Get your head out of the clouds

Get your head out of the clouds (Acts 1:1-11)

    The disciples had the great privilege of seeing Jesus Ascend. Can you image being there for that event? And as they stood in owe struck wonder, the angel said “what are you looking at”, He is coming back the same way he just left. The implication is, stop staring at the sky and get busy. Jesus had already told them that they were to be witnesses through the power of the Holy Spirit.

    If we are not careful we can get our heads in the clouds as well. We can get caught up in all the church does instead of what it is about. We can tangle ourselves in end time predictions. We can let the cares of this life distract our attention, but the bottom line is “be a witness”. We must get our heads out of the clouds and serve Jesus till he comes.

Time for a business meeting (Acts 1:12-26)

    If we all were completely honest, we would probably have to admit that we do not enjoy the business end of church. Many have horror stories about meetings gone wrong, sometimes people say, “well, I just don’t get into the politics of church (politics of church, that sounds ugly doesn’t it). Unfortunately there are decisions that have to be made. I really believe that if supreme love for God and mutual love for one another is the norm (and it should be), there is nothing to be concerned about. God can show us his will and together we can work through any decision.

What are tongues for (Acts 2:1-39)

    Tongues are a controversial subject. Yet here it is very clear that they were speaking other languages that could be understood by people that were there that day. It was not some unknown language. The Bible has more to say about tongues in 1 Corinthians 12-14. But in short God gave the gift of tongues and some other miracle gifts as a tool until the word of God was completed. I am amazed at what many are doing today and calling tongues.

    I served as a missionary in Kenya Africa for two years and in my time there I studied and learned Swahili. I found it interesting that the missionaries there that say they believe in the use of tongues in our time also went to language school. If tongues are still in use today, why did they not step off the plane speaking Swahili?

What does it mean to become a member of the church? (Acts 2:40-47)

    Verse 47 says that the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved. Does that mean that everybody who is saved is automatically part of the church? No everybody that is saved is part of the family of God. God was adding these people that were getting saved to the church in Jerusalem. So what does one do to become and be (really be) a member of the church.

1.       Gladly receive the word of salvation (41)

2.       Be baptized (41)

3.       Be added to the membership of the church (41)

4.       Continue steadfastly in the things of the church (42)