STP (Study, Trust, Pray) for April 18, 2024
No Longer Afraid
“While Peter and John were addressing the people, the priests, the chief of the Temple police, and some Sadducees came up, indignant that these upstart apostles were instructing the people and proclaiming that the resurrection from the dead had taken place in Jesus. They arrested them and threw them in jail until morning, for by now it was late in the evening. But many of those who listened had already believed the Message—in round numbers about five thousand! 5-7 The next day a meeting was called in Jerusalem. The rulers, religious leaders, religion scholars, Annas the Chief Priest, Caiaphas, John, Alexander—everybody who was anybody was there. They stood Peter and John in the middle of the room and grilled them: ‘Who put you in charge here? What business do you have doing this?’ 8-12 With that, Peter, full of the Holy Spirit, let loose: ‘Rulers and leaders of the people, if we have been brought to trial today for helping a sick man, put under investigation regarding this healing, I’ll be completely frank with you—we have nothing to hide. By the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, the One you killed on a cross, the One God raised from the dead, by means of his name this man stands before you healthy and whole. Jesus is “the stone you masons threw out, which is now the cornerstone.” Salvation comes no other way; no other name has been or will be given to us by which we can be saved, only this one.’”—Acts 4:1-12 MSG
Before the Day of Pentecost, the disciples had forgotten all of Jesus’ teachings about being brave in the face of persecution. But after receiving the Holy Spirit on Pentecost they bravely went out into the Temple area to share the Good News of the Resurrected Christ to all who would listen. When the authorities came to arrest them they no longer ran and hid. When they were brought before the authorities for questioning they bravely shared the kingdom message with the authorities. The Holy Spirit turned the disciples’ lives upside down which allowed them to turn the known world upside down also. With the help of the Holy Spirit, we can make the same difference in our world too.
Come, Holy Spirit, Come…Amen.
St. Paul UMC Worship Service; 9:00am Sunday; 495 St. Paul Cemetery Rd., Dover, AR 72837
Dover UMC Worship Service; 10:00am Sunday; 81 West Water St., Dover, AR 72837
Today’s Memory Verse: “With that, Peter, full of the Holy Spirit, let loose: ‘Rulers and leaders of the people…”—Acts 4:8 MSG
Blessings and prayers…
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