Acts 7-8

SCRIPTURE

You have no part or share in this ministry, because your heart is not right before God. Repent of this wickedness and pray to the Lord. Perhaps he will forgive you for having such a thought in your heart. For I see that you are full of bitterness and captive to sin. Acts 8:22-23

OBSERVATION

Each year at Passover Jews all over the world read a story much like that which Stephen told.  Abraham left his home for the promised land. The Jews fled slavery in Egypt. The Haddadah or “Telling” usually ends with hope of freedom which springs eternally in the hearts of men. Stephen’s story culminated in the deliverance of all people from sin through Jesus Christ. For this Stephen was stoned to death.  As he fell to the ground and died an ensuing persecution scattered Christians like seed in the wind. The Holy Spirit empowered the disciples. Believers sprouted up everywhere. Though not all hearts were right, God moved thousands of souls from lost to found.

APPLICATION

As a gardener, who routinely loses at least a third of what I plant, I know that not all seed grows as planned. How would God describe my seed profile? Am I like that fig tree that Jesus cursed for being unfruitful? Am I growing among thorns that choke the life of Christ? Am I trodden down by the feet of those who are in a hurry to get away from God? Am I light enough to be carried wherever the Holy Spirit leads like Philip was carried to the eunuch? Am I willing to be scattered into unchartered territory for the sake of the gospel? Does my heart condition keep me from being fruitful right where I’m planted? Am I ready to fall to the ground and die for the sake of Christ?

PRAYER

Lord, shine your light on any wickedness in my heart and cast it far from me. Purify my heart, Oh God. Make it fertile ground for excellent fruit bearing.  May no bitter root springs up, choking out Christ’s love. Make me fit for your ministry. Thank you that even after long periods of dormancy seeds are still good. May that be true of me. Praise and thank you for your unfailing love. In Jesus Name I pray. Amen

yicareggie

 

Acts 4-6

Scripture:

^4:31After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly (NIV).

Observation:

Wow, what a result from a prayer meeting! The place where the disciples were meeting to pray was shaken by the power of the Holy Spirit. I haven’t been in a prayer meeting like that ever. The disciples were establishing the church in these early days. These men and women had been with Jesus and experienced the risen Christ. They were now absolutely sure of the message of the gospel. No faith here (faith was reality for them), they were living out their true eternal destiny on the streets of Jerusalem every day. They were fearless and stood up to the religious leaders of the time. These prayers were probably the most confident, powerful ones ever prayed. And the Holy Spirit replied by shaking the building. Being filled with the Holy Spirit helped obviously. Holy Spirit filled apostles who were sure of the message they preached is a recipe for a shaking building.

Application:

I sound a bit like a doubter. I am not. When I think of those first century Christ-followers I think of people who were with Jesus and experienced his resurrection ministry and ascension. They were the most confident — sure — of their faith than anyone ever has been. So much so I think their prayers reflected it. Not that I don’t pray in faith, or you don’t, it’s more they were experiencing something so powerful and real that they prayed in a fashion that brought glory to God. How can I pray more like these apostles? I believe I need to spend time with Jesus and ask for His filling everyday. A Spirit filled person is one who is more confident in her faith. A Spirit filled believer is spending time listening to what God is saying to him. By so doing one’s faith becomes stronger and our prayers more effectual.

Prayer:

Father God thank you that you raised Jesus from the dead through the power of your Holy Spirit. Help us to ask for that filling of the same Holy Spirit in our lives. I ask that our prayers would be earth-shaking prayers that further your kingdom. I pray these things in the strong and real Name of Jesus, Amen.

Acts 1-3

Scripture:

²⁰“For,” said Peter, “it is written in the book of Psalms,
   ” ‘May his place be deserted;
      let there be no one to dwell in it,’^[d] and,
   ” ‘May another take his place of leadership.’^[e] 21Therefore it is necessary to choose one of the men who have been with us the whole time the Lord Jesus went in and out among us, 22beginning from John’s baptism to the time when Jesus was taken up from us. For one of these must become a witness with us of his resurrection.”

 23So they proposed two men: Joseph called Barsabbas (also known as Justus) and Matthias. 24Then they prayed, “Lord, you know everyone’s heart. Show us which of these two you have chosen 25to take over this apostolic ministry, which Judas left to go where he belongs.” 26Then they cast lots, and the lot fell to Matthias; so he was added to the eleven apostles.

Acts 1:20-23 (NIV)

Observation:

Casting a lot, the rolling of dice, the flipping of a coin, rock, paper, scissors. This is what the final decision was on who the 12th apostle would be after Judas had betrayed Jesus. I have seen and read this term “casting lots” many times, but hadn’t done a lot of reaserach on the subject. So, I picked this scripture out to satisfy my curiosity. It is exactly what you would think. The items varied based on the custom of the region, but it was basically a “game of chance,” much like what I mentioned above.  The premise was that when a difficult decision was too tough for anyone to make or to agree upon, the persons or people involved would cast lots to make the decision, thinking that the result would be God’s will as he would have willed the lots to fall a certain way. Very interesting.

Application:

I am so glad that I have yet to feel inclined to “cast a lot” or flip a coin to see what decision I need to make. I could just see myself saying: ”God, I don’t like that decision – how about two out of three….three out of five….no, four out of seven” after each flip. I am glad that we can rely on the Holy Spirit (which had yet to come according to scripture, but was the next recorded event at Pentecost). I am glad that every time I have asked God for help in a decision, especially a tough one, God made it crystal clear what I was to do. The Holy Spirit is much more comforting than the casting of lots for sure. It is interesting that the practice of casting lots was never talked about after this passage. I highly doubt that is coincidence.

Prayer:

Dear Lord, thank you for not having us rely on a game of chance to know what your will is in our lives. I thank You for the Holy Spirit, although I wish I had the strength to listen to it more. Sometimes, I know the right path and choose to follow another. I mentally am still saying “best out of five…” sometimes when it is crystal clear what you need me to do. Please give me the guidance, strength, and wisdom to follow your lead. Amen

 

Jtgavigan

 

John 19-21

Scripture

So when they had eaten breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me more than these?”  He said to Him, “Yes, Lord;  You know that I love You.”  He said to him, “Feed My lambs”. 

He said to him a second time, “Simon son of Jonah, do you love Me?”  He said to Him, Yes Lord;  You know that I love You.”  He said to him, Tend My sheep.” 

He said to him the third time, “Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me?”  Peter was grieved because He said to him the third time, “Do you love Me?”  And he said to Him, “Lord, You know all things;  You know that I love You.”  Jesus said to him, “Feed my sheep.”   John 21:15-17 (NKJV)

Observation

In John 18, Peter denied knowing Jesus three times in one night, just as Jesus predicted he would.  Three chapters later, after Jesus was resurrected, Jesus asks Peter three questions and Peter responds.  Three times the Lord asks Peter if he loves Him, and three times He gives Peter His commission.

The first two times Jesus used the word love, it is translated in the greek as agape love, which is the highest form of love.   He asked both if Peter loved Him more than these and then Jesus focused on Peter alone when He asked the second question.  The third time Jesus asked Peter if He loved Him, the word love is the greek word phileo which is the word for friendship love.  By asking Peter three times, Peter was faced with the questions of if he loved Jesus totally and completely, with all of his heart, mind and strength.

Application

What is so very interesting about this passage is that all three times, Peter had to answer the question of his love for Jesus before hearing the call of service for Him.  It is love that is the supreme word here that guides the heart and mind to obedience to Peter, and the same is true for myself.    The only way that my life will be used by Him, the only way that I could share His love with the world and influence others to find and follow Jesus, is if I love Him with all of my heart, mind and strength. 

How much do I love Him?  I cannot say that I love Jesus enough if I fail to obey Him.  Jesus will manifest Himself to me only if I love Him and my level of love for Him will be evidenced in my level of obedience and service to Him.  This passage challenges me to with very tough and difficult questions.  They are questions that demand answers as I pray and think deep about this topic of love towards Jesus. 

They are questions such as these:

Does my love for Jesus discipline me? 

Is my love for Him making Him more real to me? 

Does my love for Him manifest itself  in my life and is it visible to others? 

Do I love Him equally in both the peaks and the valleys of life? 

These are the questions that are, I believe, the most important questions I could ask myself.  They were certainly the most important questions that were asked of Peter, too.       

Prayer

O Lord, I humbly thank you and praise you for your Word, spoken to my heart.  Your Word is such a treasure chest for it reveals who you are and it allows me to see you as these eyes could see you.  You speak to my heart and you reveal to me the deepest longings that I would never even know existed apart for your spoken and beautiful Word.  Thank you for giving the Scriptures!

Lord, I know that I could have faith that mountains but if my life lacks love for you, I am nothing.  Out of faith, hope and love, the greatest of these is love.  Everything in my life that is used in service to you and your kingdom, is only possible if I love you first. 

I thank you your unfailing love for me!  Without your love for me, my love for you is not even possible for you have loved me before the foundations of the earth.  You have loved me with an everlasting love and you have demonstrated your unfailing love by dying for me and paying my penalty for my sins. 

Lord, I pray that you continue to use your Holy Spirit to transform my heart and my mind.  I pray that you continue to reveal to me through the power of your Spirit how great and awesome and wonderful you are.  You are the love of my life but I want my love to grow deeper and higher and further and wider every day that you give me.  Take my life and use it!  Make every single day you have given me, a love offering back to you.  May I not waste any of the days you have given me. 

Search me, O God, and know my heart;  try me, and know my thoughts: and see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting. 

In Your beautiful and matchless Name, I pray,

John (johnd7264)

John 17 & 18

Scripture

“‘For I gave them the words You gave Me and they accepted them. They knew with certainity that I came from You, and they believed that You sent Me. I pray for them. I am not praying for the world, but for those You have given Me, for they are Yours.’”

“‘Holy Father, protect them by the power of Your name – the name You gave Me – so that they may be one as We are one.’”

“‘My prayer is not that You take them out of the world but that You protect them from the evil one. They are not of the world, even as I am not of it.’”

“‘My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in Me through their message, that all of them may be one, Father, just as You are in Me and I am in You. May they also be in Us, so that the world may believe that You have sent Me.’”

John 17:8,9,11b, 15, 16, 20 & 21 NIV

Observation

Here we have an intimate insight into Jesus’ communication through prayer to God.  The “Lord’s Prayer” that Jesus taught the disciples to pray in Matthew 6 and Luke 11 was an example of a pattern of prayer, but in John 17 we catch a glimpse into Jesus’ heart as He deeply communes, Son to Father.

Application

It’s so easy for me to become detached from the significance of  some portions of  Scripture that I have read on many occasions through the years. As I reflected on this chapter this week, it struck me anew that these are Jesus’ actual words. Words that He prayed about me two thousand years ago. He knew that I would one day believe because of the work of the gospel being spread, first by His own disciples and then by those that followed.

Jesus prays for His disciples’ protection, while living in this world, from the schemes of the evil one. As a modern day follower of Jesus, I  believe that He prayed that prayer on my behalf as well. How comforting is that!

On Tuesday morning of this week, I felt unable to cope with my current situation of homeschooling 3 of our children while trying to maintain calmness with our 2 preschool boys. The house felt totally chaotic and I was quickly and easily losing my patience. I just wanted to run and hide somewhere far away from the children. But, I knew I was the parent and didn’t have that option. Finally, a lightbulb went off that I was trying to fight this battle on my own, using my own feeble resources, instead of asking for God’s strength to help me through. I put my head in my hands right then and there and asked God to please help me to get control of my negative emotions and give me the strength to do the job He’s given me to do as a parent to these children. I sent a quick email to my wonderful husband and asked for his prayers as well.

The amazing thing was that very quickly I felt a covering of peace and realized anew that the power of prayer is very mighty.

The next day is when I re-read John 17 & 18 and realized that if God can use the prayers of sinful humans to do mighty things, how much more powerful and awe-inspiring must the prayer of the Son of God be on our behalf.

Prayer

Dear Jesus,

How wonderful it is to read Your very words spoken so long ago on behalf of those who believe in You and see the love and protection that you so greatly pour into our lives! You are truly amazing! I ask for Your forgiveness for neglecting our relationship by allowing other things to take priority in my life and for trying to do it all on my own. I know that You are the only true source of strength and I ask that You would remind me every day to rely totally and completely on You.

Amen

Beckie (look2thehills)