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The Spirit told Philip, "Go to that chariot [carrying an Ethiopian official] and stay near it." —Acts 8:29 NIV Key Thought As in a previous Key Thought section, we are reminded again that reaching the ends of the earth with the good news of Jesus is the Holy Spirit's work. Throughout the book...

Hast thou not known? hast thou not heard, that the everlasting God, the LORD, the Creator of the ends of the earth, fainteth not, neither is weary? there is no searching of his understanding. He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might he increaseth strength. —Isaiah 40:28-29...

When Simon saw that the Spirit was given at the laying on of the apostles' hands, he offered them money and said, "Give me also this ability so that everyone on whom I lay my hands may receive the Holy Spirit." Peter answered: "May your money perish with you, because you thought you could buy...

Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and shew thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not. —Jeremiah 33:3 (KJV) Thoughts on Today's Verse... This was originally spoken to Jeremiah about the fate of Jerusalem. However, this promise is true in special ways for us as well. God wants us...

What would you take if our house were burning down, and, if everyone were already out of the house? He paused with his hands hovering above the dishwater, water dripping from his almost man hands. "What would you take if our house were burning down, and," he added quickly, "if everyone...

When the apostles in Jerusalem received the report that Samaria had accepted God's Message, they sent Peter and John down to pray for them to receive the Holy Spirit. Up to this point they had only been baptized in the name of the Master Jesus; the Holy Spirit hadn't yet fallen on them. Then the...

And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart. —Jeremiah 29:13 (KJV) Thoughts on Today's Verse... God wants us to seek him. In fact, he made us to seek him! Unfortunately, however, we often seek God along with the other things that draw our eye for a...

[Just before Stephen was stoned:] 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. —Acts 7:55 NLT Key Thought Stephen had been chosen to serve widows because he was full of the...

And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God: and the prisoners heard them. —Acts 16:25 (KJV) Thoughts on Today's Verse... Falsely imprisoned, Paul and Silas had been beaten "with many blows," placed in prison, and locked down in stocks. Under such horrible circumstances...

Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy, To the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen. —Jude 24-25 (KJV) Thoughts on Today's Verse... Two things...

[Stephen, in his defense before the Sanhedrin:] "You stubborn people! You are heathens at heart and deaf to the truth. Must you forever resist the Holy Spirit? That's what your ancestors did, and so do you!" —Acts 7:51 NLT Key Thought Stephen was empowered by the Holy Spirit and spoke with...

None of [the people arguing with Stephen] could stand against the wisdom and the Spirit with which Stephen spoke. —Acts 6:10 NLT Key Thought Stephen had been selected as one of the seven special servants of the church in Jerusalem to help make sure the widows were given the proper care. He...

For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them. —Ephesians 2:10 (KJV) Thoughts on Today's Verse... We are not just saved by grace from death, we are saved by grace for God's glory. He has remade us. We are his...

[The apostles to the church in Jerusalem concerning ministering to the widows:] "Therefore, brothers, pick out from among you seven men of good repute, full of the Spirit and of wisdom, whom we will appoint to this duty." ... And what they said pleased the whole gathering, and they chose...

Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you. —1 Peter 5:7 (KJV) Thoughts on Today's Verse... So often our worries are so heavy because we refuse to put them down. Let's cast our burdens on the Lord. Let's consciously put our future in his hands. Let's trust our worrisome fears to...

[Peter and the apostles before the Sanhedrin:] "The God of our ancestors raised Jesus from the dead after you killed him by hanging him on a cross. Then God put him in the place of honor at his right hand as Prince and Savior. He did this so the people of Israel would repent of their sins and be...

Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time: Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you. —1 Peter 5:6-7 (KJV) Thoughts on Today's Verse... You've probably had a similar experience to this one. Someone asks you how you're doing. At...

And Peter said [to Sapphira, concerning Ananias and her], "How could the two of you even think of conspiring to test the Spirit of the Lord like this? The young men who buried your husband are just outside the door, and they will carry you out, too." —Acts 5:9 NLT Key Thought There is no...

For I know that this shall turn to my salvation through your prayer, and the supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ... —Philippians 1:19 (KJV) Thoughts on Today's Verse... Paul is possibly facing death. Yet he knows that his life, his future, is securely in the Lord's hands. The Holy Spirit...

Peter said, "Ananias, how did Satan get you to lie to the Holy Spirit and secretly keep back part of the price of the field?" —Acts 5:3 MESSAGE Key Thought This verse comes from the story of Ananias and Sapphira (Acts 5:1-11). They sold their land and gave some of the proceeds to the apostles...