THAT WAS THEN. THIS IS NOW. BUT WHAT HAPPENED THEN CAN HAPPEN AGAIN.

When we read the book of Acts, we see a church marked by boldness, prayer, sacrifice, biblical conviction, community, mission, and an unwavering commitment to Jesus Christ.

https://patrickryanlewis.com/2026/08/23/that-was-then-this-is-now-but-it-can-happen-again/

The early church wasn't perfect. Scripture openly records its struggles, disagreements, and failures. But there was something unmistakable about those believers:

Christ had the preeminence.
 They feared God more than people.
 They prayed believing God could move.
 They were willing to sacrifice for the gospel.
 They lived with eternity in view.
 They confronted sin while extending grace.
 They cared deeply about reaching people with Jesus.

The question isn't whether we can somehow recreate the first century.
The question is whether we are willing to recover those same spiritual priorities in the twenty-first century.
Before pointing at everything wrong with the church today, we should ask:

Lord, what needs to change in me?

Am I more concerned with God's approval or people's approval?
Am I willing to stand for truth when it costs me something?
Is Jesus truly first in my life?
Do I pray expecting God to work?
Am I more passionate about the gospel than my preferences?
Do I live like eternity is real?

We don't simply need better programs, bigger churches, or newer strategies.

We need Christ-centered churches filled with surrendered people who believe the gospel is true, Jesus is alive, eternity is real, and the mission is worth our lives.

Maybe our prayer needs to become very simple:

Lord, do it again.

Read the full blog and consider what it would look like for the church—and for each of us individually—to recover the passion, courage, holiness, prayer, and mission we see in the book of Acts.

#ChurchRevival #BookOfActs #JesusChrist #ChristianLiving #BiblicalTruth #Faith #Prayer #Repentance #GreatCommission #Gospel #FollowJesus #ChristianChurch #SpiritualRenewal

A Life That Reveals God Has a Greater Impact Than Lips That Merely Speak About Him!

The Christian life is not merely about speaking about God; it is also about revealing through our lives that God lives within us.

It is not only important how beautifully we speak about the name of God. What truly matters is whether people can see God through our conduct, words, decisions, relationships, forgiveness, integrity, and love.

Jesus said:

> “Let your light shine before others, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.”
(Matthew 5:16)



Notice this the purpose of our good works is not for people to glorify us, but for them to glorify our Heavenly Father.

Our lives must become a living testimony.

If we speak about love, that love must be revealed in the way we forgive even those who hurt us.
If we speak about faith, it must be revealed by trusting God even when circumstances are against us.
If we speak about holiness, it must be revealed by living a holy life even when no one is watching.
If we speak about God's grace, it must be revealed by showing grace even to those who have wronged us.

Our lives should never contradict the message our lips proclaim.

Joseph did not spend his time in Egypt merely preaching about God. Yet through his integrity, purity, wisdom, and fear of God, those around him recognized that the hand of God was upon his life.

Daniel was the same. He did not simply say that he trusted God; even under pressure, he refused to compromise his prayer life. His life became the evidence of his faith.

The world often sees our lives before it listens to our preaching.

Therefore, every day we must ask ourselves:

When someone looks at my life, do they see me or do they see Christ living within me?

Glorifying God is not something we do only during Sunday worship. It must happen at home, at work, in our relationships, in solitude, in trials, and in times of success everywhere and at all times.

More powerful than what you say is the way you live; your life is the strongest testimony of your faith.

Let us proclaim God with our words and glorify Him through our lives.

Hepsi Sam

Yesterday I preached about God's covenant with David and how personal this was; He promised to make David's name great. This occurred just after David asked to build the temple for God, he wanted God to be central within Israel; then he was blessed. When we put God first in our lives, he gives us many promises also; like Be with you; Provide for your needs; Peace amid chaos; Everything will work for good; forgive your sins' strength in weakness, rest, and finally, to never leave you.
These promises are for believers and contain conditions. If you remain in me then I will remain in you. ie.
Do you know my Jesus?

Psalm 32:1-2 KJV
"Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered. [2] Blessed is the man unto whom the LORD imputeth not iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no guile."

Hallelujah!!

That is the believer's state of right standing with God.

By the grace of God, because of our faith in Jesus and his "finished" work at the cross, we are not only blessed with already having all of our sin debt washed away in the blood of Christ (our transgressions forgiven and sins covered), but also we enjoy a continued blessing going forward of God not counting our iniquities against us. We are forgiven, and we continue to be held in a state of sinlessness.

Such blessings are not due to our performance. They are due to God's mercy and grace.

2 Corinthians 5:18-19 KJV
"And all things are of God, who 𝗵𝗮𝘁𝗵 𝗿𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗰𝗶𝗹𝗲𝗱 us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation; [19] To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝗶𝗺𝗽𝘂𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗶𝗿 𝘁𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗽𝗮𝘀𝘀𝗲𝘀 𝘂𝗻𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗺; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation."

#grace #mercy #faith #cross #forgiveness

The Story Behind the Hymns
THE STORY BEHIND "GUIDE ME, O THOU GREAT JEHOVAH"

Few hymns capture the journey of faith with the vividness of “Guide Me, O Thou Great Jehovah.” Written out of the rich Welsh Christian tradition, the hymn turns the biblical story of Israel’s journey through the wilderness into a deeply personal prayer for God’s guidance, strength and provision.

The original hymn was written in Welsh by William Williams Pantycelyn (1717–1791), one of the most influential hymn writers of the Welsh revival. The Welsh title, “Arglwydd, arwain trwy'r anialwch” meaning “Lord, lead me through the wilderness” first appeared in 1745.

Williams drew heavily on the story of the Israelites travelling through the wilderness under God’s direction. The hymn speaks of a believer who recognises that the journey ahead cannot be completed by human strength alone. God is asked to lead, sustain and provide until the traveller reaches the promised destination.

The English version familiar to congregations today came through the work of Peter Williams, who translated the hymn in 1771. It was subsequently adapted and revised in English hymnals, helping the hymn move beyond Wales and into the wider Christian world.

Its imagery remains striking: the believer is a “pilgrim through this barren land,” dependent upon the “Bread of Heaven” for spiritual nourishment and upon God’s presence for every step of the journey.

The hymn became especially associated with Welsh Christianity and eventually found a powerful musical setting in the tune “Cwm Rhondda,” composed by Welsh musician John Hughes in 1907. The combination of Williams’ words and Hughes’ stirring melody transformed it into one of the best-known hymns to emerge from Wales.

“Guide Me, O Thou Great Jehovah” has since been sung in churches, at major Christian gatherings, at national occasions and in moments of remembrance and celebration. Its enduring appeal lies in its simple but profound message: life may lead us through wilderness seasons, but the believer does not have to walk through them alone.

The final destination is not the wilderness. The prayer of the hymn is that the Great Jehovah will continue to guide His people until they reach the promised land.

Ellen G. White
For none of us liveth to himself, and no man dieth to himself. Romans 14:7. – {UL 243.1}
There is constant temptation for human beings to consider that any influence they have gained is the result of something valuable in themselves. The Lord does not work with these, for He will not give to any human being the glory that belongs to His own name. God would have everyone under His supervision, and recognize that to God belongs all the glory of their success.... – {UL 243.2}
If the human worker will walk in all humility of mind, looking to God, trusting in Him, working out his own salvation with fear and trembling, the Lord will cooperate with him. It is God that works in us to do His will for His own name’s glory. He will give His wisdom, His divine power, to everyone who is doing His service. He makes the humble trustful servant His representative—the one who will not lift himself up, and think of himself more highly than he ought to think. The life of such an one will be dedicated to God as a living sacrifice, and that life He will accept and use and sustain.... – {UL 243.3}
Our life is not our own. It is Christ’s life. All is His, and we are to spend our powers in doing the will of God. Watch and pray; spend and be spent in doing His will from the heart. Carry every entrusted capability as a sacred treasure, to be used in imparting to others the knowledge and grace received.... – {UL 243.4}
Nehemiah, after gaining so great an influence over the [Persian] monarch in whose court he lived, and over his people in Jerusalem, instead of ascribing praise to his own excellent traits of character, his remarkable aptness and energy, stated the manner just as it was. He declared that his success was due to the good hand of God that was upon him. He cherished the truth that God was his safeguard in every position of influence. For every trait of character by which he obtained favor, he praised the working power of God.... And God gave him wisdom, because he did not exalt himself. The Lord taught him how to use the gifts entrusted to him to the very best advantage, and under the supervision of God, these talents gained other talents.... – {UL 243.5}
Every jot of influence is to be appreciated as the gift of God. The eye of the mind is to be single to the glory of God. Then the sense of responsibility will increase. Our talents will be put out to the exchangers to increase and double. There are hundreds of men and women who, if they had a proper appreciation of the heavenly trust, would go diligently and earnestly to work to use what they have.—Letter 83, August 17, 1898, to a leading minister in Australia. – {UL 243.6}

Gods Creation,100 / evolution,0
YOUR BODY'S BUILT-IN DEFENSE SYSTEM

Right now, specialized cells are patrolling your body looking for threats. They're called natural killer cells, and they're an incredible example of the complexity God built into the human immune system.

Natural killer cells can recognize cells that aren't behaving normally, including many virus-infected cells and certain cancer cells. But they don't simply attack everything around them. They evaluate molecular signals on other cells, essentially receiving combinations of "stop" and "attack" signals before responding.

When an NK cell identifies a dangerous target, it can release perforin, which helps create openings in the target cell's membrane. Then proteins called granzymes can enter and help trigger the abnormal cell to destroy itself. The NK cell can then move on and continue its work.

Think about what this requires: detection of abnormal cells, recognition of healthy cells, communication through chemical signals, controlled delivery of destructive proteins, and mechanisms that help prevent unnecessary damage to surrounding tissue.

This isn't merely a weapon. It's a weapon combined with a targeting and control system.

From a biblical creation perspective, systems like this point us back to purposeful design. Our bodies exist in a fallen world where disease and biological breakdown are realities, yet God created living organisms with remarkable mechanisms for protection, maintenance, and repair. The immune system doesn't behave like a simple collection of independent parts. Its components work together as an integrated system.

The deeper we look inside the human body, the more astonishing that engineering becomes.

“I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made.” — Psalm 139:14

A NUGGET OF TRUTH
God’s moral law was never intended to define sin for Israel alone.

Paul states plainly:

“For when the Gentiles, which have not the law, do by nature the things contained in the law… these… shew the work of the law written in their hearts.” —Romans 2:14–15

Gentiles could be judged as sinners because the moral standard of God applied to them also. Paul adds:

“For as many as have sinned without law shall also perish without law… for not the hearers of the law are just before God, but the doers of the law shall be justified.” —Romans 2:12–13

The law reveals sin:

“By the law is the knowledge of sin.” —Romans 3:20

And sin is not limited to Jews:

“All have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.” —Romans 3:23

The same God justifies both Jew and Gentile through faith:

“Is He the God of the Jews only? Is He not also of the Gentiles? Yes, of the Gentiles also.” —Romans 3:29

And that faith does not abolish His law:

“Do we then make void the law through faith? God forbid: yea, we establish the law.” —Romans 3:31

The New Testament therefore presents one God, one definition of sin, one gospel, one Saviour, and one moral standard for humanity.

Salvation is not earned by obedience. It is received by grace through faith. But the faith that saves does not erase God’s law—it writes His law upon the heart and produces obedience.

One Saviour. One Gospel. One Moral Law.
One way of salvation for Jew and Gentile.

28 Beleifs # 24
CHRIST'S MINISTRY IN THE HEAVENLY SANCTUARY

There is a sanctuary in heaven, the true tabernacle that the Lord set up and not humans. In it Christ ministers on our behalf, making available to believers the benefits of His atoning sacrifice offered once for all on the cross. At His ascension, He was inaugurated as our great High Priest and, began His intercessory ministry, which was typified by the work of the high priest in the holy place of the earthly sanctuary. In 1844, at the end of the prophetic period of 2300 days, He entered the second and last phase of His atoning ministry, which was typified by the work of the high priest in the most holy place of the earthly sanctuary. It is a work of investigative judgment which is part of the ultimate disposition of all sin, typified by the cleansing of the ancient Hebrew sanctuary on the Day of Atonement. In that typical service the sanctuary was cleansed with the blood of animal sacrifices, but the heavenly things are purified with the perfect sacrifice of the blood of Jesus. The investigative judgment reveals to heavenly intelligences who among the dead are asleep in Christ and therefore, in Him, are deemed worthy to have part in the first resurrection. It also makes manifest who among the living are abiding in Christ, keeping the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus, and in Him, therefore, are ready for translation into His everlasting kingdom. This judgment vindicates the justice of God in saving those who believe in Jesus. It declares that those who have remained loyal to God shall receive the kingdom. The completion of this ministry of Christ will mark the close of human probation before the Second Advent.

Daily Devotional
Deal my bread to the hungry.

Is it not to deal thy bread to the hungry, and that thou bring the poor that are cast out to thy house? Isaiah 58:7

What is pure religion? Christ has told us that pure religion is the exercise of pity, sympathy, and love, in the home, in the church, and in the world....

We are to think and care for others who need our love, our tenderness, and care. We should ever remember that we are representatives of Christ, and that we are to share the blessings that He gives, not with those who can recompense us again, but with those who will appreciate the gifts that will supply their temporal and spiritual necessities. Those who give feasts for the purpose of helping those who have but little pleasure, for the purpose of bringing brightness into their dreary lives, for the purpose of relieving their poverty and distress, are acting unselfishly and in harmony with the instruction of Christ.

All around us we see want and suffering. Families are in need of food; little ones are crying for bread. The houses of the poor lack proper furniture and bedding. Many live in mere hovels which are almost destitute of conveniences. The cry of the poor reaches to heaven. God sees; God hears.

The work of gathering in the needy ... is the very work which every church that believes the truth for this time should long since have been doing. We are to show the tender sympathy of the Samaritan in supplying physical necessities, feeding the hungry, bringing the poor that are cast out to our homes, gathering from God every day grace and strength that will enable us to reach to the very depths of human misery and help those who cannot possibly help themselves. In doing this work we have a favorable opportunity to set forth Christ the crucified One. [241]