Author: Phil Meade

 

⁹ “What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me—practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.”

Philippians 4:9 (ESV)

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PRACTICE MAKES YOU MORE LIKE JESUS

 

It is said that “practice makes perfect.” Most coaches I have ever encountered will say, “perfect practice makes perfect.” Just going through the motions in practice will not sharpen your skills for the actual performance. The same can be said of the Christian walk. There are days in my life when I feel as though my faith is running on muscle memory. I can “fake it till I make it,” but that offers little value to me—or, more importantly, to those within my sphere of influence. Paul reminds his readers that their faith is an active faith. They must take all that they have learned, received, and heard from him, and take the time to practice what they have been taught, given, and heard.

The word learned in Greek is related to the word for disciple. A disciple is one who adheres to the teachings of another and follows in their footsteps. Paul is telling the church to practice what he taught them while he was with them. Not all of us are gifted teachers or theologians—shout out to those who are—but we can all give a basic account of the story of Jesus. Teaching the Gospel consists of extolling the foundational truths of Jesus’ birth, life, death, and resurrection.

The word received in Greek means “to take to oneself.” The church at Philippi needed to understand, accept, give assent to, and live out what they received from Paul. They were to accept his teachings as truth, conform themselves to those teachings, and ultimately become more Christlike (sanctification). This exemplifies the crucial head-to-heart connection. It does not benefit us merely to learn the Word of God—we must also live the Word of God.

Paul tells his readers to remember and practice what they heard from him when he was with them. Not only that, the Philippians were to remember their conversations with Paul and with one another. They were to listen to his written words and stay aware of any news regarding his present actions and teachings.

I think Paul saves the best for last: Practice what you saw in me. In my own experience, the way we live our lives can be a powerful witness to our faith—sometimes even more effective than the spoken word. This is especially true when engaging with those who do not want to hear what you are preaching. Paul not only taught the Gospel truth but also shared how Jesus had transformed his life. This can be a powerful tool to invite others to listen further to the truth of the Gospel.

Warren Wiersbe eloquently elaborates on the promise Paul leaves with the Philippians at the end of this verse:

“The peace of God is one test of whether or not we are in the will of God. If we are walking with the Lord, then the peace of God and the God of peace exercise their influence over our hearts.”

Discover God’s Will – Experience His Peace!

Digging Deeper (er):

Rom 10:14-15; 1 Thess 5:23; Phil 4:7.

 

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Phil Meade is a father of 3, and grandfather of 5. He has a Masters Degree in Theological Studies from Liberty University, and lives in Acworth. He has led various small groups throughout his more than 20 years attending NS. He retired after 8 years as an Air Force pilot, and 33 years as a Delta pilot.

 

 

⁸ “Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things”

Philippians 4:8 (ESV)

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THINK EXCELLENT THOUGHTS

 

I don’t know about you, but if I focused my thinking solely on the areas Paul lists in verse 8, my mind would be exhausted by the end of the day! However, I believe my mind would be that good kind of tired—like after a full day on the slopes in bright sunshine, the warm hug from Grandma after a long journey, or coming face-to-face with our risen Savior at the end of a long race. Paul is reminding his readers to focus their mental energy on the things that matter—those that have eternal significance.

Think on Whatever Is:

True – The actuality of something. Truth is not relative but absolute—the truth of God’s Word, embodied in the Living Word, Jesus.

Honorable (Greek: worthy of respect) – Worthy of reverence. Do not waste time on trivial, temporal, or earthly thoughts.

Just – Righteous; that which conforms to the perfect standard of God, as revealed in His Word.

Pure – Chaste, innocent, morally clean; able to stand the scrutiny of God. Purity conforms us to the image of Christ.

Lovely – Endearing, lovable, amiable, pleasing, and winsome. These qualities make us more attractive to others for Christ’s sake—not for our own gratification.

Commendable (of good report) – Highly regarded; thoughts that are noble and uplifting, which not only build up ourselves but, more importantly, build up others.

Excellence (Virtue) – Demonstrated by living as God intended, for His purpose and glory—to the honor of Christ and for the reputation of the Gospel in the world.

Praiseworthy – Not for our own accomplishments, but so that others may see and understand the true source of our praiseworthy actions.

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I challenge you to take a few moments and think on these things. If you are like me, the image that embodies every single one of these characteristics is Jesus.

He came as the Word of Truth.
He is worthy of our reverence.
He brings justice to the world.
He is the perfect image of His Father.
He is lovable—and loves us in return.
He is highly regarded, the name above all names.
He lived a virtuous life, perfectly following His Father’s will.
He is infinitely worthy of our continuous praise!

Digging Deeper (er):

Col 3:1-2; Rom 12:2-3; Rom 8:5.

 

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Phil Meade is a father of 3, and grandfather of 5. He has a Masters Degree in Theological Studies from Liberty University, and lives in Acworth. He has led various small groups throughout his more than 20 years attending NS. He retired after 8 years as an Air Force pilot, and 33 years as a Delta pilot.

 

 

“And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”

Philippians 4:7 (ESV)

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FIND PEACE FOR YOUR HEART AND MIND

 

Pastor Warren Wiersbe writes:

The world bases its peace on its resources, while God’s peace depends on relationships. To be right with God means to enjoy the peace of God. The world depends on personal ability, but the Christian depends on spiritual adequacy in Christ. In the world, peace is something you hope for or work for; but to the Christian, peace is God’s wonderful gift, received by faith. Unsaved people enjoy peace when there is an absence of trouble; Christians enjoy peace in spite of trials because of the presence of power—the Holy Spirit. People in the world walk by sight and depend on externals, but Christians walk by faith and depend on the eternals.

Let’s dig into this commentary a little deeper. Note that worldly peace is highly subjective—changing at the whim of the human condition—and reliant on its own resourcefulness. Godly peace never wavers; it is available through our relationship with Jesus Christ. Righteousness—the condition of being “right” with God—brings with it His inestimable peace, beyond all understanding. The secular worldview sees peace as emanating from one’s abilities and self-motivation. The godly worldview recognizes Christ as the only source of peace. He died so that we might be made right with the Father.

The world sees peace as something earned—something fought for. We, as Christians, see peace as a gift from a gracious and merciful God, obtained through our faith in His Son. The world views peace as the absence of turmoil and strife. The Christ-follower understands that trials and tribulations will come, but the power of the indwelling Holy Spirit gives us inner peace and joy. Finally, the world walks in darkness—blindly following wherever external stimuli lead. Christians walk by faith, focusing on their eternal destiny, rather than being tossed to and fro by the latest fad or fashion.

The mind, according to Scripture, is the center of our understanding and reasoning. The heart, on the other hand, is the seat of our emotions and the source of our free will. Paul reminds his readers that these two critical areas of human existence need constant protection. It is within these centers of consciousness that sin can most easily enter. The peace of God—obtained through a right relationship with Him by our faith in His Son—is constantly guarding these vital yet vulnerable aspects of our humanity.

Think of your heart and mind as a castle. God’s peace is the guard (or sentinel) whose job is to keep constant watch, preventing Satan from breaching our defenses.

Digging Deeper (er):

John 14:27; Rom 16:20; 2 Thess 3:3.

 

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Phil Meade is a father of 3, and grandfather of 5. He has a Masters Degree in Theological Studies from Liberty University, and lives in Acworth. He has led various small groups throughout his more than 20 years attending NS. He retired after 8 years as an Air Force pilot, and 33 years as a Delta pilot.

 

 

⁶ “do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.”

Philippians 4:6 (ESV)

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ASK GOD, WITH A HUMBLE AND THANKFUL HEART

 

My father—a great dad—was always one to worry. We would leave on family vacations, and five minutes after pulling out of the driveway, we would be heading back home so he could check to make sure something wasn’t left turned on. I’m not sure how much actual vacation time he allowed himself to enjoy. He made up for it once all the kids were out of the house and he and my mom could simply relax and travel—on his son’s pass privileges, I might add—mostly stress-free.

I thank my dad for most of the character traits I inherited from him, apart from that worry gene. In my younger days, I used to have two credos:

1. “It’s never too early to worry,” and

2. “I want to see how this is going to turn out before I take that first step!”

Don’t laugh—I know some of you out there are nodding with a bit of embarrassed agreement in your hearts. My point is this: as your faith grows, your anxiety level should decrease. Paul reminds his audience, “Do not be anxious about anything” (v. 6a). That is about as unambiguous as it gets!

How then do we decrease the level of worry and anxiety in our daily lives? Take everything—again, no ambiguity—to God. Talk to God; He will listen. Share your fears and worries with Him—He already knows them. The writer of Hebrews reminds us to confidently “draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need” (Heb. 4:16, ESV). Those are powerful words. They remind us that our King sits on a mighty throne, yet stoops down to bless us with His loving mercy and grace.

We can tap into that source of mercy and grace through “prayer and supplication” (v. 6b). Supplication simply means “to plead humbly.” Paul tells the church to simply and humbly make our requests known to the One who loves us and longs to ease our anxiety and fears (v. 6b). Worried about the state of your marriage? Ask God for guidance. Teenage kids keeping you up at night (glad I’m done with that phase of life)? Pray for wisdom. Paul’s message is that God is available and listening—humbly ask Him in all situations. You will never feel more in control than when you give up control to the One who controls it all.

I love how Paul casually drops the word thanksgiving into the conversation. If you removed that word from the verse, the sentence would still make sense. However, if you recall yesterday’s devotional, Paul was in custody when writing this letter, yet he still reminds his readers to find joy in all things—even during times of trial and tribulation. Joy and thanksgiving should go hand in hand. When you think about it, just having the opportunity to talk one-on-one with the almighty Creator of the universe should always fill us with joy and thankfulness.

Approach God with a humble spirit. Ask Him with a thankful heart. Pray for the desires of your heart. Joyfully accept the will of the Father. Leave that worry gene at the foot of the cross.

Digging Deeper (er):

Matt 6:34; Matt 6:27; Heb 5:7; 2 Cor 9:11.

 

 

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Phil Meade is a father of 3, and grandfather of 5. He has a Masters Degree in Theological Studies from Liberty University, and lives in Acworth. He has led various small groups throughout his more than 20 years attending NS. He retired after 8 years as an Air Force pilot, and 33 years as a Delta pilot.

 

 

⁴ “Rejoice in the Lord always; again, I will say, rejoice. ⁵ Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand.”

Philippians 4:4-5 (ESV)

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TAKE JOY IN THE LORD

 

Paul is writing this letter to the church at Philippi while imprisoned in Rome (see Acts 28). To most of us, being chained to a guard in prison 24/7 is not something that would instill joy. However, Paul uses the word joy—or some form of the word—sixteen times in this short letter. Paul leaves no doubt as to circumstantial joy; he unequivocally states to “always” rejoice in the Lord (v. 4).

Various translations use the words rejoice, be full of joy, or be glad. Our reason for joy should not be based on the temporal or the worldly, but on the eternal. Paul reminds his readers that “the Lord is at hand” (v. 5b). This can have two meanings:

1. Paul was looking to the future, anticipating Christ’s return; or

2. Paul is reminding the church that Jesus abides in all who call themselves followers of Christ and is therefore, by His very nature, always “at hand.”

How then do we learn to take joy in whatever circumstances we find ourselves? We must grow closer to Jesus day by day. Think about a beautiful sunset you may have observed—is there such a thing as an ugly sunset? You can be mesmerized by the beauty of God’s creation, observing the various hues and shades on display. You “lock eyes” on the scene, wishing to catch every nuance.

In my former life, I was cruising one night at 35,000 feet somewhere over the Carolinas, heading to New York. The sun had set earlier in the eastern sky over the Atlantic, and out that window were blackness, city lights, and stars. As I scanned the horizon to my left side of the cockpit, the scene changed. The sky brightened slightly, and in the distant western sky was just a hint of pink-orange, dying light. As I looked back and forth, the night-and-day (literal) contrast was stunning. I was lost in thought about our Creator and His marvelous handiwork!

That is how we must lock eyes with the One who redeemed us. We must study, ponder, pray to, and worship the One who made that scene possible. No matter how bumpy the ride or how stormy the skies, keep your eyes on the One who quiets the winds and calms the seas. Only then will joy be as natural as the breath you take each moment.

Paul also encourages his readers to “let [their] reasonableness be known to everyone” (v. 5a). Other translations substitute “gentle spirit,” “gentleness,” “kindness,” “considerate,” or “moderate” for reasonableness. One of the most effective demonstrations of our faith to this dark world we live in is our response in times of strife. Our expression of joy when we are in the dark valley can be a powerful witness to those searching for the inner peace and joy that are sorely lacking in our modern culture.

Lock eyes with Jesus every day. Let His shining light, joy, and gentle spirit emanate from within!

Digging Deeper (er):

John 16:22; John 15:11; John 15:13.

 

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Phil Meade is a father of 3, and grandfather of 5. He has a Masters Degree in Theological Studies from Liberty University, and lives in Acworth. He has led various small groups throughout his more than 20 years attending NS. He retired after 8 years as an Air Force pilot, and 33 years as a Delta pilot.

 

 

⁴¹ So those who received his word were baptized, and there were added that day about three thousand souls . . . And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved.

Acts 2:41, 47b (ESV)

¹³ For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” ¹⁴ How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching? ¹⁵ And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!”

Romans 10:13-15 (ESV)

 

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FRUITS OF YOUR LABOR

 

My goal in writing this week’s Digging Deeper was to encourage each of us to examine our own spiritual life. What areas in your life do you need to walk away from? Listen to the convicting voice of the Spirit, allowing His power to strengthen your faith. Build on that faith by digging deeper into God’s Word. Let that knowledge transform your heart to be more like Jesus every day.

Take your faith out for a walk—practice kindness, generosity, and love.
Finally, fortify your faith in community. Join a small group. Serve together. Worship together. There is strength in numbers—the body of Christ grows, and the faith of individual members deepens.

As Mike reminds us frequently, the Christian life is not meant to be a solo flight. If God’s only purpose in salvation was the act itself, you wouldn’t still be here on Earth reading this. As we see in the passages from Acts, at least three thousand souls were added to the early church in one day (v. 41), and many more were saved in the days that followed (v. 47b).

Having strong faith is a gift, but as James writes, “faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead” (James 2:17). Works must accompany our faith. It does us no good to build, strengthen, and fortify our faith, only to leave it sitting on the mantle. If the new converts in the early church had departed that day and never shared their faith, where would the church be today?

One of my favorite passages in Scripture is the progression we find in Romans. I love the logical flow from “What shall we do?”—to calling on the name of the Lord—to Living Sent. Peter checked off every box in his sermon on that special day:
He lived sent—he preached the Gospel—people heard the good news—they believed—their cry of “What shall we do?” was answered—and they were saved!

We should all strive to be those “beautiful feet” that carry the good news of the Gospel of Jesus Christ to those who are crying out for an answer. Get on your feet, and take those new spiritual “muscles” out into the world. You may not save three thousand, but heaven rejoices with just one!

Digging Deeper (er):

Colossians 1:10; 1 Peter 4:10; 2 Peter 1:5-9

 

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Phil Meade is a father of 3, and grandfather of 5. He has a Masters Degree in Theological Studies from Liberty University, and lives in Acworth. He has led various small groups throughout his more than 20 years attending NS. He retired after 8 years as an Air Force pilot, and 33 years as a Delta pilot.

 

 

⁴² And they devoted themselves to . . . the fellowship . . . ⁴⁴ And all who believed were together and had all things in common . . . and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, ⁴⁷ praising God and having favor with all the people

Acts 2:42a, 44, 46b-47a (ESV)

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FORTIFY MY FAITH

 

Forgive me for sounding like the “get off my lawn” blue-hair, but I believe what is severely lacking in society today is a sense of community. We leave our garage in the morning and return in the evening, shutting the door behind us. We communicate in short messages, post emojis on social media, or fail to interact with one another entirely.

I was on a layover years ago, enjoying a sunny walk through the campus of Vanderbilt University. I witnessed two college students walking closely side by side—heads down, buried in their phones. For all I knew, they were texting each other as they walked!

As mentioned yesterday, if the early church had exhibited the same attitude I observed on that campus, we would not be the body of Christ we are today. The early church came together, having “all things in common” (v. 44a). These were Jews from all over the region, in Jerusalem for Pentecost. Their heritage may have been the same, but they each brought with them pieces of the culture they lived in. They came for fellowship (v. 42a), communal meals, and to worship and praise God (vv. 46b–47a).

John Phillips comments:

The oneness of the early church was organic oneness, not organized oneness. There was a mutual caring and concern for other believers. There was a spontaneous coming together of like-minded believers—in love with the Lord, in love with each other, in love with lost souls.

Notice the common word in the last sentence—love! Love was the recurring theme that fortified the faith of those early believers. You and I are from different backgrounds, have unique stories, and may disagree on many things. The one thing we must share is our love for Jesus, our love for the body of Christ, and our love for those who need to hear the message of the Gospel.

As the writer of Ecclesiastes notes:

“Though a man might prevail against one who is alone, two will withstand him—a threefold cord is not quickly broken” (Ecclesiastes 4:12).

Webster’s defines fortify as: “to give physical strength, courage, or endurance; to add mental or moral strength; to protect or strengthen against attack.” Living in community will strengthen and fortify our faith, protecting us against the attacks of the enemy.

The writer of Hebrews reminds his readers to:

“Stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day drawing near” (Hebrews 10:24–25, ESV).

Digging Deeper (er):

John 17:20-23 (High Priestly Prayer); 1 Thessalonians 5:11; 1 Peter 3:8

 

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Phil Meade is a father of 3, and grandfather of 5. He has a Masters Degree in Theological Studies from Liberty University, and lives in Acworth. He has led various small groups throughout his more than 20 years attending NS. He retired after 8 years as an Air Force pilot, and 33 years as a Delta pilot.

 

 

⁴⁵ And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need. ⁴⁶ And day by day, attending the temple together…

Acts 2:45-46a (ESV)

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EXERCISE MY FAITH

 

Exercise! For some of you, this is a four-letter word! For others, it’s an obsession. Most of us fall somewhere in between those extremes. I think we can all agree that exercise is not only good for our physical bodies but also for our emotional well-being. Exercise builds strength, endurance, and discipline. But have you ever thought of your faith as something that needs to be exercised?

Paul often uses exercise metaphors when addressing the various churches he had planted. He reminds the church in Corinth:

“I do not run aimlessly; I do not box as one beating the air. But I discipline my body and keep it under control, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified”
(1 Corinthians 9:26–27).

Paul also encourages his protégé Timothy to keep fighting, finish the race, and—through it all—keep the faith (2 Timothy 4:7).

Let’s look at how the members of the early church exercised their faith to bless not only one another, but also their surrounding community.

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First, they sacrificed their worldly possessions for the cause (v. 45a).
Boice notes:

They shared their goods because they were generous, and they were generous because they had learned generosity from God. God had been generous with them. So because God had been generous with them, they were determined to be generous with one another.

Generosity is not one of the “easy” virtues in life. We are all born selfish, so generosity takes some serious discipline and exercise. Try it—you may find that joy is your reward!

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Second, they looked for needs and fulfilled them (v. 45b).
How often in our daily lives do we miss opportunities to bless someone through our generosity? We must exercise our hearts and train them to be receptive to those in need.

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Lastly, we must exercise our faith daily (v. 46a).
This may include serving, joining a small group, or attending worship services. The Christian life is not meant to be done alone. Jesus surrounded Himself with people and only isolated Himself for prayer and spiritual renewal. The early church would never have grown without community—a topic we’ll touch on more tomorrow.

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Put down the remote, turn off your device, get off the couch, and get out there and exercise your faith! As Paul reminds Timothy:

“Train yourself for godliness; for while bodily training is of some value, godliness is of value in every way, as it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come”
(1 Timothy 4:7b–8).

Physical exercise is important—but spiritual exercise is eternal!

Digging Deeper (er):

1 Corinthians 6:19-20; Proverbs 24:5; Romans 12:1

 

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Phil Meade is a father of 3, and grandfather of 5. He has a Masters Degree in Theological Studies from Liberty University, and lives in Acworth. He has led various small groups throughout his more than 20 years attending NS. He retired after 8 years as an Air Force pilot, and 33 years as a Delta pilot.

 

 

⁴² And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching…

Acts 2:42a (ESV)

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BUILD UP YOUR FAITH

 

Yesterday we saw how the answer to one simple question changed the lives of countless people. Upon conversion, the Holy Spirit takes up residence in the life of the believer. His role, as we noted yesterday, is not only to convict but also to enlighten. Jesus reminds His disciples that the Holy Spirit will come and “teach them all things” (John 14:26). To grow our faith, we must learn the things that form the foundation of our faith. There is no better place to find these building blocks than in God’s Word.

What is the one source you use to learn how to accomplish a new task? For most people, I’m guessing the answer would be YouTube. I’m not the most mechanically inclined, but I can do a few things around the house or under the hood. When my pickup needed a new starter, I was able to replace it with the help of a detailed video I found on YouTube. I used what I learned not only to get the job done, but also to build on my auto mechanic skills.

I like to equate getting to know Jesus with getting to know a romantic interest. When we meet someone who attracts us, we want to spend time with them, converse with them, learn their character, and ultimately trust them based on their actions and faithfulness. The same should be true of our relationship with Jesus.

Spending time with Jesus can take many forms. The important thing is to take the time—not out of obligation, but out of a desire to get to know Him better. Converse with Jesus in prayer and meditation. Learn God’s character by reading about His Son. We learn most about Jesus by studying the Word of God and listening to or reading the teachings of others. The more you learn about God, the more your faith will grow. You will trust Him, and you will know—unflinchingly—that He is faithful!

In the early days of the church, the believers were new to their faith. Many were Jewish converts who had a foundational knowledge (Old Testament) of God. Others—Gentiles—were coming from a pagan worldview. All new believers had to rely on the teaching of others to grow in their faith (v. 42). The same is true today, whether we are new to the faith or mature.

I have struggled at times with a disconnect between head and heart. I love to read, research, and ponder the breadth and depth of God. The eighteen months I spent earning my Master’s in Theological Studies was a grueling yet highly rewarding experience. I use the knowledge I gained during those studies in various endeavors, including writing what you are currently reading. My struggle occurs when I don’t take what I’ve learned and apply it in life’s various moments. Sometimes I feel like the “man in the mirror” from the book of James (1:22–25)—a “hearer,” and not a “doer.”

The early Christians started out as babes, surviving on milk alone. By learning about the character of God, they were soon able to eat solid food. Eventually, they used their strengthened faith to share the good news with others. They became doers!

Digging Deeper (er):

Colossians 3:16; Hebrews 4:12; 2 Timothy 3:16

 

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Phil Meade is a father of 3, and grandfather of 5. He has a Masters Degree in Theological Studies from Liberty University, and lives in Acworth. He has led various small groups throughout his more than 20 years attending NS. He retired after 8 years as an Air Force pilot, and 33 years as a Delta pilot.

 

 

¹ When the day of Pentecost arrived, they were all together in one place . . . ⁵ Now there were dwelling in Jerusalem Jews, devout men from every nation under heaven.

Acts 2:1, 5 (ESV)

³⁶ Let all the house of Israel therefore know for certain that God has made him both Lord and Christ, this Jesus whom you crucified.” ³⁷ Now when they heard this they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?” ³⁸ And Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. ³⁹ For the promise is for you and for your children and for all who are far off, everyone whom the Lord our God calls to himself”

Acts 2:36-39 (ESV)

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WHAT SHALL WE DO?

 

The Day of Pentecost has arrived. In the Old Testament, Pentecost—the Feast of Weeks, the Day of the Firstfruits—was celebrated 50 days after the Sabbath of Passover (see Leviticus 23). In the New Testament, Pentecost is synonymous with the coming of the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:1–4). Peter, accompanied by the other eleven apostles, is speaking in Jerusalem to a group of believers—the original one hundred and twenty. At the sound of the events surrounding the coming of the Spirit, Jews from all nations living in Jerusalem gather to investigate (vv. 2:5–6).

Peter gives a sermon—quoting from the prophet Joel and King David—that stuns his audience (vv. 14–35). He ends his message by gently reminding the “House of Israel” that Jesus is both “Lord and Christ.” He then proceeds to not-so-gently remind them that they were the ones responsible for crucifying Jesus (v. 36). These words “cut to the heart” of the listeners and prompt them to ask a life-changing question: “What shall we do?” (v. 37).

When life hits rock bottom, the most common question we ask is, “What can I do?” I used to lead a divorce recovery group, and I heard that question more times than I can count. While I couldn’t give a specific answer to each situation, I could offer one that has worked for me on numerous occasions: when you hit rock bottom, look down to your “firm foundation”—the “rock” on which you stand. (I can hear your melodic voice, Seth!)

Peter answers his audience’s question with: “Repent and be baptized . . . in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins” (v. 38). A simple question, answered by a seemingly straightforward response. Easy in theory—more difficult in practice. Enter the Holy Spirit.

The Holy Spirit has many roles. One of these is to transform (regenerate) the heart of a non-believer, allowing them access to the saving grace of Jesus—as is displayed in this narrative. Another role is conviction. The Spirit convicts us of our guilt, leading us to repentance. Repentance is simply turning the other way. David Guzik states, “You can’t turn towards God without turning from the things He is against.”

As we begin digging deeper into A World-Changing Faith, I challenge you to examine your own life. What areas are causing you to ask that simple question? The answer is just a prayer away. Change the world by allowing the Spirit to change you from within!

Digging Deeper (er):

Luke 3:8-14; Luke 10:25-37 (Good Samaritan); Mark 10:17-22

 

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Phil Meade is a father of 3, and grandfather of 5. He has a Masters Degree in Theological Studies from Liberty University, and lives in Acworth. He has led various small groups throughout his more than 20 years attending NS. He retired after 8 years as an Air Force pilot, and 33 years as a Delta pilot.