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Out of the comfort zone!

Scripture reading for June 15th:  Acts 10:1-23

Has God ever asked you to do something that was beyond your ‘comfort zone’?  Did you struggle to really know that it was God speaking?  In today’s reading, we see how God speaks to believers and Gentiles to bring them together so that His will and purposes will be established.  God is not so concerned with our comfort as with our obedience!

At Caesarea, a Roman Centurion named Cornelius was know as a God-fearing man who gave generously to the poor.  One afternoon, he had a vision in which an angel of the Lord appeared to him and called his name.  He responded and the angel spoke to him: “Your prayers and gifts to the poor  have come up as a memorial offering before God.  Now send men to Joppa to bring back a man named Simon who is called Peter.  He is staying with Simon the tanner, whose house is by the sea.” (Acts 10:4b-6)  It is interesting to note that our giving comes before the Lord and gets His attention.  God misses nothing.  Because of his giving, God instructed the angel to go and have Cornelius send for the apostle Peter.  He told him exactly where to go.  God also knows right where we live!  He doesn’t need a GPS!

As the men went to get Peter, he was on his roof praying as he awaited his meal.  He experienced a vision from God.  “He saw heaven opened and something like a large sheet being let down to earth by its four corners.  It contained all kinds of four-footed animals, as well as reptiles and birds of the air.  Then a voice told him, “Get up, Peter. Kill and eat.” (Acts 10:11-15)  Peter initial refused because he believed that these foods were unclean.  The voice spoke again, “Do not call anything impure that God has made clean.” Peter saw and heard this three times before the vision ended.

As the men arrived at Peter’s house and the Spirit spoke to Peter telling him to go down and greet them and go with them.  Peter’s comfort zone had been enlarged by God to enable him to go and share the Gospel with these Gentiles!  Are you open to have God enlarge you ‘comfort zone’?  He wants to take you to some new places of witness!  Pray and wait for the vision!

From Saul to Paul!

Scripture reading for June 13th:  Acts 9:1-25

What was you conversion like?  I remember going to an altar at the little Methodist church on a Thursday night youth meeting in response to the Gospel.  I heard the message and knew I needed to make a commitment.  I remember the feeling of change and the excitement of knowing sins forgiven.  We should all think back and remember our time of change!  God saw fit to record the change in one of His servants, Saul, that we read about today.

Saul was a Pharisee, zealous for the Jewish tradition.  He saw in the Christians a threat to His traditions and became very zealous to rid the world of them.  To his way of thinking, these people needed to be eliminated.  He went to the high priest and got letters authorizing him to arrest any of this sect he called ‘the Way’.  (Acts 9:1-2)

“As he neared Damascus on his journey, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him.  He fell to the ground and heard a voice say to him, “Saul, Saul why do you persecute Me?” “Who are you, Lord?” Saul asked.  “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting,” He replied.  “Now get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.” (Acts 9:3-6)   Saul was confronted by Jesus, Himself as he went to round up more Christians.  Jesus told him who He was and that his actions were against Him!  The revelation of Jesus was in a bright light that flashed like lightning around Saul.  When he got up to go, he was blind and those with him had to lead him into the city by the hand, where Saul prayed and fasted for three days.

In Damascus, another disciple named Ananias was given a vision of the Lord.  As he responded, the Lord told him to go to the house where Saul was praying and lay hands on him to restore his sight.  Ananias told the Lord his concerns, but he was reassured and sent to Saul. “Go! This man is My chosen instrument to carry My name before Gentiles and their kings and before the people of Israel.  I will show him how much he must suffer for My name.” (Acts 9:15-16)  Saul’s sight was restored and he was filled with the Holy Spirit and baptized in water.  The miraculous conversion would change the world!

Pentecost continues in Samaria!

Scripture reading for June 12th:  Acts 8:14-40

Some in today’s religious community teach and believe that the baptism of the Holy Spirit was only for the days of the early church.  The apostle Peter stated in his opening message in Acts 2:38, that the gift of the Spirit was for them, their children and all who were far off–all the Lord our God would call.  This promise of the Holy Spirit was initially fulfilled on Pentecost after the resurrection.   Luke records the spread of this gift from Jerusalem to Samaria and then to the Gentiles. Today’s reading is about the Samaritans receiving the gift!

Luke tells us that after Stephen’s stoning, persecution caused the apostles and believers to spread out.  Saul was behind some of this persecution for he was enraged at the church and sought to destroy it.  He went from house to house and found believers and had them killed or imprisoned.  But God is not stopped by man’s anger!  In fact, during times of persecution, the light of the Gospel shines brighter through those whose faith is strong and secure!

Philip went to Samaria and proclaimed Christ there.  He did many miracles and cast out evil spirits, bringing healing to cripples and paralytics.  There was much joy in the community.  A man called Simon was a sorcerer and boasted that he also had great power.  He did magic and many had followed him, but when Philip came doing miracles, many believed in Jesus and were baptized.  Even Simon believed and was baptized and followed Philip everywhere. (Acts 8:9-13)

The apostles in Jerusalem heard that Samaria had accepted the word of Christ, and Peter and John came for a meeting.  While there, they prayed for the new believers to receive the Holy Spirit and many were baptized as they laid their hands on them.  Simon saw this demonstration of power, most likely he heard them speaking in tongues.  He tried to offer money to the apostles so that he could get that ability.  Peter rebuked him sharply, calling on him to repent of his wickedness, bitterness, and sin.  Simon asked for prayer then as well.  (Acts 8:20-24)

God’s gifts are just that–gifts!  They can’t be bought, only received by faith with thanksgiving.  God is no respecter of persons either.  He will pour out His Spirit on all who seek!

Stephen’s Gospel and altar response!

Scripture reading for June 11th:  Acts 7:51-8:13

After leading these religious rulers through the history of the nation, showing them that Israelites had been idolaters and rebellious, he then spoke directly to them about their own rebellion. This was for the purpose of repentance.

“You stiff-necked people with uncircumcised hearts and ears!  You are just like your fathers: You always resist the Holy Spirit!  Was there ever a prophet you fathers did not persecute?  They even killed those who predicted the coming of the Righteous One.  And now you have betrayed and murdered Him–you who have received the law that was put into effect through angels but have not obeyed it.” (Acts 7:51-53)  Stephen went right to the bottom line.  These men were exhibiting the same behavior as their rebellious forefathers.  They had murdered the promised Messiah, breaking the law they claimed to love and follow!  You can imagine the emotions that were churning in these hardened hearts when God fingered the truth through Stephen!

The altar response was not repentance however!  “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 open and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.”” (Acts 7:54-56)  As Stephen was full of the Holy Spirit,  he saw Jesus standing at God’s right hand.  The people he had been preaching the Gospel to were angry and stirred up.  They then picked up stones and dragged him out of the city and began to stone him.  While they were stoning him, Stephen prayed, “Lord Jesus receive my spirit.”  Then he fell on his knees and cried out, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.”  When he has said this, he fell asleep.” (Acts 7:59-60)

As Jesus prayed for those who crucified Him, so Stephen prayed for his own murderers.  Stephen’s courageous preaching had offered those who crucified Jesus one more opportunity to be saved.  It is interesting that Saul, a young Pharisee was standing there holding the coats of those stoning Stephen.  Stephen’s prayer and witness certainly had an effect on him that would change his life!  Notice that Stephen fell asleep–death was not final, only temporary!  He was received by his Lord!

Israel’s history of rebellion!

Scripture reading for June 10th:  Acts 7:30-50

Stephen’s sermon defense to the rulers of Israel who crucified Jesus and now were plotting to get rid of him was taken from their own Scriptures.  Stephen went on to show how the Moses that the Israelites had rejected was picked by God 40 years later to be their deliverer.  He was sent to them with signs and miracles and led them out of Egypt.  (Acts 7:35-36) Moses also prophesied that God would raise up another prophet like him from his own people.

While Moses was on the mountain of God getting the Ten Commandments, the people rebelled by making a golden calf.  They began to worship the works of their hands and turned away from God.  God gave them over to the worship of the creation and idols that they made.  Their rebellion would eventually send them to captivity in Babylon.  Stephen quoted Amos 5:25-27 showing that God knew about the rebellion and promised to punish them.

Stephen was being used by God to instruct these men, showing God held the Israelites accountable for their idolatry.  They had always rejected His prophets and refused to follow His ways.  Even now, these men were rebelling against the same God by persecuting those who were preaching Jesus Christ as Lord and performing signs and miracles in His name.  They had rejected God’s chosen leader Moses and had also rejected the prophet like Moses that God raised up, Jesus!  They were in danger of being given over themselves to their own idolatry of the Law and the temple!

Stephen used Isaiah 66:1-2 to show that God had already stated that He dwelled in heaven and that any earthly house could not contain Him.  These truths were made plain by Stephen’s preaching to those who were ruling in Jerusalem.  But truth will either bring conviction and repentance, or bring hardening and God’s judgment.  Stephen’s job was simply to present the truth in the power of the Holy Spirit and let the people choose their response.  How are you at listening to God’s truth when you are living outside of it?   Do you like it when God reveals an area of rebellion in your own life?  Is Jesus the leader you are following?

Moses and Christ!

Scripture reading for June 9th:  Acts 7:1-29

The story of one of the seven deacons, Stephen, is interesting.  Stephen was full of faith and the Holy Spirit and God used him in miraculous signs and wonders.  You would think that this would make him a popular preacher, but there were those religious Jews that did not appreciate his message or miracles.  They stirred up some people to testify falsely that he was speaking blasphemy against Moses and God.  (Acts 6:11-14)  They brought him before the Sanhedrin for questioning.  As they looked at him, Stephen’s face took on the characteristics of an angel.

When asked if he were guilty of the charges, Stephen began to speak under the anointing of the Holy Spirit.  He was a young man who spoke respectfully to the elders and leaders he was standing before.  He spoke about the Holy Scriptures that Moses had written, showing his knowledge and respect for that written record.  He began in Genesis with Abraham and God’s call and quickly took them through the history of the Jewish people up to the time of  Moses.

As Stephen mentioned the story of Joseph, he emphasized how the patriarchs were jealous of him and sold him into slavery.  Stephen was trying to get these religious leaders to see that their own jealousy of God’s plan and vision through Christ was a problem.  (Acts 7:9-10)  God raised Joseph up to be ruler over Egypt and the one who would save Israel and the world from a great famine.

Moses was also raised up by the hand of God and raised in Pharaoh’s household.  He was a Jew but given all the wisdom of the Egyptians.  At forty years of age, he saw an Israelite being mistreated by and Egyptian and killed the Egyptian.  Moses was surprised to learn that his act was not appreciated by the Israelites!  He fled to Midian for forty years and tended sheep while the vision to deliver God’s people went dormant. (Acts 7:20-29)

God was trying to speak to these Jews who were jealous of the power of this follower of Jesus.  He was showing them that the Jews had a history of missing what God was doing.  He wanted them to listen and learn from the past.  These Old Testament stories showed truth.  Are you open to learn today?  Are you reading God’s word with a teachable heart?  God is speaking today!

Expanded leadership!

Scripture reading for June 8th:  Acts 6:1-15

Every organization rises or falls on leadership.  Gifts of leadership are given to individuals by God to help the church function smoothly.  No one person is more important or higher than another in Christ’s body, but each person has a different function based on their gifts and talents.  Faithfulness and maturity are foundational to strong leadership.

A crisis in the early church was recorded in Acts 6:1-7.  There was strife and complaining between Grecian Jews and Hebraic Jews over the treatment of their widows.  Some were being overlooked in the daily distribution of food and the apostles gathered together to tackle the problem. “It would not be right for us to neglect the ministry of the Word of God in order to wait on tables.  Brothers, choose seven men from among you who are known to be full of the Spirit and wisdom.  We will turn this responsibility over to them and will give our attention to prayer and the ministry of the Word.” (Acts 6:2b-4)

The apostles recognized their priorities as prayer and ministry of the Word.  They understood that leadership must be expanded.  But just warm bodies would not do the proper job.  These men must be full of the Holy Spirit and wisdom.  Known character and infilling with the Spirit would enable them to have the power necessary to properly function in this important ministry.  God cares deeply about widows and orphans!  (James 1:27)

“This proposal pleased the whole group.  They chose Stephen, a man full of faith and the Holy Spirit; also Philip, Procorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolas from Antioch, a convert to Judiasm.  The presented these men to the apostles, who prayed and laid their hands on them.” (Acts 6:5-6)  The men were selected from a variety of backgrounds and then prayed over by the apostles.  They gave the responsibility of caring for the widows away to responsible people who had the Holy Spirit, faith and wisdom!

The recorded result was an increase in the word of God and number of disciples, even priests were coming to Christ!  When godly leadership functions in the proper tasks, God’s church expands.  Preaching the Word is a priority for those so gifted and called!  Pastoral care is also a vital need that those gifted and called can do.  Are you full of the Holy Spirit with godly character that God can put you into His service?

A deadly lie!

Scripture reading for June 7th: Acts 5:1-42

We tend to think of the Holy Spirit as gentle and always bringing joy, healing, or miracles, but He has another side.  Just as God is a God of love and miracles, but also a God of justice and anger at sin, so the Holy Spirit reflects this variety as well.  In today’s reading, a couple in the early church experienced the anger of God for a simple lie!

Ananias and Sapphira were part of Peter’s congregation in Jerusalem.  They sold some property and kept back some of the proceeds for themselves before taking the rest and laying it at the apostles’ feet.  They evidently represented that they were giving all the proceeds to the Lord’s work to appear more spiritual.  But God knows everything and Peter had a word of knowledge. “Ananias, how is it that Satan has so filled your heart that you have lied to the Holy Spirit and have kept for yourself some of the money you received for the land?  Didn’t it belong to you before it was sold?  And after it was sold, wasn’t the money at your disposal?  What made you think of doing such a thing?  You have not lied to men but to God.” (Acts 5:3-4)

Ananias heard this word and fell over dead, causing great fear in the church.  Some young men came and carried him out and buried him.  About three hours later his wife came in and Peter questioned her about the price of the land and their donation.  She repeated the lie of her husband and her death also came quickly.  “Great fear seized the whole church and all who heart about these events.” (Acts 5:11)

One would think that this kind of happening in the church would cause the church to stop growing, but the opposite happened.  Great signs and wonders were being done by the apostles.  More and more men and women believed in the Lord Jesus and many sick were healed and evil spirits cast out.  (Acts 5:12-16)  Purity in the church produced miraculous manifestations that drew people to trust in Christ.  True Christianity brings real power and conviction!

Do you think that God still works to bring purity to His church?  How are you doing in dealing with your money and offerings?  Why not repent today if you need to!  God would rather show mercy than judge!