August 9, 2020

August 9

Running with Jesus

Acts 2:42 "And they continued stedfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers."

     Yesterday we answered the question what they were to do after they heard the message of Peter and were convicted of their sin and today we see what we are to be doing. 

     First of all we are to remain steadfast in the apostle’s teachings. As the body of Christ, we are not to be given to fluctuation or "moving off course”, which is the Geek definition of steadfast. I am telling you in this land we live; it only takes a second to get off track in our Spiritual walk. We are bombarded, pulled, and torn to go in so many directions. Business and fleshly desires are in strong force to lure us from the teachings of the apostles. Bibles are even being rewritten to be politically correct so man can live as his fleshly desires arise in their lives. Revelations 22:18 KJV says, "For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book:19And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book!"

     So man can do anything they want, but I am here to tell you that you will spend eternity in hell. Man no longer fears the wrath of God. They want to only hear God is love and this is true, but friend you don't know and respect the God of the Bible! You best read the end of the book. He is also a judge and always keeps His word! He punishes sin and disobedience and He is slow to anger and patient, giving man time to repent, but He will unleash His wrath when necessary! 

     Church, we must stand fast in God's true teaching and we must remain faithful, don't bend. Don't fluctuate or move off course, full steam ahead! Only truth sets a man free and we must fear God more than pleasing man.

Father, grant us a steadfast Spirit within us and help us to remain strong.

Come back tomorrow for a little fellowship! Have a great day!

Judy Hollaway

Originally penned 2015

August 8, 2020

August 8

Running with Jesus  

Acts 2:36-38;41 "Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made the same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ. Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do? Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost."Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls".

       Here we have the regenerated Peter standing with boldness and authority when just a few days before had stood in the background and denied even knowing Jesus! On this day filled and empowered by the Holy Spirit gave one of the greatest messages and three thousand souls were added to the church! 

      Apart from Christ and the filling of God's Spirit we can do nothing! They heard the message about Christ, and were pricked in their hearts and ask what can we do about all of this, the one they had crucified was the Son of God whom David prophesied about? Peter's response was repent, turn to God, and receive the Spirit of promise and you will be forgiven.

       Never before in this world we live in do we need to hear this message of sin and salvation! With people killing innocent babies and watching them die and rip their bodies apart, my heart is so sad. So much innocent blood shed just like this crowd a few days ago hollering crucify Him, an innocent man.  Oh we must stand with boldness and cry out just like Peter. We must church more than ever seek to be filled and controlled by the Spirit of God. We must wake up, judgment is coming! Mike shared about Noah last night building the ark and preached for a hundred years the flood was coming, we too must arise to the call and share the message of salvation to repent before it is too late. They were given a time, 120 years. We are not given the time, day, or year but we are given the message. The message is a hard one and many will not believe but God closed the door on Noah and he and his family were saved. One day the door will close for this generation too! Today is the day of salvation so cry out repent!

Father, as we come before Your presence today we come asking for boldness and power to stand before all whom we come into contact with to share the gospel. Give us the words to speak and we ask that hearts will be pricked as we speak. Father awaken our nation, stir it and whatever it takes to bring us back to You do it Lord Jesus. I know for us who fear You it is hard to pray this prayer but lest we repent we will be judged. We cry out for Your mercy and grace to endure what it takes for souls to repent. Prick hearts today! 

Tomorrow: What are we to do?

Judy Hollaway

Originally penned 2015

August 7, 2020

August 7
Running with Jesus  

Acts 2:21 "and it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved.

      The arrival of the Holy Spirit ushered in a new era. When He entered like prophesy said, He came into men, women, young, and old. Up to this time God primarily resided upon one person who would guide and lead the people or temple priest, now, anyone who called upon His name shall be saved! They were born again and the Holy Spirit came and dwelled within them personally!  Everyone can receive the Spirit of God.
       We will see how Peter will stand with boldness filled with the Spirit of God demonstrating this great change that came about by the indwelling Spirit of God!  We must start learning to pay attention to the Holy Spirit by hearing His voice and obeying His voice.  He was given to guide, teach, and comfort us as we learn to live the abundant life. Salvation didn't stop when we were saved, life was just beginning!  This new life is walking daily in the Spirit of God! God lit our fire the day we called on His name and now it is our job to place ourselves in an environment to keep our fire up and going! When we don't read the Word and obey It we put water on our fire or cover it up. How do we do that, by letting sin build up in our lives. When we cease to obey His Word even if it is just to forgive, hold back tithes and offerings, or not remember the Sabbath day, we allow our fire to grow dim. This will result in pushing Christ back in a corner in our hearts making it hard to hear His voice and running through life just got difficult. Praise God we can call on the name of the Lord and He can save us from the dark path we walked into and pull us back into the lightened path. Praise the Lord we can call on the Lord and find salvation and we can call on the name of the Lord to help us live our daily lives! We just have to call and He will come running to us! God is always chasing us down! He wants to run with us!
      After Pentecost He was back where He always wanted running with man and talking and fellowshipping! Isn't it an awesome thought the eternal Creator longs for you!
           

Oh Daddy, Father, how precious You are to us. We just want to love on You today! We call on Your name. Some called for the first time this morning but some of us call on Your name constantly, we can't walk Daddy without You holding our hands. Don't let go we love You so much!

      Spend some time now just sitting and loving on God! Just say Jesus, Jesus, and sit alone, be still, and quiet for the next few minutes enjoying His presence calling on His name. He will go with you through anything you are dealing with today!
 

Tomorrow: Peter's greatest sermon, let's not miss it!

Judy Hollaway

Originally penned 2015

August 6, 2020

August 6

Running with Jesus

Acts 2:2 And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting.

      Our almighty Father will speak in many different ways. In days of old He used fire, wind, rain, belly of a whale, Angels, handwriting on the wall, and to the prophet Elijah it was in a still small voice.

      For me He speaks primarily through the still small voice and the Word of God. He nudges me and says that is me. Sometimes He can use a song or sermon. Sometimes in my storms He speaks loud but most of the time it has been in stillness waiting I get the word He has for me. 

      God came down this day and would touch their tongues and enabled them to speak in the language of those around them. The town was flooded with men from every nation there was need to show the Jews prophesy was there and fulfilled. These men were able to speak so all present could hear the message in their own native tongue. This was a sign for them to believe and we see it came to the Jews first and as we continue to run we will meet up with two other groups that would need a sign salvation had come into the world. Then the evangelism would begin to spread to all the world. 

       God will do whatever He desires to reach man whether in a miraculous way but also in a still small voice behind us saying, “this is the way, go walk in it".  Today as I type He will be using modern technology to speak to your heart! And will reveal to many parts of the world. 

       My question is are you listening, are you still and are you wanting to hear a word from Him.  Get your Bible, pray and ask for Him to reveal Himself to you. 

Father, Pentecost was one of the greatest days on earth because You unleashed Your Spirit to live in man and we no longer are left to run through life alone.

      You are not alone! You never will be! When all looks hopeless we have the blessed Hope! We thank You for that still small voice saying I love you and you are Mine! Amen, amen as my new friend from India says! 

Let's call on the name of the Lord in the morning! Hurry back!

Judy Hollaway

Originally penned 2015

August 5, 2020

August 5

Running With Jesus  

Acts 2:3 “And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them.”

     Fire in the Bible was always connected with God’s purifying presence.  When the offerings of sacrifices were made God would come down in the presence of fire and consume the sacrifices.  He led the Israelites by fire at night.  When the temple was established He came down and lit the fire on the altar of sacrifice that they were to keep it continually lit. ​It was appropriate for the Holy Spirit to enter the earth as cloven tongues of fire.  Luke tells us in Luke 3:16 The Holy Ghost would come and baptize with fire. On this day this fulfillment of the prophesy of Joel  was fulfilled  about the outpouring of the Holy Spirit.  Joel 2:28 says “And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh, and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions. ​The cloven tongues of fire separated and rested upon each of them.  The fire purified and ignited mans hearts and then they would go forth and ignite the lives of other believers. ​God has chosen to use us as earthen vessels to dwell in and take the message of salvation to the world. When we are born again God purifies our hearts and comes to dwell in us.  Our souls are set on fire.  We become new and old things pass away.  Our lives are changed and we are to become a light on a hill for all the world to see Jesus, the way, the truth, and the life.  

​      My question this morning,” has your heart been purified and the Holy Spirit ignited you?” The disciple’s lives were regenerated that day.  They were made right with God and their lives were so touched they would be willing to be hung on crosses, be beaten, sawn into and all sorts of persecution they would be willing to endure to take the gospel around the world.​They were touched by God and not some emotional worship service hyped up by man.  When these left the building they were transformed by God.  A few moments of emotionalism will not last, however, one moment of the fire of God igniting our hearts will last you for a life time.  When He touches us we will be purified and filled with His Spirit. 

Father, all I can say is thank You when I was eight years old You came into my life and burned the sin guilt away and came to dwell in my life to guide, lead, and direct me.  I didn’t understand to the fullest extent of what happened to me but I have never forgotten that touch of Your Spirit that night. I know You never took Your hand off me and worked in my life drawing me closer and closer as I grew to know You more each day.

     My prayer is each of you have a time like that in your life and know that His Spirit is in you. Did His Spirit purify your heart from the guilt of sin when He came in to make His dwelling in you? Are we living the ignited life?  Other’s hearts should burn when they get near us because they sense the indwelling of Spirit of God in us.

Lord, help us not put water on the fire in our hearts.                                                                           

     We better go have a think on some of these questions!   So I am checking out of here for the day!

In the morning, how God speaks to me here!  Ya’ll come back now!

 Judy Hollaway

Originally penned 2015