Positioning for Change

In my latest book, 'Positioning for Change - A personal Leadership Guide - 2023 and Beyond,' I wrote that:

'Success has a way of blurring the need to be creative and proactive.' 

Beyond 2023 is only 28 days from today.  I wonder what the image of the last 337 days of 2023 looks to you.  Did you follow through with your goals - how were the first, second, third and now, fourth quarter plans? Did you find yourself complacent for one reason or another? Complacency mostly is as a result of some.form of success that keeps you focused on the success instead of harnessing it further to the next level.  

While am singling out the quarters in the year,  today's 'delight' focuses on the full year, 2023.  I am not sure whether you have already started the review, but with less than a month remaining to its end, you do not want to wait until you are in 2024 to start planning.  Take time and review your 2023 - embrace a 360 degree to ensure that you leave no stone unturned.  

• How did your spiritual, social, financial and other objectines work for or against you? 
• What are the key highlights from both what worked and what don't work? 
• What changes will you embrace as you enter into 2024?

In my book above, I share eight (8) strategies to work with as you position for change. These will form a foundational background as you transition to 2024.   You can directly contact us for a copy or get one here:

https://nuriakenya.com/product/positioning-for-change-a-personal-leadership-guide-by-rose-kainda/

You can also get an ebook here: 

https://booksformysoul.com/product/positioning-for-change/ 

You can also book a session on 'Positioning for Change' or overall strategy development amongst other leadership training/mentoring needs you may have. 

Tel: 0723710552; virtueplus.etp@gmail.com 

Hope, Confidence and Faith - Part Three

 

In this last part of Hope, Confidence, and Faith for the New Year, I want to draw our attention to two verses from our reference texts that tie the dots of our discussion together.

Hebrews  11:6:

But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.

We have seen clearly that you have to have confidence (faith) in God.  This confidence is based on God’s nature – He is unchanging – He is true, among other attributes.  By looking back at the victories he’s won for you, you can turn off all fears that may hinder you from facing the New Year with confidence.  If he did it yesterday, he can do it today. 

God is merciful and supreme over our lives.  But as seen in the above verse, faith is a key requisite in pleasing God.  Anything you do outside of faith is bare ‘works.’  God is interested in you putting your utmost trust in Him, and believing that as you trust him, he will reward you.  He will reward the work of your hands, the thoughts of your mind, the work of intellect.  As you give yourself to the New Year, you have to diligently subject everything – everything to him. 

What is your anticipation for the New Year?  Do you have a  plan - a strategic plan that you intentionally want to follow through?  (An all-round document that addresses your wholistic development (spiritual, social, financial) and work (whether employed or in business).  If you don’t have one, this is an opportune moment for you to draft one and commend it to God.  In part 1, I mentioned 1 John 5:14-15 which points out that our confidence (faith) is based on the fact that if we call on God in accordance to his will, we know that he hears us, and if we know that he hears us, then we have our petitions granted (paraphrased).  It all goes back to faith!

Two more scriptures in conclusion:

‘Now the just shall live by faith.…’ (Hebrews 10:38b)

This is an interesting entry into the text, especially because of the portions of scripture seen in Part Two about suffering (verses 32-34). Who is the ‘just’ person.  According to the Benson Commentary, this refers to one who has been ‘pardoned and renewed, or justified and regenerated, and therefore is humble, meek, sincere, resigned to the will of God and relying on His wisdom, power and goodness and faithfulness.’  This person shall then live by faith.  Rather, his support system shall be faith.  In the midst of uncertain times, during sufferings, trials and all manner of life challenges, he shall embrace godliness and a holy life.  Faith then becomes the rail that all such a person hangs on.  Faith becomes essential such that it cushions him/her from retreating to ungodliness, for God has no pleasure in him who turns away (from faith – trusting and depending on God), he whose confidence is on another or anything else, except God.

Finally, the author of Hebrews points us to our reference of faith, Jesus: 

‘… let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the ^]author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God’ (Hebrews 12:1b-2).

In the New Year, make Jesus your reference point – have confidence (faith) in Him.  Commit your plans (that are founded in His will) to Him, and be ready to endure all manner of distractions, because, with Him, all things are possible. 

(Look out for my upcoming book on ‘Position for Change in the New Year.’  It brings out deep revelations into exploits of faith as clearly seen in Hebrews 11,)

Happy New Year!

‘Hope and Confidence and Faith’ - Part Two

 

In Hebrews 10: 35, the Bible records,

Do not, therefore, fling away your [fearless] confidence, for it has a glorious and great reward (AMP). 

This scripture is preceded by the author's reminder of his audience about the sufferings they had faced.  He puts it this way:  ‘remember the earlier days, when, after being [spiritually] enlightened, you [patiently] endured a great conflict of sufferings, sometimes by being made a spectacle, publicly exposed to insults and distress, and sometimes by becoming companions with those who were so treated,’ (vs 32-34).  Undoubtedly these were turbulent times for the audience.  They had gone through times that saw them endure great conflict to the extent of being a public spectacle.  We may not exactly know what kind of challenge these were – but it was a hard time for the people. 

The author writes then to give hope and encouragement to his audience.  From such a downcast state, how does he get them to embrace a changed mindset so that they can face life with certainty, with hope.  It is here that he reminds them that they have got to remember what aided them in overcoming their great conflict of suffering – their confidence – their confidence in God. 

Dear reader, 2023 is just a day away.  You may be apprehensive and wondering how it will turn out.  Looking back, you may have had numerous, if not enormous amounts of suffering.  You may have lost your source of income, you may have lost a loved one, you may have faced some form of emotional instability due to constrained relationships, or any other kind of negative outcome that debilitates you to an extent that you feel trapped.  Trapped in a snare that cages you in fear of the new year.  Like the author of Hebrews, I write to ask you to call into remembrance your victories in the previous year (s).

Even before I go further, just think of the fact that God has blessed you with life – the oxygen that you are breathing day after day.  During the COVID-19 pandemic, we got to learn of how expensive oxygen is, something that we have taken for granted yet we can’t live without.  I dare you to start from day one of January 2022 till today.  Great!  I am sure that you have more reasons to thank God. 

At the beginning of last year, the Lord helped me to start numbering my days – what do I mean, on the 1^st of January, I knew that I had 364 days remaining in the year.  I think I lost track somewhere in quarter 3 but picked it up in quarter 4.  It is indescribably the feeling I have looking back at each of those days and what God did in each of them.  It completely thaws my spirit to see God’s hand and faithfulness in every single day of the last 364 days.  Words fail me to express my gratitude.  I can only bless and worship God.

Now, you may not have journaled every single day.  But you have lived for 12 months in 2022.  Pick month by month and see the victories of God in your life – if you like it – your achievements or accomplishments.

Do you think it is because you were so smart that your business brought you the returns it did?  (And even if you are, who has given you the ability to be smart?)

Do you think it is because of the insurance cover you have that today you are healthy? 

Day after day you have traveled, whether driving or by public means – who secured you from incidents and accidents?

What is that hidden power behind you being here today?  Isn’t that the power of God?  Is he not the one who caused your contract to be renewed when others were sent home? 

Now, let's face the fears for the new year – where is your confidence?  Is your confidence in your abilities?  Is it in your connections?  Is it in your business or employment? Is it in your medical insurance?  Where is your confidence?

If your confidence in anything that can be shaken, unstable in nature? Then you have reason to be fearful.  For indeed everything is uncertain.  Tomorrow is not guaranteed, leave alone 1^st of January 2023.  But I know who holds it – He is certain.  He has a track-record of completing what he begins.  He’s proven.  If your confidence is Him, I can guarantee you – you have no reason to fear.  Look back at 2022 – see what he has done, and ‘Do not, therefore, fling away your [fearless] confidence, for it has a glorious and great reward!’ 

Continued in Part Three.

DEALING WITH CERTAIN (UNCERTAIN) CHANGE IN A NEW YEAR

Year after year, world over since creation, it is expected that there will be a 1^st of January – a beginning.  A beginning of what on one part, we certainly are aware of – it's a new year, but also we are uncertain of – how– because days are not in our hands and so we do not know what the future looks like.  They are in the hands of the creator, God. So we can only hope, and trust and maybe, plan about them. 

This three-part series addresses the hope, confidence and faith we have in both the certain and also the uncertain. 

Certainty

Naturally, towards the end of the year many people, I believe almost everyone except young children who are still maturing, have great anticipation for the new year.  We know without a doubt that the current year we are in will end and behold a new one – a new phase.  So there is anticipation based on both internal as well as external factors. 

Internally, some positive plans can be a major motivation to see the next year.  An expectant couple is in anticipation of a child.  A student (candidate) expects results to propel them to move to the next level.  A diligent worker expects some form of promotion at their workplace. 

On the flip, there could be some negative internal factors that cause one to anticipate the turn of the year.  These include poor health, emotional instability, and negative family-related issues with children and spouse as well as other relatives.  Anyone experiencing turbulence in these or other areas hopes and trusts that as the year ends, the new one will bring good tidings.  A relief of some sort.

There are also external forces that influence anticipation for change including inflation, economic crunch, financial instability and ill health or death of a loved one, or pandemics such as CORONA as experienced in the last two years.  All these present one with anticipation – a yearning and longing to see things change for the better.

Uncertainty

Let me just repeat that – everyone is certain that the year will one d
ay end and a new one set in.  That we are sure of – one hundred percent.  However, as much as we are certain of that truth, there is an uncertain bit about it!  The how – how will it be?  This, in many cases, brings anxiety, especially when one is faced with challenges as seen above. 

Now, isn’t the how about the ‘unseen hand of God?’  Isn’t it about His supernatural workings that we don’t see; that which causes the sun to rise in the morning and set in the evening?

Let’s talk about ‘Hope and Confidence and Faith’ in a New Year…continued in Part Two. 

True North – The Definer of Purpose

Part 1 of 2

The issue of identity and self-identity is a big deal for many people.  It is for me. 

Over a time I struggled with the subject.  I considered many things and aspects of life that I thought defined me.  I thought of my background, my physique, my possessions or what I thought I needed to possess among other variables.

What is it that makes one’s identity such a big deal?  What is identity and how does it affect God’s purpose for us here on earth?

The Merriam Webster Dictionary presents identity as the ‘the distinguishing character or personality of an individual.’  (https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/identity)

According to the Wikipedia, identity is whatever makes an entity definable and recognizable over time. (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Identity)

These two definitions holistically deal with the individuality of a person.

Self-identity then is self-understanding or awareness of who one is. 

One’s identity has a psychological orientation of the self with a resulting feeling of close emotional association.  To this end, one’s identity largely models their thoughts, feelings, and actions. 

Now, our daily lives are made up of our thoughts, our feelings and actions whether singly or within group contexts.  At home, at work, at church or in any group set up, we express ourselves through our thoughts, feelings and actions.  It therefore goes without saying that these ultimately determine how we deliver in any one given role.

Our understanding and awareness of who we are then becomes a critical aspect of consideration in determining the results of our daily pursuits.

As mentioned earlier self-identity is a big deal for me.  While in the past it was, from a negative perspective, now it is on a positive perspective!

I know my true identity – my true north.  And this aids completely in shaping my purpose.

In the last decade or so the Lord has been teaching me on this subject.  I have known without a doubt that I am not defined by things – whether the shiny objects or not.  I am not defined by people, not by my environment or by my background. 

I am defined by my maker.  My genesis, my source, my roots.  I was not made by my parents – mmmh – I was made by God.  My parents received me as a gift from my maker, God.  My identity is sealed in the Lord God

See, the Lord made all the delicate, inner parts of my body and knit me together in my mother’s womb.  (Ref: Psalms 139:13-14).  Besides, He knew me before he formed me in my mother’s womb.  (Ref: Jeremiah 1:5).

And this morning, dear friend, the Lord confirmed this, yet again.  See what He said:

“Listen to me … I have cared for you since you were born.  Yes, I carried you before you were born.  I will be your God throughout your lifetime—until your hair is white with age.  I made you, and I will care for you. I will carry you along and save you.”

Isaiah 46:3-4

I do not know if this resonates with you.  But unless you undauntedly know who you are, you will not deliver in your purpose.  Unless you find your true-north in your creator, the only constant in life, you will always falter. 

So, what is your identity?  Do you really know who you are?  Is this sealed for you?  How does it affect your thoughts, emotions and actions in your daily output?  

…To be continued …

FREEDOM A FUNCTION OF OBEDIENCE

I have been reading a Psalm a day.  Today’s Psalm, 81, completely awed me!  It’s a fresh breath of life in the midst of crises – not only the Corona Pandemic but the day – to – day entanglements, especially the ‘sin that so easily trips us up.’

In verses 6 we read;

“Now I will take the load from your shoulders; I will free your hands from their heavy tasks."

Oh!  That’s a reprieve!  That sounds like freedom.  I want freedom – I want to live a life free of burdens; I want to live a life with my shoulders rested; able to support my hands to attend to anything that I need to do – not burdened at all.  And see, the promise ensures that my hands shall be freed from heavy tasks.

Notice that the verse above is founded in the freedom of the Israelites from their captivity in Egypt.  If you remember, their hands were full-laden as ‘the Egyptians made them their slaves.  They appointed brutal slaves drivers over them, hoping to wear them down with crushing labour.  They forced them to build the cities of Pithom and Rameses as supply centres for the king … they made their lives bitter, forcing them to mix mortar and make bricks and do all the work in the fields.’ (Exodus 1:11; 14b)

Continuing with the Psalm, verses 6-8 reads;

“Listen to me, O my people, while I give you stern warnings. O Israel, if you would only listen to me! You must never have a foreign god; you must not bow down before a false god. For it was I, the Lord your God, who rescued you from the land of Egypt. Open your mouth wide, and I will fill it with good things.”

And the Psalmist continues;

“Oh, that my people would listen to me! Oh, that Israel would follow me, walking in my paths! How quickly I would then subdue their enemies! How soon my hands would be upon their foes! Those who hate the Lord would cringe before him; they would be doomed forever. But I would feed you with the finest wheat. I would satisfy you with wild honey from the rock.”

Psalm 81:13-16

Can we open our ears and listen?  Can we truly hearken and heed the voice of the Lord and walk in His ways?

If only we can, He will QUICKLY subdue our enemies?  He will give us rest.  He will free us from all the burdens we have found ourselves in.

I don't know whether you have enemies - I do!  Faithlessness is my enemy, selfishness is my enemy, sickness is my enemy, Corona is my enemy, lack is my enemy, broken relationships is my enemy, pre-mature death is my enemy ... all works of darkness ... these are my enemies! They hinder my progress, they work towards my downfall.  They are my enemies!  They enslave me.  My shoulders are heavy-laden as a result of these enemies – my hands are tied – I cannot do anything productive with such enemies!  I want freedom to do what I have been created to – I want to live in my purpose!  I want freedom! 

Oh! Thank God.  Today He says that as I (us) yield to Him and give no room for foreign gods (don't think of Baal) ... think of the foreign gods of self-centeredness, envy and malice, pride, self-righteousness, immorality, worship of material stuff and all related, worship of positions ... yeah!  These are foreign gods.  And of course yes, if you call on and worship any other God other than God Almighty, Yahweh, the Holy One of Israel, the maker of the Heavens and the earth – that's a foreign God; an idol.

As we yield to Him and Him alone, He will swiftly subdue our enemies, they will be DOOMED FOREVER!  Halleluyah.

And as we continue in obedience to Him, He will feed us with the finest wheat; He will SATISFY us with wild honey from the Rock.

What is your finest wheat?  What's your cry for satisfaction?

It's all found in your listening and obedience to God, our Rock.

Will you listen and obey?

As you listen and obey, He will take the load from your shoulders; He will free your hands from their heavy tasks.

Freedom is a function of your obedience to the Lord.

From Me to You

God you are good.

God you are good, so good.

God you are good, so good to me.

I know that this may sound a cliché,

But God – this is from the bottom of my heart –

You are good, so good to me.

Because of your goodness

I am confident.  I am bold.  I am courageous.

Your goodness is the foundation of my life.

I draw from your goodness.

It is a fountain.

From it I draw peace.  I draw strength.  I draw joy.

In your goodness I depend.

God you are good, so good to me.

God you are constant.  You are unchanging.

You are immovable.  You are unstoppable.

God you are faithful.

All the things you have created change.

You do not.

People change – they come and go.

Like grass today they are, tomorrow they are not.

They wither.

God you are constant.

Seasons change – from one to another, and back to the other.

God you are unchanging.

Your word is constant, you stand by it.

Watching it to become.

You do not change.

You are faithful.

You are immortal.

God you are good.  You are God.

GOD STANDS BY HIS COVENANT

Ref:  Psalm 105

“He is the Lord our God.  His justice is seen throughout the land.  HE ALWAYS STANDS BY HIS COVENANT—the commitment he made to a thousand generations.”

Psalm 105:7-8

You are a child of the Covenant; you are chosen – Psalm 105: 6. (Also John 1:12-14; Isaiah 43:1-3; 1 Peter 2:9)

God always stands by His Word, by His Covenant – What covenant do you have with God:

What does he say about your healing, finances, relationships – and every aspect of your life? 

God says: 

q I will refresh you

q I will restore you – Holistic restoration for your family, finances, relationships.

q I will be on your side - I will never leave you nor forsake you.

q God orchestrates things for His Word to come to pass in your life – He has your end from the beginning  Psalm 105:16-22 (See Also Isaiah 46:10 and Rev. 1:8)

(See the story of Joseph in Genesis 39-49)

q Even when you have to wander back and forth between nations (groups of people, circumstances around you); No one will touch you, the Lord’s edge of protection is upon you.  No disease, infirmity shall overcome you – you are protected, you are secured (Psalm 105:13-14)

q There is a growth, a multiplication happening for you; you will grow strong and mighty;  you will be untouchable by the enemy  - Psalm 105:24-25

q The Lord is sending rescue for you

q The Lord is destroying the enemy, He is releasing plagues in the enemies camp - Psalm 105:29-36

q The Lord will deliver you; you are leaving Egypt – you will leave fully loaded with Silver and gold.  There will be no sickness upon your family - Psalm 105:37

q You are covered by fire – even the fire of the Holy Spirit, the light of God lights your ways, you will not experience any darkness - Psalm 105:39

q The Lord will provide for you, He will satisfy you - Psalm 105:40

q A river shall flow through what looks dry and barren Psalm 105:41

q Inheritance:  God is giving you an inheritance – the wealth of the nations, the pagans! Psalm 105:44-45

Praise the Lord!  Sing a new song to His Name!  Declare His wondrous works!  Amen.

The Lord is a promise keeping God; he never forgets.  He watches over His word to bring it to pass.

God will stand by His Covenant. 

Amen!

THE PRUDENT LIFE

Set your gaze on the path before you.  With fixed purpose, looking straight ahead, Ignore life’s distractions.  Watch where you’re going!  Stick to the path of truth, and the road will be safe and smooth before you. Don’t allow yourself to be sidetracked for even a moment or take the detour that leads to darkness.

Proverbs 4:25-27

To live a prudent life is to agree to be fully led of the Holy Spirit.  This is what the Authors, Rose Kainda and Jackie Kaimenyi bring out in the new book, "The Prudent Life".  Get in touch for a copy.  

The launch is also coming up on 20th November, 2019.  Here are the details:

Welcome!  Karibu!

REPENTANCE – A PREREQUISITE TO REVIVAL: PART 1

(Adapted from: ‘Times of Revival – Times of Refreshing’ @https://rosekainda.blogspot.com/)

What is Revival?

The term “revival” is synonymous with several English words such as ‘revitalization’, ‘renewal’, ‘restoration’, ‘recovery’ and ‘resurgence’, among others.  While all these words bring out a similar meaning, the free dictionary[1], provides two outstanding descriptions as follows: 

                    i.            A restoration to use, acceptance, activity, or vigor after a period of obscurity or quiescence: (a revival of colonial architecture; a revival of the economy).

                 ii.            Restoration to validity of something lapsed or set aside, such as a legal claim or status.

In light of the above descriptions, a spiritual revival is a resurgence, a restoration, a revitalization from the old, former state of luke-warm or cold spiritual status to a hot, awakened and reproductive spiritual status.  It is a period where the truths of the Bible are not only known but fully believed and lived out thus bearing results.  It is characterized by an awareness of the wickedness in the society and a quickening to change and embrace the right-living offered by God through His Son, Jesus Christ. 

A revival is a time of an exchange – godliness for wickedness; a spiritual alertness for spiritual dullness; righteousness for moral decadence, and ultimately, life for death; It is a re-birth; a life giving period.

A revival is a time when believers arise to the validity of their faith in God, which, due to influence by the worldly culture had been submerged and buried under such culture.  It is a time of regaining spiritual awareness and clarity on God’s ways of doing and being right (which had been set aside, that which had lapsed).  It is a time to claim and uphold the legal status of the word of God in one’s life and ultimately in a society.

A spiritual revival is not restricted to the restoration of spiritual beliefs – it transcends the doors and altars of churches to permeate into every strata of the society.  As believers embrace godliness, their spiritual statuses are aligned with God’s word; to an identity of who they are in God; to their God-pre-destined destinies.  This shift leads to a holistic healing – spirit, soul and body.  Relationships are healed and restored resulting to harmonious living at all echelons of the society – family, communities and nations. An individual transformation trickles a nation’s governance, economy, education and culture.  Spiritual revival results into holistic transformation.

The Genesis of Revival

The Early Church, presented to us in the book of Acts and the Epistles, profiles some life-transforming occurrences (miracles) that happened after the death and resurrection of the Lord Jesus.   One such miracle is detailed in Acts 3, a story that many people have heard from their Sunday school days – Peter and John healing the Crippled Beggar. 

After the healing miracle, the people were startled at this supernatural occurrence.  But Peter, boldly proclaimed to them, that it had nothing to do with their own power but, it was the God of Abraham, and of Isaac and of Jacob, the God of our forefathers that had glorified His servant and Son, Jesus Christ.  Peter further noted that this servant Jesus, is the one the people had “… indeed delivered up and denied and rejected and disowned in the presence of Pilate, when he had determined to let Him go.” (Acts 3:13).

In addition, Peter pointed out that the One that the people denied and rejected and disowned is the PURE and HOLY, the JUST and the BLAMELESS ONE.  Instead, the people had demanded that a murderer (Barabbas), be pardoned and granted to them!

Not too long after pointing out these things, Peter called upon his audience to repentance.  The bible records in Acts 3:19 that:

“So repent (change your mind and purpose); turn around and return (to God), that your sins may be erased (blotted out), wiped clean), that times of refreshing (of recovering from the effects of heat, of reviving with fresh air) may come from the presence of the Lord.” (AMPC)

After all the wandering and rebellious ways of Israel recorded in the Old Testament, God fulfilled His promise to send the Messiah, the Saviour, Jesus Christ.  Clouded by the laws of the day, the people did not recognize Him, to the extent that they had Him killed in exchange of a thief.  However, Jesus’ inner team had had life-changings experiences with the Lord.  They had seen him perform miracles, they believed in His power.  Just before the healing of the cripple, they had been endowed with power from on high as they waited in the Upper Room, and they were ready to go.  (Acts 2:4)  The great commission had just began!

As the people marveled at the healing of the cripple, Peter, full of the Holy Spirit, boldly called on his audience – the people, including the religious leaders of the day, to repent.  According to the Amplified Version of the Bible[2], to repent  is to change one’s inner-self, the old way of thinking, regretting one’s sins and turning back to God.  The Free, also puts the meaning of repent as – ‘To feel such regret for past conduct as to change one's mind regarding it.’[3]

It is on this basis that Peter called on the audience to repent of their ignorance in delivering up; denying; rejecting and disowning the Lord Jesus, to the extent of having him crucified.  Ignorantly, they had asked that a murderer be released for them. 

It is through this ignorance that these people did not take into account, that the Lord Jesus, whom they denied had paved way for them to be heirs of the blessing of our father of faith, Abraham.  They did not take into any account of any “good” that Jesus had done.   They just wanted to do away with him.

By disowning Jesus and His teachings, the people embraced their own way of doing things – they opted to live by the law and not what Jesus taught and demonstrated. 

However, the tides were changing, times of revival, times of refreshing awaited them as they considered repentance, turning away from their evil deeds.

“So repent (change your mind and purpose); turn around and return [to God], that your sins may be erased (blotted out, wiped clean), that times of refreshing (of recovering from the effects of heat, of ^[d]reviving with fresh air) may come from the presence of the Lord.”

Acts 3:19

As Peter progressed in presenting the good news to his audience, we note that he was absolutely certain of the message he was delivering – he was bold and eloquent; he had been with the Lord.  He had been empowered by the power of the Holy Ghost!  His message was authentic.  Praise the Lord! (Acts 4:13)

This is the message that pierced people’s hearts, it stung them, it cut them (Hebrews 4:12) to the extent that they could not remain the same again.  They could no longer be still – change had to take place.  On listening to Peter, the people responded:

“Now when they heard this they were stung (cut) to the heart, and they said to Peter and the rest of the apostles (special messengers), Brethren, what shall we do?” Acts 2:37

“What shall we do?” was the peoples’ response.  And immediately Peter responded:

“… Repent (change your views and purpose to accept the will of God in your inner selves instead of rejecting it) and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of and release from your sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.” Acts 3:38

Peter did not mince his words – he had been with the Lord, he knew the Lord’s mission on earth – to seek and save the lost; (Luke 19:10) and as the Lord’s disciple, that was his mission too.  So he continued:

“…Be saved from this crooked (perverse, wicked, unjust) generation.” Acts 4:40b

The result of Peter’s preaching, as led of the Holy Spirit was a massive harvest of souls.  3000 people accepted and welcomed his message; they were baptized and were added into the Lord’s kingdom!  Hallelujah!  Revival had began!

“Therefore those who accepted and welcomed his message were baptized, and there were added that day about 3,000 souls.” Acts 2:41

To be continued in Part II

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[1] https://www.thefreedictionary.com

[2] https://www.biblegateway.com

[3] https://www.thefreedictionary.com