Life Group...........

It is only week 2 of Bible Study Fellowship and already I am being convicted! I love that God encourages me to step out of my comfort zone in order to grow and learn. Last week we studied Acts chapter one and it was regarding the promise that Jesus made to the disciples that He would soon return to heaven but that He would send the Holy Spirit to them. This weeks lesson we are studying Chapter 2, regarding the coming of the Holy Spirit and the birth of the Church. In this chapter we see that the Holy Spirit came just as promised. He enabled Peter to boldly proclaim the Gospel message, when just 50 days earlier he had denied he even knew Him. In the lecture Peg encouraged us.... "Don't think that your past disqualifies you." God used Peter in an extraordinary way............as he boldly proclaimed the Gospel message to all that had gathered for Pentecost. Three thousand were cut to the heart that day and realized that they too were responsible for the crucifixion of Christ. As we realize that "we too...... that "I too"........ am responsible for the crucifixion of Christ, and turn to Him in repentance .....God gives to us that same Holy Spirit we see in Acts Chapter 2. We are changed just as Peter was.

This is the part where conviction comes in.........We may not be given a pulpit as Peter was, but we have "our 3000." We influence those that we interact with and share our lives with on a daily basis, and this either draws them to Christ or it turns them away depending on whether we are filled with the Holy Spirit as Peter was that day. It is God that draws them, by His Spirit, not us! The Holy Spirit was manifested in the life of Peter and 3000 were added to the church in one day! I pray that the Holy Spirit will be manifested in my life.......daily!! May God help me to show His

LOVE JOY PEACE PATIENCE KINDNESS GOODNESS FAITHFULNESS GENTLENESS & SELF CONTROL

I loved studying this chapter in depth and learned that the Holy Spirit brings power to change hearts, and He brings unity and compassion for one another. Peter was only "successful" because he was dependent on the Holy Spirit.

I pray that I am able to grow and to experience in even greater measure what I see in Acts Chapter 2. They prayed together, broke bread together, took care of one another.........this makes me ever so grateful for my church "life group." We have been meeting together for the past several years, learning and growing together. This weeks lesson puts an ever deeper meaning to the word fellowship and spurs me on to even greater love for them. Praying for the Holy Spirit to bless our time together this year as we meet on Monday nights to study the book of Matthew.

bygrace