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What about Dorcas? Last week we studied about the miracle of new life that God gave to Saul (known to us as Apostle Paul). Only God has the power to grant for all life both physical and spiritual. Saul the murderer has been transformed by the power of God. We learned of Paul that “At once he began to preach in the synagogues that Jesus is the Son of God. All those who heard him were astonished and asked, ‘Isn’t he the man who raised havoc in Jerusalem among those who call on this name?” Acts 9:20-21. Saul (Paul) will suffer as Jesus predicted and “the Jews conspired to kill him.” Vs.25. Today, we learn of another miracle of life for the purpose of prospering the spread of the good news of Jesus. Everything God does have a purpose. Dorcas, a believer in Jesus was sick and died and has been raised from the dead through the ministry of Apostle Peter. God can use us while alive and while physically dead to prosper the Gospel. Dorcas was a case in point. Acts 9:36-43 36In Joppa there was a...

Anything Is Possible – Saul’s Conversion The Guinness World Record is the documentation of the things people have been able to do that normally seem impossible or no one else have done before. There is no better record of impossible things becoming possible than the Bible. With the documented proofs of miracles and signs and wonders, what else could we ask for? In Acts 9, we come to one of those wonders of the world. Saul, the persecutor and harasser of believers in Christ is now a believer. This type of miracle is clear evidence that the Holy Spirit is in-charge and has been establishing the Church with little assistance from man’s intervention. Welcome to an incredible and amazing story of Saul’s (who was also called Paul, Acts 13:9) conversion. There is HOPE for everyone. Acts 9: 1-19: 1Meanwhile, Saul was still breathing out murderous threats against the Lord's disciples. He went to the high priest 2and asked him for letters to the synagogues in Damascus, so that if he foun...

The Gospel to Africa Most companies hire consultants to come up with business plans on how to strategize and grow the company. Various goals and objectives are set with timelines on when to accomplish them. This is good business practice especially when the plans are followed and implemented. When it comes to the CHURCH Inc.; though not a corporation but a worldwide family of God, Jesus left us with His strategic plan. It all goes back to Acts 1: 8, “But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth”. So far in Acts (1-8), we have seen this Master Plan implemented by the Holy Spirit through the apostles and disciples. The Church had been born in Jerusalem; persecution has spread it into Judea and Samaria. Now, the Holy Spirit is on the course to carrying the GOOD NEWS of salvation to the Africans (one of the ends of the earth). This is an exciting journey es...

EXPANSION BY HEAT Many things we use in life are useful to us when heated and boiled. They reach their intended use or destiny under heat. The gasoline we use for cars or for the operation of machinery came about under excessive heat applied to the crude oil that is dug out from the ground. Unfortunately, it is not only things that go through pressure and heat to reach their destinies. People, human beings, church people, Christians, all people go through heats of pressure to reach their destinies. Recall that Jesus promised the Holy Spirit to the apostles and said, “But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth” Acts1:8. The time has now come for the early Church to go beyond Jerusalem into Judea and Samaria. So far in Acts, the Church has flourished in Jerusalem. Stephen, one of the leading disciples has been murdered and stoned to death. The heat is now on...

External Problems in the Church – Stephen’s Martyr Last week, we encountered problems within the Church and among the body of Christ. We saw that the early Church in essence were just like us; prone to favoritism and divisions. However, through the Holy Spirit and love for one another, they were able to deal with their differences. Today, we are studying problems from outside. The heat has been turned on from outside and “the rubber is now going to hit the road”. Will the Church succumb and cease or will we see people like Stephen go all the way? Just like the early Church we are also called to go all the way into the presence of Jesus which is “far better than remaining here” with our mouths shut. Let’s read the case of Stephen’s accusation, defense and martyr. Please read the entire passage Acts 6: 8 through whole chapter of Acts 7 to understand the complete account. Acts 6: 8-15 and Acts 7:54-59: 8Now Stephen, a man full of God's grace and power, did great wonders and mira...

Problem Within The Church As we have studied the early Church from chapters1-5 of Acts, we may reach the erroneous conclusion of a perfect church. By chapter 6, things have kind of settled and a number of years have elapsed. The Church is still just in Jerusalem (vs.7 below) and had not gone beyond (to Judea, Samaria and end of the earth Acts 1:8). I thank God that He inspired Dr. Luke to include this chapter 6 highlighting the problem the Church was experiencing. Many including myself have expressed that reading the book of Acts so far, it seems like we can never measure up to the early Church. Thank God that Jesus has not come to condemn us but to bring us life. So it is refreshing to know that the people of the early Church are just like us. God is perfecting His Church and making us all like Christ. The best of any believer in Christ is still a man or woman (with sinful nature) who still need the grace of God. Let’s not forget that and now see the problem of division that has...