Acts chapter 4 finds the apostles in trouble for their miracle in chapter 3.  All of them are taken into custody.

Notice, from verse 4, that the church continues to grow, in spite of the opposition of the Jews. The number of men has grown to about 5000. (I always think it is amusing when some people today say that a church of 200-250 is just “too big.”)

When the Jews ask them “by what power” they had healed the lame man, Peter, once again the spokesman, makes it clear that this miracle was performed in the name of (by the authority of) Jesus Christ. He continues by identifying Jesus as the rejected cornerstone of Old Testament prophecy. And he makes the powerful statement that the name of Jesus is the only name in which anyone will be saved.

Four things stand out in the remainder of chapter 4.

1.  What empowered the apostles and filled them with courage was the time “they had been with Jesus” (verse 13).  This changed them from “uneducated and untrained men” (they were uneducated, but Jesus had trained them) into courageous and unstoppable defenders of truth. Only if we spend much time with Jesus will we have such courage today.

2.  The enemies could not deny the reality of their miracle (verse 16).  Everyone knew this man to have been lame for his entire life. This points up an important difference between Bible miracles and the so-called miracles of faith healing imposters today.

3.  Their response to persecution was group prayer (verses 24-31). This emphasizes their dependence on God and teaches us the same lesson. Jesus said, “…without Me you can do nothing” (John 15:5).

4.  The early Christians took care of each other (verses 32-37). Even when it required selling of possessions, they shared what they had with their fellow disciples. They were motivated by love and devotion for one another. We should be also.

--Roger Hillis

As chapter 3 opens, two apostles, Peter and John, are headed to the temple to pray and to preach about Jesus Christ.

First, they meet a man lame from his mother’s womb and perform their first miracle of healing in the name of Jesus. This miracle draws a multitude to Solomon’s porch where Peter preaches the second gospel sermon.

Like the first sermon in Acts 2, this sermon is centered on the death, burial and resurrection of Christ. The gospel is good news because of its message about the death, burial and resurrection (1 Corinthians 15:1-4). Because of the death of Jesus on the cross, we can have the forgiveness of our sins. And because of the resurrection, we can have hope of eternal life in heaven with God.

In a similar way as in the first sermon, Peter tells his listeners that they are guilty of crucifying God’s Son, whom he calls “the Prince of life.” There must always be conviction of sin in the process of conversion.

Peter’s charge to them is to “repent and be converted.” This is a parallel thought to Acts 2:28 – “repent and be baptized for the remission of sins.” Baptism is the point at which one’s relationship to God is changed from unsaved to saved.

Finally, Peter reminds them of an Old Testament prophecy by Moses, originally found in Deuteronomy 18:15-19. In that prophecy, Moses, one of the greatest heroes of the Old Testament, predicted the coming forth of another Lawgiver. He spoke, of course, of Jesus the Messiah, but when He came into the world, His own people, the Jews, did not accept Him as their Savior.

Those who reject Him will be “utterly destroyed.” Those who listen, trust and obey Him will be blessed.

--Roger Hillis

Acts 2 has been referred to as “the birthday” of the church.

It was the first day of the week, the day Jesus rose from the grave. The apostle John would later call the first day of the week, “the Lord’s Day” (Revelation 1:10).  It was to be a special day in the New Testament system as it became the day that God’s people around the world would assemble to remember their Savior’s death on the cross of Calvary.

It was also Pentecost, the Jewish celebration of the harvest. Pentecost was one of three annual feasts of the Old Testament which required all Jewish males to travel to Jerusalem for its observance. Due to the difficult travel conditions of the day, many, perhaps most, of them would simply remain in Jerusalem for the fifty day interval between Passover and Pentecost.

The first few verses describe the fulfillment of the prophecy of the apostles’ baptism in the Holy Spirit (Matthew 3:11; Luke 3:16). This is what Jesus meant when He told the apostles that they would receive power from God (Acts 1:8) that would confirm them as spokesmen for the Father (Hebrews 2:4).

In verses 14-36, Peter preaches the first gospel sermon and includes the death, burial and resurrection of Christ. After quoting three Old Testament passages (Joel 2:28-32; Psalm 16:6-11; Psalm 110:1), he shows Jesus to be the fulfillment of all the Messianic prophecies. Declaring Jesus to be both Lord and Christ, he then accuses them of the sin of having crucified the Son of God. Cut to the heart, they ask what to do to be forgiven and he tells them to repent and be baptized in the name of Jesus. Three thousand souls respond in obedience and are added to the new church by the Lord.

Acts 2 has also been called “the hub of the Bible.” Everything prior to Acts 2 points to the establishment of the church/kingdom. Everything after Acts 2 points back to this chapter as “the beginning.”

--Roger Hillis

The final assignment Jesus gave His eleven apostles was the command we have called “The Great Commission.” He told them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned” (Mark 16:15-16).

The book of Acts is the inspired record of the early church fulfilling that mission.

After the resurrection of Jesus from the dead, He spent forty days with the apostles, “speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God” (Acts 1:3). These have been referred to as the “forty days that changed the world.”

It was during this period of time that the disciples were transformed from fearful sheep into powerful shepherds. No longer were they reluctant followers, but fearless servants. They had seen the resurrected Lord and received their final, personal instructions from the Master.

And then, Jesus ascended to heaven to sit at God’s right hand with a promise from the angels that He would return some day.

During the next ten days, the apostles and other disciples spent time together, encouraging and helping one another to prepare for the work that was ahead.  They prayed, they studied and they built each other up.

Then they took one more important step. In order that they might fulfill Old Testament prophecy (Psalm 109:8), they chose a replacement for their fallen companion, Judas Iscariot. Two men were proposed, Joseph and Matthias. Matthias was selected in God’s providence and the apostolic group was complete once more and ready to reach their lost world for Christ.

--Roger Hillis

The Greek word is EXOUSIA. “From the meaning of leave or permission, or liberty of doing as one pleases, it passed to that of the ability or strength with which one is endued, then to that of the power of authority, the right to exercise power” (W.E. Vine, Expository Dictionary of NT Words, page 91).

This is a general word referring to many different levels of authority. It can include governmental rule or the power of a landowner over his own property. There are two uses, however, that we wish to emphasize.

First, it speaks of “the power of one whose will and commands must be obeyed by others” (Vine, page 91). In this context, it most often refers to the authority of Jesus in religious matters. It shows that we must obey Christ if we want to live in  a right relationship with the Lord. See Matthew 28:18; John 17:2; Jude 25; Revelation 12:10.

Only Christ has “legislative” authority. He makes all the rules, as the Lord of lords and King of kings and the Head of the church. He is called the “one Lawgiver, who is able to save and to destroy” (James 4:12).

Second, as representatives of Christ, the term sometimes refers to apostolic authority. See 2 Corinthians 10:8 and 13:10. Because their message came through revelation from God, Paul said, “If anyone thinks himself to be a prophet or spiritual, let him acknowledge that the things which I write to you are the commandments of the Lord” (1 Corinthians 14:37)

To please God, we must abide in the authority of Christ. “And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him” (Colossians 3:17).

--Roger Hillis

As you examine your relationship with God (2 Corinthians 13:5) and the things you do for Him as a disciple of Christ, think about how long it has been since you did some of these basic, easy things. When was the last time you…

*Visited a person who is sad and lonely, just to try to cheer them up?

*Told a teenager how proud you are of him (or her) spiritually?

*Invited a non-Christian to services?

*Told someone that you love them? It might be your spouse, your children, your parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, or simply friends.

*Sacrificed a personal item you wanted so you could give a little more money to the Lord’s work?

*Hugged your children for no real reason?

*Thanked the elders for doing their often thankless job of trying to help us make it to heaven?

*Invited another family to come to your home for a Bible study or maybe for a fun evening of food and games?

*Wrote a card of love and encouragement to someone who is hurting for attention and understanding?

*Read through the New Testament in your Bible? (You could easily read the entire New Testament in six months.)

*Wrote a note of appreciation to your adult Bible class teacher or those who teach your children?

*Expressed your appreciation to our great song leaders for the marvelous job they do in leading us in worship?

*Thanked the deacons for their hard, mostly behind the scenes work?

*Prayed for more laborers to enter the harvest (Matthew 9:37-38)?

*Offered to babysit for a young couple so they could have a date night without their small children?

*Thanked the Lord for the good church at Eastland and all the godly people who are not perfect but are trying with all their heart to serve the Lord?

--Roger Hillis

This morning, as I stood in line to vote, my mind was fairly at ease over all the matters pertaining to the election itself. I had already made up my mind how I would vote, and I have fully accepted the fact that God is ultimately in control. Consequently, even though I was in line to vote, I wasn't really paying attention to anything that particularly regards the election.

Instead, what I noticed was the chorus of complaints that echoed as voter after voter joined the long waiting line. With each successive complaint, I wondered, "Do any of us believe that complaining will make it move more quickly? And really, do any of us even feel better once we've voiced our complaints?"

It makes one wonder: why is complaining such a natural response when it clearly accomplishes nothing? Small wonder that God—who always watches out for our best interests—says we "must not put Christ to the test... nor grumble, as some of them did and were destroyed by the Destroyer" (1 Cor. 10:9-10). To complain about a perceived injustice in the very same arena where God has clearly blessed us—like complaining about voting lines while we exercise our ability to choose our supreme leaders while most other societies must simply accept the hand they are dealt—is simply bad behavior.

It's ungrateful. It's damaging. And while it might be natural, it's against God's will because he intends only that which is best for you in every way.

- Dan Lankford, minister

Everyone is surely aware of the national advertising campaign on television and radio that encourages the use of a “designated driver” and even advocates taking car keys away from a drunk person so that he won’t get behind the wheel. It features the catchy phrase – “Friends don’t let friends drive drunk.”

As a spin-off of that idea, you’ve probably also seen the bumper stickers that say, Friends don’t let friends drive Fords (or Chevys or Toyotas or whatever). Unless you work at one of those companies, it is likely that you smile when you see one of those bumper stickers.

One phrase is serious; one is intended to be humorous. Here’s an even more serious thought. A true friend would not even consider letting a close friend go to hell for eternity. Or would he?

Do you have friends, relatives, neighbors, co-workers, or fellow students that you have never talked to about their souls? These are people who will be lost if they don’t learn about Jesus and obey the gospel. You might be the only New Testament Christian with an opportunity to say something that could change their eternal destiny. Why haven’t you said something to them?

I realize that fear is a natural factor and that many of us are afraid of doing something that would make a friend mad at us. We like to avoid conflict and don’t want to hurt another person’s feelings.

But what is more important, staying comfortable and allowing your friend to go to hell forever or taking a chance and maybe seeing your friend eternally in heaven? Which option would be more important to a true friend? Which would God have you to do?

I know this isn’t easy for most of us. But isn’t it important enough to make it an urgent priority? Courage is not the absence of fear, but the determination to do what is right in spite of our fear.

Be a true friend to the lost people in your life. Friends don’t let friends go to hell.

--Roger Hillis

“Now therefore write this song and teach it to the people of Israel. Put it in their mouths, that this song may be a witness for me against the people of Israel... And when many evils and troubles have come upon them, this song shall confront them as a witness, for it will live unforgotten in the mouths of their offspring.’” (Deut. 31:19, 21)

Since he is the Creator of music, it should not surprise us that God would make use of song to draw people toward himself—both by moving us emotionally and instructing us doctrinally. This song, penned through Moses, was designed to do both. As it would witness against the children of Israel, it was to teach their later generations of the great evil they would inevitably do by departing from God’s ways. As our songs and hymns are meant to do, it would be used for “teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom” (Col. 3:16).

The assembled masses of God’s people must be thoroughly attentive to the quality of the hymns that we sing. If we are aware enough to appreciate them, they will often challenge us, convict us, and therefore sadden us into repentance. In many cases, they witness against us as they teach us and admonish us. And we must let them continue to do this.

In the event that our hymnody were to become unidimensional so that we we lost sight of the true exhortation and “witness” we are to receive from them, I fear we would incur a perspective from God similar to that which he described in the time of the prophet Amos. While the nation’s souls morally decayed into idolatry and injustice, they continued to sing songs of praise and self-confidence to God. And God said, “Take away from me the noise of your songs; to the melody of your harps I will not listen” (Amos 5:23).

Hymns which only validate us—even while we are in our sins—do a disservice to the true power God would exhibit through song.

Let us then be judicious in choosing hymns for worship assemblies and in actively participating in our hymns. Because we need them to accurately praise the Lord of hosts. And we need them, on occasion, to witness against us and pull us back into his glorious presence.

- Dan Lankford, minister

That’s kind of an odd title, isn’t it? I hope it makes more sense as you read through the article.

By being intentional, I simply mean planning your own life and not letting others decide everything for you. I am talking about making your own decisions, based on what you know God wants you to do. Do you live your life that way?

Now, I understand that there are unexpected things that can occur, many of them undesirable and beyond our control. There are illnesses, deaths, problems and trials that no one would personally choose. But even how we react to those sorts of things can be under our control.

When you are younger, you have little control over your own life. Your parents or others who are caring for you make all of your decisions for you. As you grow up, part of the maturing process is learning how to make appropriate decisions for yourself. Part of being a godly parent is training our children to make right decisions.

As an adult, we have much more control over things we do and where we go and who our friends are and what kinds of activities we participate in. We decide what to study in school, where we are going to live, who we will marry and many other important decisions of life. What kind of car will we drive, what kind of job or career will we pursue? There are many examples.

The question is, where does God fit into all of those decisions? What part does our relationship with Him play in the big things we decide about our lives? Do we make intentional decisions about what He would have us to do and then act on those things?

Or are we just existing, taking whatever comes our way and having little or nothing to say about our own future?

As a Christian, a disciple of Christ, do you think about the morality of things you do? Do you “Test all things; hold fast what is good. Abstain from every form of evil” (1 Thessalonians 5:21-22)? Do you resist the Devil so he will flee from you (James 4:7)? Do you deny yourself, take up your cross daily and follow Him (Luke 9:23)?

It doesn’t matter if you call this idea – plans, hopes, dreams, vision, goals. It all amounts to the same thing, controlling your life under the influence of God’s will to really make your life matter. I am talking about being proactive to live your life God’s way, not merely reactive to forces around you that are out of your control.

It is said there are three types of people in the world, those who make things happen, those who watch things happen and those who say, “What happened?” You need to make things happen with your life. Don’t waste your days on the earth. Be a surrendered, faithful, godly servant of Christ (1 Corinthians 15:58).

--Roger Hillis