Don't be drunk with wine, because that will ruin your life. Instead, be filled with the Holy Spirit. —Ephesians 5:18

After being told to no longer speak in the name of Jesus, Peter and John were released. And so what did they do? They prayed for more boldness to preach the gospel. They said, "And now, O Lord, hear their threats, and give us, your servants, great boldness in preaching your word. Stretch out your hand with healing power; may miraculous signs and wonders be done through the name of your holy servant Jesus" (Acts 4:29-30 ).

Then the Bible tells us that after they had prayed, "the meeting place shook, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit. Then they preached the word of God with boldness" (verse 31).

The Holy Spirit was poured out on the Day of Pentecost, but the apostles were given a refill. (And God does give refills.) Now we don't need another Pentecost, but we do need to continually appropriate what has been made available for us at Pentecost.

For instance, when you are in a restaurant, you may order iced tea, and after a while, the server will come and offer you a refill. So you get a refill. In the same way, God wants to refill you with His Holy Spirit.

There is nothing wrong with asking God for a refill. There is nothing wrong with praying, "Lord, fill me with the Spirit." In fact, there is something right about praying this, because we are told in Ephesians 5:18 to be filled with the Spirit: "Don't be drunk with wine, because that will ruin your life. Instead, be filled with the Holy Spirit." In the original language, that could be translated, "Be constantly filled with the Spirit again and again and again."

God will empower us with the Holy Spirit and fill us again and again and again.

Pastor Greg Laurie

For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren. —Romans 8:29

When people spend a lot of time together, they start becoming like each other. If you are around a certain person a lot and he or she has a certain kind of laugh, you might find that, all of a sudden, you have that laugh too. You just sort of picked it up.

My wife sometimes will finish a sentence before I finish it. And almost all of the time, she remembers my stories better than I remember them. The funny thing is that she wasn't there when some of them happened, but she heard me tell the story. I might be relating a certain event, and she will say, "Oh no, Greg. You left out this, this, and this."

I will say, "Were you there?"

"No," she says, "but you told me once, and I remember." And then I will realize that I actually did leave out some of the details she remembered.

The more you follow Jesus, the more you will become like Him. In the book of Acts, we read that the religious leaders, when they saw Peter and John's boldness, realized "they had been with Jesus" (Acts 4:13 ). It overflowed from their lives. We are to imitate Christ, but we become like Him through impartation—Christ living in us and through us.

The apostle Paul wrote, "I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me" (Galatians 2:20 ).

In the first century, the word "Christian" was a term of derision that meant "of the party of Christ." Does this describe you? Are you His follower? That is God's plan: to make us like Christ.

Pastor Greg Laurie

Don't worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. If you do this, you will experience God's peace, which is far more wonderful than the human mind can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus. —Philippians 4:6-7

One of the first things I remember about the day I put my faith in Christ was the sense of peace filling my heart. It was as though someone had lifted a heavy burden from me.

It wasn't until later, when I read the Bible, that I learned about God's promise of peace to every believer. He has given it to us as a gift.

This peace, however, doesn't come from what or who we are, but from what God has done—how He has justified us in response to our faith. A wonderful byproduct of this reality is a deep inner peace that floods our soul.

You can't just live as you please

But we can't have this beautiful effect without the beginning cause. If we are fighting with God—resisting His plan and purpose for our lives—then we won't experience this supernatural peace.

I think many people would like to have the desirable results and benefits of the Christian life without having to pay the price. In other words, they would like to know that they are forgiven and going to heaven when they die, but they still want to live as they please. They don't want to put their complete faith and trust in Jesus.

That sort of attitude just won't fly. We can't have the pleasing, life-transforming privileges of God's peace without first meeting God's requirements. Scripture tells us through Jesus Christ, "God reconciled everything to himself. He made peace with everything in heaven and on earth by means of Christ's blood on the cross" (Colossians 1:20 NLT).

The only way

The only way we will experience the peace of God that passes all human understanding is through the blood of the cross, the blood that Jesus shed.

You cannot have the peace of God until you first have peace with God.

Pastor Greg Laurie

The members of the council were amazed when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, for they could see that they were ordinary men with no special training in the Scriptures. They also recognized them as men who had been with Jesus. —Acts 4:13

In the book of Acts, we find some amazing stories of genuine, obedient followers of Jesus Christ, real, live Christians. These were people who knew what it was to walk and talk with Jesus—people who, before they even spoke a single word, had that certain something about them, people who, because of their godly lifestyles, had in effect earned the right to preach the gospel because there was evidence in their lives. And it was said of them that they had been with Jesus.

Now that was not meant as a compliment, by the way. The statement wasn't even made by Christians. It was made by the authorities who had observed these Christ-followers.

This reminds us that God can use ordinary people. I bring this up because I think sometimes we put the apostles on pedestals. We see them as one-dimensional characters. Yet the events of Acts took place over a 30-year period of time, so not every day had miracles. Not every day had visions. Not every day had supernatural phenomenon. The first-century believers just went about their business from day to day.

Every day as Christians, we are out and about, doing our thing. Are people able to tell that we have been with Jesus? Is there evidence to confirm it? Or, as has it been said, if you were arrested for being a Christian, would there be enough evidence to convict you? It doesn't matter how many Bibles you own or how may Christian bumper stickers you have on your car. The evidence I am talking about are results in your life—a change of character.

This is what we see in the lives of the first-century Christians. They walked with God, and it showed in the way they lived.

Pastor Greg Laurie

I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory about to be revealed to us. - Romans 8:18 (NRSV)

My great grandpa’s wrinkles deepen when he chuckles. His blue eyes reflect a schoolboy’s mischievous sense of humor. Nearly 100 years of living, through personal tragedies and historic disasters, has shaped my great-grandpa’s perspective.

He listens to my frustrations with an occasional nod. Great-grandpa’s response reflects gentleness that often comes with age. “Well . . .” signals his turn to talk. He pauses to complete his thought before putting it to words. My worries for the day will be fleeting thoughts, he assures me. He’s not minimizing my concerns; he just has a different perspective. His wisdom and peace of mind come from having always found God faithful.

Our Creator’s perspective goes back much farther than Great-grandpa’s. It didn’t start in 1913; God’s perspective has always existed; it’s eternal. God doesn’t minimize our struggles but sees them in light of eternity. God doesn’t minimize our pain but sees it in light of eternal glory. When we cannot understand why God isn’t working as we ask, scripture encourages us to trust.

Jodi Schumm

Thought for the Day: When we trust God’s perspective we can experience God’s peace.

Prayer: Thank you, Father, that you are not limited to the human perspective on time. Remind us of your wisdom and love, and deepen our trust in you. Amen.

But when they did not find them, they dragged Jason and some brethren to the rulers of the city, crying out, "These who have turned the world upside down have come here too." —Acts 17:6

What is a Christian? A Christian is someone who has put his or her faith in Jesus Christ, and Christ alone, as Savior and Lord and God. And according to the apostle Paul, a Christian is someone who has turned from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God (see Acts 26:18 ).

I think that because we have a lot of anemic, shallow preaching today, we also have a generation of people who think they are Christians but really are not. These are people who have been told to believe, but they never have been told to repent. They have been promised heaven, but they never have been warned of hell. They have been told that God wants them to be happy, but they never have heard that God wants them to be holy. I wonder whether a lot of these people even know what the genuine gospel message is. I read recently that 7 in 10 American adults have no clue what John 3:16 means. And barely one-third of all adults know the meaning of the term, "the gospel."

It is not for me to decide who is a Christian and who is not. That is ultimately up to God. But what we don't need more of today are sort-of Christians. What we need are no-doubt Christians—people about whom you could say, "There is no doubt in my mind that person is a follower of Jesus Christ." The fact is, what is considered as Christianity by many today would not even qualify as such in the first century.

That is where you come in. God wants you to share the gospel and make disciples in your own sphere of influence. This is what the early church did, and the world was a different place because of it.

Pastor Greg Laurie

And I searched for a man among them who should build up the wall and stand in the gap before Me for the land, that I should not destroy it; but I found no one.   Ezekiel 22:30

Do you remember the long-running commercial from the U.S. Forest Service?  The tag line was, "Only you can prevent forest fires."  When I first heard that, I remember saying to myself, "What a joke.  What can I possibly do to prevent forest fires?"  Well, the truth of the matter is this: I can do a lot ... and so can you.

What is true in the natural realm concerning forest fires is also true in the spiritual realm concerning revival fires.  You and I may be weak, frail, and anonymous, but we can make a difference, a big difference in our nation for Christ and His Kingdom.  We can be the difference makers in our land with regard to God's mercy or God's wrath.   

GOD IS LOOKING FOR YOU

In Ezekiel 22 , the Lord recounts the great sins of his people.  They were guilty of murder, idolatry, robbery, greed, gross and rampant sexual immorality, lies, extortion, oppression, selfishness to the nth degree, and abuse of the poor and needy.  To make matters worse, the priests and prophets were corrupt, preaching and teaching lies for personal gain.  God was filled with wrath over the blatant, arrogant, presumptuous sins of His people.  Judgment was coming ... and it wasn't going to be pretty. 

Yet in the midst of all the sin, our merciful and compassionate God said, "And I searched for a man among them who should build up the wall and stand in the gap before Me for the land, that I should not destroy it; but I found no one (Ezekiel 22:30 ).  Did you catch that?  He searched for A MAN.  He didn't require a group of men or a congregation of people.  He searched for ONE PERSON who would stand in the gap and pray.  One single person standing in repentance, humility, and honest intercession could have stemmed the tide of judgment for the nation of Judah.  But sadly, God found NO ONE ... and severe judgment fell.       

Only you can prevent forest fires ... and only you can prevent judgment from falling on this nation of ours.  Our national sins are just as bad if not worse than Judah's.  And God is looking today for one single person who will really get serious before Him and stand in the gap for the land.  Will you be that one? 

DWIGHT L. MOODY

There is a very famous quote concerning 19th century evangelist Dwight L. Moody.  Moody was a poorly-educated young shoe clerk when he was led to Christ.  Soon after his conversion, he was at a prayer meeting where Evangelist Henry Varley said, "The world has yet to see what God can do with and for and through and in a man fully consecrated to Him."  And Moody bowed his head and said in response, "By the grace of God, I WILL BE THAT MAN!"

And God used D. L. Moody to shake the world for Christ.  He was the Billy Graham of his day.

God wants to use you, my friend.  He wants you to stand in the gap for Him.  He wants to empower you to be a force for the Kingdom of heaven.  "For the eyes of the Lord move to and fro throughout the earth that He may strongly support those whose heart is completely His" (2 Chronicles 16:9 ). 

God is looking.  Will you stand up today and say to God, "Lord, here I am.  I am only one and seem very insignificant ... but by Your grace, I choose to be completely Yours and let You use me to make a BIG difference for the Kingdom and stand in the gap for the land."

Pastor Jeff Schreve

So continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they ate their food with gladness and simplicity of heart, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved. —Acts 2:46-47

Just as something wonderful happens when God's people get together and study His Word, something extraordinary happens when God's people get together and sing His praises. Jesus said, "For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them." Now this verse is not saying that God only shows up when people worship, because God is omnipresent. But He manifests His presence in a special way when His people lift up His name in praise and worship.

The early church was a worshipping church. Acts 2:46-47 tells us, "They ate their food with gladness and simplicity of heart, praising God and having favor with all the people." The phrase "gladness and simplicity of heart" literally means "with unaffected joy." There was joy in the early church. There was vibrancy. But there also was reverence. A few verses earlier, we read that fear came upon every soul, and wonders and signs were done through the apostles (verse 43). There should be joy and reverence. Those are elements that should be in our worship. The Spirit-filled church will be a worshipping church, and the Spirit filled Christian will be a worshipping Christian.

Someone might say, "Well, I just don't always feel like worshipping." Do you think the first-century believers always felt like praising God? They were harassed. They were beaten. They were mocked. These Christians faced persecution on a massive scale, but they were thankful to God.

The Bible doesn't say, "Give thanks to the Lord when you feel good." Rather, it says, "Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good!" (1 Chronicles 16:34 ). That is how Job was able to worship God after calamity came knocking at his door (see Job 1:20 ).

Sometimes worship can be a sacrifice. But we should still worship.

Pastor Greg Laurie

When you become a Christian, one of the more notable changes is that you will give up many of the things you once did. Of course, this depends on your lifestyle prior to your conversion. But for many of us, a dramatic change will take place.

I have heard people share their stories of how they came to Christ and the great sacrifices they made to follow Him, saying things like, "I had a great life. . .I went to parties. . .I had so much fun. . .But I gave it all up for Jesus Christ, hallelujah! I left it all for the glory of God!"

What did we really give up?

When I hear statements like that, I feel like asking, "What in the world are you talking about? You gave it all up? What did you give up?" If they were to look at those things honestly and realistically, they would come to the same conclusion that Paul did. He said, "But what things were gain to me, these I have counted loss for Christ. Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord. . ." (Philippians 3:7-8 ).

Is it slowing me down?

Paul was saying that the stuff that used to be so important, the stuff he once valued so highly, meant nothing to him now in comparison with the awesome privilege and value of belonging to Jesus.

We might do well to bring certain activities or habits in our lives under the same scrutiny. It's a good idea to periodically ask ourselves, "Is this thing that I am doing slowing me down or speeding me along in my walk with God? Is it building me up spiritually or is it tearing me down?"

The conclusion has to be the same: If anything is keeping you from an intimate, open-hearted relationship with God through Jesus Christ, whatever that thing may be, you must count it as a loss.

Pastor Greg Laurie

I will restore to you the years that the swarming locust has eaten. —Joel 2:25

The beauty of the black lacy design against the pastel purple and orange background grabbed my attention. The intricacy of the fragile pattern led me to assume that it had been created by a skilled artist. As I looked more closely at the photo, however, I saw the artist admiring his work from a corner of the photo. The “artist” was a worm, and its work of art was a partially eaten leaf.

What made the image beautiful was not the destruction of the leaf but the light glowing through the holes. As I gazed at the photo, I began thinking about lives that have been eaten by the “worms” of sin. The effects are ravaging. Sin eats away at us as we suffer the consequences of our own bad choices or those of others. We are all its victims.

But the photo also reminded me of the hope we have in God. Through the prophet Joel, God said to Israel, “I will restore to you the years that the swarming locust has eaten” (Joel 2:25 ). And from Isaiah we learn that the Lord appointed him to “console those who mourn in Zion, to give them beauty for ashes” (Isa. 61:3 ).

Satan does everything he can to make us ugly, but the Light of the World can make us beautiful—despite Satan’s best efforts.

Julie Ackerman Link

Sin ravages a fruitful life
When it is not addressed;
But God restores and makes us right
Once sin has been confessed. —Sper

God doesn’t remove all of our imperfections, but He makes us beautiful by shining through them.