God answers with power
“The night before Herod was to bring him to trial, Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains, and sentries stood guard at the entrance. Suddenly an angel of the Lord appeared, and a light shone in the cell. He struck Peter on the side and woke him up. ‘Quick, get up!’ he said, and the chains fell off Peter’s wrists… Peter followed him out of the prison, but he had no idea that what the angel was doing was really happening; he thought he was seeing a vision… When they had walked the length of one street, suddenly the angel left him…” (Acts 12:6-11)
God’s power revealed
“On the appointed day Herod, wearing his royal robes, sat on his throne and delivered a public address to the people. They shouted, ‘This is the voice of a god, not of a man.’ Immediately, because Herod did not give praise to God, an angel of the Lord struck him down, and he was eaten by worms and died.” (Acts 12:21-23)
How to make a difference in the upcoming elections
1 Timothy 2:1-4 “I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone — for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness.” (NIV)
Achieving a life of faith through connection with Christ
Philippians 4:13 “I can do everything through Him Who gives me strength.”
Don’t follow false teachers: Verify your facts
2 Peter 2:1-2 “But there were also false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the sovereign Lord who bought them - bringing swift destruction on themselves. Many will follow their shameful ways and will bring the way of truth into disrepute.”
3 things to do when God isn’t answering
Romans 12:12 “Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.”
God breaking in
In Jesus’ Bible, there is no event that has had such a lasting effect on all humanity as God’s speaking the ten commandments from the top of Mount Sinai.
Forsberg: The Holy Spirit continues His work
“Now those who had been scattered by the persecution that broke out when Stephen was killed traveled as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus and Antioch, spreading the word only among Jews.
Sheridan: God’s Kingdom not about competition
Matthew 18:1 “At that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked, ‘Who, then, is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?’ ”
Ward: The gift of solar eclipses
On April 8 I joined a crowd at Miami University’s intramural athletic field to watch the total eclipse of the sun. As the moon blocked more and more of the sun from view, the temperature dropped and shadows spread across the field. Applause erupted from the group when the sun disappeared completely at 3:08 PM.
