Jesus follower

THE STORY OF JESUS: Acts 13:4-12 “Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit, looked straight at Elymas and said…” (Acts 13:9) I have never experienced the Spirit’s leading like this. As Jesus-followers, we all have the Spirit of Jesus. (Matthew 10:19-20). The Spirit is not a power we control when, where and how we please. We surrender control to…

THE STORY OF JESUS: Acts 12:25-13:3 “While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said…” (Acts 13:2) I can’t recall ever worshiping and fasting as a church like this. Fasting has not been a part of our church tradition (I’ve fasted personally). I like how it’s not about fasting, but about worshiping and praying,…

THE STORY OF JESUS: Acts 12:19-24 “But the word of God continued to spread and flourish.” (Acts 12:24) This story presents a contrast between the way of Herod, and the way of Jesus. The message of Herod (his public address, v.21) ends in his death. The message of Jesus ends in death too, but like seed it…

THE STORY OF JESUS: Psalm 135 “Our Lord is greater than all gods.” (Psalm 135:5) There is only one God, but there are many pictures of God. These pictures (‘gods’) are projections from our minds, ways that we see God. God warns people against making pictures (idols) because they always fall short. When this psalm speaks about…

THE STORY OF JESUS: Colossians 3-4 “For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God.” (Colossians 3:3) When we surrender our lives to Jesus, our identity is changed. I am no longer Norm, I am Norm in Christ, and Christ in me. The old me was cursed, doomed, defeated, trapped, hopeless, weak. Because…

THE STORY OF JESUS: Colossians 1-2 “A life worthy of the Lord… bearing fruit in every good work!” (Colossians 1:10) Paul is very encouraged by how the Colossian disciples are doing (1:3-7). But he is still praying fervently for them, as he senses they may be losing their focus. He repeatedly stresses the’fullness’ and ‘completeness’ of Christ….

THE STORY OF JESUS: Acts 12:12-19 “When they opened the door and saw him, they were astonished.” (Acts 12:16) The disciples were gathered in fear, desperately praying for Peter’s release. When someone is pounding on the door at night, their fear intensifies. Rhoda sneaks to the door, sees Peter, then forgets to open it in her shock….

THE STORY OF JESUS: Acts 12:1-11 “Herod had James, the brother of John, put to death with the sword.” (Acts 12:2) This story is about how the Lord miraculously rescues Peter from prison. But what I notice is how James is NOT miraculously rescued. James and John had asked to sit at Jesus’s right hand in His…

THE STORY OF JESUS: Acts 11:19-30 “Those who had been scattered… began to speak to the Greeks also” (Acts 11:19-20) God has made us to be His voice, His hands, His feet. When humanity sinned, He has been sending people as messengers to call us back. But God’s messengers are not always eager or willing (like Jonah)….