Monday 5/1: John 18
Good Monday morning my friends!
One of MY favorite and coolest scenes in the book of John, as John 18 tells an action packed version of Jesus' arrest that's worthy of the "git er done" book of Mark! As Judas and the soldiers arrive, Jesus asks them who they're looking for and they reply "Jesus of Nazareth," to which Jesus responds, "I am He." This is where the soldiers and Judas realize Who is actually in control of the situation...they have this moment of realization as they're "picking themselves up" from the ground to which they were driven by the sheer power of the Son of God! With His "I am He," Jesus demonstrated that they weren't forcing Him anywhere, but that He was willing going with them...just as would willingly allow the fake trials, the false accusations, the spitting and cursing and beatings...just as He would willingly allow the nails driven into His hands and feet...just as He would willingly sacrifice
Himself for you and me...no one TOOK Jesus' life that day any more than they TOOK Jesus from the garden...He did it ALL willingly!
See you tomorrow at John 19.
One of MY favorite and coolest scenes in the book of John, as John 18 tells an action packed version of Jesus' arrest that's worthy of the "git er done" book of Mark! As Judas and the soldiers arrive, Jesus asks them who they're looking for and they reply "Jesus of Nazareth," to which Jesus responds, "I am He." This is where the soldiers and Judas realize Who is actually in control of the situation...they have this moment of realization as they're "picking themselves up" from the ground to which they were driven by the sheer power of the Son of God! With His "I am He," Jesus demonstrated that they weren't forcing Him anywhere, but that He was willing going with them...just as would willingly allow the fake trials, the false accusations, the spitting and cursing and beatings...just as He would willingly allow the nails driven into His hands and feet...just as He would willingly sacrifice
Himself for you and me...no one TOOK Jesus' life that day any more than they TOOK Jesus from the garden...He did it ALL willingly!
See you tomorrow at John 19.
Tuesday 5/2: John 19
John 19...verse 30..."It is finished!"...3 words that changes everything!
"
🎶"The last nail driven, the cross was raised to the sky. His momma and a few faithful friends watched Him slowly die. Then He said, 'It is finished!' And 'Father now I'm in your hands.' They thought it was over, but they did not understand."
"The door was sealed to the borrowed tomb where He lay. You see a borrowed tomb is enough when you don't plan to stay. Satan's victory song was a short song to sing. Jesus asked, 'Grave where is your victory, Death where is your sting?'"
"When He said, 'It is finished!' that was just the beginning for me. When He was sealed in the tomb, I was set free, for He knew He'd walk out of that grave in only three days with the key. When He said, 'It is finished.' that was just the beginning for me."
See you tomorrow at John 20...
"
🎶"The last nail driven, the cross was raised to the sky. His momma and a few faithful friends watched Him slowly die. Then He said, 'It is finished!' And 'Father now I'm in your hands.' They thought it was over, but they did not understand."
"The door was sealed to the borrowed tomb where He lay. You see a borrowed tomb is enough when you don't plan to stay. Satan's victory song was a short song to sing. Jesus asked, 'Grave where is your victory, Death where is your sting?'"
"When He said, 'It is finished!' that was just the beginning for me. When He was sealed in the tomb, I was set free, for He knew He'd walk out of that grave in only three days with the key. When He said, 'It is finished.' that was just the beginning for me."
See you tomorrow at John 20...
Wednesday 5/3: John 20
John
20 begins with a very dedicated and determined Mary headed to Jesus'
("borrowed" 🤭) tomb "on the first day
of the week....while it was still dark," eager to spend time with her
Lord! She was so eager to go be "with" Jesus that she went early in
the morning, and so determined to "meet" with Him that she stayed
there, waiting...and she thought He was DEAD! Oh, how we who know the rest of
the story of that glorious morning.. that Jesus is not dead!..He has risen from
the dead and is alive now and forever...how eager we should be to
"meet" with Jesus! Work with me to not get distracted, discouraged or
diverted by the devil or ourselves to miss out on time together with Jesus!
See you at john 21.
See you at john 21.
Thursday 5/4: John 21
John 21.
You've been in the disciples' spot...working non-stop until you're "plum worn out"...after working ALL night at net fishing, Pete and the boys hadn't caught a single thing...they were "plum worn out"...when they realized Jesus was near...well, relatively near, as He was on the sea shore some 100 yards away from the boat they had been "glued to" ALL NIGHT long working! You've likely been in this situation also... Jesus shows up unexpectedly in your day...how do you respond? Ignore the presence of our Lord? Most of us have "been there done that got the Tshirt" if we're honest. Maybe we respond as the majority did, pull up anchor and start paddling towards Jesus, which is a smart move...but then there's Peter, who was so eager to be with Jesus that he jumped in the water, clothes and all, and swam a hundred yards! Now THAT'S enthusiasm about Jesus! Peter could have "gone along with the crowd" and no one would have thought ill of him...but Peter wanted, no, NEEDED him some Jesus "right NOW!"....he was desperate for a miraculous moment with the Master of the Universe and the bobbing boat was too slow🤭!
"Oh God, that I could be THAT eager, have THAT enthusiasm to meet with YOU, to spend time with YOU!....regularly as well as when You 'pop up' unexpectedly ...help me to 'drop' what I'm doing and get to You as quick as I can!"
Well, looks like we've wrapped up John and tomorrow we'll complete week 18 of our 52 week "God's Word for Me in 2023!" reading journey through the New Testament, with Acts 1.
You've been in the disciples' spot...working non-stop until you're "plum worn out"...after working ALL night at net fishing, Pete and the boys hadn't caught a single thing...they were "plum worn out"...when they realized Jesus was near...well, relatively near, as He was on the sea shore some 100 yards away from the boat they had been "glued to" ALL NIGHT long working! You've likely been in this situation also... Jesus shows up unexpectedly in your day...how do you respond? Ignore the presence of our Lord? Most of us have "been there done that got the Tshirt" if we're honest. Maybe we respond as the majority did, pull up anchor and start paddling towards Jesus, which is a smart move...but then there's Peter, who was so eager to be with Jesus that he jumped in the water, clothes and all, and swam a hundred yards! Now THAT'S enthusiasm about Jesus! Peter could have "gone along with the crowd" and no one would have thought ill of him...but Peter wanted, no, NEEDED him some Jesus "right NOW!"....he was desperate for a miraculous moment with the Master of the Universe and the bobbing boat was too slow🤭!
"Oh God, that I could be THAT eager, have THAT enthusiasm to meet with YOU, to spend time with YOU!....regularly as well as when You 'pop up' unexpectedly ...help me to 'drop' what I'm doing and get to You as quick as I can!"
Well, looks like we've wrapped up John and tomorrow we'll complete week 18 of our 52 week "God's Word for Me in 2023!" reading journey through the New Testament, with Acts 1.
Friday 5/5: Acts 1
The book of Acts is ultimately the account of the "acts" of the Holy Spirit, the third Person of the Triune God of the Universe, as He guided the fledgling Body of Christ "to overcome persecution, prejudice, politics, pride, greed, geography, and other hindrances, to grow throughout the known world" (Blackaby). Present through time from eternity past through eternity future, God's Spirit, "picks up" where Jesus "left off," although being One God in three Persons, He was always present and involved and Christ never ceased being involved...there, that's "clear as mud!" Jesus announced the arrival of the Spirit multiple times, the last one (Acts 1:8) before His "arrival" in Acts 2. The real point I want to make is that the same problems and persecutions that plagued the first century church are present in our lives today (see earlier list), but Praise God the same Spirit is, HERE and NOW,
present and involved... in fact, indwelling us... to empower us, guide us, teach us, comfort and convict us, and direct us as we LIVE for Christ and witness of Him "in (our) Jerusalem, and in all (our) Judea and (our) Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth."
See you Monday at Acts 2...have a Spirit powered weekend!
present and involved... in fact, indwelling us... to empower us, guide us, teach us, comfort and convict us, and direct us as we LIVE for Christ and witness of Him "in (our) Jerusalem, and in all (our) Judea and (our) Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth."
See you Monday at Acts 2...have a Spirit powered weekend!
Monday 5/8: Acts 2
Acts 2 recounts the arrival of the Holy Spirit as the driving force behind the infant Church of Christ, founded and and commissioned by Christ while still physically on earth...The Comforter, The Energizer, God's "atomic bomb" is the One who through His "Acts" in and through the early church, set the world "on fire" with the Gospel of Christ! The Spirit of God had never NOT been on the earth from it's creation (see Genesis 1:2), but this event sets a new stage in God's redemptive Plan, as Jesus turns the care and work of His Body over to the oversight and empowerment of His Holy Spirit...and the Holy Spirit came on the scene "LARGE and in charge!" The rushing wind, the tongues of fire, the miracle of unknown (unlearned not unknowable) languages, the power of Peter's preaching, the convicting of sin and lostness, the increase of 3,000 souls in one invitation, the unity, and the countless
salvation accounts as the Holy Spirit burst onto the scene doing what He was sent to do...
See you at Acts 3 tomorrow.
salvation accounts as the Holy Spirit burst onto the scene doing what He was sent to do...
See you at Acts 3 tomorrow.
Tuesday 5/9: Acts 3
Since the Book of Acts tells the story of the "acts" of the Holy Spirit IN and THROUGH the chosen men and women making up the beginnings of Christ's Body on earth, we could treat each chapter as "acts" of a play as the story unfolds.
Act One announced the coming of the Spirit... Act Two the coming itself and the resulting explosion of the Spirit's power IN and THROUGH those He indwells... and today, in Act Three, the Holy Spirit continues to "show" Christ IN and THROUGH the Church as He heals a man born lame (through Peter), and points the people to Jesus through the words He gives Peter to speak! Something we'll notice about the Holy Spirit if we'll pay attention...after His "show-stopping" entrance into the stage, He "takes the back seat," quietly and inconspicuously working IN and THROUGH believers, ALWAYS pointing to Christ (never Himself), and ALWAYS glorifying the Father!...a good example for us to follow...never point to "me" but to Jesus!
"Act Four" tomorrow.
Act One announced the coming of the Spirit... Act Two the coming itself and the resulting explosion of the Spirit's power IN and THROUGH those He indwells... and today, in Act Three, the Holy Spirit continues to "show" Christ IN and THROUGH the Church as He heals a man born lame (through Peter), and points the people to Jesus through the words He gives Peter to speak! Something we'll notice about the Holy Spirit if we'll pay attention...after His "show-stopping" entrance into the stage, He "takes the back seat," quietly and inconspicuously working IN and THROUGH believers, ALWAYS pointing to Christ (never Himself), and ALWAYS glorifying the Father!...a good example for us to follow...never point to "me" but to Jesus!
"Act Four" tomorrow.
Wednesday 5/10: Acts 4
Acts 4 should alert us to what is "lurking around the corner" for Bible believing, teaching and preaching churches...satan and his crowd want to shut us up and shut us down! Standing in the front yard of NFBC the other day, a visitor pointed to our church building and said, "We're the ones they need to tear down, we're standing in their way! Now I'm not saying this because I'm Baptist, I'm saying it because most of the others have already fallen..." Sadly, what he said is true...many denominations, churches, preachers, and people who once stood for God and His Word...once preached Christ crucified, buried, and resurrected, those who once stood WITH God have fallen like dominos! Peter and John were on the other end of the timeline, the dominos were just being stood up...and STAND up they did! "Arrested" for leading people "out of the darkness and into the marvelous Light," their response was to preach to their captors, lol, and when commanded to stop preaching the Truth, Peter and John boldly replied, "Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you more than to God, you judge. For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard!" It's time for God's people to stand!...as Moses asked in Exodus 32:26, "Who is on the Lord's side?"
See you tomorrow at Act Five.
See you tomorrow at Act Five.
Thursday 5/11: Acts 5
In "Act Five" we are reminded that satan is always on the prowl for ways to slow up God's Plan and People. Their true salvation might be debated, but Ananias and Sapphira were "members" of the local church whom satan used in an attempt to break up the unity of the local fellowship. Evidently, their goal was to get credit for being more generous than they were....they could have given a portion of the proceeds from the sale (which they did) and everything would have been fine, but they chose to lie about "how much" they gave compared to "how much" they acquired to "look" generous in the eyes of the others.... isn't that a ridiculous reason to die?...looking important to others! Modern church members sometimes "pull the same stunt"... different details, but somehow connected to pride and prestige, self centeredness and self importance. And while we've never seen anyone immediately "drop
dead" for their sin, nor do others have unusually miraculous knowledge of our actions nor our heart's intent, the Person we're REALLY lying to, the Holy Spirit, knows the truth AND our intent, and WILL convict us of our wrongdoing (IF we're really a Child of God)! The unity of the local church and the individuals' intimacy with Christ is of the upmost importance to God and to our witness for Christ in Power and Might, so just "no" to satan when he comes "prowling" around!
See you tomorrow at Acts 6.
dead" for their sin, nor do others have unusually miraculous knowledge of our actions nor our heart's intent, the Person we're REALLY lying to, the Holy Spirit, knows the truth AND our intent, and WILL convict us of our wrongdoing (IF we're really a Child of God)! The unity of the local church and the individuals' intimacy with Christ is of the upmost importance to God and to our witness for Christ in Power and Might, so just "no" to satan when he comes "prowling" around!
See you tomorrow at Acts 6.
Friday 5/12: Acts 6
Act Six. Stephen is introduced by way of God's solution for a conflict within the church at Jerusalem...set apart as a special servant, along with six other men, Stephen was found to be a man willing to "serve tables" and " minister the Word"...the main thrust of the word "diakonos," Greek for our word Deacon. Stephen, true to his calling went straight out and "ruffled the feathers" of those opposed to God and His people by "great wonders and signs" through the power of the Holy Spirit! When confronted, the Spirit's wisdom and speech in and through Stephen were irresistible! Stephen was a bit of a "one hit wonder" as God's work in and through him so stirred up his accusers that they "seized him, and brought him to the council," along with "trumped up charges" and false witnesses! Act Six ends with an intermission...
and a "cliffhanger!
See you Monday with the rest of Stephen's story in Acts 7.
and a "cliffhanger!
See you Monday with the rest of Stephen's story in Acts 7.
Monday 5/15: Acts 7
Acts 7 picks up where 6 left off, with Stephen "arrested" and standing before the enemies of God...which Stephen promptly called them, right after reminding them of their ancestors who stood as enemies of God although they were a people chosen by and for God! Now, I've had some negative reaction to a preached message myself, but never anything as negative or reactive as Stephen experienced....he went from "accused" to "executed" in a matter of minutes! Unwilling to bear the truth and repent, they "stopped up their ears," refusing to listen to The Spirit's words through Stephen, and immediately stoned him to death, thus validating with their actions Stephen's "calling out" of them as enemies of God! Stephen, like our Lord, prayed for his accusers/executors as they murdered him.
See you tomorrow at Acts 8.
See you tomorrow at Acts 8.
Tuesday 5/16: Acts 8
The opening verses of Acts 8 recount the abundant spirit fruit of Stephen, even after his death at the hands of unbelievers! A "great persecution arose against the church which was at Jerusalem," set off by Stephen's stoning, and scattered the Christ followers through the countryside, taking the Gospel with them as they went. So Stephen's death, moved the church out of Jerusalem and into the world...had those standing against God had not killed God's man, the church would have likely not moved out of Jerusalem, and if Stephen had not prayed for his executors (7:60), the church likely would not have known Paul (Acts 22:20).... the Holy Spirit worked through terrible events and circumstances to spread the Good News of Christ throughout the region. Later in the chapter the Gospel is "express delivered" to Ethiopia (26-39).
Acts 9 tomorrow.
Acts 9 tomorrow.
Wednesday 5/17: Acts 9
In Act Eight the Gospel crossed geographical boundaries and moved out of Jerusalem and into the "world," now, in Act Nine, deeply held cultural boundaries are crossed as the "Jewish" believers learn that Jesus isn't just for them and "their kind!" God is God and could have given Cornelius the answers he was searching for without including Peter...but Peter and the others needed to have an "attitude adjustment" about God's love for the "unclean" Gentiles, and that with God, there is no cultural or racial divisions...no "clean or unclean"... just broken people in need of The Savior!
Acts 10 tomorrow.
Acts 10 tomorrow.
Thursday 5/18: Acts 10
Oops, it would seem that I read 10 yesterday and completely skipped over Acts 9.....so I guess I'll comment on 9 today, LOL, which was supposed to be yesterday, since I commented on 10 yesterday, which is supposed to be today.. ain't that "clear as mud! Tomorrow we will be back on track with Acts 11 😇. Saul, who was witness to Stephen's stoning, and approved of it, had begun to persecute Christ followers with all of his attention and energy, even going to ask special permission of the high priest, to hunt the Christians down to arrest and abuse them. Saul had become a virtual Jesus persecuting "machine," but God miraculously called him "out of the darkness and into the marvelous Light," and from that day on, Saul, now named Paul, became perhaps the greatest Jesus "preacher" that ever walked the earth! From persecutor to preacher....from darkness to Light...from lost to saved...from sinner to saint... THAT'S how God works!
Now we really will meet at Acts 11 tomorrow to wrap up another week! Sorry for the confusion, guess my bible's pages stuck together🫣
Now we really will meet at Acts 11 tomorrow to wrap up another week! Sorry for the confusion, guess my bible's pages stuck together🫣
Friday 5/19: Acts 11
My uncle once saw an old man eating by himself in a restaurant and felt drawn to him by the Spirit within them both. Uncle approached and said to the old man, "excuse me sir, you're a Christian." The old man looked up with wise eyes and replied, "I try to be son....I try to be!" In Acts 11:26 the followers of the risen Christ were first called "Christians." Literally meaning "Christ-one," it's likely that many used the name, then as now, in a derogatory fashion, but, now as then, those of us who follow our risen Lord wear His name as a badge of honor!
See you Monday at ACT Twelve!
See you Monday at ACT Twelve!
Monday 5/22: Acts 12
JAIL BREAK! Acts 12 gives the account of Peter's arrest by Herod on account of Herod's hatred of the Christ followers....he intended to publically execute Peter as he had John's brother James, so he had him in prison, under personal guards, until after Passover. In a miraculous "God of the Universe style" turn of events, Peter was freed by an angel sent from The Lord! The "death angel" "passed over" Peter on whom the "blood of the Lamb (Jesus) rested, and took Herod (who would not give glory to God) to his death in a very painful and public way! Written like the greatest of novels (it IS the greatest since The Holy Spirit wrote it), there is the unexpected, miraculous, intrigue, drama, and a bit of comedy, and in the comedic parts, a great lesson for us.... don't ever underestimate the power of God nor the power of prayer!....and... the good guys win!
See you Tuesday at Acts 13.
See you Tuesday at Acts 13.
Tuesday 5/23: Acts 13
Act 13... Barnabas and Saul, the first "officially appointed by the Holy Spirit" missionaries, began their "mission trip" by "preaching Jesus" as they traveled across the island of Cyprus. The governor of that particular province invited them for an audience to "hear the word of God"...but the governor's counselor, a Jewish sorcerer and false prophet ironically named "Son of Jesus"
(Bar-Jesus) "withstood them, seeking to turn (the governor) away from the faith," at which point the Holy Spirit, working IN and THROUGH Saul, struck the sorcerer blind and "renamed" him, fittingly, a "son of the devil," thus convincing the governor to believe in the Christ Saul, now designated as Paul and the group's leader, preached! Now THAT'S a powerful story, and perhaps the most dramatic demonic "dethroning" in the book of Acts, and it demonstrates the mighty power of the Spirit of God working out the Father's Plan and Purpose in and through the lives of the early Christ followers...the same Spirit Who lives and works in and through us, today!
See you tomorrow at Acts 14
(Bar-Jesus) "withstood them, seeking to turn (the governor) away from the faith," at which point the Holy Spirit, working IN and THROUGH Saul, struck the sorcerer blind and "renamed" him, fittingly, a "son of the devil," thus convincing the governor to believe in the Christ Saul, now designated as Paul and the group's leader, preached! Now THAT'S a powerful story, and perhaps the most dramatic demonic "dethroning" in the book of Acts, and it demonstrates the mighty power of the Spirit of God working out the Father's Plan and Purpose in and through the lives of the early Christ followers...the same Spirit Who lives and works in and through us, today!
See you tomorrow at Acts 14
Wednesday 5/24: Acts 14
Acts 14 makes one wonder where Christ followers got the idea that we're supposed to "sit down and shut up" when society clashes with our message (v1-4), and reiterates, in a practical application, Jesus' admonition to "not throw your 'pearls' to the hawgs!"(v5-7)...🤭. When faced with opposition from the ungodly world around them, Paul and Barnabas "doubled down" on their preaching and proclaiming Jesus and the truth of His Gospel.."therefore they stayed there A LONG TIME, speaking BOLDLY in the Lord...," and in the face of those who would "poison the minds" of the people. That same "poison" is still in use today, and the God-rejectors continue to spew darkness and hate.. we Godly Manly Men MUST stand and speak boldly of Jesus and His love, regardless of the opposition (v19&20)...the lost and broken depend on us!
Acts 15 for tomorrow!
Acts 15 for tomorrow!
Thursday 5/25: Acts 15
At the end of ACT 15, we read of the infamous split between Paul and Barnabas, the original missionary team. There's always "more to the story," so we really don't know exactly who is to blame...Paul or Barnabas...or John Mark...maybe all three. Maybe there was a personality clash, or maybe an authority battle, or maybe JM just got "cold feet"...maybe Paul was too hard on JM, maybe Barnabas didn't hold his young friend accountable... maybe Paul was stubborn or maybe Barnabas not stubborn enough...we really don't know. But what we DO know is that in the midst of their humanness and personal "druthers," The Holy Spirit did a mighty Work!...creating TWO Missionary Teams, and eventually healing all hurts! SOMEBODY (or SOMEBODYS) was opposing God's Will or there wouldn't have been the conflict to begin with, but God's Misson ALWAYS moves forward, and His People ALWAYS become more like Jesus!
(Check out Romans 8:26-30)
See you tomorrow at ACT 16.
(Check out Romans 8:26-30)
See you tomorrow at ACT 16.
Friday 5/26: Acts 16
Acts 16:5..."So the churches were strengthened in the faith, and increased in number daily." God made churches to grow, so it's only natural that local churches would grow (in spiritual maturity and in numbers) and completely unnatural that churches lie dormant with no growth! Living things which are healthy naturally grow to maturity, and those which do not grow to maturity are unhealthy!...the same truth applies to the local church. What hinders your personal growth also hinders your church's growth... it's often, not so much "what do we do to help our church grow," as it it is, "what are we doing or not doing that is holding back the natural growth God has designed us for?" Notice two main events were happening in the individual churches mentioned in verse 5: they were being "strengthened in the faith" (becoming better, more mature Christ followers), and they "increased in number
daily" (bringing people to faith in Jesus)... discipling and evangelizing...evangelizing and discipling...you cannot long have one without the other! Newly saved people must learn to lead others to Christ and those leading others to Christ get people saved! I believe it really is THAT simple! When a local church, or individuals, focus on their own wants and needs and comfort and entertainment, their own self centeredness is hijacking the health and hindering the growth God has designated for them ...get "me" out of the way, put "others" (namely lost and broken and hurting people) first, and watch things happen! Jesus gave us Matthew 28:18-20 for a reason and if Matthew 22:37 is true in your life and the life of your church, then Matthew 22:39 will be true and 28:19&20 can't help but to happen...the Great Commission isn't a burden or a challenge to overcome, it's the natural outflow of the Great Commandment in your life and the life of your church! Being a member of a local church is a privilege not to be taken lightly, but with determination and intentionality in doing our most and best to secure and protect our church family's health and growth to maturity! Here's an extra reminder from Paul's actions in 16:37...you came in the front door of your church, publicly and proudly, don't slink out the back door when you leave with no explanation, but stand up and go out the front door!..and then, ONLY when God Himself leads you!
See you Monday at Acts 17.
daily" (bringing people to faith in Jesus)... discipling and evangelizing...evangelizing and discipling...you cannot long have one without the other! Newly saved people must learn to lead others to Christ and those leading others to Christ get people saved! I believe it really is THAT simple! When a local church, or individuals, focus on their own wants and needs and comfort and entertainment, their own self centeredness is hijacking the health and hindering the growth God has designated for them ...get "me" out of the way, put "others" (namely lost and broken and hurting people) first, and watch things happen! Jesus gave us Matthew 28:18-20 for a reason and if Matthew 22:37 is true in your life and the life of your church, then Matthew 22:39 will be true and 28:19&20 can't help but to happen...the Great Commission isn't a burden or a challenge to overcome, it's the natural outflow of the Great Commandment in your life and the life of your church! Being a member of a local church is a privilege not to be taken lightly, but with determination and intentionality in doing our most and best to secure and protect our church family's health and growth to maturity! Here's an extra reminder from Paul's actions in 16:37...you came in the front door of your church, publicly and proudly, don't slink out the back door when you leave with no explanation, but stand up and go out the front door!..and then, ONLY when God Himself leads you!
See you Monday at Acts 17.
Monday 5/29/2023: Acts 17
Wherever Christ is shared, satan is nearby, often lurking in the shadows stirring up opposition, and sometimes right out in the open, like in Acts 17, stirring up the unbelievers to protest God's Word and God's people...these "protestors" even resented the possibility of another option, a different view from theirs...traveling "professional protestors" sounds strikingly familiar, doesn't it?! The lesson here for us is to expect opposition to the Gospel of Christ, as satan despises it and the lost world believes it foolishness, "but to us who are being saved it is the power of God" (1Cor1:18)!
The Holy Spirit's famous "Message of the Unknown God" given here through Paul should be studied and copied as a "top shelf" soul winning example by every Christ follower! The crowd's response, however, reminds us of the sad reality that ONLY those who WILL believe will believe, as many turned away from Paul's "words of Life and Light!"
See you tomorrow at Acts 18
The Holy Spirit's famous "Message of the Unknown God" given here through Paul should be studied and copied as a "top shelf" soul winning example by every Christ follower! The crowd's response, however, reminds us of the sad reality that ONLY those who WILL believe will believe, as many turned away from Paul's "words of Life and Light!"
See you tomorrow at Acts 18
Tuesday 5/30/2023: Acts 18
Acts 18:9&10-"Do not be afraid, but speak and do not keep silent; for I am with you, and no one will attack you or hurt you; for I have many people in this city." Now we may not get this message in a "vision" format, but this command and promise from God applies to us today just as much as it did to Paul & Company 2,000 years ago! Let's break it down, or as the modern relevant preachers say, "let's unpack it"..😇. First, we're told to keep on telling everybody about our Risen Savior, Christ Jesus The Lord! Don't miss opportunities, don't let others stop you, use every and all occasions as an opportunity to share Christ! Also, Don't be afraid of repercussions and retaliation...nothing will happen to you until God's Will for you is accomplished...you are invincible until God has finished His work in and through you in that particular moment, so be who He has created and chosen you to be, and do what He has called and equipped you to do! And all of this is possible because our Lord is WITH us and IN us! And then, verse 10 gives us the reason for this urgent command... God has positioned YOU to be the messenger to many He has appointed (chosen and called, elected) to salvation... we're not safe from harm and called to speak because God has "many people in this city" to protect and help us, but because He " has many people in this city " who need to hear about our Savior! It's not about us, lol, it's about them!...and ALL to the Glory of God!
See you tomorrow at Acts 19.
See you tomorrow at Acts 19.
Wednesday 5/31: Acts 19
Acts 19 tells of an obviously different time than our present day concerning the moving of the Holy Spirit....the church age was just being formed, the world was VERY pagan and superstitious, the Bible was being written and compiled, so God worked in signs and wonders to convince of the truth and reality of the Gospel and its messengers. Our God continues to use the miraculous signs in some instances to convince the seeking, but overwhelmingly the miraculous "convincer" He uses now is His Word and not what we would consider "signs and wonders." In verse 6, when the Holy Spirit came upon the new believers in Christ, the visible "proof" to others was their newfound ability to preach and speak in languages they had not learned...not "pointless babbling" but real language that others could understand and verify... otherwise, it wouldn't have been a sign or a proof. Verse 11 clarifies further in how that "God worked UNUSUAL miracles by the hand of Paul"...unusual even by the standards of an unusual time...and notice that Paul wasn't seeking or straining to aquire these miraculous abilities, he was just preaching Jesus, both with and without these "unusual miracles"... Don't get caught up in side issues...keep on sharing Jesus, the crucified, buried and risen Savior of all who believe, and leave the miracles, or not, to God alone!
Acts 20 tomorrow.
Acts 20 tomorrow.
