Today, we will examine the two well-known and earliest actions in which the Apostles and Christ’s followers were involved. As we read these scriptures, do they line up and support what you may have been taught or told in the past?

Today’s Scriptures:

· Acts 1: 12-26 – the choosing of Mathias

o Was he the 12th apostle or was it Paul?

o John 15:19 – Jesus chose the apostles personally

o Revelations 21:14 – there are to be only 12

o So the question is, who did Jesus choose?

2 Corinthians 1:1, 12:12, Galatians 1:1, Ephesians 1:1, Colossians 1:1, 1 Timothy 1:1

· Acts 2: 1-13 – And the Holy Spirit fell

o What miraculous event occurred? Verse 11

o How long after Jesus' resurrection did this occur?

Pastor John Napoli is the pastor of River Of Life Church located in Cloquet, MN. We are a non-denominational church that believes the Bible is the living word of God and all sermons are based on that truth. Pastor John does not share his sermons without thoroughly praying and studying out that they align with what the written Word of God says. For more information check out www.rolcloquet.com

Thoughts from Pastor John:

"For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek" (Rom. 1:16).

Revival meetings were being held in a certain town, and as is often the case, opposition made itself felt. But one day one of the town's most prominent men rose to his feet and said: "I want it to be known that I am a disciple of Christ Jesus; and if there is any odium to be cast on this cause, I am prepared to take my share of it."

His testimony went through the meeting like an electric current, and God's blessing at once attended the meetings as never before.

Under somewhat different circumstances, but with just as telling effect, a young street preacher rebuked some of his critics. He could not preach very well, but he was doing the best he could when someone interrupted him and said, "Young man, you cannot preach; you ought to be ashamed of yourself."

Said the young man, "So I am, but I am not ashamed of my Lord."

And that is certainly an excellent defense. We need never to be ashamed of the One who purchased us with His own blood upon Calvary's Cross. Yet how often, because of the weakness of the flesh, we are prone to permit the sneers and jeers of the unbelieving world to silence our tongues, render us into fearful rather than faithful witnesses of our Lord Jesus.

Pastor John Napoli is the pastor of River Of Life Church located in Cloquet, MN. We are a non-denominational church that believes the Bible is the living word of God and all sermons are based on that truth. Pastor John does not share his sermons without thoroughly praying and studying out that they align with what the written Word of God says. For more information check out www.rolcloquet.com

Pastor John Napoli is the pastor of River Of Life Church located in Cloquet, MN. We are a non-denominational church that believes the Bible is the living word of God and all sermons are based on that truth. Pastor John does not share his sermons without thoroughly praying and studying out that they align with what the written Word of God says. For more information check out www.rolcloquet.com

Thoughts from the Paster regarding Today’s Message

Christianity blended with man’s ideas of religion has caused many problems over the centuries. Religious leaders have even sentenced other believers to death simply because of a different interpretation of a scripture. It got so bad that for many years, the Christian religious leaders banned some of the words that Jesus spoke, under penalty of death or prison, because the words did not fit the particular doctrine they were promoting. I thank God Christianity today has left those days behind!

Unfortunately, today there are over 200 different denominations of Christianity in the U.S. (according to Wikipedia). Can you imagine a lost soul looking for answers and wondering, “Who do I go to that has the correct truth?”

This is bad enough, but denominations (non-denominations included) can easily cause disunity in the Christian Body of Christ that we are called to be. We find ourselves asking the question of those attending other denominations and churches, “Are they my brothers and sisters?” and “How do I know who my brother or sister really is?”

Today, I will give some foundational scriptures that can begin to help you answer these questions.

Today’s Scriptures: Matthew 12:22-30, 48-50, Mark 9:38-41, John 13:34-35, 1 Corinthians 1:10-14, 5:11, Romans 12:5, Galatians 3:28, 1 Peter 3:8, 1John 3:14, 4:7,12,20, 2 John 1:5-10

Pastor John Napoli is the pastor of River Of Life Church located in Cloquet, MN. We are a non-denominational church that believes the Bible is the living word of God and all sermons are based on that truth. Pastor John does not share his sermons without thoroughly praying and studying out that they align with what the written Word of God says. For more information check out www.rolcloquet.com

Pastor John Napoli is the pastor of River Of Life Church located in Cloquet, MN. We are a non-denominational church that believes the Bible is the living word of God and all sermons are based on that truth. Pastor John does not share his sermons without thoroughly praying and studying out that they align with what the written Word of God says. For more information check out www.rolcloquet.com

Who Owns Your Temple?

Scriptures: Matthew 21:12-14, 1 Corinthians 3:16, 2 Corinthians 6:14-16, 1 Peter 2:4-5, 1 Corinthians 3:9-18

Jesus makes a clear picture of what a temple dedicated to God should be and what should be occurring in it….and what should not be occurring.

The apostles Paul and Peter make it clear that we who declare Jesus is our King, the Anointed One (The Christ), and we are His Followers…that we are now the Temple that the Spirit of God will inhabit.

If we say we are His, and we are saved through Christ, it is clear we are now claiming God can build, design, and direct the Temple that will be built on the property of our life.

We must ask ourselves daily:

· Who will I follow in the building of my life today? Me, the world, of God…

· If we choose God, then we need to ask Him in prayer and sensitivity to His Spirit and the Word of God that is buried in our heart how we are to build that day.

Pastor John Napoli is the pastor of River Of Life Church located in Cloquet, MN. We are a non-denominational church that believes the Bible is the living word of God and all sermons are based on that truth. Pastor John does not share his sermons without thoroughly praying and studying out that they align with what the written Word of God says. For more information check out www.rolcloquet.com

As members of the Kingdom of God (the Church, the Body of Christ, His Bride), we have given our lives over to God and been born again in Him. Born again into His Kingdom and given our lives over to Him to guide us as servants and soldiers, available to do His Will in the way we live, trusting Him fully to do what He asks, when He asks, and how He asks.

Unfortunately, we often find ourselves discounting God’s leadings and justifying why we cannot fulfill what He asks of us, without realizing the subtle position we are placing ourselves in... we are becoming in charge and not God.

• Justifying our tiredness and laziness not to do what HE asks.
• His timing to do what HE asks is not good.
• My situation won’t allow me to do what HE asks.
• I am physically or mentally unable to do what He asks.

I will be using the examples of Moses and Paul today as I focus on situations and handicaps that cannot stop God’s will for us as His servant and soldier. God Bless, Pastor John

Scriptures: Malachi 3:18, John 12:26, Luke 16:13, Acts 21:13-15, Exodus 3:11–4:12, 2 Corinthians 12:7-10, Galatians 4:13-15, 6:11, Romans 16:22, Proverbs 22:13 & 26:13, James 2:18

Key Verse: 2Corinthians 12:9 NKJV And He said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness." Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

Pastor John Napoli is the pastor of River Of Life Church located in Cloquet, MN. We are a non-denominational church that believes the Bible is the living word of God and all sermons are based on that truth. Pastor John does not share his sermons without thoroughly praying and studying out that they align with what the written Word of God says. For more information check out www.rolcloquet.com

Jesus Christ - Example of Life

When Jesus makes our souls alive, then the one thing we have to do is to try to be like Jesus. A little girl went to a writing school. When she saw the copy set before her, she said: "I can never write like that." But she took up her pen and put it timidly on the paper. "I can but try," she said. "I'll do the best I can." She wrote half a page. The letters were crooked. She feared to have the teacher look at her book. But when the teacher came, he looked and smiled. "I see you are trying, my little girl," he said kindly, "and that is all I expect." She took courage. Again and again, she studied the beautiful copy. She wrote very carefully, but the letters straggled here, were crowded there, and some of them seemed to look every way. She trembled when she heard the step of the teacher. "I'm afraid you'll find fault with me," she said. "I do not find fault with you," said the teacher, "because you are only a beginner. Keep on trying. In this way, you will do better every day, and soon get to be an excellent writer."

And this is the way we are to try to be like Jesus. But when we read about Jesus, and learn how holy, and good, and perfect He was, we must not be discouraged if we do not become like Him at once. But, if we keep on trying, and ask God to help us we shall "learn of Him to be meek and lowly in heart" (see Matt. 11:29); and we shall become daily more and more like Him.

-Pastor John

Pastor John Napoli is the pastor of River Of Life Church located in Cloquet, MN. We are a non-denominational church that believes the Bible is the living word of God and all sermons are based on that truth. Pastor John does not share his sermons without thoroughly praying and studying out that they align with what the written Word of God says. For more information check out www.rolcloquet.com