Paul and Barnabas continue to travel and preach. Notice they continue to preach to everyone - Jew and Gentile. They preach the Good News and heal the sick, yet the people are against them. They flee Iconium because of persecution. Paul is actually stoned in Lystra. He is drug out of the city and left for dead. Yet the next day he gets up and continues preaching. He even returns to Lystra! This is a man of faith, a man who has put himself in God's hands. He realizes that this world nor the opinion of man are important. He has a cure for the sick of heart, those dying in their sin, and he will stop at nothing provide that cure to anyone who will listen.
When I read Acts, I am amazed at the faith of these men and women. I compare my soft easy life with their constant persecution and am humbled. We have so much, yet we complain so much about such little things. We whine about simple colds, traffic, minor inconveniences, etc., to the point that we neglect the blessings in our lives. As believers we have eternal life. We are part of the kingdom of heaven. We have a Heavenly Father. When you feel yourself getting depressed, open up Acts and read the trials and triumphs of the disciples. They had it bad, yet they still had purpose and joy. They found their strength in God. You can too.
Tuesday, July 30, 2013
Tuesday, July 23, 2013
Acts 13:13-52
Paul is asked to speak in the synagogue. He delivers a well-balanced and exciting sermon that opens the eyes of many Jews. The next week, he is asked to speak again & many Gentiles became Christians. Awesome. Unfortunately, this put him on the bad side of leaders in the community. Did Paul let it get him down? Nope, he shook the dust off his feet & moved on to the next town.
We can learn a lot from this passage:
1) Know your scripture. Paul had been studying for years. He knew the scripture front & back. Get to know your Word!
2) Have a relationship with Jesus - knowledge of scripture is not enough. It wasn't just Paul's words that held the crowd's attention, it was his commitment. His faith, his excitement, his conviction made his words come alive to these people.
3) Don't let the naysayers get you down - Paul didn't even stay to confront those people. He preached the word, let the Holy Spirit do His work, and continued to focus on God. You're not here to fight the blind. You are here to tell them about Jesus. They will choose whether or not they believe.
We can learn a lot from this passage:
1) Know your scripture. Paul had been studying for years. He knew the scripture front & back. Get to know your Word!
2) Have a relationship with Jesus - knowledge of scripture is not enough. It wasn't just Paul's words that held the crowd's attention, it was his commitment. His faith, his excitement, his conviction made his words come alive to these people.
3) Don't let the naysayers get you down - Paul didn't even stay to confront those people. He preached the word, let the Holy Spirit do His work, and continued to focus on God. You're not here to fight the blind. You are here to tell them about Jesus. They will choose whether or not they believe.
Monday, July 22, 2013
Acts 13:1-12
Saul and Barnabas are called into the mission field. Does God have a plan for your life? Absolutely! How do you figure that out? Through your relationship with Him. A relationship that includes prayer and fasting. Prayer and fasting aren't some magical hot line to God. Prayer is simply talking to God. Fasting is setting aside something that is important to you - food, TV, books, etc. (usually food) and spending the time you would spend eating, watching TV, reading, etc. focused on God. It's not some sacrifice that shows God you're really serious. It's not something that wins you "points" in heaven. It's simply putting your focus on spending time with God. Think of it as a couples retreat. You leave the world behind for a while in order to really focus on the person with whom you are in a relationship.
So, Saul and Barnabas first head to Cyprus. Why Cyprus? Well, that's Barnabas' hometown. Start with what you know & people with whom you are comfortable. This is the first of three missionary journey's Paul took. It likely took place around A.D. 46 or 47 and lasted about a year and a half. This is also the first place you hear Saul called Paul. Paul is simply his Greek name.
While in Paphos, Cyprus, they came across a magician that really attempted to make things hard for them. Paul spoke to him plainly. Sometimes in our current culture we try to sugar-coat things. Unfortunately, sugar-coating never gets to the heart of an issue. No one really feels any better about the situation, and nothing really gets done. Paul wasn't someone who sugar-coated. He called it like he saw it. Now, was this sometimes harsh? Yes. Was it done to put people down? No. It was done in love. If you really love someone, you will give it to them straight. Think of it this way - if your friend is about to walk out into oncoming traffic would you A) tell him that he might be making a wrong choice and hope for the best? or B) tell him to stop before he gets hurt? You might even be loud about it. Well, sin is on-coming traffic. Are you going to hope for the best or are you going to tell it to them straight?.
So, Saul and Barnabas first head to Cyprus. Why Cyprus? Well, that's Barnabas' hometown. Start with what you know & people with whom you are comfortable. This is the first of three missionary journey's Paul took. It likely took place around A.D. 46 or 47 and lasted about a year and a half. This is also the first place you hear Saul called Paul. Paul is simply his Greek name.
While in Paphos, Cyprus, they came across a magician that really attempted to make things hard for them. Paul spoke to him plainly. Sometimes in our current culture we try to sugar-coat things. Unfortunately, sugar-coating never gets to the heart of an issue. No one really feels any better about the situation, and nothing really gets done. Paul wasn't someone who sugar-coated. He called it like he saw it. Now, was this sometimes harsh? Yes. Was it done to put people down? No. It was done in love. If you really love someone, you will give it to them straight. Think of it this way - if your friend is about to walk out into oncoming traffic would you A) tell him that he might be making a wrong choice and hope for the best? or B) tell him to stop before he gets hurt? You might even be loud about it. Well, sin is on-coming traffic. Are you going to hope for the best or are you going to tell it to them straight?.
Friday, July 19, 2013
Acts 12:1-25
Herod killed the apostle James and imprisoned Peter, with the intention of killing him after the Passover feast. This is Herod Agrippa - grandson of Herod the Great who was in power when Jesus was born. He persecuted the Christians in an attempt to curry the favor of the Jews. Ah, politics - there is nothing new under the sun. Government leaders have been wooing the people since the dawn of time in order to keep their power and position. Remember, these men and women are not our saviors. They are willing to make promises they can't keep and turn on the minority to impress the majority all in an attempt to keep power. Be wise in listening to them. Understand how your government works and our role in that government.
Why was Peter so heavily guarded? This was actually common Roman practice. The night before his death, an angel of the Lord appeared and freed him. I love the honesty of the Scripture. Until Peter was standing outside the jail house, he thought he was having a dream or a vision. Peter was use to miracles and visions, but he was still a simple human with a human mind. The supernatural often takes us by surprise, even an apostle who walked and talked with Jesus. So, don't put these men on pedestals. Don't think they were better than you. Don't count yourself out of God's plan. Peter was a simple fisherman who helped to change the world simply because he believed and was willing to follow.
Why does this reading end with the death of Herod? Once again, because of politics. The leaders of the world, the country, our town, make and enforce the rules, but the people still have a voice. So, use your voice and your vote. Speak out against wrong, but remember to do so with love. And never forget that we are to pray for our leaders, even those we don't like.
Why was Peter so heavily guarded? This was actually common Roman practice. The night before his death, an angel of the Lord appeared and freed him. I love the honesty of the Scripture. Until Peter was standing outside the jail house, he thought he was having a dream or a vision. Peter was use to miracles and visions, but he was still a simple human with a human mind. The supernatural often takes us by surprise, even an apostle who walked and talked with Jesus. So, don't put these men on pedestals. Don't think they were better than you. Don't count yourself out of God's plan. Peter was a simple fisherman who helped to change the world simply because he believed and was willing to follow.
Why does this reading end with the death of Herod? Once again, because of politics. The leaders of the world, the country, our town, make and enforce the rules, but the people still have a voice. So, use your voice and your vote. Speak out against wrong, but remember to do so with love. And never forget that we are to pray for our leaders, even those we don't like.
Thursday, July 18, 2013
Acts 11:1-30
Peter heads back to Jerusalem after the conversion of Cornelius and is criticized by the circumcision party. The what? The circumcision party was a group of strict Jewish Christians. They believed that Gentiles becoming Christians must first convert to Judaism and follow the Levitical law. Peter relates his vision and experiences backed up by the witness of the six men who accompanied him. All who heard were amazed that God had granted repentance to Gentiles. This is a pretty big deal. Until this time, Jews believed faith in God was limited to Jews or Gentiles willing to convert to Judaism (a very difficult process). But here's the issue - God has always entered into relationships with people who were faithful, not people with a certain lineage or bloodline. Look at Rahab, Ruth, Abrahm (the Father of the Jewish nation), and Melchizedek. God is not only the God of the Jews, He is the God of all nations. I love this quote from "Is He Not Also the God of the Gentiles" by Alden Bass. You can find the full article here: http://www.apologeticspress.org/apcontent.aspx?category=11&article=1227
"During the Mosaic age, God was not the God of the Jews only, but of all nations. He worked through Israel to bring about the fulfillment of His ultimate plan, the redemption of all men, but God always has loved all men, and earnestly desires that they worship Him. He also has given all of mankind an opportunity to obey Him. He must have done so, else He could not hold them accountable for their sins. Unfortunately, then, as today, many rejected God’s gracious offer of pardon, choosing to exchange the truth for a lie (Romans 1:25). Even in those times of rampant idolatry and ungodliness, the Old Testament provides a glimpse of the faithful few in all the nations—those men and women who, despite the degraded society around them, chose to serve Jehovah God."
When you read the Old Testament, you will notice that the Jewish nations also turned from God. It wasn't their lineage that saved them, it was their relationship and faith. It is the same for you and me. We can be born into a faithful family of believers, go to church every time the doors are open, feed the poor, treat our fellow man justly - we can live a good life. However, if there is no relationship with God, no faith of our own - there is no salvation for us. It doesn't matter how well you obey the law, how much Scripture you can memorize, how much money you give, it's about why you do those things. Is it out of a loving relationship or is it out of obligation? God doesn't want your obligation, He wants your heart. That's why Jesus died for you and me. That's why it's a gift and a choice.
Some of the disciples realized this and shared the Good News with everyone. Others kept their message only for the Jews. A few stepped out and shared it with Jews living in other regions (the Hellenists). During this time, many were added to the kingdom. Saul and Barnabas preached in Antioch. God sent prophets to prepare the people for famine. Great things were happening, but greater things were to come.
"During the Mosaic age, God was not the God of the Jews only, but of all nations. He worked through Israel to bring about the fulfillment of His ultimate plan, the redemption of all men, but God always has loved all men, and earnestly desires that they worship Him. He also has given all of mankind an opportunity to obey Him. He must have done so, else He could not hold them accountable for their sins. Unfortunately, then, as today, many rejected God’s gracious offer of pardon, choosing to exchange the truth for a lie (Romans 1:25). Even in those times of rampant idolatry and ungodliness, the Old Testament provides a glimpse of the faithful few in all the nations—those men and women who, despite the degraded society around them, chose to serve Jehovah God."
When you read the Old Testament, you will notice that the Jewish nations also turned from God. It wasn't their lineage that saved them, it was their relationship and faith. It is the same for you and me. We can be born into a faithful family of believers, go to church every time the doors are open, feed the poor, treat our fellow man justly - we can live a good life. However, if there is no relationship with God, no faith of our own - there is no salvation for us. It doesn't matter how well you obey the law, how much Scripture you can memorize, how much money you give, it's about why you do those things. Is it out of a loving relationship or is it out of obligation? God doesn't want your obligation, He wants your heart. That's why Jesus died for you and me. That's why it's a gift and a choice.
Some of the disciples realized this and shared the Good News with everyone. Others kept their message only for the Jews. A few stepped out and shared it with Jews living in other regions (the Hellenists). During this time, many were added to the kingdom. Saul and Barnabas preached in Antioch. God sent prophets to prepare the people for famine. Great things were happening, but greater things were to come.
Wednesday, July 17, 2013
Acts 10:1-48
Cornelius was a Gentile, a non-Jew, but he believed in God. As a centurion, he was in charge of 100 men. Centurions were paid very well, so Cornelius was a man of position, wealth, and power. Does it matter that he was wealthy and powerful? Not really. Luke is simply giving us a background of the first gentile Christian. What mattered was his faith. God spoke to him and he listened. One's position in life doesn't matter, one's relationship with God does. Cornelius had it all according to the world's standards. He was a good man of money and social prominence. Yet God had more in store for him. It reminds me to stop and think of what is important in my life. Am I content with what the world gives me? Will money and power ever bring me contentment? No. I won't. What will bring me contentment is God. He offers so much more than the world ever could. He offers true love, joy, peace, understanding, acceptance.
Now Peter also has a vision, one that somewhat rocks his world. God tells him to kill and eat all kinds of animals. Peter refuses - he has never eaten anything unclean for that would mean breaking Jewish law found in Leviticus 11:2-47. The laws concerning cleanliness and uncleanliness made it virtually impossible for Jews to associate with Gentiles. Here God is telling Peter that things have changed. The death and resurrection of Jesus Christ is available to everyone, not just the Jews. Peter is to no longer to allow issues of cleanliness to separate him from Gentile believers. So, when Cornelius' men arrive, Peter invites them in and then travels to Caesarea to meet Cornelius and preach the Good News. What is the Good News? Christians use that term a lot. Simply put - the Good News is that Jesus Christ died on the cross for your sins. He rose again into eternal life, breaking the bondage of sin and death for you.
While Peter is preaching, the Holy Spirit falls on Cornelius and the others. This confirms to Peter, and the other Jewish believers that accompanied him, that even Gentiles are welcome in the Kingdom of Heaven. The Gentiles spoke in tongues - an outward sign of the Holy Spirits presence. Therefore, Peter baptized them. Baptism is also an outward sign. It is a proclamation that you have made a personal commitment to follow Christ. Neither tongues nor baptism is required for salvation. Salvation comes through simple faith that Jesus is who He says He is, that He died and rose again to forgive your sins, that He is the way and the truth. So, should you be baptized? Yes! If you believe, you need to share your faith with others. Think of it this way, if you found the cure for cancer would to tell others or would you keep it to yourself? Your faith is the same thing - so share it.
Now Peter also has a vision, one that somewhat rocks his world. God tells him to kill and eat all kinds of animals. Peter refuses - he has never eaten anything unclean for that would mean breaking Jewish law found in Leviticus 11:2-47. The laws concerning cleanliness and uncleanliness made it virtually impossible for Jews to associate with Gentiles. Here God is telling Peter that things have changed. The death and resurrection of Jesus Christ is available to everyone, not just the Jews. Peter is to no longer to allow issues of cleanliness to separate him from Gentile believers. So, when Cornelius' men arrive, Peter invites them in and then travels to Caesarea to meet Cornelius and preach the Good News. What is the Good News? Christians use that term a lot. Simply put - the Good News is that Jesus Christ died on the cross for your sins. He rose again into eternal life, breaking the bondage of sin and death for you.
While Peter is preaching, the Holy Spirit falls on Cornelius and the others. This confirms to Peter, and the other Jewish believers that accompanied him, that even Gentiles are welcome in the Kingdom of Heaven. The Gentiles spoke in tongues - an outward sign of the Holy Spirits presence. Therefore, Peter baptized them. Baptism is also an outward sign. It is a proclamation that you have made a personal commitment to follow Christ. Neither tongues nor baptism is required for salvation. Salvation comes through simple faith that Jesus is who He says He is, that He died and rose again to forgive your sins, that He is the way and the truth. So, should you be baptized? Yes! If you believe, you need to share your faith with others. Think of it this way, if you found the cure for cancer would to tell others or would you keep it to yourself? Your faith is the same thing - so share it.
Tuesday, July 16, 2013
Acts 9:26-43
I'm back from my annual Minnesota trip so let's get back into it.
When we left off, Saul just converted to Christianity after his miraculous encounter with Jesus. Saul now heads to Jerusalem to join the discipleship there. However, his reputation precedes him and he has some difficulty convincing the disciples that he has changed. Notice that Saul doesn't give up. He doesn't get angry. He doesn't blame others for his past. He continues to preach the good news. He focuses on God's work. Through his actions, he shows himself faithful. Another disciples, Barnabas speaks for him and slowly he is accepted.
Look - your past will follow you. Your reputation will precede you. Are you going to let that change who you are now? No. Keep believing in the Word, keep following Jesus, let your actions speak for you. Have you heard, "Faith without works is dead?" It's from Scripture. It means that if you truly believe, your actions will line up with what you say you believe in. If you say you are a follower of Jesus, well then - follow Him. Go about living your life focused on Jesus and the rest will fall into place. It did for Saul. The discipleship took him in and protected him from harm.
Now, the narrative changes and we are back with Peter. Luke shares two accounts of healing - Aeneas and Dorcas. Please remember that Peter healed these two with Jesus' name, not with his own power. So, who are you rely on? Yourself or Jesus? In our society, where we have so much, it is hard to rely on Jesus. Challenge yourself this week to really consider your prayers - ask yourself, who are you relying on?
When we left off, Saul just converted to Christianity after his miraculous encounter with Jesus. Saul now heads to Jerusalem to join the discipleship there. However, his reputation precedes him and he has some difficulty convincing the disciples that he has changed. Notice that Saul doesn't give up. He doesn't get angry. He doesn't blame others for his past. He continues to preach the good news. He focuses on God's work. Through his actions, he shows himself faithful. Another disciples, Barnabas speaks for him and slowly he is accepted.
Look - your past will follow you. Your reputation will precede you. Are you going to let that change who you are now? No. Keep believing in the Word, keep following Jesus, let your actions speak for you. Have you heard, "Faith without works is dead?" It's from Scripture. It means that if you truly believe, your actions will line up with what you say you believe in. If you say you are a follower of Jesus, well then - follow Him. Go about living your life focused on Jesus and the rest will fall into place. It did for Saul. The discipleship took him in and protected him from harm.
Now, the narrative changes and we are back with Peter. Luke shares two accounts of healing - Aeneas and Dorcas. Please remember that Peter healed these two with Jesus' name, not with his own power. So, who are you rely on? Yourself or Jesus? In our society, where we have so much, it is hard to rely on Jesus. Challenge yourself this week to really consider your prayers - ask yourself, who are you relying on?
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