Kailua Nazarene Voice Karelin James

We continue from John's first letter where He speaks to us about God's love! John says: "God is love" and then in chapter 4, he gives us a definition of that love. What an incredible love this is. God's love is way more than just a feel-good emotion. It is an unconditional commitment to act on behalf of another in a manner that is unselfish and sacrificial.

Previously, we looked at Jesus’ words that He had spoken to His disciples just prior to His ascension and return to His Heavenly Father. The resurrected Jesus said in Acts 1:8, “When the Holy Spirit comes upon you shall be my witnesses in all Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria and to the ends of the earth.”

The emphasis in Jesus’ saying is that we will BE witnesses! It is what we ARE rather than what we DO as we let the Holy Spirit fill us! As we surrender to His lordship and let Him live through us, we become what He created us to be!

Here is an example of this BEING relationship as we see it being carried out in the lives of those how have been filled with the Holy Spirit. This example is found in chapters 3 and 4 of Acts.

Peter and John were going up to the temple to pray as was their normal practice while in Jerusalem and on their way a beggar confronted them...