BibleTrekToday.com

Year: 2010

  • Missionaries in Action!

    Scripture reading for November 11th: Acts 13-15

    Missionaries are people that God has set apart for a special assignment to go to people who have never heard the Gospel message.  They must be full of the Holy Spirit and called by God.  They have to be willing to leave the comfort of their own homes, culture, and family and friends.  They know ahead of time, that not all people will welcome them and that they may be called upon to give their lives for the One who called them.

    In Acts 13, we have the record of the early church sending out the first missionaries.  At a prayer meeting where they were worshiping, the Holy Spirit spoke through one of those present, “Set apart for Me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.” (Acts 13:2b)  They fasted and prayed, laid hands on them, and sent them off.  It is important to note that this word of knowledge came as a confirmation to Barnabas and Saul.  It wasn’t the first time that they had heard this because they had already been called by the Lord.  It has been said that God doesn’t give “second hand mail”.  His people can hear His voice personally as well as having it confirmed through others.

    They went on their way, directed by the Holy Spirit.  They preached the Word in Jewish synagogues in Cyprus and decided to travel the whole island.  At Paphos, they encountered a false prophet and sorcerer who tried to hinder their work.  Sergius Paulus, the proconsul (governor), sent for the missionaries and wanted to hear the Word of God.  Elymas the sorcerer tried to keep him from the faith.  The Holy Spirit filled Paul and he looked straight at Elymas and said, “You are a child of the devil and an enemy of everything that is right!  You are full of all kinds of deceit and trickery.  Will you never stop perverting the ways of the Lord?  Now the hand of the Lord is against you.  You are going to be blind.” (Acts 13:10-11)  He was immediately blinded and the proconsul saw and believed in the Lord!

    God always works with those He sends to confirm the Word.  Those who hinder are taken out of the way.  Truth is offered to all who will set them free!  Pray for our many missionaries!

  • Gentile Pentecost!

    Scripture reading for November 10th: Acts 10-12

    Peter was the head of the church at Jerusalem and leader of the original band of Apostles.   He was a devout Jew before becoming a disciple of Jesus.  It has been said that old habits die hard, and Peter was resistant to breaking out of the Jewish way of thinking.  Acts records how God helped Peter to overcome his strict religious training.

    Peter was praying about noon on the roof of a friend’s house where he was staying in Joppa.  He became hungry, probably smelling the food being prepared downstairs.  He fell into a trance and saw heaven opened and a something like a large sheet being let down to earth containing all kinds of four-footed animals, reptiles and birds.  A voice spoke to Peter, “Get up, Peter. Kill and eat” “Surely not, Lord!” Peter replied.  “I have never eaten anything impure or unclean.” “The voice spoke to him a second time, “Do not call anything impure that God has made clean.” (Acts 10:13-15)  This vision happened three times before the sheet disappeared back into heaven!   Peter must have had a hard head!

    As Peter was pondering what this meant, men were coming from Cornelius, a Roman centurion, to bring Peter to his house to share about Christ!  The Spirit spoke to Peter once again, “Simon, three men are looking for you.  So get up and go downstairs.  Do not hesitate to go with them, for I have sent them.” (Acts 10:19-20)  Peter was obedient and went with these men, contrary to his strict Jewish training to say away from Gentiles!

    Upon arrival at the house of Cornelius, Peter found Cornelius and he gathered a number of his relatives to hear what Peter had to say.  Peter preached about Jesus Christ, his miraculous life, His death on a cross, and His amazing resurrection from the dead.  He called these Gentiles to faith and repentance for the forgiveness of their sins.  As he preached, the Holy Spirit came on all who heard the message and they began to speak in tongues and praise God.  (Acts 10:38-46)  They were all baptized in water and Peter taught them for a few days!

    God has no favorites!  We must break down walls of prejudice and religious tradition to follow the Holy Spirit.  God works with us and His work will be done!  Like Peter, even slow learners can change!

  • Philip’s Powerful Preaching!

    Scripture reading for November 9th: Acts 8-9

    “Those who had been scattered preached the Word wherever they went.  Philip went down to a city in Samaria and proclaimed the Christ there.  When the crowds heard Philip and saw the miraculous signs he did, they all paid close attention to what he said.  With shrieks, evil spirits came out of many, and many paralytics and cripples were healed.  So there was great joy in that city.” (Acts 8:4-8)

    Persecution, led by Saul (Paul) was hard on the early church.  Many of the leaders of the church were forced to leave Jerusalem and scatter to all the other cities in the region to avoid imprisonment and possible death.  Samaritans were considered by the Jews to be outcasts because they were of mixed race. Philip, one of the first deacons, felt directed to go to Samaria.

    Empowered by the Holy Spirit, Philip began to preach the message of Christ and pray for those who were sick, crippled and bound by evil spirits.  As the Lord had promised, healings and miracles began to occur and drew crowds.  Demons came out and people watched and listened to the message of Jesus.  Great joy was in the city because of the Good News of Christ!  A revival took place from the simple preaching of a follower of Jesus being obedient as he entered this idolatrous and bound culture.  God was at work in the midst of the persecution!

    A powerful sorcerer named Simon was among those who heard the message Philip preached.   Simon, along with many others believed the message and was baptized.  He followed Philip everywhere, astonished by the many miracles.  Peter and John came from Jerusalem to see these Samaritans who had believed and laid hands on them and prayed for them to receive the Holy Spirit.  They were evidently baptized in the Holy Spirit and spoke in tongues.  Simon watched and offered money to get what they had!  The Apostles sternly rebuked him, and Simon asked for prayer.  They continued preaching in other Samaritan cities and the Word spread!

    Simple believers, filled with the Holy Spirit, proclaimed Christ.  Christ worked with them, confirming their message with signs and wonders.  Crowds were drawn, people heard the Word and believed and joy filled the city!  People were baptized and delivered.  More were filled with the Holy Spirit and sent out to reach others!  Let’s do it!

  • Jesus Standing!

    Scripture reading for November 8th: Acts 5-7

    Stephen was a young deacon in the early church.  He was a man full of the Holy Spirit and wisdom and was chosen to help serve the Grecian widows who were being neglected in the daily food distribution and to insure no partiality.  (Acts 6:1-5)  His work was to take a load off of the Apostles so that they could give attention to prayer and ministry of the Word.  The Apostles prayed over Stephen and the others, laying hands on them to consecrate them for their task.  What a wonderful blessing it must have been to be so close to those who walked with Jesus and to be called to serve!  In fact, we are all told that setting our heart on being a deacon or overseer is to desire a noble task! (1st Timothy 3:1)

    Acts records that Stephen did many signs and wonders among the people.  (Acts 6:8-14)  This brought opposition from the Jews and they brought false charges against Stephen.  They had him arrested and brought before the Sanhedrin, the Jewish religious council.  False witnesses accused Stephen of speaking against the Temple and the law of God.  As Stephen faced these religious rulers, it is recorded that “his face was like the face of an angel.” (Acts 6:15)

    Stephen preached to them in the power of the Holy Spirit, recounting the history of God’s people from Abraham to Jesus Christ.  He showed them how God’s people had rejected God’s leader, Moses, and broken His laws.  He then spoke plainly to them about their complicity in crucifying Jesus.  “You stiff-necked people, with uncircumcised hearts and ears!  You are just like your fathers:  You always resist the Holy Spirit!  Was their ever a prophet your father’s did not persecute? They even killed those who predicted the coming of the Righteous One.  And now you have betrayed and murdered Him–“ (Acts 7:51-52)

    “When they heard this they were furious and gnashed their teeth at him.  But Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit, looked up to heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God.  “Look,” he said, I see heaven opened and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.”” At this, they stoned Stephen to death as he prayed for their pardon to the One standing to receive him!  It’s a noble task to be a deacon!

  • Sunday Rest and Reflection:John 17

    Dear Friends,

    Greeting on this day of rest in the finished work of our Savior and Lord, Jesus Christ!  He was wounded for our transgressions, bruised for our iniquities, and the punishment that brought us peace fell upon Him!  By His stripes we are healed!  We have a great King to worship!

    As I look back over this past week, there are many passages of Scripture that we did not get to look into.  One of the most encouraging chapters is the prayer of Jesus for Himself, His disciples, and all who would believe as a result of their witness.  This prayer is the longest recorded of Jesus Christ in the Bible.  It is given as Jesus approached the Garden of Gethsemane the night before He was crucified.

    Jesus begins this prayer by looking up to heaven and addressing His Father.  He is aware that, and states that, the time had come for His final work.  His prayer acknowledged that God had given Him authority to give eternal life to those who believed on Him.  Eternal life involved knowing the Father and Jesus Christ, His Son.  Jesus asked the Father to glorify Him in His presence with the glory He had enjoyed before the world began. (John 17:1-5)  Wow!  What a personal request for Jesus to ask of His Father!

    Jesus then prays for the disciples.  He asks the Father to protect His followers who will remain in the world.  This protection would come through the power of God’s name and the unity of Father and Son that they would themselves enjoy.  (John 17:6-19)  Jesus wanted them to be kept from the evil one, Satan, and given a full measure of His joy.  He also wanted them to be sanctified in the Truth of God’s word.  The reason for this was the mission that Jesus had given them to go into the world to preach and make disciples.

    Finally, Jesus prays for the believers down through history until He comes again.  (John 17:20-26)  Jesus prayed for all to be one, brought into complete unity as He and the Father were in unity.  Jesus prayed that all who would believe would be with Him where He was to behold His glory.  The power of this prayer is drawing each one of us heavenward.  We are being prayed for even now!  The best is yet to come!

  • Pleaded and Warned:Save Yourselves!

    Scripture reading for November 6th: Acts 1-4

    Luke wrote the Book of Acts to record the work of the early church following the ascension of Jesus to Heaven.  Luke tells us how these first disciples waited and then received the baptism in the Holy Spirit and how they they then took the Gospel from Jerusalem to Samaria and then to the ends of the earth.  In general, the first 12 chapters focus on Peter, the Apostle and the last 16 chapter focus on Paul the Apostle to the Gentiles.

    Peter’s preaching on the Day of Pentecost is an impressive example of Gospel presentation in this early church.  Peter was in Jesus’ inner circle and had proclaimed that he would remain true to Jesus no matter what the others did.  Peter denied Jesus three times as Jesus had predicted and he wept bitterly at his own failure.  After the resurrection, Jesus restored Peter and Peter became the spokesman for the Apostles.   After receiving the Holy Spirit, Peter stood to answer the crowd and the mockers that thought they were all drunk.  (Acts 2:12-21)  He told them that this was the fulfillment of the prophesy given by Joel concerning the last days.  He told them about Jesus, the one who was shown to be the Son of God by signs and wonders, the one that they had crucified and put to death.  He also told them of the resurrection of Jesus and the many witnesses of this truth.  (Acts 2:22-36)  Jesus Christ was both Lord and Christ!

    This preaching brought great conviction on those who heard and they asked, “Brothers, what shall we do?”  “Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of sins.  And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.  For this promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off.” (Acts 2:38-39a)  Peter pleaded with them and warned them with many more words to be saved from this corrupt generation that they were living in.  About 3000 were saved that day!

    Good preachers care about their flock.  They want all to be saved.  They preach a clear Gospel message and give direct invitations to those who desire salvation.  They warn and plead those who are wavering or unsure.  Jesus will save all who call on Him, but we must save ourselves by calling out in faith!

  • Receive the Holy Spirit

    Scripture reading for November 5th: John 18-21

    John’s account of the resurrection contains some information not recorded by the other Gospel writers.  John tells how Mary Magdalene went to the tomb early in the morning and found the stone rolled away.  (John 20:1-22)  She found Peter and “the other disciple” (John) and they ran to the tomb.  John got there first and was looking in when Peter caught up and went right on in.  They found the grave clothes and head cloth neatly folded where the body had been laid.  John saw this and believed that Jesus had risen from the dead.

    Mary stood outside crying, and as she bent to look into the tomb, she suddenly saw two angels dressed in white.  They asked her why she was crying.  She responded that she was broken because she did not know who might have taken the body away and where they had put Him.  Turning around, she saw a man standing there.  She thought it might be the gardener and asked him where Jesus’ body might have been put.  Jesus spoke her name, “Mary” and she recognized Him.  “Do not hold on to Me, for I have not yet returned to the Father.  Go instead to My brothers and tell them ‘I am returning to My Father and your Father, to My God and your God.” (John 20:17)  It is interesting that Jesus now calls the disciples His brothers.  He calls His Father and God, their Father and God!

    On that evening of the first day of the week that Jesus rose again, the disciples were gathered behind locked doors.  Jesus came and appeared to them.  “Peace be with you!  As the Father has sent Me , I am sending you.”  And with that He breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit.  If you forgive anyone his sins, they are forgiven; if you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven.” (John 20:21-23)  This was the first thing John recorded that Jesus did when He visited them on that first day after the resurrection.  Jesus wanted them filled with peace.  He wanted them to have a vision and purpose to their lives: being sent into the world for seeking lost people.  He wanted them to be empowered with the Spirit enough to personally breath on them.  What joy this must have brought after the experience of Jesus’ crucifixion!

  • “Lord, Show Us the Father.”

    Scripture reading for November 4th: John 13-17

    Jesus did not do anything on His own; as the Son of God, He came to do His Father’s will.  His Father’s will was that none that Jesus was given would perish, but that they would all be raised up on the last day.  (John 6:39-40)  It was the Father’s will that all who looked to Jesus and believed on Him would have eternal life and resurrection of their bodies.  To that end, Jesus came to earth and ministered the Gospel message of repentance and faith, calling all to believe on Him. It was to that end that He laid His life down for His sheep, demonstrating the Father’s heart for the lost.

    Jesus repeatedly told those who heard Him that He was not here on His own, but to do the will of the One who sent Him.  (John 7:28-29, 8:18-19, 42, 10:18, 12:27, 14:6-10)  In our reading today, Jesus told His disciples that He was going to die and go away.  They were downcast and He sought to encourage them by telling them that He was going away to prepare a place for them and that He would come again and take them to be with Him.  Thomas, one of the twelve, was puzzled and asked Jesus where He was going and how they could know the way.  Jesus spoke, “I am the way and the truth and the life.  No one comes to the Father except through Me.” (John 14:6)  Jesus told them that if they really knew Him, they would also know the Father.  He told them that from now on they knew the Father and had seen Him.

    “Lord, show us the Father, and that will be enough for us.” (John 14:8)  Philip was not getting it.  He wondered when Jesus was going to show them the Father and begged Jesus to do just that.  Jesus responded, “Don’t you know Me, Philip, even after I have been among you such a long time?  Anyone who has seen Me, has seen the Father.” (John 14:9)  Jesus told them again and again that He was there to do the will of His Father.  All the words Jesus gave them were from the Father.  All the miracles Jesus did, revealed the Father working through Jesus.  Jesus’ promised these followers, “And I will do whatever you ask in My name, so that the Son may bring glory to the Father.” Wow!

  • The Good Shepherd

    Scripture reading for November 3rd: John 9-12

    We are likened to sheep in the Bible.  People resemble sheep in a number of ways.  We all need a shepherd or we easily get into trouble.  Sheep are known to wander away looking for food and when separated from the flock, they are virtually helpless to defend themselves.  They also depend on the shepherd to guide them to the pastures and to tend to their needs.  Even a group of them have very little that they can do to protect themselves.  They are easy prey for predators and make tasty meals!

    Jesus taught His followers that He was the gate for the sheep.  (John 10:7-10)  As the gate, all sheep who entered through Him would be saved and would find safe pasture.  Those who found this gate would find life and abundance of life.  The thief, (Satan) came to steal, kill and destroy the sheep, but Jesus would protect them in His fold.

    Jesus taught His followers that He was the good shepherd of the sheep.  (John 10:11-18)  As a good shepherd, He would  lay His life down for the sheep.  A hired hand runs away when the wolf comes because he really doesn’t care for the sheep, but for his own life.  Jesus knew His sheep and they knew Him.  His sheep would not follow another stranger, because they knew His voice.  Jesus, as the good shepherd, had other sheep outside of the flock at Israel.  He was their shepherd too!

    Jesus told his followers that He would voluntarily lay His life down for His sheep.  But after He lay it down, He would also take it up again.  He said this to indicate the resurrection that would occur on the third day after laying His life down.  We who follow Jesus know that His death was on our behalf.  He took our sin and bore it’s penalty so we could be free.  He faced the wolf, and won by giving Himself!  What a Savior!  What a Good Shepherd who really loves His sheep enough to die for them!  He now lives to pray for us and has given us the Holy Spirit to lead and guide us through this life to the green pastures and still waters of the Kingdom!  Do you know His voice?  Are you one of His own sheep?  Today is a good day to surrender!

  • The Father’s Will

    Scripture reading for November 2nd: John 6-8

    After the miraculous feeding of the five thousand, Jesus drew a great number of followers.  They followed Him across the lake, and Jesus confronted them with their true motive:  they had eaten the bread and been filled. (John 6:26)  He warned them not to work for bread that spoils, but to seek the food that endures to eternal life, which only He could give them.  The miracle was a sign that God the Father had placed His approval on Jesus the Son.  This prompted them to ask Him, “What must we do to do the works God requires?” Jesus answered, “The work of God is this: to believe in the One He has sent.” (John 6:28-29)

    Jesus spent a great deal of time telling His followers about the Father.  Jesus was the Son of God the Father, and knew Him well.  Part of Jesus mission was to reveal the Father to those made in His image.  The miracle of the bread and fish had impressed these followers and brought them the remembrance of the story of Moses and how bread was provided in the desert wilderness.  Jesus pointed out that it was not Moses who gave them bread, but His Father who gives the True Bread.  Jesus Christ, Himself, was this true bread that came out of heaven from the Father.  The True Bread gives life to the world.  These followers had a hard time grasping what Jesus was saying and asked for some of this bread again. “Jesus declared, “I am the Bread of Life.  He who comes to Me will never go hungry, and he who believes in Me will never be thirsty.”” (John 6:35)

    Jesus declared to them His Father’s will, “And this is the will of Him who sent Me, that I shall lose none of all that He has given me, but raise them up at the last day.  For My Father’s will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in Him shall have eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day.” (John 6:39-40) Our Father is merciful and draws all men to salvation through His Son.  He has provided true Bread and an eternal thirst quencher!  All we must do is believe on the One He has sent!  It is so simple, yet so profound!  Are you doing the work that provides the Bread of Life?