The Number Of Disciples - Acts 6:7

Acts 6:7 ESV 

And the word of God continued to increase, and the number of the disciples multiplied greatly in Jerusalem, and a great many of the priests became obedient to the faith.

The word of God increases as the body of Christ grows. 

It grows in the increase in disciples. Becoming a Christian seems to have little to do with being a disciple of Christ. A disciple is one who learns from the instruction of a teacher. A disciple of Christ follows and learns from Him. When we are led by the Spirit of Christ, we are led by His truth and into His light. 

It is not just enrolling in a school, but actually taking classes. 

Was Praying - Luke 3:21-22

Luke 3:21-22 ESV

Now when all the people were baptized, and when Jesus also had been baptized and was praying, the heavens were opened, and the Holy Spirit descended on him in bodily form, like a dove; and a voice came from heaven, “You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased.”

When Jesus became a man He gained the spirit of a man. When the Holy Spirit descended on Him in bodily form, the Son of Man would become the Son of God in bodily form. In this account we see that the Spirit is given when Jesus begins to pray. 

We become sons of God in the same way. 

Adam is the first son of God, but he did not receive the blessing of the Holy Spirit, the blessings of our Father in heaven. It was the second Son of God who was blessed. This pattern is repeated a number of times in the Old Testament. 

We become sons of God when we enter the body of Christ. It is through prayer that we access the Holy Spirit. Prayer can move from asking Jesus to come into our lives to a life that becomes a living prayer, a prayer that never ceases. 

1 Thessalonians 5:16-19

Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. Do not quench the Spirit. 

Different Paths

We may be on different paths, but there is one way to God. 

A Sojourner - Psalms 119:17-19

Psalms 119:17-19 ESV 

Gimel Deal bountifully with your servant,

that I may live and keep your word.

Open my eyes, that I may behold

wondrous things out of your law.

I am a sojourner on the earth;

hide not your commandments from me!

The Hebrew word translated as “bountifully” here includes the idea of a weaned child, one who has received the milk needed by a newborn child and is now ready for solid food. The Lord provides the sustenance we need to grow in spirit and into the maturity of one that seeks to attain the mind of Christ. 

He has opened our eyes to His salvation and grace, though we see but dimly the wonder and landscape of the kingdom of heaven. The Psalmist prays for the ongoing and continual revelation of the wondrous things out of the word of the Lord. When the Lord speaks through His word, the eyes of our heart can behold the truth of God. 

As residents of the kingdom of heaven, we are now foreigners and visitors here on earth, passing through on our way home. The bread from heaven will feed us on our wilderness journey and His word will sustain us until we arrive at our destination.  

Perfection Of Beauty - Psalms 50:1-2

Psalms 50:1-2 ESV 

A Psalm of Asaph. The Mighty One, God the Lord,

speaks and summons the earth

from the rising of the sun to its setting.

Out of Zion, the perfection of beauty,

God shines forth.

The light of God is the perfection and beauty of the earth. 

Seen The Father - John 14:8-10

John 14:8-10 ESV 

Philip said to him, “Lord, show us the Father, and it is enough for us.” Jesus said to him, “Have I been with you so long, and you still do not know me, Philip? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words that I say to you I do not speak on my own authority, but the Father who dwells in me does his works.

If you’ve seen Jesus, you’ve seen the Father. Jesus is the glory of the Father and the radiance of His light. He is the exact image of God and what we aspire to be. 

Can you see yourself being like Him? Do you believe God?

Let My People Go - John 18:4-8

John 18:4-8 ESV 

Then Jesus, knowing all that would happen to him, came forward and said to them, “Whom do you seek?” They answered him, “Jesus of Nazareth.” Jesus said to them, “I am he.” Judas, who betrayed him, was standing with them. When Jesus said to them, “I am he,” they drew back and fell to the ground. So he asked them again, “Whom do you seek?” And they said, “Jesus of Nazareth.” Jesus answered, “I told you that I am he. So, if you seek me, let these men go.”

Jesus answers the mob with the name God gave to Moses. This translation renders His response as “I am He.” The Greek says “I am.” Jesus not only admits He is the man they seek, but that He is the God of Israel whom they should seek. Though they are blind to this fact, they experience some of the power of the name of the one who brought their fathers out of Egypt. 

He repeats the command given to Pharaoh by Moses, “let my people go!”