Tag: testify
Obeying the heavenly vision
Scripture reading for June 10: Acts 26
“”Therefore, O King Agrippa, I was not disobedient to the heavenly vision, but declared first to those in Damascus, then in Jerusalem and throughout all the region of Judea, and also to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God, performing deeds in keeping with their repentance. For this reason the Jews seized me in the temple and tried to kill me. To this day I have had the help that comes from God, and so I stand here testifying both to small and great, saying nothing but what the prophets and Moses said would come to pass: that the Christ must suffer and that, by being the first to rise from the dead, He would proclaim light both to our people and to the Gentiles.” Acts 26:19-23
Paul, lead by the Holy Spirit, was given the opportunity to share the Gospel with King Agrippa. In this account, Paul again shared how his view of Jesus and those following Him was radically altered by an encounter with Jesus on the Damascus road. During this encounter, Paul was given an appointment to serve Jesus as a witness to his people as well as to the Gentiles. Jesus had promised to deliver Paul from the Jews and from the Gentiles. Through Paul, God would open the eyes of all those in darkness granting repentance through Jesus Christ. (Acts 26:15-18)
In sharing his personal repentance in response to God’s revelation of Jesus Christ to King Agrippa, Paul was obedient to that vision. His world view was powerfully altered and after the vision Paul changed from a persecutor and killer of Christ’s followers to a witness of Christ’s love and mercy for all men. Paul powerfully proclaimed Jesus as the fulfilment of Moses and the prophets through His suffering, death, and resurrection from the dead. This placed him in conflict with the Jews, who like him before this vision, considered Jesus an impostor and his followers as dangerous.
Have you ever had a personal encounter with Jesus Christ that brought repentance and dramatic conversion? How have you sought to be obedient to that heavenly revelation? Are you aware of the conflict that comes when you change your world view to embrace Jesus and His followers?
Prayer: Father God, thank You for Your personal revelation of Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior and my appointment to preach Your amazing Gospel. I have sought to obey that heavenly vision and continue to daily walk it out. Deliver me from those bent on my destruction and use me to reach lost people. Amen.
Sparrows and hairs!
Scripture reading for January 14: Matthew 10
“”And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather fear Him Who can destroy both soul and body in hell. Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? And not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father. But even the hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not, therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows. So everyone who acknowledges Me before men, I also will acknowledge before My Father Who is in heaven, but anyone who denies Me before men, I also will deny before My Father Who is in heaven.”” Matthew 10:28-33
There are things in life that we think are unimportant and would be a waste of God’s time and attention. Jesus brought up two of these in this discussion about what is really of value. Jesus warned His disciples not to fear those who could kill them physically but had no power over their eternal souls. He brought their attention to the common sparrow of His time. This was one of the cheaper meats on the market of Jesus’ day. Two sparrows were sold for a ‘penny,’ a very small price. Yet Jesus said that His Father would notice each fallen sparrow! Personally, Jesus pointed to the hairs on our head being numbered by our Father in heaven! Jesus’ point was that we are of greater worth than sparrows or hairs!
Jesus was encouraging His disciples to stand up and testify about Him before men. Their call was to testify to the lost world of His amazing love for mankind and His personal knowledge of each person’s life and destiny. As they obeyed their calling to affirm Jesus before men, Jesus, in turn, would also affirm them before the Father in heaven. This is not righteousness by works, however. It is by faith in Jesus that we live and our testimony of Him flows by love through relationship.
Do you struggle to give public testimony of your relationship with Jesus Christ? Do you fear what others might think of you and less about what God might think about you living in fear? What do you think Jesus will say about you before the Father? Take time to talk to Jesus about your concerns.
Prayer: Thank You for Your amazing care for creation revealed in the sparrows and hairs of our head. Forgive me for shrinking back in fear before those who might not receive testimony of Your love for them in Jesus. Fill me with such love and power by Your Spirit that I testify before all men. Amen.
Jesus standing by!
Scripture reading for May 6th: Acts 23
Key Scriptures: Acts 23:9-11 “Then a great clamor arose, and some of the scribes of the Pharisees’ party stood up and contended sharply, “We find nothing wrong in this man. What if a spirit or an angel spoke to him?” And when the dissension became violent, the tribune, afraid that Paul would be torn to pieces by them, commanded the soldiers to go down and take him away from among them by force and bring him into the barracks. The following night the Lord stood by him and said, “Take courage, for as you have testified to the facts about Me in Jerusalem, so you must testify also in Rome.””
Jesus is with His people always and in all situations. He is in charge of what His people walk through in their appointed calling. Paul was in the center of God’s will and doing what He was called to do. God was at work on those of the Jews as well as the Gentile soldiers and their handlers as well as the officials of Rome. He placed Paul where He could minister the Gospel of Jesus Christ to all and also had plans to reach even to Rome with Paul. Even a plot of ambush by forty Jews to kill Paul didn’t stop God’s plans. The devil is no match for God’s Spirit-filled people! Paul could rest soundly knowing Jesus was standing by him!
Daniel 3:24-25 “Then King Nebuchadnezzar was astonished and rose up in haste. He declared to his counselors, “Did we not cast three men bound into the fire?” They answered and said to the king, “True, O king.” He answered and said, “But I see four men unbound, walking in the midst of the fire, and they are not hurt; and the appearance of the fourth is like a son of the gods.””
Faith confession and prayer: Lord Jesus, thank You for standing by Your people in every age and every mountain and valley. Thank You for vision and Words of encouragement when the going gets tough. May I testify boldly to the facts of Who You are and Your plan of salvation, knowing that You are standing by me.
Psalm 4:8 “In peace I will both lie down and sleep; for You alone, O Lord, make me dwell in safety.”
Paul’s testimony of Jesus
Scripture reading for May 5th: Acts 22
Key Scriptures: Acts 22:12-16 “”And one Ananias, a devout man according to the law, well spoken of by all the Jews who lived there, came to me and standing by me said to me, ‘Brother Saul, receive your sight.’ And at that very hour, I received my sight and saw him. An he said, ‘The God of our fathers appointed you to know His will, to see the Righteous One and to hear a voice from His mouth; for you will be a witness for Him to everyone of what you have seen and heard. And now why do you wait: Rise and be baptized and wash away your sins, calling on His Name.'”
As Paul was brought by the Roman magistrate to stand before the Jewish council, he began to share his personal journey from a zealous Pharisee who personally rounded up followers of Jesus to a follower of Jesus. He shared how he met Jesus on the road to Damascus and how he was blinded by the light. He shared how another Jewish believer, Ananias, was sent to him to pray for him and how he immediately received his sight back. He told how he was appointed to know God’s will and see Jesus and become a witness of all he saw and heard. He also shared how he was baptized and saw Jesus in a trance while praying in the temple. Jesus warned him to get out of Jerusalem quickly because the Jews would not accept his testimony. Jesus then sent him to the Gentiles. At this, the murderous spirit against Christ and His followers manifested! Sounds like the ‘cancel’ culture of our day that tries to destroy what it opposes!
Acts 22:21-22 “And He said to me, ‘Go, for I will send you far away to the Gentiles.'” Up to this they listened to him. Then they raised their voices and said, “Away with such a fellow from the earth! For he should not be allowed to live.””
Faith confession and prayer: Lord Jesus, thank You for Paul’s testimony and witness to me and the world. Thank You for my personal testimony of You calling me to preach and testify. Help me to boldly share Your Gospel love, even to those who may reject You or try to cancel me.
2nd Timothy 3:12-13 “Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted, while evil people and impostors will go on from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived.”
Testify to the facts of Jesus!
Scripture reading for May 14th: 2nd Samuel 6, 1st Chronicles 13, Psalm 60, Acts 23
Key Scriptures: Acts 23:8-11 “For the Sadducees say that there is no resurrection, nor angel, nor spirit, but the Pharisees acknowledge them all. Then a great clamor arose, and some of the scribes of the Pharisees’ party stood up and contended sharply, “We find nothing wrong in this man. What if a spirit or an angel spoke to him?” And when the dissension became violent, the tribune, afraid that Paul would be torn to pieces by them, commanded the soldiers to go down and take him away from among them by force and bring him into the barracks. The following night the Lord stood by him and said, “Take courage, for as you have testified to the facts about Me in Jerusalem, so you must testify also in Rome.””
Paul, led by the Holy Spirit, testified of his hope in the resurrection. As a Pharisee, he was a believer in the supernatural but the Saducees did not believe. Paul used this to divide the Jews who had come to accuse him. The result was a great argument that brought the Roman officials to take Paul out of the courtroom. Jesus appeared again to Paul as he was under house arrest. Jesus instructed him to be courageous. He would be used to testify to the facts about Jesus in Rome as well.
Psalm 60:12 “With God we shall do valiantly; it is He Who will tread down our foes.”
Faith confession and prayer: Lord, fill me with the power of the Holy Spirit and I will testify to the facts of Jesus Christ before all men. I will testify of Jesus Christ with all my might as an act of worship.
1st Samuel 6:14 “And David danced before the Lord with all his might. And David was wearing a linen ephod.”
Not afraid of ‘bad news’!
Scripture reading for June 5th: Acts 23, Psalm 112, Proverbs 19
Key Scriptures: Acts 23:9-11 “Then a great clamor arose, and some of the scribes of the Pharisees’ party stood up and contended sharply, “We find nothing wrong in this man. What if a spirit or an angel spoke to him?” And when the dissension became violent, the tribune, afraid that Paul would be torn to pieces by them commanded the soldiers to go down and take him away from among them by force and bring him into the barracks. the following night the Lord stood by him and said, “Take courage, for as you have testified to the facts about Me in Jerusalem, so you must testify also in Rome.””
Religious folks are sometimes argumentative and violent. Paul used the religious divide between rival factions in the Jewish ruling party to give opportunity to share the Gospel. This also got him in prison on this occasion. But Jesus stood by Paul and gave him a word of encouragement that helped Paul stand firm and walk through the trial.
Faith Confession: Thank You Lord that You are always with me to guide me and encourage me in every trial and test. You are always working out Your plans for Your glory and my good, encouraging me.
Psalm 112:6-7 “For the righteous will never be moved; he will be remembered forever. He is not afraid of bad news; his heart is fir, trusting in the Lord.”
The Gracious and Merciful God!
Scripture reading for June 5th: 2nd Chronicles 27-30, Acts 23
Key Scriptures: 2nd Chronicles 30:8-9 “Do not be like your fathers and your brothers, who were faithless to the Lord God of their fathers, so that He made them a desolation, as you see. So not now don’t be stiff-necked as your fathers were, but yield yourselves to the Lord and come to His Sanctuary, which He has consecrated forever, and serve the Lord your God, that His fierce anger may turn away from you. For if you return to the Lord, your brothers and your children will find compassion with their captors and return to this land. For the Lord your God is gracious and merciful and will not turn away His face from you if you return to Him.”
Hezekiah lead Israel in a revival of worship and repentance. He urged the not to be stubborn, but to seek the Lord for His mercy by returning to God. God was merciful and full of compassion to those who humbly repented. God stands by His people and gives courage!
Acts 23:11 “The following night the Lord stood by him and said, “Take courage for as you have testified to the facts about Me in Jerusalem, so you must testify also in Rome.”
Prayer: Lord, thank You for Your great mercy and for standing with Your people. Give me courage today. Amen.
Life and immortality through the Gospel!
Scripture reading for October 22nd: 2nd Timothy 1:1-18
Paul’s second letter to Timothy turned out to be his last letter before he was martyred for serving Christ. He knew that his time on this earth is short and wanted to pass on important pastoral encouragement to his young friend and co-w0rker. Timothy was the pastor of the church that Paul had founded in Ephesus and also faced increasing persecution. His youth and somewhat timid spirit may have hindered his ministry.
“For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline. So do not be ashamed to testify about our Lord, or ashamed of me His prisoner. But join with me in suffering for the gospel, by the power of God, who has saved us and called us to a holy life–not because of anything we have done, but because of His own purpose and grace. (2nd Timothy 1:7-9) The Holy Spirit brings us power to live a life of love and self-discipline. God’s purpose is to use us as a witness of this love through our godly living and through our witness. He chose us Himself and through grace saved us.
This grace was given us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time, but it has now been revealed through the appearing of our Savior, Christ Jesus, who has destroyed death and has brought life and immortality to light through the Gospel.” (2nd Timothy 1:9b-10) God’s plans were put in place before the beginning of time. God lives in the realm of eternity and sees all of time. He and His Son determined the proper time to reveal His grace by Jesus Christ, the Son, coming to earth as a man. Through Christ’s life and atoning death, the way for all men to receive God’s grace was made available. Now through preaching this Gospel, the gift of eternal life and the path to immortality with God has been opened to all who will believe!
“And of this Gospel I was appointed a herald, an apostle and a teacher. That is why I am suffering as I am. Yet I am not ashamed, because I know whom I have believed, and am convinced that He is able to guard what I have entrusted to Him for that day.” (2nd Timothy 1:11-12) Paul assured Timothy that God would be faithful to keep them both!