“God raised Jesus from the dead, and we are all witnesses of this.”
Observation
Peter addresses the crowd on the Day of Pentecost, after the Holy Spirit has been poured out on all the disciples.
Jesus’ miracles were a sign that God was leading Him. Sinful people, both Jews and Gentiles, had Him crucified. But God raised Him back to life, for death could not keep hold of Him.
David had written about this in the Psalms- not about himself but prophetically about Jesus.
Now God has raised Jesus from the dead and Peter and all the followers of Jesus are witnesses of this.
Application
The resurrection of Jesus Christ is one of the cornerstone facts of the faith. Jesus’ death and resurrection were part of God’s plan for dealing with sin and allowing us to be reconciled to Him.
God raised Christ from the dead, and in doing this proved He is stronger than death.
The victory is won, and all we have to do to share in it is to receive the free gift of Jesus Christ,
Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth, for you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.
Observation
If we have been raised with Christ, we should set our minds on the things that are with Christ, the things above, rather than the things on earth.
Therefore we must put to death everything that is earthly- the desires and drives of the sinful flesh.
We have been rescued from the coming judgement, so we must rid ourselves of everything deserving judgement.
Application
Following Jesus is not a matter of taking on an ideology or a world-view. Faith must result in action.
Paul tells us we have been united with Christ in His death and resurrection. Therefore our lives should be changed.
We must die to our old nature and rise to the new nature. We must rid ourselves of all the bad stuff in order to allow the nature of Christ to dwell in us.
This is not an instant thing, nor is it a form of legalism. It is a process empowered by the Holy Spirit. What we cannot do for ourselves, the Spirit of God does in us.
Prayer
Thank you Lord that you are changing me daily to be make me more like Christ. Please help me to put off the old nature and to take on the character of Christ. Amen.
Then Peter replied, “I see very clearly that God shows no favouritism. In every nation he accepts those who fear him and do what is right.”
Observation
Following a vision from God and the arrival of visitors who were there to ask him to come to share at the house of Cornelius, Peter travels from Joppa to Caesarea.
The vision had shown Peter that God was bringing Gentiles into the kingdom and the old rules about ceremonial cleanness had passed away. It became easier for him to enter into the house of a Roman officer.
Peter shares with the entire household the Good News about Jesus’ death and resurrection bringing salvation to all people. While he is still speaking, the Holy Spirit falls on all who are present shown by them speaking in tongues and praising God.
Peter then arranges to have them baptised in water as they are already baptised in the Holy Spirit.
Application
God’s kingdom is open to everybody who puts their trust in Jesus- Jews and Gentiels, men and women, old and young, educated or not.
This comes home in a very graphic way in that everyone in Cornelius’ household was baptised in the Holy Spirit, even before there is an altar call.
Salvation is for everyone who will receive it, as is the gift of the Holy Spirit.
Prayer
Father I pray for those who do not know you yet. Fall upon them with your power, show them their need for salvation and let them enter into your kingdom. Amen.
The crowd replied, “It is Jesus, the prophet from Nazareth in Galilee.”
Observation
Jesus and His disciples come to the town of Bethphage on the Mount of Olives. Jesus sends two of his disciples into the village to collect a donkey and its colt.
The disciples bring the donkey and colt to Jesus who then proceeds to Jerusalem riding on the colt.
A crowd gathers, spreading their garments and palm branches on the road ahead of Jesus. They start shouting praises to Jesus, and the whole city is in uproar.
Application
Jesus made a political and prophetic statement here. The prophetic statement is that He is the long-awaited Messiah. The political statement is that there is a new King and a new Kingdom in the land.
Both statements scared the ruling powers- both human and spiritual.
As a follower of Jesus, constantly pointing others to Him and standing up for righteousness and mercy, I should also scare the ruling powers.
When christians get active, lives and communities are changed. Satan doesn’t like that. The human purveyors of sin and addiction don’t like that.
How will I scare the powers today?
Prayer
To truly follow you Lord means to confront the powers of darkness. Please help me to do that in your way today. Amen.
A rising number of Australian teenagers are choosing not to drink alcohol, new research shows.
The findings of a survey of more than 2,500 young people published today in the medical journal Addiction shows half of Australian teens do not drink.
Between 2001 and 2010 the number of teens aged 14 to 17 abstaining from alcohol rose from 33 per cent to more than 50 per cent, the research shows.
The study looked at 1,477 teens in 2001 and 1,075 teens in 2010.
Study author Dr Michael Livingston from the National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre says the trend away from drinking alcohol is widespread and it also reflects similar studies both in Australia and overseas.
“It’s really happening across the whole youth culture,” he said.
“It’s happening for boys and girls, young teenagers and old teenagers, in rich and poor households, for English speaking and non-English speaking groups.”
Teenagers drinking less but not turning to drugs
The study also shows teens have not abandoned alcohol in favour of illegal drugs or smoking.
“In this same group we’ve seen a reduction in drug use. Quite a dramatic one over the same period,” Dr Livingston said.
There’s also a sense that the current generation is very focused on health and well-being and this is one step they’re taking to try and stay fitter and healthier.
Dr Michael Livingston
“These kids are drinking less; they’re not taking drugs.”
Researchers have theories about why young people are making different choices at a time when alcohol is cheaper and more heavily promoted than ever.
“We know from other survey data the general public is getting more concerned about alcohol as a problem and so we’re thinking possibly that’s reflected in parenting practices, also in teenagers’ beliefs,” Dr Livingston said.
“There’s also a sense that the current generation is very focused on health and well-being and this is one step they’re taking to try and stay fitter and healthier.
“There’s some research from Sweden that just engaging in [online] activities, social networking and gaming, is associated with less drinking.”
Good news for Life Education
The study’s findings have been welcomed by Life Education, which teaches Australian primary school students about healthy habits.
National program development manager Robyn Richardson says the research helps bust myths among young people about drinking.
“Children in primary school are telling us that they know that when they go to high school there’s going to be pressures to drink and that most people in high school are drinking and we’re actually readjusting their thinking about that,” she said.
“This report is confirming that normalisation, that there’s safe and healthy choices around drinking and it’s an OK choice not to drink and it’s an OK choice for your friends not to drink.
“The reality is most young people are making great choices about their health and safety.”
New Life Narrabri 