“Martus”
11:36 AM
Acts 1:8
“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 1:22 (Just the last sentence…)
“For one of these must become a witness with us of his resurrection.”
It is an interesting choice of words that are being used in these two scriptures. You might have noticed that I have underlined a certain word that these two scriptures have in common too. The singular and the plural forms of the word “witness”. Both words are the same and yet there is a meaning below the surface that I think is in need of addressing. Why? Because what is deeper can change how we view these words in the context of these scriptures.
In Acts 1:8, Jesus says you will be witnesses. Why is that so interesting? Maybe because the word witness in the Greek is “martus”. Martus is the root word for our word martyr. Sound familiar now? Yes, it also means to record or to have seen…but a coincidence that Christ uses that word? I doubt it. Martin Luther once said, “Only men speak of chance…the Bible never does.”
Jesus knows the road you’re traveling on. He knows what is going to happen down your road. He isn’t surprised. He knows the cost. He has already paid it. In His last words to His very own friends, he doesn’t spare them cost of following. Rather He openly admits the road is dangerous. It isn’t for the faint of heart. It’s going to cost something to be a follower of Christ. It’s going to cost something as God breathes over you and your life. The cost is death…and yet life more abundantly.
Mark 8:34-35
(34) Then he called the crowd to him along with his disciples and said: "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. (35)For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me and for the gospel will save it.
Following Jesus is going to cost you everything…because nothing can be more important than Him. The sooner you realize that the closer you are to a freedom, love, and happiness you’ve never known.
Acts of the Apostles, Part 3
11:33 AM
My third installment of the verse by verse study of the “Acts of the Apostles” is done. For those that didn’t know or are missed it, I have placed links to my notes and a link to our church podcast.
I have had a lot of positive feedback on this series…So I hope you enjoy it. Here are my personal sermon notes to the last three sessions…
Acts of the Apostles, Part 3 (Acts 1:18-Acts2:2)
First Assembly of God, Marble Falls Podcast
GroupLink
11:32 AM
Once again it’s time for GroupLink! GroupLink is our North Point Community Church adapted small group’s event. It looks very promising. I am so proud of this church and its desire to seek a deeper connection with Christ and others. We are not a very large church by any means, yet I think after this GroupLink event we will have over 70% of the people in this church plugged into a group. That is phenomenal!
To say I am proud of my church is an understatement. I am proud of the older generation for visually mentoring our younger generation towards a deeper walk with God. I am proud of our young parents that despite their busy schedules are making time in their lives to pursue their relationship with the Father. I am proud of our young singles that are so ambitious to be a part of this church and want to so fiercely do something for the sake of Christ.
This church is going to change this community. This church has decided that they are in this for good. They understand what it means to be a “witness” and are ready to embrace a future full of hope and love.
Thank you First Assembly of God Marble Falls…Thank you!
"Gazing Up"
8:10 AM
Devotion - Acts 1:9-11 (reflection)
Acts 1:9-11
(9) And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight. (10) And while they looked stedfastly toward heaven as he went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel; (11)Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven.
I’ve spoken on this before about Heaven being a place that is “up”. It is an obvious consistency in the scriptures…but as I reflect back on the scripture again I see something more…
This single word, “up”, represents being kingdom minded. To think upward is to be directed by God towards the direction of Heaven. Isn’t that how we are supposed to think? Aren’t we always to be conscious of God in our life? Maybe thinking upward means being kingdom minded in our thinking, our theology, our heart, our spirit, in holiness, and on and on…
However, let us not gaze too long towards heaven that we aren’t about our earthly duties. Here is a great lesson also being taught…The disciples were watching and witnessing this entire event. It was awe inspiring. It was supernatural. Men don’t fly…birds do…and yet here is the Lord Jesus being received by the clouds. They wanted to just stay and watch…even after the moment was over. Jesus was their single most important friend for the past 3 years. They traveled with him, slept many nights right by him, and shared the same food. Being around Christ was life altering. Who can blame them for wanting to stay in the moment? Who can blame them for wanting Christ just to fix His eyes on them one more time and bid them come? (Can you see Peter waiting for Christ to say something as He ascends?) But…the angels corrected them by reminding them that another day shall come when they will see Him again.
And here is the thing…
I wonder sometimes if I am guilty of that. I am scared that there will be a time where I will gaze for too long and miss what could have been…because I was too busy chasing what was. Jesus was gone…and if the disciples had just stayed their gazing, they never would’ve experience the “rushing mighty wind” that was about to happen. This is often the death of great ministries and great believers. They are lost daydreaming and gazing at what was instead of looking forward to what can be.
“Lord…let me look upward and forward to what lays ahead of me. Let me celebrate the past and the present, but give me the strength and hop to embrace the adventure of the future. Amen”
Acts of the Apostles, Part 2
8:02 AM
I just wrapped up my second session of "Acts of the Apostles"!
“One of Us”
9:27 AM
Devotion – Acts 1:17
“For he was numbered with us, and had obtained part of this ministry.”
A couple of thoughts ran through my head as I read this scripture…
Judas was part of the twelve. He was just as involved in the ministry as all the others. He was there when Jesus spoke to the crowds. He was a visual witness to all the miracles. He saw and heard everything…and yet he still found himself doubting and unable to believe in Jesus as the Messiah. His unbelief would lead to treachery as he would eventually turn Christ over to the authorities. We all know what happens to Christ after that.
How does that happen? How do you go from walking with Christ…and then plotting his death? How do you go from living with Christ to betraying him to His face? Where was the loyalty breakdown? We know Jesus saw it coming. He said he knew it at the last supper. So what happened to Judas along the way? When did that seed of doubt enter his heart?
The truth is, I don’t know. It’s puzzling. I can’t imagine walking with Christ, witnessing all of those miracles, and still not believing in Him. It’s beyond me. However, what I do find interesting is that even in the tight close network of disciples that Jesus kept…there was still unbelief, doubt, and ultimately treachery. These guys weren’t just anyone. They were all handpicked by Christ himself. Judas is no stranger by the time he walks up to Christ and kisses him in betrayal.
What really strikes me is that even in the ministry team of Christ we find a breakdown in unity. Optimism would say that 11 out of 12 is great…and it is…but Christ is God. He is perfect. He knows people. He knew Judas would betray Him…and yet even Judas had his place in the ministry of Christ.
Judas’ failure in the ministry of Christ had its place in the sovereign hand of God.
Jesus knew that it would happen and yet never steered away from teaching Judas kingdom principles…principles like living abundantly, loving abundantly, giving abundantly, and sacrificing abundantly. Even Judas deserved to hear the gospel, though his heart was hardened. Christ never once steered away from teaching and giving Judas the truth. Christ, knowing that Judas was about to betray him, still wanted the kiss from Judas.
I don’t know where you are at this morning with your relationship with God…but Jesus still wants that kiss from you too. You might feel as if your life betrays everything Jesus is about, but it never stops him from loving you all the same. I am sure that Jesus would have rather had Judas be on board with the ministry plan…but that wasn’t the path that Judas chose. Judas took a different road…and it led to shame and guilt…so much guilt…that it would take his own life.
The Message Bible follows up with this train of thought in Acts 1:25…
“…to take the place in this ministry and leadership that Judas threw away in order to go his own way.”
Which way are you going?
Are you one of us?
The Acts of the Apostles
9:22 AM
I felt the Lord halting me on my "Core Beliefs" series this week to take a stronger and more deliberate look into the church and our history by going scripture by scripture through the book of Acts...which is more accurately titled "The Acts of the Apostles".
Sly Fox
9:20 AM
So I finally got some footage of one of the foxes living next to my home. Watching nature is such a worship experience for me. Enjoy the video!
Grey Fox from Jim Coursey on Vimeo.
Closure
8:47 AM
This morning I have to bring some closure to one journal and begin another. That’s hard. I’ve been carrying that journal for almost a year and now it’s full. Although it’s served its purpose I find it hard to put it up. It’s so full of how God interacts in my life. Nevertheless I am pressing on and tackling more blank pages to fill in…and that’s how life is. It keeps moving, closing a chapter and opening another…
Before I put it in my “life box” and tuck it away forever, I thought I could at least share some of the great moments I’ve had in my devotions and prayer times…Four devotions stood out more than a few others.
So here we go…
"Fine Linen"
Mark 15:46
“And he bought fine linen, and took him down, and wrapped him in the linen, and laid him in a sepulcher which was hewn out of a rock, and rolled a stone unto the door of the sepulcher.”
What do we provide for the Master? Is it the finest linen or is it just what will make due? Why aren’t we giving our best, looking to achieve the best, striving for the best? What we use the linen for might seem lifeless, it might seem worthless, it might seem hopeless, but are we not serving a God of resurrection? Can he not resurrect our vision, our relationships, our church, and our families?
"Familiar Altars"
John 10:40
"Then Jesus went back across the Jordan to the place where John had been baptizing in the early days. Here he stayed..."
Do you think that sometimes we need to go back to where God first touched our lives? Jesus returned to the place where the Holy Spirit first publically descended upon him. If Jesus found comfort in returning to a place of comfort and familiarity…than just maybe we need times of great reflection in our life… Maybe we need a time to remember and reflect on our mission, why we are doing what we do, and ultimately our relationship with the Father. That doesn’t mean we stay there…it just means that sometimes it takes going back to go forward…
"Clone"
1 Samuel 8:20 (paraphrasing)
“That we also may be like all the nations…”
The churches battle cry in America sounds too familiar. Overzealous relevant ministry borders on this very downfall…that “we also may be like all the nations”. Vanity breeds spiritual death.
Lord set us apart. Make us entirely yours. Make us sanctified and holy…not like everyone else. Let different and strange be our name. Let it be said that I follow the Lord. Let it be said that I have been with you. Let the words of my mouth and the meditations of my heart utterly reject conformity to anything this world has to offer…and then set my eyes and feet straight to the cross.
"Tagline"
John 4:26
Then Jesus declared, "I who speak to you am he."
I think everyone is with me on this one…I wish Jesus would sometimes tag this line after every time He speaks to me. One of the biggest struggles I think everyone faces is knowing the voice of the Lord. Technically I think those that are really searching Him out know His voice…but fear of failure creeps up and we just want the Lord to be absolutely obvious. We want Him to say “yes, it’s Me”. But where is the faith? Where is the relational connection? The more I walk with Him the less I need this tagline, “I who speak to you am He”. The more I walk with Him the more I know Him. Lord help me in this area…
"In This For Good"
8:39 AM
Devotion – Acts 1:14
God calls into question, through the quiet hours of prayer, a question of commitment. They were all together praying. They were all together attentive to the quiet voice of God. They were all waiting…
Acts 1:14 (Message Bible)
“They agreed they were in this for good, completely together in prayer, the women included. Also Jesus' mother, Mary, and his brothers.”
What a great way to start a prayer service…in complete unity of mind, heart, and soul. They determined they were in this for good. I couldn’t helped but be challenged, “am I in this for good?”
Are you in this for good? Or, are you toying back and forth this morning with Christ…some days for Him, some days not so much? This decision is always lingering…
“Are you in this for good?”
If that is you today, will you cry out to Jesus? Will you cry out today and ask the Lord to set you on solid ground and sure footing and help you make that commitment that is tormenting your soul…
“Are you in this for good?”
We cannot truly come together in unity of vision, prayer, and life, until everyone decides that they are in this thing for good. We must be a house united…not divided. Unity in ministry is a must. We must unite, despite our differences, and decide that we are in this for good. We are in this for the distance, be it short or long. So let us agree today that…
“We are in this for good!”
"While We Wait"
8:37 AM
Devotion – Acts 1:15
Are you loving the Book of Acts as much as I am yet? Great stuff
Acts 1:15 (KJV paraphrasing)
“And in those days Peter stood up in the midst of the disciples...”
Waiting on the Lord is probably the hardest thing you will ever do in life. That is an absolute fact. It’s easy to say that you are waiting on the Lord…but inside your mind is scrambling to want to do something. This is especially true if you are a leader. Leaders want to fix everything. They want to act and react to any given situation and conquer it. It’s just how they tick.
The disciples were all gathered in one place praying and waiting. Peter is getting antsy. He sitting there praying and meditating on the Lord, himself, and the ministry. Who will lead now that Jesus is gone? Who will stand up and take charge over the organization? The Masters ministry must move forward, but how? We’re supposed to be waiting and praying.
That is when it hits Peter…So he stands up…
The organization must move on. It must move forward. We can’t let the “Judas Scandal” stop what the Lord put in motion. It was an appropriate time to replace the position that Judas filled. Peter’s idea is genius. It gives closure to the death of one of their own and represents a positive forward motion in the ministry. It brings a new wholeness and completeness to what Jesus had begun. Peter’s mindful decision show’s his hearts ambition to lead this new thing, which would be called the church, into uncharted territory. This moment in Peter’s life was so pivotal…that it became the very moment that defined him as the leader over the church and the rock upon which Jesus said he would build upon.
