From Pastor's Desk

Greetings! As we continue through the book of Acts, we see the growth and spread of the Apostolic message throughout the Middle East and Asia Minor. There was a common thread that manifested itself in all the Apostles and disciples – that is, "the Spirit of God in Action", was in control and guided their every action. In this account in Acts Chapter 13, we see the church in Antioch, Syria grew to the point where the gift of prophecy and teaching began to manifest. These prophets and teachers, Barnabas, Simeon, Lucius and Manaen, while worshipping the Lord in prayer and fasting, heard the Spirit of God in action with a clear directive, "Set apart for me, Barnabas and Saul for...

The miraculous deliverance of Apostle Peter from prison attracted the attention of the soldiers who were charged with securing him. When daylight came and they did not see their high valued target in prison, Dr. Luke said that these soldiers were at a loss on how Peter could not be found. King Herod was informed of this "escape" and sent out a contingent of soldiers to find Peter. This ‘search party" did not find Peter and the soldiers who were on guard for the night when Peter "escaped" were court marshalled and sentenced to death. Herod then left Judea and went down to Caesarea and abode there for a while to "cool off", about Peter’s disappearance from prison. This same Herod...

In writing last week, we saw the imprisonment of Apostle Peter as a result of Herod's vindictive wrath upon the church and because Herod saw it pleased the religious Jewish leaders to do so. However, we also saw Apostle Peter’s great deliverance from prison. Peter having come to the realization that he was miraculously delivered by the Spirit of God in action, realized where he was, and decided to go to the house of Mary the mother of John, where they usually gathered for prayer meetings. The scripture says that when Peter got there, he knocked at the gate of the house and a young lady by the name of Rhoda came to open the gate when she heard the knocking....

Greetings! As Dr. Luke continues the historical account of the early church during the period AD 33 - AD 60, we see for the first time the diabolical actions of Satan as he tried to oppose and destroy the move of God. Satan used one of the most evil Kings of the Roman Empire, Herod, to "vex" certain of the church. This Herod killed James the brother of John with the sword, and as a result, James became the first martyr in this period for the name of Jesus Christ. The scriptures say that this political action by King Herod pleased the unbelieving hierarchy of Jews, and being an opportunist, he proceeded further to take Apostle Peter during the days of...

The scriptures in this lesson reveals once again the mighty move of the spirit of God in action, as the disciples moved further away from Jerusalem as persecution against preaching of the one God doctrine intensified. Many of the disciples travelled as far away as Cyprus and Antioch (Syria) preaching the Lord Jesus. The hand of the Lord was with them and a great number believed and turned to the Lord. Dr. Luke records in verse 22, that the good news of the Spirit of God in action throughout the Mediterranean area of the Middle east, came unto the Church in Jerusalem, and they sent forth Barnabas to visit these disciples and new converts who were preaching the gospel of the...

The scriptures tell us that when the Apostles and brothers heard that the Gentiles also received the Word of God, Peter went up to Jerusalem to explain this phenomenal move of God by the Spirit of God in action. The Saints in Jerusalem that were converted on the day of Pentecost, were all of Jewish origin, and they incorrectly believed that this move of God was restricted to a single set of people and could not believe nor accept the fact that the Apostle Peter was used by the Spirit of God in action, to go a Gentile household, and preach the Gospel, with the resulting conversion of Cornelius and his household. Thus, the Apostle Peter was asked to explain in...

This week’s lesson is once again a continuation of the move of the Spirit of God in both the Apostle Peter’s life and the household of Cornelius, the first Gentile convert to the Apostolic Church. This account shows the arrival of the Apostle Peter and his Jewish brothers to the home of Cornelius. Cornelius gathered his household, his kinsmen (those that were near to him from Italy) and also friends living in Caesarea. As the Apostle Peter came in the doorway of Cornelius’ home, he met Peter, and fell down at his feet and worshipped him. But the Apostle Peter took him up and said, "Stand up, I myself also is a man". This display of humility by the Apostle Peter...

This week’s scripture in Acts 10: 9-23, illustrates once again the powerful working of the Spirit of God in action. Cornelius directed his servants to go and seek the Apostle Simon Peter who was in Joppa at the time. The servants journeyed to that city and arrived on the second day. As they were about to seek out the specific house where the Apostle Peter resided, Peter had this urge to go to prayer, and went to his housetop about midday. The scripture says that during prayer, Peter got very hungry and would have eaten, but the food was not ready, and he fell into a trance. Dr. Luke records that during this state (Peter in a trance), the Spirit of...

In our text this week, we see a historical account of the conversion of the first Gentile person to the Gospel of Jesus Christ. This account can be considered as a template on how the God of all creation deals with and respond to humanity through His love and mercies. Dr. Luke records that a certain man in Caesarea by the name of Cornelius who was a Roman military leader of 100 men of the Italian Band, that occupied the land of Palestine during the time Jesus life on earth and long afterwards. This man Cornelius demonstrated four characteristics that got God attention. 1. He was a devout (dedicated, diligent and sincere) man 2. He feared (respected) God with all his...

This scene in Acts 9: 32-35 reveals once again the dynamic power of the Holy Ghost in the lives of the Apostles. Dr. Luke records that the Apostles Peter and Paul were simultaneously led by the Holy Ghost. The Spirit of God directed Apostle Peter to go throughout the regions surrounding Jerusalem, including to the saints in Lydda (approximately 25 miles northwest of Jerusalem). When he got there, he found a man by the name of Aeneas, who was confined to his bed for eight years due to palsy (paralyzed ). The spirit of God empowered Apostle Peter to say, "Aeneas, Jesus Christ maketh thee whole: arise, and make thy bed". The scripture says, this man, Aeneas arose immediately! The above...