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June 5

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THE URGENCY OF THE GOSPEL

From: June 5, 2024

“Repent therefore, and turn back, that your sins may be blotted out, that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, and that he may send the Christ appointed for you, Jesus, whom heaven must receive until the time for restoring all the things” (Acts 3:19-21 ESV).

A crowd gathered in the Temple courts, wondering at the healing of a lame man. Peter explained that the source of the healing power came from Jesus the Christ. He told them that this was the same Jesus they had crucified, but whom God had raised from the dead, ascended to heaven and who would soon return. Therefore, he challenged them to “repent” and “turn back” to believe in Jesus, so that their sins might be forgiven and that they would be ready for Christ’s appointed return.

The Jews were looking for a Christ, a Messiah, that would set up an earthly kingdom and dwell with them as king, so it was important that Peter explained to them the prophetic reason why the Christ had ascended to heaven “until the time” of restoration. Peter was an eye witness to Christ’s ascension, and he had heard with his own ears Christ’s promise to return. So, he preached with a sense of urgency and expectation that the Father would soon send Christ back again to restore all things.

Jesus has ascended back to heaven “until the time” of his return. When is this “time?” Only God knows. As Jesus told his disciples, “But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only… Therefore you also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect” (Matt 24:36, 44).

This is why we must always be ready. We must urgently proclaim the gospel to people of every nation, tongue, and tribe. For the “time” of Christ’s return is imminent.

PRAYER: Dear Father, You alone know the time of Christ’s return. Yet, give us a sense of urgency, so that we are always ready. Help us to set our hearts and minds on things above, knowing that we will soon see Jesus with our own eyes. In His name we pray, amen.

GIVE THEM JESUS

From: June 5, 2023

‘But Peter said, “I don’t have any silver or gold for you. But I’ll give you what I have. In the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene get up and walk!”‘ (Acts 3:6 NLT).

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. In fact, they looked past his felt need for money to his deeper need for wholeness. Peter and John didn’t have money, but what they did have was better. They gave him Jesus and in Jesus’ name the crippled man was made whole.

When we have Jesus, we always have what people need. We don’t have to fear making eye contact with those in need. We may not have what people want, but we certainly have what they need. Give them Jesus. Be willing to look at others and pray for them in the name of Jesus.

PRAYER: Dear Father, You have given us Jesus. He is of surpassing worth, more valuable than all the world’s silver and gold. When we see those in need, empower us to meet their deepest need in the name of Jesus. We will not turn our eyes away from the hurting because of Jesus. He saw our need and saved us. Now we are sent as His body to do the same. In Jesus name, amen.

“You killed the author of life, but God raised him from the dead. And we are witnesses of this fact!” (Acts 3:15 NLT).

From: June 5, 2022

THE AUTHOR OF LIFE

Peter boldly proclaimed the central facts of the gospel to the crowd gathered in the Temple. They gathered in order to see how the man lame from birth, was now able to walk. Yet, Peter’s explanation must have been for more than they bargained. He told them that the lame man had been healed through faith in the name of the One they had killed, but God had raised up! He declared that it was faith in the name of Jesus that made the crippled man whole. This declaration hit many in the crowd like a spiritual lightning bolt, so that many believed.
 
What were the central gospel facts that Peter preached?
 
1) “You killed the Author of Life.” Jesus Christ, the Creator and Source of all life, went to the cross to pay for our sin.
 
2) “God raised Him from the dead.” The resurrection of Jesus is a central fact of the gospel. Life defeated death!
 
3) “We are witnesses of this fact.” Peter and the apostles were eye-witnesses of everything Christ had done and of his death, burial and resurrection. This is not second hand news, nor myth. This is reliable, documented fact.
 
4) Faith in the name of Jesus, the Author of Life, is the only way to be saved and receive eternal life.
 
What irony! What unfathomable mystery! The Author of Life died for our sin? Yet, was raised for our justification (Rom. 4:25)? Yes! O yes! These are the central facts of the gospel. We believe the facts. We have put our faith in the Author of Life!
 
PRAYER: Dear Father, we are overwhelmed by Your love that You would send Your Son to die for our sins. We have believed in Him as the Author of Life and we have been born again. Fill us afresh this day with Your Spirit that we might live fully for you. In Jesus’ name, amen.

‘But Peter said, “I don’t have silver or gold, but what I have, I give you: In the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene, get up and walk!”‘ (Acts 3:6 HCSB).

From: June 5, 2021

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. In fact, they looked past his felt need for money to his deeper need for wholeness. Peter and John didn’t have money, but what they did have was better. They gave him Jesus and in Jesus’ name the crippled man was made whole.
 
When we have Jesus, we always have what people need. We don’t have to fear making eye contact with those in need. We may not have what people want, but we certainly have what they need. Give them Jesus. Be willing to look at others and pray for them in the name of Jesus.
 
PRAYER: Dear Father, You have given us Jesus. He is of surpassing worth, more valuable than all the world’s silver and gold. When we see those in need, empower us to meet their deepest need in the name of Jesus. We will not turn our eyes away from the hurting because of Jesus. He saw our need and saved us. Now we are sent as His body to do the same. In Jesus name, amen.

‘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).

From: 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. In fact, they looked past his felt need for money to his deeper need for wholeness. Peter and John didn’t have money, but what they did have was better. When we have Jesus, we always have what people need. We don’t have to fear making eye contact with those in need. We may not have what people want, but we certainly have what they need.
 
PRAYER: Dear Father, You have given us Jesus. He is of surpassing worth, more valuable than all the world’s silver and gold. When we see those in need, empower us to meet their deepest need in the name of Jesus. We will not turn our eyes away from the hurting because of Jesus. He saw our need and saved us. Now we are sent as His body to do the same. In Jesus name, amen.

“You killed the author of life, but God raised him from the dead. And we are witnesses of this fact!” (Acts 3:15 NLT).

From: June 5, 2018

THE CENTRAL FACTS OF THE GOSPEL
Peter boldly proclaimed the central facts of the gospel to the crowd gathered in the Temple. They gathered in order to see how the man lame from birth, was now able to walk. Yet, Peter’s explanation must have been for more than they bargained. He told them that the lame man had been healed through faith in the name of the One they had killed, but God had raised up! He declared that it was faith in the name of Jesus that made the crippled man whole. This declaration hit many in the crowd like a spiritual lightning bolt, so that many believed.
 
What were the central gospel facts that Peter preached?
1) “You killed the Author of Life.” Jesus Christ, the Creator and Source of all life, went to the cross to pay for our sin.
2) “God raised Him from the dead.” The resurrection of Jesus is a central fact of the gospel. Life defeated death!
3) “We are witnesses of this fact.” Peter and the apostles were eye-witnesses of everything Christ had done and of his death, burial and resurrection. This is not second hand news, nor myth. This is reliable, documented fact.
4) Faith in the name of Jesus, the Author of Life, is the only way to be saved and receive eternal life.
 
What irony! What unfathomable mystery! The Author of Life . . . died for our sin? Yet, raised for our justification (Rom. 4:25)? Yes! O yes! These are the central facts of the gospel. We believe the facts. But we put our faith in the Name.

‘Again the anger of the Lord was aroused against Israel, and He moved David against them to say, “Go, number Israel and Judah.”’ (2 Samuel 24:1 NKJV).

From: June 5, 2017

The Scripture does not say why the Lord’s anger was “aroused against Israel.” But pride was the likely culprit. For the Word of the Lord rightly says, “God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble” (Prov. 3:34, James 4:6). And in this one verse the word “against” is mentioned twice to describe the Lord’s opposition towards Israel.
 
Pride is the root of spiritual rebellion and God hates it. And David was “moved” to an act of pride by calling for a national census. Satan was no doubt involved in this temptation of David (1 Chron. 21:1), yet it was the Lord who allowed David to be the instrument of both His wrath and of His mercy.
 
The Lord sought to cure Israel and Israel’s king of their national pride, that they might humble themselves and instead take pride in the Lord Himself.
 
Be careful about taking pride in a people, place or nation for you will find yourself an opponent of the Lord. Instead, be humble and join the Lord’s side that His grace might be poured out upon you.

“…and that he may send the Christ appointed for you, Jesus, whom heaven must receive until the time for restoring all the things about which God spoke by the mouth of his holy prophets long ago” (Acts 3:20-21 ESV)

From: June 5, 2016

To the worshipers in the Temple courts who wondered at the healing of the lame man, Peter explained that the source of the healing power came from Jesus the Christ. He told them that this was the same Jesus they had crucified, but whom God had raised from the dead, ascended to heaven and who would soon return. Therefore, he challenged them to “repent” and “turn back” to believe in Jesus, so that their sins might be forgiven and that they would be ready for Christ’s appointed return. The Jews were looking for a Christ, a Messiah, that would set up an earthly kingdom and dwell with them as king, so it was important that Peter explained to them the prophetic reason why the Christ had ascended to heaven “until the time” of restoration. Peter was an eye witness to Christ’s ascension, and he had heard with his own ears, Christ’s promise to return. So, he preached with a sense of urgency and expectation that the Father would soon send Christ back again to restore all things.

“The heart of the wise teaches his mouth, and adds learning to his lips” (Proverbs 16:23 NKJV)

From: June 5, 2015

Knowledge informs the mind, but wisdom controls the mouth. The fruit of the lips reveals the character of the heart. Does wisdom rule there? In Proverbs, wisdom is always seen as being from God alone. Therefore, asking does wisdom rule is the same as asking, “Does God rule?” Who monitors your mouth?

“But Peter said, ‘I don’t have any silver or gold for you. But I’ll give you what I have. In the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene, get up and walk!'” (Acts 3:6 NLT)

From: June 5, 2014

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.” They weren’t afraid of his need. In fact, they looked past his felt need for money to his deeper need for wholeness. Peter and John didn’t have money, but what they did have was better. When we have Jesus, we always have what people need. We don’t have to fear making eye contact with those in need. We may not have what people want, but we certainly have what they need.