Cross My Heart Ministry

The name of Jesus is more than just a nametag to identify who He is.  Throughout Scripture –even beginning in the Old Testament — we note the call to worship His name.

I love how  Steve Hawthorne describes the “name of God” in his article The Story of His Glory.  The Biblical authors use God’s names in three ways:

1. Name Tag Name (identification)
2. Window Name (revelation)
3. Fame Name (reputation)

God’s name is more than just the identification of who He is.  It is the essence of His character and His nature. As we read Scripture and take note of His name, we begin to see truth unfold:

• He was El Roi, “the God who sees me,” for Hagar (Genesis 16:13)
• He was El Shaddai, “God Almighty,” to Abraham (Genesis 17:1)
• He was foretold as Immanuel, “God with us,” by the prophet Isaiah (Isaiah 7:14)
• David described him as “my shepherd” (Psalm 23:1)
• Peter proclaimed Him, Messiah, Son of the Living God (Matthew 16:16)

What do you call Him? What is He to you?

We were created to praise His name:

Sing to the LORD a new song;
sing to the LORD, all the earth. Sing to the LORD,
praise his name;
proclaim his salvation day after day.
Declare his glory among the nations,
his marvelous deeds among all peoples.
Psalm 96:1-3

There is power in His name:

“…In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk.”
Acts 3:6

And salvation can be found in no other name:

“Salvation is found in no one else,
for there is no other name under heaven
given to men
by which we must saved.”
Acts 4:12

Does today find you praising His name, finding power in His name, and sharing the gospel message: salvation can be found in His name.

You can listen to the entire teaching lecture here:

http://fbcsiloam.podbean.com/e/acts-lesson-5-laura-macfarlan/

Now a man who was lame from birth was being carried to the temple gate called Beautiful, where he was put every day to beg from those going into the temple courts.
Acts 3:2

In the first century there was no Welfare Department, no Department of Human Services, no local food bank or organization to help the handicapped or the sick. This man’s situation was chronic. He was lame from birth. He had never walked so his entire life he was dependent upon the generosity and kindness of others.

There was no check in the mail and no meals on wheels being delivered.  If he did not show up to beg and if friends did not show up to carry him to a place to beg and if passersby did not respond to his begging, this man would not eat.

The temple gate location was a good strategy. The Jewish faith encouraged giving to the poor so as folks were going to the temple and coming from the temple, this could catch them at an opportune time.  The temple could be the most profitable place of opportunity for this man in need.

It’s interesting to note the contrasts this scene creates for us:

• Everyone is busy and walking to the temple, but the crippled man is immobilized.  He has never walked.
• Everyone has a destination and a focus on getting there. This man can go nowhere unless others take him.
• The worshipers go every day to give God glory through prayer. This beggar comes every day hoping to receive a hand out.
• The temple gate is called Beautiful, but the atrophied, crippled legs (and most likely the unbathed and smelly body) would be perceived as anything but beautiful.

The man is placed there, Dr. Luke tells us, every day. Every day.  And every day Peter and John have most likely traveled through that same gate – three times a day –on their way to pray.  It’s possible that before His crucifixion and resurrection Jesus had even been with them as they traveled to the temple to pray.

So why now? Why is this day the day they see him? Only God knows.

In verse 3 we read that the man reaches out to Peter and John as they are heading to their 3 PM prayer appointment:

When he saw Peter and John about to enter,
he asked them for money.
Acts 3:3

He makes his need known. He asks Peter and John for money. And he asks just as they are about to enter the temple. Is the clock chiming 3? Are they late – or about to be late? Would it be easy to just ignore him because they are going to do a holy and spiritual act – going to worship God Almighty? Is that what they have done hundreds of times before? Possibly.  Most likely. But today they embrace the interruption:

Peter looked straight at him, as did John.
Then Peter said, “Look at us!”
Acts 3:4

Peter and John stop.  They make time.  They embrace the interruption. They look straight at the man.

It’s not comfortable to look at poverty or sickness or racial discrimination. It’s  not comfortable to get involved with abuse or hunger or mental illness.

It’s draining. It’s overwhelming.  It’s exhausting.

But you must look at it first and acknowledge it before you can do anything about it.

Peter and John didn’t look the other way. They didn’t glance and keep their pace.  They stopped. They looked.  They got involved. They made time. They embraced the divine interruption.

They interrupted their plans.  They had an important appointment with the creator of the universe. They were going to pray.

You and I have important appointments.  The more important the appointment, perhaps the greater the sacrifice it is to embrace an interruption.

The woman of God embraces divine interruptions.

You can listen to the complete teaching lecture for Acts Lesson 4 here:

http://fbcsiloam.podbean.com/e/acts-lesson-4-laura-macfarlan/

“Salvation is found in no one else,
for there is no other name under heaven given to men
by which we must be saved.”
Acts 4:12

This is essentially the message preached by Peter at Pentecost. It was used by the Holy Spirit working through Peter and it brought 3000 souls into the Kingdom!

Through the power of the Holy spirit, Peter begins to fulfill the prophesy by Jesus in Acts 1:8.  Peter received the Holy spirit and he became an immediate witness in Jerusalem.

Cowardly Peter – the before-Holy-Spirit-Peter — had denied Jesus three times. But through the indwelling of the Holy spirit, he has become courageous Peter. And the result is clear: 3000 souls redeemed!

How very interesting that all those people who gathered at Pentecost that day were there for a harvest celebration.  Jewish believers traveled to Jerusalem to worship and bring first fruits from the wheat harvest.

Sometimes when we hear the word Pentecost or Pentecostal we are distracted and we think about speaking in tongues.  Yes, there were different languages heard that day and the gospel was heard in all these different languages, but Pentecost, the reason they were coming, was to celebrate the harvest provided by God.  They were celebrating God’s provision, but as they came to wave their sheath of wheat and to celebrate God’s provision, look at the greater harvest that is taking place.  When we hear the word Pentecost, we should think harvest and we should think 3,000 souls.  We should celebrate the harvest of souls and the lives changed with the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Acts Chapter 2 is only the beginning.  On that day 3,000 lives were changed — unmistakable evidence of the moving and working and power of the Holy Spirit.  As the book of Acts unfolds, the gospel continues to spread through the world.

We celebrate those 3000 and we also celebrate the change in Peter’s life.

You know it is so easy to pledge our faithfulness and loyalty to Jesus, and yet it is so difficult to remain loyal and committed when situations arise that could cost us something.

As we study Peter’s life and we celebrate the cowardly Peter that became courageous Peter, it offers opportunity for self examination.

We can ask ourselves, “Am I loyal to Jesus at Bible study,  but am I a traitor to Him at work or at Wal-Mart?

“Do I readily speak out in Sunday School but remain strangely quiet at the family reunion?”

“Do I allow that Facebook post that degrades Christ or His followers to go unanswered?”

The circumstances that unfolded with Peter’s betrayal did not surprise Jesus.  In fact, He predicted it.  It also did not disqualify Peter from future service.  Aren’t we glad?

I am so grateful for the grace that comes with knowing Jesus and that there is a place for everyone to serve in his kingdom regardless of what we have done in our past.  Perhaps He delights especially in using the most unlikely because it ensures that He gets all the glory for the work that is done — and look at the work done by Peter in Acts 2.

He addresses the crowd with boldness and power.  The rough fisherman has a smooth and powerful delivery.  His message is not only well articulated and logical, it is effective.  Three thousand people come to know Jesus that day.

Peter the betrayer becomes Peter the bold.

Peter the denier is Peter the disciple of Jesus, delivering a message that draws 3,000 into the kingdom.

The transformation in Peter’s life is all Jesus.  It is the Holy Spirit.  Peter has been with Jesus, but in Acts 2 he has Jesus indwelling and enabling him through the power of the Holy Spirit.  What an amazing transformation.

What might God accomplish in and through you and me as we are empowered by the Holy Spirit and as we yield to the Holy Spirit?

Like Peter we are rough around the edges.  We don’t get it, and at the first sign of danger we often take whatever steps necessary to protect our hides or our reputation.  We may have long since given up on ourselves, but God never gives up on us.  There is nothing that you and I can do that disqualifies us from serving Him.  God enables and equips us to make Him known.

I pray that He would recycle whatever experiences from our past that bring shame and disqualification – – that he would transform our messes into our message.  That He would use us and give us new fresh opportunities to connect those dots in our lives and to speak up boldly, lovingly and powerfully to those around our “campfire”in our hometown…because

The woman of God is courageous. 

You can listen to the complete teaching lecture for Acts Lesson 3 here: http://fbcsiloam.podbean.com/e/acts-lesson-3-laura-macfarlan/

How extraordinary to receive the assignment to evangelize the world.  But how even more extraordinary to receive the power to do the job.

But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you;
and you will be my witnesses
in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria,
and to the ends of the earth.
Acts 1:8

It is the POWER of the Holy Spirit that makes it possible to complete the Great Commission.  Only with the power of the Spirit can the message go forth.  In fact, I believe this verse makes the case that world evangelism is the primary purpose for the giving of the Holy Spirit. God calls us to be witnesses to the world and He equips us through His Spirit to do it.

The Greek word translated POWER is dunamis.  Our English word dynamite comes from this word! Consequently, it carries the idea of getting the job done — the meaning of being capable or able.  Its opposite would be incapable or impossible. Clearly, with the Holy Spirit, we are equipped and able to reach the world for Christ.  Apart from Him, we are toast as far as the assignment is concerned.

Coming of the Holy Spirit

The giving of the Holy Spirit brought power. As the Holy Spirit descended, He made His presence known in three ways:

1. blowing of a violent wind
2. tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each one of the believers
3. believers could speak in other languages that were understood by those in Jerusalem for Pentecost

Pentecost was one of three religious feasts that required Jewish males to travel to Jerusalem. They came from 15 countries, as shown on this map, found in my NIV Study Bible:

The gospel was heard immediately by representatives from 15 nations surrounding Jerusalem. Amazing. The initial launch of the Acts 1:8 assignment happened without the first believers leaving town. God brought the nations to them.

And the nations are coming to our “Jerusalem” today, too.

Look around. College students, business travelers, resident aliens? Who has God brought into your path that needs to hear the gospel? Are you ready and willing to accept your Acts 1:8 assignment? Are you ready to the trust the Holy Spirit to put His thoughts in your mind, His love in your heart, and His words on your tongue?

You can listen to this week’s teaching from Acts, Lesson 2 here: http://fbcsiloam.podbean.com/e/acts-lesson-2-laura-macfarlan/