Saul knew and those who were with him heard but didn’t see. Saul’s ears were opened and his eyes were opened and he knew. God revealed his Way for him.

Ananias was also called by God and His way was revealed to him. Talk to Saul.

God moves in mysterious ways His wonders to perform. He still does that today, but do I have the ears to hear? His Spirit was at work and still is at work. Do I have the eyes that see and the ears that hear? SpiritPower then and now.

God gives His people strength – preaching, healing, being encouraged and prodded, praying, etc.

God enables me today and as He told His champions then and now – Be Strong.

Spirit of the living God
Fall fresh on me
Spirit of the living God
Fall fresh on me

Break me, melt me, mold me fill me
Spirit of the living God
Fall fresh on me

God’s people are called to serve. When? In all circumstances. I need to see Him always and not just when things are going my way. Look at the many champions of the faith – Joseph, Philip, Paul, etc how things were not going their way yet they were part of His plan proclaiming what was asked, driven by His Spirit. In all circumstances, God is at work. Trust and Obey and He will provide. Open my eyes Lord so I may see how You are at work in ALL circumstances in the lives of Your people. Stand up for Jesus. I must be totally dependent on Him. Emmanuel – God with us. I need to go forward in that power at all times. And as I read in today’s reading, He does provide all what is needed. SpiritDriven. GodPower.

Open my ears Lord, so I hear that This is the way to go.
Open my eyes Lord so that today I will see You.

Your will be done, Lord.

Come to the Savior now,
He gently calleth thee;
In true repentance bow,
Before Him bend the knee;
He waiteth to bestow
Salvation, peace, and love,
True joy on earth below,
A home in Heav’n above.

Come to the Savior now,
Ye who have wandered far;
Renew your solemn vow,
For His by right you are;
Come, like poor wand’ring sheep
Returning to His fold;
His arm will safely keep,
His love will ne’er grow cold.

Come to the Savior, all,
Whate’er your burdens be;
Hear now His loving call,
“Cast all your care on Me.”
Come, and for ev’ry grief
In Jesus you will find
A sure and safe relief,
A loving Friend and kind.

Throughout History, the refrain isGod was with him – with Abraham, Joseph, Moses, . . God using people for His purposes and yet some could not see the Story. Eyes they had but could not see.

Nor would the people hear. The people turned against Moses and the Lord God also turned away from them. They went to exile to learn their lesson – to unplug their hearing.

Those who heard Stephen were like those in past history – ears they had but did not hear, eyes they they had but did not see. And they stoned/killed the Truth.

And today I need to tell the Story of what the Lord God has done by words, by deeds by the leading of His Spirit in me. Open my eyes and ears Lord so I too may proclaim the Good News.

I love to tell the story of unseen things above,
Of Jesus and His glory, of Jesus and His love.
I love to tell the story, because I know ’tis true;
It satisfies my longings as nothing else can do.
Refrain

I love to tell the story, ’twill be my theme in glory,
To tell the old, old story of Jesus and His love.

I love to tell the story; more wonderful it seems
Than all the golden fancies of all our golden dreams.
I love to tell the story, it did so much for me;
And that is just the reason I tell it now to thee.

Refrain

I love to tell the story; ’tis pleasant to repeat
What seems, each time I tell it, more wonderfully sweet.
I love to tell the story, for some have never heard
The message of salvation from God’s own holy Word.

Refrain

I love to tell the story, for those who know it best
Seem hungering and thirsting to hear it like the rest.
And when, in scenes of glory, I sing the new, new song,
’Twill be the old, old story that I have loved so long.

God blessed the ministry and also provided the means that it could grow. The disciples could not manage all that was happening by themselves and needed help and help they received. Reminds me of Moses, discharged some of his responsibilities so that he could carry out his task. The Spirit moves in mighty ways. Even a large number of priests became obedient to the faith.

God’s Spirit was at work and His people were connected to Him and He blessed them and they grew. I too need to be Spirit led in all I do and say spending time with Him in prayer so that my ministry also may take hold. This is true for all God’s children – faithful service – obedient service – walking with their God in all they do and say. GodPower. It is God Who gives His people strength.

1. God gives His people strength.
If we believe in His way, He’s swift to repay
All those who bear the burden of the day
God gives His people strength.

2. God gives His people hope
If we but trust in His word, our prayers are always heard
He warmly welcomes anyone who’s erred.
God gives His people hope.

3. God gives His people love
If we but open wide our hearts, He’s sure to do His part
He’s always the first to make a start.
God gives His people love.

4. God gives His people peace.
When sorrow fills us to the brim, and courage grows dim
He lays to rest our restlessness in Him.
God gives His people peace

SpiritStrong.

God gives His people strength and more. Peter could see what was in the ‘stomach’ of Ananias and Sapphira. They were obeying heir selfish desires and not the desires of God. The Pharisee Gamaliel saw this – if what they do is from God, it can not be stopped. Then we will be fighting against God.

Am I Spirit filled or man filled? The Pharisees also put the emphasis on themselves – they were the leaders; they had hold of the way; they had the position and they wanted the people to follow them. They too were puffed up, full of themselves rather than being Spirit led.

I just returned from the staff retreat on the theme of Be Strong. And the only way to be strong is to obey. The you will have ‘success’ – doing the will of the Lord. Proclaiming the Good News wherever He plants you. ‘Bloom where you are planted.’ GodPower. SpiritDriven.

May He always be the wind beneath our wings.

Spirit of the living God
Fall fresh on me
Spirit of the living God
Fall fresh on me

Break me, melt me, mold me fill me
Spirit of the living God
Fall fresh on me

All the disciples were together in unity. We do not hear of who’s the greatest, or other disagreements. Oh what a wonder when the people of God can be one in Christ Jesus rather than working cross currents on their ‘corner’ of the gospel. Even those who were baptized – they were together and had everything in common – praising God and enjoying the favour of the people. WoW!

God’s Word is central. Peter spoke that Word as a testimony to the people and all people understand him because they heard it in their own tongues. The babbling was over His Spirit unified all His people and they understood the Gospel. SpiritPower! GodPower.

Peter was enabled by the Spirit to do. You and I are enable to do. God has given His people what they need to do the Great Commission. I just need to do it. I just need to be an instrument of His peace. I need to rely upon Him and not rely upon my own powers. He has equipped me.

1. Make me a channel of your peace:
Where there is hatred, let me bring you love;
Where there is injury, your healing pow’r,
And where there’s doubt, true faith in you.

2. Make me a channel of your peace:
Where there’s despair in life let me bring hope;
Where there is darkness, – only light,
And where there’s sadness, ever joy.

3. O Spirit, grant that I may never seek
So much to be consolded as to console,
To be understood as to understand,
To be loved as to love with all my soul – .

4. Make me a channel of your peace.
It is in pardoning that we are pardoned,
In giving to all that we receive,
And in dying that we’re born to eternal life.

Not only did He equip them with the Spirit but also gave the promise of His return. Don’t just star gaze but get busy with the task since I will come back. That reminds me of the workers in His vineyard working for the Master until He returns.

Following His instructions – waiting for the Spirit – they came together in prayer. They knew what their task would be and they came together in prayer. To be equipped as His servants we need to be a praying servant. God equips His people with His gifts and the people can also equip themselves by coming to the Lord in prayer. When? At all times.

Here the disciples were embarking on a new task – the great commission and in a time of persecution – waiting for the promise and what do they do? Come together in prayer. This is a basic ingredient of a Christian’s life – to come into His presence in all circumstances in prayer. Talk with the Father.

Take time to be holy, speak oft with thy Lord;
Abide in Him always, and feed on His Word.
Make friends of God’s children, help those who are weak,
Forgetting in nothing His blessing to seek.

Take time to be holy, the world rushes on;
Spend much time in secret, with Jesus alone.
By looking to Jesus, like Him thou shalt be;
Thy friends in thy conduct His likeness shall see.

Take time to be holy, let Him be thy Guide;
And run not before Him, whatever betide.
In joy or in sorrow, still follow the Lord,
And, looking to Jesus, still trust in His Word.

Take time to be holy, be calm in thy soul,
Each thought and each motive beneath His control.
Thus led by His Spirit to fountains of love,
Thou soon shalt be fitted for service above.

God has given His Word and now is the time to obey it. God has told His people to follow His leading and now is the time to obey Him. God has given His presence by His Spirit and now is the time to obey.

God gave His people strength by His presence and He continues to give His people strength by His Spirit. Do we loose our vision like His people then? His glory was physically present and yet the people lost their way. God is with His people today and is with them in all their travels. Do I walk with Him each day?

He gives strength for the journey so that each day we can walk in His SonShine.

1. God gives His people strength.
If we believe in His way, He’s swift to repay
All those who bear the burden of the day
God gives His people strength.

2. God gives His people hope
If we but trust in His word, our prayers are always heard
He warmly welcomes anyone who’s erred.
God gives His people hope.

3. God gives His people love
If we but open wide our hearts, He’s sure to do His part
He’s always the first to make a start.
God gives His people love.

4. God gives His people peace.
When sorrow fills us to the brim, and courage grows dim
He lays to rest our restlessness in Him.
God gives His people peace.

The priests garments were beautiful and they were dressed for service – Holy to the Lord. All of His people today, dressed with the fruit of the Spirit , wholly/holy to the Lord. fitted for kingdom service. As the priests were set apart, we too are set apart from the world to do what He has asked – serve Him. And as they were always in His presence, so are we.

All for Jesus.

Come into His presence, singing,
‘Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia’.
Come into His presence, singing,
‘Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia’.

Come into His presence, singing,
‘Jesus is Lord, Jesus is Lord, Jesus is Lord.’
Come into His presence, singing,
‘Jesus is Lord, Jesus is Lord, Jesus is Lord.’

Come into His presence, singing,
‘Glory to God, Glory to God, Glory to God.’
Come into His presence, singing,
‘Glory to God, Glory to God, Glory to God.’

We serve Him wherever we are although the priests served Him in the tabernacle – a place with great beauty. God dwelt among His people but that tabernacle must be within us for the Lord God dwells with his people today. Our bodies His temples. And it also shows us of things to come – the glory of it all.