Daily Manna (Coffee with Jesus)

The world we create is the one in which we are in control, make all the rules, and tell others what they must do to adhere to our rules.  When anyone tries to come in our world, we tell them how to be like us or they cannot belong.  If they do not conform then they will not be accepted in our world.  (Ah, the school playground of life.)  Our world operates and holds its meaning in what we believe to be true—not necessarily what is true—only our version from our perspective.  Yes, I said that out loud.

So, given this insight about the world we create around us with our rules created to keep our world organized and intact, we are appalled when someone comes into our world to tell us about Someone who will change our way of thinking about life, relationships, and most of all—real love that is not based on adherence to rules but on the relentless love of God who gave His One and Only Son to save us from the sins in our world that we didn’t realize we had—the sin of rule-keeping without a relationship with God.

The “hard-line” Jews that Paul and Silas encounter created their own perfect world. Jesus is considered the intruder into their world of interpretations of the Law along with their additional man-made rules.  Jesus was not accepted as Messiah nor was he considered acceptable as King. 

Their interpretations and rules with forced obedience upon men and women in their world was taught as the only way to God.  Those in charge of the Jewish world in Thessalonica have the same thinking as those who sent Jesus to his death without realizing He came to fulfill all the scriptures, The Law of God, that they read and policed for centuries. 

Jesus is preached—their world is presently threatened.  They thought that killing Jesus would be the end of the discussion and they would all get back to their “normal” program of power and control.  But God had other plans.

Acts 16, The Message

Thessalonica

^1-3 They took the road south through Amphipolis and Apollonia to Thessalonica, where there was a community of Jews. Paul went to their meeting place, as he usually did when he came to a town, and for three Sabbaths running he preached to them from the Scriptures. He opened up the texts so they understood what they’d been reading all their lives: that the Messiah absolutely had to be put to death and raised from the dead—there were no other options—and that “this Jesus I’m introducing you to is that Messiah.”

^4-5 Some of them were won over and joined ranks with Paul and Silas, among them a great many God-fearing Greeks and a considerable number of women from the aristocracy. But the hard-line Jews became furious over the conversions. Mad with jealousy, they rounded up a bunch of brawlers off the streets and soon had an ugly mob terrorizing the city as they hunted down Paul and Silas.

^5-7 They broke into Jason’s house, thinking that Paul and Silas were there. When they couldn’t find them, they collared Jason and his friends instead and dragged them before the city fathers, yelling hysterically, “These people are out to destroy the world, and now they’ve shown up on our doorstep, attacking everything we hold dear! And Jason is hiding them, these traitors and turncoats who say Jesus is king and Caesar is nothing!”

^8-9 The city fathers and the crowd of people were totally alarmed by what they heard. They made Jason and his friends post heavy bail and let them go while they investigated the charges.

WHAT DO WE LEARN—HOW DO WE RESPOND?

As Paul and Silas travel from town to town in the region, they will be met with opposition because Jesus and His teaching will change everything about each person who believes and follows Him.  The enemy of God will step up his game of distracting and deceiving people while the power of God’s Holy Spirit works through men and women to preach Jesus who delivers us from our sins by dying in our place on that cross. 

Those who created their own worlds are fearful of losing their self-produced power over the people they oppress and burden with man-made rules by virtue of their office or position only.  The city fathers’ hysterically express this fear of loss with uncontrollable panic in verses 5-7.  Led by their own fear, jealousy, and hate for those entering to disrupt their created world; they drag believers of Jesus out to the street and shout; “These people are out to destroy the world, and now they’ve shown up on our doorstep, attacking everything we hold dear!” 

It is not the world –it’s their world the hardline Jews created for themselves.

But we’re not like that, are we?  Do we create our own worlds where the sky is a different color, the rules are made by us, and where love is guarded and given only to those who please us by obeying our rules, written, unwritten, or otherwise translated by us for our advantage? 

Pause to pray before responding. Ask God to correct us and cleanse our hearts of all that is offensive to HIM and to others seeking Jesus for salvation.  Study God’s Word and hold it up as a mirror.  Do we reflect Jesus in us? 

FUN FACT:  Thessalonica (our modern Salonika) was a strategic city for the work of the Lord. Not only was it the capital of Macedonia, but it was also a center for business, rivaled only by Corinth. The city was located on several important trade routes, and it boasted an excellent harbor. The city was predominantly Greek, even though it was controlled by Rome. Thessalonica was a “free city,” which meant that it had an elected citizens’ assembly, could mint its own coins, and had no Roman garrison within its walls.  God knows what He is doing through Paul and Silas!

The kingship of Jesus Christ is unlike that of the rulers of this world. He conquers with ambassadors, (2 Corinthians 5:20), not armies, and His weapons are truth and love.

He brings people peace by upsetting the peace in our created world by turning our thinking upside down to reveal Kingdom of God thinking! He conquers through His cross, where He died for a world of lost sinners. He even died for His enemies (Romans 5:6–10)!  Jesus saves—we point the Way to Jesus!

Good teachers and preachers begin with what their audience already knows.  Paul went into the synagogue and there discovered a group of people keenly interested in the study of the Old Testament Scriptures. In fact, they met daily to search the Scriptures to determine whether or not what Paul was saying was true. Paul had been overjoyed at the way the people in Thessalonica had received the Word.

“And we also thank God continually because, when you received the word of God, which you heard from us, you accepted it not as a human word, but as it actually is, the word of God, which is indeed at work in you who believe.” —Paul, 1 Thessalonians 2:13

Lord,

Be at work in me.  Cleanse my heart, renew my mind, transform my behaviors, refresh my soul with your new mercies, and restore the joy and peace of you in me and me in you.  You came into my world and created a new person for the world in which you created; who will live forever.  I will thank you and praises you all day long, every day and forever!

In Jesus Name, Amen

Where is the moment we needed the most
You kick up the leaves and the magic is lost
They tell me your blue skies fade to grey
They tell me your passion’s gone away
And I don’t need no carryin’ on

You stand in the line just to hit a new low
You’re faking a smile with the coffee to go
You tell me your life’s been way off line
You’re falling to pieces every time
And I don’t need no carryin’ on

‘Cause you had a bad day
You’re taking one down
You sing a sad song just to turn it around
You say you don’t know
You tell me don’t lie
You work on a smile and you go for a ride
You had a bad day
The camera don’t lie
You’re coming back down and you really don’t mind
You had a bad day
You had a bad day…

(Composer, Daniel Powter)

This song was made popular in the early 2000’s and expressed the feelings of hopes dashed when disappointments come along in our lives that bring us down.  This is the  human, natural response in our culture. 

But then there’s Paul who is counter-culture with the message of Jesus, the Hope of Glory, who resides in all who believe and call on His Name.  Worldview is the opposite most times than what Jesus teaches us to believe with how to live our lives. 

Paul speaks from experience while inspired by God’s Holy Spirit when he writes letters of loving care, correction, and encouragement to the churches the teams of apostles and disciples began so they can grow in their faith and personal relationship to Christ in us (Colossians 1:27).   

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

“Always be full of joy in the Lord. I say it again—rejoice! Let everyone see that you are considerate in all you do. Remember, the Lord is coming soon.Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:4-7, NLT

Paul is having a bad day—so, what does he do?  He and Silas pray with thanks to God while singing robust songs of praise—in a jail cell, shackled in chains. 

Wait, what?!

Acts 16, The Messaage

Beaten Up and Thrown in Jail

^16-18 One day, on our way to the place of prayer, a slave girl ran into us. She was a psychic and, with her fortunetelling, made a lot of money for the people who owned her. She started following Paul around, calling everyone’s attention to us by yelling out, “These men are working for the Most High God. They’re laying out the road of salvation for you!” She did this for a number of days until Paul, finally fed up with her, turned and commanded the spirit that possessed her, “Out! In the name of Jesus Christ, get out of her!” And it was gone, just like that.

^19-22 When her owners saw that their lucrative little business was suddenly bankrupt, they went after Paul and Silas, roughed them up and dragged them into the market square. Then the police arrested them and pulled them into a court with the accusation, “These men are disturbing the peace—dangerous Jewish agitators subverting our Roman law and order.” By this time the crowd had turned into a restless mob out for blood.

^22-24 The judges went along with the mob, had Paul and Silas’s clothes ripped off and ordered a public beating. After beating them black-and-blue, they threw them into jail, telling the jailkeeper to put them under heavy guard so there would be no chance of escape. He did just that—threw them into the maximum security cell in the jail and clamped leg irons on them.

^25-26 Along about midnight, Paul and Silas were at prayer and singing a robust hymn to God. The other prisoners couldn’t believe their ears. Then, without warning, a huge earthquake! The jailhouse tottered, every door flew open, all the prisoners were loose.

^27-28 Startled from sleep, the jailer saw all the doors swinging loose on their hinges. Assuming that all the prisoners had escaped, he pulled out his sword and was about to do himself in, figuring he was as good as dead anyway, when Paul stopped him: “Don’t do that! We’re all still here! Nobody’s run away!”

^29-31 The jailer got a torch and ran inside. Badly shaken, he collapsed in front of Paul and Silas. He led them out of the jail and asked, “Sirs, what do I have to do to be saved, to really live?” They said, “Put your entire trust in the Master Jesus. Then you’ll live as you were meant to live—and everyone in your house included!”

^32-34 They went on to spell out in detail the story of the Master—the entire family got in on this part. They never did get to bed that night. The jailer made them feel at home, dressed their wounds, and then—he couldn’t wait till morning!—was baptized, he and everyone in his family. There in his home, he had food set out for a festive meal. It was a night to remember: He and his entire family had put their trust in God; everyone in the house was in on the celebration.

^35-36 At daybreak, the court judges sent officers with the instructions, “Release these men.” The jailer gave Paul the message, “The judges sent word that you’re free to go on your way. Congratulations! Go in peace!”

³⁷ But Paul wouldn’t budge. He told the officers, “They beat us up in public and threw us in jail, Roman citizens in good standing! And now they want to get us out of the way on the sly without anyone knowing? Nothing doing! If they want us out of here, let them come themselves and lead us out in broad daylight.”

^38-40 When the officers reported this, the judges panicked. They had no idea that Paul and Silas were Roman citizens. They hurried over and apologized, personally escorted them from the jail, and then asked them if they wouldn’t please leave the city. Walking out of the jail, Paul and Silas went straight to Lydia’s house, saw their friends again, encouraged them in the faith, and only then went on their way.

WHAT DO WE LEARN—HOW DO WE RESPOND?

Paul and Silas had a bad day.  But without being jailed, salvation would not have come to the household of the jailer!  They probably would not have met him in normal circumstances.  God arranged a divine appointment, and an earthquake for good measure, using their bad day for His glory and the jailer’s good!  There is no one like our God!!

Without being beaten and shackled, along with the divine earthquake, the nobility of Paul and Silas would not have been known by the judges.  God knows what He is doing—always.  They were set free to carry on the work God called them to be and do.

“Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.”—Paul, Philippines 4:7, NLT

“I am leaving you with a gift—peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don’t be troubled or afraid.”—Jesus, John 14:27, NLT

So, we had a bad day—how will we respond?

Read, take to heart, and memorize Paul’s words in his letter to the Philippian church.  These rich words of habitual resolve with praise will come as to all of us who believe with a desire to follow Jesus.  Read it over and over again until our first response to our challenging circumstances is—

“Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!” 

God is always up to something new, don’t miss it!

Lord,

Forgive us when our first thoughts are all that is bad when bad things happen.  May our first thoughts be of You and what you will do in and through us as we live life in an imperfect world.  May your peace rule our hearts so that when troubles come, we will have the wisdom, tenacity, and focus that Paul had to look for what YOU will do through it all.  Bad days come and go—your love, mercy, and grace is forever!

Cleanse our hearts, renew our minds, transform our behaviors, refresh our souls, and restore the joy and peace that is unlike the world of you in us and us in you.

In Jesus Name, Amen

We were so excited to move from our small home to a larger home that would accommodate our growing family.  We had worked with builder who allowed us to choose the color schemes of our new home.  The purchase, however, was contingent on selling the home we had.  No problem, we had a buyer.  However, as our new home was near completion, we drove over to check out the progress and had a moment.  Randy and I walked in and both of us said, “this isn’t our home.”  We couldn’t explain it but felt it in our hearts and souls. 

The next day we found out our buyer had backed out and we were back to square one.  Another buyer for the new house we planned to live in offered a higher bid and because we no longer had a buyer, our new home was sold to someone else.  In one week, it was a roller coaster of emotions.  But we knew that was not our home.  We trusted God for His best.

Later that same week, the builder told us he had another completed home around the corner that was available.  He also told us he would wait for our home to sell.  We went the next day and looked it over and knew this was the right place for our family.  We made an offer that was accepted and we sold our home in the same week!  God’s timing.  God’s best. God’s will, His way. 

Who knew but God that we would move next to a couple who needed a Savior and a church to love them—which we readily could point them to and tell them about.  We became life-long friends.  We were there at the birth of their two children who are now grown and have lives of their own.  They helped us with our three children in their different stages of life.  God knew. God’s will. God’s best. Thought both of us have moved on from that area, we are still great friends.

We pray, we plan, and sometimes we wait.  Sometimes the plan is not at all what God wants, so he closes doors.  God knows, always knows, what is best for us and what will help those around us know Him more.  We pray—God works.   That’s how it’s always been and always will be. 

In the wait, remember; God is for us, not against us.  Trusts Him.  God knows what we need when we need it most.  We might plan what is good, but God decides what is best.  I am thankful for the times in my life when after seeking His will; God blocked my will for His best. God loves to pour out His best to His children with “more than we ask or imagine” as it will affect our lives as well as the lives around us who needed to know Him! 

Paul has a mission plan—complete with a map!  As he sleeps on his plan, God changes his mind and direction.  In obedience to God’s Holy Spirit, Paul traveled to Macedonia to preach Jesus to hungry hearts in need of a Savior.  He probably would have done good things with his plan but accomplished greater things with God in the lead.  God’s timing, His will, His way is always best.

Acts 16, 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.

WHAT DO WE LEARN—HOW DO WE RESPOND?

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!

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!”…

This ancient hymn, “Send The Light” was written by Charles H. Gabriel and first published and made popular in 1891, especially among missionary endeavors. Gabriel is known to have written over 7,000 hymns, including His Eye on Sparrow, I stand Amazed in the Presence, The Way of the Cross, Higher Ground. 

His hymn is based on our scripture telling about Paul’s dream from God to change direction and go to Macedonia instead.

By following God’s plan, Paul and now Timothy is protégé met a beautiful soul named Lydia who was given “a trusting heart” for the Master.  We are also impressed with her “surge of hospitality” given to her by God after she was baptized!  She then gave them a place to stay in their journey.  We can be sure they became life-long friends!

PAUSE TO PRAY THE “ASK” WAY—By Jeremy Myers

Jesus taught us to be answers to our own prayers when, in the Sermon on the Mount, He told His disciples, ‘Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened” (Matthew 7:7-8).

When reading Matthew 7:7-8, most people think that Jesus was saying the same thing three different times: pray, and your prayer will get answered. In other words they read “Ask, seek, knock” as “Pray, pray, and pray again”.  But there may be a better way of understanding the words of Jesus.  Jesus is not simply telling His disciples to pray, but is giving them instructions on how to see answers to their own prayers.

Ask—

Jesus tells us to ask. This is the prayer part. It is taking our requests and needs to God, and presenting them before Him. It is not that He is unaware of our needs, for He knows what we need before we ask Him (Matthew 6:8).  Just as we talk over the issues of our day with our spouse or friends, so also God wants us to communicate with Him about the issues and needs which are heavy on our hearts and minds. So, we ask Him about these things. This is the first step to prayer.

Seek—

But after we ask, we don’t simply keep asking. We must begin to seek. Seeking is when we look around for how God might answer our prayers. After we ask God for something, the next thing we must do is start looking around with eyes of faith for how God might be providing answers to the issues we discussed with Him.

Knock—

After we ask God to help us with our needs, and seek for possible ways that God might answer our requests, we must then step out in faith and knock on the doors that present themselves. When we ask, we ask with faith. When we seek, we seek possible answers with eyes of faith. And when we knock, we step out and take risks with faith by pursuing opportunities that were brought to our attention during the seeking phase.  Sometimes the first door we knock on is the one that opens, but this is usually not the case. Sometimes we have to knock on ten, fifty, even hundreds of doors. For this reason, the knocking phase is often the most difficult, but it is here that perseverance is vitally important if we are going to see answers to our prayers.  Praying is more than just asking God for things and then sitting around, waiting for Him to respond.

******

Praying, then, is communion, connection, along with rich conversation with God as we grow in our relationship with Him.  Jesus provided The Way for this to happen.  We now have the privilege to approach the throne of God boldly and make our request known to Him.  (Hebrews 4:16) 

God calls us Friend as well as Family.  This relationship is forever for those who believe and call on the Name of Jesus!

Lord,

Thank you for your protection, provision, as well as your constant communication with us.  Thank you for always being with us, guiding our steps.

In Jesus Name, For Your Glory, Amen

Humans are uniquely crafted by God.  He gives each one of us specific talents and then gifts us with certain abilities to carry out His purpose through us.  God never stops working on us as His Holy Spirit works in us from the inside out to be all He created us to be.  That’s how God works! 

The prophet Jeremiah explains this work of art and heart by God who spoke specifically to him about this miracle of life change and growth.  He told Jeremiah to go to a potter’s house and watch how the potter molds and shapes useful pots.  Jeremiah obeyed. This was Jeremiah’s response with another message from God:

“So I went down to the potter’s house and saw him working with clay at the wheel.He was making a pot from clay. But there was something wrong with the pot. So the potter used that clay to make another pot. With his hands he shaped the pot the way he wanted it to be.  Then this message from the Lord came to me: “Family of Israel, you know that I can do the same thing with you. You are like the clay in the potter’s hands, and I am the potter.” This message is from the Lord.”  Jeremiah 18:3-6, NIV

God’s chosen people, specifically those in Judah, had a difference of opinion with God!  They were disobedient to God. Being concerned with going their own way; they turned on Jeremiah when he delivered this word from God. (“Don’t kill the messenger” comes to mind!) The people suffered greatly for their disobedience and were sent off to captivity by a more powerful nation because they refused God’s power and protection. 

Later, God spoke through Jeremiah to His people again concerning their disobedience to God.  We believers often center only on verse 11 and skip the rest of this passage as we sometimes take this message out of context.  Here is the intent:

“This is what the Lord says: “When seventy years are completed for Babylon, I will come to you and fulfill my good promise to bring you back to this place. For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. I will be found by you,” declares the Lord, “and will bring you back from captivity. I will gather you from all the nations and places where I have banished you,” declares the Lord, “and will bring you back to the place from which I carried you into exile.”  Jeremiah 29:10-14, NIV

God’s people, created and crafted by God, no longer wanted God in their lives and disagreed wholeheartedly with God’s plan for them.  This difference of opinion with God did not go well for them.

But what happens when we disagree with each other while doing God’s work?

Acts 15, The Message

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.

WHAT DO WE LEARN—HOW DO WE RESPOND?

Remember—God is in control.God has the ultimate plan to accomplish His will and purpose.  God prevails even in and through the hiccups of behaviors of his imperfect humans who love and serve Him in Jesus Name.  Through His many experiences Paul writes, “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  This knowledge comes from his tenacity to please God in all Paul is and does and from experience God’s grace within him.

What does that have to do with Barnabas and Paul?  When we disagree, for whatever reason, with each other, who are uniquely created by God with different ideas and ways to obey God’s call on our lives; this is not necessarily catastrophic —only a difference of opinion. 

If our tempers rise and we sin in our anger by tearing down each other’s reputation, then that is a problem.  To demonize the one who disagrees with us is a walk on thin ice and not appropriate to pleasing God. But to have differences of opinion with each other in the pursuit of God and His plan to save the world through Jesus’s sacrifice is not.  If we agree on the bare necessities God spoke to us about yesterday, we can continue the work God has uniquely given us to be and do.

In other words, if we agree on God’s original plan given to us by the authority of Jesus to “go and make disciples, baptizing them, and teaching them to obey Him,” then a resolution like Paul and Barnabas decided upon is valid.  As tempers flared, God’s Holy Spirit seemed to calm them down and gave them a solution.  Divide and conquer. They will continue the work God gave them.  

Paul will write later, “I thank my God every time I remember you. In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.” Philippians 1:3-6, NIV 

Paul uses these words of encouragement often to all the churches filled with people who love, obey, and serve God.  He writes from experience!

Occasionally God’s preachers, missionaries, and teachers will come back together again to report and praise God for all that HE, the Potter is doing in and through them throughout the book of Acts—the acts of God and His Holy Spirit demonstrated in His obedient servants filled with His love.

To sum it up: 

Don’t disagree with God and His Plan. 

Solve differences of opinions of accomplishing His Plan in loving ways that do not interrupt God and His Work to save the world through Jesus, our Savior and Lord.

Lord,

We will always need your help when we differ with each other.  We learn that our unique differences serve to expand our thinking and we see You who made us from new perspectives.  You are multi-faceted in Your ways as we seek the One and Only way to salvation.  Thank you for loving us, growing us and sustaining us the way you do. Thank you for using our imperfect beings for your glory as we point The Way for others to know, believe and obey you, too. Thank you for Life!

In Jesus Name, Amen

It happened years ago, but every year about this time as we celebrate Jesus resurrection; I remember.  Answering the call of God, Randy and I left our home state so he could attend seminary in another state about a thousand miles away.  He also said yes to pastoring a small country church a new miles away.  Moving to another place filled with cultural differences and traditions were challenging but we thought we were working through it all—until Randy failed, as pastor, to put up the cross with the purple cloth, two weeks before Easter Sunday. 

Randy was never told there was a cross to be put up or where it was.  So, the church went through Holy Week without it.  We didn’t have a clue.  We were busy with all that goes with Holy Week; extra sermons, finals for classes, Maundy services, a community sunrise service as well as teaching prep for Sunday School classes.  If you’re a pastor or the spouse—you know.

As we greeted people for Resurrection Sunday, we noticed that one life long member was not only frowning but would not say a word, and even turned her back on us when we greeted her.  Her body language clearly showed her anger.  We didn’t know why—for weeks!  Finally, in a church meeting, she expressed what she felt, “We have always put up the cross and draped the purple cloth around it and we did not this year and I want to know why.”  It was an ah-hah moment for Randy and I.  The cross was stored in a basement area we didn’t even know existed.  No one had said anything about it.  But our belief in Jesus was judged for not knowing about that cross!

Seems silly, doesn’t it?  If you are a church leader, you get it.  We do this often, led by a spirit not of God.  “All sin and fall short of the glory of God.”  So, we readily understand Peter’s passionate plea to the traditionalists; “Why are your trying to out-god God?” Why are we loading new believers down with crushing rules of tradition? 

Why do we get bent out of shape over a misplaced cross that represents the cruel death of Jesus while our focus is distracted from why He offered His body as a living sacrifice for our sins and then rose again in victory?  “Don’t we believe that we are saved because the Master Jesus amazingly and out of sheer generosity moved to save us?”

Acts 15, 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!

WHAT DO WE LEARN—HOW DO WE RESPOND?

There is disagreement but there is also communication with truth, spoken in a spirit of love.  Love God.  Love Others.  These two commandments of God are instilled the minds of the apostles and followers so that others will know, believe, and follow Jesus, too.  Guided by the Holy Spirit, Peter is given the right words to say that will pull everyone back in unity.  “How good and pleasant it is when God’s people live together in unity!” Psalm 133:1, NIV  When we bring the conversation to the Table in open dialogue, not to get our way, but to respond according the The Way of Jesus, God smiles!  We can learn much from this example, dear leader friends.

We must relinquish all control to the Master Jesus who by God’s Holy Spirit will lead us in all we think, say, and do that is right, pure, holy and benefits all who believe in Him. (Romans 12:1-2)  This is The Way to knowing God’s perfect and pleasing will for us.

We must believe, really believe that God created all, is in all, and for all who believe in Jesus and trust in Him. Redemption trumps tradition and culture.

Jesus came to fulfil every Law that God handed down to Moses for the spiritual, physical, mental, and emotional health of His people.  The top two are the “bare necessities” in which, according to Jesus, “all the other laws” are derived:  Love God with all your heart, mind, and soul.  Love others they way God loves us. 

Because of God’s love, He sent His One and Only Son, Jesus to save us from eternal death and destruction caused by our sins.  Whoever believes and repents in Jesus Name is indeed saved from all sin and made new with a new life.  Eternal life, a gift from God, is for all who believe Jesus. (John 3:16-17)

These are the bare necessities.  If we get this right, we are made righteous by God through believe Jesus, His Son.  Don’t out-god God.  It will not go well for us.

May God be with us all!

Lord,

Thank you for daily cleansing my heart, renewing my mind, transforming my behaviors, refreshing my soul with your new mercies, and restoring the joy and peace of you in me and me in you.

In Jesus Name, Amen

I hate to break this to you, but…  The rest of the sentence is personal and hard to hear.  When we hear it, we feel our entire body bracing for the gut punch as we ready ourselves to hear bad news.  Our flight or fight response is rising to the surface.  Our minds race with possible solutions for whatever problems lie ahead before the words are completely said. 

Then we hear the rest of the sentence; and we are in shock with disbelief.  Depending on the news, we sit still for a few seconds to take it all in.  Non-believers in Jesus experience hard times in life.  Believers in Jesus also experience hard times in life.  This is due to living in an imperfect world corrupted by the sins of mankind since Adam.  The difference maker for believers is the power and wisdom given readily in abundance to us from the Way Maker.  We are reading and seeing God’s power and wisdom demonstrated through the Acts of God and His Holy Spirit through His Apostles and followers who live Jesus.  May we see the acts of God at work in us!  Even today!

Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, Peter, and now Paul, to name just a few of the headliners will write about it as they live it.  They will be beaten unmercifully, (as Jesus foretold), for preaching life-change in Jesus.  They will be jailed many times but the power and wisdom within them does not allow for the work in Jesus Name to stop—because Jesus never fails, never gives up, never stops loving us and helping us!

Choose this day whom you will serve.  Hard times will come either way.  But wouldn’t we rather have the Compassionate Creator of all, the passionate Savior and Lord along with the power of His Holy Spirit in us taking us by the hand and walking us through it all?  Can I get Yes and an amen?!

Acts 14, 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.

WHAT DO WE LEARN—HOW DO WE RESPOND?

When hard times come, seek God first before reacting.  This will take the power of God in us to accomplish.  Ask God for wisdom. Ask God for help. Ask God for the good He will do from the bad you are experiencing.  This will lighten the impact of the hard times when you know God knows and has a plan with way around it, over it, or right through it!  I cannot count the many times God has stepped in to help me and our family—even while we are praying in Jesus Name!  Sometimes God met our needs before we even knew we had them!  Sometimes we must wait on the answer, but as we wait our faith becomes stronger and our resolve greater still when we trust God to do what only God can do.  Nothing is impossible with God.  Take this to heart!

Stay attached!  “Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.  “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.” –Jesus, John 15:4-5 NIV 

When hard times come, staying attached to the power of God’s Holy Spirit, praying in the Name of Jesus who saved us from all our sins, is the foundation of our faith that cannot be moved.  “Our Hope is built on nothing less than Jesus’ blood and righteousness!”  (Not just hymn of words but of Truth!)

By staying attached through the hard times, God’s character begins to become a part of our lives!  We begin to reflect Jesus, His Son who had the same traits.  We soon realize that we who believe, also begin taking on the traits of our Father in heaven!  We have His eyes to see life with new perspectives, His heart that feels the pain of others, and His mind to think higher and nobler.  Yes, just like Jesus!   Paul gives us a list of those traits of behavior that we can look forward to acquiring—

“…the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,gentleness, and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, provoking, and envying each other.” Galatians 5:22-26, NIV

And when do these traits come to fruition, realized by us, and seen by others?      –They come as we respond to hard times in Jesus Name!

“Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.”  James 1:2-5, NIV 

“In the good times, praise His Name; in the bad times, do the same! In everything, give God thanks.” (A song I sing in my heart often.)

Lord,

Thank you, indeed, for teaching me great lessons in and through the hard and challenging times of this brief journey on earth.  Without them, I would not now how precious life is and how grateful I still need to become.  You are Provider, Healer, Protector, Sustainer, Creator as well as Savior and Lord.  You loved us before we knew to love you back.  While we were sinners, you died for us.  As believers, you are our Hope of eternal life!  Thank you, thank you, thank you for not giving up on me and keeping me fully attached to you!

In Jesus Name, Amen

Higher than the mountains that I face
Stronger than the power of the grave
Constant through the trial and the change
One thing remains, yes, one thing remains

Your love never fails
It never gives up
It never runs out on me …

“If anyone will not welcome you or listen to your words, leave that home or town and shake the dust off your feet.” –Jesus, Matthew 10:14

Sometimes, we’ve just got to pick ourselves up, shake the dust off our feet, and move forward to go and tell the Good News of Jesus.

Acts 14, 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.

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.

WHAT DO WE LEARN—HOW DO WE RESPOND?

Paul and Barnabas are now going beyond Jerusalem to deliver The Message to those who have never heard and to those who know enough to be against them.  We remember that Jesus prepared His disciples and all who would follow them, like Paul and Barnabas.  Jesus not only warned them about what His enemy would do against them, He told them how to hang on to His peace, joy, and wisdom in doing the work.

Jesus trained his followers how to “go and make disciples” with this warning of wisdom: “Stay alert. This is hazardous work I’m assigning you. You’re going to be like sheep running through a wolf pack, so don’t call attention to yourselves. Be as shrewd as a snake, inoffensive as a dove.  “Don’t be naive. Some people will question your motives, others will smear your reputation—just because you believe in me.”  Matthew 10:16-17, MSG

Led by the God’s Holy Spirit, the work of Jesus, Son of God, continues to preach salvation with the gift of eternal life because of the sacrifice made by Jesus.  As promised by Jesus, the Holy Spirit leads them where to go with what to say and when to say it. He also taught them (and us) that the enemy will try to stop The Message from changing lives from death to life! 

Don’t look around the next time you go to church to judge who is on God’s side and who is on the enemy’s side, but know this:  both are in the room as we worship God, relate to each other, sing songs of praise, hear the Message of salvation with the right ways to live, and prayer in the Name of Jesus.  What was clear to Paul and Barnabas was the “whispering campaign” against them.  Avoid being caught us in whispering campaigns.  Gossip maims, hurts, and can easily stop what God is doing among his believers.

We must daily examine ourselves and realize that what we think, say and do may help someone else find and follow Jesus OR drive them away.  Prayerfully pause to let that sink in. Ask Jesus in prayer, “Am I a Judas who is led of the enemy to betray with thoughts of trying to stop The Message, Lord”?  “Is it me?”

How do we know for sure?  Paul, so passionately led by the Holy Spirit, will write letters to the churches later explaining what helps and what hurts.  Here is an example:

“So let’s not sleepwalk through life like those others. Let’s keep our eyes open and be smart. People sleep at night and get drunk at night. But not us! Since we’re creatures of Day, let’s act like it. Walk out into the daylight sober, dressed up in faith, love, and the hope of salvation.”

“God didn’t set us up for an angry rejection but for salvation by our Master, Jesus Christ. He died for us, a death that triggered life. Whether we’re awake with the living or asleep with the dead, we’re alive with him! So speak encouraging words to one another. Build up hope so you’ll all be together in this, no one left out, no one left behind. I know you’re already doing this; just keep on doing it.”

The Way He Wants You to Live

“And now, friends, we ask you to honor those leaders who work so hard for you, who have been given the responsibility of urging and guiding you along in your obedience. Overwhelm them with appreciation and love!”

“Get along among yourselves, each of you doing your part. Our counsel is that you warn the freeloaders to get a move on. Gently encourage the stragglers, and reach out for the exhausted, pulling them to their feet. Be patient with each person, attentive to individual needs. And be careful that when you get on each other’s nerves you don’t snap at each other. Look for the best in each other, and always do your best to bring it out.”

“Be cheerful no matter what; pray all the time; thank God no matter what happens. This is the way God wants you who belong to Christ Jesus to live.”

“Don’t suppress the Spirit, and don’t stifle those who have a word from the Master. On the other hand, don’t be gullible. Check out everything, and keep only what’s good. Throw out anything tainted with evil.”

^“May God himself, the God who makes everything holy and whole, make you holy and whole, put you together—spirit, soul, and body—and keep you fit for the coming of our Master, Jesus Christ. The One who called you is completely dependable. If he said it, he’ll do it!” 1 Thessalonians 5:7-24, MSG

Even today, people will try to put pastors on a pedestal, thinking they are gods OR they will run them out of town for preaching Jesus in ways that convict their souls.  Whispering campaigns are the work of the Enemy.  God knows what is inside all hearts.  He is always at work and will always make a way for The Message to be heard.

Jesus also said; “You can be sure that on Judgment Day they’ll be mighty sorry—but it’s no concern of yours now.”  (Matthew 10:15) Move on, like Paul and Barnabas, as the Holy Spirit leads.  Again, the response of people is not up to us.

Jesus teaching in Matthew 10 is such wisdom for the journey of Paul and Barnabas and for all of us who believe.  As we go and tell The Message of Jesus salvation for all.  Jesus also delivers this encouragement;

“Don’t be intimidated. Eventually everything is going to be out in the open, and everyone will know how things really are. So don’t hesitate to go public now.  “Don’t be bluffed into silence by the threats of bullies. There’s nothing they can do to your soul, your core being. Save your fear for God, who holds your entire life—body and soul—in his hands.” –Jesus, Matthew 10:26-28, MSG

How comforting and encouraging!  As we walk in His Steps, we are in His Hands!

Lord,

Thank you for your message of salvation that saved me and made me whole. Thank you for daily cleansing my heart, renewing my mind, refreshing my soul and restoring the joy and peace of you in me and me in you!  Thank you, thank you, thank you!

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

We who sit in the United States take many things for granted. In fact, most of us admittedly, have developed attitudes of entitlement.  “We deserve for you to give to me” seems to be the attitude that is popular among the masses.  From the poorest among us to those who seem to have it all, we expect to be served perfectly well, significantly catered to as highly important with magnificent gifts that honor us. We are spoiled.

When this arrogant attitude enters our homes among “our own people”; real and lasting troubles begin. Arguments through the day are over who is taking out trash, picking up after themselves, making the beds, mowing the lawn and other chores.  We keep score.  We tally who is doing the least and the most and rank each other accordingly. We are spoiled. 

This entitlement attitude also includes those of us who attend church on any given Sunday, who critically judge what is done for us.  We expect the music to be delightful and full of energy—above merely “making a joyful noise unto the Lord”!  But it cannot be a “performance.”  Worship must come for the heart, we say, but who decides what is in our hearts? Most assuredly, we expect people to notice us and be glad we came.  We expect the sermon to be witty and entertaining but also meaningful so our hearts are stirred and we leave feeling good about God and the stuff God does.  We expect all humans to do what we “pay them” to be and do; and what we expect them do is for us.  We are spoiled.

We want life to be what we expect it to be.  But the real message of Jesus changes everything.  Believe Him or not, our lives will never be the same when we accept the realty of Jesus as the Savior of our sins and begin to live expectantly seeking Him daily as the Lord of our lives.  This attitude shift is serious and happens only by grace.  We cannot make it happen ourselves. 

God knows exactly what we need and gives Jesus, His Son as a gift.  Who we need is a Savior who wants and fully deserves to be Lord of our lives.  Jesus has done for us what we do not deserve and cannot possible provide for ourselves.  Jesus died for our sins and rose victoriously over death in resurrection power.  Only Jesus.

Paul has been given that same “resurrection power” to preach Jesus to God’s chosen.  Most will believe.  The spoiled will hold fast to their self-serving entitlement stance.

Acts 13, The Message

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.

WHAT DO WE LEARN—HOW DO WE RESPOND?

In obedience to the Holy Spirit, Paul and Barabas preach Jesus in the meeting places of the Jews first.  But as the prophets foretold, when they deliver the Good News of Jesus, the One promised, as the One who saved us from our sins, the entitled Jewish leaders became jealous and closed their hearts and minds to this “living in and by God’s grace.”  They are clung tightfisted to their self-serving, entitled ways and did not want to change.

This does not discourage Paul and Barnabas.  They did what the Holy Spirit told them to be and do.  When some refused Jesus, they merely “shrugged their shoulders” and moved on… “brimming with joy and the Holy Spirit.” 

Church leader friends, take this inside your hearts, the response of people to Jesus is between the Savior and those who accept Him—or not.  We cannot and should not force, coerce, trick, coax, or cajole people to come to Jesus.  It’s more a matter of holy, loving persuasion from hearts who have decided unreservedly to follow Jesus as Lord of our lives.  God’s spirit does the rest.

Be encouraged!  When we speak Truth in love for God and others, guided by His Holy Spirit living in and through us, people are more likely to see Jesus’ light emanating from us.  But if not, we move on, because there are millions who need to consider Jesus as our Savior and Lord.  Pray for those who refused. They may come around later. 

Don’t take this message lightly, preaches Paul, we’re telling you about a seriously Savior—graciously Lord who is the One who died and rose again because God “so loved us all”.  Jesus is our Hope of life eternal.  Jesus delivers all we have looking for and have needed all long.  We only need to believe, repent, and accept all He has to offer us freely and relentlessly.  Look nowhere else—you won’t find it.

Lord,

I believe.  Cleanse our hearts, renew our minds, refresh our souls and restore the joy and peace of you in us and us in you.  Thank you, thank you, thank you!

In Jesus Name, For Your Glory, Amen

“In this world you will have trouble,” said Jesus, “but not to worry, I have overcome the world.” 

“…the One who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world.” –Jesus (John 16:33 and 1 John 4:4)

“Believe me when I say that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; or at least believe on the evidence of the works themselves. Very truly I tell you, whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father. And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it.

“If you love me, keep my commands. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever— the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you.” –Jesus, John 14:11-17 

“…You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” Acts 1:8

How many times in one day of living do we ask for God’s Holy Spirit to lead us where to go and guide us with what to say and do?

Holy Spirit living is the way of life for the apostles called, trained, and commissioned by God, through Jesus, His Son.

Acts 13, 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.

WHAT DO WE LEARN—HOW DO WE RESPOND?

“Liar, Liar, pants on fire!”

We are lied to many times a day without realizing it until it touches our lives directly.  And wouldn’t be awesome for liars’ pants to really catch fire for everyone to see! —Until we are caught in a mistruth, leave out important details to cover up, or just plain lie!

God provides Truth and guides us into all Truth courtesy of His Holy Spirit living in us!

“When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all truth.”—Jesus, (John 16:13)

We’re off the see the Wizard…as the wizard is off to kill the Message

Barnabas and Saul, along with John Mark are commissioned to spread the Good News in Cyprus.  But, get this—NOT until God’s Holy Spirit gave them direction with a plan!  How many times, dear church friends, do we gather in various places, endure long-winded chatter in laborious committee meetings to form our next plan of action THEN pray, “God, bless our plans”?  We can learn from the acts of the apostles and disciples of Jesus: “As they were worshiping God—they were also fasting as they waited for guidance”—then the Holy Spirit spoke—and gave them God’s plan!

After our plans fail, we can almost hear God say, “Can you hear Me, now?” 

We also remember what Jesus taught; SEEK GOD first…just like Jesus did. Jesus didn’t do anything without first going to His Father for direction with His Plan. Are we better than the Son of God that we don’t need to go to God’s first and listen as the early apostles did with “intensity and obedience”?  “But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.” –Jesus, Matthew 6:33 Jesus is telling us to stop worrying about the details of life and seek first God’s ways of Kingdom thinking and living.  Do we think we can do life better the Creator of Life?  Mm, I don’t think so.

God’s Holy Spirit sent them to Cyprus.  The “first thing” they did was to preach Jesus as directed.  Along comes a Jewish wizard, consumed by the devil enemy of God, to distract and deceive by redirecting the minds of those hearing the Good News of salvation in Jesus.  Mm, still happening today, right?  The enemy’s weapons of massive destruction have not changed.

Saul, (now called Paul), “full of the Holy Spirit”, looked Dr. Know-It-All right in the eyes and with boldness, in Jesus Name, declares the wizard’s sin against God.  The wizard is already blinded from Truth spiritually and mentally—now he is physically blinded so he is no longer a distractor.  God wins—again!

Does this not parallel the time Jesus blinded the eyes of Saul on his road to persecuting believers?!  (Acts 9:3)  The former persecutor is a preacher—transformed by Jesus, his Savior and Lord!  A soul once consumed by the enemy has now, in Jesus Name, led by the power of God’s Holy Spirit. defeated the enemy of God! 

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

There is indeed, power in the Name of Jesus and power in God’s Holy Spirit living in us!  Run to God, fall at the feet of Jesus, believe, repent, and be filled by His Holy Spirit.  Life will never be the same!

Lord,

Thank you for sending a Helper in the form of Your Holy Spirit to live inside us to guide and direct and correct our thinking.  Our response is to listen to Your Voice with “intensity and obedience.  Thank you for knowing we would need your help to combat our real enemy. Thank you reminding us that the war has already been won by you. These are mere skirmishes of the enemy to draw us away from you, distract us from truth with deceptive lies so we will stop believing you.  I believe and trust you with all that is in me!

In Jesus Name, Amen

We humans are flawed.  “All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23). It seems we can so easily swing from one side to the pendulum of humility to complete arrogance in record time as soon as the sin of pride enters our hearts.  We might do something good and immediately think we’re the best—while giving no credit to God who made us and shaped us. 

We become political beings.  Have you noticed how politicians who boast the loudest; “I’m not a politician, I’m not the same as my opponents, I will solve all the problems and do what is best for the people” are the very ones who, when elected, almost immediately fall to pleasing only the people who paid to get them in office.  This problem is ages old.  Nothing new to see here!

Many people who rise to power in any group, with the ability to make positive changes, are soon caught up with only being powerful people because of position who change little to nothing.  They fill the room with a lot of hot air that exposes their arrogant thinking that leads nowhere.  The only changes made are within themselves.

These seeds of arrogance grow and blossom into such pride that we think we rival God.

But God has no rivals!

Acts 12, The Message

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.

WHAT DO WE LEARN—HOW DO WE RESPOND?

Avoid pride at all costs.  Do we really want to become like Jesus, reflecting His character?  To become more like Jesus we must humble ourselves as He did. 

Philippians 2, written by Saul who become Paul, explains how to keep followers of Jesus in check:

“Is there any encouragement from belonging to Christ? Any comfort from his love? Any fellowship together in the Spirit? Are your hearts tender and compassionate? Then make me truly happy by agreeing wholeheartedly with each other, loving one another, and working together with one mind and purpose.

Don’t be selfish; don’t try to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves. Don’t look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too.

You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had.

Though he was God, he did not think of equality with God
    as something to cling to.
Instead, he gave up his divine privileges;
    he took the humble position of a slave (servant)
    and was born as a human being.
When he appeared in human form, he humbled himself in obedience to God
    and died a criminal’s death on a cross.

Therefore, God elevated him to the place of highest honor
    and gave him the name above all other names,
that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,
    in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
and every tongue declare that Jesus Christ is Lord,
    to the glory of God the Father.  Philippians 2:1-11, NLT

Enough said, now let us worship the King, the One and Only God—

You were the Word at the beginning
One with God the Lord Most High
Your hidden glory in creation
Now, revealed in You our Christ

What a beautiful Name it is, what a beautiful Name it is
The Name of Jesus Christ my King
What a beautiful Name it is, nothing compares to this
What a beautiful Name it is, the Name of Jesus

You didn’t want heaven without us
So Jesus, You brought heaven down
My sin was great, Your love was greater
What could separate us now?

What a wonderful Name it is, what a wonderful Name it is
The Name of Jesus Christ my King
What a wonderful Name it is, nothing compares to this
What a wonderful Name it is, the Name of Jesus
What a wonderful Name it is, the Name of Jesus

Death could not hold You, the veil tore before You
You silenced the boast of sin and grave
The Heavens are roaring the praise of Your glory
For You are raised to life again

You have no rival, You have no equalNow and forever, God, You reign
Yours is the Kingdom, Yours is the Glory
Yours is the Name above all names

What a powerful Name it is, what a powerful Name it is
The Name of Jesus Christ my King
What a powerful Name it is, nothing can stand against
What a powerful Name it is, the Name of Jesus…

(“What a Beautiful Name,” By Brooke Ligertwood and Hillsong)

Lord,

Save us from our sins of pride and arrogance that block our view of you.

In Jesus Name, Amen