"When Jesus Christ said, “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven” or a little later, “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness for they shall be filled.” He was giving us permission to admit our lack. He was even saying that lack is a golden opportunity for us to be filled ....."

Not only does prayer enable us to access His power and presence, but it also enables us to bond together and work together with very diverse people – even people whom we in the past have not gotten along well with (disciples’ conflicts with one another; Jesus’s brothers with Jesus; opposite sex)

Jesus Christ came to earth as a man to establish His kingdom and to form a people who would be His instruments to see His glorious kingdom established among every family, people, tribe, community and nation on the earth. He has a detailed plan for how that is to happen. For us to fulfill our calling in this great plan, we must learn to take and follow His orders.

Folks there is something far greater and more precious than full and complete understanding of the end times timeline; and that is the experience of the raw power of God to achieve and fulfill our mission as His witnesses – as we learn to walk by and depend on and submit to the Holy Spirit in our daily lives.

Few Books have impacted me like the book of Acts has. Thorough study and regular meditation in this great book is crucial for any disciple who longs to bear fruit that remains for His Savior in his region and beyond.

God is never satisfied or pleased with people who seek to do the right things – – like dealing with a particular injustice – but with wrong motives or attitudes. With God – the end never justifies the means. Justice is His cause – – and He wants it to be executed in His way – with His motives – for His glory. Righteousness enables us to do that.

One thing is crystal clear after surveying every reference to justice, injustice and the word just in the Bible over these last several days – – God’s people from the time of Abraham to the present were expected to carry out justice in their communities and beyond.

It would be disastrous for the already shrinking influence the chief priests and elders had over the people – if the soldiers were to let this news out; so they bribed the guard with a large sum of money to lie – and to say, “Jesus’s brave, courageous, ninja like disciples came while these feeble and weak minded Roman soldiers slept; and they stole him away – moving the stone without a creak or grunt

You can reject Jesus’s claim as these fools did; but you cannot intelligently contend that He never claimed to be the Son of God. The historical accounts clearly show that He made this claim over and over.

Any normal man would be doing his darndest to save his life, when it was his very life that was at risk. But Jesus clearly cared much more about pleasing His Father and fulfilling His calling than saving His life or avoiding suffering.