About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them.

Acts 16

About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them. v25

We all find ourselves in difficult circumstances and we may be tempted to grumble or complain - yet we must remind ourselves that God does not promise a trouble-free life.  On the contrary - John 16:33 and other scriptures tell us that we will have difficulties. 

John Piper's team advises us to view God as the only source of happiness and God can produce joy and happiness both eternally and in difficult circumstances.  This is what Paul and Silas were experiencing.  We don't know what God is doing in our difficulties but we do know that He is working (always!).  We must see how God's hand is producing something great and glorious in the midst of the troubles - we may not see it unfold in our lifetime but we do know that such greatness and gloriousness will result...ultimately.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who loves me and who is always doing great things in my life and through my life - thank You Jesus...You are amazing!  I am undeserving of such love.  I worry and I am selfish, etc.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

One of those listening was a woman from the city of Thyatira named Lydia, a dealer in purple cloth. She was a worshiper of God. The Lord opened her heart to respond to Paul’s message.

Acts 16

One of those listening was a woman from the city of Thyatira named Lydia, a dealer in purple cloth. She was a worshiper of God. The Lord opened her heart to respond to Paul’s message. v14

As a follow up to my post from a few days ago, I once again have another example of unconditional election - in Lydia.   See also John Piper's use of Lydia as an example.

I gain much peace from this morning's scripture because I worry alot about the faith of Zach and Dustin - yet I must understand that faith is a gift from God and that my worry will not help - only prayer that God will produce a miracle of faith in Zach and Dustin.  I must focus on my own faith.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an amazing God who loves me and who gave me the gift of faith and who adopted me into Your family - thank You Jesus!  I am blessed beyond what I deserve.  I worry and I have other sin.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

They had such a sharp disagreement that they parted company. Barnabas took Mark and sailed for Cyprus, but Paul chose Silas and left, commended by the believers to the grace of the Lord.

Acts 15

They had such a sharp disagreement that they parted company. Barnabas took Mark and sailed for Cyprus, but Paul chose Silas and left, commended by the believers to the grace of the Lord. v39-40

As a follow up to yesterday's post we have yet another illustration that we are to avoid seeking approval of others vs Jesus.  Today's illustration comes from Acts 15 where Paul and Barnabas had a "sharp disagreement" and John Piper uses this text as an example where the earthly elements of our faith - people, relationships, community, church, etc. - lead us to take our eyes off of faith itself because we focus too much on these elements vs focus on Jesus.

In community itself, Piper offers great words of wisdom - with focus on keeping Jesus central and on bearing with another and offering forgiveness and grace.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who loves me AND who has provided community for me that has blessed me and strengthened my faith - thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of such blessings.  I worry.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

But after the disciples had gathered around him, he got up and went back into the city.

Acts 14

But after the disciples had gathered around him, he got up and went back into the city. v20

As the folks at DesiringGod.com put it, "[Paul] abandoned the haunted hayride of human approval to walk Calvary’s underground road to freedom from the fear of man".  In Acts 14, we see Paul traveling during his first missionary journey.  He rejects being glorfied as a god (v14-17) and is later stoned - yet Paul is so filled with the Holy Spirit that he returns into the city where he was stoned!  

The takeaway and guidance from DesiringGod.com with regards to Paul's response is spot on: 

"Beware of acceptance, and beware of rejection. Beware of followers, and beware of enemies. Beware of praise, and beware of criticism. Above all, be content in what God says about you because you are in Christ.

Find your identity and confidence in him, not in what people think about you or in your status here in this life. It will free us to tell the world the beautiful and offensive message it desperately needs to hear."

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who loves me and who is always with me - thank You Jesus!  I know You love me and accept me - knowing everything about me - so that I need not concern myself about what others think about me.  Thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of such blessings.  I worry.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

So they shook the dust off their feet as a warning to them and went to Iconium.

Acts 13

When the Gentiles heard this, they were glad and honored the word of the Lord; and all who were appointed for eternal life believed. v48

In Acts 13, we see Barnabas and Saul in Cyprus (with John Mark), proclaiming the word of God in the Jewish synagogues (v4).  They encounter a sorcerer and false prophet, confront him, and this interaction triggers belief in those who witnessed it (v6-12).  They then travel on to Pisidian Antioch where they were invited to stay for at least two Sabbaths and Paul and Barnabas encounter both a warm reception and hostility; they respond boldly to this hostility (v46) and we see v48 which raises the question of "unconditional election" and John Piper gives us five reasons to embrace unconditional election. 

I recently posted on how faith is a gift from God.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, what an awesome God You are that You gave me faith - thank You Jesus!  Thank You for transforming my heart and life and for giving me a new heart!  I am undeserving.  I worry and I have other sin.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day. 

But the word of God continued to spread and flourish.

Acts 12

But the word of God continued to spread and flourish. v24

In Acts 11-12 we see God working through Peter to bring the Good News of Jesus Christ to the Gentiles and throughout the lands the Gentiles populate including Antioch where believers are first referred to as Christians (Acts 11:26).  Peter is arrested by Herod but angels help him escape.  

In Acts 12:23, Herod is struck down because "[he] did not give praise to God". 

This is yet another reminder that nothing can stop God's plans and we should fear God as John Piper puts it to preserve our heart for God and to prevent ourselves from running from Him in arrogance, self-sufficiency and through hard-heartedness.  

Herod sought glory for himself and we all often do this - such arrogance is dangerous.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an amazing God who loves me and who has taught me to be more humble - thank You Jesus.  Thank You for all that You do for me to teach, mold, protect, sustain, bless, etc. I am undeserving of such blessings and love.  I worry and I am discouraging with my speech.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day. 

I now realize how true it is that God does not show favoritism but accepts from every nation the one who fears him and does what is right.

Acts 10

I now realize how true it is that God does not show favoritism but accepts from every nation the one who fears him and does what is right. v34-35

Acts 10 gives us the story of a divine appointment between Cornelius and Peter and how God fulfilled on the Great Commission by bring the Good News of Jesus Christ to Jews and Gentiles alike.

In Matthew 28, Jesus gives believers the Great Commission telling us to "make disciples of all nations".  God wants everyone to be His child; we ARE all His creation yet not all are adopted into the family of Christ - see post here from John Piper on this.  We should understand that our role is to BE Jesus and share the Good News of Jesus Christ with others - it is up to God alone who actually becomes believers.

For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast. Ephesians 2:8-9

Faith is a gift from God - see more from Piper in this post.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an incredible God who loves me and gave me faith - thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of such a gift and the many blessings that come of such faith.  I worry and I have other sins - daily!  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

Yet Saul grew more and more powerful and baffled the Jews living in Damascus by proving that Jesus is the Messiah.... Then the church throughout Judea, Galilee and Samaria enjoyed a time of peace and was strengthened. Living in the fear of the Lord and encouraged by the Holy Spirit, it increased in numbers....This became known all over Joppa, and many people believed in the Lord.

Acts 9

Yet Saul grew more and more powerful and baffled the Jews living in Damascus by proving that Jesus is the Messiah.... Then the church throughout Judea, Galilee and Samaria enjoyed a time of peace and was strengthened. Living in the fear of the Lord and encouraged by the Holy Spirit, it increased in numbers....This became known all over Joppa, and many people believed in the Lord. v22,31,42

Once Ananias was able to lay hands on Saul (see post yesterday), Saul received the Holy Spirit and Peter was there when the Holy Spirit came during Pentecost (Acts 2). As we see in Acts 2:41 where three thousand believers were added in a single moment to the small but growing church, we see the same type of results in Acts 9:19-43. These are clearly results that ONLY God can deliver and once again we must remind ourselves as Paul writes about in Ephesians that we as believers - via the Holy Spirit - all have this power:

I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people, and his incomparably great power for us who believe. 

That power is the same as the mighty strength he exerted when he raised Christ from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every name that is invoked, not only in the present age but also in the one to come.  Ephesians 1:18-21

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who loves me and I know You give me the same power that raised Jesus from the dead and ask me to use this power for Your glory - I am grateful and blessed that You adopted me as Your child and can use me as part of Your perfect plans.  Thank You Jesus!  I am undeserving of such blessings.  My continues - daily.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others. Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.    

But the Lord said to Ananias, “Go! This man is my chosen instrument to proclaim my name to the Gentiles and their kings and to the people of Israel. I will show him how much he must suffer for my name.”

Acts 9

But the Lord said to Ananias, “Go! This man is my chosen instrument to proclaim my name to the Gentiles and their kings and to the people of Israel. I will show him how much he must suffer for my name.” v15-16

Ananias was told by the Lord to go lay hands on Saul to give him the power of the Holy Spirit (v10-12).  Ananias initially resisted (v13-14) but the Lord clarified why He was sending Ananias to Saul and ultimately Ananias did go (v17).

There are many examples of scripture where God sends people to deliver a message or carry out a task.  Jonah is one such example.  We may resist but if God is sending us, we must go because God has a plan - He is in control - and His ways and plans are perfect.  In the case of Ananias, God makes known details about His plans but in many cases we don't know (i.e. Abraham and Isaac) and we need to trust in Him.  

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, what an awesome God You are - I have seen and can testify to Your hand in my life and the many blessings You have poured out for me.  Thank You Jesus for directing me and holding me by the hand as I go - every day.  I love You.  I am not deserving of such blessings.  I worry.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your Message for me today and every day.

The Spirit told Philip, “Go to that chariot and stay near it".

Acts 8

The Spirit told Philip, “Go to that chariot and stay near it". v29

I have recently experienced a leading of the Holy Spirit to be more open towards divine appointments and the power of 2 seconds (a few kind words or a smile), 20 minutes (a brief conversation), 2 months (short-term friendship), or 20+ years (long term friendship) when such time is directed by Jesus Christ.

In Acts 8:26-40, we have such a divine appointment as "an angel of the Lord" told Phillip to go south from Jerusalem to Gaza and on the way, Phillip met an Ethiopian eunuch and Phillip was led by the Spirit to stay with the Ethiopian.  Ultimately, Phillip helped this man better understand scripture and he also shared the Good News of Jesus Christ with this man and baptized him. A supernatural and divine appointment indeed.

John Piper has an excellent post on this topic and how leading by the Spirit does not replace but complements authority of scripture in terms of directing our thoughts and actions.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an incredible God and I have seen how You have placed people in my life to direct me towards You and I know You want to use me for Your glory to both bring people to You and to perform other acts in service of Your glory.  I am both humbled and grateful that You would use me in such ways - thank You Jesus for allowing me to be of such use to You.  I am blessed beyond what I deserve.  My sin continues - often too much for me.  Please forgive me Jesus.  Help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith. Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.   

Repent of this wickedness and pray to the Lord in the hope that he may forgive you for having such a thought in your heart. For I see that you are full of bitterness and captive to sin.

Acts 8

Repent of this wickedness and pray to the Lord in the hope that he may forgive you for having such a thought in your heart. For I see that you are full of bitterness and captive to sin. v22

In v9-25 we see the apostles reaction to Simon the Sorcerer, who sought faith as a means to bring glory to himself vs God.  This is a powerful lesson for us all because believers are not promised a life of health, wealth and prestige -  instead are to deny oneself and seek His glory first. 

See also posts related to

Those who had been scattered preached the word wherever they went.

Acts 8

Those who had been scattered preached the word wherever they went. v4

After the stoning of Stephen (see Acts 7), "on that day" all the church except the apostles scattered as a "great persecution" of the church broke out (v1).  In v4 we can assume that many among those scattered included ordinary members of the church who might otherwise not thought of themselves as church leaders but were placed in a position to both preach and lead church.  God allowed or created this church persecution as a means to get the believers out of Jerusalem to share the Good News of Jesus Christ - see also Acts 1:8 where prior to Jesus ascending to Heaven after the resurrection and His appearance to many, He says:

"But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” Acts 1:8

Jesus told the believers what would happen and the persecution and scattering of the church served to get the believers out of Jerusalem to Samaria and Judea.  Nothing can thwart God's plans.

We should also be encouraged that God will equip us for those circumstances and divine appointments where we might not feel equipped to be God's servant.  We are not alone - Moses and others also before us also felt this way and they are proof that God equips those He calls.


My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an amazing God and You have equipped me in all ways that I serve - father, husband, worker, etc. Thank You Jesus!  I am blessed!  I am undeserving of the blessings You pour out on me.  I worry and I have other sin.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

 

But God turned away from them and gave them over to the worship of the sun, moon and stars.

Acts 7

But God turned away from them and gave them over to the worship of the sun, moon and stars. v42

John Piper uses the story of Stephen's defense to the Sanhedrin, to teach us about God's grace - writing that Stephen's speech offers both encouragement and a warning.  Piper writes that we should be encouraged because the story illustrates God's abounding love in that "[God] is eager to forgive and move on with repentant and humble people."  We should also be warned that God's patience is not unlimited using v42 to support his thoughts. 

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an amazing God who encourages and is full of grace for me - thank You Jesus!  I am grateful!  Yet I am undeserving of the blessings You pour out on me.  I worry and I have other sin.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

So the word of God spread. The number of disciples in Jerusalem increased rapidly, and a large number of priests became obedient to the faith.

Acts 6

So the word of God spread. The number of disciples in Jerusalem increased rapidly, and a large number of priests became obedient to the faith. v7

For the church, it's not just important to have faith but to GROW in your faith - the church needs to equip itself for growth, it needs believers to grow into leadership positions who can help push the church forward with the Great Commission (Matthew 28).  Here (Acts 6:1-6) we see the first church deacons named, including Stephen who is the first disciple to be martyred.  

In v7, we then see the result of discipleship - the making of not just disciples but the making of disciple makers.

We should continue to grow and mature in our faith.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an amazing God who has grown in my heart and life - thank You Jesus!  I am grateful!  Yet I am undeserving of the blessings You pour out on me.  I worry and I have other sin.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

Day after day, in the temple courts and from house to house, they never stopped teaching and proclaiming the good news that Jesus is the Messiah.

Acts 5

Day after day, in the temple courts and from house to house, they never stopped teaching and proclaiming the good news that Jesus is the Messiah. v42

I've been posting quite a bit about the Holy Spirit, and the power it gave not only Peter, the apostles, and the early church, but also what it gives all believers today.  In today's reading we see more of the Holy Spirit at work as many are healed and the church growth continued apace (v12-16).

The apostles are thrown in jail but an angel released them telling them to continue spreading the Good News of Jesus Christ (v17-20).  Even Gamaliel likely senses the Holy Spirit at work.

The Holy Spirit gives Peter and the other apostles great power to continue preaching - DESPITE suffering and grave threats of physical harm.  THIS is the Holy Spirit at work.  It is something that cannot be stopped by any early power nor can Satan stop it.

As I posted a couple of days ago, we should ask for boldness to continue on with what we are led to do by Jesus as the Holy Spirit WILL be us, equipping us, providing for us, and protecting us - eternally.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an incredible God who is worthy of my worship and my full devotion.  I know You are with me - always.  Thank You Jesus.  I am not deserving of all the blessings You pour out for me.  I worry and I have much more sin - daily.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

With his wife’s full knowledge he kept back part of the money for himself, but brought the rest and put it at the apostles’ feet.

Acts 5

With his wife’s full knowledge he kept back part of the money for himself, but brought the rest and put it at the apostles’ feet. v2

Acts 4:32-5:11 gives us two examples - one positive (Barnabas) and one negative (Ananias and Sapphira) - of how we are to approach our faith in terms of walking the walk.  Barnabas gave cheerfully and humbly while Ananias and Sapphira gave to gain status and recognition for themselves - John Piper posts about their hypocrisy here and warns believers about phony Christians:

"The reason [Ananias and Sapphira] drop dead is to give a stunning warning to the whole church that phony Christians will all end up this way, sooner or later." 

We must be as James writes doers of the Word..

Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.  James 1:22

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who loves and treats us with amazing grace - I am grateful for such grace and more - thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of such grace and blessings.  I worry, etc.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo. Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly.

Acts 4

After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly. v31

After Peter and John defended themselves in front of the Sanhedrin (see last post) they were freed because "[the Sanhedrin] could not decide how to punish them" (v21).  In v23-31, Peter and John returned to their fellow believers and prayed asking for boldness:

Now, Lord, consider their threats and enable your servants to speak your word with great boldness. Stretch out your hand to heal and perform signs and wonders through the name of your holy servant Jesus.” v29-30

God has given all of us a great task - the Great Commission (Matthew 28:16-20). We should ALL be asking that God enable us to be bold.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who loves us and who has given us Your Son, the church, the Holy Spirit, Your Word, and so much more - thank You Jesus!  I am no deserving of such blessings!  I worry and I am harsh with my words and actions.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them: “Rulers and elders of the people!

Acts 4

Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them: “Rulers and elders of the people! v8

As a follow up to yesterday and other recent posts, once again we read about the Holy Spirit and how the Holy Spirit was at work during Peter's defense of himself and John in front of the Sanhedrin.

In response to "[b]y what power or what name did you do this?", Peter boldly indicates that it was "by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazereth, whom you crucified but whom God raised from the dead, that this man stands before you healed" (v10).  Peter then goes on to further clarify who Jesus is (quoting Psalm 118:22):  

"Jesus is 'the stone you builders rejected, which has become the cornerstone.’

Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved.” v11-12

Even the Sanhedrin saw something special in Peter and John (v13), and Peter and John continued to demonstrate great courage and boldness (vs 20 - "As for us, we cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard.”) in the face of threats from the same people who crucified Jesus. 

This snapshot of the Holy Spirit is supported elsewhere in scripture, including when Paul it writes that those who believe have the same power that raised Jesus from the grave (Ephesians 1:19-21) and when Jesus says He is "with [us] until the very end of the age" (Matthew 28:20). 

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an amazing God who loves me, who has given me the Holy Spirit to be with me and You are always with me - thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of such blessings - unbelieveable!  I worry and I have other sins.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.   Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo. Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

Why do you stare at us as if by our own power or godliness we had made this man walk?

Acts 3

Why do you stare at us as if by our own power or godliness we had made this man walk? v12

In Acts 3 we see Peter's healing of a lame man and Peter's reaction to those who see Peter as having some special power. Peter's reaction and subsequent speech (including defense in front of the Sanhedrin in Acts 4) shows the difference the Holy Spirit makes in the life of Peter, who previously was held captive by fear of being recognized as with Jesus (see full chapters from references here). In less than 2 months time Peter is transformed into the leader of the new church through Jesus reinstatement (John 21) and the Holy Spirit.

Over the course of the last week or so, I've been posting on the power of the Holy Spirit and in Peter's transformation from ordinary fisherman and follower of Jesus to bold leader of the new church. This offers us great encouragement for those of us called to do God's work - it is not through us that we ever accomplish anything but instead through Jesus and the Holy Spirit.

My Prayer: Jesus, You provide The Holy Spirit and it is an amazing gift among many You provide and You bless me far more than I deserve - thank You Jesus!  Yet again I am undeserving.  I gossip, worry, etc.  Please forgive me Jesus!  Help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to accept Jesus as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.

Acts 2

They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. v42

I am struck this morning how the believers were devoted to "apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer", in particular to fellowship - with other believers.  I do have this but at times not enough - I think many of us find ourselves feeling this way.  

John Piper also encourages us to look at Hebrews 3:12-13 as a DAILY practice.

See to it, brothers and sisters, that none of you has a sinful, unbelieving heart that turns away from the living God. But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called “Today,” so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness. Hebrews 3:12-13

Lord Jesus - please help me with my fellowship both in terms of giving and in receiving.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who loves me and who has given me people in my life to encourage and to be encouraged by - thank You Jesus for this fellowship.  I am not deserving of such fellowship.  I worry, I gossip, etc.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcomes and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

With many other words he warned them; and he pleaded with them, “Save yourselves from this corrupt generation.”

Acts 2

With many other words he warned them; and he pleaded with them, “Save yourselves from this corrupt generation.” v40

At Pentecost, Peter warns those in attendance to "save [them]selves from this corrupt generation".  All of us struggle with temptation of some kind regarding idolatry people, things, status, power, etc. Whatever our struggle may be, Peter's warning rings true for everyone.

Peter's warning isn't an isolated one as there are many of the same or similar warnings throughout scripture:

Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Romans 12:2

 

Do not be yoked together with unbelievers. For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common? 2 Corinthians 6:14

 

Instead, we are intended to live in fellowship with other believers who can mutually help each other grow in Christ.

 

He died for us so that, whether we are awake or asleep, we may live together with him. Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing. 1 Thessalonians 5:10-11

 

While we are called to bring the Good News of Jesus to unbelievers, we need other believers in our lives who can keep our faith "sharp" and help us avoid the "dullness" that comes from growing too close with the things of this world.  See also this post from DesiringGod.com.

 

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who loves me and who has provided other believers in my life to help keep me sharp and avoid dullness - thank You Jesus!  I am undeserving of the blessings You pour out on me - I too often conform to the patterns of this world and my sin is great.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.

Acts 1

But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth. v7

The book of Acts is authored by Luke and it chronicles establishment of the church, growth among the Jews, Gentiles, and throughout church plants in Asia, Greece, and all the way to Rome.


Acts begins with Luke's reference to his other book where he wrote about how Jesus ascended to Heaven (Luke 24:51) and it includes a review of this in verses Acts 1:1-9.

In a previous post, I wrote about how in the book of John Jesus encourages the disciples by telling them that when He dies He will provide the Holy Spirit as a helper and as believers we must remind ourselves that the Holy Spirit gives us confidence to do what Jesus leads us to do.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are a great God who loves us and who provides us with amazing freedom from the sting of sin and death and with the same power that raised You from the dead.  We are led by You to bring the Good News of Jesus Christ everywhere and I am amazed that You would be able to use me as a broken person.  I am grateful that You love, that You died for me and that You continue to love.  Thank You Jesus.  I am not deserving of such love.  I sin...constantly.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

Jesus did many other things as well. If every one of them were written down, I suppose that even the whole world would not have room for the books that would be written.

John 21

Jesus did many other things as well. If every one of them were written down, I suppose that even the whole world would not have room for the books that would be written. v25

In John 21, Jesus appears to the disciples after the resurrection, produces a miraculous catch of fish (v1-14), and Peter is reinstated (v15-19).  Peter's reinstatement is an incredible testimony of how Jesus loves and forgives and how freedom from the sting of sin and death enables Peter (and us) to serve as Peter goes on to build the early church. 

As well, John remarks how there is much to Jesus' life that we don't know as it is not written down. This is a reminder to believers to share the Good News of Jesus Christ by sharing what is happening in our own lives.  I know for myself that God has transformed my heart and life and there are many miracles that Jesus has produced.  

God - please help me share all of these details.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God and You have produced many miracles in my life - Thank You Jesus for blessing me.  I am not deserving.  I worry and I have other sin.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo. Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

Then Jesus told him, “Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”

John 20

Then Jesus told him, “Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” v29

Those who have yet to believe in Jesus need to see something that gives them reason to believe.  Those who saw Jesus perform miracles and heard His teachings perhaps had more evidence than we have but I believe that today we have as much as those who lived in Jesus' day.  We have the Holy Spirit, The Word, and those in whom the Holy Spirit lives - all providing means for non believers to see Jesus.  

Non-believers should also understand that belief will be strengthened by accepting Jesus as Your Lord and Savor and this is what is meant by John 20:29 - see more here from DesiringGod.com.  God will help our unbelief. 

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God and You have strengthened my faith - thank You! I am not deserving of the love and blessings You pour out on me.  I worry and I have other sin.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo. Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.