Song: No Tears In Heaven
Scripture: Acts 14:21-28
"And when they had preached the gospel to that city and made many disciples, they returned to Lystra, Iconium, and Antioch, strengthening the souls of the disciples, exhorting them to continue in the faith, and saying, 'We must through many tribulations enter the kingdom of God'" (Acts 14:21-22).
Every Christian will enter the kingdom of God "through many tribulations" (Acts 14:22). "Tribulations" literally means "pressure." Vine says it refers to "anything that burdens the spirit." From Pentecost until Jesus comes again, the Dragon is making war with those who "keep the commandments of God and have the testimony of Jesus Christ" (Revelation 12:17).
What shall we do? "Finally, brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might" (Ephesians 6:10).
Jason Cicero
Thursday, May 7, 2009
Wednesday, May 6, 2009
Serving Your Own Generation
Song: I Want To Be A Worker
Scripture: Acts 13:36
"For David, after he had served his own generation by the will of God..." (Acts 13:36).
1. The truth is you can’t serve God in any other generation except your own!
2. Ministry must always be done in the context of the current generation and culture.
3. Whether we like it or not, we must minister to people in the culture as it really is, not in some past form that we may have idolized in our minds.
Jason Cicero
Scripture: Acts 13:36
"For David, after he had served his own generation by the will of God..." (Acts 13:36).
1. The truth is you can’t serve God in any other generation except your own!
2. Ministry must always be done in the context of the current generation and culture.
3. Whether we like it or not, we must minister to people in the culture as it really is, not in some past form that we may have idolized in our minds.
Jason Cicero
Tuesday, May 5, 2009
Give Glory to God
Song: Majesty
Scripture: Acts 12:20-24
"Then immediately an angel of the Lord struck him, because he did not give glory to God. And he was eaten by worms and died" (Acts 12:23).
Perhaps the chief end of man is to give glory to God. "If anyone speaks, let him speak as the oracles of God. If anyone ministers, let him to it as with the ability which God supplies, that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belong the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen" (1 Peter 4:11).
Herod failed to glorify God and "he was eaten by worms and died." Ultimately, if we fail to glorify God we will spend eternity where the "worm does not die, And the fire is not quenched" (Mark 9:44, 46, 48). Let us be about the business of glorifying God in all that we think, say, and do.
Jason Cicero
Scripture: Acts 12:20-24
"Then immediately an angel of the Lord struck him, because he did not give glory to God. And he was eaten by worms and died" (Acts 12:23).
Perhaps the chief end of man is to give glory to God. "If anyone speaks, let him speak as the oracles of God. If anyone ministers, let him to it as with the ability which God supplies, that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belong the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen" (1 Peter 4:11).
Herod failed to glorify God and "he was eaten by worms and died." Ultimately, if we fail to glorify God we will spend eternity where the "worm does not die, And the fire is not quenched" (Mark 9:44, 46, 48). Let us be about the business of glorifying God in all that we think, say, and do.
Jason Cicero
Monday, May 4, 2009
A Divine Calling
Song: Come To Jesus
Scripture: Acts 11:26
"...for a whole year they assembled with the church and taught a great many people. And the disciples were first called Christians at Antioch" (Acts 11:26).
The Greek word for "called" in Acts 11:26 is the word that refers to a divine calling. The disciples were first called "Christians" at Antioch by God Himself. "Christian" is the divine title to be applied to one who is centered on Christ.
God would have you be a Christian. He would have others call you a "Christian." To be one and to be called one is the will of Heaven for you.
Jason Cicero
Scripture: Acts 11:26
"...for a whole year they assembled with the church and taught a great many people. And the disciples were first called Christians at Antioch" (Acts 11:26).
The Greek word for "called" in Acts 11:26 is the word that refers to a divine calling. The disciples were first called "Christians" at Antioch by God Himself. "Christian" is the divine title to be applied to one who is centered on Christ.
God would have you be a Christian. He would have others call you a "Christian." To be one and to be called one is the will of Heaven for you.
Jason Cicero
Sunday, May 3, 2009
Hidden in My Heart
So we may boldly say: "The LORD is my helper; I will not fear. What can man do to me?" (Hebrews 13:6; NKJV)
Saturday, May 2, 2009
Sunday Morning Starters
"Now on the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread..." (Acts 20:7).
Where will you be tomorrow? Who will you be with? What will you be doing?
Jason Cicero
Where will you be tomorrow? Who will you be with? What will you be doing?
Jason Cicero
Friday, May 1, 2009
As Upon Us
Song: Blest Be The Tie
Scripture: Acts 10:44-48
The Holy Spirit fell on Cornelius and his household before they were baptized into Christ as a sign to the Apostles that God had accepted the Gentiles.
"Can anyone forbid water, that these should not be baptized who have received the Holy Spirit just as we have?" (Acts 10:47)
Later Peter would explain that as he began to speak, "the Holy Spirit fell upon them, as upon us at the beginning" (Acts 11:15).
The Spirit fell on the Gentiles. The Gentiles were given the opportunity to have their sins washed away by the blood of the Lamb. The Jewish Christians accepted the will of Heaven. Together "they glorified God" (Acts 11:18).
Jason Cicero
Scripture: Acts 10:44-48
The Holy Spirit fell on Cornelius and his household before they were baptized into Christ as a sign to the Apostles that God had accepted the Gentiles.
"Can anyone forbid water, that these should not be baptized who have received the Holy Spirit just as we have?" (Acts 10:47)
Later Peter would explain that as he began to speak, "the Holy Spirit fell upon them, as upon us at the beginning" (Acts 11:15).
The Spirit fell on the Gentiles. The Gentiles were given the opportunity to have their sins washed away by the blood of the Lamb. The Jewish Christians accepted the will of Heaven. Together "they glorified God" (Acts 11:18).
Jason Cicero
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