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Scripture for Today:
Job 21; Mark 5-6
Scripture-My special verse today:
Mark 6: 50-52 Jesus was quick to comfort them: “Courage! It’s me. Don’t be afraid.” As soon as he climbed into the boat, the wind died down. They were stunned, shaking their heads, wondering what was going on. They didn’t understand what he had done at the supper. None of this had yet penetrated their hearts.
Observation: The disciples were present when the miracles occurred but they did not comprehend what happened. They were in shock but it did not resonate with them as a movement from God. According to this verse the resignation must start in your heart. Maybe the believed in their minds but their heart , or loyalty, was not ready.
Application: What makes us ready to either receive or reject Jesus Christ? Is it anything we do or what God does? Does God meet us half way or is everything already planned at birth? Does God only come to those who seek Him? Paul was not seeking but but trying to destroy Him. The disciples could comprehend the miracles because their hearts were hard. Were they hard because of lack of faith?
Prayer: Realize when God moves in my life.
Scripture for Today:
Job 19; Mark 1-2
Scripture-My special verse today:
Mark1:40 A leper came to him, begging on his knees, “If you want to, you can cleanse me.” 41-45Deeply moved, Jesus put out his hand, touched him, and said, “I want to. Be clean.” Then and there the leprosy was gone, his skin smooth and healthy. Jesus dismissed him with strict orders: “Say nothing to anyone. Take the offering for cleansing that Moses prescribed and present yourself to the priest. This will validate your healing to the people.” But as soon as the man was out of earshot, he told everyone he met what had happened, spreading the news all over town. So Jesus kept to out-of-the-way places, no longer able to move freely in and out of the city. But people found him, and came from all over.
Observation: The leper believed that Jesus could heal him. This was incredible faith in which it moved Jesus into reaching out his hand. The leprosy was instantly gone and the skin restored. Everyone was amazed and the leper was confirmed by the priest as being healed.
Application: Your faith has made you well. This was the case for the leper. Without a deep belief in Jesus the leper would have never been healed. Being a passive believer will lead to being lukewarm. The leper set the bar high because he sought Jesus with all his passion.
Prayer: Longing for Jesus like the leper.
Scripture for Today:
Job 18; Psalm 114; Acts 27-28
Scripture-My special verse today:
Acts 28:30-31Paul lived for two years in his rented house. He welcomed everyone who came to visit. He urgently presented all matters of the kingdom of God. He explained everything about Jesus Christ. His door was always open.
Observation: Paul is in prison because he requested to be brought to Caesar which took him on an adventure on a ship to Rome. While in prison, he is placed on house arrest. His attitude was to show hospitality and to share his faith with others. His time in prison under lock-up became his ministry.
Application: Paul set the bar high in how to make the most out of your circumstances. Wherever he was whether on a ship or in front of religious leaders or on house arrest he shared the Gospel. This was not something Paul did this was who he was twenty-four seven.
Prayer: Intensity for the Gospel
Scripture for Today:
Job 17; Acts 24-26
Scripture-My special verse today:
Acts 26: 24-26A few days later Felix and his wife, Drusilla, who was Jewish, sent for Paul and listened to him talk about a life of believing in Jesus Christ. As Paul continued to insist on right relations with God and his people, about a life of moral discipline and the coming Judgment, Felix felt things getting a little too close for comfort and dismissed him. “That’s enough for today. I’ll call you back when it’s convenient.” At the same time he was secretly hoping that Paul would offer him a substantial bribe. These conversations were repeated frequently.
Observation: Paul was so convinced of the life of Jesus Christ that he used every opportunity to witness to others. It did not matter who it was even if they were prominent. Paul was not filled with jokes but the passionate call to win those over to the Lord. He got close to Felix and so Felix changed the conversation.
Application: People like there space and when others get close they become distant. Felix thought that Paul could pick up the conversation again when the conversation was not was pointed. Why is it that people frequently change the conversation when the topic of salvation is mentioned?
Prayer: Have the boldness of Paul.
Verses for Today:
Job 15; Acts 19-20
Key Verse today
Acts 20:22 “And now, compelled by the Spirit, I am going to Jerusalem, not knowing what will happen to me there. 23I only know that in every city the Holy Spirit warns me that prison and hardships are facing me. 24However, I consider my life worth nothing to me, if only I may finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me—the task of testifying to the gospel of God’s grace.
Observation:
Paul poignantly believes he is led by the Holy Spirit to Jerusalem. This call is blind in that he has no idea what awaits him but he does know that this is the will of God. The Holy Spirit has told him that Jerusalem will be pain and suffering. When Saul/Paul was converted by the blinding light and then God called Ananias to restored his eyesight, his life was not his own forever. But, his life was a drink offering for telling the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
Application:
Paul walk with God was radical. The Holy Spirit led him to Jerusalem. Christians today are not led anymore but speak a new language called ‘Christianese.’ This stands for how when they want something they mix their wants and desires and then bring their rubber stamp Savior to justify literally anything in the name of Jesus. Paul’s conversion changed him forever because his life was used to bring glory to the Savior. His focus was not in material possessions but on the cruxified and risen Savior who Paul encountered on the road to Damascus.
Prayer:
May my life be led by the Holy Spirit.
Scripture for Today:
Job 11-12; Acts 15-16
Key Verse for Today:
Acts 15: 1Some men came down from Judea to Antioch and were teaching the brothers: “Unless you are circumcised, according to the custom taught by Moses, you cannot be saved.” 2This brought Paul and Barnabas into sharp dispute and debate with them. So Paul and Barnabas were appointed, along with some other believers, to go up to Jerusalem to see the apostles and elders about this question. 3The church sent them on their way, and as they traveled through Phoenicia and Samaria, they told how the Gentiles had been converted. This news made all the brothers very glad. 4When they came to Jerusalem, they were welcomed by the church and the apostles and elders, to whom they reported everything God had done through them.
Observation:
The Jews felt that accepting Gentiles into the faith without circumcision was violation of their ancient traditions. They found this highly offensive. They saw the faith as only for God’s chosen people and omitted the ‘Great Commission.’ Paul and Barnabas did not see it that way because they were eyewitnesses in how the Holy Spirit moved in the lives of the Gentiles.
Application:
It used to be the strict Jews that did not want the Gentiles in the faith. Now it is the church people who do not want those outside the church. For if the church desire was to reach those on the outside, then why to church people always seek styles that they like instead of asking what those on the outside could be attracted too. The church in America is in trouble because we are experts at reaching people who are already attending and have not been able unsuccessful reaching those who are marginalized.
Prayer: May the church seek to reach those on the outside.
Scripture for Today:
Job 6-8; Acts 12
Key Verse Today:
Acts 12:12 When this had dawned on him, he went to the house of Mary the mother of John, also called Mark, where many people had gathered and were praying. 13Peter knocked at the outer entrance, and a servant girl named Rhoda came to answer the door. 14When she recognized Peter’s voice, she was so overjoyed she ran back without opening it and exclaimed, “Peter is at the door!” 15“You’re out of your mind,” they told her. When she kept insisting that it was so, they said, “It must be his angel.” 16But Peter kept on knocking, and when they opened the door and saw him, they were astonished.
Observation:
Peter is miraculously freed by the angel of the Lord and basically walks out of jail. He knew where the believers were meeting. He knocks on the door and Rhonda in her excitement runs to tell the other believers that he is here. But, forgets to let him inside. So, Peter keeps knocking.
Application: Christians often make poor decision in their excitement that they forget the details. She forget to open the door so Peter just knocks and knocks. I wonder how often something happens that we cannot take full advantage because our emotions distract us from the details of the miracle.
Prayer: Help to pay attention to the details.
Scripture for Today:
Job 5; Psalm 108; Acts 10-11
Key verse for Today:
Acts 10: 44 While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit came on all who heard the message. 45The circumcised believers who had come with Peter were astonished that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out even on the Gentiles. 46For they heard them speaking in tongues[b] and praising God. Then Peter said, 47“Can anyone keep these people from being baptized with water? They have received the Holy Spirit just as we have.” 48So he ordered that they be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they asked Peter to stay with them for a few days.
Observation: Peter was simply giving a testimony and the Holy Spirit fell on the Gentiles. This was remarkable because it was the first time the Gentiles had the Holy Spirit. Not only did they opening embrace the Bible but desired to be baptized. This was problem because it was the first of any Gentile being Baptized. The problem was with the church.
Application: What a Pastor’s dream to preach and have the Holy Spirit fall on the believers in powerful ways. This blessing is transformational in reaching new believers everywhere. It reminds me of the old missionaries tales when they shared how converting an elder resulted in large family baptisms. I am a Gentile and this moment of the Holy Spirit appearing amde it possible for me to enter into this relationship with Jesus Christ that has radically changed my life forever.
Prayer: Do it again, Lord!
Scripture for Today:
Job 3-4; Acts 8-9
Key Verse for Today:
Acts 8:26 Now an angel of the Lord said to Philip, “Go south to the road—the desert road—that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza.” 27So he started out, and on his way he met an Ethiopian[d]eunuch, an important official in charge of all the treasury of Candace, queen of the Ethiopians. This man had gone to Jerusalem to worship, 28and on his way home was sitting in his chariot reading the book of Isaiah the prophet. 29The Spirit told Philip, “Go to that chariot and stay near it.” 30Then Philip ran up to the chariot and heard the man reading Isaiah the prophet. “Do you understand what you are reading?” Philip asked. 31“How can I,” he said, “unless someone explains it to me?” So he invited Philip to come up and sit with him.
Observation: Phillip is led by an angel to head south to the desert that eventually lead to Gaza. Following directions by the angel was key to Phillip meeting the Ethiopian Treasurer. All Phillip did was ask him if he knew what he was reading. The response was how can I unless someone explains it to me.
Application: I love the honesty of the Ethiopian. So many in our churches feel they know all the answers and never seek help. It ruins our marriages and causes us to make poor decisions. Part of every solution is the willingness to ask the right questions. The Ethiopian was humble enough to get his soul saved.
Application: What a great motif for the church! To rally around those who desire to have the Bible explained. These are the ones whose faith is growing and not stale. The more we seek the more we find. Ever since the church got out of the business of education in schooling during the day, we have struggled with how to educate our people when so few are dedicated to attending Sunday School. The Great Shema is a foreign language to the parents of the 21st century.
Prayer: May the Great Shema become real again in our churches!
Scripture fro Today:
Malachi 3-4; Psalm 148; Acts 5
Key Verse today:
Acts 5:3 Then Peter said, “Ananias, how is it that Satan has so filled your heart that you have lied to the Holy Spirit and have kept for yourself some of the money you received for the land? 4Didn’t it belong to you before it was sold? And after it was sold, wasn’t the money at your disposal? What made you think of doing such a thing? You have not lied to men but to God.”
Observation: Annanias and Sapphia were part of the early Christian movement. Why else would they consider giving the money to the Apostles. They must have known and respected them and have been touched by their ministry.
Application: Satan can enter anyone except Jesus or someone dead. Not just this couple but alos Peter. Jesus said, “Get behind me Satan.” It is important to stay connected and closely to God or else we allow Satan to enter us. We think we are spiritually above reproached.
Prayer: May my heart never allow be open to let Stan take control.
