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I love reading the book of Acts. It is so amazing to see the new church that Jesus established fired up and active. In Acts chapter 5 some amazing things continued to take place. Here is what it says in verses 12-16.
12 And through the hands of the apostles many signs and wonders were done among the people. And they were all with one accord in Solomon’s Porch. 13 Yet none of the rest dared join them, but the people esteemed them highly. 14 And believers were increasingly added to the Lord, multitudes of both men and women, 15 so that they brought the sick out into the streets and laid them on beds and couches, that at least the shadow of Peter passing by might fall on some of them. 16 Also a multitude gathered from the surrounding cities to Jerusalem, bringing sick people and those who were tormented by unclean spirits, and they were all healed.
There are some miraculous things going on in this passage. There was unity, there was awe at the work of God, there was supernatural church growth, there were healings, there was the power of God at work with the believers, even without them knowing it, and the sick and demon possessed were ALL healed. Amazing!
Of course we know that this didn’t make the religious people happy, they were really bent out of shape. But the people who had a relationship with Jesus, and those who would soon be a part of the family of God were very happy! The results were amazing. God’s Word was working, and active and Jesus was confirming the Word that was being preached, taught and lived, with miraculous signs following, all because believers were being obedient to share the message in the power of the Holy Spirit. Let’s be about doing that too!

What a beautiful thing was happening in the book of Acts. People were getting excited about serving God. There were signs and wonders, healing and miraculous events taking place. The name of Jesus was being preached, and God’s goodness was being manifested. Evil had to leave. The kingdom of God was expanding every day.

Sometimes in our world, it seems like people who believe are a little bit bored with the fact that they live for God or serve the Lord. They aren’t excited about sharing the message of God’s goodness and have to drag themselves to church, they barely talk to God or crack open God’s Word. If we want the same kind of results with they had in the book of Acts, we are going to have to stir ourselves up about this fabulous God we serve. These were believers who actually believed! Many more believed, because their was power in the disciples words. They were not only filled with the Spirit of God, they were full and running over. People were hearing the message of salvation, getting baptized in water and then they wanted more. They wanted to be filled with the Spirit of God, like the disciples.

Being filled with the Spirit was brand new, and there was not only supernatural power, there was natural momentum at work. Let’s be the believers who operate in supernatural power, but also recognize that being spirit filled is not boring or mundane. We can get excited about the message of Jesus, and see supernatural growth in God’s kingdom and many more can believe!

In John chapter 16. Verse 7 says that if Jesus does not go away, the helper will not come. But when Jesus leaves, He will send the Helper to us. He even helps us when we pray as it says in John 16:26. I love having help! One of my love languages is acts of service, so to have someone come along side me and help me with what I am doing is the best ever! If I am working in my garden, decorating a room, organizing and planning an event, I love having someone beside me, or working with me to accomplish a task. As a wife, I love to be a helper to my husband. I think as spouses, we should try to shine our light on each other, to make each other shine brighter. One of the best questions we can ask each other is, “How can I be of help to you today?” But on an even deeper level, we have the Holy Spirit as a helper to live our best life for God. He asks us this question every day, “How can I be of help to you toady? What do you need help with? If you are going through overwhelming circumstances, the Helper is there for you. If you need revelation from the Word of God, The Helper is there to give you what you need. If you have questions, or if you need comfort, The Helper is there to comfort you. If you need help, all we have to do is ask. He is there for us. Our Helper, the Holy Spirit

One of the most important decisions in my life after choosing to become a Christian was to be spirit filled. We are continuing to talk about the Holy Spirit and how He can empower us to do great things for God. Hi, this is Dorette Schaal with your dailyeword. The Holy Spirit is relevant for us, because Jesus said when He went away, that the Holy Spirit would be here with us to stay. What a promise. Let’s learn some more about the work of the Holy Spirit in you.

I love the song by Casting Crowns that talks about spreading the Word far and wide. It says we should sing until the whole world hears. Being a singer and a musician, I love the thought of singing people into the kingdom. In the book of Acts, the Word was traveling like wildfire. Like a song that everyone is singing, everywhere the apostles went, people were asking about what had on the day of Pentecost. How could they have this amazing gift. In Acts chapter 8 it says,
“Now when the apostles (special messengers) at Jerusalem heard that [the country of] Samaria had accepted and welcomed the Word of God, they sent Peter and John to them,
15 And they came down and prayed for them that the Samaritans might receive the Holy Spirit;
16 For He had not yet fallen upon any of them, but they had only been baptized into the name of the Lord Jesus.
17 Then [the apostles] laid their hands on them one by one, and they received the Holy Spirit.”

What had started in the upper room, was now a wave of blessing traveling from one place to the next. They knew about salvation in the name of Jesus and were asking about how to receive the Holy Spirit. Peter and John were sent to them and they also received the Holy Spirit.

The power was in them, and moved through them as they ministered to others, so that they could experience this awesome gift as well. What had begun with a small group of people, was taking off to change the world. How amazing to see the same gift of the Holy Spirit still being effective today on us as believers in Jesus. I’m so glad I heard the Word and received. I hope you have too!

What would you do if Jesus personally said to you, “be filled with the Holy Spirit.”? If you ever had any doubt that Jesus wanted you to be full of the Holy Spirit, that question would be answered! Jesus said this to his followers in John 20:20-22

20 So saying, He showed them His hands and His side. And when the disciples saw the Lord, they were filled with joy (delight, exultation, ecstasy, rapture).
21 Then Jesus said to them again, Peace to you! [Just] as the Father has sent Me forth, so I am sending you.
22 And having said this, He breathed on them and said to them, Receive the Holy Spirit!

If you have ever had a doubt that Jesus wants you filled with the Holy Spirit, having a personal experience with Jesus would take all doubt away! I have talked to people who have thought that they were the exception, that everyone else but them could be filled with the Spirit and speak with new tongues. Why would anyone want to be an exception! Let’s get all that God has for us. In the book of Acts, over and over it says, “they were all filled” and “they began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance.” Today is the day that we celebrate the Day of Pentecost, when the Holy Spirit was poured out on the earth. It is the day that Christians received power to be witnesses and the power to live life empowered by the Holy Spirit. If you have never been filled, why not make it your day today!

John 12:46-50 says this:
“I have come as a Light into the world, so that whoever believes in Me [whoever cleaves to and trusts in and relies on Me] may not continue to live in darkness.
47 If anyone hears My teachings and fails to observe them [does not keep them, but disregards them], it is not I who judges him. For I have not come to judge and to condemn and to pass sentence and to inflict penalty on the world, but to save the world.
48 Anyone who rejects Me and persistently sets Me at naught, refusing to accept My teachings, has his judge [however]; for the [very] message that I have spoken will itself judge and convict him at the last day.
49 This is because I have never spoken on My own authority or of My own accord or as self-appointed, but the Father Who sent Me has Himself given Me orders [concerning] what to say and what to tell.
50 And I know that His commandment is (means) eternal life. So whatever I speak, I am saying [exactly] what My Father has told Me to say and in accordance with His instructions.”

Jesus laid it out pretty plainly. He wants us to live in the light. But we have a choice. If we choose not to live in the light, we make our own trouble! We want to be the open to His leading, His teaching, and His instruction. How we do that is practice listening, read the Word, and listen to the pastor He has placed in our life to teach the Word to us. We all know that wrong choices come with consequences, but right choices come with results too! They just happen to be good! We get more blessing and favor in our life. Even if persecution comes with our right choices, we get the satisfaction of knowing that what we stand for is what Jesus died for. Let’s stay open and teachable. That is how we live the blessed life!

In John chapter 1, we see that Jesus is the Word made flesh. In verses 11 and 12 it says,

“He came to that which belonged to Him [to His own—His domain, creation, things, world], and they who were His own did not receive Him and did not welcome Him.
It must have been heart rendering to know that Jesus came to be received, and many did not receive Him. How much more obvious could it have been that He was The Messiah, The Son of God? But to the ones that did, verse 12 applies.

“But to as many as did receive and welcome Him, He gave the authority (power, privilege, right) to become the children of God, that is, to those who believe in (adhere to, trust in, and rely on) His name.”

We have the same option today. We can receive Jesus and the Gift of the Holy Spirit and receive all that God has for us, and the bonus of His power, privilege and rights. Sounds like we get the best end of this deal! Jesus came to us and for us, and when we welcome Him into our life initially, and then everyday give Him the right to our heart and life. We are the beneficiaries of tremendous benefits. The option not to receive seems silly. Let’s get all that God has for us. Let’s be teachable and stay full of the Holy Spirit! That’s the way we will live the abundant life that Jesus promised.

It intrigues me to watch guide dogs help a physically impaired or blind person navigate a new area. They have confidence in each other, and they depend completely on the dog’s ability to guide them. Their trust is in the dog, and they know it will not take them into any place where there would be danger, but only into safety. I think of these verses in John 16:13-14 when I think about being led in the same way by the Holy Spirit.

3 But when He, the Spirit of Truth (the Truth-giving Spirit) comes, He will guide you into all the Truth (the whole, full Truth). For He will not speak His own message [on His own authority]; but He will tell whatever He hears [from the Father; He will give the message that has been given to Him], and He will announce and declare to you the things that are to come [that will happen in the future].
14 He will honor and glorify Me, because He will take of (receive, draw upon) what is Mine and will reveal (declare, disclose, transmit) it to you.

The amplified Bible uses lots of words, some people call it the woman’s bible – touché! But the words are true! The Holy Spirit is the one who guides us into the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth! He speaks the words of the Father, and reveals important things to us. I also love the word picture of the Holy Spirit giving us light for each step we take. Not only do we have the Word of God to bring light to our pathway, the Holy Spirit is there to assist us as well. Amazing! Thank you Holy Spirit for being our personal guide

The verses in John 14:16-18 are such beautiful words of comfort. Jesus prayed to the Father to give us another comforter when He would no longer be present on the earth. He wanted the Holy Spirit to come to us and live with us forever. His desire was that the Holy Spirit dwell with us and be in us to empower us to do the works of God. We weren’t left without a power source, and we weren’t left with out someone to comfort us. What more could we ask for? If Jesus had to go away, He did the very best thing for us. We all can experience the presence of God because the Holy Spirit has come to stay! He will never leave us! He came to stay. What a wonderful promise. This wonderful gift from Jesus is to be filled with the Holy Spirit and to experience His power at work within us. Filled to overflowing, and continuing to be refilled daily by spending time in His presence, and praying in the Holy Spirit. We all have friends or family who have experienced a loss of a family member, and when they leave, they feel lost, just like the disciples did without Jesus. I love the promise from God that the Holy Spirit is here to comfort those who are hurting. When we feel alone, we are not alone. When we feel lost, we are not lost. The Holy Spirit is with us, to live in us and dwell with us forever. Praise the Lord for His amazing comfort.

I love being a part of a growing church. From a handful of people in 1988, that started church in a home for a few weeks, then moved to the Elizabeth Street Y for 5 years, to having our own great Amazing Grace Fellowship facility here in Twin Falls, with lots of growing room across the street from our facility, it is amazing to see what God has done in 26 years. With church plants in other cities and our recent addition of a campus in Heyburn, God has proved Himself very faithful. As happy as we are with where we have come from, we are even more excited about what is ahead. All progress seems good!

It seems almost unfair that the church in Acts grew by 3000 members in one day. Then 5000 were added another day. Talk about taking it to the next level! I love hearing about churches where people are lined up to get into church on Sunday. How cool that church is the cool place to be! Let’s have that kind of excitement about being a part of what God is doing. The best place to be each time the church doors swing open is in church! Let’s be enthusiastic, and joy filled as we come to church, and as we determine to bring others with us. Seven to eight out of ten people who are asked to come to church will come. That’s a pretty great percentage. Do some asking! Do some calling! Do some texting! Let’s start a trend. How many more can we pack in the building? Let’s fill every seat, every service. Let’s amp up our church growth, just like they did in Acts, chapter 2 . Each number is a person, and people matter to God.