Acts 1 - 3 (16th November) - Li Juan

Jesus Taken Up Into Heaven
None of us know when Jesus will be coming back again, but when He left, He had sent us the Holy Spirit. Though Jesus is not with us physically, always remember that the Spirit lives with us in our hearts.

Matthias Chosen to Replace Judas
12 is God’s governmental number. Jesus’ twelve was not complete after Judas betrayed Jesus and died after that. Just like what we believed in the G12 vision, the remaining eleven apostles, too see a need to complete the 12. Matthias was then chosen in replacement of Judas. Continually pray that you’ll be prepared and ready to take up the role of a spiritual parent, and pray that God will give you your 12 and you’ll disciple them wholeheartedly with love.

The Holy Spirit Comes at Pentecost
Through these verses, I am amazed by how real the Holy Spirit can be. He enables man to speak in tongues, a new language we do not understand, and makes no sense to us. However, it can be a common language somewhere in another corner of the world.

A real life incident I heard from a friend: One day during their church’s service, they were all speaking in tongues and worshipping God, and they had a guest from Spain. Suddenly, he was really surprised when he overheard someone speaking Spanish (the guy was actually speaking in tongues!).

We can speak in tongues and do not understand what it means, but speak it as a form of ‘angel language’ communicating with God in the spirit.

Peter Addresses the Crowd
I am reminded of this song when I read these verses:

We want to run to the altar and catch the fire
To stand in the gap between the living and the dead
Give us a heart of compassion for a world without vision
We will make a difference bringing hope to our land

People crucified the Son of God and did not believe in Him, yet we can be the different generation who is like Jesus’ disciples, bringing the gospel to the lost and the unbelieving, baptizing them and helping them with their journey into the kingdom of God. As the Year of Victory is coming to the end, continue to pray for the lost sheeps around you and ask big. God hears these prayers and will make them come to pass.

The Fellowship of the Believers
Personally, these verses are one of my favorites in the Bible. This is what I pray and hope to see in my G12 group and in the whole Livingstones too. Just want to encourage every one of us never to give up meeting up together, because there is power when two or three (or many many more!) gather together in the name of Jesus, and in unity. A spiritual family is important (very very essential!) in our spiritual walk and growth! And when we gather, we must be edifying in our words and acts, encouraging and loving!

Peter heals the Crippled Beggar
In the gospels in the earlier part of the bible, Jesus was the one healing the sick and handicapped, and performing miracles. Here, the disciples are given the power to heal too though Jesus is not with them physically anymore.

Peter speaks to the onlookers
The healing power comes from Jesus’ name and the faith that we can have through Him.