<>< THE BOOK OF ACTS <><
From Touchpoint:
The switch on the flashlight clicks. But instead of a bright beam piercing the darkness, there is only a faint yellow glow. The batteries are weak and low; there is not much power left.
Sometimes our Christian life is like that. We want to shine brightly for the Lord, to accomplish great things for him. But instead we let off only a dull flicker. We lack the power of the Holy Spirit, relying instead on or own energy to fuel our Christian walk. It is not enough!
Jesus told His followers that they would have power when the Holy Spirit came upon them. The Book of Acts record's the Spirit's coming and what happened when the early disciples allowed His power to fuel their lives and work for the Lord.
The coming of the Holy Spirit was not something the disciples accomplished. They prayed and submitted themselves to the Lord. He did the rest, sending the Holy Spirit to empower them for life and for service.
Acts is often called the Acts of the Apostles, but it is more properly described as the Acts of the Holy Spirit through the Apostles. The first half is the story of Peter's ministry; the second half is the story of Paul's ministry. And scattered throughout are empowered works of others such as Barnabas, Silas, Stephen, and Phillip. They were heroic figures because they were plugged in to the ultimate power source: God's Holy Spirit. This book shows us just how brightly we can shine when this happens.
Acts tells the story of the birth of the Christian church. The Gospels tell the story of what Jesus began to do on earth; Acts tells the story of what he continued to do through the Holy Spirit. It is a book about what happens when Christians obediently take the Gospel to lost people. It is a book about the power to live a dynamic Christian life, the power to tell others about God's love, and the power to carry us through persecution and trouble.
Whether you lack power in prayer, in your walk with the Lord, in your witnessing, in your service to the church, or simply in your ability to cope with adverse circumstances, Acts is the book to read to discover how to energize your Christian life. It is the powerhouse for believers! |
