Singing in the night!
Scripture reading for May 27: Acts 16
” About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them, and suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken. And immediately all the doors were opened, and everyone’s bonds were unfastened. When the jailer woke and saw that the prison doors were open, he drew his sword and was about to kill himself, supposing that the prisoners had escaped. But Paul cried with a loud voice, “Do not harm yourself, for we are all here.” And the jailer called for lights and rushed in, and trembling with fear he fell down before Paul and Silas. Then he brought them out and said, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” Acts 16:25-30
This story is a contrast of different world views. In Paul and Silas we have prayer and worship, in spite of being in the prison dungeon in chains. In the other prisoners, we find curious listening and probably some mocking of their faith and worship. In the jailer, we find despair in his assumption that his life was over if the prisoners had escaped. I imagine all would have been shaken up because of the strong earthquake that opened the doors and unfastened the shackles. Why wouldn’t they escape with open doors and loosened chains? That should have been the logical outcome. Faith works by love!
The contrast is one of worldly logic and human nature and its fears with faith and supernatural peace. Paul and Silas were prisoners of Rome but free to worship and pray. They entered the world of God’s abundance and divine provision where all things are possible. As they worshipped, heaven did what human strength or reason could not. Invisible forces of angelic power and God’s providence shook the jail and those inside and outside. The jailer and his household were saved and redeemed. The magistrate ordered their release from jail. Paul and Silas demanded an apology and got one. They visited other believers and departed, having done God’s will and work.
How do you think you might have responded to being beaten and imprisoned for the Gospel? Why does God allow His people to go through this kind of suffering in doing His work? What role did these apostles have in reaching the jailer and his family?
Prayer: Father God, thank You for sharing with us Your amazing ability to answer prayer. Thank you for using Your people, even in suffering, to witness hope to those imprisoned by their own sinful world view. Lead me by Your Holy Spirit to live in such manner as to have people ask how to be saved. Amen!
Handling sharp disagreements!
Scripture reading for May 26: Acts 15
“And after some days Paul said to Barnabas, “Let us return and visit the brothers in every city where we proclaimed the Word of the Lord, and see how they are.” Now Barnabas wanted to take with them John called Mark. But Paul thought best not to take with them one who had withdrawn from them in Pamphylia and had not gone with them to the work. And there arose a sharp disagreement, so that they separated from each other. Barnabas took Mark with him and sailed away to Cyprus, but Paul chose Silas and departed, having been commended by the brothers to the grace of the Lord.” Acts 15:36-40
Being believers in church leadership does not mean everyone will always be in agreement. This passage records a ‘sharp’ disagreement between Paul and Barnabas over John Mark, a young believer who had deserted them on their earlier missionary journey. (Acts 13:13) This disagreement resulted in Paul and Barnabas separating and two missions journeys instead of one. (Not a bad thing!) Prayer was made over both teams and they were sent out by the church.
What do we learn from this record of a sharp disagreement? First, each person has a different world view and level of faith from knowing God and His Word. God is working in each life through the Holy Spirit to bring unity and love between brothers. When we don’t see opportunities or problems in the same way, prayer is needed to seek God. Sometimes, peaceful separation for a time will bring clarity. God’s grace is always at work to accomplish His plan and purpose. Mark went with the encourager, Barnabas, and was restored to ministry, eventually writing the Gospel record that bears his name. Paul got to mentor another missionary, Silas, and multiplied ministry. Churches were encouraged and built up by both ministers and their mentors. It was a winning result that moved God’s kingdom forward.
Have you ever had a sharp disagreement with another in ministry or the church? How did God work this out for His good and your growth? Does this help you to think differently about handling disagreements? What do you learn about handling disagreements agreeably?
Prayer: Father God, I thank You that You work out all thing for the good of those that love You. Please take our fleshly disagreements and different opinions and make something good come forth. Please correct my attitude and actions when needed towards those who disagree with me. Amen.
Stand upright!
Scripture reading for May 23: Acts 14
“Now at Lystra there was a man sitting who could not use his feet. He was crippled from birth and had never walked. He listened to Paul speaking. And Paul, looking intently at him and seeing that he had faith to be made well, said in a loud voice, “Stand upright on your feet.” And when the crowds saw what Paul had done, they lifted up their voices, saying in Lycaonian, “the gods have come down to us in the likeness of these men.”” Barnabas they called Zeus, and Paul, Hermes, because he was the chief speaker.” Acts 14:8-12
Paul and Barnabas next went to Lystra and began ministry. At their meeting there was a man lame from birth, having never walked. As he preached, Paul received a word of knowledge from the Holy Spirit that this man had faith to receive healing. Paul focused his attention on the man and made a simple statement: “Stand upright on your feet.” In faith, the man stood up, doing what he was never able to do before. His world view was drastically changed through obedience and faith!
This healing caught everyone’s attention! The people were involved in idolatry in their city. Their world view had them conclude that their gods, Zeus and Hermes, had come down in the form of these men. The idolatrous priests sought to bring sacrifices and worship Paul and Barnabas. But the Apostles tore their clothes and shared the Good News of Jesus Christ, the living God and Creator of heaven and earth. Their desire was to help each person escape from the grip of idolatry that had held them from birth and see them enter a new heavenly world view with eternal life. They too could “stand up and walk”!
How has your past view of the world and God limited your ability to function to your fullest in this life? How did God challenge your limited world view with new possibilities? Do you think that God could use you to speak words of healing and life over those in your life who are spiritually or physically disabled?
Prayer: Father God, I thank You that with You all things are possible to those who believe. Help me to grow in faith and obedience to Your leading so that I might be used to bring the Good News of Your love and mercy to those in my circle of influence. May all stand up and walk with You! Amen.
Salvation to earth’s end!
Scripture reading for May 22: Acts 13
“The next Sabbath almost the whole city gathered to hear the Word of the Lord. But when the Jews saw the crowds, they were filled with jealousy and began to contradict what was spoken by Paul, reviling him. And Paul and Barnabas spoke out boldly, saying, “It was necessary that the Word of God be spoken first to you. Since you thrust it aside and judge yourselves unworthy of eternal life, behold we are turning to the Gentiles. For so the Lord has commanded us, saying, “‘I have made you a light for the Gentiles, that you may bring salvation to the ends of the earth.'” And when the Gentiles heard this, they began rejoicing and glorifying the Word of the Lord, and as many as were appointed to eternal life believed.” Acts 13:44-48
Paul and his companions had been sent out on a mission by the Holy Spirit and the Church at Antioch. (Acts 13:1-3) As they went, they preached the Gospel message, and usually began with the Jews in each city they visited. There were great crowds that gathered to hear the message and many who heard were being saved. But the leaders of the Jews became jealous and spoke harshly against Paul and the mission team, contradicting them. But Paul understood the mission that they had been sent on by the Holy Spirit and Jesus Christ. Their purpose was to preach the Good News to all people, Gentiles included.
Paul quoted a Scripture to them taken from Isaiah 45:22 and 49:6 to show them God’s intended plan that all men and women from all nations would come to the Light of Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ had been raised in ‘Galilee of the Gentiles’ and done many miracles there. He had healed both Jew and Gentile and preached to the Samaritans. When the Gentiles heard Paul’s declaration, they began rejoicing an glorifying God’s Word! God is always seeking to enlarge our world view with His stated Word of Truth!
Have you ever gotten upset or jealous when your view of life or religious understanding has been threatened? Does the Word of the Lord, the Gospel of Jesus Christ, sometimes bring division and contention? Do you ever think that some people should not have eternal life?
Prayer: Father God, thank You for expanding my world view and addressing my limited understanding of Your will with those preaching Your Word. Forgive me when I have judged some as not worthy of hearing the Good News. Send me to those in need of hearing the Good News in my end of the earth! Amen!
Remember the Word!
Scripture reading for May 20: Acts 11
“And he told us how he had seen the angel stand in his house and say, ‘Send to Joppa and bring Simon who is called Peter; he will declare to you a message by which you will be saved, you and your household.’ As I began to speak, the Holy Spirit fell on them just as on as at the beginning. And I remembered the Word of the Lord, how He said, ‘John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.’ If then God gave the same gift to them as He gave to us when we believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I that I could stand in God’s way?” When they heard these things they fell silent. And they glorified God, saying, “Then to the Gentiles also God has granted repentance that leads to life.”” Acts 11:13-18
Although Jesus had shared how the disciples were to wait for the infilling of the Holy Spirit and they had experienced the initial baptism of the Spirit on the day of Pentecost, they needed further and a deeper understanding of God’s desire for all people to received this empowerment. God sent Peter through a vision to the house of Cornelius, a Roman centurion. God had told Cornelius by an angel where to find Peter and how Peter would share a message that would bring salvation to him and his whole household. When these two people listened and obeyed, God showed up through Peter’s preaching and poured out the gift of the Holy Spirit with the evidence of speaking in tongues. Peter and his helpers were amazed!
Peter’s conclusion was that God had given these Gentiles the same gift as the disciples had received. His testimony to the church leaders about this brought initial silence as they processed this amazing event. Then they glorified God and stated their understanding that God had granted these Gentiles repentance and eternal life. Everything was confirmed by the Word of the Lord and took place as the Word of grace through Jesus Christ was preached. It was just as the Lord had said!
Have you ever had your understanding of God’s will expanded through a supernatural event? Do you believe that with God all things are possible and His Word will prove to be true? In what ways did God through the Holy Spirit help those involved in this ‘Gentile Pentecost?’
Prayer: Father God, Your great love and patience with Your people is comforting and amazing to me. Thank You for filling Your people with the Holy Spirit and bringing remembrance of Your Word to help us overcome a faulty world view. Direct me to those who You are desiring to reach and bless. Amen.
Gentile Pentecost!
Scripture reading for May 19: Acts 10
“While Peter was still saying these things, the Holy Spirit fell on all who heard the Word. And the believers from among the circumcised who had come with Peter were amazed because the gift of the Holy Spirit was poured out even on the Gentiles. For they were hearing them speaking in tongues and extolling God. Then Peter declared, “Can anyone withhold water for baptizing these people, who have received the Holy Spirit just as we have?” And he commanded them to be baptized in the Name of Jesus Christ. Then they asked him to remain some days.” Acts 10:44-48
Peter was a Jewish believer in Jesus. The Jews were taught to maintain separation from Gentiles. But as Peter was praying, God gave him a vision and then spoke to him by the Holy Spirit, instructing him to go with Gentiles who would come to his home. These Gentile men had been sent by the Roman centurion, Cornelius in obedience to God’s instructions to him. All of these events were planned by God and designed to bring these Gentile believers into the body of Christ, His Church. They were also designed to expand Peter’s world view concerning Gentiles and their calling as Spirit-filled believers.
Peter went with the men to Cornelius’ home and found a crowd of friends and relatives awaiting him. He explained how God had planned this event and how he had come in spite of his Jewish upbringing and rules forbidding interaction with Gentiles. As Peter preached Jesus as Lord, the Holy Spirit took over the meeting and fell on those in attendance. They began to speak in tongues and glorify God. Peter and his Jewish companions were amazed and declared that these Gentile believers should be baptized in the Name of Jesus Christ. The baptism of the Holy Spirit and speaking in tongues had convincingly shown them that God had shown no favorites but wanted all men, Jew or Gentile, to be empowered and saved.
Has God ever brought about events in your life that turned your thinking and understanding upside down? In what ways had the Holy Spirit been working in Cornelius to bring him to salvation? Though Peter was saved and filled with the Holy Spirit, why did God have to help him to reach out here?
Prayer: Father God, sometimes my past religious training and traditions have limited my willingness to love others and share Christ with them. Forgive my ignorance and fill me with Your Holy Spirit. Use whatever means necessary to bring me to a fuller Christ-centered world view. Amen.
Saul saw the Light!
Scripture reading for May 16: Acts 9
“But Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest and asked him for letters to the synagogues at Damascus, so that if he found any belonging to the Way, men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem. Now as he went on his way, he approached Damascus, and suddenly a light from heaven shone around him. And falling to the ground he heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?” And he said, “Who are you, Lord?” And He said, “I am Jesus, Whom you are persecuting. But rise and enter the city, and you will be told what you are to do.”” Acts 9:1-6
Saul, a Pharisee, was seeking to strictly follow the Law and traditions of his people, the Jews. He had considered Jesus an impostor and was seeking to stop those who were following Jesus from preaching His resurrection and gaining converts. Saul was angry at those whom he considered ignorant and subversive of true Judaism. He obtained a legal warrant from the high priest to go to Damascus where he knew he would find more followers of Jesus. As he was on his way, suddenly a light shone around him and he fell to the ground. A voice spoke to Saul, asking him by name why he was persecuting Him.
Saul’s response to this sudden event and the voice, was to ask who it was that was speaking to him. Jesus answered, stating His Name and telling Saul that He was the One being persecuted. Saul was after Jesus’ followers, but Jesus considered that attack on them as if Saul had attacked Him! This revelation literally blinded Saul. He was told by Jesus to rise and enter the city of Damascus and await instructions. His traveling companions assisted him to obey, leading him by his hand. This was the beginning of Saul’s regaining his ‘sight’ and a new world view based on the ‘truth’!
Have you ever held a world view that you strongly believed in, only to find yourself dramatically wrong? What kind of thoughts do you think Saul had when Jesus confronted him? Do you think he resisted making changes before this time? How was Saul’s loss of sight and regaining sight helpful to us?
Prayer: Father God, thank You for Your great patience and mercy with each person. Thank You for caring enough to personally intervene in lives that are tragically on the wrong path. Use my life and testimony, like Saul of old, to share with others still living in darkness and persecuting Jesus. Amen.
Money and power
Scripture reading for May 15: Acts 8
“Now when the apostles at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the Word of God, they sent to them Peter and John, who came down and prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit, for He had not yet fallen on any of them, but they had only been baptized in the Name of the Lord Jesus. Then they laid their hands on them and they received the Holy Spirit. Now when Simon saw that the Spirit was given through the laying on of the apostles’ hands, he offered them money, saying, “Give me this power also, so that anyone on whom I lay my hands may receive the Holy Spirit.” But Peter said to him, “May your silver perish with you, because you though you could obtain the gift of God with money!”” Acts 8:14-20
The church was growing rapidly and was now growing in Samaria. Jesus had visited their region and the woman at the well had shared Jesus with her fellow Samaritans. Now Philip, the deacon turned evangelist, had preached there and many had been baptized in the Name of Jesus. The apostles in Jerusalem, Peter and John, had come to see this church and build it up. They saw that these believers had not received the baptism of the Holy Spirit, although they had been baptized in water. They laid their hands on them and prayed over them to receive the Gift of the Father, the Holy Spirit. Although it doesn’t specifically say, these so filled must have spoken in tongues and were filled with joy and boldness.
Simon, a former sorcerer, who had believed and was baptized watched the apostles. He went to Peter and John with money to purchase the ability to lay hands on people to receive the Holy Spirit. Peter and John rebuked him sharply. God’s Gift is never for sale! His heart was not right and he must quickly repent or perish! The Holy Spirit is received by faith through God’s grace to those who ask. (Luke 11:13)
From this passage, is it possible to have repented, believed, and been baptized in Jesus’ Name and still not be filled with the Holy Spirit? Was it necessary for the apostles to lay hands on them for their reception of the Holy Spirit? How do you know when you have received the Holy Spirit?
Prayer: Father God, thank You for Your Gift of the Holy Spirit. Thank You for the infilling of the Holy Spirit for empowering us to be a witness and pray effectively. Give me deeper insight into how to pray for those needing this Gift and how to help all believers to be filled. Amen.
Resisting the Holy Spirit
Scripture reading for May 14: Acts 7
“”You stiff-necked people, uncircumcised in heart and ears, you always resist the Holy Spirit. As your fathers did, so do you. Which of the prophets did your fathers not persecute? And they killed those who announced beforehand the coming of the Righteous One, Whom you have now betrayed and murdered, you who received the law as delivered by angels and did not keep it.” Now when they heard these things they were enraged, and they ground their teeth at him. But he, full of the Holy Spirit, gazed into heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. And he said, “Behold, I see the heavens opened and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.”” Acts 7:51-56
From this account in Scripture, we see Stephen, one of the appointed deacons in the early church, confronting the Jews who had condemned and crucified Jesus Christ. He spoke plainly to them concerning their ‘stiff necks’ and ‘uncircumcised’ hearts. He told them plainly how they were doing the same things that their fathers had done when they persecuted the prophets who announced Christ’s coming. He told them how they were breaking the law that Moses had received from God through angels for them. Truth can have one of two results. Humble repentance and a change of mind is the best and the life-giving choice. But these men became enraged and ground their teeth in anger at the truth.
It is the Holy Spirit that confronts each person with sin, righteousness, and the coming judgment. (John 16:8-11) When we are filled with the Holy Spirt, we become vessels that God uses to share truth and the Good News of grace and forgiveness of sins through Jesus Christ. The Holy Spirit exalts Jesus and gives redemptive vision. Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit, preached truth. He also shared a vision of Jesus Christ, exalted to God’s right hand. Those resisting the Holy Spirit became angry and killed God’s messenger! (Acts 7:58)
Have you ever been guilty of resisting the Holy Spirit when He was speaking through a witness to you? Are you asking Jesus to fill you with the Holy Spirit so you can effectively witness to the lost? How do you now understand and process Stephen’s stoning at the hands of those he preached to?
Prayer: Father God, have mercy on those who have and are currently resisting the Holy Spirit. Fill me with the Holy Spirit and bring truth into my life first of all. Drive out any stiff-necked attitudes or actions in me. Empower me with boldness to speak the truth in love to others in need of repentance. Amen.