2020 for JESUS - Day 177: JESUS is GOD... THE LORD... JESUS OF NAZARETH... THIS MAN... HOPE... LIFE... JOY... THE RESURRECTION... THE MESSIAH... THIS JESUS... EXALTED TO THE RIGHT HAND OF GOD THE FATHER.... MY LORD... MESSIAH... LORD... OUR FORGIVENESS... SAVIOR...

So many names/descriptions of JESUS 

in today's post! 

This happened 50 days after JESUS' resurrection, 

on The Day of Pentecost. 

So many things to think and pray about.

Answers for ETERNAL LIFE are here, today!

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Acts 2:14-41

Peter Addresses the Crowd

14 "Then Peter stood up with the Eleven, raised his voice and addressed the crowd: 

'Fellow Jews and all of you who live in Jerusalem, 

let me explain this to you; 

listen carefully to what I say. 

15 These people are not drunk, as you suppose. 

It’s only nine in the morning! 

16 No, this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel: 

17  'In the last days, GOD says, 

"I will pour out MY SPIRIT on all people.

Your sons and daughters will prophesy,
    your young men will see visions,
    your old men will dream dreams.
18 Even on my servants, both men and women,
    I will pour out MY SPIRIT in those days,
    and they will prophesy.
19 I will show wonders in the heavens above
    and signs on the earth below,
    blood and fire and billows of smoke.
20 The sun will be turned to darkness
    and the moon to blood
    before the coming of the great and glorious day of  THE LORD.
21 And everyone who calls
    on the name of THE LORD. will be saved.’

22 'Fellow Israelites, listen to this: 

JESUS OF NAZARETH was a man accredited by GOD to you by miracles, wonders and signs, which GOD did among you through HIM, as you yourselves know. 

23 THIS MAN was handed over to you by GOD’s deliberate plan and foreknowledge; 

and you, with the help of wicked men, put HIM to death by nailing HIM to the cross. 

24 But GOD raised HIM from the dead, freeing HIM from the agony of death, because it was impossible for death to keep its hold on HIM. 

25 David said about HIM:

‘I saw THE LORD. always before me.

    Because HE is at my right hand,
    I will not be shaken.
26 Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices;
    my body also will rest in HOPE,
27 because YOU will not abandon me to the realm of the dead,
    YOU will not let your holy one see decay.
28 YOU have made known to me the paths of LIFE;
    YOU will fill me with JOY in YOUR presence.’

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

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. 

31 Seeing what was to come, he spoke of THE RESURRECTION of THE MESSIAH, that HE was not abandoned to the realm of the dead, nor did HIS body see decay. 

32 GOD has raised THIS JESUS to LIFE, and we are all witnesses of it. 

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. 

34 For David did not ascend to heaven, and yet he said,

'THE LORD said to MY LORD:

    'Sit at MY right hand
35 until I make YOUR enemies
    a footstool for YOUR feet.'

36 'Therefore let all Israel be assured of this: 

GOD has made THIS JESUS, WHOM you crucified, both LORD. and MESSIAH.'

37 When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, 

'Brothers, what shall we do?'

38 Peter replied, 

'Repent and be baptized, every one of you, 

in the name of JESUS CHRIST for the forgiveness of your sins. (OUR FORGIVENESS)

And you will receive the gift of THE HOLY SPIRIT. 

39 The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off—for all whom the LORD OUR GOD will call.”

40 With many other words he warned them; and he pleaded with them, 

'Save yourselves from this corrupt generation.' - (SAVIOR)

41 Those who accepted his message were baptized, 

and about three thousand were added to their number that day."

2020 for JESUS - Day 176: JESUS is GOD...

Acts 2:1-13

The Holy Spirit Comes at Pentecost

 "When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place.
2 Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting.
3 They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them.
4 All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.

5 Now there were staying in Jerusalem GOD-fearing Jews from every nation under heaven. 
6 When they heard this sound, a crowd came together in bewilderment, because each one heard their own language being spoken. 
7 Utterly amazed, they asked: 
'Aren’t all these who are speaking Galileans? 
8 Then how is it that each of us hears them in our native language? 
9 Parthians, Medes and Elamites; 
residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia,
 10 Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya near Cyrene; 
visitors from Rome 
11 (both Jews and converts to Judaism); Cretans and Arabs—we hear them declaring the wonders of GOD in our own tongues!'
12 Amazed and perplexed, they asked one another, 
'What does this mean?'

13 Some, however, made fun of them and said, 
'They have had too much wine.'

2020 for JESUS - Day 175: JESUS is THE LORD JESUS... LORD...

What do you do 

when the LORD is not physically with you?  

You pray... pray... pray...

Acts 1:12-26

Matthias Chosen to Replace Judas

12 "Then the apostles returned to Jerusalem from the hill called the Mount of Olives, a Sabbath day’s walk from the city. 

13 When they arrived, they went upstairs to the room where they were staying. Those present were Peter, John, James and Andrew; Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew; James son of Alphaeus and Simon the Zealot, and Judas son of James. 

14 They all joined together constantly in prayer, along with the women and Mary the mother of JESUS, and with his brothers.

15 In those days Peter stood up among the believers (a group numbering about a hundred and twenty) 

16 and said, 

'Brothers and sisters, the Scripture had to be fulfilled in which THE HOLY SPIRIT spoke long ago through David concerning Judas, who served as guide for those who arrested  JESUS. 

17 He was one of our number and shared in our ministry.”

18 (With the payment he received for his wickedness, Judas bought a field; there he fell headlong, his body burst open and all his intestines spilled out. 

19 Everyone in Jerusalem heard about this, so they called that field in their language Akeldama, that is, Field of Blood.)

20 'For,' said Peter, 

'it is written in the Book of Psalms:

'May his place be deserted;
let there be no one to dwell in it,’ and,

'May another take his place of leadership.’

21 Therefore it is necessary to choose one of the men who have been with us the whole time THE LORD JESUS was living among us, 

22 beginning from John’s baptism to the time when  JESUS was taken up from us. For one of these must become a witness with us of HIS resurrection.”

23 So they nominated two men: Joseph called Barsabbas (also known as Justus) and Matthias. 

24 Then they prayed, 

'LORD, you know everyone’s heart. Show us which of these two YOU have chosen 

25 to take over this apostolic ministry, which Judas left to go where he belongs.' 

26 Then they cast lots, and the lot fell to Matthias; so he was added to the eleven apostles."

2020 for JESUS - Day 174: JESUS is GOD... LORD...

Today, the day after Father's Day, 

my mind is focused on our loving HEAVENLY FATHER.  

We have just finished reading through the book of Luke 

and have now arrived in Acts, also written by Luke.  

Today, in our reading, 

JESUS returns to heaven to THE FATHER...

Acts 1:1-11

JESUS Taken Up Into Heaven

 In my former book, Theophilus, I wrote about all that JESUS began to do and to teach 

2 until the day HE was taken up to heaven, after giving instructions through THE HOLY SPIRIT to the apostles HE had chosen. 

3 After HIS suffering, HE presented HIMSELF to them and gave many convincing proofs that HE was alive. HE appeared to them over a period of forty days and spoke about the kingdom of GOD. 

4 On one occasion, while HE was eating with them, HE gave them this command: 

'Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift MY FATHER promised, which you have heard ME speak about. 

5 For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with THE HOLY SPIRIT.'

6 Then they gathered around HIM and asked HIM, 

'LORD, are YOU at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?'

7 HE said to them: 

'It is not for you to know the times or dates THE FATHER has set by HIS own authority. 

8 But you will receive power when THE HOLY SPIRIT comes on you; and you will be MY witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.'

9 After HE said this, HE was taken up before their very eyes, and a cloud hid HIM from their sight.

10 They were looking intently up into the sky as HE was going, when suddenly two men dressed in white stood beside them. 

11 'Men of Galilee,'

 they said, 

'why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same JESUS , who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen HIM go into heaven.;"

2020 for JESUS - Day 173: JESUS is THE LORD JESUS... THE LIVING ONE... HE HAS RISEN... THE SON OF MAN... JESUS HIMSELF... JESUS THE NAZARENE... A PROPHET MIGHTY IN DEED AND WORD... THE CHRIST... HIS GLORY... THE LORD...

Today is FATHER's Day 2020!

What an awesome scripture 

for us to have come to, on this day!

My plan was to go through the book of Luke between Mother's Day and Father's Day, not really thinking that we would be looking here at the resurrection, on a Sunday...

...as well as the FATHER's Promise!

Luke 24:1-53

The Resurrection

 "But on the first day of the week, at early dawn, they came to the tomb bringing the spices which they had prepared. 

2 And they found the stone rolled away from the tomb, 

3 but when they entered, they did not find the body of THE LORD JESUS. 

4 While they were perplexed about this, 

behold, two men suddenly stood near them in dazzling clothing; 

5 and as the women were terrified and bowed their faces to the ground, 

the men said to them, 

'Why do you seek THE LIVING ONE among the dead? 

6 HE is not here, but HE HAS RISEN. 

Remember how HE spoke to you while HE was still in Galilee, 

7 saying that THE SON OF MAN must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and the third day rise again.' 

8 And they remembered HIS words, 

9 and returned from the tomb and reported all these things to the eleven and to all the rest. 

10 Now they were Mary Magdalene and Joanna and Mary the mother of James; also the other women with them were telling these things to the apostles. 

11 But these words appeared to them as nonsense, and they would not believe them. 

12 But Peter got up and ran to the tomb; stooping and looking in, he saw the linen wrappings only; and he went away to his home, marveling at what had happened.

The Road to Emmaus

13 And behold, two of them were going that very day to a village named Emmaus, which was about seven miles from Jerusalem. 

14 And they were talking with each other about all these things which had taken place. 

15 While they were talking and discussing, 

JESUS HIMSELF approached and began traveling with them. 

16 But their eyes were prevented from recognizing HIM. 

17 And HE said to them, 

'What are these words that you are exchanging with one another as you are walking?' 

And they stood still, looking sad. 

18 One of them, named Cleopas, answered and said to HIM, 

'Are YOU the only one visiting Jerusalem and unaware of the things which have happened here in these days?' 

19 And HE said to them, 

'What things?' And they said to HIM, 

'The things about JESUS THE NAZARENE, WHO was A PROPHET MIGHTY IN DEED AND WORD in the sight of GOD and all the people, 

20 and how the chief priests and our rulers delivered HIM to the sentence of death, and crucified HIM. 

21 But we were hoping that it was HE WHO was going to redeem Israel. Indeed, besides all this, it is the third day since these things happened. 

22 But also some women among us amazed us. When they were at the tomb early in the morning, 

23 and did not find HIS body, they came, saying that they had also seen a vision of angels who said that HE was alive. 

24 Some of those who were with us went to the tomb and found it just exactly as the women also had said; but HIM they did not see.' 

25 And HE said to them, 

'O foolish men and slow of heart to believe in all that the prophets have spoken! 

26 Was it not necessary for THE CHRIST  to suffer these things and to enter into HIS GLORY?' 

27 Then beginning with Moses and with all the prophets, 

HE explained to them the things concerning HIMSELF in all the Scriptures.

28 And they approached the village where they were going, and HE acted as though HE were going farther. 

29 But they urged HIM, saying, 

'Stay with us, for it is getting toward evening, and the day is now nearly over.' 

So HE went in to stay with them. 

30 When HE had reclined at the table with them, HE took the bread and blessed it, and breaking it, HE began giving it to them. 

31 Then their eyes were opened and they recognized HIM; and HE vanished from their sight. 

32 They said to one another, 

'Were not our hearts burning within us while HE was speaking to us on the road, while HE was explaining the Scriptures to us?' 

33 And they got up that very hour and returned to Jerusalem, and found gathered together the eleven and those who were with them, 

34 saying, 

'THE LORD has really risen and has appeared to Simon.' 

35 They began to relate their experiences on the road and how HE was recognized by them in the breaking of the bread.

Other Appearances

36 While they were telling these things, HE HIMSELF stood in their midst and said to them, 

'Peace be to you.' 

37 But they were startled and frightened and thought that they were seeing a spirit. 

38 And HE said to them, 

'Why are you troubled, and why do doubts arise in your hearts? 

39 See MY hands and MY feet, that it is I MYSELF; 

touch ME and see, for a spirit does not have flesh and bones as you see that I have.'

 40 And when HE had said this, HE showed them HIS hands and HIS feet. 

41 While they still could not believe it because of their joy and amazement, 

HE said to them, 

'Have you anything here to eat?' 

42 They gave HIM a piece of a broiled fish; 

43 and HE took it and ate it before them.

44 Now HE said to them, 

'These are MY words which I spoke to you while I was still with you, that all things which are written about ME in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms must be fulfilled.' 

45 Then HE opened their minds to understand the Scriptures, 

46 and HE said to them, 

'Thus it is written, that THE CHRIST would suffer and rise again from the dead the third day, 

47 and that repentance for forgiveness of sins would be proclaimed in HIS name to all the nations, beginning from Jerusalem. 

48 You are witnesses of these things. 

49 And behold, I am sending forth the promise of MY FATHER upon you; but you are to stay in the city until you are clothed with power from on high.”

The Ascension

50 And HE led them out as far as Bethany, and HE lifted up HIS hands and blessed them. 

51 While HE was blessing them, HE parted from them and was carried up into heaven. 

52 And they, after worshiping HIM, returned to Jerusalem with great joy, 

53 and were continually in the temple praising GOD."