There is only one

Acts 4:7-13 NLT

They brought in the two disciples and demanded, “By what power, or in whose name, have you done this?” Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, “Rulers and elders of our people, are we being questioned today because we’ve done a good deed for a crippled man? Do you want to know how he was healed? Let me clearly state to all of you and to all the people of Israel that he was healed by the powerful name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene, the man you crucified but whom God raised from the dead. 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.” The members of the council were amazed when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, for they could see that they were ordinary men with no special training in the Scriptures. They also recognized them as men who had been with Jesus.

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I don't know about you but I'm plagued by a terrible recurring case of wanderlust. This malady I must confess has led to me temporarily getting lost or at least going well out of my way. Maybe that is why I grew quite fond of the saying, "All roads lead to Rome." Or my favourite misquoting version of the famous phrase,  "All roads lead to Home."
My wife and children have often fallen victim to my propensity to discover a new way or my inclination to drag everyone up one more hill to see an imagined amazing vista.
To others it can be very wearisome to follow an often failed but doggedly optimistic explorer.

Breathe a sigh of relief!

Unlike Rome and home, salvation, according to God's Word, has only one way.

There is no debate. Our guide has been all of the ways and can conclusively report that, to be saved, only one name will work. Jesus alone can save you. You can turn to no other. You will only get lost and terribly disappointed to go any other way. All other roads lead to destruction. All other saviours are false, incapable frauds.

To add to my list of sins, I'm a lazy trekkie. I like Star Trek. But right from the very get go they lie to you and say they are boldly going where no man had gone before. Jesus has been every where. Jesus created it all. Jesus is present in all places. He also suffered all our anguish, evil, aloneness, rejection and torment on the cross and in death. So he had been there.

Call on Jesus name!

Jesus can categorically tell you that there is only one way and it is through faith in his name.

Seek and you will find.

Acts 8:26-36, 38-40 NLT

As for Philip, an angel of the Lord said to him, “Go south down the desert road that runs from Jerusalem to Gaza.” So he started out, and he met the treasurer of Ethiopia, a eunuch of great authority under the Kandake, the queen of Ethiopia. The eunuch had gone to Jerusalem to worship, and he was now returning. Seated in his carriage, he was reading aloud from the book of the prophet Isaiah. The Holy Spirit said to Philip, “Go over and walk along beside the carriage.” Philip ran over and heard the man reading from the prophet Isaiah. Philip asked, “Do you understand what you are reading?” The man replied, “How can I, unless someone instructs me?” And he urged Philip to come up into the carriage and sit with him. The passage of Scripture he had been reading was this: “He was led like a sheep to the slaughter. And as a lamb is silent before the shearers, he did not open his mouth. He was humiliated and received no justice. Who can speak of his descendants? For his life was taken from the earth.” The eunuch asked Philip, “Tell me, was the prophet talking about himself or someone else?” So beginning with this same Scripture, Philip told him the Good News about Jesus. As they rode along, they came to some water, and the eunuch said, “Look! There’s some water! Why can’t I be baptized?”  He ordered the carriage to stop, and they went down into the water, and Philip baptized him. When they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord snatched Philip away. The eunuch never saw him again but went on his way rejoicing. Meanwhile, Philip found himself farther north at the town of Azotus. He preached the Good News there and in every town along the way until he came to Caesarea.

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One of the questions I've encountered over the years is, "What about the people who've never heard about Jesus?".

Jesus wants the good news to be proclaimed and explained everywhere to everyone.

This story demonstrates God's commitment to seek and to save those who are lost.

Here in chapter 8 of Acts it seems like a lot has happened. But we need to think back over the beginnings of the church.
In chapter 1 the expectation is set that the good news would travel to the very end of the earth.

Acts 1:8 NLT

"But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere—in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

In chapter 2 it seems that the whole world is hearing and responding to the good news when the Holy Spirit comes on the disciples.

Acts 2:9-11 NLT

"Here we are—Parthians, Medes, Elamites, people from Mesopotamia, Judea, Cappadocia, Pontus, the province of Asia, Phrygia, Pamphylia, Egypt, and the areas of Libya around Cyrene, visitors from Rome (both Jews and converts to Judaism), Cretans, and Arabs. And we all hear these people speaking in our own languages about the wonderful things God has done!”

So the seeds of the good news have been planted.

So it is no wonder that after the first persecution of the church scatters the believers some back presumably to their home lands that Luke the author of Acts shows us how God is sending his great news about Jesus to the ends of the earth, or at least to Africa.

See since the beginning God has been stirring the hearts of far flung folk to seek him and rewarding their seeking with finding.

God is more concerned about the world than you are. It had been good plan all along to get his message out. No one will be able to say to God that they wanted to know but God failed to get the message or to them.

Are you as concerned about getting the message out as God is?
Will you obey as Philip did? Will you leave an active growing needy work in "Samaria" to walk in a desert? Will you be led to tell those seeking Jesus?

So what about those who haven't heard the good news? Will God send you? Has he already sent them to you?

Experience much sharing, joy and generosity?

Acts 2:44-47 NLT

And all the believers met together in one place and shared everything they had. They sold their property and possessions and shared the money with those in need. They worshiped together at the Temple each day, met in homes for the Lord’s Supper, and shared their meals with great joy and generosity — all the while praising God and enjoying the goodwill of all the people. And each day the Lord added to their fellowship those who were being saved.
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Do you long for God to do this in your church?
Would your family and community benefit from this kind of environment?

God has kept his promise and his kingdom is coming. And Luke is writing a description of what that kingdom looks like.
It looks the way Jesus said it would.

There is unity, generosity, hospitality, sacrificial giving, inclusiveness, sensitivity and a party all the time. Whether in small groups or homes it seems being together was the order of the day. There were still needy people. But needs were met.

They remembered Jesus death and resurrection as a regular celebration.

This "ritual practice" bonded them and reminded these early church family members they needed Jesus. They were sinners who had repented and were being generously forgiven. No wonder there was so much joy and happiness. It is obvious that such freedom would make you a little bit happy and able to be generous.

God was taking care of them.

Are you excited to be part of God's family?  Have you celebrated the forgiveness for sins and the provision of new life with others as needy as you recently?  Are you happy to have your church in your home?  Are you experiencing joy as you regularly get together with the church?

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I'm starting last night on two chapters of Acts at night and two in the morning and in doing so I'll finish Acts in seven days. How about joining me? This morning (Friday) I'll be reading Acts 3&4 and tonight 5&6.