MAN! The Roman governor of Judea, Pontius Pilate, brought Jesus out to stand before the accusing crowd. He had been scourged, beaten, mocked, and spit upon. A crown of thorns was pressed down upon his bruised brow and a purple robe thrown across his torn and bleeding shoulders. He stood silently before his

“A man’s heart plans his way, but the Lord directs his steps” (Proverbs 16:9 NKJV).

May 29, 2020

MAKING PLANS DURING A TIME LIKE THIS There is no biblical prohibition against making plans. There is wisdom in planning for the future. Yet, it is foolish to leave the Lord out of our planning for God is the one who holds the future. So, ask for God’s wisdom when making plans. Seek godly counsel.