God leads us by the Holy Spirit, one step at a time. He led Philip, instructing, "Go to Gaza...a desert." Take the first step. God sees every heart yearning for Him, and will take extraordinary measures to bring His Love and truth to every true seeker. He sent Philip to the Ethiopian Jew. The...
Trials are actually good for the Kingdom of God. Persecution does for the Church what wind does to seed; it scatters it and produces a harvest! Saul, (who became Apostle Paul), persecuted men and women, often to death. But God used Saul's rage. Years later, Saul/Paul spent time in fellowship wit...
Acts 7 tells the story of Stephen, whose name means crown. Stephen had a fire and boldness for the Gospel, as he became the first martyr of the church. He began by teaching the spiritual leadership of Israel, reminding them of their spiritual roots, beginning with Abraham. Abraham was the foun...
Crowned By God / Acts 6 / Ray Bentley / October 25, 2020
https://www.maranathachapel.org/s/ActsNotes102520.pdf
There is a calling on your life. You might ask: What is God's purpose for my life now that I am a believer? Stephen, the first martyr of the Church, was faithful in life and in death. T...
Ray Bentley, Persecution and Fire / ACTS 5:17-42 / September 27, 2020
Study Notes: https://www.maranathachapel.org/s/ActsNotes092720.pdf
As the Apostles began preaching with power, they were persecuted by the High Priest and associates for three reasons: 1) Signs and miracles. What the world do...
Purity and Power • Acts 4:23-5:16 • Ray Bentley / September 13, 2020
Ray Bentley, Acts 4:1-22 / September 6, 2020
Study notes: https://www.maranathachapel.org/s/ActsNotes090620.pdf
Peter preached with boldness and power! Four lessons in witnessing for Jesus: 1) God is long suffering with lost sinners. The leaders of Israel already rejected John the Baptist, and ...
Ray Bentley, Acts 3:9-26, August 30, 2020
Always take advantage of answered prayers or miracles to preach Jesus. When the lame man was healed on Solomon's Porch, and the people were amazed, Peter asked, "Why does this surprise you? Why do you stare at us as if by our own power or godliness we ha...
Ray Bentley, ACTS 3:1-10
The emphasis in the book of Acts is on the Name of the Lord Jesus. A name implies much more than ID. It carries with it Authority, Reputation and Power!
The healing of a lame man is the first recorded miracle through the Believers, the Church. Peter exercised his faith an...
Ray Bentley, Acts 2:5-47
Supernatural phenomena accompanied the outpouring of the Holy Spirit upon the Church as they celebrated Pentecost: A sound like a rushing mighty wind. Divided tongues of fire above the followers’ heads. Speaking in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance. Peter s...
Ray Bentley - Acts 1:12 - 2:4
Notes: https://maranathachapel.org/s/ActsNotes071920.pdf
It is time to pray as never before! Prayer played a significant role in the story of the early Church as recorded in the book of Acts. They prayed for guidance in making decisions, for courage to witness for C...
Ray Bentley - Acts 1:8-14, July 12, 2020
Notes: https://www.maranathachapel.org/s/ActsNotes071220.pdf
You shall receive power: The Spirit of God will indwell every believer. The Greek term for power is "dunamis," which means force, miraculous power, ability, strength, violence, and mighty. It a...
Ray Bentley - Acts 1:1-7
Notes: https://www.maranathachapel.org/s/ActsNotes070520.pdf
Power came down from Heaven. The only thing that will move the world are lives ignited by the Spirit of God. The early Church had none of the things we think essential for success, yet the Church turned Rome up...
