Grace Giving Empowers Preaching

March 3

(Acts 4:33 NIV) “With great power the apostles continued to testify to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and much grace was upon them all.”

(2 Corinthians 8:7 NIV) "But just as you excel in everything--in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in complete earnestness and in your love for us --see that you also excel in this grace of giving."

(2 Corinthians 9:8 NIV) "And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work."

Grace giving empowers gospel preaching. The early Christians gave generously to one another as they witnessed to their changed lives, and the apostles continued to testify with great power. This combination of faith and deeds changed the world. The generous church grows -- the stingy church shrivels. Generous Christians grow -- stingy Christians shrivel. Christian witness is muted by a stingy heart, while grace giving opens the doors of heaven. This goes way beyond money -- it’s about the joyful and sacrificial giving of one’s life, one’s time, one’s love, one’s talent, and one’s heart. The church needs Christians who are more concerned with what they can offer the church, than with what the church can offer them -- believers who ask, “What can I give?” rather than, “What can I get?”. This is the kind of church the disciples belonged to, and it’s a worthy model for today. -- Friar Tuck’s Word of the Day

I Surrender All

March 2

(Acts 4:32 NIV) “All the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that any of his possessions was his own, but they shared everything they had.”

(2 Corinthians 8:1-5 NIV) "And now, brothers, we want you to know about the grace that God has given the Macedonian churches. {2} Out of the most severe trial, their overflowing joy and their extreme poverty welled up in rich generosity. {3} For I testify that they gave as much as they were able, and even beyond their ability. Entirely on their own, {4} they urgently pleaded with us for the privilege of sharing in this service to the saints. {5} And they did not do as we expected, but they gave themselves first to the Lord and then to us in keeping with God's will."

This Sunday someone, somewhere, will sing the old hymn, “I Surrender All”. But almost everyone who sings it has an exception clause or two -- an unwritten list of things we won’t surrender. Very likely, that list includes some of our possessions. Soon after Pentecost, the infant church became the most generous institution on the face of the Earth. The early Christians surrendered up their possessions and shared all that they had with one another. Only fully surrendered hearts can bow like this to God’s heart. Their hearts had become one -- they now had the heart of Jesus. They not only sold out to Jesus, they sold out for one another. They gave up the right to use the word, “mine”. Vanity, envy, and striving for status had no place in their lives. This kind of giving requires divine intervention. Only a heart overflowing with the Holy Spirit can be this generous. May our hearts be filled! -- Friar Tuck’s Word of the Day   

God Answers Prayer

March 1

(Acts 4:31 NIV) “After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly."

(Matthew 7:7-8 NIV) "Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. {8} For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened."

(1 John 5:14-15 NIV) "This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. {15} And if we know that he hears us--whatever we ask--we know that we have what we asked of him."

The prayers that shook the building where the disciples had gathered were prayers for courage and boldness to witness in the face of danger. That kind of prayer can still shake the church. When we begin to pray according to God’s will as the disciples did, asking the Lord to do great things through us for His glory, He will enable us to speak the word of God boldly, and the church will grow. We may suffer, but God’s Kingdom will expand. When we allow God’s Spirit to fill us, and when we live with the faith and joy of the early church, we will see awesome answers to prayer. And when God answers prayer, what He has done in our lives will not remain a secret. How the Lord blessed us and changed us will become a part of our normal, daily conversation. The church will grow when genuine faith brings genuine change, and when those genuinely changed share a genuine witness. Speak up! -- Friar Tuck’s Word of the Day

Effective Ministry is Dependent

February 28

(Acts 4:23-30 NIV) ““On their release, Peter and John went back to their own people and reported all that the chief priests and elders had said to them. {24} When they heard this, they raised their voices together in prayer to God. "Sovereign Lord," they said, "you made the heaven and the earth and the sea, and everything in them. {25} You spoke by the Holy Spirit through the mouth of your servant, our father David: "'Why do the nations rage and the peoples plot in vain? {26} The kings of the earth take their stand and the rulers gather together against the Lord and against his Anointed One.' {27} Indeed Herod and Pontius Pilate met together with the Gentiles and the people of Israel in this city to conspire against your holy servant Jesus, whom you anointed. {28} They did what your power and will had decided beforehand should happen. {29} Now, Lord, consider their threats and enable your servants to speak your word with great boldness. {30} Stretch out your hand to heal and perform miraculous signs and wonders through the name of your holy servant Jesus.””

Effective ministry is powered by a strong dependence upon God and His church. Peter and John gathered the church together, and went before the Lord in prayer. They were team players, not rugged individualists. They praised God for what He had done, and remembered His greatness. They asked for faith and strength to continue doing ministry. We don’t hear them asking for protection, or that God would spare them from the penalties of speaking the truth. They asked for the courage to fulfill their calling, regardless of what happened. They asked God to make them effective ministers, and to make them more visible, even though their lives had been threatened. They asked for boldness in preaching. This is the kind of prayer that can change a city, or even the world. And if we desire an effective ministry, this is the kind of prayer disciples should be praying today. -- Friar Tuck’s Word of the Day

Effective Ministry Requires Commitment

February 27

(Acts 4:19-20 NIV) ““But Peter and John replied, "Judge for yourselves whether it is right in God's sight to obey you rather than God. {20} For we cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard.””

(Acts 14:1-7 NIV) "At Iconium Paul and Barnabas went as usual into the Jewish synagogue. There they spoke so effectively that a great number of Jews and Gentiles believed. {2} But the Jews who refused to believe stirred up the Gentiles and poisoned their minds against the brothers. {3} So Paul and Barnabas spent considerable time there, speaking boldly for the Lord, who confirmed the message of his grace by enabling them to do miraculous signs and wonders. {4} The people of the city were divided; some sided with the Jews, others with the apostles. {5} There was a plot afoot among the Gentiles and Jews, together with their leaders, to mistreat them and stone them. {6} But they found out about it and fled to the Lycaonian cities of Lystra and Derbe and to the surrounding country, {7} where they continued to preach the good news."

(Luke 19:37-40 NIV) ""When he came near the place where the road goes down the Mount of Olives, the whole crowd of disciples began joyfully to praise God in loud voices for all the miracles they had seen: {38} "Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord!" "Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!" {39} Some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to Jesus, "Teacher, rebuke your disciples!" {40} "I tell you," he replied, "if they keep quiet, the stones will cry out.""

At some point, our commitment to Jesus and His message will be tested. If our commitment to sharing the Gospel has never been tested, it is likely we are not faithfully communicating the heart of Jesus. When we are tested, we have a choice to make -- we can fold like a card table or we can stand strong. Peter and John stood strong. They told the authorities, “We cannot help ourselves.” They could not stop talking about what they had seen and heard with Jesus. When we come to the point where we “cannot help ourselves”, God will give us courage for every situation and we will be empowered to tell people about what we’ve seen and heard. Effective ministry requires commitment. It will also take the Holy Spirit’s power to stand against the public pressure to silence our witness. But if we stand strong, we can have an effective ministry, and souls can be saved. Stand strong! -- Friar Tuck’s Word of the Day

Effective Ministry Generates Resistance

February 26

(Acts 4:17-18 NIV)  “But to stop this thing from spreading any further among the people, we must warn these men to speak no longer to anyone in this name." {18} Then they called them in again and commanded them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus.”

(Acts 4:21a NIV) “After further threats they let them go.”

Effective ministry will generate some resistance. When you insist on publicly giving glory to Jesus Christ, praising and proclaiming His name outside of the church walls, you will meet with resistance. The resistance can come in being shunned. People may avoid you at work. Old friends stop coming around. You don’t receive all the party invitations you used to receive. Or the resistance may take on a more hostile nature. You may be confronted and told in no uncertain terms to shut up about this Jesus stuff. You may even be threatened with bodily harm. This is what happened to Peter and John. But they remained faithful and continued to speak the truth in love. Every believer with an effective ministry will face resistance. Remain faithful! The resistance we face pales in comparison to being beaten beyond recognition and nailed to a cross. Remain faithful and some will be saved. -- Friar Tuck’s Word of the Day   

Effective Ministry = Visible Fruit

February 25

(Acts 4:14-16 NIV) ““But since they could see the man who had been healed standing there with them, there was nothing they could say. {15} So they ordered them to withdraw from the Sanhedrin and then conferred together. {16} "What are we going to do with these men?" they asked. "Everybody living in Jerusalem knows they have done an outstanding miracle, and we cannot deny it.””

(Acts 4:21b NIV) “They could not decide how to punish them, because all the people were praising God for what had happened.”

(Luke 3:4-6 NIV) ““As is written in the book of the words of Isaiah the prophet: "A voice of one calling in the desert, 'Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for him. {5} Every valley shall be filled in, every mountain and hill made low. The crooked roads shall become straight, the rough ways smooth. {6} And all mankind will see God's salvation.””

Effective ministry bears visible fruit that brings glory to God. People are saved. People are baptized. People are healed. People’s lives are visibly changed so that everyone can see what has happened. God doesn’t do these things so we can feel special or get puffed up -- God does it so we will give Him glory and people will look up. God doesn’t change our lives just so we can live better. God changes our lives so we can give Him glory and be His witnesses. When Peter healed the crippled beggar, everybody knew that God had done something really big. The religious leaders couldn’t ignore it because everyone was praising God for what they had seen. If our changed lives don’t cause people to praise God for what has happened, we have probably been hiding our miracle. Why would we want to do that? Effective ministry bears visible fruit that brings glory to God. -- Friar Tuck’s Word of the Day

Unschooled and Ordinary

February 24

(Acts 4:13 NIV) "When they saw the courage of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished and they took note that these men had been with Jesus.”

(Acts 2:41-47 NIV)  "Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day. {42} They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. {43} Everyone was filled with awe, and many wonders and miraculous signs were done by the apostles. {44} All the believers were together and had everything in common. {45} Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need. {46} Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, {47} praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved."

The apostles were not highly educated like the Pharisees and the Sanhedrin, but they had an effective ministry. They had no letters following their names, but they had been with Jesus and they had courage. With these godly credentials, they literally changed the world. Education is not the most important factor in effective ministry. Churches that value academic degrees over gifting and calling have forgotten Acts 4:13. Courageous, unschooled, ordinary men, who had been with Jesus, planted churches that grew in number daily. When you couple a close relationship with Christ to a courageous heart, you have a potent combination for effective ministry. Have you been with Jesus? Would anyone look at your life and take note that you have been with Jesus? Are you courageous in sharing your faith? This is how “unschooled, ordinary” Christians change the world. -- Friar Tuck’s Word of the Day

No Other Name

February 23

(Acts 4:5-12 NIV) ““The next day the rulers, elders and teachers of the law met in Jerusalem. {6} Annas the high priest was there, and so were Caiaphas, John, Alexander and the other men of the high priest's family. {7} They had Peter and John brought before them and began to question them: "By what power or what name did you do this?" {8} Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them: "Rulers and elders of the people! {9} If we are being called to account today for an act of kindness shown to a cripple and are asked how he was healed, {10} then know this, you and all the people of Israel: It is by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified but whom God raised from the dead, that this man stands before you healed. {11} He is "'the stone you builders rejected, which has become the capstone.' {12} Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved.””

(John 14:6 NIV) ““Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.””

Peter and John were called before the rulers to account for the beggar’s healing. The elders wanted to know by what power or what name they had done this miracle. Peter was blunt: “The Jesus you killed is alive. He rose from the dead and there is great power in His name. His name not only provided physical healing for this man, there is no other name by which your souls can be saved from hell.” Peter is echoing the words that Jesus told His disciples, “I am the way. No one comes to the Father, unless they come through me. I am the only way to Heaven.” This is not some narrow-minded bigot speaking -- it is the Lord Jesus Christ. Peter was preaching that Jesus is the Messiah, the Rock of our salvation, the one and only Savior of all mankind. This is still the gospel truth. There is no other way to Heaven. There is no other name that can save us. Believe it! Proclaim it! -- Friar Tuck’s Word of the Day      

A Disturbing Gospel

February 22

(Acts 4:1-4 NIV)  "The priests and the captain of the temple guard and the Sadducees came up to Peter and John while they were speaking to the people. {2} They were greatly disturbed because the apostles were teaching the people and proclaiming in Jesus the resurrection of the dead. {3} They seized Peter and John, and because it was evening, they put them in jail until the next day. {4} But many who heard the message believed, and the number of men grew to about five thousand.”

(Matthew 2:1-3 NIV)  "After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem {2} and asked, "Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star in the east and have come to worship him." {3} When King Herod heard this he was disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him."

When one proclaims that God has come to Earth as Lord and Savior for all mankind, the “powers that be” will be disturbed. When one preaches that wicked men killed Christ, but God raised Him from the dead, evil will rise up to silence you -- for if Jesus died for our sins and was raised from the dead, we would be fools not to worship and serve Him. Earthly powers will agree that Jesus was a good person and a great teacher, but they cannot tolerate Him as God incarnate. Those in authority are threatened by those who will bow down only to Christ. Man’s autonomy is challenged when we preach that salvation is found in Christ alone. A gospel that gives people only two choices for eternity is a disturbing gospel, and if we preach it, like Peter and John, we will be marginalized, harassed, and even punished. But if we faithfully live it out, some will be saved, and the church will grow. -- Friar Tuck’s Word of the Day

The Eternal Gospel

February 21

(Acts 3:17-26 NIV) ""Now, brothers, I know that you acted in ignorance, as did your leaders. {18} But this is how God fulfilled what he had foretold through all the prophets, saying that his Christ would suffer. {19} Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord, {20} and that he may send the Christ, who has been appointed for you--even Jesus. {21} He must remain in heaven until the time comes for God to restore everything, as he promised long ago through his holy prophets. {22} For Moses said, 'The Lord your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among your own people; you must listen to everything he tells you. {23} Anyone who does not listen to him will be completely cut off from among his people.' {24} "Indeed, all the prophets from Samuel on, as many as have spoken, have foretold these days. {25} And you are heirs of the prophets and of the covenant God made with your fathers. He said to Abraham, 'Through your offspring all peoples on earth will be blessed.' {26} When God raised up his servant, he sent him first to you to bless you by turning each of you from your wicked ways.""

(Hebrews 8:10-12 NIV) "This is the covenant I will make with the house of Israel after that time, declares the Lord. I will put my laws in their minds and write them on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people. {11} No longer will a man teach his neighbor, or a man his brother, saying, 'Know the Lord,' because they will all know me, from the least of them to the greatest. {12} For I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more."

Peter used the healed beggar to share the eternal gospel -- a gospel that never changes because it comes from an unchanging and eternal God. He called them to repent and turn to God from their wicked ways. They had sinned and fallen short of the glory of God -- something we have all done. Turning to God would wipe out their sins. The Lord would remember their sins no more. We all need this! Not only would their sins be forgiven, but times of refreshing would come from the Lord. In a dry and weary land, they would have living water. The risen Christ would come to live in them, and their lives would be transformed. Turning to Jesus would not only save them, it would also empower them to be obedient to God and His word. Jesus would become Lord of their lives and they would become Christ-followers. This is the eternal gospel. Have you believed it? Are you living it? -- Friar Tuck’s Word of the Day

There’s Power in the Name

February 20

(Acts 3:15-16 NIV) "You killed the author of life, but God raised him from the dead. We are witnesses of this. {16} By faith in the name of Jesus, this man whom you see and know was made strong. It is Jesus' name and the faith that comes through him that has given this complete healing to him, as you can all see."

(Luke 24:45-48 NIV) "Then he opened their minds so they could understand the Scriptures. {46} He told them, "This is what is written: The Christ will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, {47} and repentance and forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. {48} You are witnesses of these things."

Christians serve a risen Savior, and because of the resurrection, there is power in the name of Jesus. As witnesses of the resurrection, the early apostles preached of His lordship, His salvation, and His healing. They proclaimed that there was power in the name of Jesus, and that by faith in His name, people could be healed, delivered, and saved. They preached the gospel of salvation. We are called to the same ministry. We must tell people that sin has crippled them and will kill them. We must tell them that God raised Jesus from the dead, and that we are His witnesses because the risen Christ has changed our lives. We must tell them that there is power in the name of Jesus and call them to repent and put their faith in His name. He is the One who can heal our crippled hearts, deliver us from our demons, and forgive our sins. Jesus saves! There is power in the name of Jesus. -- Friar Tuck’s Word of the Day     

The Forbidden “You” Message

February 19

(Acts 3:13-17 NIV) “You handed him over to be killed, and you disowned him before Pilate, though he had decided to let him go. {14} You disowned the Holy and Righteous One and asked that a murderer be released to you. {15} You killed the author of life, but God raised him from the dead… {17} "Now, brothers, I know that you acted in ignorance, as did your leaders.”

(Matthew 23:27-28 NIV) "Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You are like whitewashed tombs, which look beautiful on the outside but on the inside are full of dead men's bones and everything unclean. {28} In the same way, on the outside you appear to people as righteous but on the inside you are full of hypocrisy and wickedness."

(Isaiah 30:10-11 NIV) ““They say to the seers, "See no more visions!" and to the prophets, "Give us no more visions of what is right! Tell us pleasant things, prophesy illusions. {11} Leave this way, get off this path, and stop confronting us with the Holy One of Israel!””

Peter preached to the crowd gathered around the healed beggar, and he did something that modern preachers are told never to do -- he preached a “you” message. He pointed his prophetic finger at them and said, “You sinned and you need to change your ways.” Pastors are told not to preach that way today. People want “positive” messages. But Peter threw caution to the wind, and said: “You handed Jesus over to be killed. You disowned him. You asked for a murderer to be spared instead of Christ. You killed the author of life. You acted ignorantly.” WOW! That would empty a church sanctuary today. But what if it’s the truth? What if God wants you to know your sins and wants you to change? In a way, every message from the Holy Spirit is personal. You can’t receive personal salvation and then refuse to receive personal messages. God is speaking to you. Repent! -- Friar Tuck’s Word of the Day

Pointing People Upward

February 18

(Acts 3:12-13 NIV) ““When Peter saw this, he said to them: "Men of Israel, why does this surprise you? Why do you stare at us as if by our own power or godliness we had made this man walk? {13} The God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, the God of our fathers, has glorified his servant Jesus.””

(Acts 14:11-15 NIV) ““When the crowd saw what Paul had done, they shouted in the Lycaonian language, "The gods have come down to us in human form!" {12} Barnabas they called Zeus, and Paul they called Hermes because he was the chief speaker. {13} The priest of Zeus, whose temple was just outside the city, brought bulls and wreaths to the city gates because he and the crowd wanted to offer sacrifices to them. {14} But when the apostles Barnabas and Paul heard of this, they tore their clothes and rushed out into the crowd, shouting: {15} "Men, why are you doing this? We too are only men, human like you. We are bringing you good news, telling you to turn from these worthless things to the living God, who made heaven and earth and sea and everything in them.””

(1 Corinthians 10:31 NIV) "So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God."

Human beings are plagued by the tendency to worship other humans instead of God. “Celebrity worship” is rampant, whether it be for politicians, athletes, actors, musicians, or preachers. Some will always worship the miracle worker instead of the Miracle Maker. Peter nipped this attitude in the bud. He let people know that it was the living Christ who had healed this man. Peter and John understood that who gets the credit is a big deal. It’s the difference between being a disciple and becoming an idol. They pointed people to Christ. They wanted God to get the glory. They wanted the name of Jesus to be praised. This was their mission and purpose in life. The same goes for us. We all have opportunities to glorify the Lord. God is still glorifying Jesus Christ through those who choose to give Him glory. Everything believers do should be done to the glory of God. Point people upward! -- Friar Tuck’s Word of the Day

Hanging On or Hanging Out

February 17

(Acts 3:11 NIV) "While the beggar held on to Peter and John, all the people were astonished and came running to them in the place called Solomon's Colonnade.”

(Luke 10:38-42 NIV) "As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him. {39} She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord's feet listening to what he said. {40} But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, "Lord, don't you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!" {41} "Martha, Martha," the Lord answered, "you are worried and upset about many things, {42} but only one thing is needed. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.""

(Luke 19:47-48 NIV) "Every day he was teaching at the temple. But the chief priests, the teachers of the law and the leaders among the people were trying to kill him. {48} Yet they could not find any way to do it, because all the people hung on his words."

The healed beggar hung on to Peter and John. He had been walking, and jumping, and praising God, so it wasn’t for stability that he hung on to them. Perhaps it was gratitude for the men who had looked him in the eye and reached down to help him up. He wanted everyone to meet these men who had shown him Jesus and given him a second chance. We can learn from him. He was into hanging on, rather than just hanging out. Jesus needs disciples who will hang on to him, not just hang out with him. He needs people who will hang on His words, not just hang out at church. Many people hung out with Jesus, but it was the disciples who hung on to Him. Jesus is looking for Christians who will hang onto him -- believers who won’t forget where they received healing and the words of life -- disciples who will introduce Him to their friends and neighbors. Are you hanging on, or just hanging out? -- Friar Tuck’s Word of the Day

Running To the Church

February 16

(Acts 3:11 NIV) "While the beggar held on to Peter and John, all the people were astonished and came running to them in the place called Solomon's Colonnade.”

(Mark 3:7-10 NIV) "Jesus withdrew with his disciples to the lake, and a large crowd from Galilee followed. {8} When they heard all he was doing, many people came to him from Judea, Jerusalem, Idumea, and the regions across the Jordan and around Tyre and Sidon. {9} Because of the crowd he told his disciples to have a small boat ready for him, to keep the people from crowding him. {10} For he had healed many, so that those with diseases were pushing forward to touch him."

In a day when people are leaving the church in droves, it’s good to see some running to the church in the third chapter of Acts. The same happened to Jesus. The common denominator is the miraculous transformation of lives, and that those who witnessed the deliverance and healing talked it up. This caused many to be astonished and come running to the church. They didn’t all stay, but they could never say they had not seen and heard the truth. The same thing can happen today. When people hear about miraculous transformations, they tend to come running. The miracle of a changed life, whether that change is spiritual or physical, can bring glory to God and draw people to the church. When the church does amazing things, people will come running to see what’s up. But we have to talk it up out in the world where it really counts. We have to get the word out. -- Friar Tuck’s Word of the Day  

Who Gets the Credit

February 15

(Acts 3:11-16 NIV) “While the beggar held on to Peter and John, all the people were astonished and came running to them in the place called Solomon's Colonnade. {12} When Peter saw this, he said to them: "Men of Israel, why does this surprise you? Why do you stare at us as if by our own power or godliness we had made this man walk? {13} The God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, the God of our fathers, has glorified his servant Jesus. You handed him over to be killed, and you disowned him before Pilate, though he had decided to let him go. {14} You disowned the Holy and Righteous One and asked that a murderer be released to you. {15} You killed the author of life, but God raised him from the dead. We are witnesses of this. {16} By faith in the name of Jesus, this man whom you see and know was made strong. It is Jesus' name and the faith that comes through him that has given this complete healing to him, as you can all see.”

(John 20:30-31 NIV) "Jesus did many other miraculous signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not recorded in this book. {31} But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name."

After Peter and John brought healing to the crippled man, the crowd began to treat them as superheroes with great power. It was a test for them. They had to decide whether to accept the glory for themselves, or give glory to God. They passed the test. They declared that faith in the name of Jesus caused the miraculous healing. Human beings are interesting. We excel at holding grudges. We blame God for the tragedies, disasters, and calamities in our lives. Some are still angry at God for something that happened decades ago. But when blessing comes our way, or something good happens in our life, we are prone to explaining it away as coincidence, or worse yet, to taking credit for it ourselves. We chalk it up to being godly, or smart, or just plain lucky. In this world, God gets most of the blame, but not much of the credit. Be different, Christian. Give God glory in all things. -- Friar Tuck’s Word of the Day

Praise and Amazement

February 14

(Acts 3:8-10 NIV) "He jumped to his feet and began to walk. Then he went with them into the temple courts, walking and jumping, and praising God. {9} When all the people saw him walking and praising God, {10} they recognized him as the same man who used to sit begging at the temple gate called Beautiful, and they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him."

(Matthew 9:33 NIV) "And when the demon was driven out, the man who had been mute spoke. The crowd was amazed and said, "Nothing like this has ever been seen in Israel.""

(Matthew 15:31 NIV) "The people were amazed when they saw the mute speaking, the crippled made well, the lame walking and the blind seeing. And they praised the God of Israel."

When we obey God, glory comes down and praise goes up. This ex-cripple was not subtle or sophisticated in his witness. He was ecstatic and out of control. He jumped up and down and danced around, shouting out praises to the Lord. Healed people praise God. Saved people tell of his wonders and mercy. God didn’t heal this man because He felt sorry for him and wanted him to have a better life. He didn’t heal him so Peter and John could rake in money for their ministry. God healed this man to bring glory to His name. God healed him so people would be amazed at the power to be found in the name of the risen Jesus. Dead men can’t heal anyone -- but a risen Lord can. God has come to earth and lives in the changed lives of His people today. He wants us to share our story -- maybe even dance and sing and shout about it. He wants us to give Him glory. How are you doing at that? -- Friar Tuck’s Word of the Day

Partners with God

February 13

(Acts 3:7 NIV) "Taking him by the right hand, he helped him up, and instantly the man's feet and ankles became strong."

(Acts 9:17-19 NIV) "Then Ananias went to the house and entered it. Placing his hands on Saul, he said, "Brother Saul, the Lord--Jesus, who appeared to you on the road as you were coming here--has sent me so that you may see again and be filled with the Holy Spirit." {18} Immediately, something like scales fell from Saul's eyes, and he could see again. He got up and was baptized, {19} and after taking some food, he regained his strength. Saul spent several days with the disciples in Damascus."

(Psalm 18:16 NIV) “He reached down from on high and took hold of me; he drew me out of deep waters.”

Peter reached down and took the crippled beggars hand. This is a potent reminder of how God wants to work through us. God could have just spoken a word and the beggar would have been healed. But God had Peter reach down and take his hand. God has chosen us to be His partners. We are His helping hands. We do the reaching and the preaching. Jesus does the healing. Silver and gold could never have purchased new legs for this man, but Jesus filled his life with healing and dancing because Peter reached down and took his hand. God can do great things through those who will partner with Him by doing small things. Don’t just pray for the hungry -- go work in a soup kitchen. Don’t just pray for the lost -- reach out to them in love and share the gospel with them. We are partners with Jesus. If we expect Him to do it all, we are in a dysfunctional relationship. -- Friar Tuck’s Word of the Day

Giving What We Have

February 12

(Acts 3:6 NIV) "Then Peter said, "Silver or gold I do not have, but what I have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk.""

(Luke 21:1-4 NIV) "As he looked up, Jesus saw the rich putting their gifts into the temple treasury. {2} He also saw a poor widow put in two very small copper coins. {3} "I tell you the truth," he said, "this poor widow has put in more than all the others. {4} All these people gave their gifts out of their wealth; but she out of her poverty put in all she had to live on.""

Peter and John had little in the way of earthly riches, but they were willing to give what they had -- and what they had was Jesus. Jesus is better than silver and gold. Silver and gold only last for a while -- Jesus is forever. Money will only buy stuff that breaks and wears out -- Jesus is eternal. The beggar asked for something that would get him by for today -- Peter and John gave him something that would last for eternity. He wanted something to help him survive -- they showed him how to really live. He wanted them to support his way of life -- they gave him a new life. He was looking for a handout -- Peter and John gave him a hand up. Jesus still calls us to give what we have. Do you have Jesus? If you have Jesus, are you giving Him away, or are you hoarding Him? Give what you have. God will take care of the rest. -- Friar Tuck’s Word of the Day 

Looking the Right Direction

February 11

(Acts 3:4-5 NIV) "Peter looked straight at him, as did John. Then Peter said, "Look at us!" {5} So the man gave them his attention, expecting to get something from them."

(Matthew 6:22-23 NIV) "The eye is the lamp of the body. If your eyes are good, your whole body will be full of light. {23} But if your eyes are bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light within you is darkness, how great is that darkness!"

(Psalms 121:1-2 NIV) "I lift up my eyes to the hills-- where does my help come from? {2} My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth."

At an early age, infants learn to look into our eyes for information and intimacy. Something spiritual happens when we look people in the eye. So it was with the beggar at the gate. Conditioned by years of shame, he kept his head down and didn’t look up. It was safer for his soul not to make eye contact. His posture portrayed weakness, defeat, and humiliation. But Peter demanded eye contact, because he knew that God wanted to heal more than just this man’s body. Peter and John could have given him a small coin and felt good for helping the poor like many Christians do today. But they wanted to give him more than that. They wanted to give him his life back. They wanted God to heal his soul. So the man looked up and his life was never the same… because when he looked into their eyes, he was looking into the eyes of Christ. The first step to healing is looking up. -- Friar Tuck’s Word of the Day

Asking for the Right Stuff

February 10

(Acts 3:3 NIV) "When he saw Peter and John about to enter, he asked them for money."

(James 4:1-4 NIV) "What causes fights and quarrels among you? Don't they come from your desires that battle within you? {2} You want something but don't get it. You kill and covet, but you cannot have what you want. You quarrel and fight. You do not have, because you do not ask God. {3} When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures. {4} You adulterous people, don't you know that friendship with the world is hatred toward God? Anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God."

When Peter and John approached the Temple gate, a beggar, crippled since birth, asked them for money. He was asking for the wrong thing. He asked for money, but what he really needed was healing. It’s hard to blame him -- it’s an old attitude. Most of us have been conditioned to believe that more money will fix our problems and make us happy -- so even today, many of us are still asking God for the wrong stuff. We ask Him for money, when what we really need is healing -- physical, emotional, and spiritual healing. We plead for pennies, when God has millions to give. We sit begging at the gate of glory, when we could be walking free with Jesus. We wallow in self pity, when the confidence of Christ is ours for the asking. We spend our days asking God just to get by, when what He wants to do is miraculously amaze the world through us. Are you asking God for the right stuff? -- Friar Tuck’s Word of the Day

Crippled from Birth

February 9

(Acts 3:2 NIV) "Now a man crippled from birth was being carried to the temple gate called Beautiful, where he was put every day to beg from those going into the temple courts."

(Psalms 51:5 NIV) "Surely I was sinful at birth, sinful from the time my mother conceived me."

(Job 15:14 NIV) "What is man, that he could be pure, or one born of woman, that he could be righteous?"

(Isaiah 53:6 NIV) "We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all."

Imagine being totally dependent upon others for survival. This needy man, “crippled from birth”, had to be carried to the Temple gate so that he could beg for survival. In a way, this helpless beggar represents us all, for we have all been “crippled from birth” by sin. Sin takes our legs out from under us, and we join those begging at the gate of God, unable to enter on our own. We end up looking to people, instead of God, for our sustenance. We spend our lives in spiritual squalor, sitting in our sin, pleading for the crumbs that the world occasionally gives us. We desperately need the Lord, but continually beg others to give us what we think we need. We plead for handouts instead of healing. We become focused on survival instead of seeking salvation. But we can be changed. We can be born again if we trust the Great Physician. Why beg another day? Take God’s hand and rise up. -- Friar Tuck’s Word of the Day   

A Praying Church

February 8

(Acts 3:1 NIV) "One day Peter and John were going up to the temple at the time of prayer -- at three in the afternoon."

(1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 NIV) "Be joyful always; {17} pray continually; {18} give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus."

(Hebrews 13:15-16 NIV) "Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise--the fruit of lips that confess his name. {16} And do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased."

Peter and John were going to a prayer meeting at three o’clock in the afternoon. The desire of the early church was to be God-dependent, not self-sufficient. They prayed continually. Today’s culture worships at the altar of self-sufficiency. This hinders our desire to pray continually. We can obtain much of what we need without asking God for it -- no need for “daily bread” prayers. The majority of our prayers express a desire for personal blessing, rather than the desire to bring glory to God. Trusting God for all things, and in all things, is what set the early Christians apart. When they prayed, they prayed big and wide. They prayed for God to be glorified in their lives, even if it meant persecution. They just wanted more of God. When we begin to pray for God to be glorified in our lives, God will involve us in the miraculous, and give us opportunities to amaze the world, just like He did with the early church. -- Friar Tuck’s Word of the Day

A Growing Church

February 7

(Acts 2:47b NIV) “And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved."

(Matthew 13:18-23 NIV)  ""Listen then to what the parable of the sower means: {19} When anyone hears the message about the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart. This is the seed sown along the path. {20} The one who received the seed that fell on rocky places is the man who hears the word and at once receives it with joy. {21} But since he has no root, he lasts only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, he quickly falls away. {22} The one who received the seed that fell among the thorns is the man who hears the word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke it, making it unfruitful. {23} But the one who received the seed that fell on good soil is the man who hears the word and understands it. He produces a crop, yielding a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown.""

The church grows when people answer God’s call to repent and surrender their lives to the Lordship of Christ. When people stop running from God and turn to Him in repentance, the church grows. In the early church, people didn’t get saved weekly -- they got saved daily. That is what happens in a church devoted to God’s word, to community, and to prayer. That is what happens in a body of believers who concentrate on praise and expressions of devotion and worship. That is what happens when the people of God have a positive attitude about their church and live out their faith in love on a daily basis. That is what happens when the Spirit of God pervades the atmosphere of a church. This is still the kind of church Jesus calls us to be. This is the church that multiplies as the Lord adds daily to their number, producing a crop “a hundred, sixty, or thirty times what was sown.” -- Friar Tuck’s Word of the Day   

Positive Christianity

February 6

(Acts 2:46-47 NIV) "They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, {47} praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people.”

(Romans 15:13 NIV) "May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit."

(Ephesians 5:1-2 NIV) "Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children {2} and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God."

The new believers were positive people. They were “Praise the Lord!” kind of Christians. They had good things to say about each other and about their neighbors. They were short on gossip and long on encouragement. They built one another up instead of tearing one another down. They loved each other with the love they had received from the Lord. And it was noticed. Scripture says they enjoyed the favor of those around them, and the church grew. Positive people draw crowds. Positive people inspire us. We like to be around positive people. It’s easy to be a negative critic. It takes spiritual maturity to be a positive witness in the face of a negative world. But God can help. Maybe it’s time to change your attitude and become the kind of Christian who draws people to the Lord, instead of fulfilling all the negative stereotypes the world has about the church. It’s a matter of the will. -- Friar Tuck’s Word of the Day

Rethinking Church

February 5

(Acts 2:46 NIV) “Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together…”

(2 Corinthians 6:14 NIV) "Do not be yoked together with unbelievers. For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness?"

(Ephesians 2:19-22 NIV) "Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and aliens, but fellow citizens with God's people and members of God's household, {20} built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone. {21} In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord. {22} And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit."

(Hebrews 10:25 NIV) "Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another--and all the more as you see the Day approaching."

Togetherness is the natural result of being “one in Christ”. You can’t really “do” togetherness in an hour on Sunday morning -- it takes more time than that. The early Christians met together every day in the temple courts, and they “broke bread” together in smaller groups in their homes. They prayed together, studied together, worked together, ate together, played together, laughed together, and cried together. They were not only brothers and sisters, they became friends. They unyoked from those who did not believe, and became yoked together with Christ and with one another. For us to do this, we will need to rethink what we mean by “church”. We’ll need to see it less as a building or a meeting, and begin to see it as an existence and an identity. “Church” must become more than just a place or a doctrine. It must become “who we are”. -- Friar Tuck’s Word of the Day

Sticking Together

February 4

(Acts 2:44-45 NIV)  "All the believers were together and had everything in common. {45} Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need."

(John 13:34-35 NIV)  ""A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. {35} By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.""

(1 Corinthians 1:10 NIV)  "I appeal to you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree with one another so that there may be no divisions among you and that you may be perfectly united in mind and thought."

Jesus brought people together. Those who truly followed Him became like family. They didn’t just get a spiritual buzz on Sunday morning, and then go their separate ways -- they stuck together, and cared for one another. They lived for one another and died for one another. They were generous with one another. Detaching themselves from property and belongings, they sold their personal possessions, and helped those among them who were in need. They considered the needs of others as equal to their own. This was more than a church with a lighted sign, a great band, and a radio show -- this was genuine community. We desperately need this today. In a world of small commitments, broken promises, and a myriad of choices, sticking together is harder than ever before. But there is divine power in it. It’s the Jesus way, and it is the way of the genuine disciple. Stick together! -- Friar Tuck’s Word of the Day

Wonders and Awe

February 3

(Acts 2:43 NIV) "Everyone was filled with awe, and many wonders and miraculous signs were done by the apostles."

(Luke 7:16 NIV) "They were all filled with awe and praised God. "A great prophet has appeared among us," they said. "God has come to help his people.""

(Hebrews 12:28-29 NIV) "Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe, {29} for our "God is a consuming fire.""

(Habakkuk 3:2 NIV) "Lord, I have heard of your fame; I stand in awe of your deeds, O Lord. Renew them in our day, in our time make them known; in wrath remember mercy."

When we become devoted to God’s word, to the church, and to prayer, miracles happen. There may be healings, signs, and wonders, but often the miracle is a changed life. Drunks sober up. Fools become wise. Haters are moved to love. When God moves in a visible way, people will be in awe. Jesus saved you so that someone could be awed by His grace. It starts with us, as we stand in awe of God’s love and mercy in our lives. It spreads to those around us as people begin to see the changes in us, and they are affected by the visible work of Jesus. The response won’t always be positive -- the Gospel is a threat to some. But when God’s people live out their faith in positive ways -- when we put the word of God into practice, love our neighbors, pray with power, and live in Christian community, many will be filled with awe. -- Friar Tuck’s Word of the Day

Early Prayer

February 2

(Acts 2:42 NIV) "They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and to the fellowship to the breaking of bread and to prayer."

(Acts 1:14 NIV) "They all joined together constantly in prayer, along with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brothers."

(Luke 18:1 NIV) "Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up."

(Philippians 4:6 NIV) "Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God."

(2 Chronicles 7:14 NIV) "If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land."

The early church was not just about worship, teaching, miracles, and community -- it was also about prayer. They were devoted to prayer, and prayed constantly. They believed that prayer could change things. They saw it work in the lives of people. They prayed for the dead to be raised, and life returned to corpses. They prayed that their witness would draw others to Christ, and people came to the Lord in droves. They would even be seen praying as their bodies perished in the flames and as they were torn apart by wild beasts. They prayed together, and it changed the world. Prayer still changes things, and is vital to the church. We would be wise not to forsake it. The church has enemies who work against it on a daily basis. Will you be one who prays for the church daily? Will you take the time this week to join with other believers in prayer? -- Friar Tuck’s Word of the Day

Breaking Bread

February 1

(Acts 2:42 NIV) "They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread…"

(Acts 2:46 NIV) "Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts,"

(Romans 12:4-5 NIV) "Just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, {5} so in Christ we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others."

(Ephesians 4:4-6 NIV) "There is one body and one Spirit-- just as you were called to one hope when you were called-- {5} one Lord, one faith, one baptism; {6} one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all."

There is a difference of opinion among Bible scholars as to whether the phrase “breaking of bread” speaks of the celebration of the Lord’s Supper, or of the practice of eating together in one another’s homes as family would do. Either way, the early church lived in a state of constant communion. Whether they broke bread in the church or in their homes becomes secondary to the fact that they bonded as family around their Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. They were in a holy communion with one another, and being together in community around a common table became central to the life of the early church. In our fragmented age, where individual agendas take priority over the common good, we could use a dose of this communal thinking. Having a common Lord should move us toward a common life. Christ founded the church to be His body: one Lord, one faith, one body. -- Friar Tuck’s Word of the Day   

The Fellowship

January 31

(Acts 2:42 NIV) "They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and to the fellowship…"

(1 John 1:3, 6-7 NIV) "We proclaim to you what we have seen and heard, so that you also may have fellowship with us. And our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ… {6} If we claim to have fellowship with him yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live by the truth. {7} But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin."

(2 Corinthians 13:14 NIV) "May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all."

Scripture says the early church was devoted to “the fellowship”. This term was used for those who made up the local church. Instead of being self-centered, they became community centered. It is amazing what we can get past when we have someone else’s benefit at heart. Soldiers often have strong differences with fellow soldiers, but they remember who the real enemy is, and they stick together. They have each other’s back. Differences are minimized when there is a common mission. The early church was much the same. Getting our way is less important when our wills are bent toward the good of the community. Unfortunately, rather than watching our back, the church is often known as a place where someone stabs us in the back. This should not be. It is not God’s will for the church. The early church was devoted to the fellowship. That calling has not changed. -- Friar Tuck’s Word of the Day

The Apostles’ Teaching

January 30

(Acts 2:42 NIV) "They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching…”

(Acts 4:33 NIV) "With great power the apostles continued to testify to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and much grace was upon them all."

(Ephesians 2:19-20 NIV) "Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and aliens, but fellow citizens with God's people and members of God's household, {20} built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone."

Anyone can be devoted -- it’s who or what you are devoted to that is important. The apostles were devoted to Christ and the gospel. They testified constantly to His resurrection. They shared of His love and grace. They conveyed the teaching of Jesus. They preached the word of God. Those who believed became devoted to the teaching of the apostles, which centered on Christ. Are you devoted to the teachings of Jesus found in the word of God? How much time do you spend in the word? Do you really study it and meditate on it? Do you live it out? How much influence does it have in your life? If Jesus looked at your interaction with Him and His word, would He say that you were devoted to the apostles’ teaching, which in reality is His teaching? Stop dissecting the word of God and become devoted to it. There’s a big difference between the two. -- Friar Tuck’s Word of the Day

Devotion

January 29

(Acts 2:42 NIV) “They devoted themselves…”

(Matthew 6:24 NIV) “No one can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Money.”

(Ezekiel 33:31-32 NIV) "My people come to you, as they usually do, and sit before you to listen to your words, but they do not put them into practice. With their mouths they express devotion, but their hearts are greedy for unjust gain. {32} Indeed, to them you are nothing more than one who sings love songs with a beautiful voice and plays an instrument well, for they hear your words but do not put them into practice."

Acts 2:42 says, “They devoted themselves.” The Greek word translated “devoted” means “to latch onto and refuse to let go.” The early Christians “latched onto” Jesus and this new group called “the church”, and they refused to let go. The Lord wants us to be fully devoted to Him and His Bride, the church. He wants us to love Him with all our heart, mind, soul, and strength. He wants us to latch onto him and not let go. He wants us to love our brothers and sisters in the church in the same way. This is devotion, and even though it is not in vogue today, it is God’s desire for every believing heart. In a world where long term commitment is rare, and loyalty has little stamina, Jesus calls us to exceptional devotion. Are you “latched onto” Jesus and His Church with a “never let go” commitment? It’s a daily choice that can lead to a lifetime of devotion. Devote yourself today, and refuse to let go. -- Friar Tuck’s Word of the Day  

Church Growth

January 28

(Acts 2:40-41) “With many other words he warned them; and he pleaded with them, "Save yourselves from this corrupt generation.” Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day."

(Matthew 8:11-12 NIV)  "I say to you that many will come from the east and the west, and will take their places at the feast with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven. {12} But the subjects of the kingdom will be thrown outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.""

(Daniel 12:10 NIV)  "Many will be purified, made spotless and refined, but the wicked will continue to be wicked. None of the wicked will understand, but those who are wise will understand."

We have a portion of Peter’s Pentecost sermon here in Acts. He spoke “many other words”. In what we have, you don’t hear any “seeker sensitive” stuff. He preached the truth in love, calling people to repent, and to be saved out of their corrupt generation. Then comes this phenomenal evangelism report -- 3,000 were saved. If Peter preached one sermon, and 3,000 were saved, surely we can lead a few people to Jesus in our lifetime. Christians, God has left us here for a reason. Jesus said, “You will be my witnesses.” Are you living in a way that anyone would notice Christ in you? Does your life invite people to Jesus, or are you more of a repellant? If you are among those who have not responded publicly to Jesus, let Him save you from this corrupt generation. Be added to the number who will stand before God with His mark and His name. Repent! Today is the day of salvation. -- Friar Tuck’s Word of the Day

For the Far Off and the Far Out

January 27

(Acts 2:39 NIV)  “The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off--for all whom the Lord our God will call.”

(Acts 2:21 NIV) “And everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”

(Mark 16:14-16 NIV) ““Later Jesus appeared to the Eleven as they were eating; he rebuked them for their lack of faith and their stubborn refusal to believe those who had seen him after he had risen. {15} He said to them, "Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation. {16} Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned.””

The Lord is calling. He was calling those in Jerusalem on the day of Pentecost, and He went to great lengths so they could hear Him. God is still calling us -- and still going to great lengths so that we can hear Him. The gospel of Jesus Christ is meant for all creation to hear. The Holy Spirit doesn’t wait for us to find Jesus. He sends out His word to us while we are still far off. Some of us were even “far out” when we heard the Lord calling. But the call came in, and the Spirit gave us ears to hear. God will call anyone he chooses to call -- high or low, far off or far out. If you have heard His call, or you are hearing it today, that means you have been chosen by God. His call is for you and your children, and it is not wise to ignore it. His promises will never be broken, nor will they be forgotten. So whether you are far off or far out, answer His call. We only get so many chances to do so in a lifetime. -- Friar Tuck’s Word of the Day

Calling for a Response

January 26

(Acts 2:38 NIV) "Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.” 

(Matthew 3:1-6 NIV) "In those days John the Baptist came, preaching in the Desert of Judea {2} and saying, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near." {3} This is he who was spoken of through the prophet Isaiah: "A voice of one calling in the desert, 'Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for him.'" {4} John's clothes were made of camel's hair, and he had a leather belt around his waist. His food was locusts and wild honey. {5} People went out to him from Jerusalem and all Judea and the whole region of the Jordan. {6} Confessing their sins, they were baptized by him in the Jordan River."

(Acts 26:20 NIV) "First to those in Damascus, then to those in Jerusalem and in all Judea, and to the Gentiles also, I preached that they should repent and turn to God and prove their repentance by their deeds."

The gospel always calls for a response. When Peter preached the gospel, people asked what they could do. He said, “Repent and be baptized.” Those who came to hear John the Baptist were called to repent and be baptized. Paul’s preaching called for repentance and a response in keeping with repentance. Jesus called people to repent and to follow Him. Repentance demands a change of heart and a change of direction. Baptism is the genuine response of a repentant heart. It’s not something that saves people -- it’s something that saved people do. It’s an act of obedience for those who declare Jesus both Lord and Christ, and who ask Him to wash away their sin. Peter promised that if the people responded to God, God would respond to them and send them the Holy Spirit. The gospel always calls for a response -- and if you respond to God, He will respond to you. -- Friar Tuck’s Word of the Day

Cut to the Heart

January 25

(Acts 2:37 NIV) ““When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, "Brothers, what shall we do?””

(John 16:6-8 NIV) “Because I have said these things, you are filled with grief. {7} But I tell you the truth: It is for your good that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Counselor will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you. {8} When he comes, he will convict the world of guilt in regard to sin and righteousness and judgment:”

(2 Corinthians 7:10 NIV)  "Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death."

Peter boldly preached the truth. What happened next was truly divine. God’s Holy Spirit convicted those who heard Peter’s message. They were cut to the heart and began to cry out for mercy. They experienced a conviction that only the Holy Spirit can produce. Preachers and witnesses take note: there is a fine line between laying guilt on someone and leading them toward godly conviction. Earthly guilt can only take people so far -- heavenly conviction can take them all the way to Jesus. Carnal guilt drives people away -- godly conviction brings them to the foot of the cross. Guilt is used to manipulate, and keeps people in bondage -- godly conviction is designed to set us free. Anyone can dish out guilt -- a few are gifted to help God do surgery on hardened hearts, which promotes true healing. When the Holy Spirit is involved, it’s a good thing to be cut to the heart. -- Friar Tuck’s Word of the Day

Lord and Christ

January 24

(Acts 2:33-36 NIV) “Exalted to the right hand of God, he has received from the Father the promised Holy Spirit and has poured out what you now see and hear. {34} For David did not ascend to heaven, and yet he said, "'The Lord said to my Lord: "Sit at my right hand {35} until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet. {36} "Therefore let all Israel be assured of this: God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ." "'

(Matthew 26:62-68 NIV) "Then the high priest stood up and said to Jesus, "Are you not going to answer? What is this testimony that these men are bringing against you?" {63} But Jesus remained silent. The high priest said to him, "I charge you under oath by the living God: Tell us if you are the Christ, the Son of God." {64} "Yes, it is as you say," Jesus replied. "But I say to all of you: In the future you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Mighty One and coming on the clouds of heaven." {65} Then the high priest tore his clothes and said, "He has spoken blasphemy! Why do we need any more witnesses? Look, now you have heard the blasphemy. {66} What do you think?" "He is worthy of death," they answered. {67} Then they spit in his face and struck him with their fists. Others slapped him {68} and said, "Prophesy to us, Christ. Who hit you?""

(Romans 10:8-11 NIV)  "But what does it say? "The word is near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart," that is, the word of faith we are proclaiming: {9} That if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. {10} For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved. {11} As the Scripture says, "Anyone who trusts in him will never be put to shame.""

Peter preached that God had made Jesus both Lord and Christ. This is the declaration that got Jesus killed, and the truth the apostles would be martyred for teaching. These words can still get you killed. People are beheaded, stoned, or thrown off tall buildings for believing this. At the minimum, you will likely be ostracized and ridiculed for witnessing to this truth. Why? Because, if Jesus really is both Lord and Christ, we must do what He says. He is the Boss. You cannot ignore His words just because they are inconvenient or difficult. You cannot selectively obey someone who is both Lord and Christ. We serve Him. We bow down to Him. If you preach this truth, and live it out today, you will likely be persecuted. But it’s still the truth, and Peter was willing to risk his life and his reputation to preach it. We should be willing to do the same. -- Friar Tuck’s Word of the Day

He is Risen

January 23

(Acts 2:24-32 NIV) ““But God raised him from the dead, freeing him from the agony of death, because it was impossible for death to keep its hold on him. {25} David said about him: "'I saw the Lord always before me. Because he is at my right hand, I will not be shaken. {26} Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices; my body also will live in hope, {27} because you will not abandon me to the grave, nor will you let your Holy One see decay. {28} You have made known to me the paths of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence.' {29} "Brothers, I can tell you confidently that the patriarch David died and was buried, and his tomb is here to this day. {30} But he was a prophet and knew that God had promised him on oath that he would place one of his descendants on his throne. {31} Seeing what was ahead, he spoke of the resurrection of the Christ, that he was not abandoned to the grave, nor did his body see decay. {32} God has raised this Jesus to life, and we are all witnesses of the fact.””

(1 Corinthians 15:12-22 NIV) "But if it is preached that Christ has been raised from the dead, how can some of you say that there is no resurrection of the dead? {13} If there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised. {14} And if Christ has not been raised, our preaching is useless and so is your faith. {15} More than that, we are then found to be false witnesses about God, for we have testified about God that he raised Christ from the dead. But he did not raise him if in fact the dead are not raised. {16} For if the dead are not raised, then Christ has not been raised either. {17} And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins. {18} Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ are lost. {19} If only for this life we have hope in Christ, we are to be pitied more than all men. {20} But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. {21} For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead comes also through a man. {22} For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive."

The foundation of our faith is the resurrection of Jesus Christ. The early church rose up declaring this truth. They didn’t just believe it -- they lived and died for it because they were witnesses of the fact. In the church’s first sermon, Peter declared its centrality. He preached that death could not keep Jesus down. By God’s power, Christ had risen from the dead. Peter noted that the great Jewish hero, King David, had seen the resurrection coming and had spoken of it. Don’t miss the fact that Peter explained current events of his day by looking deeply into God’s word. But more than David’s prophecy, Peter declared that he and many others were witnesses to Christ’s resurrection. It wasn’t just theory -- it happened, and they had seen it. This was a bold and dangerous statement that put the lives of the apostles on the line. They were willing to testify to what God had done. Are you? -- Friar Tuck’s Word of the Day

Preaching the Gospel

January 22

(Acts 2:22-23 NIV)  ""Men of Israel, listen to this: Jesus of Nazareth was a man accredited by God to you by miracles, wonders and signs, which God did among you through him, as you yourselves know. {23} This man was handed over to you by God's set purpose and foreknowledge; and you, with the help of wicked men, put him to death by nailing him to the cross."

(1 Corinthians 1:20-25 NIV)  "Where is the wise man? Where is the scholar? Where is the philosopher of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? {21} For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not know him, God was pleased through the foolishness of what was preached to save those who believe. {22} Jews demand miraculous signs and Greeks look for wisdom, {23} but we preach Christ crucified: a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, {24} but to those whom God has called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. {25} For the foolishness of God is wiser than man's wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than man's strength."

After Peter had straightened out the mockers on the power of the Holy Spirit, he began to preach the gospel. The gospel according to Peter consisted of two parts: the bad news and the good news -- our need, and God’s grace filled solution. Peter defied all modern calls for a positive introduction to his sermon and began with the bad news -- Jesus had died because of them. He later shared the good news that Jesus had also died for them, but he started by looking them in the eye and telling them that Jesus had died because of them. We could have easily been standing with them on that day, because that’s still a true statement. Jesus died because of us. Our sins nailed Jesus to that cross. We will seldom grasp the depth of God’s love and mercy, until we understand that Jesus died because of us. This truth should rid us of all spiritual smugness. -- Friar Tuck’s Word of the Day 

Everyone Who Calls

January 21

(Acts 2:21 NIV) "And everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved."

(John 3:16 NIV) "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life."

(Psalms 116:1-6 NIV) ““I love the Lord, for he heard my voice; he heard my cry for mercy. {2} Because he turned his ear to me, I will call on him as long as I live. {3} The cords of death entangled me, the anguish of the grave came upon me; I was overcome by trouble and sorrow. {4} Then I called on the name of the Lord: "O Lord, save me!" {5} The Lord is gracious and righteous; our God is full of compassion. {6} The Lord protects the simple hearted; when I was in great need, he saved me.””

(Genesis 12:7-8 NIV) ““The Lord appeared to Abram and said, "To your offspring I will give this land." So he built an altar there to the Lord, who had appeared to him. {8} From there he went on toward the hills east of Bethel and pitched his tent, with Bethel on the west and Ai on the east. There he built an altar to the Lord and called on the name of the Lord.””

Acts 2:21 is one of the most generous verses in Scripture. “Everyone” can be saved, if we call on the name of the Lord. It’s an echo of John 3:16, where Jesus says, “Whoever believes in Him will have eternal life.” Salvation and eternity are available to all who believe God and call upon the name of the Lord. What does it mean to call upon the name of the Lord? It means that in desperation, we cry out, “Save me Lord.” But it’s more than just asking to be saved. It entails a pursuit of God’s blessing. In our heart, we build an altar for the Lord, and lay our life on it. We acknowledge the Lordship of Christ, and submit ourselves to His authority and to His sovereign will. “Calling on the name of the Lord” involves more than just a little prayer. It means a total surrender to Jesus. This is the way of faith and salvation. This is the way to eternal life. -- Friar Tuck’s Word of the Day

Called to Preach

January 20

(Acts 2:14-20 NIV) ““Then Peter stood up with the Eleven, raised his voice and addressed the crowd: "Fellow Jews and all of you who live in Jerusalem, let me explain this to you; listen carefully to what I say. {15} These men are not drunk, as you suppose. It's only nine in the morning! {16} No, this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel: {17} "'In the last days, God says, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions, your old men will dream dreams. {18} Even on my servants, both men and women, I will pour out my Spirit in those days, and they will prophesy. {19} I will show wonders in the heaven above and signs on the earth below, blood and fire and billows of smoke. {20} The sun will be turned to darkness and the moon to blood before the coming of the great and glorious day of the Lord.””

(Acts 9:17-20 NIV) ““Then Ananias went to the house and entered it. Placing his hands on Saul, he said, "Brother Saul, the Lord--Jesus, who appeared to you on the road as you were coming here--has sent me so that you may see again and be filled with the Holy Spirit." {18} Immediately, something like scales fell from Saul's eyes, and he could see again. He got up and was baptized, {19} and after taking some food, he regained his strength. Saul spent several days with the disciples in Damascus. {20} At once he began to preach in the synagogues that Jesus is the Son of God.""

(1 Corinthians 9:16 NIV) "Yet when I preach the gospel, I cannot boast, for I am compelled to preach. Woe to me if I do not preach the gospel!"

(Isaiah 61:1-3 NIV) "The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me, because the Lord has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners, {2} to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor and the day of vengeance of our God, to comfort all who mourn, {3} and provide for those who grieve in Zion-- to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair. They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the Lord for the display of his splendor."

When the Holy Spirit comes in power, someone will be called to preach. Here, it was Peter -- later it was Paul -- eventually, it may be you. Peter had no formal training, but God compelled him to preach. Preaching can take many forms, from exposition of the Scriptures, to one-on-one witnessing about what God has done in our lives. Peter opened the Scriptures in a new way, and told the mockers that they were not hearing drunken speech, but the voice of God. He proclaimed the sovereignty of God and the amazing grace of the Lord. He told them that their prophets had seen this day coming, and that the Holy Spirit was being poured out for all people. No one would be excluded from the chance to accept God’s grace. That’s still true today. Jesus calls us to receive Him, and then calls us to preach the gospel in some way. -- Friar Tuck’s Word of the Day

Mocking God

January 19  

(Acts 2:13 NIV) "Some, however, made fun of them and said, "They have had too much wine."

(Matthew 27:37-44 NIV) "Above his head they placed the written charge against him: THIS IS JESUS, THE KING OF THE JEWS. {38} Two robbers were crucified with him, one on his right and one on his left. {39} Those who passed by hurled insults at him, shaking their heads {40} and saying, "You who are going to destroy the temple and build it in three days, save yourself! Come down from the cross, if you are the Son of God!" {41} In the same way the chief priests, the teachers of the law and the elders mocked him. {42} "He saved others," they said, "but he can't save himself! He's the King of Israel! Let him come down now from the cross, and we will believe in him. {43} He trusts in God. Let God rescue him now if he wants him, for he said, 'I am the Son of God.'" {44} In the same way the robbers who were crucified with him also heaped insults on him."

When God’s Spirit came in power, many people still did not get it. All they heard was gibberish. They mocked the disciples, saying, “Don’t listen to them, they’re just a bunch of drunks.” They were probably some of the same people who mocked Jesus as He died for their sins on the cross. We can learn from this. We won’t be able to speak everyone’s language, even with God’s help. Some will just never hear. Don’t expect everyone to react with enthusiasm when you share your witness. Many will write you off as an idiot, or as one under some kind of spell. They will ridicule your faith. They mocked Jesus and the disciples -- they will mock you. When the Spirit comes in power to change your life and your language, many will still mock the work of God. They will cover their ears and shake their heads. But keep speaking God’s language, because some will hear. Some will hear! -- Friar Tuck’s Word of the Day