First Love Yet I hold this against you: You have forsaken your first love. Revelation 2:4 This corrective word to the church in Smyrna hides an extraordinary truth. First love is the initial love a couple has for each other. First love is usually marked by constant displays of affection, continually telling the other person
The Testing of Faith “Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift you as wheat. But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers.” Luke 22:31,32 Jesus’ focus was not on Peter’s (here called Simon) approaching failure but on his faith. If we
Those Who Mock Jesus The men who were guarding Jesus began mocking and beating him. They blindfolded him and demanded, “Prophecy! Who hit you?” And they said many other insulting things to him. Luke 22:63-65 The guards mocked Jesus’ prophetic gifting. It was a cruel game to them. They blindfolded Him and then challenged Him
Defending the Faith When Herod saw Jesus, he was greatly pleased, because for a long time he had been wanting to see him. From what he had heard about him, he hoped to see him perform some miracle. He plied him with many questions, but Jesus gave him no answer. Luke 23:8,9 Jesus performed no
Transformation While they were still talking about this, Jesus himself stood among them and said to them “Peace be with you.” They were startled and frightened, thinking they saw a ghost. Luke 24:37 There is very little preaching about our resurrection body. I know of one church where one person thought the pastor was in
The Life of God On one occasion, while he was eating with them, he gave them this command: “Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about. For John baptised in water, but in a few days you will be baptised with the Holy Spirit.” Acts 1:4,5
The Opened Eyes ‘Then the eyes of both of them were opened …’ Genesis 3:7 ‘Then their eyes were opened …’ Luke 24:31 The first meal mentioned in the Bible is markedly significant. ‘When the woman saw … the fruit of the tree … she took some and ate it. She also gave some to
Not Our Message – His Message Yet I hold this against you: You have forsaken your first love. Revelation 2:4 This corrective word to the church in Smyrna hides an extraordinary truth. First love is the initial love a couple has for each other. First love is usually marked by constant displays of affection, continually
Heralds of the Risen Christ ‘But you will receiver 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 1:8 A witness was usually someone who testified in a court to what they had seen
Jesus’ Ascension After he said this, he was taken up before their very eyes, and a cloud hid him from their sight Acts 1:9 When a Roman Emperor died, it was customary to declare someone had seen his soul escaping from his body and going up to heaven. Under the Arch of Titus at the
