Day 2 - 28 Day Challenge

God knows what he is doing.

Acts 2 v 23 tells us that Jesus was "following the deliberate and well-thought-out plan of God" (message). Just hours earlier it probably didn't seem to these disciples that there was much of a plan at all.

This Jesus they had been following had been crucified yes he had risen from the dead but he still had left them with some wierd instruction just to wait in Jerusalem for something to happen. The Holy Spirit was going to come and somehow that was going to make the difference. So there they were in the middle of a Jewish Holiday huddled together the remains of His followers waiting and wondering. Then it happened and everything changed.

God's plan suddenly became clear. He planned to have his followers in Jerusalem at this important time with people from all over the world. Then he gave His followers, through the Holy Spirit, the ability to speak in languages they had never spoken so that everyone in Jerusalem could here His message loud and clear.

Then the same Holy Spirit gave a scared fisherman the ability to preach with great power and in one day the church explodes. We need to remember God knows what he is doing.

My Prayer

Help me always to remember that it is your plan that matters God. I will not always know the way forward but help me to be patient for your plan to come into action.

Miracle Pass

A bit tired and bleary eyed this morning after staying up till the early hours of the morning to watch the Superbowl between the Patriots and the Giants.

Yes I realise its an American game and it still does not hold the excitement of real football but I am a sports nut and it is their biggest game of the season. If even just for the last few minutes it was worth watching as the nailed on favourites were humbled by a incredible play by a quarterback that was written off earlier in the season.

This has got to be the best play ever in a Superbowl. Seconds to go, under incredible pressure and Eli Manning gets off pass that was unbelieveable caught.



Another highlight for me was the incredible voice of American Idol winner Jordan Sparks.

Day 1 - 28 Day Challenge

Reading through the Gospels time and time again you hear Jesus talking to His disciples and the crowds about the Kingdom. He used stories to try to explain what the Kingdom of Heaven was like. It was a kingdom that was growing, full of love, justice, truth and righteousness. Jesus mission on earth was to declare the Kingdom of God.

It would appear that in Acts 1 v 6 the disciples still misunderstood His message of the kingdom. They were still looking for Jesus to set up a physical literal Kingdom in the land of Israel. Even after spending years with Jesus they still hadn't quite grasped the enormity of Jesus mission. A Kingdom that could not be constrained by wall, borders, race or gender. It was a kingdom that was for all people everywhere throughout all time.

Jesus answer in Acts 1 v 8 seeks to set them on the right path. It would seem that the answer to their question was the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit would help them get their vision and mission right. Just receiving the Holy Spirit would focus them on and give them power to become witnesses.

My Prayer

Father help me to understand completely your vision and mission for the world. Fill me afresh to day with the Holy Spirit so that I will have the boldness and power to be a witness for you to everyone I meet today. Open my heart to the gifts you want to give to people though me today.

The Heart of the Matter

A few weeks ago I preached about Christianity being about a heart relationship with Jesus not a set of man made rules and regulations. View the illustration below I used. By the way I am not that creative heads up to Perry Noble of New Spring Church who I saw do this before.