Acts 2: The Message of Pentecost

The Hebrew feasts embody a message to Jew and Christian alike.

These national feasts are meticulous types of the life of Christ.

Just as Jews prepared a lamb to be their Passover meal,

So Christ became “The Lamb of God,” salvation’s holy seal.

The Feast of First Fruits, which celebrated the harvest’s first selection,

Was fulfilled by our Lord in His bodily resurrection.

He is the first fruit of God’s plan, the author of our salvation.

Because He rose, His church will too, for that glorious celebration.

Because this feast always takes place fifty days after the cross,

It became known to the saints as the Day of Pentecost.

Christ would send the Holy Spirit to transform body and mind

Coming not upon a man but indwelling him full time.

His band of believers met to worship that fateful Pentecost Day.

Suddenly the Spirit descended to fill these vessels of clay.

There was the sound of a mighty wind heard by neighbors around.

As they drew near to investigate, this is what they found:

The people praised God in foreign tongues, ones entirely unknown,

Languages from far-away regions of the Kingdom of Rome.

They were declaring the wonderful things God had already done

Praising the greatness of our God and His glorious Son.

But others in the crowd that day said, “Here is what we think.

These folks you see babbling away have had too much to drink.”

I suppose those shallow observers left with shaking heads

Unaware of their lost condition and the judgment they faced ahead.

The message true, our battle cry, is that the Spirit has come;

Come to indwell and sanctify, to make His people one.

He is the source of spiritual power, of consecrating grace;

He it is who enables us to reflect our Savior’s face.

Jesus had told them all to wait for the Father’s promise.

Empowering us to fulfill His will, to motivate and to calm us.

The Father gave the Son to die to pay the debt we owe,

The Spirit comes to indwell and guide, enabling us to be whole.

How we need the Spirit of God to make His home in our heart!

How we need Him to lead and guide, His truth to us impart.

Over and over and over again we seek to be filled with His Spirit
As we proclaim God’s loving grace to everyone who will hear it.

© Copyright 2016 George M. Cuff, All Rights Reserved

Acts 1 - Part 1 -Introduction to Acts

Dr. Luke is the author of Acts, a fine historian he,

Traveling with the Apostle Paul on his ministry journeys.

An erudite and scholarly man, a doctor by trained profession,

Dr. Luke was profoundly led after his saving confession.

He first wrote the Gospel of Christ, the one that bears his name

Recording the life and works of Him who set the world aflame.

He told of His birth, His miracles; how His death our sin transcends,

How Jesus then was raised from the grave, His victory our godsend.

The record complete, the story told, is there more our Lord would do?

What remains before He descends this world to judge and renew?

The answer is found in the Acts account, in history made alive

With events of valor chronicled there as believers serve and thrive.

When Christ arose, He showed Himself for a period of forty days

Proving He was the Risen Lord, setting their hearts ablaze.

He spoke to them of things to come, of ministry activism,

Of how the Spirit will empower in prayerful evangelism.

“Do not leave Jerusalem now, wait for the Spirit’s hour;

You cannot effect salvation grace working in human power.

John immersed you to signify the honest repentance you feel;

The Holy Spirit is coming soon to fill you with power and zeal.”

“Is this the time to declare yourself King?” the disciples said earnestly.

They were filled with earthly plans, thoughts of insurgency.

They were ready to rule with Christ; had dreams of prestige great,

Unaware of the price they would pay to change a lost world’s fate.

They couldn’t do it on their own; no human might is sufficient.

No preaching ability good enough, no human scheme proficient.

But the power flowing from the Spirit is equal to the task;

God empowers His servants well to perform just what He asks.

“You shall be a witness for me in Jerusalem and every nation.

Boldly proclaiming to all who will hear the message of salvation.”

Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria too and all the regions around

Were transformed with joy and peace by this message profound.

These first verses inserted here describe it with precision.

Our journey reveals God’s “good news” in its inspired transmission.

First it was those within the city, then towns and countryside

Received the witness of the redeemed, their soul now satisfied.

Never before and never since has there been such a revolution.

Never such dramatic change as lost souls found life solution.

Never such opposition was raised from social institutions;

Never such dreadful hardship and pain through unjust persecution.

All this and more we will see, I trust I have set the hook,

Open your Bible and study with me in God’s great textbook.

© Copyright 2016 George M. Cuff, All Rights Reserved

John 21 - Restored to Service

A third time Jesus revealed Himself to minister to His friends.

Clearly the devil through he had brought their ministry to an end.

But worldly appearance and God’s good plan often contradict

Christ would restore fearful men, these leaders He had handpicked.

He found them fishing just off the shore of the Tiberias Sea.

Fishing all night without a catch, their nets empty as could be.

Jesus told Peter to cast his net on the other side of the boat.

They pulled up the nets so full of fish; the boat could barely float.

Jesus cooked the fish that day and served the morning meal.

This third appearance the Lord had planned His purpose to reveal.

After breakfast Jesus asked Peter, “Do you love me true?”

Peter turned with grateful heart, said, “Lord, you know that I do.”

Jesus said, “Feed my lambs” denoting Peter’s life call.

The apostle wondered how this could be in light of his great fall.

A second time Jesus repeated, “Simon, do you love me?”

Peter affirmed and Jesus said, “Peter, feed My sheep.”

A third time Jesus said to him, “Is your love for me strong and true?”

Peter replied, “My love is true. You know for certain I do.”

Two times now Peter heard the Lord say, “Peter, Tend My Sheep.”

His spirit broken by his shame, he shook with sorrow and grief.

Jesus then said, “Feed my sheep as I lead you day by day.

No longer will you do your own thing; I will empower you as you pray.

All the way until you die, trust me without reservation.

Fulfill the work given you until your earthly graduation.”

Three times Peter denied the Lord in the throes of intimidation.

Three time the Lord called him again ensuring his consecration.

How many times have we failed the Lord? Too many for us to count.

How thankful I am there is no sin, too great for Christ to surmount.

About that time John drew near and Peter asked of him too.

He was rebuked about his desire to know what John would do.

The same is true even today: for each child God has a plan.

Our greatest goal is to follow Christ as a Spirit-transformed man.

This closes the Gospel according to John, an account of Christ divine

Who sits at the right hand of the Father and in our hearts full time.

It’s NOT for me to demand of God His plan for someone I know.

It IS for me to be a vessel through whom His Spirit can flow.

Let us like Peter follow the Lord all the days of our life.

Let none of them be governed again by jealousy or strife.

Let us lean upon His care and trust in His daily provision.

Let it be said we were faithful and true to the heavenly vision.

© Copyright 2016 George M. Cuff, All Rights Reserved

John 20: Part 2 Jesus and Doubting Thomas

On the evening of the empty tomb, His disciples hiding in fear,

Jesus appeared in the upper room showing them He was near.

He showed them His wounds, brought peace to their hearts

For the Spirit of God His power to impart.

“As the Father sent Me, so send I you.

What I have done you will do too.”

He breathed upon them the power of the Spirit

To preach repentance to all who will hear it.

All except Thomas were present that night when Jesus came to them

But Thomas refused to believe the words they told him time and again.

“Unless I see the scars in His hands and touch the wound in His side,

I won’t stop believing He is dead because I saw Him die.”

Eight days later they were together and Jesus suddenly appeared.

He said to Thomas, “Reach out to my side. What do you feel here?

Do not doubt Thomas, my friend, you have work on this sod.”

Thomas fell to his knees and said, “It is You, my Lord and my God.”

“Thomas, You have seen Me and now believe. You could have done better.

Blessed are those who do not see, yet believe My written letter.”

The apostles were a living letter written for all to see

The transformation Jesus effects when He saves abundantly.

Salvation comes to those who believe the truth of God’s Holy Word,

The Word the apostles boldly proclaimed to those who had never heard.

It doesn’t take a miracle to validate God’s glorious Truth.

Its power will save the soul of an adult, child, or youth.

The Bible records the miracles and accounts of our Lord’s teaching.

We formulate our doctrine from its record of Biblical preaching.

How glad I am that Jesus died and that He rose from the dead

Declaring to all He is Lord and King, the future Kingdom head.

It won’t be long now til Jesus comes; He is our blessed hope,

To rule eternally as God’s Son far beyond earth’s present scope.

Those who love Him and trust His grace will live forever in peace;

The power and glory of His reign shall never, ever cease.

God is calling for all to hear the message He sends today.

Sin has severed man from God, made His days dark and gray.

God, not willing for man to be lost, sent Jesus to die in our place.

Forgiveness and eternal life flow from His saving grace.

Won’t you trust His grace today? Won’t you yield your life?

Won’t you turn from sin’s highway, walk away from sin and strife?

Call upon Jesus to save your soul, ask Him to guide you each day.

You’ll find purpose in this life and joy on Judgment Day.

© Copyright 2016 George M. Cuff, All Rights Reserved