Author: missionspaul

Acts 2:34

For David did not ascend to heaven, and yet he said, ” ‘The Lord said to my Lord:”Sit at my right hand…

Staying in Psalm 110 Peter shows how David was prophesying of the coming of Christ. Let me write it like this: David writes, “God said to my Christ, “Sit at my right hand …”

God said to David’s Lord (Jesus)

The position of Christ indicates His authority and His power.
The Bible refers to the right hand as a place of refuge and protection. A place where blessing is declared. A place of intercession. Where authority over all powers is established.
And where is Jesus, at the right hand.

Because Jesus is at God’s right hand then there is nothing you are facing today that He cannot help you through.
Call upon God’s right hand today to move in your life.

Acts 2:33

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.

The Spirit was poured out after and because Jesus was exalted.
The Spirit waits for Jesus to be glorified, lifted high, honoured and worshipped.
His presence will come as Jesus is praised.
The Spirit can be seen and heard. There are no hidden outpourings.

Lift Jesus high today and let the volume increase.

Acts 2:32

“God has raised this Jesus to life, and we are all witnesses of the fact.”

This is the central truth for the church then and now.
Witnesses to an alive Jesus.
“We know.
We have seen Him.”

And today?
The world doesn’t want to hear of a way of life based upon a dead leader. It has many of these already.
People today need to know that you follow someone who is real and is actively alive today. They need a witness to that. A witness who is having a current relationship rather than with a book of rules.
A dynamic life not a dead religious belief.
It’s not enough to believe and declare Jesus is alive, people need to see the effect of that on your life.
Can they see Jesus alive in you?
Yes is the answer and today you are going to reveal that to many.

Acts 2:31
“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”.

David could see the resurrection of Christ happening and spoke of it.

Lets look ahead, beyond our circumstances and even our life-span.
Look ahead and see Christ.
See past your illness, challenge and difficulty and you will see Christ.
He is there ahead of you, resurrected, alive, overcoming.

If all you are seeing is negative then you are not looking ahead far enough. Look further you will see Him. You will see your Christ, your Saviour and God.

Acts 2:30

“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.”

Peter is still building the case that Jesus is the Messiah. David knew he was a prophet. David knew the Messiah would be in his family line. David knew because he knew God had told him.

What do you know today?
Do you know who you are? Do you know you also are God’s spokesperson? That today your words are from Him. He is speaking through you.

What do you know today?
Do you know God’s promises to you? Are you holding on to these? Do they affect how you live your life?

What do you know today?
Have you hope for the future? Does your generational line contain the Messiah? They will indeed see Him.

Acts 2:29

“Brothers, I can tell you confidently that the patriarch David died and was buried, and his tomb is here to this day.”

Peter is answering any critic who might say that David wasn’t prophesying of Jesus not being abandoned in the grave, he was speaking of himself. Peter was saying he wasn’t because David’s tomb is here and it still is. He was speaking of Christ.
David’s tomb has evidence of death.
Jesus’ tomb has evidence of life!
As Peter spoke confidently so can we.
Jesus is alive!
When I visited the garden tomb in Jerusalem it was a memorable moment.
I was stirred by the thought that this is where he had walked and talked and been taken after the crucifixion.
But what gripped me was not that Jesus had been carried into the tomb but that Jesus had walked out of it!
David was taken in. Jesus walked out.
If I am surrendered to Him, if I have died to self, then I can walk out too.
Whatever comes my way, trouble, illness and even death itself, I know I will walk out as Jesus did and so will you.
Nothing will hold you back or finish you off. They can write whatever they want on your tombstone but you won’t be there, you will have walked out.
They can write you off because of illness and difficulties but you’re going to continue to walk through those valleys.
So join with me today, let’s keep walking.
Let people wonder where you are expecting you to be licking your wounds and dying in dignity. Let them be told that you’ve moved on, you walked out of there. Nothing will hold you back.

Acts 2:28

You have made known to me the paths of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence.

There are road journeys that are dishevelled and uneven that cause a slowing down.
There are roadblocks causing diversions which bring inevitable delays.
There are roads that are death-traps bringing fear along the journey.

Ever journeyed down such a road with someone only to discover the person and the journey weren’t who you thought they were and you experienced an unnecessary slowing down, delay and fear?
You are not called for such roads.
You are chosen for the paths of life where joy abounds!
He wants you thinking, speaking and acting in ways that produce life not death.
And the promise is of joy!
So next time you agree to go on a journey ask yourself can I trust that person? Can I trust that they will take me on paths of life?

Acts 2:27

… because you will not abandon me to the grave, nor will you let your Holy One see decay.

It seems very strange to write that on the morning of Tuesday 20th October in northern Uganda I along with 3 friends nearly died in a bad accident where our car rolled a few times. Battered and bruised we all walked out of it dazed but very thankful. As we were rolling I was sure I was going to die and in those moments I was thinking how I hadn’t banked on dying in this way before and that it was quite inconvenient! When I got out of the car I was thankful my surety was so wrong!
I am thankfully alive today!
But thankful also that even when the day comes and I am not here I will still be alive for I will not remain decaying in a grave!

For those facing death and those nursing death, the assurance of the resurrection of Jesus being our resurrection is all-comforting!

Amen!

Acts 2:26

Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices; my body also will live in hope,

ALSO!

Because He went through dark days yes I will walk through valleys.
Because He died yes I will die.
BUT
Because He rose …
I also …!

Whatever the state of my body I live in hope. A sure and certain hope that whatever happens I will live.
You see friends, it is all about resurrection.
The resurrection is everything.
In life and in death.
That is why today you can be happy and you can rejoice.
You will live!

Acts 2:25

David said about him:” ‘I saw the Lord always before me. Because he is at my right hand, I will not be shaken.

Again to reiterate the plan and purpose of God for Jesus coming, Peter quotes David from Psalm 16.

At the start of this prophecy we are comforted today:
1. The Lord is before me.

It means He is my confidence. I the helpless wait upon Him my helper. He is always present.

2. He is at my right hand.

It means the place of honour and of most importance. So the Lord my helper is always present and is the number 1 in my life.
3. I will not be shaken.

It means nothing that comes upon me will cause me to fall. I will stand firm. My confidence in Him.

What great truths are ours today in Jesus!