Soldier, Sailor, Live or Die by Noel Davidson; Sign of the Fish by August Ericson; The Seer's House by John McCreedy; Missiles over Cuba by Tom White; The God who answers by fire by Margaret Cleator

SOLDIER, SAILOR, LIVE OR DIE Noel Davidson I have read quite a few books by Noel Davidson and they never disappoint! Real life testimonies in the pages of a book - it is like listening to a man or woman`s testimony from the pulpit! This is the story of Jackie and Mandy Dickey. Jackie grew up in Belfast and went to live with his grandmother in East Belfast at the age of 12. It was always his ambition to join the navy and see the world so that is what he did. During his travels he met Muhammed Ali in a hotel in Abu Dhabi (a very funny incident if you remember Muhammed Ali!) Jackie spent 6 years sailing the seven seas and then came home to Belfast to join the Ulster Defence Regiment. On one occasion he was appointed to guard the security gates outside the City Hall. These were the days when people were searched going in and out of the city centre and Jackie`s duty was to stand guard with his rifle. Then he served in south Armagh and County Fermanagh. Jackie became a total alcoholic and as a result hit depression attempting to kill himself several times. Jackie left the UDR and joined the Belfast shipyard of Harland and Wolff. One day some of his friends stated they were saving up to go on holiday to Spain. One of the group had dropped out and Jackie immediately asked if he could join them. The rest of the group were sceptical as they knew he could land them in trouble. They made him promise that he would not get drunk and disorderly which may get them thrown out of Spain. Jackie promised and his uncle lent him the money for the holiday. During the months before going to Spain Jackie did not drink alcohol saving all his money for the holiday. When he arrived in Spain on the first night all the lads in the group decided to hit the pubs and clubs. Before too long Jackie was drunk and in the middle of a busy road totally unable to move. That night Jackie ended up in a police cell with no memory of where his apartment was so could not find his way back to the group of lads he had come to Spain with. The police took him out the following day trying to find his friends. Eventually they found each other and Jackie went back to the apartment to clean himself up. Left alone in the apartment as Jackie had decided he couldn`t go out looking the way he did, he delved into the suitcase he had brought with him. It was a borrowed suitcase and there at the bottom was a Gideon New Testament. As Jackie read he remembered his days at Boys Brigade and verses he had memorised. He put his faith and trust in Christ that night through the memory of his grandmother telling him to recite the Lord`s prayer if he ever was in trouble. Having to tell the 3 lads he was on holiday with the next day was the hardest test of all but even harder was going home and telling his family and work mates. Jackie later met his wife Mandy, a widow at Christian rallies held in the Ulster Hall. Their first child was born premature and Mandy herself was very ill. Through the prayers of local people who attended Jackie and Mandy`s church, Mandy started to get better. Jackie and Mandy started to become involved with a youth club in their local church. Later Jackie felt he should start a ministry to soldiers in local barracks and in hospitals. A thrilling read of how God lead a young man from East Belfast to a ministry among soldiers. The book started with the story of welcoming home Jackie`s brother Alex from a tour of duty in the Far East with the Royal Ulster Rifles and ends with Jackie leading that same brother to faith in Christ as he died with throat cancer. Sign of the Fish An Adventure in Faith and Chips August Ericson with Noel Davidson This is the story of August Ebenezersson who later changed his name to Ericson. The book starts with the harrowing parting of August and his brothers from their father and mother. War had just been declared and the mother Gwen decided her children would be safer away from Grimsby in England so sent them back to her family in Iceland. August was separated from his brothers who went to live with his grandparents while he lived with his aunt. The one difficulty he had was he did not speak the native language so he cried himself to sleep every night. 4 years later they returned to Grimsby and August had to relearn the English language to communicate with his family. He was sent to school where he was bullied because of his name and dress. August retaliated with his fists. Then he was sent to public school and again mocked for being the son of a trawler skipper. August left school at 17 1/2 and found employment in an accountants office. He didn`t fancy spending the rest of his life cooped up in an office so ran away to London. There he found a job in a department store as a management trainee. His first marriage ended in divorce but six months later he decided to make a new relationship more serious. On his way to a date August was hit by a speeding car resulting in being bed bound for over a year. During his time in hospital he met a nurse who he later married. She also had a child from her first marriage. When August and Jill`s second child Victoria was born they realised she was both physically and mentally handicapped. Victoria died at the age of 2 despite prayer for her healing on the recommendation of a work colleague. August was by this stage moving up the management ladder but despite all the material trappings he accumulated something was missing in his life. He appeared to have everything that mattered in life and yet he had nothing that satisfied. One Good Friday night the family gathered to watch the story of Jesus of Nazareth on television. Could the life and death of Jesus Christ be related in some way to his constant quest for satisfaction? August remembered people in his life who had talked about Jesus with a strange intimacy that could amost be described as familiarity. Following a meeting with a friend who was a member of the Quakers August started to think over the question "Who is Jesus Christ?" Lying in bed he acknowledged his sin and accepted Jesus as his Saviour. August very quickly told his wife and children followed by his work colleagues of his decision to follow Christ. August remembered his friend who had been chaplain while he was in hospital. He made contact again and started to attend early morning prayer and bible studies at his church. Later he was advised to find a local church nearer home which led August to find a church that proved to be the beginning of an era of rapid growth in grace for the spiritually ravenous new believer. August, in an attempt to follow and worship God embarked upon a detailed analysis of the practices of the early Christian church. This led him to the decision to sell all that he had and donate the proceeds to the furtherance of Christian work. He decided to tell his pastor of this conviction who advised him that perhaps he should sell his house and buy a business and run it for God. When he told his wife Jill though she objected. Following her attendance at church with August she did become a Christian and was happy for August to sell their house to buy a business. August resigned from his job and was determined to work for the Lord. He started to search the classified columns of the newspapers and property vendors in the hunt for a business to buy. He found a small fish and chip shop and cafe in a dilapidated area of the city. Following a meal in the cafe August spoke to the owner and agreed a price - without telling his wife Jill! Surprisingly she took it all quite calmly! August and Jill had to learn how to fry fish and chips first. It took a team of volunteers to completely gut and clean the business for reopening. They changed the name of the shop as it was their aim that everyone who entered their cafe should be very conscious of its Christian ethos. The new name was SIGN OF THE FISH. August and Jill hoped that customers would ask the meaning of this name and would therefore afford them an immediate opportunity to speak of the formation of the early Christian church and then tell of the need for faith in Christ. The remainder of the book tells of many fascinating stories from owning the fish and chip shop - using tips from customers to sponsor children in the Third World, healing from a fire in one of the chip pans, producing a booklet "A fisherman`s tale" that led many customers to faith in Christ, marriages between customers and opportunities to tell his testimony in fellowships and meetings around the country and world. An amazing story of how putting God first in his life led to seeing how God could use him in a simple business venture with long lasting results. THE SEER`S HOUSE The remarkable story of James McConnell and the Whitewell Metropolitan Tabernacle John McCreedy Many times I have passed the huge Whitewell Metropolitan Tabernacle on the outskirts of Belfast and marvelled at its size. The current building is actually the third building built by the congregation. James McConnell was born to Edward and Jean, Edward worked in the Harland and Wolff shipyard. Although neither of his parents were Christians he attended Sunday School and evening services each week at the Iron Hall. At the age of 7 James asked his Sunday School teacher to lead him to the Lord. Not long after this his mother died in childbirth and James went to live with his grandparents. His grandfather Joseph Anderson was a Christian and an elder at the Iron Hall. James loved to read to read his Bible as well as the story of William Carey the cobbler sent to India. He would often go for a walk in the middle of the night and preach to himself as he hurried along the streets of Belfast. At the age of 13 James lost his father Edward to cancer. This had followed after his sister Lila`s health had deteriorated to the extent that doctors gave her only a short time to live. James` grandfather had for a whole night lay prostrate on the floor of Belfast City Hospital asking God to spare her life. Lila did recover and returned to live with her grandparents. Around this time James began regularly to attend the Bible Pattern Church, a Pentecostal building. One morning as James opened up the church he took a hymnal and began to sing at the top of his voice. A woman burst into the room and made him the focus of a God-inspired prophecy that he would preach the gospel to many nations and God would give him a mighty work. James was stunned and certain he had locked the doors before coming into the church! One day the Bible Pattern Church arrived outside his house to conduct an open-air gospel meeting. James was called upon to give his testimony and it was the first time that he knew he was called to preach. He was asked to preach following the breaking of bread at one of the Lord`s Day services in the Bible Pattern Church and he chose the text from Psalm 22 "My God, My God, why hast thou forsaken me." It was the open air work that inspired James McConnell. At 15 he left school to work in Harland and Wolff as an office boy. 2 men came into his life at this time Pastors James Forsythe and Gordon Magee and they were influential in his future call to preach. At 18 years of age he witnessed 500 people coming to faith in Christ through his ministry. He went to Gateshead in England on the invitation of the minister who had to visit the USA. What started out as a few in the congregation grew into a multitude. When he returned to Belfast and took a mission over 35 people were saved and baptised. James was invited to start a church in the Greencastle area. He was told there were at least 10 people living in that area and he was asked to take on the challenge. A great and effectual door had been opened. Initially the congregation met in the old Orange Hall and it began with 10 people plus 12 visitors. In 1969 the congregation built their own building not far from the Orange Hall. This was 12 years after they had first started out. The new building seated 450 with its own balcony. This was just at the start of the troubles and the faith of many was certainly tested as sectarian violence, bloodshed and bombing reached unprecedented levels. A local revival in 1973 led to the numbers who attended the church soar from 150 to 700 and the church was packed to capacity. For the next 20 years the crowds would continue to grow. Walls were knocked down to increase capacity to over 800 but still they came in their hundreds. It was time to build again and this time the capacity of the church was changed to 1,500. The new church was officially opened at the end of October 1981. The work continued to grow until there were over 2,000 converts attending regularly. The problem of where to seat people became such an issue. James was given a vision by God back in 1963 that one day he would be used to build a huge sanctuary in North Belfast. From a basic hall the Whitewell people would now have a building which seated over 4,000 people with an extra 1,500 catered for by way of a minor hall. In February 1994 the Metropolitan Church opened its third church. The church details various individual conversions and miracles, the working of God`s Holy Spirit on the work at Whitewell and looks to the future as new leaders need to be discovered. This book was first published in 1997 and there is another chapter yet to be written of how James has retired from the work and passed the mantle to others with a vision to see the work progressed. MISSILES OVER CUBA The Tom White Story Foreword by Sherwood Eliot Wirt Editor Emeritus Decision Magazine Written in 1981 this book tells the story of Tom White who survived to tell the thrilling story of God`s suffering church behind the Sugar Cane Curtain. For 7 years Tom led a massive gospel invasion of Cuba to bring the peace of God to this downtrodden island in the Caribbean. More than 4,000 pieces of Christian literature, missiles of love, were either dropped from the sky or carried ashore by the sea. On 27 May 1979 his plane crashed on a Cuban highway. Brutal treatment from the secret police, months of solitary confinement and 24 year sentence of a kangaroo court form the backdrop of this fascinating story. In this school of suffering, at Combinado del Este Prison, the author met and worshiped with the suffering Cuban church. This is not a story of the triumph of a person over a system. It is a dynamic eye witness account of God`s conquering love, of God`s faithful protection and of God`s patient instruction in Castro`s hell. This was a book that really made me think! It is so easy to take for granted our faith and the ability to share that faith openly with others in day-to-day living but imagine if you lived in a country where you were not allowed to even speak the name of Christ. Having heard many stories of the brutality of Fidel Castro over the years it was no surprise to read of the violence to men and women particularly those who were thought to be American spies. I had never heard of the underground church in Cuba before reading this book so it was interesting to read of many who struggle to find and grow in faith in such a country. One of those books that has horrific accounts of torture which will live long in your mind after reading the last paragraph! THE GOD WHO ANSWERS BY FIRE A young sadhu`s search for spiritual truth Margaret Cleator This is the story of Arjun Bhaskar, a young student returning home from college to discover his 6 year old sister was sick and later died the same day. He questioned his life and wondered if there is a God. He became a sadhu, a person who has renounced the worldly life. He wanders for a year across central India searching for the truth only to find it within a short distance from his own home. He returns home after his long search determined to forget about God, get a good job in the city, send his brother to college, marry an educated wife and build a nice house on the outskirts where his parents could live in their old age. On the road home someone offers him a lift. He is asked by the driver where he is coming from. Arjun tells him from everywhere and he has wasted his time. He then outlines his travels, hopes and disappointments. The driver tells him he found God 5 years ago. Arjun begs him to tell him more. That night the driver, Santosh brings him into his own home and introduces him to God. I love the expression Santosh uses "Many people think that Christianity is another caste, that because they have been born into a Christian family they are Christians. But God has no grandchildren. To all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God. You have to be born into God`s family by the Holy Spirit to become a child of God. That`s what it means to be born again." Such a simple book to read but you have to keep in mind that this is a book written in India with its many caste systems. It was hard for Arjun to discover and accept the truth, to become a Christian as it meant being cast out of his family. By the time he returns home he discovers his father and mother penniless depending on family to support them. Then the person who took his father`s land is found to have cheated others. The story has many twists and turns as Arjun in his new found faith brings the message of the gospel to those who are seen as his enemies. It is through everyday life that God works things for his purpose in Arjun`s future. This is what I would call a "light" read but it challenged me about how much I value my faith and whether I would be willing to stand up for my faith if I was under pressure. It was difficult for Arjun to realise that his future was not all neatly sewn up with having a good education but he could be used if he let God have full control. I was amazed by the simple belief in healing and seeing it becoming real to the villagers. Truly God does move in amazing ways to bring his own people to faith!

Moving Out with the Christian Faith - The Challenge of Acts for Today's Church by Peter Jeffery

MOVING OUT with the Christian Faith

The Challenge of Acts for Today`s Church

Peter Jeffery

When I lifted this book I knew it would be a commentary on the book of Acts. The summary covers an overview of the book.  The introduction pointed out that the book of Acts was really recording the ministry of Peter and Paul which covered a period of 30 years and acts like a bridge between the Gospels and Paul`s writings.  Yes I knew it was written by Luke but his purpose was to show how the various churches were founded.  The title should really be The Acts of the Holy Spirit as it "pulsates with life as the Holy Spirit gives power to the preaching, promotes love for the brethren and guides and instructs in all areas of church life."  The early church prayerfully sought the will of God and the Lord added to the church such as should be saved.  "Here is a church moving out with the gospel, in obedience to the Lord`s command.  It was no easy task.  The world did not welcome the Lord`s people and all manner of difficulties were put in their way; but they were faithful to the command."

Acts chapter 1 opens with the Christians still not clear as to the worldwide purpose and extent of the gospel.  These men were Jews and they still kept to the traditional belief that it was the Jewish people exclusively who would receive God`s blessing,  Acts chapter 2 records the coming of the Holy Spirit power at Pentecost.  The most important fact of Pentecost is not the sound of the violent wind or the tongues of fire, or even the Christians speaking in other tongues, but that the people heard the wonders of God.  3000 were brought to a saving knowledge of the Lord Jesus as a result.  This continued to be the main feature of Acts.  It was preaching in the power of the Spirit that caused them to cry out "what shall we do?" and the answer was always "repent and believe".

The emerging church experienced a great sense of oneness.  There was love, fellowship and growth but there were also problems.  Some were external such as the opposition of Sadducees chapter 4 but there were other internal problems such as Ananias and Sapphira chapter 5.  The problem that arose in Acts 6 was among men and women of whom there is no doubt that they were true believers.  This was potentially more dangerous than the Ananias and Sapphira incident because it could have split the church on ethnic lines.  But with great wisdom the apostles dealt quickly and fairly with this powder-keg and the result was that the Word of God spread - verse 7.

The inevitable persecution against the church continued and in chapter 7 Stephen became the first Christian martyr.  From the depths of chapter 7 we are taken to the soaring heights of remarkable blessing of chapter 8.  Then the most amazing thing of all happens in chapter 9 and Saul of Tarsus, the great enemy of the gospel is converted.

Peter continued his minstry in chapters 10 and 11.  He was given the vision of the sheet from heaven.  The purpose of this was to overcome Peter`s Jewish prejudice against preaching to the Roman centurion Cornelius.  Peter then preaches to him and Cornelius is saved.  A new understanding begins to dawn upon Peter but the other apostles still have their Jewish and anti-Gentile prejudice and Peter has to convince them otherwise.  We read in the next verse they were still preaching only to Jews. 

The real breakthrough comes at Antioch where the gospel is preached to the Greeks and a great number of these Gentiles believe.  Antioch then becomes the church from which the first 2 missionaries are sent out - chapter 13.  Paul`s first missionary journey is recorded in chapters 13 and 14.

This first venture with the gospel into Asia Minor raised a very serious problem and is dealt with at the Council of Jerusalem as recorded in chapter 15  Would the Gentiles have to become Jews if they were to become Christians?  The dispute was settled at Jerusalem where Paul and the Judaisers argued their respective cases before the apostles.

Chapters 15 to 26 describe the second and third missionary journeys as the gospel is taken further afield still and eventually into Europe for the first time.  When Paul returns to Jerusalem he is warmly received by the Christians there, but he is soon in trouble with the Jews - chapter 21.  He is arrested and such is hatred of the Jews that he has to be moved from Jerusalem to Caesarea for his own safety.  2 years are spent in prison at Caesarea (chapters 24 to 26) until Paul is dispatched to Rome to plead his case before Caesar.

2 years imprisonment were not wasted by Paul.  He took every opportunity to preach the gospel and held nothing back as he preached righteousness, self-control and judgement to the notoriously wicked Felix.  His successor Festus dismissed the gospel as insanity but King Agrippa was not left untouched - "almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian.

The journey to Rome (chapters 27 and 28) is dramatic and perilous.  The storm, the shipwreck and the incident with the snake on Malta all demonstrate what a remarkable man Paul was and that God`s hand was undoubtedly upon him.  He had only been in Rome for 3 days when he started to try and win the Roman Jews to Christ.  The book ends abruptly with Paul boldly preaching and teaching about the Lord Jesus Christ.

Moving Out with a certain message Acts 1 verses 1 - 11

What is a Christian?  Is he just a follower of Christ?  Luke wrote his Gospel and the Acts to show us the real Jesus - Luke 1 verses 1 - 4.  Book of Acts is also written to Theophilus who needed to `know the certainty of the things you have been taught."  This is something every Christian needs to know particularly young believers.  Luke was man who carefully investigated everything he had been taught about Jesus Christ.  He spoke to eyewitnesses and obtained from them the facts about all that Jesus began to do and teach.  In Acts he continues the story of Jesus.  The Christian faith is not based upon a dead martyr but upon a living Saviour who died and then rose from the dead.  This may seem incredible to some but Luke says that Jesus gave many convincing proofs that he was alive.  And what can be more convincing than that over a period of 40 days after his resurrection he appeared to his people to rebuke, encourage and instruct them?

Luke singles out just one of these appearances in verses 4 - 5.  This is the explanation of the amazing events that are to follow.  Jesus baptised his apostles with the Holy Spirit and this gave them the power to do all that Christ wanted them to do.  The few days of verse 5 refers to Pentecost which was 10 days after the ascension.  In the account of Pentecost in Acts 2 we are not told they were baptized with the Spirit but filled with the Holy Spirit. 

If we are to know power to witness we need to be filled with the Holy Spirit.  Witness is not a matter of technique but of the power of Christ working in us and through us.  Verse 8 makes clear we will never witness properly for Christ without the enabling power of the Holy Spirit. Witnessing flows out of worship.  The prime need of the new converts is to learn to worship.  This means a living and real experience of God in everyday life.  The believer who is filled with the Spirit cares only about pleasing God and being obedient to him.  His life is controlled by the Holy Spirit, centred in Christ and seeks at all times to honour God.  Witness then becomes inevitable.  Witnessing is not occasional happening but a 24 hour business.  The gospel must be spoken - Romans 10 verse 14.  Witnessing must not be confined to giving a testimony of your own experience of God. 

They must be shown that they are sinners - Romans 3 verse 23

under the wrath and judgement of God - Romans 1 verse 18

and already condemned by God - John 3 verse 18

Must tell them that God demands repentance - Acts 3 verse 19, 17 verse 30

so that they can then turn in faith to Christ for salvation - Ephesians 2 verses 4 - 9, John 1 verse 12

The ascension - the angels had the great encouragement for them that this was not the end of Christ`s dealings in this world - he would come again - verse 11.  The disciples needed to be reminded.  The second coming of Jesus will be

Physical - this same Jesus - risen, alive and glorified

Visible - he will be seen by all - Matthew 24 verse 30

Triumphant - he will come to rule

Moving Out in prayer Acts 1 verses 12 - 26

The disciples had been told by Jesus to wait for the gift of the Holy Spirit - chapter 1 verse 4.  Waiting did not mean, just sitting around idly, although it is true there is no preaching recorded in Scripture from the time of the resurrection to Pentecost.  Preaching required power and this they did not yet have, but it did not stop them from praying - verse 14.

After 3 year ministry of Jesus a group of 120 did not appear many.  120 was soon to become over 3000 (chapter 2 verse 41) and 2000 years later the number is still being added to.  "They all joined together constantly in prayer."  Their prayer was not occasional but constant, almost certainly daily.

The prayer meeting used to be called the powerhouse of the church.  That is perfectly correct.  So do not despair if it takes some time to get the fire going in the boiler.

Verse 15 Peter puts forward need to appoint a replacement for Judas Iscariot.  His proposal was backed by scripture (verse 20).   In OT casting lots was the accepted way of finding God`s will  - Proverbs 16 verse 33 "The lot is cast into the lap, but its every decision is from the Lord."  Acts 1 is last time in Scripture the lot is used; the coming of the Holy Spirit to lead and guide the church renders it unnecessary.

Moving Out in power Acts 2 verses 1 - 13

Pentecost was fulfilling of the promise of verse 8 in chapter 1.  Here was the power that Jesus said was crucial in order to evangelize the world.  The physical phenomena, like wind and fire, are nothing like as significant as the spiritual power that came to all the believers.  What happened did not affect only the apostles, but "all of them were filled with the Holy Spirit." chapter 2 verse 4

With the power of the Holy Spirit these men and women changed the world.  The world misunderstood them (verse 13) but it could not ignore them (verses 6 - 12).  The world sees nothing in the church to attract it or disturb it but it will have to be disturbed before it will be attracted.  Before they ever heard the gospel the people at Jerusalem saw something in the first Christians that made them take notice.

Witnessing is more than telling people they need to be saved.  Sinners need to see Christ in us.  Is it not true that many people will not listen to the gospel because they have seen the shallowness and inconsistent lives of Christians?  Therefore they will not go near a church.  If our living does not attract people to Christ then our words never will. 

The Acts of the Apostles holds before us the enormous possibility even in the most difficult times that when the power of the Spirit comes upon the church anything can happen.

At Pentecost Jerusalem was filled with pilgrims from all over the world - verses 9 - 12.  These were Jews who lived outside of the promised land and had made the journey back for the feast of Pentecost.  Their reaction to what was happening to 120 Christians was one of amazement because they heard them speak in languages that clearly they did not know.    They were experiencing the impossible and whilst some could dismiss it casually with the words of verse 13, most knew this was no explanation.  Drunken men speak nonsense not "the wonders of God in our own tongues".

No doubt that the tongues spoken at Pentecost were foreign languages.  It was this strange phenomenon that drew the gathering together.  But when the crowd was assembled the speaking in tongues stopped, even though they were speaking the wonders of God, and Peter preached to the people in a language they could all understand.  It is this preaching that dominates Acts 2.  The reaction of the unbelievers to the speaking in tongues was one of bewilderment and ridicule.  But the reaction of the same unbelievers to Peter preaching in the power of the Holy Spirit was one of conviction of sin and repentance.

The promise of Acts 1 verse 8 was that they would receive Holy Spirit power and this is clearly seen in Peter`s preaching at Pentecost.  The only explanation for the fact that fearful Peter could preach in this way, when only 7 weeks before he had denied even knowing Jesus, is the power of the Holy Spirit.  The 3000 were not saved by human oratory but by a power that no man could know unless the Holy Spirit gave it to him.

Moving out and preaching Acts 2 verses 14 - 41

Pentecos was not about the speaking in tongues but the fact that 3000 souls were saved - verse 41.  Pentecost is about the Holy Spirit`s work of salvation.  Peter quotes Joel (verses 17 - 21) to explain what has happened in terms of souls being saved.  He then goes on immediately (verses 22 - 36) to speak of death and resurrection of Jesus.  The whole sermon is fixed firmly in OT.  It centres on who Jesus is and what he has done, and concludes with a call for repentance.  The promise of verse 21 is made possible only because of everything that Jesus did.

The doctrine of atonement is biblical teaching on the "meaning of the death of the Lord Jesus Christ."  The atonement is God`s answer to human sin, and as such is the only effective answer to our sinfulness and guilt. 

God`s way of salvation did not start in NT when Jesus came into the world.  In the OT God ordained certain events that, though important in the lives of the Israelite people at the time, were even more important as vivid illustrations of what Jesus Christ was going to accomplish when he came into the world.  The OT pictures remind us of 2 basic facts about the atonement. 

First it was planned by God.  Peter refers to the death of Jesus as being "by God`s set purpose and foreknowledge" (Acts 2 verse 23).    He later says that Jesus "was chosen before the creation of the world" to shed his blood for us.  God planned it all to demonstratie has love for us.

Secondly there is nothing hit or miss about our salvation.  The death of Jesus was not a tragic mistake but "God`s set purpose."  All the events that led up to Calvary were under God`s control.  The supreme purpose of the OT is to tell us about Christ and his cross.  God even sent 2 of the great OT leaders, Moses and Elijah, to speak to Jesus about the fulfilment of the prophecies dealing with his death - Luke 9 verse 31.

Acts 2 shows the way God applies the gospel to men and women dead in sin.  All the essential ingredients of the salvation are here - preaching the gospel, the power of the Holy Spirit, men and women convicted of sin and repentance.

Baptism is not essential to salvation but it is necessary for obediece to the commands of Scripture.  It is not essential to salvation because it follows salvation.  It takes place after a person is saved and is an outward sign of the inward work of grace the Holy Spirit has performed in the soul.  If a person accepts the gospel and saved then he will be baptized. 

Moving out from a solid foundation Acts 2 verses 42 - 47

God deemed it necessary that the church would be crucial for the spread of Christianity.  The church was not the idea of the apostles or the other first Christians - God imposed it upon them.  The Lord even in OT was concerned that those who came into a living experience of him should also be in a living experience of each other.  Acts presents us with the picture of the developing early church.

A sense of awe and wonder at what God was doing and a spirit of oneness among each other marked the life of the church.  The priority was doctrine.  The apostles` teaching was the basis of all that they did, therefore it was top priority for them.  The NT doctrine gives substance to fellowship.  Out of the doctrine came a deep and lasting fellowship in Christ.  The Holy Spirit`s ministry in Christian is first to deepen his knowledge and experience of God and we see this in 4 things mentioned verse 42 - doctrine, fellowship, breaking bread and prayer.  The worship of the church flowed out of its life and doctrine and centred again on 4 things.  This produced genuine praise for God which led to God blessing their ministry with conversions every day.  Conversions were the fruit not of special efforts but of the daily life and witness of the church.

From verse 42 we can see consistency and commitment among the believers.  Every day they devoted themselves to the life and ministry of the church.  Their consistency shone out and it had broad base of doctrine, fellowship, breaking of bread and prayer.

The Christians of Acts 2 were ordinary believers. The life they lived was consistent with doctrine they believed  Their fellowship was consistent.  They met every day and this was only possible because of the deep bond of love that existed between them.

Verse 47 the church had favour with all people.  This was because the life they lived was entirely different from the secular and religious life of the time.  These believers exhibited a beautiful and joyous Christ-centred life.  The most contagious thing the world has ever seen is a church whose life, message and love reflects the character of Jesus.

The Christians in Acts of the Apostles caused a stir everywhere they went because they were different.  Their lives, actions, ambitions, beliefs were different and people took note of them.

Moving Out effectively Acts 3 verses 1 - 10

What sort of Christians does God use and work through? Are we usable in God`s service?

4 qualities seen in Peter and John:

They were together not just physically but spiritually.

They were spiritually hungry - they were going to pray.  Absorbed in Christ.  Not out of sense of duty but delight!

They were alert to the needs of those around them and took time to stop for a man in need.

They were men with a complete and utter reliance upon the Lord Jesus.

4 qualities to be cultivated in our lives.  They are not a matter of ability but of commitment and enthusiasm.

Moving Out and speaking about Jesus Acts 3 verses 11 - 26

The explanation lay with God and particularly "the name of Jesus".  The Jesus whom the people had so viciously rejected was responsible for the miracle that had taken place.  The way Peter confronted the crowd with their rejection of Jesus was uncompromising and left them in no doubt as to the enormity of their sin. Preaching is not meant to entertain but to confront people with God and how they stand before him.  Even though sin may be committed in ignorance the demand is still for repentance.  Repentance if always preceded by conviction.  Many repented and became Christian.

Being bold and gentle are 2 things we need in personal witness.  Being bold will ensure we do not water down the gospel and being gentle will guard us from being offensive.

Peter commands the people to repent - not to accept Jesus or to open their hearts to the Saviour!

Moving Out with courage and conviction Acts 4 verse 1 - 22

"Salvation is found in no one else for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved."  Reveals strong conviction these believers had as to the uniqueness and exclusiveness of Jesus.  It was this conviction that enabled them to boldly defy the authorities and continue preaching the gospel.

Blessing is followed by attack and when Peter clearly sets before the enemies of the gospel the uniqueness of Jesus the result is that the Christians are forbidden to preach the gospel.  Peter`s answer to this is the yardstick by which all believers in every age are to act.  To obey God rather than men can be very costly and through the centuries it has cost many Christians their lives.

In the work of the gospel, cleverness and head knowledge are not the essential ingredients.  We need a closeness to the Lord and a longing to be of use to him.  These are the crucial things.

Think of the example of the Hebrew midwives in Exodus 1 verses 15 - 17 and Daniel in Daniel 6 verses 4 - 10.   1 Corinthians 9 verse 16 "woe is me if I do not preach the gospel."

Moving out together Acts 4 verses 23 - 37

Never minimise the power of God to work through ordinary believers when their eyes are on the Lord and their prayers are full of Jesus.

The willingness of this group of believers to risk the wrath of the authorities resulted in God giving them a great boldness to preach.  The restriction put upon them inspired them to a stronger witness and proclamation of the name of Jesus.  It also bound them to each other in even greater unity.  Barriers restrictions, opposition and persecution did not stop these people!  The more intense the problems the more determined they become to remain faithful to the Lord.  God saw this determination and strengthened it.  The more we give ourselves to God the more he gives of himself to us.

Peter and John were not alone in their confidence in the gospel and so as soon as it was possible "they went back to their own people and reported" on all that had gone on.  Christians need each other in the work of the gospel and this is the way God has ordained and planned it.

Without delay the church held a prayer meeting.  The spiritual health of a church can be measured by importance it gives to its prayer meeting.

The prayer opens with the words "Sovereign Lord".  The Greek word for Lod is not hte one usually used in NT.  The word used here could probably be translated as "autocrat".  It means absolute ruler and indicates their confidence in final sovereignty of God.  Later on in the prayer the more usual word for Lord is used, but they start their prayer confident in the Lord who will always triumph even when kings and rulers are against him.  The content of the prayer was simply that they shoud be given power to do the very thing that caused them the problem in the first place - "speak your word with great boldness."  They were not looking for an easy way out but for grace to remain faithful in very difficult times.

The sharing of possessions in verses 32 - 37 was not a command for all Christians to follow but a particular expression of love they had for each other.  We are to have the same love and to show it, if not in exactly the same way as those early Christians, certainly with exactly the same enthusiasm and concern for each other.

Moving Out in spite of problems Acts 5 verses 1 - 16

If opposition form the world does not work the devil will attempt to disrupt the churhc from within.  Ananias and Sapphira were members of the church but their hearts were not in tue with the other Christians.  It may be possible to fool men but it is never possible to fool God.  God used this incident to strengthen the church - the Lord is in control, not Satan!

The great fear of verse 11 was not terror but awe as the Christians saw again the reality of God in their midst.

2 questions arise - were Ananias and Sapphira true believers?  Doesn`t affect the crucial lesson the story puts before us.  Their death was not the result of Peter putting them under pressure.  Was their punishment too severe?  Fooling church is not too difficult but fooling God is impossible.  We cannot live for ourselves.  Everything we do as believers affects other Christians, and this is particularly true in the local church.  We all influence each other for good or evil.  God tells us that we are members of the body of Christ.  We are part of the church, part of a fellowship.

Moving Out with a clear vision Acts 5 verses 17 - 42

For Sadducees even the imprisoning of the apostles served to show that the power of God was working with the Christians.  But still they would not believe.  Verses 29 - 32 Peter sums up situation.  The most fundamental question in the relationship between God and man is how we regard Jesus.  Confronted with Jesus, the world killed him (verse 30).  At Calvary the Jews thought they had seen the last of Jesus.  But raised him from the dead so that now we can see him not as a dead martyr but as the risen Prince and Saviour (verse 31).

The Sanhedrin felt accusation of guilt, however despite the fact that they were guilty they refused to face up to this.  The last word lies with God not man - God raised him from the dead.  Now God insists that we see Jesus as Prince and Saviour, not as a martyr, not as a teacher or healer but Prince and Saviour.  The title "Prince" speaks of his majesty and power.  The word "Saviour" speaks of his unique role as only one who can redeem guilty sinners.  The description of Jesus as "exalted" in verse 31 shows that God has set the spotlight of heaven`s approval to shine o Jesus so that we may see him as he really is.  This exaltation is for our sakes so that from the throne of heaven Jesus might give us "repentance and forgiveness of sin".

Gamaliel`s counsel to Sanhedrin in verses 33 - 39 is the blind leading the blind.  He was blind to who Jesus was.  He equates him with revolutionaries like Theudas and Judas of Galilee and has no concept of Jesus as Prince and Saviour.  He is also blind in his understanding of the ways of God.  His wait and see philosophy denied that God had already spoken plainly in raising Jesus from the dead. 

The religious authorities flogged the preachers of the gospel but God richly blessed them (verses 40 - 42).

 

Moving Out and sorting out difficulties Acts 6 verses 1 - 7

2 groups in church - Greek speaking Jews and Hebrew speaking Jews.  Greeks thought widows not getting fair share of church`s daily food distribution.  The weakness of the church was revealed in that the dispute ever arose at all, but the strength of the church is seen in the way the problem was resolved. 

The daily distribution of food to the widows was an expression of the church`s care and concern for those among them who were in material need.  The church`s motives were good but implementing the motives ran them into trouble.

They called a church meeting. The church was asked to choose 7 men to organise the distribution.  These men were not just to be good organisers but men of a high spiritual calibre - "full of the Spirit and wisdom".

The word "deacon" is not used to describe the men chosen but they were called to serve the church and that is what a deacon does.  Their work is not inferior to those who preach because both are needed in the church if it is to function properly. Both ministries need spiritual men to fulfil them.  The tasks were different and separate but both worked to the end of serving the church and glorifying God.  The deacon came into being to set the preachers free from everything except prayer and ministry.

Moving Out produces great leaders Acts 6 verses 8 - 7 verse 60

One of 7 chosen was Stephen and his ministry soon broadened beyond serving tables to ministry of the word.  This brought him into a bitter conflict with the Jewish religious leaders which led to false accusations being laid against him to stop him preaching.  Stephen`s answer to these accusations is a brilliant review of God`s dealing with Israel from the time of Abraham and culminates in the strong accusation of verses 51 - 53.

Warren Wiersbe:-

Stephen proved from their own Scriptures that the Jewish nation was guilty of worse sins than those they had accused him of committing:

They misunderstood their own spiritual roots - verses 1 - 8

They rejected their God-sent deliverers - verses 9 - 36

They disobeyed their laws - verses 37 - 43

They despised their temple - verses 44 - 50

They stubbornly resisted their God and his truth - verses 51 - 53

Stephen became the first Christian to die for his faith in Christ. 

Moving Out against delusion Acts 8 verses 1 - 25

Introduced to Saul of Tarsus - his opposition to Christianity was total - he approved of the stoning of Stephen and was determined to destroy the church.  It would seem impossible that such a man could ever be converted but he was.

The greatest delusion anyone can have is to think that he is saved when in fact he is not.  Simon the Sorcerer fooled himself with this delusion and for a while the church also was deceived.  Most prominent man in Samaria.  He boasted he was someone great.  The people agreed with him and thought of him as some kind of deity.  They were impressed with his ability to perform magic and sorcery.  When Philip came to Samaria preaching and performing signs and wonders Simon`s standing in the community was threatened.

Simon the Sorcerer was so impressed that he professed salvation and was baptized.  Simon`s attraction to Christianity was not caused by any conviction of personal sin but by the professional interest of a magician in the abilities of someone whom he considered to be a rival.  His heart was not right before God" and he was still "captive to sin".

His true spiritual condition was revealed when Peter and John came to Samaria.  They prayed for the new converts and laid hands on them and when they did so the Samaritan Christians received the Holy Spirit.  Simon was greatly excited by this and wanted this power to add to his own repertoire of magic tricks so he offered Peter and John money if they would tell him how it was done.

Simon for all his profession and baptism knew nothing of God.  He thought of God in the same way as he thought of his magic abilities. He did not understand that nothing God has is for sale.  He was still completely absorbed in signs and wonders.  They were a means to an end.

Peter showed Simon what was wrong with him spiritually and what he needed to do in order to become a Christian.

Repentance means that the sinner, conscious of his guilt and aware of his mercy of God in Christ turns from his sin to God.  The repentant sinner knows a loathing and a hatred of sin and a great desire to live in obedience to God.  He will cry to God for mercy and pardon.   

Moving Out and saving souls Acts 8 verses 26 - 40

God`s amazing love for individuals is seen in the story of Philip and the Ethiopian.  The Lord took Philip from the rich blessings of Samaria where crowds were being saved to the middle of a desert to preach the gospel to one man.

Moving Out and overcoming opposition Acts 9 verses 1 - 19

In Saul of Tarsus we see a man vigorously opposed to Jesus.  He hated the Lord and all who followed him.  In his mind and conscience he was not opposed to God only to Jesus.  Saul was a man who thought he was doing God`s will by persecuting Christians.

The actions of Saul appear to be those of a strong determined man who knew exactly what he believed but it fact they were totally unreasonable.  To take his murderous threats to Damascus was the action of a fanatic not a strong man.  God was pointing Saul in one direction and he was rebelling and going the opposite way.  His persecutions were clearly difficult for the church but they were also hard on Saul himself.  It is always hard for a sinner to fight against the grace of God.

Saul`s conversion was so crucial for the spread of Christianity that the events that occurred on the Damascus road are told 3 times in Acts. 

Saul had his mind informed as to who he is dealing with - he is confronted with the living Christ. No one can be a Christian without a personal encounter with Jesus.

Saul`s conscience was aroused.

Saul`s emotions were stirred.  All his apparent self-confident vanished in the presence of Jesus.

Saul`s will was surrendered.  "Lord what do you want me to do?" is crucial to savlation.  Here is a soul realising that all he has done is wrong so he must now do what Jesus wants. 

God brings an experienced Ananias alongside Saul to encourage and instruct him.

Moving Out with faithful workers Acts 9 verses 20 - 43

Saul`s conversion was so amazing that people could not believe it.  Even Christians had a hard time believing he was saved.  Thank God for Barnabas who could see what God had done and paved the way for Saul to be accepted by the believers.  A true convert will reveal the validity of his experienc by his love and passion for Christ and by his Christlike spirit.  Dorcas would never have had the influence upon the world that Saul was to have but she certainly made a great impression upon those who knew her.  Dorcas could not speak boldly in public about Jesus but in private her actions spoke volumes.

Moving Out and reaching the lost Acts 10 verses 1 - 22

If ever there was a man who could be saved by his own actions it was Cornelius.  Here was a remarkable man - genuine, sincere, devout and earnest.  But he was still an unenlightened soul groping after God.

God is impressed with Cornelius.  He is a man living according to the light and understanding he has, but God does not leave him there.  Cornelius needs to hear the gospel so he is told to send for Simon Peter.  It is not Cornelius` good works that will save him but the gospel Peter will preach to him.  If Cornelius could not be saved by his own goodness, this should once and for all shut the door on hope of any man or woman being saved by their own actions.

It was God`s will that Peter should preach to Cornelius but in normal circumstances Peter would never have done so.  Peter like most Jews had a deep inbred prejudice against Gentiles.  It is this prejudice that the vision is intended to shatter.

The Jewish prejudice was so deep-rooted in the thinking of God`s people that in order to remove it he had to do 2 remarkable things.  First he gave a special vision to Peter to persuade him to go and preach to Cornelius.  Using Peter`s account of the conversion of the Gentiles, God dealt firmly with these wrong attitudes so that eventually the whole church was constrained to confess "So then God has granted even the Gentiles repentance unto life."  This was a remarkable breakthrough leading to a new understanding of the breadth of divine love and grace.  However, to understand something is not the same as to practise it.

The second thing God did was to make sure that they spread the gospel abroad by using persecution to get them out of Jerusalem.  Even then they at first preached the message of Christ only to Jews.  They seemed blind to the glaring inconsistency between their declaration in verse 18 and their limited vision in verse 19.

It is not enough to have a theoretical belief in the evangelisation of the world.  We must actually get on with the work in our own backyard.

Moving Out with a clear message Acts 10 verses 23 - 48

For Cornelius there was a real sense of the privilege of being allowed to hear God`s Word and eagerness and desire to listen.  He acknowledged that th emessage was not from Peter but from God.  He was told of the grace of God - God shows no favouritism.  The gospel is for all types of people and all nationalities.  There is no one beyond the grace of God. 

The message said 3 things about Jesus: His life - Jesus is no ordinary man.  He is Lord of all.  There is no one like Jesus and his love and power are limitless.  His death - Jesus was killed by being hung on a tree.  He was crucified.  Men firmly and viciously rejected him.  His resurrection - In spite of all the evil that men did, God had the last word and raised Jesus from the dead.  Men cannot get rid of Jesus because he is Lord of all.

As Peter was preaching the power of the Holy Spirit was felt.  Conviction and repentance were given to Cornelius and to all those present.  This combination of faithful preaching and the power of the Holy Spirit are always the irresistible tools God uses to save souls.

What was the sin Cornelius needed to confess - after all his description would make us question this.  Cornelius knew he was a sinner and longed for pardon and salvation.  He heard the gospel, believed it, repented and came to faith in Jesus.

Easy comfortable sounding sermons may be attractive to people but what saves is the personal conviction of the harsh reality of sin in all its ugliness.  Sinners need to be told that they are unacceptable to God and that Jesus alone is the way of salvation.

Moving Out with God`s grace Acts 11 verses 1 - 30

When the church at Jerusalem heard what God had done for Cornelius their prejudices were silenced and they praised God.  Unfortunately this did not appear to have much practical effect and when some of them went to Antioch they still preached only to Jews. 

In Acts 11 verses 19 - 20 the evangelism of the early church is very simply described as telling the people "the good news about the Lord Jesus".  They preached, proclaimed, heralded, declared, or stated the truth about Jesus.  No hesitation, no watering down the message.  Not half hearted or reluctant evangelism.  But they also believed that before time began God, in love and mercy, had purposed to save a great multitude that no man could number.

Even though all Christians cannot be preachers from the pulpit we are all meant to tell the good news about the Lord Jesus.

We are told in Acts 11 verse 21 that at Antioch "a great number of people believed" and there were 2 causes of this.  There was the faithful witness of the Christians and there was the power of God using that witness to convict and convert sinners.

William Arnot, Scottish preacher of the 19th century "Men can do nothing without God; but in this work God will do nothing without men."

Paul sets out this principle in 1 Corinthians 3 verses 5 - 9.  He describes himself and other preachers as "servants through whom you came to believe."  One servant planted the seed, another watered it "but God made it grow".  In the work of evangelism Christians have the amazing privilege of being "God`s fellow workers."  An angel appeared to Cornelius not to preach the gospel to him but to tell him to send for Peter: "He will bring you a message through which you and all your household will be saved."  God uses men to evangelise not angels.  But the point is also made in Acts 11 verse 15 that the faithful witness of men, though crucial, is not enough "As I began to speak, the Holy Spirit came on them."  Men are taken into partnership with God, but the power belongs to God alone.

Moving Out with answered prayer Acts 12 verses 1 - 25

Opposition from the world very often follows blessings in the church.  The apostle James was killed and it looked as though Peter would suffer the same end "but the church was earnestly praying to God for him."  God`s answer to the prayer is remarkable - verses 6 - 11.

This does not mean that we should not plead with God to save souls, but it does mean that we mut use prayer to commune with God, to praise him, to delight in him, to worhip him and to learn from him what and when he wants things done.  This creates a deeper knowledge of God which produces a greater awareness of his power and a greater expectancy in us to see this power at work.  It also leads to something of the heart and mind of God being fashioned in us.  Then like our Saviour we shall weep for souls.  Such weeping will not be merely a demonstration of emotion on our part, but a reflection of the sentiments of God.  When this takes place we can expect to see divine power saving the lost.