God’s power is at work in His church today

by Barrett Vanlandingham

February 21, 2017

          God used his power to create the universe (Genesis 1).  A few thousand years later, God used His power again, this time in cooperation with some very unlikely first century partners to spread His church.

          Perhaps the most intriguing thing about the beginnings of the Lord’s church is that Christ’s followers were so bold in teaching about their friend, Jesus, when just weeks before, they had behaved so cowardly, deserting Jesus in his time of need. The Church would quickly come to be known for attributes that are still important for the Church today: 1) the instruction Christ’s followers could find there, 2) the power of God that people witnessed there, 3) an open invitation to a life of salvation and joy.

          Acts 1:1-5 tells us that in the 40 days between Christ’s resurrection and ascension back to heaven, Jesus interacted with His disciples, giving them “convincing proofs” that He was alive again. He spoke with them, ate fish with them, and even let them touch Him. Jesus knew His disciples would need to be fully convinced of His resurrection if they were to teach His message of love and hope while enduring persecution.

          Acts 2:1-11 tells us a huge crowd of Jews had gathered for a festival in Jerusalem known as Pentecost that took place 50 days after the Passover. But this Pentecost would prove to be a day to remember like no other. God’s Holy Spirit empowered the 12 apostles, allowing them to speak in tongues about “the wonders of God” so that everyone, no matter where they were from, could understand in their own language.

          In Acts 2:12-47 Peter takes it up a notch as he reminds the crowd about Jesus’ life, death, burial, and resurrection. Three thousand new believers were told to repent and be baptized for the forgiveness of their sins so that they could receive the gift of God’s Holy Spirit (2:38).  These new Christians were so excited about their new life in Christ that they met together everyday, ate together, praised God together, enjoyed each other’s company, and took care of each other’s needs.

          Three simple things made all the difference in the early church. The same is true today. Have a great week!

God wants imperfect people for His church

by Barrett Vanlandingham

February 21, 2017

          The very first Christians (church members) were taught by eye-witnesses to the miracles of Jesus. The church not only witnessed God’s supernatural power, but also his love, compassion, and mercy.

          God’s mercy is still a huge part of what makes Christ’s church special and appealing to us today. God made clear His desire for us to show mercy to others in the way He showed mercy to one of Jesus’ very first disciples. By studying about the apostle Peter, we get a close up encounter of God’s mercy, and one of the best reasons why our Lord is known as “The God of second chances.”

          In John 13:37, the day before Jesus was crucified, Peter expressed his commitment to Jesus, saying, “I will lay down my life for you.”

          Of course, we know how that turned out. While the high priest was questioning Jesus in the courtyard, Peter was there warming himself that cold night by a fire. Three times, Peter was asked by the opposition about whether he knew Jesus. Peter denied it three times before the rooster crowed.

          Peter failed his friend. But thankfully, Jesus did not give up on Peter.  Several days after Jesus’ resurrection, He and his disciples were on the seashore, eating fish around a fire early in the morning. Then Jesus asked Peter three times, “Do you love me?”     After each time Peter answered yes, Jesus told Peter, “Feed my lambs.”  Jesus was giving Peter a second chance to prove his commitment by reinstating him as someone He trusted to show His love to others and teach God’s truths.

          Peter made the most of his second chance. In Acts 2, He preached the first Gospel sermon. Three-thousand people obeyed the message and were baptized. “And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved” (Acts 2:47). 

          That number quickly grew to five-thousand, so members of the Sanhedrin (Jewish high court) commanded Peter and John to stop teaching the message of Jesus. This time, Peter’s response to the opposition was different, “We cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard” (Acts 4:20).

          Thank God He allows those who mess up the opportunity to repent and continue serving in His kingdom.  Have a blessed day!

Baptism is immersed in Biblical truths

by Barrett Vanlandingham

February 14, 2017

          The New Testament makes clear the necessity of baptism, and that baptism means immersion or burial in water (Romans 6:4), not sprinkling or pouring. Baptism symbolizes the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus. The Bible uses the Greek word for immerse (baptizo) at least nine times in telling the stories of Christian converts.

          In Acts 2, the apostle Peter preached to the crowd the good news of Jesus Christ and what He did for them. When the people asked what they needed to do, Peter said, “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” (Acts 2:38). The Lord added three-thousand people to His church that day who accepted Peter’s message.

          In Acts 8, Philip rode in a chariot with a government official identified in scripture as the “Ethiopian Eunuch.”  After Philip taught him the good news about Jesus, the man saw water near the road and asked to be baptized. Philip and the eunuch “went down into the water and Philip baptized him” (8:38). If immersion (burial in water) were not necessary, Philip could have simply sprinkled a few drops on his head without getting out of the chariot. One other note, Philip did not begin rejoicing (8:39) until after his baptism, even though he surely believed in the good news of Jesus before his baptism.

          In Acts 22:6-16 we read about the Apostle Paul’s conversion to Christianity on the road to Damascus. He encountered a blinding light, and heard a voice identify Himself as “Jesus of Nazareth, whom you are persecuting.”  Paul spoke with Him and asked Him what he should do. Then Paul’s friends led him into Damascus where a man named Ananias said to Paul, “Receive your sight!”  And then he said, “And now, what are you waiting for? Get up, be baptized and wash your sins away, calling on his name.”

          None of these souls was saved by saying a prayer, talking to Jesus, or asking Jesus into their heart. However, the NT does point out that believing (John 8:24), repenting (Luke 13:3-5), confessing (Romans 10:9-13) and baptism (Romans 6:1-11) are necessary to be saved.  Have a great week!

God’s love has always been in the air

by Barrett Vanlandingham

February 7, 2017

          If you’ve been to any major stores lately, you’ve probably noticed lots of red and pink hearts, cards, banners, flowers, and candy boxes! 

          Our culture tells us this is how we are supposed to express our love and admiration for those we care about.  And why wouldn’t expressions of love be engrained in our world? We were created by a loving God who invented love! In fact, 1 John 4:19 says, “We love because He first loved us.” 

          During creation, God said that it was “good.” But after he created man and woman, he referred to his creation as “very good” (Genesis 1:31).  We have always held a special place in God’s heart.

          Songwriter Matt Wertz expressed his thoughts about how God feels about us:

          “v1. I will not take my love away, when praises cease and seasons change. While the whole world turns the other way, I will not take my love away. I will not leave you all alone, when striving leads you far from home, and there's no yield for what you've sown. I will not leave you all alone.

          v2. I will give you what you need, in plenty or in poverty. Forever, always, look to me, and I will give you what you need. I will not take my love away.”

          Wertz’s lyrics, like so many other poems and songs that speak to our hearts, are based in scripture. His song reminds me of Paul’s letter to Christians in Rome.

          “No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 8:37-39).

          There are so many things in this life we have absolutely no control over. Thankfully, God’s love for us is one of them. He loves us no matter what!  In return, we are compelled by His love, to love Him and others. Valentine’s Day is almost here, but I am so happy that God shows his love for us more than once a year! 

          Have a great week!