DAY #212: Acts 20:1-16

Second Corinthians was written somewhere during this part of the missionary journey. On this trip Paul likely retraced many of his steps, revisiting many of the churches he had established on his second journey and arriving ultimately in Greece (specifically Corinth), where he stayed for three months. From Corinth Paul wrote the letter to the Romans. Although he had not yet been to Rome, believers had already started a church there.

Paul’s three-month stay was brought to a close in typical fashion: a Jewish plot was discovered against the apostle, causing him to decide to return through Macedonia instead of sailing back to Syria.

This is an unusually complete listing of those who were traveling with Paul on this section of the journey. The company provided accountability. Paul was carrying the offering from the Asian churches for the suffering church at Jerusalem. Paul would not want the Jerusalem church to think he handled the money by himself, without others to account for it.

These men who were traveling with Paul also represented churches that Paul had started in Asia: (1) Galatia—Gaius and Timothy; (2) Asia—Tychicus and Trophimus; (3) Macedonia—Sopater, Aristarchus, and Secundus. Having the men deliver the gifts to Jerusalem gave the gifts a personal touch and strengthened the unity of the universal church. This was also an effective way to teach the church about giving, because the men were able to report back to their churches the ways in which God was working through their giving. Paul discussed this gift in one of his letters to the Corinthian church.


In Troas, the believers gathered on Sunday, and Paul preached a lengthy, late-night sermon. A young man by the name of Eutychus fell asleep and fell to his death out of the third-floor window in which he was sitting! Paul calmly restored Eutychus to life, and the church resumed its worship service.

Paul spoke on and on, and Eutychus, likely sitting on the windowsill because of the crowd in the room, sank into a deep sleep. He fell out of the window, three stories. Luke, the physician, confirmed the fact that Eutychus was dead. Paul went to the boy and took him into his arms. Paul addressed the concerned flock. “Don’t worry,” he said. Then, with those powerful Resurrection-reminiscent words, he added: “He’s alive!”

Following this amazing miracle, the meeting was resumed upstairs where they celebrated the Lord’s Supper, followed by Paul’s continuing to teach until dawn.


SO WHAT? (what will i do with what i have read today?)

Paul is such an example of how to live out the Christian life. He is such an example of living out his faith. At his core, Paul was a preacher. I laugh at how long he was preaching in this passage. The bigger picture is that he was using his spiritual gift to build up the body of Christ.

Listen to what Ephesians 2:10 says;

"For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do."

And then Ephesians 4:11-12;

"It was He (God) who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, 12 to prepare God's people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up"

So, let me ask you today. What are your spiritual gifts and how are you using them to serve and build up the body of Christ? Why don't you check out this websight and start looking into what your gifts are and how you might use them.

http://www.churchgrowth.org/analysis/intro.php

DAY #211: Acts 19:13-41

History tells us that many Ephesians engaged in exorcism and occult practices for profit. The sons of Sceva were impressed by Paul’s work, obviously more powerful than their own. But they failed to see that Paul’s power to drive out demons came from God’s Holy Spirit, not from incantations and magic formulas. These men were calling on the name of Jesus without knowing him personally.

The self-proclaimed exorcists were so overpowered by one evil spirit in a man that they all were attacked and badly injured. Eventually, they fled for their lives, feeling fortunate that they had lost only their clothes. Here is a clear incident that demonstrates the truth that knowing about Jesus is not the same as knowing him.

So it was that after a period of relative peace and steady growth for the Ephesian church, the gospel became offensive and intolerable to the city’s craftsmen because it was undermining their ability to sell silver idols of Artemis. Converts to Christianity were no longer buying these products. Consequently, for economic and religious reasons, the Way (a reference to those who followed Christ) came under scrutiny, suspicion, and eventually attack. Demetrius, a prominent member of the silversmiths’ guild, was the instigator of this trouble.

Demetrius’s strategy for stirring up a riot was to appeal to his fellow workmen’s love of money and then to encourage them to hide their greed behind the mask of patriotism and religious loyalty. It would be difficult to get Ephesian citizens worked up about the slumping sales of a group of idol makers. However, it would be easy to rally the masses behind a noble campaign to defend the prestige of the goddess and her magnificent shrine.

The ploy of Demetrius worked perfectly. In short order, the gathered crowd boiled with anger at the Christians in their city and the subversive message of the gospel. They began to cry out, “Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!”

As the crowd rushed along, fueled by their fury, they managed to seize two of Paul’s known traveling companions—Gaius and Aristarchus. (Aristarchus, a native of Thessalonica, would later accompany Paul on other journeys)

Luke’s observations about many in the rioting crowd not even knowing why they were there would have brought a chuckle to his original readers, for Greek playwrights and authors commonly mocked human foibles. Irony and parody were common elements in Greek comedy. The scene in the theater was one of total confusion.

Into the chaos stepped the mayor of Ephesus. Perhaps fearing Roman reprisal—specifically the suspension of Ephesus’s privileges as a “free” city with its own elected assembly—this respected leader somehow managed to get the attention of the angry mob.

With the crowd quiet and under some semblance of emotional control, the mayor briefly reiterated the facts of the case involving the Christians. First, they had stolen nothing from the temple, nor had they spoken against the goddess. Given that, if this was a conflict involving economic matters, Ephesus had an adequate legal system through which personal grievances could be addressed. Consequently, the mayor urged Demetrius and the craftsmen to pursue their dispute with the Christians through legal channels.

The mayor’s straightforward reminder must have had a sobering effect on the Ephesian populace, for they dispersed. The riot in Ephesus convinced Paul that it was time to move on. But it also showed that the law still provided some protection for Christians as they challenged the worship of the goddess Artemis in the most idolatrous religion in Asia.

SO WHAT? (what will i do with what i have read today?)

"Everyone who wants to live a godly life in union with Christ Jesus will be persecuted." 2 Timothy 3:12 (TEV)

What price am we willing to pay to be God's people and live out His purposes for our lives? Is this even a consideration, or are we so caught up in our own problems, our own pleasures, our own lives that living all out - sold out for the things of God is not on the horizon of our life?

Listen to the admonition given to us in Hebrews 12:1-2 (NIV)

"Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. 2 Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God."

What kinds of things do I need to "throw off" in order to be used to the max by God and for His purposes? Unhealthy habits? Past hurt? Anger? Resentment? Bitterness? Past failures?

Lord, cleanse my heart heart and mind today. Give me a clear direction and vision that You have for my life and the lives of Your followers. Today lord, no holding back. No half-hearted measures. All out - all day for You.

DAY #210: Acts 18:18-19:12

Leaving the church at Antioch, Paul headed toward Ephesus, but along the way he revisited the churches in Galatia and Phrygia. The heart of this trip was a lengthy stay (two to three years) in Ephesus. Before returning to Jerusalem, Paul also visited believers in Macedonia and Greece. As Paul set out, one of his priorities was helping the believers to grow. Such was Paul’s regular practice—to keep checking up on those he had led to Christ and the churches he had founded.

Left in Ephesus by Paul, Priscilla and Aquila met a gifted speaker named Apollos, who had great passion for Christ but an incomplete knowledge of the gospel.

Apollos was an eloquent and powerful speaker. The eloquent, fiery young man who was so ably interpreting and applying the Old Testament messianic Scriptures in the synagogue was quickly noticed by Priscilla and Aquila. Upon hearing Apollos preach, they immediately recognized the deficiencies in his message. Consequently, they took him aside (probably to their home) and explained the way of God more accurately, telling him about the life of Jesus, his death and resurrection, and the coming of the Holy Spirit.

With his more complete theology, Apollos, who had been thinking about going to Achaia, was encouraged to do so by the Christians in Ephesus. They sent along a glowing letter of introduction, asking the believers in Achaia to welcome him. He quickly became the verbal champion of the Christians in Achaia, debating the opponents of the gospel in public.


Meanwhile, Paul would stay in Ephesus for about three years. Ephesus was a strategic location from which to influence all of Asia. From Ephesus he would write his first letter to the Corinthians to counter several problems that the church in Corinth was facing.

Paul was making good on a promise. He had paid an earlier visit to this synagogue in Ephesus at the end of his second missionary journey, while on his way back to Antioch and Jerusalem. Though his visit had been brief, he had found a receptive group of Jews and had pledged to return at the first opportunity. Paul’s ministry in Ephesus lasted more than two years and was marked by an obvious movement of God’s Spirit.

Given Paul’s volatile history with the Jews (and his rather blunt preaching about Jesus as Messiah), it is surprising that he was able to minister at the synagogue for three months before the Jews publicly spoke against the WAY - a term commonly used to desribe Christianity.

Consequently, Paul moved his ministry to a nearby lecture hall. Such halls were used in the morning for teaching philosophy, but they were empty during the hot part of the day. Because many people did not work during those hours, they would come to hear Paul’s preaching.

Paul faithfully labored in Ephesus. His lectures were “daily” and continued for the next two years. These were two of the most fruitful years for the expanding church. The province of Asia refers to Asia Minor or modern-day Turkey. During this time, spiritually hungry Asians must have traveled to Ephesus to hear Paul speak.


SO WHAT? (what will i do with what i have read today?)

God is always on the move. He is always looking for men and women to use. He is always looking for people who will invest their lives into others and be obedient to His leading and calling.

Would to God that we would be those people. When God is looking for men and women and students and children to use, he starts by looking for different timber. He looks for a heart that belongs to Him.

But the LORD said to Samuel, "Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The LORD does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart." 1 Samuel 16:7 (NIV)

So, let me ask you today, what kind of heart do you possess?

God’s call to any man or woman for service is always conditioned upon our heart response. What kind of heart had David? Remember the 23rd Psalm:

“The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want” (Psalm 23:1). David had a believing heart; he knew his own sinfulness and his need of the grace and guidance of God to watch over him even as he protected the sheep in his charge.

“He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters” (Psalm 23:2) David's life was marked by quietness. He knew the joy of communion with the Lord; his was a meditative heart.


“He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness” (Psalm 23:3). Though by no means perfect, David’s heart was set on holiness, and longed for that attribute of God in his life above all else.



“Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil” (Psalms 23:4). In the face of the worst enemy that could ever face him, David was confident; as he demonstrated later in his encounter with Goliath, he was brave, bold, and courageous.


“Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies…my cup runneth over” (Psalm 23:5). David had a heart full of gratitude to the Lord for meeting his needs, for supplying him in things both spiritual and material, even with the devil looking on.


“Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever” (Psalm 23:6). David was no mere wistful follower, near to God on some days and some occasions but not on others: David wrote in Psalm 57:7 “My heart is fixed, O God, my heart is fixed”

Such was David’s heart-not fickle, but believing, meditative, set on holiness and righteousness, brave and courageous, grateful, and fixed upon God. None of these things were David’s by natural birth; he himself wrote, “I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me” (Psalm 51:5).


But there had been a day when God had met this young man and renewed his heart, so that the goodness of heart which was his qualification for the anointing of the Holy Spirit for power in God’s service came from God himself. The only qualification for heaven that any of us can ever have is such evidence of God’s grace in our lives.

DAY #209: Acts 18:1-17

Ancient Corinth had been destroyed by the Romans in 146 b.c., but it had been rebuilt by Julius Caesar in 46 b.c. because of its strategic seaport. By Paul’s day (a.d. 50), the Romans had made Corinth the capital of Achaia (present-day Greece).

Only fifty miles from Athens, Corinth by this time was regarded as the most influential city of Greece. The city was permeated with religion—at least twelve temples were located there. The most infamous of these temples was dedicated to Aphrodite, the goddess of love, and featured one thousand “sacred” prostitutes. Another temple, dedicated to Apollo, employed young men whose job was to fulfill the sexual desires of male and female worshipers. Largely due to this fact, the city was notorious for its immorality.

So brazen was the unbridled licentiousness that a new Greek verb was eventually coined: to “Corinthianize” meant to practice sexual immorality. When Plato referred to a prostitute, he used the expression “Corinthian girl.”

From a human point of view, Corinth was not the type of place where one would expect to launch a thriving ministry, but Paul didn’t view things from an earthly perspective. He saw Corinth as both a challenge and a great ministry opportunity. Later he would write a series of letters to the Corinthians dealing in large part with the problems of immorality. First and Second Corinthians are two of those letters.

Aquila and Priscilla had just been expelled from Rome by Claudius Caesar’s order. Trained as tentmakers, Aquila and Priscilla had packed up the tools of their trade and had made their way to Corinth. There they met Paul, who joined them in the business of tentmaking.

Paul chose to work to support himself during his stay in Corinth. The presence of so many religious promoters in Corinth may have added an incentive for Paul to earn his own living. Paul wanted to disassociate himself from those teachers who taught only for money.

Because of his great burden for his lost Jewish brothers, Paul would go each Sabbath to the synagogue. There he would speak to both Jews and Greeks.Upon the arrival of his colleagues, Paul was able to set aside his tentmaking and devote himself to full time preaching. Silas and Timothy must have brought with them a financial gift from the believers in Macedonia (Philippians 4:15).

The home of Titius Justus became Paul’s base of operations, and its proximity to the synagogue gave the apostle convenient and ongoing contact with both Jews and God-fearing Greeks. As the synagogue leader, Crispus would have been responsible for maintenance of the synagogue complex and the services held there. Such a position would have made him a prominent and well-to-do person in the community. Thus, his conversion (and that of his household) was a significant breakthrough for the church.

The conversions of Crispus and other Corinthians, together with the formation of a growing “house church” right next door to the synagogue, provoked great controversy and opposition. But in contrast to his treatment elsewhere, just as God had promised, no one would harm Paul—he would not endure bodily harm during this time in Corinth.

In time, the Jews would successfully manage to have Paul charged with promoting a religion not approved by Roman law. Such behavior amounted to treason. This sequence of events took place when Gallio, the brother of Seneca the philosopher, was governor of Achaia (modern Greece). He had come to power in a.d. 51-52, and he enjoyed a good reputation among his people as a pleasant man.

This was an important judicial decision for the spread of the gospel in the Roman Empire. Judaism was a recognized religion under Roman law. As long as Christians were seen as a sect within Judaism, the court could refuse to hear cases brought against them. Gallio’s decision proved to be extremely beneficial for the emerging Christian church for the next ten years. His ruling became a legal precedent used in Paul’s trial in Rome. If Gallio had found Paul guilty, every governor in every province where Paul or other missionaries traveled could arrest the Christians. By not ruling against Paul, the Romans were including Christianity (as a sect of Judaism) as one of the legal religions (religio licita) of the Roman Empire. Gallio, in effect, helped spread the gospel throughout the Empire.

The fact that Gallio had Paul’s Jewish accusers driven out of the courtroom, rather than merely sent away, reveals his irritation with what he evidently felt were petty, trumped-up charges.

SO WHAT? (what will i do with what i have read today?)

Knowing what the city of Corinth was like, it gives me great admiration for Paul. He wanted to take the Gospel to a place where most would not dare go. He believed rightly, that no person was beyond the reach of the Spirit of God to reach.

Lord, give us the San Ramon Valley. Break our hearts with the things that break Your heart. Remind us daily of our mission - to invite people into the family of God.

"The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is on me, because the LORD has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners." Isaiah 61:1 (NIV)

DAY #208: Acts 17:10-31

Paul’s dialogue in the marketplace led to an invitation to address the Council of Philosophers, also known as the Areopagus, which had been the judicial and legislative seat of government of Athens.

These intellectuals, ever interested in hearing new ideas, wanted to hear about this new religion that Paul was presenting. They wanted to know what it was all about. Here the descendants of the most influential thinkers in Western civilization, who had been on a centuries-long quest for knowledge, were given an opportunity to receive the ultimate knowledge about God entering the human race to redeem fallen humanity and put them in a position to know the person of Jesus Christ.

Paul was well prepared to speak to this group. He came from Tarsus, an educational center, and had the training and knowledge to present his beliefs clearly and persuasively. Paul was a rabbi, taught by the finest scholar of his day, Gamaliel, and he had spent much of his life thinking and reasoning through the Scriptures.

Luke recorded this sermon in more detail than many of the others, likely as a sample of how Paul addressed the typical lost, intellectual Greek. Rather than arguing the Scriptures as he would with a Jewish audience, he adapted his message and backed up a step or two to speak of a Creator; then he moved toward speaking about a Savior and Judge.

Paul began his address by affirming the religious nature of his audience by explaining what he had seen in their city. He chose a starting point, a place where they could agree, rather than starting with their differences. The Athenians had built an idol to an Unknown God for fear of missing blessings or receiving punishment.

The Athenian philosophers were either polytheistic (worshiped many gods) or pantheistic (believed all nature was god), so it would be natural for them to build an altar, superstitious that they might have overlooked a god. Archaeological finds have shown many such altars with the inscription, “to the unknown god(s).” Paul’s opening statement to the men of Athens was about their “unknown god.” Paul was not endorsing this god but using the inscription as a point of entry for his witness to the one true God.

The central body of Paul’s speech is a presentation of God as the Creator, who made the world and everything in it. This Creator doesn’t live in man-made temples, even spectacular wonder-of-the-world Greek structures like the one a few hundred yards up the hill from where they sat on the Acropolis. God does not need anything from humans since he has no needs. From general characteristics of the Creator God, Paul moved to the more specific Judeo-Christian claims that God created all life and all nations from one man.

This “unknown god” is not only knowable, he is not far from any person. This contrasted to the Greek gods, which lived in seclusion and could not be approached. The need that motivated the construction of an altar “To an Unknown God” could be realized in Christ, for he was very near and available—to be known!

Paul began to wrap up his message, building this statement on all that he had presented thus far and gently correcting where the Greeks had been incorrect: And since this is true, they needed to make some changes. Their thinking had been incorrect. They should not think of God as an idol who could be constructed by human hands. God is profoundly bigger than any idol.

This was a serious and somber word to the gathered Athenians. They would do well to hear it and respond. Whatever the nature and consequences of their former failure to respond to God, it was nothing compared to ignoring what was being offered in the finished work of Christ.
Paul confronted his listeners with Jesus’ resurrection and its meaning to all people—either blessing or punishment.

Although Paul knew it would offend their precious philosophies, he did not hold back the truth. Paul often would change his approach to fit his audience, as he did with this one, but he never would change his basic message.

SO WHAT? (what will i do with what i have read today?)

When I read this passage today, I am reminded of Romans 1:16, when Paul states;

"For I am not ashamed of the gospel: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believes; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek."

Oh Lord, would you give us courage to speak for You. Would you move us from apathy and half-heartedness and an uncaring spirit to one where we can't help but speak and share and love and care and do something for You that makes a difference in the lives of others. Would You remind us of the reality of hell.

"When they saw the courage of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished and they took note that these men had been with Jesus. But since they could see the man who had been healed standing there with them, there was nothing they could say. So they ordered them to withdraw from the Sanhedrin and then conferred together. "What are we going to do with these men?" they asked. "Everybody living in Jerusalem knows they have done an outstanding miracle, and we cannot deny it.

But to stop this thing from spreading any further among the people, we must warn these men to speak no longer to anyone in this name." Then they called them in again and commanded them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus. But Peter and John replied, "Judge for yourselves whether it is right in God's sight to obey you rather than God. For we cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard." Acts 4:13-20 (NIV)

Lord, give us eyes to see the needs around us and the heart to do something about it. Lord, help us - help me - die to myself. Lord, help me love people like you. Help me put their needs ahead of my own. Lord, draw people to COV. Draw them to the warmth of our church family and Lord, draw them to the life-changing power of Your word.

DAY #207: Acts 16:25-17:9

Paul and Silas were barely into their first stop when they found themselves the victims of false and prejudicial charges, locked up in the depths of a Roman jail, in chains! So what did they do? Moan? Whine? Blame God? Give up? No, their jail term was marked by only two activities: praying and singing hymns to God.

The other prisoners were listening as Paul and Silas sang and prayed. The Greek word for “listening” (epekroonto) is a strong word implying that the prisoners were listening intently. It is a reminder to all believers that the world is watching when they suffer. How believers respond to their troubles can play a major role in how others will respond to the Savior.

The answer to the prayers of Paul and Silas came with suddenness and authority in the form of a great earthquake, shaking the foundations of the prison, bursting open doors, and breaking loose the chains of every prisoner. Guards were responsible for their prisoners and would be held accountable for their escape. The punishment was usually the same sentence that would have been the prisoner’s. Sometimes the guards were even executed. Possibly in order to avoid a Roman execution or perhaps to avoid having to live with the shame of his career failure, the jailer drew his sword to kill himself.

Paul intervened, shouting, “We are all here!” Paul was not speaking of just himself and Silas but of all the prisoners. All the prisoners were still there, sitting in a wide open jail, without chains.
The jailer called for lights and torches lit the prison in the middle of the night. Once inside, the jailer fell down before Paul and Silas. Then he brought them out, evidently from the inner recesses where the stocks were located. He asked the question, the most profound and important question in life, “What must I do to be saved?”

The answer is “Believe.” It is belief on the Lord Jesus. The result is that you will be saved. Paul and Silas shared the word of the Lord with the jailer’s household. The jailer’s conversion, like Lydia’s, was followed by clear, demonstrated deeds reflecting the reality of the life-change that had occurred internally.

Maybe it was the earthquake that shook some sense into the governing authorities. Whatever the case, Paul and Silas were told by the jailer, who had become a brother in Christ: “You and Silas are free to leave.”

That would not be the last word, however. Paul had often been unfairly treated, beaten, and stoned—all illegally in light of his Roman citizenship. Yet here he chose to speak up. He may have wanted to give the new young church in Philippi some breathing room from the local authorities. The word would spread that Paul and Silas had been found innocent and freed by the leaders, expressing the truth that believers should not be persecuted—especially if they were Roman citizens, as were Paul and Silas.

Thessalonica was one of the wealthiest and most influential cities in Macedonia. This is the first city where Paul’s teachings attracted a large group of socially prominent citizens. The most important Roman highway (the Egnatian Way)—extending from Rome all the way to the Orient—went through Thessalonica.

After his ministry in Thessalonica, Paul would write two letters to the Thessalonian believers, encouraging them to remain faithful and to refuse to listen to false teachers who tried to refute their beliefs.

Paul’s ministry was following its usual course. The gospel was preached in the synagogues with meager response from the Jews. The Gentiles, however, were responding in great numbers. Then, as had been the custom, the Jewish leaders became jealous and set their sights on running these “heretics” out of town or worse. They gathered some worthless fellows from the streets to form a mob and start a riot. They went to the home of Jason, an early Thessalonian convert who, like Lydia, had convinced the travelers to stay in his home.

The mob had not found Paul and Silas at Jason’s house. So the mob grabbed Jason and some of the other believers and brought them before the city council. Their accusations, like all good lies, bore some resemblance to the truth but were presented in their worst light. Paul and Silas were not guilty of treason against Caesar just because they declared allegiance to the King of kings, for Christ’s Kingdom is of an entirely different sort than Caesar’s was.

SO WHAT? (what will i do with what i have read today?)

As I read this passage today, I am struck by the integrity of Paul and Silas. An open jail cell, no more chains - I'm walking - no running - out of there. But Paul and Silas saw the big picture. They knew what their leaving would cost the Jailer his life. His salvation was more important than their freedom.



Lord, would to God that You would build into me that kind of integrity and that kind of love. Would to God that You would build into me that kind of selflessness.



"Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends." John 15:13 (NIV)

Folks, this is spiritual maturity. This is humility. Humility is not thinking less of yourselves, it's not thinking of yourselves at all. Humility is putting the needs of others ahead of yourself everyday. This is impossible on our own. It happens when we let Christ have His proper place in our lives.

"Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. 4 Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others. 5 Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus." Philippians 2:3-5 (NIV)

Lord, help me die to me today. Make me more like you. "He must become greater; I must become less." John 3:30 (NIV)

DAY #206: Acts 16:1-24

If anyone ever doubted Paul’s courage or tenacity, this passage ought to change that opinion! So concerned was Paul for the believers in these cities that he risked his life to make sure they were growing in the faith.

In Lystra lived a young disciple named Timothy. He probably had become a Christian after Paul’s first visit to Lystra. Timothy had already had solid Jewish training in the Scriptures from his mother and grandmother. When Paul arrived on this second journey, Timothy had grown into a respected disciple of Jesus.

Timothy’s excellent reputation in the church and, evidently, Paul’s need for an assistant compelled Paul to invite Timothy to join them on their journey. Apparently, Timothy wanted to go, for he submitted to being circumcised before they left—clearly a mark of his commitment.

Forbidden by the Holy Spirit to go into the provinces of Asia and Bithynia, Paul and his companions were directed instead past Mysia to the city of Troas. There Paul had a divine vision instructing him to go to Macedonia. These supernatural events served to underline the sovereign guidance of God in Paul’s evangelistic efforts. Sometime during the events described in this passage, Luke became part of Paul’s entourage.

The regions of Phrygia and Galatia included much of modern-day Turkey, yet God, for reasons known only to him, did not allow the missionaries to go into the province of Asia at that time. “Asia” referred not to the continent but rather to the Roman province that was the western part of what is today called Asia Minor. Ephesus probably would have been the leading city in this region.

The travelers moved on to the border of Mysia and headed for the province of Bithynia, a province just to the northeast of Asia, but again they were prohibited by God himself. The Spirit of Jesus is another name for the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit had closed the door twice for Paul, so Paul must have wondered which geographical direction God wanted him to take in spreading the gospel. Paul and Silas went on through Mysia to the city of Troas. There, at last, God opened the door.

Finally God spoke. During the night, Paul had a vision in which he saw a man from Macedonia who was pleading, “Come over here and help us.” Macedonia had been a Roman province since 146 b.c. and was located in what is today northern Greece.

The group decided to leave right away, knowing that God was calling them. In the first of many sections where this occurs, Luke unobtrusively introduced his presence on this part of the journey by the simple use of the plural pronouns we and us. The traveling group consisted at least of Paul, Silas, Timothy, and Luke. Clearly, Luke had experienced what he wrote.

In response to the Macedonian call, Paul and his associates immediately boarded a ship at Troas and sailed across the Aegean Sea, landing at Neapolis, the port city for Philippi (in what is now northern Greece). Acts 16 highlights the stories of three individuals who became believers through Paul’s ministry in Philippi: Lydia, the influential businesswoman, the demon-possessed slave girl and the jailer. The gospel was affecting all strata of society, just as it does today.

SO WHAT? (what will I do with what I have read today?)

One of the basic life principles of the Christian life is to obey the promptings of the Holy Spirit.

You see this principle played out in spades in this passage. What is the take away? The Holy Spirit is like an inner compass in our lives - always pointing us towards what Jesus would be, what Jesus would say or what Jesus would do in any given moment.

We need this kind of leading and prompting to be sure. But, what we need even more is the discipline to obey those promptings. The leaders of the early church relied on the Holy Spirit to give them specific, personal guidance and we are to do likewise.

"For if you live according to the sinful nature, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live, 14 because those who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God." Romans 8:13-14 (NIV)

"So I say, live by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature. 17 For the sinful nature desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the sinful nature. They are in conflict with each other, so that you do not do what you want. 18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under law." Galatians 5:16-18 (NIV)

We must say YES to the Spirit when He prompts/leads us to take certain actions or to speak truth to others. When the holy Spirit is directing us away from something harmful, we must obey.

"Then Samuel said, Do you think all God wants are sacrifices— empty rituals just for show? He wants you to listen to him! Plain listening is the thing, not staging a lavish religious production." 1 Samuel 15:22 (MSG)

Lord, give us a heart to obey Your word and Your promptings today. Give us a heart that hears that still small voice and a desire to do whatever You ask. Give us a heart like David when he said in Psalm 119:33 (LB) -

"Just tell me what to do and I will do it, Lord. As long as I live I'll wholeheartedly obey."

DAY #205: Acts 15:22-41

The apostles did not hold a church office but a position and function based on specific gifts. Elders were appointed to lead and manage the local church. In this meeting, the apostles submitted to the judgment of an elder—James, Jesus’ half brother.

A representative from the Jewish believers and one from the Gentile believers were appointed as delegates to go with Paul and Barnabas to deliver the council’s decision to Antioch of Syria and the surrounding churches. Judas was a Jew; Silas was a Greek. Their presence together would give credence to the council’s ruling.

Later, Silas would accompany Paul on the second missionary journey in place of Barnabas, who would visit different cities with John Mark. Peter referred to Silas as the coauthor of 1 Peter, but it is not known when he joined Peter.

This letter concisely summarized the findings of the Jerusalem council. It would serve to validate the verbal report that Paul, Barnabas, Judas, and Silas would be delivering to the Gentile believers in Antioch, Syria, and Cilicia.

In this letter, the Jerusalem church disassociated itself from those men who had troubled the Gentile converts regarding circumcision. They had received no such instructions from the apostles and had been acting without their approval. They were not to be regarded as spokesmen for the church. Rather, the men bringing the letter (Paul, Barnabas, Judas, and Silas) had been chosen as representatives of the church, with authority to speak on behalf of the elders and apostles.

Two of the council’s requirements involved issues of morality (avoiding idolatry and sexual immorality), and two involved issues of food. The dietary restrictions were because the early church often shared common meals (similar to modern-day church potluck dinners). Sometimes called “love feasts” and held in conjunction with the Lord’s Supper, these meals would bring Jews and Gentiles together.

In such settings, a Gentile might horrify the Jewish Christians by eating meat that was not kosher. In this compromise agreement, legalistic Jews no longer insisted that the Gentiles had to be circumcised to be saved, and the Gentiles accepted a change in their eating habits. These decisions should not be regarded as divine ordinances but rather as stipulations for fellowship between the two parties.

Luke painted a picture of a teachable, eager church in Antioch. Whereas the false teaching of the legalists had been burdensome and a source of great confusion, the divine wisdom behind the ruling of James and the elders resulted in a joyful, encouraged congregation. The law obligates; the gospel liberates.

The end result of the potential crisis was great joy. It’s easy to see why. First, a wise and careful approach to conflict resolution had been followed. Second, the leaders had ruled only after lengthy discussion and leading by the Spirit. Third, the members of the church had submitted to their God-appointed leadership. Churches today would be much happier and more peaceful if they followed these principles when handling conflict.

Judas and Silas remained in Antioch and used their prophetic gifts encouraging and strengthening the believers’ faith. They then returned to Jerusalem. The length of Paul and Barnabas’s stay in Antioch is not known. The fact, however, that many others were teaching and preaching there opened up the opportunity for Paul to attempt another missionary endeavor.

When the time came for a second missionary journey, Barnabas and Paul had a sharp disagreement concerning John Mark. Barnabas wanted to take this young man, his nephew, but Paul refused, citing John Mark’s desertion during the first evangelistic endeavor. This incident demonstrates the sovereignty of God as two missionary teams were formed: Paul and Silas, and Barnabas and Mark.

Even though no further word is given regarding the results of Barnabas and Mark’s evangelistic efforts, we see Kingdom messengers departing Antioch in two directions. Paul wanted to take another trip, primarily to revisit the churches that had been established on the first missionary journey. Evangelism would prove to be a major component of Paul’s mission, but establishing and equipping the new believers were his primary objectives. This teamwork demonstrated the church’s unity after the decision at the Jerusalem council.

SO WHAT? (what will i do with what i have read today?)

In today's passage we see the importance of spiritually mature leaders in God's church. Men and women who are grounded in God's word. Men and women who have proven themselves in the ministry. men and women who know how to stand when others fall. Men and women who refuse to quit or be derailed from the mission God has given.

How easy is to look at the exterior of a life, when God looks at the heart of a man and requires us to do the same.

"But the LORD said to Samuel, 'Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The LORD does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.' " 1 Samuel 16:7 (NIV)

Lord, raise up men and women who have deep roots. Men and women who will not compromise your values. Men and women who have character and integrity. Men and women who will say no, although say yes. I have been asked through the years - "What does spirtual maturity look like?" Here's what it looks like;

God says maturity is attitude. Attitude is what makes the difference. It's your character. D. L. Moody said, "Character is what you are in the dark." Recognition is what people say about you, character is what God says about you. God says it's your attitude that determines whether you're mature or not. God wants you to grow up and have Christlike attitudes.

How do you measure spiritual maturity? Not by comparing yourself to other people but by comparing yourself to the word of God. In the book of James we have a manual on maturity. The word "mature" in Greek is the word "teleaos" -- it's translated mature, complete, perfect. James uses this word five times in five chapters. James is a manual on how to be mature. James gives us four marks of maturity.

#1. A MATURE PERSON IS POSITIVE UNDER PRESSURE

James 1:2-4 says "Consider it pure joy, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know the testing of your faith develops perseverance and perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete not lacking anything."

The first test of maturity is how do you react to problems? How do you handle trials? Do they blow you away? Do you get nervous, uptight, negative? Do you grumble and gripe? How do you handle problems?

#2. A MATURE PERSON IS SENSITIVE TO PEOPLE

James 2:8 says, "If you really keep the royal law found in Scripture, `Love your neighbor as yourself' you are doing right." A mature person is sensitive to people. He doesn't just see his own needs, he sees other people's needs.



#3. A MATURE PERSON HAS MASTERED HIS MOUTH


James 1:26 says, "If anyone considers himself religious and yet does not keep a tight rein on his tongue, he deceives himself and his religion is worthless." If I've memorized a hundred thousand verses and been through every Bible study in the book and go to church and never miss a service, but if I'm a gossip, my religion is worthless. If I spread rumors, it's worthless. If I'm always saying things that are not always accurate or exaggerate or speak impulsively, it's worthless.

#4. A MATURE PERSON IS PATIENT AND PRAYERFUL

James 5:7,11 says "Be patient then, brothers, until the Lord's coming... As you know, we consider blessed those who persevere." v. 16 "The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective." God says the mark of a mature person is, he is patient and prayerful.

Just like a farmer has to wait, sometimes we have to wait. We have to wait on God in answer to prayer. We have to wait on God for a miracle. We have to wait on God to work in our lives. We have to wait. The only way you learn patience is by waiting.

DAY #204: Acts 15:1-21

As many Gentile believers came into the church, legalistic Jews demanded that these new converts be circumcised. Fierce arguing about this issue resulted in the first church council.
These men were of a group called the Judaizers. They came from Judea (perhaps from Jerusalem) to Antioch; they held the opinion that Gentiles could not be saved unless they kept the ancient Jewish custom of circumcision taught by Moses.

To understand the Judaizers’ actions, we need to understand their mind-set. In the early days, all of the believers were Jews. In fact, the early church was viewed as a sect within Judaism. The Judaizers concluded that Christianity was not intended to bypass Judaism but to build on it. Judaism, with its centuries of history and tradition, was the prerequisite. They saw Jesus (and his message) as the final step in the long process. The Judaizers were afraid that soon there would be more Gentile than Jewish Christians. Also, they were afraid that moral standards among believers would be weakened if they did not follow Jewish laws.

If not handled wisely, the debate could have split the church. So Paul and Barnabas were sent to Jerusalem, accompanied by some local believers. They would meet with the apostles and elders in Jerusalem about this question.

The Gentile question prompted a long discussion. After lengthy interaction, Peter shared his experience of how God had used him to preach to the Gentiles. Peter bolstered his argument by noting God’s outpouring of the Spirit. The Gentiles had received the Holy Spirit when they believed (through faith), not because they had done any works of the law. The presence of the Spirit in them was the clearest evidence of their acceptance by God.

Peter warned that by making strict adherence to the law a prerequisite for salvation, the church would be guilty of questioning God’s way. It was, and still is, impossible to obey the law completely. That would be a burden too hard for any human being. In effect, Peter urged the council not to advocate a double standard. Salvation—whether for Jew or Gentile—is by the special favor of the Lord Jesus.

What the law could never do, God did through Jesus Christ. No one deserves to be saved, and no religious, intellectual, or moral effort can earn salvation because it comes only from God’s mercy and love. To receive God’s salvation, people must acknowledge that they cannot save themselves and that only God can save them. Then they must trust in Christ.

SO WHAT? (what will i do with what i have read today?)

"For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith--and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God-- not by works, so that no one can boast. Ephesians 2:8-9 (NIV)


Why is it that so many churches and so many denominations add to what must be done for an individual to be saved? Some churches propagate the falsehood that you must be baptized to be saved. Others say you must have a second baptism of the Holy Spirit to be saved. Still others say that you must go to this this class or that class to be saved. Baloney.


The Scriptures are clear. this passage crystallizes this truth. Salvation is found in one person. That person is Jesus Christ. "Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved." Acts 4:12 (NIV)


And let's be clear about this. There are not many roads to heaven. While that may be the PC thing to say today, it to is false. There is one road to heaven. It's called highway 146.

"Jesus answered, 'I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.' " John 14:6 (NIV)


Each person has to establish a spirtual BASE in life. What do you do to establish a spiritual base? You say, I’d like to have my past forgiven. I’d like to have a purpose for living. I’d like to have a home in heaven. How do I get it?” You do four things:


B – Believe. I must believe that Jesus Christ died on the cross for me and showed He was God by coming back to life. Do you believe that?


A – Accept. I need to accept God’s free forgiveness for my sin. Would you like to accept that? I don't know anybody who’d reject it. Why would you? If you’ve got this one, you’re half way there.


S – Switch. Switch to God’s plan for my life. That means I'm going to say, “I’m no longer going to do what I want to do. I'm going to live the plan You made me for. I want to know Your purpose for life and from now on You’re going to call the shots, not me.” When you become a Christian, you put a sign on your life that says, “Under new management.” Now you’re doing God’s plan for your life. My plan hasn’t worked out too well. If you’re willing to do that, you’re three quarters of the way there.


E – Express. I Express my desire for Christ to be the Director of my life, the manager. The word in the Bible is Lord. Are you ready to do that? To express that?


If you’re willing to take these four steps, then pray this simple prayer. If you’ve never invited Christ into your life, He will come into your heart as you pray this prayer. “Dear God, I believe You sent Your Son, Jesus to die for my sins so I could be forgiven. I'm sorry for my sins and I want to live the rest of my life the way You want me to. Please put Your Spirit in my life to direct me. Amen.”

DAY #203: Acts 14:8-28

The major event of Lystra involved a man with crippled feet. Paul recognized the fact that this man had faith to be healed, so he addressed the man with authority. “Stand up!” the apostle commanded, and the man started walking for the first time ever.

When Paul was sensitive to the moment, when he made himself available to be used by God, and when the crippled man put his faith in the power of God, then God worked a miracle! God wants to do big things in and through his people, but they need to live with a sense of eager expectancy. To see changes in their lives, believers must trust fully in God.

Evidently, the crowd that witnessed this miracle was large. The response was immediate and emotional. Concluding that these men were gods in human bodies, they went so far as to decide that Paul was Hermes and Barnabas, Zeus. According to Greek and Roman mythology, Zeus and Hermes (the Roman names were Jupiter and Mercury) had once visited this city and, according to the legend, no one offered them hospitality except an old couple. So Zeus and Hermes killed the rest of the people and rewarded the old couple.

When the citizens of Lystra saw the miracles of Paul and Barnabas, they assumed that the gods were revisiting them. Remembering the story of what had happened to the previous citizens, they immediately honored Paul and Barnabas, showering them with gifts. Barnabas and Paul were horrified by news of an impending sacrifice on their behalf, so they tore their clothing, a common Jewish gesture of horror or sorrow.

Paul and Barnabas affirmed the fact that they were not visiting gods but merely human beings just like the residents of Lystra. They immediately took advantage of the startled, gathered, and attentive crowd to preach the Good News. These sincere, excited believers in Zeus had been ready to spend the time, money, and effort to worship a god that didn’t exist. So Paul directed them to the living God, who made the heaven and the earth. The residents of Lystra needed to redirect their affection and attention from these worthless things (referring to their pantheon of gods) to the one true God.

This miracle only deepened the jealousy and heightened the resolve of the Jewish leaders to take drastic action to rid themselves of them. The Jews turned the crowds into a murderous mob. Paul was stoned and dragged out of the city, left for dead. According to Scripture records, this is the only time Paul was stoned (2 Corinthians 11:25). Nothing is said about what they did to Barnabas.

This is one of the most powerful moments in the whole book. Paul, surely bloody and bruised from the stoning he had just endured, surrounded by believers (maybe some who had just come to faith through his ministry), got up and went back into the city. This courageous messenger, who had faithfully preached the Good News and had been hounded for it at every turn, got up, dusted himself off, and went back to work. Others would have quit, but not Paul. The next day he left for the next stop on his missionary journey—the town of Derbe.

SO WHAT? (what will i do with what i have read today?)

Paul was the man. I am humbled by his perseverance and his tenacity. I am moved by his dogged determination. How many of us, after being beaten and bloodied would have the stamina and steely will to keep preaching? How many of would have packed our bags and headed back home? Not Paul. God's love compelled him to keep preaching and reaching.

"For Christ's love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all..."

2 Corinthians 5:14 (NIV)

I am hoping and praying that God will use this passage in your life today to give you some encouragement to stay the course in your own life. Maybe you're on the verge of quitting something. Maybe your marriage or a relationship or a job. Maybe you're tired and your strength has grown weary. Don't you dare give up. Don't you dare.

I don't care if your friends are telling you to throw in the towel. I don't care if your family is urging you to"move on". I don't care if you just don't have the stomach for the fight anymore. Until God gives you the green light to quit, you stay put. You keep on keeping on. Stay the course.

"So let's not allow ourselves to get fatigued doing good. At the right time we will harvest a good crop if we don't give up, or quit." Galatians 6:9 (MSG)

Here's a good reminder for us all about staying the course. (from Sunday's sermon)


Lee Strobel, who wrote the case for Christ, tells about a time at his church back in Chicago when he was baptizing people. He says, “A few years ago, we were doing a baptism service. The way we did it there was baptize lots of people at once. We had many people being baptized. During the first part of the service we explained the message of Jesus and what it was all about. Then people would come up to be baptized. Those who were to be baptized were wearing a nametag but often they would bring someone with them for moral support in front of such a big crowd.


Some people were kind of nervous. So a woman came up to be baptized. She had her nametag on. She was about sixty years old or so and a guy was with her. Very tough looking guy, sort of a construction worker kind of a guy. You could tell this guy was tough as nails They came up and I said to her, “Are you here to be baptized?” She said, “Yes, I am!” I said, “Have you given your life to Jesus Christ?” She said wholeheartedly, “Yes, I have!” I was just going to baptize her but I turned to this man and said, “Are you her husband?” He said, “Yes, I am.” I said, “Have you given your life to Jesus Christ?” His face sort of screwed up and burst into tears, weeping and sobbing, “No, I haven’t. But I want to right now!” Time out! I said, “Great!” And I led him in a prayer, he confessed his sins and he received Jesus Christ in front of thousands of people and I baptized him and his wife together.


Then after the service I walked down off the platform and another woman came running up to me, threw her arms around me. She’s weeping and crying, “Nine years! Nine years! Nine years!” I said, “Who are you? What do you mean nine years?” She said, “That’s my brother you just led to Jesus Christ. That was my sister-in-law you just baptized with him. We’ve been praying for him for nine years and we’ve seen no glimmer of spiritual interest, no indication, whatsoever that he had any interest in Jesus Christ. Look at what God did today!”


Some of you are thinking, you have a son or a daughter, a mom or a dad, a best friend from college or someone in your life and you can’t even count the years you’ve been praying for them. and you see no hope. I want to say to you, Don’t give up hope. Don’t give up. Keep praying consistently and specifically and fervently.

DAY #202: Acts 13:42-14:7

Declaring boldly the death and resurrection of Christ and the forgiveness that is possible only through Him, Paul and Barnabas drew huge crowds on their second Sabbath in Antioch of Pisidia. Among those gathered were a number of jealous Jewish leaders. Despite efforts by these leaders to discredit Paul and his message, the assembled Gentiles eagerly embraced the gospel. This further enraged the Jewish leaders, who were eventually able to stir up a mob that ran Paul and Barnabas out of town.

In one short week, the news had spread through the city of Antioch so that almost the entire city turned out to hear what Paul and Barnabas had to say. This huge and unusual turnout was likely due to a Gentile influx rather than a Jewish one, since the Jewish attendance at the synagogue probably was fairly constant. The Jewish leaders in attendance were jealous and so they slandered Paul and argued with him, although it must have been difficult taking on this brilliant rabbi in a debate.

In answer to this jealous and abusive response from the Jews, Paul and Barnabas explained that it was necessary for them to go first to the Jews. God planned that through the Jewish nation, all the world would come to know him. They, of all people, should have been the most ready for the fulfillment that had come in Christ. Paul quoted Isaiah 49:6. God had made the Jew to be a light to the Gentiles. He wanted them to be the privileged announcers of salvation. But it was not to be. They rejected the Good News, thereby judging themselves unworthy of eternal life.

The evangelistic thrust was thus turned to Gentiles. God had planned for Israel to be the light (Isaiah 49:6). But Israel had forsaken that task, so it was given to the church to carry out.
Contrast this Gentile response to that of the Jews. They were very glad and thanked the Lord for his message. In a strong statement about the sovereign hand of God, Luke wrote: and all who were appointed to eternal life became believers.

Thus was set the pattern that would surface again and again—the Jews reject, the Gentiles respond in great numbers, and, in turn, the Jews become belligerent and often physically violent against the Christians. But still the Lord’s message spread.

In contrast with the paranoid, politicking Jews working hard to rid themselves of the gospel messengers, the believers, most of whom were Gentiles, were filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit. Like the coming of the Holy Spirit in Jerusalem at Pentecost , in Samaria at the laying on of the apostles’ hands, and in Caesarea during Peter’s preaching, the believers here were “filled with joy”—the kind of inexplicable and overflowing joy of one freshly filled with the loving, forgiving Spirit of God.

A mob of Gentiles and Jews from Iconium decided to attack the apostles and stone them. Fortunately, the apostles heard of the plan and fled for their lives. The opposition did not stop their message. Paul and Barnabas went to the region of Lycaonia.


At Lystra, the missionaries healed a man crippled from birth. The pagan Gentiles of the area saw this miracle and concluded that Paul and Barnabas must be Greek gods. Despite an immediate rejection of this foolish notion and loud explanations to the contrary, the apostles could barely convince them. Then the fickle mob turned murderous, prodded by some angry Jews from nearby Antioch and Iconium. Together they stoned Paul, dragged him out of Lystra, and left him for dead. Then, in one of most amazing moments of New Testament history, the bloody apostle got up and went back into the city. His joyful perseverance in the face of extreme persecution is testimony to the power of the Holy Spirit in a believer’s life.


SO WHAT? (what will I do with what I have read today?)

As I read today's passage, I am reminded of what 2 Timothy 3:12 (NIV) has to say;

"In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted."

Jesus forewarned us in the Gospel of Matthew - “Then they will hand you over to those who will torture and kill you. All nations will hate you because you are committed to me." Matthew 24:9 (GW)

Lord, build into us a courage to step up to the plate for you. Build into us a boldness to be Your men and women. Build into us a desire to follow and obey - whatever the cost. Build into us a fearlessness that comes from having our eyes set upon you.

Lord, watch over the kids and workers at VBS this week. Lord, make this a week that changes the destiny of many young people as they give their lives to you.

DAY #201: Acts 13:14-41

When they went to a new city to witness for Christ, Paul and Barnabas went first to the synagogue. They would go on the Sabbath, taking advantage of the Jewish custom of inviting itinerant teachers to speak. Paul and Barnabas did not separate themselves from the synagogues but tried to show clearly that the very Scriptures the Jews studied pointed to Jesus.

In a synagogue service, first the “Shema” would be recited (Deuteronomy 6:4, which Jews would repeat several times daily). Then certain prayers would be spoken, followed by a reading from the books of Moses (Genesis through Deuteronomy), a reading from the Prophets (intended to illustrate the law), and a sermon. The invitation from those in charge was to speak a word of encouragement. Such an invitation was all Paul needed.

Paul’s sermon, was included as a typical example of what Paul would say to a synagogue gathering. It shows how Paul first preached the Good News to a Jewish congregation. The opening address to the people of Israel and to the devout Gentiles who fear the God of Israel covered both groups of possible worshipers—Jews by birth and Gentile God-fearers.

Paul began his message by emphasizing God’s covenant with Israel. This was a common form of address known as a “historical retrospect”—a sketch of the course of God’s work in the nation’s history. Paul would move quickly from Abraham to Moses, Samuel, and David and eventually come to Jesus.

With this direct address to his Jewish brothers, Paul appealed for them to come to faith in Jesus Christ—the one to whom all the prophecies of their Scriptures pointed. The salvation that Christ offers is for both Jews and Gentiles.

Paul joined Peter and Stephen in blaming the Jews who rejected Christ. The failure of the Jews to recognize him as the one the prophets had written about was made all the worse by the fact that they had sat every Sabbath and had heard the prophets’ words read. They had been exposed to the prophecies but had missed the fulfillment of those prophecies.

Paul tied together all of the events that he had been recounting to that moment when he and Barnabas were standing before them as the bearers of this Good News. The promise God had made to their common ancestors had come true. After centuries of waiting, watching, and wanting, the Messiah had come. His name is Jesus.

SO WHAT? (what will I do with what i have read today?)

Pretty simple assignment. Preach the good news. Jesus came, He died and He rose again. Why is that so hard for so many? Why do we tense up and choke when opportunities come our way to share with others? Why is it that more people are interested in the message of Jesus, then there are people to share that message?

Lord, raise up folks who will invite their friends to church to hear the message.

"Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved." 14 How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? 15 And how can they preach unless they are sent? As it is written, "How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!" Romans 10:13-15 (NIV)

Lord, make COV a church where first things are first. Love God and love people.

DAY #200: Acts 12:20-13:13

While neither account (Luke’s or Josephus’s) described Herod Agrippa’s response to the crowd, Luke explained that God acted, and he did so instantly. An angel of the Lord was God’s vehicle to strike Herod with a horrible illness, described in gory detail: So he was consumed with worms and died. Some scholars suggest that the worms were intestinal roundworms, which grow ten to sixteen inches long and rob the body of nutrients while causing intense pain.

The reason for this judgment was that Herod accepted the people’s worship instead of giving the glory to God. God knew what was going on in Herod’s heart and refused to share his glory with any earthly potentate. Pride is a serious sin. God chose to punish Herod’s pride immediately. God does not immediately punish all sin, but he will bring all to judgment. Those who set themselves against God are doomed to ultimate failure.

Upon the completion of their mission, Barnabas and Saul returned to Antioch, having picked up John Mark in the process. John Mark was also Barnabas’s cousin. The church at Antioch of Syria became the sending center of the mission to reach the world (the last part of Jesus’ commission in Acts 1:8).

These believers were worshiping the Lord and fasting when God sent them a special message. Just as both Peter and Cornelius received messages while praying, so God spoke to these believers as they were seeking him. “Fasting” means going without food for a specified period of time in order to focus on the Lord. People who are fasting can set aside the time of preparing and eating meals and use it to worship and pray. Also, their hunger pangs will remind them of their complete dependence upon God.

Having been chosen by God to embark on what came to be called the “first missionary journey,” Paul and his entourage (Barnabas and John Mark, at the very least) set sail. The target of this evangelistic thrust was the Gentile population of Asia Minor. They followed the communication routes of the Roman Empire—this made travel easier. They first visited Barnabas’s home country. Then they visited key population and cultural centers to reach as many people as possible.

Salamis, the leading city on Cyprus, was their first stop. It was located on the east coast of the island and was the seat of government. As would become his custom for years, Saul began his witness in the Jewish synagogues. Saul’s credentials as a highly trained Pharisee—a former student of Gamaliel —would have been more than enough to prompt an invitation to speak, at least until his reputation for bringing such a radical message began to precede him.

John Mark was on the trip as their assistant. The nature of Mark’s job is not spelled out, though the word used here (hupereten) has led to speculation that he instructed the new converts and also was in charge of practical needs.

Trouble was brewing, because Bar-Jesus realized that if Sergius Paulus believed in Christ, he would no longer need a sorcerer. Apparently Bar-Jesus’ Greek name was Elymas (meaning “sorcerer” or “magician”), and he was going to do his best to stop any influence Barnabas and Saul might have on the governor.

Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit, a phrase reminiscent of the way the apostles were used earlier in Acts, took center stage. Evidently this was a big turning point in Paul’s leadership of the mission.
Not intimidated by his spiritual rival, Paul boldly exposed the source of his sorcery. In Aramaic the name Bar-Jesus means “son of Jesus,” so Paul played on that name to confront him (in the presence of the listening Sergius Paulus) with the accusation that Bar-Jesus was actually a son of the Devil.

This is the first recorded presentation of the word of God to the Roman world, and it would be crucial that a clear distinction be made between Christianity and the perverted spiritualism so prevalent in the Empire. Paul’s rhetorical questioning of the sorcerer turned to an announcement of judgment, telling him that the Lord’s punishment was on him. Instantly Bar-Jesus was struck with blindness.

This miracle was all it took to convince Sergius Paulus. He believed. Notice also that his astonishment was not at the powerful act he had just witnessed but rather at what he learned about the Lord. Sergius Paulus is the highest ranking converted official recorded in the New Testament.

Leaving the city of Paphos on the island of Cyprus, Paul and his companions sailed north, arriving at Perga. For an unknown reason, John Mark abruptly left the venture at that time and returned to Jerusalem. Paul and Barnabas continued inland to Antioch of Pisidia.

Why John Mark left them is never explained. Perhaps he was homesick; he resented the change in leadership from Barnabas to Paul; he became ill; he was unable to withstand the rigors and dangers of the missionary journey; Whatever the reason, Paul implicitly accused John Mark of lacking commitment, and, therefore, Paul refused to take Mark along on another journey (Acts 15:37-38).

John Mark’s story does not end here, though. It is clear from Paul’s later letters that Paul grew to respect Mark (Colossians 4:10) and that he needed him in his work (2 Timothy 4:11). Somewhere along the way, John Mark was restored completely to usefulness even in the ministry of Paul. He later wrote the Gospel that bears his name.

SO WHAT? (what will I do with what i have read today?)

Leadership. My old Senior Pastor, William Yaeger, used to say - "You don't know what it means to be in leadership until you have blood on your tunic." What was he saying? Until you have known the blood, sweat and tears of the ministry, you don't know leadership. Until you've had to go toe to toe with the the evil one and his representatives, you don't know leadership.

Until you've had to stand against raw evil and do battle with it, you don't know leadership. Paul in this passage stands up to evil. He doesn't negotiate with it. He doesn't try to make nice with it. He stands up speaks against it. He doesn't do the PC thing, he knows about spiritual warfare and He engages in it. He doesn't run from it or cower in fear from it. Thank the Lord for a man like this.

In contrast, Mark - at this point in his life - doesn't have the goods. Paul knows this and sends him home to grow up. He might have Mark in his mind when he penned Ephesians 4:15 -

(Paul) "Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into Him (Jesus) who is the head..." Ephesians 4:15 (RSV)

Lord, grow true disciples of Jesus Christ here at COV. Men and women who are mature in their faith and emotions and life. Men and women who will be bold and courageous and do the right thing - regardless of the cost. Men and women who will not run from evil, but recognize it and do battle against it.

"Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11 Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes. 12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. 13 Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand." Ephesians 6:10-13 (NIV)

DAY #199: Acts 11:27-12:19

Because there were serious food shortages during this time due to the famine, the believers in Antioch assisted the church in Jerusalem. The daughter church had grown enough to be able to help the mother church.

The chapter ends with a very healthy picture of this burgeoning, young, and mostly Gentile church. They had two high-quality teachers, Barnabas and Saul. They had a solid contingency of giving saints—donating enough money to tend to the local needs of the congregation and send something to the “mother church” at Jerusalem. The idea of a Gentile-Christian congregation sending help to a Jewish-Christian church highlights the quality of its spiritual character.

While the church was growing dramatically, the king (King Herod Agrippa I) was also increasing the persecution. His sister was Herodias, who had been responsible for the death of John the Baptist. He began to persecute the Christians in order to please the Jewish leaders who opposed them, hoping to solidify his position. Many Jews had been tolerating this new movement as a sect within Judaism, but its rapid growth alarmed them. Persecution of Christians was revived, and even the apostles were not spared.

James and John were two of the original twelve disciples who followed Jesus. They had asked Jesus for special recognition in his Kingdom. Jesus said that to be a part of his Kingdom would mean suffering with him. James and John did indeed suffer—Herod had James killed with a sword. These two brothers were the first and the last apostles to die.

Herod, in the self-serving spirit of the previous Herods of the New Testament, took special delight in the positive political benefits he received from executing James. Since James’s execution pleased the Jewish leaders, Herod Agrippa then arrested Peter during the Passover. This was a strategic move since more Jews were in the city than usual, and Herod could impress the most Jews by imprisoning the most visible of the church leaders.

Peter was well guarded by four squads of four soldiers each—each squad would have guarded Peter for one-fourth of a day! Evidently, Herod knew of Peter’s previous escape and wanted to be sure that such would not happen this time. Luke carefully recorded the location of the soldiers in charge of making sure this reputed jail-breaking apostle did not slip away again and leave Herod with a serious public-relations problem. Two soldiers were chained to Peter, one on either side, and others were standing guard at the prison gate. Luke again stressed the power of God over earthly rulers.

From his sleep, Peter was roused by an angel of the Lord and was told to get up. The command was accompanied by his chains falling off his wrists. The term for “falling off” comes from a Greek word meaning to “drop away.” Neither the angel nor Peter touched the chains—they came off because God was setting Peter free.

Peter seemed dazed as he followed the angel’s instructions. The angel stayed with Peter a little longer, then suddenly left Peter alone. Peter finally realized what had happened. He realized that the Lord had saved him. He knew Herod’s plans to use Peter’s incarceration (and possible execution) as another way to ingratiate himself to the Jews. Peter’s awareness of his life-threatening situation, particularly in light of the recent execution of James, made his peaceful sleep in the prison cell all the more marvelous. Peter had seen enough to trust that the Father was in control of his life.

SO WHAT? (what will I do with what I have read today?)

Why does God allow suffering and persecution?

"For it is commendable if a man bears up under the pain of unjust suffering because he is conscious of God. 20 But how is it to your credit if you receive a beating for doing wrong and endure it? But if you suffer for doing good and you endure it, this is commendable before God. 21 To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps. 22 "He committed no sin, and no deceit was found in his mouth." 23 When they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats. Instead, he entrusted himself to him who judges justly. 24 He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed." 1 Peter 2:19-24 (NIV)

Why does God allow suffering and persecution? To advance the Gospel. To increase our witness. To make us bold.

(Paul) "Now I want you to know, brothers, that what has happened to me has really served to advance the gospel. 13 As a result, it has become clear throughout the whole palace guard and to everyone else that I am in chains for Christ. 14 Because of my chains, most of the brothers in the Lord have been encouraged to speak the word of God more courageously and fearlessly." Philippians 1:12-14 (NIV)

DAY #198: Acts 11:1-26

When Peter arrived back in Jerusalem, he was criticized for entering a Gentile home and then eating a meal with Gentiles. Both practices were terribly offensive to devout Jews who feared accidentally breaking one of their strict dietary regulations.

Peter quoted the response of the voice from heaven, instructing him that when God says something is acceptable not to say it isn’t. Peter spoke of the arrival of the three men from Caesarea. Upon the command of no one less than the Holy Spirit, Peter had accompanied them, citing the Spirit’s command not to worry about their being Gentiles. He had taken six fellow believers with him to witness what was to happen and help recall it accurately.

Peter described that crucial moment in recounting his meeting with the Gentiles when the Holy Spirit fell on them, just as he fell on the Jewish believers at the beginning, referring to Pentecost. The Holy Spirit had come on these Gentile believers just as he had come on the Jewish believers. There was no difference between the two “Pentecosts” other than that the Jews’ experience had come first. These subsequent events, parallel to Pentecost, proved to the Jerusalem church that they must accept each new group of converts (the Samaritans, the Gentiles) because God had put his guarantee on them by repeating Pentecost.

The theological discussion stopped with the report that God had given the Holy Spirit to the Gentiles. This was a turning point for the early church. They had to accept those whom God had chosen, even Gentiles.

Meanwhile, the seeds of missionary work were being sown after Stephen’s death, for many believing Jews were persecuted and scattered, settling in faraway cities and spreading the gospel. The Good News was being preached, but only to Jews.

Fortunately, these believers had the courage to spread the gospel of the Lord Jesus outside of the confines of Judaism. When these believers spoke, the power of the Lord was upon them, and large numbers of these Gentiles believed and turned to the Lord.

Word of the happenings in Antioch prompted the leaders of the Jerusalem church to send someone to investigate. Barnabas was the emissary. He was a wise choice for a number of reasons. From Cyprus, he would have had a natural national connection with the evangelists who had started the movement in Antioch. Barnabas was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and strong in faith. His name means “Son of Encouragement” , and he lived up to it as he encouraged the believers to stay true to the Lord. The ministry of the gospel was thriving—large numbers believed.

Saul had been sent to his home in Tarsus for protection after his conversion caused an uproar among the Jewish religious leaders in Jerusalem . He stayed there for several years before Barnabas brought him back to Antioch. Evidently, the work at Antioch had grown so that it was too much for Barnabas to handle alone. Barnabas and Paul’s ministry in Antioch was marked by their teaching. Those who became believers were consistently and systematically instructed by these two teachers in the basics of their newfound faith.

SO WHAT? (what will I do with what i have read today?)

It's interesting to me that the gospel spread when the church got off it's high horse and realized that the Gospel, the Good News was for everybody, not just the Jews.

(Paul) "I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile." Romans 1:16 (NIV)

What would happen today, if the church made spreading the Gospel it's number one goal? What would happen if became asked God to give them courage and boldness? What would happen if the church got serious about training people to share their faith? What would happen if we broke down social barriers and economic barriers?

I'll tell you what would happen. People would get saved. Familes would be perserved. The poor would be cared for. Needs would be met.

Lord, do this kind of work at COV and in the San Ramon Valley.

"

They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. 43 Everyone was filled with awe, and many wonders and miraculous signs were done by the apostles. 44 All the believers were together and had everything in common. 45 Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need. 46 Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, 47 praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved." Acts 2:42-47 (NIV)

DAY #197: Acts 10:34-48

Peter’s words—God doesn’t show partiality, every nation, he accepts those who fear him—express Peter’s clear understanding of the universal application of Christ’s work on the cross and the subsequent universal offer of the gospel.

Assuming that his audience had already heard much of the information about the coming of Christ and the birth of the church, Peter proceeded to tell the story of Christ’s life and death in detail. Peter started where Mark’s Gospel does—with John the Baptist. He mentioned Christ’s ministry, including the good works and healing Jesus had done. The miracles and the healings were a demonstration of Jesus’ power over the Devil as well as the fact that God was with him and in fact had anointed him with the Holy Spirit and with power.

In short order, Peter stated the fact that he and others had been witnesses to the ministry of Jesus, including his crucifixion and his resurrection. The fact that they had eaten and had drunk with him should squelch any rumor that Jesus had appeared in some “phantom” form. This was solid, decisive proof of Christ’s resurrection and was confirmed by one who had been there, had seen it, and had participated fully in it.

Christ came to judge. He is the one before whom ultimately all people (Jew and Gentile alike) will stand and give account. Christ came to forgive sin. Jesus Christ was the long-awaited Savior who would offer forgiveness of sins to everyone who believes in him (John 3:16).

Peter’s sermon was interrupted by the Holy Spirit, who fell upon all who had heard the message. Unlike the Samaritan believers who had waited between belief and the baptism of the Spirit, which had come by the laying on of apostolic hands, the Spirit fell on these Gentile believers, just as he had at the first Pentecost—no laying on of hands, no praying for the Spirit to fall; God just did it!

This was a powerful testimony to Peter and his Jewish contingency of the necessity of fully accepting Gentile believers into the body of Christ. Whatever lingering questions Peter may have had about his vision of a sheet and animals or about Cornelius’s visit by an angelic messenger would have been put aside in light of this event.

SO WHAT? (what will I do with what I have read today?)

Preach the Gospel. Share the good news. Over and over, this is the message from the book of Acts. We need to train and teach the people of COV to do just that. Evangelism exposion. Each one reach one. We need to help people prepare their testimonies. We must train people about key questions to ask of others regarding faith. We must teach the basic principles of salvation.

Lord, we will do our part, but I need you to do Your part. I ask You to give our people a boldness to share their faith. I ask You to raise up men and women who will desire to be trained and equipped to share their faith. I ask You to pour out Your Holy Spirit upon our church and do a fresh work each week.

(Jesus) "But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth." Acts 1:8 (NIV)