Jerome Otchere

Feed on the Word of God daily. Be deliberate about that. Pray for the grace to live it. The strength to overcome rests firmly in the assuring Word of God. Tap into it every day by reading it.

Love is the greatest gift, 1 Corinthians 13:1-3.

“…There is only one God, the Father, who created everything, and we live for him. And there is only one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom God made everything and through whom we have been given life.”

— 1 Corinthians 8:6

He is Lord all the time.

Use your freedom to serve one another in love. For the whole law can be summed up in this one command: "Love your neighbor as yourself." — Galatians 5:13-14.

The message of the Lord Jesus Christ is for all, without exception, discrimination against anyone or selectiveness. Preach to all people, God revealed to Peter in a vision. His vision conformed with what Cornelius had also seen in his vision (read Acts 10:1-48). Jesus is Lord!

Believers’ faith is strengthened, others’ faith could be born when they see and hear the miraculous works of the Lord Jesus Christ. Stop dabbling in dubious signs and wonders.

News of miracles such as the healing of the paralysed Aeneas and the raising of Dorcas from the dead spread like fire (read Acts 9:32-43). Many turned to Jesus and His saving grace as they saw the genuineness of the Holy Spirit’s presence and power in Peter and others.

No one encounters the Holy Spirit and returns the same. You cannot meet Jesus and be as you were. Not the woman at the well (John 4:5-30), not the lady who bled for 12 years (Mark 5:25-34), not Saul (Acts 9:1-22), and certainly not you or me. Yield to Jesus now.

God is wonderful!

Saul chased believers out of the synagogues. He arrested and persecuted them. Upon his conversion, now Paul, he went back to the synagogues to preach Jesus, that indeed He is the Son of God! The people were amazed (read Acts 9:20-22).

Simon’s response to Peter’s rebuke is telling: "Pray to the Lord for me," Simon exclaimed, "that these terrible things you've said won't happen to me!" - Acts 8:24.

God’s gift is not for sale.

It cannot be bought. The Holy Spirit or His power cannot be auctioned. Peter rebuked Simon (the sorcerer) for his attempt to pay for the power of the Holy Spirit (read Acts 8:18-25). His heart was not right. With what motive are you in church?

As long as we resolve to follow Christ, live for Him, which is most important, and teach others His word, we are going to be persecuted in various ways. Prepare yourself for that.

He set us free from our sins by His Blood (Revelation 1:5) and His Blood still saves.

If they knew the power behind our faith, they would rest, they would take a bow but they are stubborn and evil. We shall not rest either in the pursuance of our God and the strength He gives to preach the goodness of His message through the Holy Spirit and the Son, Jesus Christ.

“But Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit, gazed steadily into heaven and saw the glory of God, and he saw Jesus standing in the place of honor at God's right hand. And he told them, "Look, I see the heavens opened and the Son of Man standing in the place of honor at God's right hand!"

— Acts 7:55-56

People who cannot stand the truth of God’s word, what you have been called to faithfully preach and live would tend to lie about you. Watch it. It has been the devil’s strategy from the olden days. They did that to Stephen (read Acts 6:11).

Stephen, a man full of God's grace and power, performed amazing miracles and signs among the people. None of the [men] could stand against the wisdom and the Spirit with which Stephen spoke.

— Acts 6:8, 10

Keep the Word of God, and the Word of God will keep you.

Join us later this evening.

As the Holy Spirit empowers you, preach the Word of God fearlessly and with all candour. Live what you preach. Be a good example for others. As Peter and the apostles said, "We must obey God rather than any human authority” (read Acts 5:29)

Dishonesty does not pay.

Its consequences can be grave. It affects everyone in the long run. Do not take your dubious, fraudulent lifestyle to God (read Acts 5:1-11). God sees and knows our hearts and all we do. Be truthful and sincere with yourself and before the Lord.

Share with others.

“All the believers were united in heart and mind. And they felt that what they owned was not their own, so they shared everything they had. The apostles testified powerfully to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and God's great blessing was upon them all”.

—Acts 4:32-33

Note this.

"For Jesus is the one referred to in the Scriptures, where it says, 'The stone that you builders rejected has now become the cornerstone.' There is salvation in no one else! God has given no other name under heaven by which we must be saved."

— Acts 4:11-12

Repent, turn to Jesus.

There are still people today who get so uncomfortable, even hurt and worried when the name Jesus Christ is mentioned anywhere, when His message of salvation is preached by the Holy Spirit’s power.

You killed the author of life, but God raised him from the dead. And we are witnesses of this fact! "Through faith in the name of Jesus, this man was healed — and you know how crippled he was before. Faith in Jesus' name has healed him before your very eyes.

— Acts 3:15-16

You can’t fight God so stop it.

It’s such a futile attempt, so pointless, for anyone to think they can stop the Holy Spirit’s work or indeed, fight God! My lesson from the growth of the early church in Acts 3 to 5.

Thank Jesus! Come, let’s follow Him.

“All the believers devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching, and to fellowship, and to sharing in meals (including the Lord's Supper), and to prayer.”

— Acts 2:42

"God raised Jesus from the dead, and we are all witnesses of this. Now he is exalted to the place of highest honor in heaven, at God's right hand. And the Father, as he had promised, gave him the Holy Spirit to pour out upon us, just as you see and hear today.

— Acts 2:33