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An old story told of the devil once advertising his tools for sale at public auction. When the buyers assembled, there was one odd shaped tool labeled “Not for Sale”.  When asked to explain why this particular tool was not...

Depression and the Need for a Light at the End of the Tunnel

https://carltoncoon.com/blogs/news/depression-and-the-need-for-a-light-at-the-end-of-the-tunnel

Depression has been called the mental and emotional common cold. Depression is common. However, many people remain unaware. They also remain unaware that depression affects people from the most successful – to the unknown.

The eleven had received direct instruction. They were to “wait and then go.” In obedience they came to this place to “wait.” Their waiting was not sitting quietly and folding their hands. Instead they took spiritual action. They prayed.

The apostles carried out Jesus’ instructions. They did not scatter, but went at once to the upper room where they abode. It seems this was a temporary residence that had been used when Jesus and His closest followers were in Jerusalem.

The disciples already had His promise of a SPIRITUAL return to be IN them, but this was different.  The angels speak of another PHYSICAL return of the Lord.

Ordinary people were able to do extraordinary things because the Spirit of God was at work in their lives.  The ministry of the Holy Spirit is not a luxury; it is an absolute necessity 

The light that shines the farthest shines the brightest at home.

Imagine them thinking and talking among themselves, ”You know that resurrection was a pretty neat trick, but I wonder when He is going to take care of the ‘main’ thing, the business of restoring the kingdom to Israel?”

As the group near the ascension of the Lord, He gave specific instruction as to where they were to go and what they were to wait for. What had been spoken of just over 40 days earlier would soon be a reality.

Books have been written about the last words of various people. God manifest in flesh spent His last days on earth focused on, “the things pertaining to the kingdom of God.” 

God does not always inform us as to the “so that” intended as the next step forward, but never stop looking for God’s “so that” in your life. You ran into an old friend last week. Was the intent to get an update on their family? Perhaps, or was something else meant to happen?

Where else does Acts or the gospels speak of the promise of the Father?

Began . . . a word that calls for a continuation. Luke was volume one of a saga that could not be contained in one writing,. God's approach is different, the tools being employed are different, but what He started has not concluded.

The four gospels funnel into Acts. Acts is then a too oft ignored bridge from the life of Christ into practiced and practical Christianity.

The book of Acts covers approximately thirty years. Understanding the time involved gives a sense of the time in Paul becoming a convert, a disciple, and then a student of the scripture. It helps see the development of Peter as the apostle preaching the first gospel message to the Jews and nine years later to a Gentile.

 

Acts contains an experiential theology of salvation whether dealing with those who conspired to commit murder (Acts 2); a prayerful and honest-hearted Roman military official (Acts 10), or an Ethiopian who had traveled to Jerusalem to worship (Acts 8). How to be saved is found in the book of Acts!

 

Step by step the gospel message moves from Jerusalem to Rome. The missionary effort was not easy. Persecution, personal disagreements among leaders, and people backsliding did not stop the missionary effort.

The church in the book of Acts is shown as a spiritual entity. At their best, the Christians in Acts were indwelt, empowered, and guided by the Holy Spirit.

This view sees Acts as a pattern. Acts is thus like the Lord's command to Moses regarding the tabernacle. "...Look that thou make them after their pattern, which was shown thee in the mount." (Exodus 25:40)

 

Acts has much divine activity. God was breaking in on people of various cultures and backgrounds. Luke was especially concerned that his readers understand this.

 

The Acts of the Apostles is unique. It is the only God-inspired history of the early church. Acts tells the story of the church's progress. It also reports failure, dissension, and error.