BUT THE HOLY SPIRIT SAID…

Posted on November 13, 2021 by randscallawayffm

I wonder how many paths of life we followed that led to less than our best life, got us into more trouble than we needed, or merely wasted our time?  What if, instead, we had listened and obeyed the guidance of God’s Holy Spirit completely?  Ugh.  Too many times to count, so we repent.  We learn that it is best not to sit, lament and wallow but to keep moving forward, day to day, until precise direction is given.  I am reminded just now of the prophet Isaiah’s words,

“But those who wait on the Lord                                                                                    Shall renew their strength;
They shall mount up with wings like eagles,
They shall run and not be weary,
They shall walk and not faint.

Isaiah 40:31, NKJV

The words written just before this famous scripture that we rely on for strength when weary of doing good are also encouraging and helpful when searching for God’s specific will for our lives. 


“Why do you say, O Jacob,
And speak, O Israel:
“My way is hidden from the Lord,
And my just claim is passed over by my God”?
Have you not known?
Have you not heard?
The everlasting God, the Lord,
The Creator of the ends of the earth,
Neither faints nor is weary.
His understanding is unsearchable.
He gives power to the weak,
And to those who have no might He increases strength.
Even the youths shall faint and be weary,
And the young men shall utterly fall,

Isaiah 40:27-30 NKJV

Paul, being the devout Jew, would have known and relied on these passages along with relying on the Holy Spirit of Jesus to guide every step he and his team took on the mission God gave him.  Wow.  When you think about it, Paul still is talking to people about Jesus with every step but where his next steps lead is left fully up to the Holy Spirit.  Well played, Paul, well played.

Because Paul “waited on the Lord” while continuing the work to “go and tell”, God gave him specific directions, a “map”, of where he will go next!  Wow!

ACTS—God’s Actions through His Disciples

Acts 16:1-15, The Message

A Dream Gave Paul His Map

1-3 Paul came first to Derbe, then Lystra. He found a disciple there by the name of Timothy, son of a devout Jewish mother and Greek father. Friends in Lystra and Iconium all said what a fine young man he was. Paul wanted to recruit him for their mission, but first took him aside and circumcised him so he wouldn’t offend the Jews who lived in those parts. They all knew that his father was Greek.

4-5 As they traveled from town to town, they presented the simple guidelines the Jerusalem apostles and leaders had come up with. That turned out to be most helpful. Day after day the congregations became stronger in faith and larger in size.

6-8 They went to Phrygia, and then on through the region of Galatia. Their plan was to turn west into Asia province, but the Holy Spirit blocked that route. So they went to Mysia and tried to go north to Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus wouldn’t let them go there either. Proceeding on through Mysia, they went down to the seaport Troas.

9-10 That night Paul had a dream: A Macedonian stood on the far shore and called across the sea, “Come over to Macedonia and help us!” The dream gave Paul his map. We went to work at once getting things ready to cross over to Macedonia. All the pieces had come together. We knew now for sure that God had called us to preach the good news to the Europeans.

11-12 Putting out from the harbor at Troas, we made a straight run for Samothrace. The next day we tied up at New City and walked from there to Philippi, the main city in that part of Macedonia and, even more importantly, a Roman colony. We lingered there several days.

13-14 On the Sabbath, we left the city and went down along the river where we had heard there was to be a prayer meeting. We took our place with the women who had gathered there and talked with them. One woman, Lydia, was from Thyatira and a dealer in expensive textiles, known to be a God-fearing woman. As she listened with intensity to what was being said, the Master gave her a trusting heart—and she believed!

15 After she was baptized, along with everyone in her household, she said in a surge of hospitality, “If you’re confident that I’m in this with you and believe in the Master truly, come home with me and be my guests.” We hesitated, but she wouldn’t take no for an answer.

THINK ABOUT IT…

Had Paul not listened to the Holy Spirit, the work of God, the going and telling, establishing churches would have gone on, but driven by human power.  When God calls, blocks, and then sends, we must follow for the best of life to be lived driven by God’s Holy Spirit.  We must know where true power with real direction comes from—God, Who knows all and Who is in all!  “Have you not heard?”, cries out Isaiah.

Have you not known?
Have you not heard?
The everlasting God, the Lord,
The Creator of the ends of the earth…

I’m now reminded of an old hymn from my grandpa’s hymnal.  The words and message of this hymn are derived from the very passage about Paul’s dream.  “Send the Light” by Charles H. Gabriel (1890)  Read the words…(while I send it in my heart!)

There’s a call comes ringing o’er the restless wave, “Send the light! Send the light”
There are souls to rescue, there are souls to save,
Send the light! 
Send the light!

Chorus:
Send the light, the blessed gospel light;
Let it shine from shore to shore!
Send the light the blessed gospel light;
Let it shine forevermore!

We have heard the Macedonian call today,”Send the light! Send the light!”
And a golden off’ring at the cross we lay,
Send the light!
Send the light!

[Chorus]

Let us pray that grace may ev’rywhere abound, “Send the light! Send the light!” 
And a Christ-like spirit ev’rywhere be found,
Send the light!
Send the light!

Chorus

Let us not grow weary in the work of love, “Send the light! Send the light!”
Let us gather jewels for a crown above,
Send the light!
Send the light!

I believe I can hear Grandpa Lacquement leading the congregation….

Lord,

Thank you for teaching us to do your will your way for the best results.  YOU are our efficiency manager, our mission maker and our dream giver.  You are God and we are not.  We follow you!  We don’t pray “bless my plans” but we ask what you want for each day with renewed strength and power from you to accomplish it!  Thank you, Lord for working with your children, maturing us in your love, while teaching us to obey the promptings of Your Holy Spirit living in us!  Yes, I have heard you!

In Jesus Name, Amen

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DISAGREEMENTS IN GOD’S WORK

Posted on November 12, 2021 by randscallawayffm

“Where two or three are gathered…”  The rest of this verse ends with “God is in their midst.”  But today I think of humans and their ability to readily disagree on just about everything.  In our passage today, Barnabas had a good idea.  Paul had a good idea.  Both in agreement with what God commanded, “Go and make disciples…”.  The disagreement came when Barnabas, “The Encourager” by nature, wanted to take John Mark a young man who had messed up earlier on the journey and ran back home.  Paul doesn’t’ want to take the time to nurture John Mark, so these two powerful men divided the mission.  Barnabas went one direction and Paul took Silas and went another direction.  They agreed to disagree and God’s work moved forward.

WHAT CAN WE LEARN?

“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.”  Romans 8:28, NIV

As long as we live and work alongside others, disagreements with happen.  Most disagreements are man or circumstance produced but Paul will write later, “God works all things good to those who love Him and are called according to His purpose”.  God is all powerful, knows who we are, knows how we respond in good times and bad, knows our abilities and CALLS us to join Him in His work regardless of our short falls and lack of insight.  In disagreements, agree on Who Jesus is and what God wants.  The rest will be sorted out by God later. 

Notice that Paul only disagreed with ways and means of ministry but did not attack the spirituality of Barnabas.  The love of God in Paul and Barnabas was still intact.  Read that again.  Pause.  Reflect.  When someone disagrees on methods of how to proceed with a project, the evil one will jump right into our thinking and conversations with whispers of putdowns for the one who disagrees with us.  Satan loves it when we disagree.  He will fill our minds with thinking less of those who disagree.  Satan helps us to build a “case” against them so we can “win”.  But who wins, really?  Satan, who is a liar and wants to stop all things of God. 

When the disagreement turns to attack on the Body of Christ, Satan jumps in, loading both barrels of accusations to shoot down the opposition.  Evil loves it when the Body falls out of unity of purpose.  The disagreement escalates and relationships are fractured to the point of death.  Don’t fall for it.  Agree to disagree and move on with what God has ask us to do.  God is more powerful than evil.  His work done in Jesus Name for His glory will prevail over human disagreements.  Always.

ACTS—God’s Acts through His Disciples

Acts 15:30-41

Barnabas and Paul Go Their Separate Ways

30-33 And so off they went to Antioch. On arrival, they gathered the church and read the letter. The people were greatly relieved and pleased. Judas and Silas, good preachers both of them, strengthened their new friends with many words of courage and hope. Then it was time to go home. They were sent off by their new friends with laughter and embraces all around to report back to those who had sent them.

35 Paul and Barnabas stayed on in Antioch, teaching and preaching the Word of God. But they weren’t alone. There were a number of teachers and preachers at that time in Antioch.

36 After a few days of this, Paul said to Barnabas, “Let’s go back and visit all our friends in each of the towns where we preached the Word of God. Let’s see how they’re doing.”

37-41 Barnabas wanted to take John along, the John nicknamed Mark. But Paul wouldn’t have him; he wasn’t about to take along a quitter who, as soon as the going got tough, had jumped ship on them in Pamphylia. Tempers flared, and they ended up going their separate ways: Barnabas took Mark and sailed for Cyprus; Paul chose Silas and, offered up by their friends to the grace of the Master, went to Syria and Cilicia to put grit in those congregations.

God’s work didn’t skip a beat.  Agree to disagree on method while remembering the purpose to which God has called us.  May God give us wisdom on this journey to help others find and follow Him always.  Go with God.

Lord,

Thank you for this reminder of how a disagreement can turn ugly if we allow it.  Help us to always ask what You want and proceed with what you have asked us to do.  Help us to find ways of loving and serving You and others well as Your Body.  Give us wisdom to know when to speak with words that are helpful not harmful to what you have called us to be and do…

In Jesus Name, For Your Glory, Amen!

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“THE BARE NECESSITITES”

Posted on November 11, 2021 by randscallawayffm

It is an age-old problem in the church.  The problem is when we, as the church, decide the entrance requirements to Kingdom of God living.  We read this passage below as believers today and we are saddened by the pesky Pharisees who “hold on” to the traditions of the past and with their die-hard attitudes to follow every minute detail of The Law.  The new believers who are not Jews have been given new life, the joy of Jesus in their hearts, the message of hope with knowing the love, mercy and grace of God!  But there are those who believe in Jesus but still cling to their old burdensome traditions as well.  They yet do not understand that WHOEVER believes in Jesus is saved from death and now holds life eternal inside their being. 

Bare Necessity #1:

“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”  John 3:16

These outsiders are given a “you must” traditional hoop to jump that no longer has anything to do with their new relationship with God through Jesus Christ, His Son.  The Old Covenant of knowing and following the rules has gone, the New Covenant of having an intimate, growing relationship with God has come.  Jesus is the Way that leads to this Truth who gives all who believe Life everlasting!  As the church “we must” let outsiders in because that is the way of Jesus.  Jesus died for all sin so all God’s creation could come to Him freely.

We are disgusted by the Pharisees in this pasage, aren’t we friends?  However, sometimes as the church, we fall into these same attitudes.  Those outside our community of believers come in, accept and believe in Jesus then we begin to tell them with our attitudes and words what “you must” be and do to be “like us”.  I have watched us do that as the church over the years.  We tell people how to dress, how to talk, along with other how to’s that have little to do with growing a relationship with God through Jesus.  We need to stick to the bottom line of discipleship—be like Jesus.  Not like us.

Paul, Peter and the other apostles are always steering the people away from admiring or giving glory to them.  “We are merely men”, they proclaim.  We do what God tells us to do, they preach, just like Jesus proclaimed!  So, the lesson today is point people to Jesus, not ourselves.  Let Jesus grow people into all He wants them to be and do.  Our work as mature believers is not to judge but to encourage new believers to consistently talk with Jesus, asking Him what He wants for their lives.

What we wear, what we eat, how frequently we come to church, if we observe communion each Sunday or once a year, if we put up crosses on Easter or not at all, if we decorate for holidays or not, if we sing only certain songs or sing them all—salvation is in Jesus alone.

And I’m singing…The Solid Rock

My hope is built on nothing less
Than Jesus’ blood and righteousness;
I dare not trust the sweetest frame,
But wholly lean on Jesus’ name.

Refrain:
On Christ, the solid Rock, I stand;
All other ground is sinking sand,
All other ground is sinking sand.

When darkness veils His lovely face,
I rest on His unchanging grace;
In every high and stormy gale,
My anchor holds within the veil.

His oath, His covenant, His blood
Support me in the whelming flood;
When all around my soul gives way,
He then is all my hope and stay.

When He shall come with trumpet sound,
Oh, may I then in Him be found;
Dressed in His righteousness alone,
Faultless to stand before the throne.

ACTS—God’s Acts through His Disciples

Acts 15:1-29, The Message

To Let Outsiders Inside

1-2 It wasn’t long before some Jews showed up from Judea insisting that everyone be circumcised: “If you’re not circumcised in the Mosaic fashion, you can’t be saved.” Paul and Barnabas were up on their feet at once in fierce protest. The church decided to resolve the matter by sending Paul, Barnabas, and a few others to put it before the apostles and leaders in Jerusalem.

3 After they were sent off and on their way, they told everyone they met as they traveled through Phoenicia and Samaria about the breakthrough to the non-Jewish outsiders. Everyone who heard the news cheered—it was terrific news!

4-5 When they got to Jerusalem, Paul and Barnabas were graciously received by the whole church, including the apostles and leaders. They reported on their recent journey and how God had used them to open things up to the outsiders. Some Pharisees stood up to say their piece. They had become believers, but continued to hold to the hard party line of the Pharisees. “You have to circumcise the pagan converts,” they said. “You must make them keep the Law of Moses.”

6-9 The apostles and leaders called a special meeting to consider the matter. The arguments went on and on, back and forth, getting more and more heated. Then Peter took the floor: “Friends, you well know that from early on God made it quite plain that he wanted the pagans to hear the Message of this good news and embrace it—and not in any secondhand or roundabout way, but firsthand, straight from my mouth. And God, who can’t be fooled by any pretense on our part but always knows a person’s thoughts, gave them the Holy Spirit exactly as he gave him to us. He treated the outsiders exactly as he treated us, beginning at the very center of who they were and working from that center outward, cleaning up their lives as they trusted and believed him.

10-11 “So why are you now trying to out-god God, loading these new believers down with rules that crushed our ancestors and crushed us, too? Don’t we believe that we are saved because the Master Jesus amazingly and out of sheer generosity moved to save us just as he did those from beyond our nation? So what are we arguing about?”

12-13 There was dead silence. No one said a word. With the room quiet, Barnabas and Paul reported matter-of-factly on the miracles and wonders God had done among the other nations through their ministry. The silence deepened; you could hear a pin drop.

13-18 James broke the silence. “Friends, listen. Simeon has told us the story of how God at the very outset made sure that racial outsiders were included. This is in perfect agreement with the words of the prophets:

After this, I’m coming back;
    I’ll rebuild David’s ruined house;
I’ll put all the pieces together again;
    I’ll make it look like new
So outsiders who seek will find,
    so they’ll have a place to come to,
All the pagan peoples
    included in what I’m doing.

“God said it and now he’s doing it. It’s no afterthought; he’s always known he would do this.

19-21 “So here is my decision: We’re not going to unnecessarily burden non-Jewish people who turn to the Master. We’ll write them a letter and tell them, ‘Be careful to not get involved in activities connected with idols, to guard the morality of sex and marriage, to not serve food offensive to Jewish Christians—blood, for instance.’ This is basic wisdom from Moses, preached and honored for centuries now in city after city as we have met and kept the Sabbath.”

22-23 Everyone agreed: apostles, leaders, all the people. They picked Judas (nicknamed Barsabbas) and Silas—they both carried considerable weight in the church—and sent them to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas with this letter:

From the apostles and leaders, your friends, to our friends in Antioch, Syria, and Cilicia:

Hello!

24-27 We heard that some men from our church went to you and said things that confused and upset you. Mind you, they had no authority from us; we didn’t send them. We have agreed unanimously to pick representatives and send them to you with our good friends Barnabas and Paul. We picked men we knew you could trust, Judas and Silas—they’ve looked death in the face time and again for the sake of our Master Jesus Christ. We’ve sent them to confirm in a face-to-face meeting with you what we’ve written.

28-29 It seemed to the Holy Spirit and to us that you should not be saddled with any crushing burden, but be responsible only for these bare necessities: Be careful not to get involved in activities connected with idols; avoid serving food offensive to Jewish Christians (blood, for instance); and guard the morality of sex and marriage.

These guidelines are sufficient to keep relations congenial between us. And God be with you!

“THE BARE NECESSITIES”

  • Believe in Jesus and be saved for eternity. 
  • Follow the Holy Spirit’s guidance in what is good and what is evil. 
  • Worship God alone.
  • Love God.  Love Each Other, like Jesus loved us.
  • Do all in the Name of Jesus, for His glory and praise.

No other ritual, tradition or regulation saves us.  Only Jesus.

Lord,

We are reminded of the “bare necessities” and repent of commanding anything else to others who come to salvation with a desire to grow in your ways.  Your ways are higher than our ways.  Your thinking is always for us not against us.  You are love, mercy and grace.  You are salvation.  You are God.  We are not.  May you continue to transform our thinking and doing to match the desires of Your heart.

In Jesus Name, Amen

And I’m singing…Only Jesus, Casting Crowns

Make it count, leave a mark, build a name for yourself
Dream your dreams, chase your heart, above all else
Make a name the world remembers
But all an empty world can sell is empty dreams
I got lost in the light when it was up to me
To make a name the world remembers
But Jesus is the only name to remember

And I, I don’t want to leave a legacy
I don’t care if they remember me
Only Jesus
And I, I’ve only got one life to live
I’ll let every second point to Him
Only Jesus

All the kingdoms built, all the trophies won
Will crumble into dust when it’s said and done
‘Cause all that really mattered
Did I live the truth to the ones I love?
Was my life the proof that there is only One
Whose name will last forever?

And I, I don’t want to leave a legacy
I don’t care if they remember me
Only Jesus
And I, I’ve only got one life to live
I’ll let every second point to Him
Only Jesus

Jesus is the only name
Jesus is the only name
Jesus is the only name to remember, oh
Jesus is the only name
Jesus is the only name
Jesus is the only name to remember

And I, I don’t want to leave a legacy
I don’t care if they remember me
Only Jesus
And I, I’ve only got one life to live
I’ll let every second point to Him
Only Jesus

I don’t want to leave a legacy
I don’t care if they remember me
Only Jesus

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IT’S A “HARD-KNOCK” LIFE AT TIMES

Posted on November 10, 2021 by randscallawayffm

From reading the title, do you already hear the song from Annie?  “It’s a hard knock life for us…”

Hard times come because we live in a fallen world.  We are fallen.  What does this mean?  Sometimes we fail to do what God wants and then wonder why life falls apart as we continue to do all things our way.  Going our own way affects all the people we touch.  We are fallen because pride, selfishness, envy and jealousy, among other traits of evil, send us to a place we really don’t want to go.  We get that, right?  But…

Why do bad things happen to good people, people who are working so hard to help others find and follow Jesus?  Why are Holy Spirit led leaders consistently under fire from those they are trying to help live for God?  Why are leaders leaving ministry today by the hundreds?  Here is one clue…

It is mostly about the extreme stress and strain the Body puts on the leader.  They expect human leaders to be perfect, always at their beckon call, knowing their needs without telling them, while expecting church growth in a rapid, consistent pace.  They want a god to be God in person, doing their will.  When leaders do not meet their expectations, they murmur, grumble and gossip.  (Read Exodus 15 specifically about God’s people grumbling in the day of Moses!) Yes, nothing new to see here today! 

We are all fallen, imperfect people, called of God to help other fallen imperfect people to the perfect forgiveness of Jesus Christ.  Only God can be God.  Only Jesus saves souls, we do not. We merely go and tell, helping others find Jesus.  As leaders, volunteer servants, missionaries, and attenders who love God and believe that through Jesus, His Son we are saved, we enter a battle with the evil one who wants to destroy all that is of God. 

Satan is a liar with limited power.  This fallen angel is resentful and throws thoughts of his character traits into the mix of the building of the Body of Christ called “church”.  Yes, going and telling comes with a price, laying down our comfort so that others might know Jesus, knowing the battle is hard at times.  It is not for the “faint of heart”.  We must always remember that Jesus knows, cares and has already won this battle.  Lean into Truth when the going gets tough. 

Paul’s warning is true:

“Anyone signing up for the kingdom of God has to go through plenty of hard times.”

Jesus told his disciples:

“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”  John 16:33

Just knowing Jesus knows brings peace.  Knowing He is coming back again brings peace.  Knowing He wins in the end, fills us with peace when we feel like quitting.  It is Jesus’ gift of peace that keep us from quitting when hard times enter into the mix of serving with love, mercy and grace.

“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.”  John 14:27

It seems these encouraging words of Jesus are instilled in the lives of Paul and Barnabas along with the Disciples whom Jesus mentored, commissioned and sent before ascending back to heaven.  These words are for us, too!

God’s actions bring good news results!

After praying and fasting leaders, who trusted the Master Jesus completely, were installed to carry on the work that Paul and Barnabas began. 

Finally, they made it to Attalia and caught a ship back to Antioch, where it had all started—launched by God’s grace and now safely home by God’s grace. A good piece of work.

While in the middle of God’s work assigned to me, my prayer is and always will be, “God, help me to do what you want me to do well so others will know you, too.”  Friends, it is only by God’s grace that His work is completed in the way He wants it while growing us at the same time.  God is amazing in the ways He works through His imperfect people perfectly forgive by Jesus, His Son!

We pray.  God works.

ACTS—God’s Acts through His Disciples

Acts 14:21-28, The Message

Plenty of Hard Times

21-22 After proclaiming the Message in Derbe and establishing a strong core of disciples, they retraced their steps to Lystra, then Iconium, and then Antioch, putting grit in the lives of the disciples, urging them to stick with what they had begun to believe and not quit, making it clear to them that it wouldn’t be easy: “Anyone signing up for the kingdom of God has to go through plenty of hard times.”

23-26 Paul and Barnabas handpicked leaders in each church. After praying—their prayers intensified by fasting—they presented these new leaders to the Master to whom they had entrusted their lives. Working their way back through Pisidia, they came to Pamphylia and preached in Perga. Finally, they made it to Attalia and caught a ship back to Antioch, where it had all started—launched by God’s grace and now safely home by God’s grace. A good piece of work.

27-28 On arrival, they got the church together and reported on their trip, telling in detail how God had used them to throw the door of faith wide open so people of all nations could come streaming in. Then they settled down for a long, leisurely visit with the disciples.

THINK ABOUT IT… THE DEBRIEF

Don’t you love how Paul and Barnabas reported back to the other disciples about what GOD did?  Then they rested.  There is something significant about “settling down” to rest with other believers, debriefing what was learned, before the next God assignment begins.

Oh Lord,

How much you can teach us through the smallest number of words!  This passage was small but packs a big punch of truth about hard times.  You work does not stop in us or around us in hard times.  Our hard times are no challenge for you!  Nothing is too hard for you.  Your work will still be accomplished with or without us.  This thought takes the heat off somehow.  So, we don’t give up or turn back on what you have given us to be and do.  Help us to see You above it all, continue in your direction, leaning on your shoulder, protecting us from the storms of evil.  You are God, we are not.  So, when you say move, we move.  When you say be still, we will be still.  Thank you for teaching us that you are always at work no matter what is happening around us.  Thank you for this lesson of grace for all people.

In Jesus Name, Amen

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CLUELESS?

Posted on November 9, 2021 by randscallawayffm

I love science-oriented, crime-solving shows and books.  I love how the characters go back to the beginning with reverse engineering methods to look for reasonable clues for why the crime happened and how it was committed.  Forensic detectives are meticulous at retracing steps, collecting even the tiniest pieces of evidence for proving their hypothesis while detectives on the street talk to witnesses to add evidence to the total picture.  Clues are always left behind.  We leave our DNA everywhere we go!

Guess what, God left billions of clues behind when He formed His creation!  The science of God’s incredible creation is more than any mind can imagine, though many learned men and women keep trying!  But the greatest “clue” of all is Jesus.  God created humans with choice to decide to love Him back.  The first humans, Adam and Eve, made the wrong choice and followed evil’s suggestion to “be like God” (like he always wanted to be!)  God knew and God had a Plan.

God, left clues of a Plan, created from the beginning.  These clues were expressed through God’s prophets centuries before the Plan was complete.  God knew humans would be plagued with making wrong choices. God knew from creation, with His Son standing next to Him, that humans with choice would need a Way to come back to Him in a loving relationship when they made those wrong choices.  As believers, we know that Plan was Jesus Christ, His Son.  Only Jesus’ suffering and sacrifice could bring repentant mankind back to an intimate, loving relationship with our Creator, God.  Jesus died and rose again so that we who believe would have life eternal with our Maker.  This is the clue of Hope.

In our passage today, I am reminded of all the clues God leaves us each day.  The beauty of sunrises, sunsets, rain to nourish, sunlight to grow, the changing seasons with the display of colors that cannot be duplicated with cameras or paintings.  He leaves clues of His care for us when problems are solved and needs met in miraculous ways that we never dreamed.  He leaves clues of his love through His loving people who encourage us on our journey.  He leaves clues and evidence of Who He is every day of our lives.  We just need to look up with a grateful attitude of recognition of the glory and power of God!  God consistently leaves evidence of good beyond our doing!  Can I get an amen?

Paul, led by the Holy Spirit, passionately looks into the eyes of a lame man “ripe and ready for God’s work, ready to believe” and GOD heals the man.  Not Paul, but God!  As humans we are so ready to praise men and women who do good things in the Name of Jesus but it is God who makes it happen!  We are merely the vessel through which God’s Spirit is poured out!

Paul sets the community, who worships many gods and idols, straight about the One and Only God of Creation.  Look at the clues and embrace God, says Paul! 

Friends, we are a clueless generation at times who need to look at the evidence of Truth displayed through the life of God’s Son, Jesus Christ.  Jesus is the Way, Truth and Life.  Only by accepting and believing, repenting and living for Him, are we no longer clueless.

ACTS—God’s Acts through His Disciples

Acts 14:8-20, The Message  (Emphasis in bold are mine)

Gods or Men?

8-10 There was a man in Lystra who couldn’t walk. He sat there, crippled since the day of his birth. He heard Paul talking, and Paul, looking him in the eye, saw that he was ripe for God’s work, ready to believe. So he said, loud enough for everyone to hear, “Up on your feet!” The man was up in a flash—jumped up and walked around as if he’d been walking all his life.

11-13 When the crowd saw what Paul had done, they went wild, calling out in their Lyconian dialect, “The gods have come down! These men are gods!” They called Barnabas “Zeus” and Paul “Hermes” (since Paul did most of the speaking). The priest of the local Zeus shrine got up a parade—bulls and banners and people lined right up to the gates, ready for the ritual of sacrifice.

14-15 When Barnabas and Paul finally realized what was going on, they stopped them. Waving their arms, they interrupted the parade, calling out, “What do you think you’re doing! We’re not gods! We are men just like you, and we’re here to bring you the Message, to persuade you to abandon these silly god-superstitions and embrace God himself, the living God. We don’t make God; he makes us, and all of this—sky, earth, sea, and everything in them.

16-18 “In the generations before us, God let all the different nations go their own way. But even then he didn’t leave them without a clue, for he made a good creation, poured down rain and gave bumper crops. When your bellies were full and your hearts happy, there was evidence of good beyond your doing.” Talking fast and hard like this, they prevented them from carrying out the sacrifice that would have honored them as gods—but just barely.

19-20 Then some Jews from Antioch and Iconium caught up with them and turned the fickle crowd against them. They beat Paul unconscious, dragged him outside the town and left him for dead. But as the disciples gathered around him, he came to and got up. He went back into town and the next day left with Barnabas for Derbe.

Lord,

I once was clueless but now I’m not.  I know you are the One and Only who saves.  I don’t know all there is to know about you, but what I do know, I know for sure.  I love you with all my heart, mind and soul.  You are the living God who gives hope, joy, love, mercy and grace and sets us free from our own selfish sins.  Continue to transform me into all you created me to be.

In Jesus Name, Amen

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THE WHISPERING CAMPAIGN

Posted on November 8, 2021 by randscallawayffm

When a person walks up to you and begins their conversation with:

“Have you heard?”

“Guess what, I heard…”

“Can you believe they…”

“Between you and me…”

“I don’t want to start anything, but…”

RUN from this conversation for evil prompts the beginning of gossip and slander with these very words.  Evil loves to play games with our minds.  Unsuspecting people are thrown off track by the gossip.  The work of God is hindered, not stopped, but hindered.  Our gossip, (yes, I own this sin, too), breaks God’s heart.  This tired tool of limited but destructive power of evil is always meant to do harm and cast questionable doubt in the Body of Christ.  Believers and nonbelievers all fall for it.  It’s time to run from it…

Oh Lord lead us from this temptation and deliver us from evil.”  In Jesus Name, Amen!

GOALS

Don’t begin or enter in to a “whispering campaign” meant to destroy a person and the work God is doing in and through them.  God sees our hearts, all hearts.  His work of helping people find and follow Jesus, His Son so that a pure, holy relationship can be had between God and mankind will be done no matter what.  Our daily goal should be to get out of the way of God’s work in the lives of His people.  We get in the way when we gossip.

Learn from the tenaciously focused!  You will notice in this passage that Paul and Barnabas have learned as leaders to ignore the whispering campaigns! They are continually and keenly focused on Jesus and His Message.  The Message is preached no matter what.  Whispering campaigns do not stop them.  Beatings do not stop them!  “The two apostles were there a long time, speaking freely, openly, and confidently as they presented the clear evidence of God’s gifts, God corroborating their work with miracles and wonders.”

Dear Friends, Believers working together in the Body of Christ (the church), let us not enter into whispering campaigns, instead let us encourage each other.  We NEED each other!  It is not surprising that Paul, who endured and suffered in doing the work of the Lord, in His Name, all for His glory, would continually urge the church to encourage each other.  Paul knew gossip maims and often kills relationships within the Body.  In fact, there are over a hundred verses in the Bible about encouraging each other…below are a few to get us started. 

Let us avoid whispering campaigns.  Instead, let’s boldly and consistently turn our conversations to good, in Jesus Name, for His glory.  When we put Jesus into our talk and take ourselves out, God smiles.  He loves for His kids to get along!

CONVERSTATION STARTERS…

1 Thessalonians 4:18

Therefore comfort one another with these words.

Romans 1:12

That I may be encouraged together with you while among you, each of us by the other’s faith, both yours and mine.

Hebrews 3:13

But encourage one another day after day, as long as it is still called “Today,” so that none of you will be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin.

Ephesians 4:32

Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you.

HERE’S WHAT TO THINK AND HOW TO PRAY…

An Encouragement for Prayer

“Devote yourselves to prayer with an alert mind and a thankful heart. Pray for us, too, that God will give us many opportunities to speak about his mysterious plan concerning Christ. That is why I am here in chains. Pray that I will proclaim this message as clearly as I should.

Live wisely among those who are not believers, and make the most of every opportunity. Let your conversation be gracious and attractive so that you will have the right response for everyone.”  Paul to the Colossians 4:2-6, NLT

ACTS—God’s Actions through His Disciples

Acts 14:1-7, The Message

1-3 When they got to Iconium they went, as they always did, to the meeting place of the Jews and gave their message. The Message convinced both Jews and non-Jews—and not just a few, either. But the unbelieving Jews worked up a whispering campaign against Paul and Barnabas, sowing mistrust and suspicion in the minds of the people in the street. The two apostles were there a long time, speaking freely, openly, and confidently as they presented the clear evidence of God’s gifts, God corroborating their work with miracles and wonders.

4-7 But then there was a split in public opinion, some siding with the Jews, some with the apostles. One day, learning that both the Jews and non-Jews had been organized by their leaders to beat them up, they escaped as best they could to the next towns—Lyconia, Lystra, Derbe, and that neighborhood—but then were right back at it again, getting out the Message.  (Emphasis mine)

Lord,

I repent of entering into or beginning any whispering conversation that would hurt another brother or sister and hinder your work within us and through us.  Deliver me from this evil that entraps us.  Help me to run from this temptation!  Show me Your ways and I will walk on that path.  Teach me.  I know you are not finished with me yet!

In Jesus Name, For Your Glory, Amen.  I believe.

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DON’T TAKE THIS LIGHTLY—GOD IS AT WORK ALWAYS!

Posted on November 6, 2021 by randscallawayffm

As we go through and the book of Acts and pause along the passages that reveal the glory of God in those whose hearts are completely His, we begin to see more of God’s glory on display today in our own lives!  As we study God’s Word, knowing the love of God that sent His Son to die for our sins, we just cannot take this message lightly.  The Message of God’s plan of salvation, through the sacrificial death and resurrection of His Son, Jesus, bubbles up renewed hope, strengthens our faith and refreshes our souls.  Jesus is the Way to Truth and gives Life for eternity.  No, we cannot take this message lightly for this message is life.

The more we learn about God’s acts through His disciples and followers, we learn that God is doing the same in us today!  The more we realize the love God has for us the better we love each other.  The more we learn about God’s powerful acts we realize that this same God is at consistently at work in and through us with His power, wisdom, clarity, understanding, with insight to see His glory at work all around us!!  Don’t take this lightly, says Paul to new converts, Jewish and Gentiles alike, Jesus lives!  Jesus died for all sin.  Jesus rose again and is our hope of eternal life with Him. 

You can hear the passion in Paul’s preaching as he proclaims God’s message,

“I’m doing something right before your eyes
That you won’t believe, though it’s staring you in the face.”

The prophets of God said it first.  Jesus taught and lived every detail of the words of the prophets of God.  Now, Paul, a devout Jew who learned The Law well, is taking his eager audience down the road from history of how God led and protected them to a new covenant—a holy, personal relationship with God—all because of Jesus.

In the background I hear the song, WayMaker…

“Even when I don’t see it, You’re working
Even when I don’t feel it, You’re working
You never stop, You never stop working
You never stop, You never stop working…”

Yes, God has done, is doing and will do what He wills, on our behalf, for our best interests in his mind “right before our eyes…staring us in the face.”  We need to stop and recognize His glory and power at work.  Don’t take His acts lightly!  Grateful people are those who see God at work daily!

Do we really believe what we say we believe about God really real?

Are we part of the grateful group? 

“Don’t take this lightly”, says Paul, as he admonishes the cynics, grumblers, selfish, power hungry, world thinkers.  SEE and recognize God at work daily!  May His salvation bring eternal joy and hope sending us to our knees in grateful praise to God alone through Jesus Christ His Son!  Enjoy His Presence!  God hasn’t changed or moved.  If you don’t “feel” Him, guess who moved. 

Friends, as believers we quote Psalm 46:10 often when we are tired and overwhelmed—Be still and know that I am God”.  But do we take this passage too lightly, too?  Do we really know what it means to be still?  It is a popular verse for comforting ourselves and others—many people tend to think this verse means to rest or relax in who God is. This verse does encourage believers to reflect on who God is, but there is more to this psalm than one verse—and verse 10 is actually more of a wake-up call to be in awe than a gentle call to rest. Taking time out of our day to meditate on Scripture and be silent with listening ears toward God is mentioned in other sections of Scripture (Psalm 119:15, Joshua 1:8, Luke 5:16, and others). But this command— “Be still…”—is written in the context of a time of trouble and war; therefore, we should consider the verse with that context in mind.

Friends, we are at war with our enemy consistently.  Instead of interpreting “be still” as a gentle suggestion, the meaning in this psalm lends itself more to: “cease striving” or “stop” and more specifically in this context “stop fighting,” which is directed toward the enemies of the people of God. The people of God should interpret the command for themselves to read more like: ‘snap out of it,’ ‘wake up,’ ‘stop fearing’—acknowledge who your God is—be in awe!


Consider Psalm 46 in its entirety.  Begin with verse 1.  “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore, we will not fear though the earth gives way, though the mountains be moved into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam, though the mountains tremble at its swelling. Selah”


“There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God, the holy habitation of the Most High. God is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved; God will help her when morning dawns. The nations rage, the kingdoms totter; he utters his voice, the earth melts. The LORD of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress. Selah”

“Come, behold the works of the LORD, how he has brought desolations on the earth. He makes wars cease to the end of the earth; he breaks the bow and shatters the spear; he burns the chariots with fire. “Be still, and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations; I will be exalted in the earth!” The LORD of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress. Selah” 

Are we in awe of God?  The more in awe of God we are the more we will see Him at work in our lives!

In fact, “Be still” is the same thing that Jesus says to the wind and the waves in Mark 4:39. The wind and the sea completely died down in silence, in awe and worship of the Creator!  Yes!  Camp on this idea, friends.  Our God, Jesus, and His Holy Spirit, the Three-In-One, are always at work on our behalf!  Can I get an Amen?

“There is a silence and stillness that should overtake us in the presence of someone that is so overwhelmingly holy and glorious. The call to all is to be still before our holy, awesome, and glorious God.”  John Casteel, Senior Pastor, The Bridge, South Carolina

Yes, the people of God must stop what they are doing and acknowledge that God alone is the sovereign ruler of the universe and commit to following him. He will one day stop all wars and he will be exalted among the nations (the Gentiles and Jewish believers as one family, the Church) and all the earth. There will be no question of who God is and what he is doing.

Don’t take this too lightly…I’m not! 

ACTS—God’s Acts Through His Disciples

Acts 13:13-52, The Message

(Bold emphasis mine)

Don’t Take This Lightly

13-14 From Paphos, Paul and company put out to sea, sailing on to Perga in Pamphylia. That’s where John called it quits and went back to Jerusalem. From Perga the rest of them traveled on to Antioch in Pisidia.

14-15 On the Sabbath they went to the meeting place and took their places. After the reading of the Scriptures—God’s Law and the Prophets—the president of the meeting asked them, “Friends, do you have anything you want to say? A word of encouragement, perhaps?”

16-20 Paul stood up, paused and took a deep breath, then said, “Fellow Israelites and friends of God, listen. God took a special interest in our ancestors, pulled our people who were beaten down in Egyptian exile to their feet, and led them out of there in grand style. He took good care of them for nearly forty years in that godforsaken wilderness and then, having wiped out seven enemies who stood in the way, gave them the land of Canaan for their very own—a span in all of about 450 years.

20-22 “Up to the time of Samuel the prophet, God provided judges to lead them. But then they asked for a king, and God gave them Saul, son of Kish, out of the tribe of Benjamin. After Saul had ruled forty years, God removed him from office and put King David in his place, with this commendation: ‘I’ve searched the land and found this David, son of Jesse. He’s a man whose heart beats to my heart, a man who will do what I tell him.’

23-25 “From out of David’s descendants God produced a Savior for Israel, Jesus, exactly as he promised—but only after John had thoroughly alerted the people to his arrival by preparing them for a total life-change. As John was finishing up his work, he said, ‘Did you think I was the One? No, I’m not the One. But the One you’ve been waiting for all these years is just around the corner, about to appear. And I’m about to disappear.’

26-29 “Dear brothers and sisters, children of Abraham, and friends of God, this message of salvation has been precisely targeted to you. The citizens and rulers in Jerusalem didn’t recognize who he was and condemned him to death. They couldn’t find a good reason, but demanded that Pilate execute him anyway. They did just what the prophets said they would do, but had no idea they were following to the letter the script of the prophets, even though those same prophets are read every Sabbath in their meeting places.

29-31 “After they had done everything the prophets said they would do, they took him down from the cross and buried him. And then God raised him from death. There is no disputing that—he appeared over and over again many times and places to those who had known him well in the Galilean years, and these same people continue to give witness that he is alive.

32-35 “And we’re here today bringing you good news: the Message that what God promised the fathers has come true for the children—for us! He raised Jesus, exactly as described in the second Psalm:

My Son! My very own Son!
Today I celebrate you!

“When he raised him from the dead, he did it for good—no going back to that rot and decay for him. That’s why Isaiah said, ‘I’ll give to all of you David’s guaranteed blessings.’ So also the psalmist’s prayer: ‘You’ll never let your Holy One see death’s rot and decay.’

36-39 “David, of course, having completed the work God set out for him, has been in the grave, dust and ashes, a long time now. But the One God raised up—no dust and ashes for him! I want you to know, my very dear friends, that it is on account of this resurrected Jesus that the forgiveness of your sins can be promised. He accomplishes, in those who believe, everything that the Law of Moses could never make good on. But everyone who believes in this raised-up Jesus is declared good and right and whole before God.

40-41 “Don’t take this lightly. You don’t want the prophet’s revelation to describe you:

Watch out, cynics;
Look hard—watch your world fall to pieces.
I’m doing something right before your eyes
That you won’t believe, though it’s staring you in the face.”

42-43 When the service was over, Paul and Barnabas were invited back to preach again the next Sabbath. As the meeting broke up, a good many Jews and converts to Judaism went along with Paul and Barnabas, who urged them in long conversations to stick with what they’d started, this living in and by God’s grace.

44-45 When the next Sabbath came around, practically the whole city showed up to hear the Word of God. Some of the Jews, seeing the crowds, went wild with jealousy and tore into Paul, contradicting everything he was saying, making an ugly scene.

46-47 But Paul and Barnabas didn’t back down. Standing their ground they said, “It was required that God’s Word be spoken first of all to you, the Jews. But seeing that you want no part of it—you’ve made it quite clear that you have no taste or inclination for eternal life—the door is open to all the outsiders. And we’re on our way through it, following orders, doing what God commanded when he said,

I’ve set you up
    as light to all nations.
You’ll proclaim salvation
    to the four winds and seven seas!”

48-49 When the non-Jewish outsiders heard this, they could hardly believe their good fortune. All who were marked out for real life put their trust in God—they honored God’s Word by receiving that life. And this Message of salvation spread like wildfire all through the region.

50-52 Some of the Jews convinced the most respected women and leading men of the town that their precious way of life was about to be destroyed. Alarmed, they turned on Paul and Barnabas and forced them to leave. Paul and Barnabas shrugged their shoulders and went on to the next town, Iconium, brimming with joy and the Holy Spirit, two happy disciples.

Lord,

I stand in awe of you today.  I will be still and be more intent on knowing You and looking for you all day long.  I know you are at work.  I need to recognize you and give you praise always!  Thank you for saving my soul.  Thank you for your Holy Spirit who guides and directs me closer to You.  Thank you for the last lesson of this passage.  Paul and Barnabas had such joy and assurance in you, they just shrugged their shoulders and keep moving on with You in the lead!  You are amazing, Lord!  Thank you!

In Jesus Name, Amen

Even when I don’t see it, You’re working
Even when I don’t feel it, You’re working
You never stop, You never stop working
You never stop, You never stop working you’re the way maker,

Way maker, miracle worker, promise keeper
Light in the darkness, my God
That is who You are…

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KNOW-IT-ALLS

Posted on November 5, 2021 by randscallawayffm

I have lived on this earth for quite a few years now.  I have been involved in all kinds of people groups which include family, friends, workplace, teaching, university and church groups.  Where two or three are gathered, there seems to be “that one” who knows it all, trumps all conversations and works hard to get the last word.  Are you thinking of them now?  Wait! Could it be you?  Could it be me?  At times, we all suffer from this malady…knowing just enough to be dangerous.  Right?!?

Take note, friends, Know-it-alls are easy putty in the hands of the devil for he knows that deep down they suffer from insecurities that he can use to destroy the work of God in people, including themselves. 

Upon commissioning Saul (Paul) and Barnabas with protégé John Mark to go preach the Gospel beyond Jerusalem, they get on the next ship that is departing to Cyprus.  In their teaching at all the Jewish synagogues on the island, they encounter a wizard, a know-it-all, who is obviously from the devil, opposed to all things Jesus.  Dr. Know-it-all really steps up his “game” when the Governor wants to hear the gospel from Saul/Paul. 

Satan works that way, the closer we come to Jesus, the more tools the devil pulls from his limited tool belt.  Satan works fast, slyly, and cunningly as he throws wrenches into God’s work.  But remember the power of God rose Jesus from the grave?  That same power works through Paul/Saul to stop the diversionary tactics of Dr. Know-it-all. 

Friends, isn’t interesting that Paul used the same blinding tactic on Dr. Know-it-all as Jesus used on him?  Mm, something to think about, right?  Sometimes God uses our past growth experiences with Him to use later.  God wastes nothing in our growth years with Him. God is like that.  He is the One and Only who knows it all.  Only God.

“When the governor saw what happened, he became a believer, full of enthusiasm over what they were saying about the Master.”  God’s acts through His Holy Spirit in Paul to bring a leader to believe in Jesus Christ, His Son!  Nothing stops what God is doing!  Absolutely no one, not even the “Know-it-alls” in our lives.

ACTS—God’s Acts through His Disciples

Acts 13:1-12, The Message

Barnabas, Saul, and Doctor Know-It-All

1-2 The congregation in Antioch was blessed with a number of prophet-preachers and teachers:

Barnabas,

Simon, nicknamed Niger,

Lucius the Cyrenian,

Manaen, an advisor to the ruler Herod,

Saul.

One day as they were worshiping God—they were also fasting as they waited for guidance—the Holy Spirit spoke: “Take Barnabas and Saul and commission them for the work I have called them to do.”

3 So they commissioned them. In that circle of intensity and obedience, of fasting and praying, they laid hands on their heads and sent them off.

4-5 Sent off on their new assignment by the Holy Spirit, Barnabas and Saul went down to Seleucia and caught a ship for Cyprus. The first thing they did when they put in at Salamis was preach God’s Word in the Jewish meeting places. They had John along to help out as needed.

6-7 They traveled the length of the island, and at Paphos came upon a Jewish wizard who had worked himself into the confidence of the governor, Sergius Paulus, an intelligent man not easily taken in by charlatans. The wizard’s name was Bar-Jesus. He was as crooked as a corkscrew.

7-11 The governor invited Barnabas and Saul in, wanting to hear God’s Word firsthand from them. But Dr. Know-It-All (that’s the wizard’s name in plain English) stirred up a ruckus, trying to divert the governor from becoming a believer. But Saul (or Paul), full of the Holy Spirit and looking him straight in the eye, said, “You bag of wind, you parody of a devil—why, you stay up nights inventing schemes to cheat people out of God. But now you’ve come up against God himself, and your game is up. You’re about to go blind—no sunlight for you for a good long stretch.” He was plunged immediately into a shadowy mist and stumbled around, begging people to take his hand and show him the way.

12 When the governor saw what happened, he became a believer, full of enthusiasm over what they were saying about the Master.

Lord,

Thank you for saving my soul!  Thank you for making me whole, renewing my Spirit, refreshing my heart, mind and soul with all of you living in all of me.  YOU are all I need to navigate this world.  I cannot do it on my own.  I do not know it all.  But you do.  My life is in You.  I trust and believe in You.

I was blind, but now I see. Continue to teach me.

In Jesus Name, Amen

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AND THE CHURCH PRAYED…

Posted on November 4, 2021 by randscallawayffm

We pray.  God acts.  If we as the “church” could really wrap our heads around this amazing way God acts in the lives of His beloved, we could, by God’s power in us, revolutionize the world’s thinking bent on everything but God.  When we pray as the church, united with each other and to God in whom we say we fully trust and believe, God acts in ways that are beyond our ask, beyond our thinking, beyond our wildest dreams and aspirations!  He is God!  We are not.

Paul, who also spent a lot of time in jail for preaching Christ writes to the church about how to pray while he prays for the church!

“…I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.

Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.” (Ephesians 3:16-21, NIV)

Meanwhile back to God’s story…

The church gathered to pray for Peter at Mary’s house.  They were united in purposeful prayer…asking God to save Peter from death planned after the Passover holiday by King Herod.  Murder is power and popularity to Herod’s small-minded thinking.  But Peter, jailed and heavily guarded, slept like a baby before the day he was to die.  Peter, full of Jesus and His Holy Spirit living in him, has profound peace while he waits for execution.  And the church continued to pray…

“I can’t believe it—this really happened! The Master sent his angel and rescued me from Herod’s vicious little production and the spectacle the Jewish mob was looking forward to.”  –Peter

Because the church is praying, God, who is able, does more than Peter and the church dream or imagine!  God sent an angel to break Peter out of jail quietly and peacefully.  Peter thought he was dreaming until he realized he was on the street!  Friends, don’t you love how God works?  I love this story of God’s actions! 

WHILE the church is praying, Peter knocks on the door of the church.  They don’t believe in the answer they have been praying for so they keep on praying and wondering. 

Oh Friends, do we do that sometimes?  While praying for the impossible to us, God is already at work answering but we don’t trust enough to realize that He is ALWAYS at work for us, not against us, and has already gone before us to answer?  There are times we need to look up from praying and see what God is doing!

Peter keeps knocking at Mary’s door, the answer to their prayers has arrived!  Finally, they let him in.  God acted on their behalf and the behalf of the growing church.  With God, nothing is impossible.  God has done more than they dreamed in ways that actually started their thinking.  God loves doing that, I think.  Yes, I KNOW He does!

Peter’s first words to the church are “settle down and go tell the brothers”.  In other words, get back to doing what God has assigned us to accomplish.  (Great Commission—Matthew 28)

Herod discovers the jailbreak and blames the guards.  “Off with their heads!” is his way of saving face.  Herod is so overwhelmed with it all, he goes on vacation.  That’s what humans do who do not know God or His power.  God had enough of Herod when he took all the credit for the food supplies from Judea.  As soon as the people praised Herod, God took over and struck him dead on his throne of lies and arrogance.  (Yes, quoting Elf and smiling.)  We do not and cannot, should not and could not take the place of God.  Only God is God and we are not—ever!

AND THE BEST PART OF ALL?

“Meanwhile, the ministry of God’s Word grew by leaps and bounds.”

And the church continued to pray and obey. God acted on behalf of His believing church built on the foundation of Jesus Christ, His Son.  Yes, and Amen! 

ACTS—God’s Acts through His Disciples

Acts 12, The Message

Peter Under Heavy Guard

1-4 That’s when King Herod got it into his head to go after some of the church members. He murdered James, John’s brother. When he saw how much it raised his popularity ratings with the Jews, he arrested Peter—all this during Passover Week, mind you—and had him thrown in jail, putting four squads of four soldiers each to guard him. He was planning a public lynching after Passover.

5 All the time that Peter was under heavy guard in the jailhouse, the church prayed for him most strenuously.

6 Then the time came for Herod to bring him out for the kill. That night, even though shackled to two soldiers, one on either side, Peter slept like a baby. And there were guards at the door keeping their eyes on the place. Herod was taking no chances!

7-9 Suddenly there was an angel at his side and light flooding the room. The angel shook Peter and got him up: “Hurry!” The handcuffs fell off his wrists. The angel said, “Get dressed. Put on your shoes.” Peter did it. Then, “Grab your coat and let’s get out of here.” Peter followed him, but didn’t believe it was really an angel—he thought he was dreaming.

10-11 Past the first guard and then the second, they came to the iron gate that led into the city. It swung open before them on its own, and they were out on the street, free as the breeze. At the first intersection the angel left him, going his own way. That’s when Peter realized it was no dream. “I can’t believe it—this really happened! The Master sent his angel and rescued me from Herod’s vicious little production and the spectacle the Jewish mob was looking forward to.”

12-14 Still shaking his head, amazed, he went to Mary’s house, the Mary who was John Mark’s mother. The house was packed with praying friends. When he knocked on the door to the courtyard, a young woman named Rhoda came to see who it was. But when she recognized his voice—Peter’s voice!—she was so excited and eager to tell everyone Peter was there that she forgot to open the door and left him standing in the street.

15-16 But they wouldn’t believe her, dismissing her, dismissing her report. “You’re crazy,” they said. She stuck by her story, insisting. They still wouldn’t believe her and said, “It must be his angel.” All this time poor Peter was standing out in the street, knocking away.

16-17 Finally they opened up and saw him—and went wild! Peter put his hands up and calmed them down. He described how the Master had gotten him out of jail, then said, “Tell James and the brothers what’s happened.” He left them and went off to another place.

18-19 At daybreak the jail was in an uproar. “Where is Peter? What’s happened to Peter?” When Herod sent for him and they could neither produce him nor explain why not, he ordered their execution: “Off with their heads!” Fed up with Judea and Jews, he went for a vacation to Caesarea.

The Death of Herod

20-22 But things went from bad to worse for Herod. Now people from Tyre and Sidon put him on the warpath. But they got Blastus, King Herod’s right-hand man, to put in a good word for them and got a delegation together to iron things out. Because they were dependent on Judea for food supplies, they couldn’t afford to let this go on too long. On the day set for their meeting, Herod, robed in pomposity, took his place on the throne and regaled them with a lot of hot air. The people played their part to the hilt and shouted flatteries: “The voice of God! The voice of God!”

23 That was the last straw. God had had enough of Herod’s arrogance and sent an angel to strike him down. Herod had given God no credit for anything. Down he went. Rotten to the core, a maggoty old man if there ever was one, he died.

24 Meanwhile, the ministry of God’s Word grew by leaps and bounds.

25 Barnabas and Saul, once they had delivered the relief offering to the church in Jerusalem, went back to Antioch. This time they took John with them, the one they called Mark.

Oh Lord,

Thank you for this true story of your provisions and protection!  Thank you for allowing us to see your glory at work in the lives of the early church of believers in You.  Thank you never changing through the centuries in your power, love, mercy and grace.  Thank you for saving my soul and making me whole.  Thank you for all you have done, are doing and will do when your people pray in unity.  Help us to love like you love as we help people find and follow you.  To YOU be all the glory, honor and praise forevermore!

In Jesus Name, Amen

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IF GOD SAYS…

Posted on November 3, 2021 by randscallawayffm

God does not change in His love and mission for all who He has created.  It is we who must change to match what God wants in order to live a life of obedience to God.  It is even more than loving Him back, it is having a daily session of conversation where He talks and we listen.  We pray asking for wisdom and God gives it.  We confess and Jesus forgives us.  We speak words of praise and thanksgiving and God sees our hearts’ devotion for Him.  We ask in Jesus Name and God responds with more than we ask, more than we could hope, or imagine.  If God says—do it!  We will never regret the decision of following Him.

But Friends, WE must do the changing of our thinking and behaving in order to hear and obey quickly.  In our tradition of religion, we much change and be ready to rise above religious tradition to a deeper, wider, higher relationship with the One and Only who died and rose again for us, Our Master, Savior and Lord, Jesus. 

Our example is Jesus.  To be “Christ-like”, as believers in Christ which is what the original term, “Christian” meant, we much follow in what Jesus did and spoke. Jesus went to God before doing anything of significance.  Jesus asked God what He wanted then Jesus said it or did it.  He did nothing on earth without God’s direction.  (See John 5)  Who are we to think we can bypass God and assume our religion and tradition will carry us through this world unscathed?  We don’t stand a chance with the enemy, if at first, we do not go to God, praying in Jesus Name, listening to hear God ready to obey.  When God says to do or say something…do it!  God will give us the words at the right time in the right Spirit to those led by His Holy Spirit.  It is nothing short of amazing to live and walk in His Holy Spirit.

Peter, born and raised a Jew, is now faced with a dilemma.  God knew what He needed to do IN Peter so that those outside the Jewish religion and tradition could be brought to experience Jesus’ saving grace.  “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” (John 3:16) God pointed out that if He said it, it’s okay to depart tradition to help others find and follow Jesus in relationship bringing all His creation back to Him.  Remember, Peter was trained by Jesus, Himself and is now more pliable to hear when God’s Spirit speaks. 

What must always be in Peter’s driven mind is Jesus’ last commissioning words of continuing the mission to “Go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” (Matthew 28:19-20, NIV) Peter knew from Jesus that if God says…do it, it’s okay. 

Did Peter have an “ah-ha” moment in the vision remembering the “all nations” part of the commission?

It is important for us to stay in step with God’s Holy Spirit for when we do, amazing acts of God happen!  God broke through the barriers of religion, race, gender, and traditions to bring the “outsiders” into a loving relationship with Him, through His Son, Jesus, powered by His Holy Spirit.  Wow! 

Believe and be saved with all sins forgiven AND forgotten!  God’s powerful Holy Spirit comes to live in us, guide us, protect us, convict us of right and wrong ways to go (wisdom) and comforts and strengthens us.  Live a courageous life of “If God says…do it” kind of life.  This is a life of no regrets now and forever in relationship with the Father, God.  This is why Jesus died and rose again…so we could boldly come into the throne room of God and talk with Him daily.  This is the most important relationship we will ever have.  AND it is forever!

The news that Jesus is for all nations is spreading like wildfire!  Friends, take note of Barnabas, I love him.  I want to be like him.  He is so positive, encouraging and loving in His relationships with others.  Outsiders are readily welcomed as insiders…part of the whole Body of Christ!  THIS is the “church”.  A group of people with only one mission—to help all people find and follow Jesus.  The outsiders should only remain in that condition for seconds, guided to the inside of God’s love forever! 

It all began here…enjoy reading this passage as much as I did. If God says…, do it and be the church who follows His Holy Spirit’s direction!

ACTS—God’s acts through His Disciples

Acts 11, The Message

God Has Broken Through

1-3 The news traveled fast and in no time the leaders and friends back in Jerusalem heard about it—heard that the non-Jewish “outsiders” were now “in.” When Peter got back to Jerusalem, some of his old associates, concerned about circumcision, called him on the carpet: “What do you think you’re doing rubbing shoulders with that crowd, eating what is prohibited and ruining our good name?”

4-6 So Peter, starting from the beginning, laid it out for them step-by-step: “Recently I was in the town of Joppa praying. I fell into a trance and saw a vision: Something like a huge blanket, lowered by ropes at its four corners, came down out of heaven and settled on the ground in front of me. Milling around on the blanket were farm animals, wild animals, reptiles, birds—you name it, it was there. Fascinated, I took it all in.

7-10 “Then I heard a voice: ‘Go to it, Peter—kill and eat.’ I said, ‘Oh, no, Master. I’ve never so much as tasted food that wasn’t kosher.’ The voice spoke again: ‘If God says it’s okay, it’s okay.’ This happened three times, and then the blanket was pulled back up into the sky.

11-14 “Just then three men showed up at the house where I was staying, sent from Caesarea to get me. The Spirit told me to go with them, no questions asked. So I went with them, I and six friends, to the man who had sent for me. He told us how he had seen an angel right in his own house, real as his next-door neighbor, saying, ‘Send to Joppa and get Simon, the one they call Peter. He’ll tell you something that will save your life—in fact, you and everyone you care for.’

15-17 “So I started in, talking. Before I’d spoken half a dozen sentences, the Holy Spirit fell on them just as he did on us the first time. I remembered Jesus’ words: ‘John baptized with water; you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.’ So I ask you: If God gave the same exact gift to them as to us when we believed in the Master Jesus Christ, how could I object to God?”

18 Hearing it all laid out like that, they quieted down. And then, as it sank in, they started praising God. “It’s really happened! God has broken through to the other nations, opened them up to Life!”

19-21 Those who had been scattered by the persecution triggered by Stephen’s death traveled as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus, and Antioch, but they were still only speaking and dealing with their fellow Jews. Then some of the men from Cyprus and Cyrene who had come to Antioch started talking to Greeks, giving them the Message of the Master Jesus. God was pleased with what they were doing and put his stamp of approval on it—quite a number of the Greeks believed and turned to the Master.

22-24 When the church in Jerusalem got wind of this, they sent Barnabas to Antioch to check on things. As soon as he arrived, he saw that God was behind and in it all. He threw himself in with them, got behind them, urging them to stay with it the rest of their lives. He was a good man that way, enthusiastic and confident in the Holy Spirit’s ways. The community grew large and strong in the Master.

25-26 Then Barnabas went on to Tarsus to look for Saul. He found him and brought him back to Antioch. They were there a whole year, meeting with the church and teaching a lot of people. It was in Antioch that the disciples were for the first time called Christians.

27-30 It was about this same time that some prophets came to Antioch from Jerusalem. One of them named Agabus stood up one day and, prompted by the Spirit, warned that a severe famine was about to devastate the country. (The famine eventually came during the rule of Claudius.) So the disciples decided that each of them would send whatever they could to their fellow Christians in Judea to help out. They sent Barnabas and Saul to deliver the collection to the leaders in Jerusalem.

Lord,

I love you with all my heart, mind and soul.  I love how you love us back.  I love how you put us together to grow as the Body of Christ.  Thank you for changing our minds from the very beginnings of your church.  Help us to always remember that you play no favorites.  All you created are IN to receive your love, mercy and grace.  Help us to love like you love us.  Help us to help all people find and follow you.

In Jesus Name, Amen

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