Tag: vision
Praying for boldness!
Scripture reading for May 9: Acts 4
“. . .for truly in this city there were gathered together against Your Holy Servant Jesus, Whom you anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, along with the Gentiles and the peoples of Israel, to do whatever Your hand and Your plan had predestined to take place. And now, Lord, look upon their threats and grant to Your servants to continue to speak Your Word with all boldness, while You stretch out Your hand to heal, and signs and wonders are performed through the Name of Your Holy Servant Jesus.” And when they had prayed, the place in which they were gathered together was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and continued to speak the Word of God with boldness.” Acts 4:27-31
The early church and it’s leadership faced great opposition from many quarters. The government of King Herod and governor Pontius Pilate had both helped in the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. They were Gentiles, as were the soldiers of Rome who actually crucified Him. The Jewish people and religious leaders had brought the accusations and forced the crucifixion and also had guilt. But as these persecuted believers gathered for prayer, they asked for increased boldness to speak the Word of God. They trusted that as they preached, Jesus would work with them performing signs and wonders as they obeyed and believed. As they prayed, it was recorded that God shook the place and there was a fresh infilling of the Holy Spirit.
The result of the infilling of the Holy Spirit was increased boldness and confidence to preach. It does not say whether they spoke in tongues again here, but that was the accompanying sign at their initial infilling. (Acts 2:4) Opposition did not bring a request that God deal with those opposing. They did not pray to be taken out of the situation or to be protected from harm. Their focus was on their mission to reach lost people, Jew or Gentile, rulers or citizens. They knew that God was working and would not fail them.
What do you normally pray for when you face difficulties or spiritual opposition? Do you look at each situation from the world view of God working out what He had purposed? Have you ever prayed for boldness to preach the Good News of Jesus Christ?
Prayer: Father God, many times I have prayed for superficial needs or for my own comfort and safety when facing opposition. Forgive me for selfishness and lack of vision. Give me a new boldness to share the Gospel with those who may oppose me. Fill me afresh with the Holy Spirit and confidence. Amen.
Peter and the Gentile Pentecost
Scripture reading for November 8: Acts 10-12
Have you ever struggled to understand what God is doing and wants to do? You are in good company! In this section of Acts, the Apostle Peter needed a vision from the Lord to help him overcome an area of prejudice that came from his Jewish upbringing and religion. Sometimes we learn things wrong and God knows how to work with us to get us straightened out again. Thank God for His mercy and patience!
This story begins with a Gentile centurion named Cornelius who feared God and gave generously to those in need as well as praying regularly. One day, Cornelius had a vision and saw an angel of God who spoke his name plainly! (Acts 10:3) The angel told him that his prayers and gifts to the poor had come before the Lord and that he should send for a man named Simon Peter to come. In the meantime, God gave a vision to Simon Peter while he was on the roof praying. In this vision he saw a sheet with all kind of animals, reptiles, and birds of the air. A voice told him to get up, kill, and eat! Peter protested to the Lord that he had never eaten anything unclean. The voice spoke a second time warning him not to call anything impure that God had made clean. This had happened three times when the men who came from Cornelius knocked on the door. The Spirit spoke to Peter about them and told him to go with them. Peter heard and obeyed, inviting the men in and then going with them.
The next day, they entered the house of a Gentile, something a good Jew would never do. Cornelius told him about his vision and why he sent for him. He invited Peter to speak to them all the Lord would have him say. What an open invitation! Peter began to preach the Gospel and as he preached, the Holy Spirit came upon them and they all began to speak in tongues and praise God just like on the day of Pentecost! Peter and all the Jews with him were amazed at what God had done and they baptized these new believers in water. Peter stayed with them a few days.
What can we learn from this? First, God knows how to reach people who are hungry for more! He will work with sincere believers like Peter who have prejudice to help them with truth. He recognized these Gentiles for their prayers, gifts to the poor and seeking of God. Their works came before the Lord and He acted to send them a person who could help them understand Him more fully. God is no respecter of persons. He gave the same Holy Spirit to the Gentiles as those in that upper room on Pentecost! Spend time in prayer today seeking the Lord for clarity and new direction! You can have a new Pentecost today!
Vision to Stand Firm!
Scripture reading for September 4th: Psalm 147-150, Philippians 3
Key Scriptures: Philippians 3:20-4:1 “But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, who, by the power that enables Him to bring everything under His control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like His glorious body. Therefore, my brothers, you whom I love and long for, my joy and crown, that is how you should stand firm in the Lord, dear friends!”
As Paul was concluding his letter to the Philippians, he cast vision of Christ’s return and the expectation of believers. Christ’s return would bring the ultimate transformation of human flesh to those who trusted in Him. Lowly earthly bodies will be transformed into eternal heavenly bodies, just like Christ’s. This is vision that enables faith and a firm stand.
Psalm 148:13-14 “Let them praise the Name of the Lord, for His Name alone is exalted; His splendor is above the earth and the heavens. He has raised up for His people a horn, the praise of all His saints, of Israel, the people close to His heart. Praise the Lord!”
Prayer: Lord, we praise You and Your Horn, Jesus Christ our Savior. We look forward to Your return for us and the transformation that will take place at that time! Amen.
Expanded ministry and vision!
Scripture reading for June 17th: Acts 11:1-30
“Without a vision, people cast off restraint.” (Proverbs 29:18) Spiritual vision is the ability to see with the eyes of the heart what God is doing and where He is taking you. Accurate spiritual vision will always line up with the Word of God, which never changes.
The leadership of the early church was overwhelmingly devout Jews who had come to Christ. Their understanding of God’s plan was filtered through their religious training and traditions. God worked with Peter first, helping him to see the need to preach to the Gentiles. When the others in Jerusalem heard that Peter had gone to the Gentiles, they criticized Peter. (Acts 11:1-3)
Peter explained how God had helped him to see that the Gentiles were also to be saved. (Acts 11:14) God worked in such a miraculous and supernatural manner, that their eyes were opened to God’s bigger plan. When these Gentiles received the gift of the Holy Spirit with the evidence of tongues, all doubt was removed! (Acts 11:15-17) Those who heard the testimony began to praise God for granting the Gentiles repentance to eternal life!
With this new vision, the scattered church began to preach to the Gentiles in distant lands. Some went to Cyprus and Cyrene and Antioch preaching to the Greeks there. “The Lord’s hand was on them and a great number of people believed and turned to the Lord.” (Acts 11:21) God’s grace brought salvation to all who would believe! The disciples in Jerusalem sent Barnabas to find Saul and both went to preach in Antioch and instruct the believers there. Great numbers of people were brought to the Lord as these apostles taught in Antioch for a whole year together. It is recorded that Christ’s followers were first called “Christians” at Antioch! (Acts 11:26)
New vision, expanded ministry, and great numbers of people being saved brought excitement and joy to the early church. Men and women, full of the Holy Spirit preached and taught, bringing the Word of Jesus Christ to Jew and Gentile alike. God saved all who believed! This simple program is still in effect today! God wants to use you to reach the world you live in! Are you full of vision and equipped with the Holy Spirit?
Melchizedek and Jesus
Scripture reading for January 6th: Genesis 12-14
Abram and his nephew Lot were prosperous in the new land God had taken them to. Abram had built an altar to the Lord in Bethel and began to call upon the Lord. (Genesis 13:3-4) Lot and his herdsmen began to quarrel with Abram’s herdsmen. Abram was a peacemaker and decided they should separate. He gave Lot the choice of where he would settle. Lot had his eyes on the fertile plain and the city of Sodom. Sodom was a wicked city and the men there were sinning greatly in the sight of the Lord. (Genesis 13:13)
After Lot had moved, the Lord spoke to Abram, telling him to lift up his eyes and look in each direction. All that he could see would be given to him and his descendants forever! God reaffirmed that He would make Abram’s offspring as numerous as the dust of the earth. God encouraged Abram to walk through the land and survey it. Abram moved his tent near Hebron and built an altar to the Lord there. (Genesis 13:18) God blessed Abram for his faith and willingness to let God lead him to where he was supposed to be. This is a helpful hint for us in our walk. We can be selfish and reach out to take, or we can more wisely worship the Lord and follow Him!
Some time later, we find some kings attacking Sodom and carrying off Lot and his family, as well as the goods of Sodom. Abram took his men and went in pursuit. He recovered all the people plus the goods. (Genesis 14:16) As he returned, both the king of Sodom and Melchizedek, king of Salem (Jerusalem), came to meet Abram. Melchizedek, a priest of the Most High God, met Abram with bread and wine and blessed him. Abram responded by giving a tithe of everything to this mysterious priest and king. (Genesis 14:20)
Jesus Christ is said to be a priest after the order of Melchizedek, having the power of an endless life! (Hebrews 7:15-17) As a priest, Jesus intercedes for us before the throne. (Romans 8:34) He served His disciples bread and wine at the Last Supper and told them to do it often in remembrance of Him. (Matthew 26:26-29) He is also King of Kings and will reign in the Jerusalem during the millennium! (Revelation 20:4-5) Jesus alone is worthy of our worship, tithes, and dedication!
Transition of Leadership
Scripture reading for April 21: 1st Chronicles 22-27
As I have attended and worked in different church families, one of the things that is often done poorly is the transition of leadership. Often the pastor resigns or sometimes is forced to leave because of some problem. No preparation or thinking has been done by the deacons or core leadership of the church and a crisis is at hand. People have different ideas and pastors are invited to come share their ministry and it becomes a popularity contest. It sometimes divides the church and there is great turmoil. Many people forget that God is a God of order and He has a plan of succession and a plan for success! We see such a plan in action in today’s reading!
David was old and “full of years”. (1st Chronicles 23:1) He made Solomon king over Israel. David’s son Adonijah had tried to make himself king and Bathsheba and Nathan worked together to redirect the situation according to the will of the Lord. (1st Kings 1:1-5) There was a power struggle here as well. People often want to be in charge and often seek to take power or to control the one who is in power. It is one of the strategies of Satan to bring division and confusion in a family, church, or nation. After installing Solomon, David wisely tried to help his son succeed in the tasks that he knew were important. One of these was the building of the temple for the Lord.
First David encouraged Solomon that it was God’s will that he build the Lord’s house. David had heard from the Lord! He knew the will of God and passed this on to Solomon. He was positive and encouraging and prayed for God’s wisdom and discretion that his son might keep the Law of God and have success! A father’s blessing and God’s blessing go a long way toward success! (1st Chronicles 22:11-13)
Next, David assembled materials for the Temple. He generously provided from his own treasury for God’s house! He set a good example for his son and the nation of generosity and focus on what was important. When God’s house was cared for, God would bless and the people would be focused on what should be central. (1st Chronicles 22:14-16)
The last thing David did was to gather the key leaders of Israel together and encourage them to support Solomon. David cited the Lord’s victories and how God had given the people rest. He encouraged the leaders to seek the Lord with all their heart and soul and to begin building. This transition would continue the vision of the Lord through David and insure the accomplishment of God’s will and purposes. (1st Chronicles 22:17-19)
I believe God wants thoughtful and peaceful transition of leadership. Pray for your family, church family and nation for the leaders and those in authority that they would be thoughtful and purposeful in this area. God’s purposes are eternal! We should keep them in focus!