The Acts Church: A Spirit-Led Model for Today’s Believers

I have been thinking a lot about the Acts church in the Bible. Could we do something like that in today's world, in the communities we live in?

The Acts Church: A Spirit-Led Model for Today’s Believers

1. Spirit-Filled and United

After Pentecost (Acts 2), the outpouring of the Holy Spirit wasn’t just a moment of empowerment — it was a divine recalibration of community. Believers were knit together in supernatural unity, transcending personal agendas and cultural divides.

• “Of one heart and soul” (Acts 4:32) wasn’t just poetic — it was a lived reality of shared mission and mutual love.

• Their unity was rooted not in uniformity, but in shared surrender to Christ.

• Today, this challenges us to ask: Are we united by the Spirit or divided by preference?

2. Devoted to the Apostles’ Teaching

Acts 2:42 highlights a rhythm of devotion — not casual interest, but intentional immersion.

• The apostles’ teaching centered on Jesus as Messiah, the fulfillment of prophecy, and the call to repentance and new life.

• This wasn’t just theological — it was transformational. Their worldview shifted from law to grace, from temple to indwelling Spirit.

• In our time, devotion to sound teaching guards against false doctrine and fuels spiritual maturity.

3. Sharing and Caring for One Another

Acts 2:44–45 and 4:34 reveal a radical generosity that defied economic norms.

• Their giving wasn’t transactional — it was sacrificial and Spirit-led.

• They didn’t just meet needs; they dismantled poverty within their community.

• This models a theology of stewardship: trusting God enough to release resources for the good of others.

4. Worship and Fellowship

Their worship was both vertical (praising God) and horizontal (breaking bread together).

• Communion was not only remembrance but reaffirmation — a shared identity in Christ.

• “Glad and sincere hearts” (Acts 2:46–47) reflect joy that flowed from grace, not circumstance.

• Fellowship wasn’t an event — it was a lifestyle of presence, vulnerability, and celebration.

5. Evangelistic and Mission-Oriented

Evangelism wasn’t a program — it was the natural overflow of transformed lives.

• The gospel spread organically and intentionally, through testimony and sending.

• Acts 2:47 shows that salvation was a daily reality, not a rare occurrence.

• The church didn’t wait for people to come — they went out, crossing borders and barriers.

6. Diverse but Equal

The inclusion of Gentiles, women, and the marginalized was revolutionary.

• Acts 10 (Peter and Cornelius) marks a theological earthquake: God shows no partiality.

• This wasn’t just social reform — it was divine revelation.

• The early church embodied Galatians 3:28 before it was written: “There is neither Jew nor Greek… for you are all one in Christ Jesus.”

7. Guided by Prayer and the Holy Spirit

Prayer wasn’t a ritual — it was their operating system.

• Acts 13:2–3 shows that decisions were birthed in worship and fasting, not strategy alone.

• The Spirit’s guidance was active, specific, and trusted.

• This invites today’s church to return to dependence — not on charisma or planning, but on divine direction.

Final Reflection:

The Acts community was:

A Spirit-empowered, Christ-centered, radically generous, and mission-driven fellowship — diverse in background, united in purpose, and devoted to truth, worship, and one another.

How do we know we are listening to the Right LORD?

 

How Can You Know You're Listening to the Right Lord?

As I reflect on this question, it becomes clear that true discernment begins with being part of God's kingdom. According to John 17:2, entrance into that kingdom comes through eternal life—a gift given by Jesus Christ.

But what is eternal life? Jesus defines it in John 17:3: it is the sure and intimate knowledge of the Father, the one true God, and of Jesus Christ, whom the Father sent. This isn't just intellectual assent; it's relational certainty.

So how can you know you're in the kingdom of God—and thus listening to the right Lord? Your life will reflect the character and example of Jesus. The way He lived on earth becomes the blueprint for those who truly follow Him. His compassion, truth, humility, and obedience to the Father are not just admirable traits—they're signs of kingdom citizenship.

Is God's Protection Absolute?

Sunday morning, I thought of an interesting question: Is God's protection absolute?

I was thinking about several things that led me to this question.

• We live in scary times. The United States of America is changing to an authoritarian style government under Trump and his regime. I am still hopeful that things might change to get us back to the American dream, that All Men are Created Equal, as the preamble to our constitution suggests. I have often thought about how badly non-white people have been treated by white people in the past. Maybe this is God giving us white people a taste of what we have dished out for so many years.
• Anyway, I remembered several things mentioned in the Bible and also things that Yeshua (Jesus) said.

In His final moments before the crucifixion, Jesus lifted His eyes to heaven and prayed—not for Himself, but for those the Father had given Him. This intimate plea, recorded in John 17, reveals the heart of divine protection: “Holy Father, protect them by the power of your name” (John 17:12-15). These are not casual followers; they are citizens of the kingdom, reborn through faith, who know the Father and the Son and thus possess eternal life. Jesus’ request was not for worldly safety alone, but for spiritual preservation—protection from the evil one (John 17:15), sanctification through truth (John 17:17), and unity grounded in divine love. His prayer echoes through time, reminding us that eternal life is not merely a future promise but a present reality rooted in relationship. To know God is to be known by Him—and to be kept by Him. In a world of uncertainty, this assurance becomes our anchor: that those who belong to Christ are held securely in the hands of the Father.

This raises a profound question: if Jesus Himself asked the Father to protect His own, does that mean God’s protection is absolute? Or does it operate within a divine framework that allows suffering, testing, and growth? The answer may lie not in the absence of hardship, but in the presence of God through it. Protection, in the biblical sense, is not a guarantee of comfort—it is a promise of preservation. It is the assurance that no matter what trials we face, our identity in Christ remains secure, our purpose intact, and our eternal life untouched.

• Jesus is known as the Good Sheperd. The good shepherd protects his flock. Even when one sheep goes missing, he goes searching for it, relentlessly, until he finds it.

So is God’s protection absolute? In one sense, yes—because it is anchored in His character, not our circumstances. Jesus’ prayer in John 17 reveals a divine commitment to preserve those who are His, not from every storm, but through them. The apostles faced persecution, believers today endure trials, and yet the promise remains: “While I was with them, I protected them and kept them safe by that name you gave me” (John 17:12). This protection is not a shield from suffering but a seal of belonging. It is the assurance that no force—seen or unseen—can sever us from the love of God in Christ. To be protected by God is to be held in purpose, refined in truth, and sustained by grace. And that, perhaps, is the most absolute protection of all.

Lead Us to the Way

Lately, I’ve been reflecting deeply on the state of our United States of America. Under the leadership of Donald J. Trump, I fear we are drifting away from the democratic ideals enshrined in our Constitution and inching toward an autocracy—one increasingly shaped by the will of a single man.

I keep asking myself: Is there anything we can do to halt this progression—or at least slow it down? One word keeps rising to the surface: prayer.

Prayer is powerful. What if we began praying—not just for ourselves, but for one another? For our leaders, even those who seem to be leading us down dark and uncertain paths. For people across the globe, especially those caught in the devastation of war. What if we prayed without ceasing?

Jesus said:

John 14:6 (NIV) Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”

Let us pray that we all find the way—the truth about ourselves that leads to repentance and ultimately to eternal life. Imagine what eternal life truly means: freedom from sin, entrance into God’s kingdom, and the peace that surpasses understanding.

John 17:2–3 (NIV) “For you granted him authority over all people that he might give eternal life to all those you have given him. Now this is eternal life: that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent.”

May we be led to the Way. May we know the truth. And may we live in the light of eternal peace.

Eternal Life

🌿 Eternal Life: Beyond Time and Into God's Kingdom

What Is Eternal Life?

I’ve often wondered why the Bible calls it eternal life. Jesus defines it in John 17:3 as knowing the Father, the one true God, and Jesus Christ, whom He sent. In the original Greek, the word translated “know” is ginosko—meaning to know absolutely, to be sure, to understand deeply.

So, what is eternal life? Is it simply living forever, or is it the fullness of knowing God? That question has lingered in my heart.

Time and the Human Condition

This morning, I was talking with my wife, and she offered a profound insight: it has to do with time. We live in a world governed by time. We’re born, we live for a finite span, and then we die. But in God’s realm, time doesn’t exist. He always was, and He always will be.

Because of sin, God set a limit on human life. Today, 120 years seems to be the outer boundary—a reflection, perhaps, of the declaration in Genesis 6:3. But this limit is not imposed on God. He exists outside of time, and His kingdom is timeless.

The Sons of God and the Nephilim

Genesis 6 introduces a mysterious and troubling moment: angels who separated themselves from Father God and took human wives. Their offspring—the Nephilim—were corrupt and violent. These beings may well be the origin of the gods in Greek mythology.

God instructed Noah to build the ark, a task that may have taken up to 120 years. During that time, warnings were given. The people were told of the coming flood, but they didn’t believe and refused to change. Eventually, judgment came. The flood destroyed everything except Noah, his family, and the creatures aboard the ark.

The Rise of Evil Spirits

I believe this is where evil spirits entered the world. When the Nephilim died, their spirits remained—disembodied and restless. They wander the earth, seeking human hosts to inhabit and possess. Throughout the New Testament, we see Jesus and His disciples casting out these spirits, confronting their influence directly.

Returning to Eternal Life

In God’s kingdom, there are no time constraints. Eternal life is not just endless existence—it’s entrance into God’s timeless realm. It’s communion with the Father, through the Son.

“I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” — John 14:6 (NIV)

“For you granted him [Jesus] authority over all people that he might give eternal life to all those you have given him. Now this is eternal life: that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent.” — John 17:2–3 (NIV)

The Kingdom Within Reach

Jesus came not only to save us, but to teach us about the kingdom of heaven—Father God’s kingdom. Though He is no longer physically present on earth, He continues to teach us through the Helper, the Holy Spirit.

Eternal life is not just a future promise—it’s a present reality for those who know God. It’s stepping out of time and into truth. It’s living in the fullness of divine relationship.

🛐 Reflection and Prayer

Reflection Question: Are you living with an awareness of eternity today? How does knowing God reshape your understanding of time and purpose?

Prayer: Father God, thank You for the gift of eternal life—not just as a promise of forever, but as a present invitation to know You deeply. Help me to live beyond the limits of time, anchored in Your truth and guided by Your Spirit. Teach me to walk in Your kingdom now, with eyes fixed on what is eternal. In Jesus' name, Amen.

The Gospel of John.

In my opinion, the Gospel of John is maybe the most important book in the Bible, to read and study. And here is why:

It is believed that John is the author of the book, and he is none other than the apostle John. He was one of the first disciples that Yeshua (Jesus) chose along with his brother James. He was with Jesus the whole time. He was an eyewitness. He personally experienced Jesus. He was one of the three who Jesus took with him up on a mountain known as the mount of transfiguration. (Luke 9:28-36). He is the one whom Jesus loved. He and Jesus' mother, Mary, were there when Jesus was crucified. Jesus was concerned with his mother, Mary. Some of Jesus' last words were for John to take care of her. 

 John 19:26-27

New International Version

26 When Jesus saw his mother there, and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he said to her, “Woman, here is your son,” 27 and to the disciple, “Here is your mother.” From that time on, this disciple took her into his home.

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John was a witness of Jesus' resurrection. He was one of the first to see the empty tomb. John was witness to the resurrected Jesus during the 40 days before Jesus was taken up into heaven. John saw that too.

Think about it. John took Mary, the mother of Jesus, as his mother. The two of them together for a very long time. I can just imagine the stories they must have told each other during their time together; the mother of Jesus and the one Jesus loved!

When you get into the gospel of John, there are some deep hidden truths. Things that only he would know. John chapter 17 is one of my favorites

John 17

New International Version

Jesus Prays to Be Glorified

17 After Jesus said this, he looked toward heaven and prayed:

“Father, the hour has come. Glorify your Son, that your Son may glorify you. 2 For you granted him authority over all people that he might give eternal life to all those you have given him. 3 Now this is eternal life: that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent. 4 I have brought you glory on earth by finishing the work you gave me to do. 5 And now, Father, glorify me in your presence with the glory I had with you before the world began.

Jesus Prays for His Disciples

6 “I have revealed you[a] to those whom you gave me out of the world. They were yours; you gave them to me and they have obeyed your word. 7 Now they know that everything you have given me comes from you. 8 For I gave them the words you gave me and they accepted them. They knew with certainty that I came from you, and they believed that you sent me. 9 I pray for them. I am not praying for the world, but for those you have given me, for they are yours. 10 All I have is yours, and all you have is mine. And glory has come to me through them. 11 I will remain in the world no longer, but they are still in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, protect them by the power of[b] your name, the name you gave me, so that they may be one as we are one. 12 While I was with them, I protected them and kept them safe by[c] that name you gave me. None has been lost except the one doomed to destruction so that Scripture would be fulfilled.

13 “I am coming to you now, but I say these things while I am still in the world, so that they may have the full measure of my joy within them. 14 I have given them your word and the world has hated them, for they are not of the world any more than I am of the world. 15 My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one. 16 They are not of the world, even as I am not of it. 17 Sanctify them by[d] the truth; your word is truth. 18 As you sent me into the world, I have sent them into the world. 19 For them I sanctify myself, that they too may be truly sanctified.

Jesus Prays for All Believers

20 “My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, 21 that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. 22 I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one— 23 I in them and you in me—so that they may be brought to complete unity. Then the world will know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.

24 “Father, I want those you have given me to be with me where I am, and to see my glory, the glory you have given me because you loved me before the creation of the world.

25 “Righteous Father, though the world does not know you, I know you, and they know that you have sent me. 26 I have made you[e] known to them, and will continue to make you known in order that the love you have for me may be in them and that I myself may be in them.”

 

Why Would God Want to Help Us?

 Posted July 7, 2025

A Nation in Mourning

Over the July 4th holiday, devastating flooding swept through the Texas Hill Country. More than 100 people have lost their lives—many of them children. Dozens are still missing. The sorrow is almost too much to bear.

And so, the familiar question arises:

“Why did God let this happen?”

A Harder Question

But maybe we need to ask a deeper question:

“What do we expect from God when we disregard the world He entrusted to us?”

For decades, scientists have sounded the alarm that human activity—especially the burning of fossil fuels—is disrupting Earth’s climate. Many in power still resist change. Comfort outweighs conscience. Short-term gain silences long-term wisdom.

So again: Why would God want to help us if we refuse to help ourselves?

Scripture and Stewardship

“The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it.” — Psalm 24:1 (NIV)

God gave humanity dominion (Genesis 1:28), not for exploitation, but stewardship. We were entrusted with creation. But when dominion becomes domination, suffering often follows.

When the Earth Took a Breath

During the early months of COVID-19 lockdowns, the planet responded to humanity’s pause:

• Cleaner air in cities like Los Angeles and New Delhi

• Historic drop in CO₂ emissions

• Wildlife sightings in long-developed areas

• Clearer waters and quieter urban environments

It was as if creation exhaled—a temporary sabbath from human disruption. But the moment was fleeting. We quickly returned to old patterns.

The Red Warning of Mars

Other nations are pressing toward clean energy. The U.S., in contrast, continues to reverse key environmental protections. And that brings Mars to mind. Scientists believe it may once have resembled Earth. Today, its atmosphere is composed of 95.3% carbon dioxide.

Is that a warning written in red dust?

So Why Does God Still Help?

“Do you show contempt for the riches of his kindness… not realizing that God’s kindness is intended to lead you to repentance?” — Romans 2:4 (NIV)

God is patient. In His mercy, He gives us:

• Wisdom to change course

• Prophetic voices that sound the alarm

• Glimpses of hope—like the Earth's healing breath during COVID

What we need now is repentance—not just spiritual, but ecological.

God hasn’t abandoned us.

Maybe He’s waiting for us to become the stewards we were created to be.