Acts 5:14 ~ added to the Lord, multitudes of both men and women

What is Salvation?

A work of God!


Acts 4:4
Many of the people who heard their message believed it, so the number of believers now totaled about 5,000 men, not counting women and children.

Acts 5:14
14 And more than ever believers were added to the Lord, multitudes of both men and women

John 6:29
Jesus answered them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in him whom he has sent.”



A woman in Canada is in her mid 60s. She had never believed God before. This was for other people - the glories and the pitfalls of faith. She is rather hard pressed to pay bills. Suddenly driving through a snow storm, she has faith that if she gets to the next little, tiny town, someone is going to help her and it will be free. She knows what she knows that she knows. God has heard her prayer.

She barely reaches the tiny town late at night and pulls into a convenience store. A man in his twenties is standing in the parking lot. He says your car is older and making a noise, and I have that part in my car. He places the part in her car. She asks what she owes him. He replies his car didn't need the part and she can have it. She asks him if he is an angel. He laughs and says no he is very real. And shows her his driver's license. She tells him about her sudden faith in life.

He says, that is a wonderful answered prayer and he was glad to help and he leaves. Her life is now changed. Father God and Jesus have touched and warmed her heart. God is for her.





A teenager goes to a weekend of the Holy Spirit. His name is Adam and basically he likes church gatherings. He listens to people tell him their stories of the Love of God for them, what prayers are answered. How faith is met. Adam cries like he will not stop. And in the midst of his tears, he stops and says, "I came here to have a good weekend." The rest laugh with him.

And he looks at his hands and says, "My life will never be the same. I have no doubt that God is real and He Loves me. Jesus has died so I will never die."



French scientist Blaise Pascal died in 1662 his servant found a small piece of parchment sewn into his coat. At the top of the paper Pascal had drawn a cross. Underneath the cross were these words.

In the year of the Lord 1654
Monday, November 23
From about half-past ten in the evening
until half-past twelve.

Fire

God of Abraham, God if Isaac, God of Jacob
Not of philosophers nor of the scholars.
Certitude. Certitude. Feeling. Joy, Peace.
God of Jesus Christ,
My God and thy God.
“Thy God shall be my God.”
Forgetfulness of the world and of everything, except God.
He is to be found only by the ways taught in the Gospel.
Greatness of the soul of man.
“Righteous Father, the world hath not know thee,
but I have know thee.”
Joy, joy, joy, tears of joy.

Jesus Christ.
I have fallen away: I have fled from Him,
denied Him, crucified him.
May I not fall away forever.
We keep hold of him only by the ways taught in the Gospel.
Renunciation, total and sweet.
Total submission to Jesus Christ and to my director.
Eternally in joy for a day’s exercise on earth.
I will not forget Thy word. Amen.







A 24 year old bartender walks into a place to be tested for STD's to have a new sexual relationship with a man at least a decade and a half older than she is. Neither look particularly enthusiastic.

She says she always wanted to know God's love, especially since her family has literally died off and she is an orphan. She really would like to know Father God, but the prayers bounce off the ceilings. And Church is something that makes her enjoy the music and the songs are uplifting, but the Sermon goes on and on and she really just wants to leave. And when she tells Christians about this, they tend to want to move away from her. She'd like to know God, just hasn't worked out. You know?

She is prayed for that God would be a Father to her. That God's Loving Mercy would help her see the Path He has planned for her since before she was born. That Father God would encourage her, lead her and guide her where His Plan leading to Heaven for all eternity and call her Home to her Father God. That daily she would feel new mercies arrive again. For Father God to protect her and keep her from temptation and evil and surround her with a message of Life and Hope. To see His Words are Life. And keep her always forgiven for flaws, weaknesses and sin, keeper her safe in His Righteousness. In the name of Jesus. Amen.


She opens her eyes, orphan no more.
And says, "I need to get to Church, how do I learn to do Church."

She says she agrees God's Word is so Vast this is overwhelming. She laughs and cries that babies can't eat steak and milk is for babies. But anyone who wants to know God can read a paragraph or a sentence every single day of their life. Matter of fact she promises she is going to read at least a sentence of a Bible all her life. Now she needs a Bible. A Bible is found. She holds this safe between two open palms, the Word of God pressed closely between these hands. Now she is 'set'.

Church is a message of hope and encouragement. All the trials we face, Father God is not going to leave or abandon us. We need to nourish our souls the way bodies are nourished.







A four year old boy loves Prayers. He loves to sing at night. God is sending peace. God sets the prisoners free. God Answers Prayers. This four year old boy says he wants Jesus in his heart. He is asked to wait to be an older boy. The sweet and wise boy says
any time Jesus is asked, Jesus will go there.

Jesus is invited in. Jesus will never leave. Home is now assured where Jesus will make a way, truth, Life.





A man returns to a city he knew before. Time changes everything. He is not finding the people he knew. His family prays for him to not be without friends. A former friend is found and now the young man has found more people to do activities with. And there is a real guess of the praying people one of these people is going to be a believer and changes will happen in God's time.

What happens with this Salvation?

Acts 2:

41 Those who embraced his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to the believers that day. 4 2They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.


Why would anyone be devoted to Prayer?


Philippians 4:6
Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.

Father God helps us with our anxieties. We are safe to bring our cares to Him, He cares for us.

John 15:7
If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.

Father God answers prayers. All of them.

Mark 11:24
Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.

1 Thessalonians 5:17
Pray without ceasing

Romans 8:26
Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words.



Where will this take us?


Proverbs 31

25 Strength and dignity are - clothing,
and - laughs at the time to come.

26 - opens mouth with wisdom,
and the teaching of kindness is on our tongue.




Father God,

People who love You plant seeds of the Joy You bring. We are not always encouraged to see growth.

Yet all seeds planted tenderly, should know God waters, tends and must call.

We are glad to put our cares in Your Hands, Father God.

In Jesus. Amen.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves!  †