Author: Don Guthrie

RE Verse reading–Acts 15:1-29 (day one)  “This brought Paul and Barnabas into sharp dispute and debate with them.  So Paul and Barnabas were appointed, along with some other believers, to go up to Jerusalem to see the apostles and elders about this question” (vs 2)  By nature, I am a “pleaser”.  Normally, I really do want people to “be pleased”–not with me, but with life!  It isn’t always a wise approach.  The truth is that the truth has enemies.  Some outside the church.  Some inside.  Sometimes (frequently) the Lord asks things from us that make us uncomfortable, resistant.  When conflict comes (and it does-in church, in business, in friendships) I am learning to reference the Spirit of God rather than my own needs or emotional preferences.  I doubt I will ever enjoy conflict.  Sad if I did.  I do know, however, there is a way to walk with the Spirit when it does.  If He is available, why would we not seek Him?

RE Verse reading–Acts 13:1-52 (day seven)  “And all who were appointed for eternal life believed”  (vs 48)  It is a paradox.  A truth made up of two sides which seem contradictory or irreconcilable.  God appoints.  We decide.   Appoint means “lined up or arranged” and speaks of the inner preparation that precedes the reception of spiritual truth.  “No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him”  (John 6:44)  Is God working in your heart?  Is He preparing you for new truth and deeper faith?  It is His great gift!  Progress will require a decision of faith from you.  The Father has assigned you this role.  In vs 46, Paul says that the rejecters have “judged themselves unworthy of eternal life”.  Bad choice!  The word in this sentence means “to decide” and places the emphasis on the decision of man rather than the appointment of God.  So, which is it?  The work of God or a decision of faith?  Yes.

BE Verse reading–Acts 13:1-52 (day six)  “While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, ‘Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.’ ” (vs 2)  Interesting word.  Not worship exactly.  Leiturgea actually means “an act of service”.  The emphasis in Greek is on the sacrifice, the unselfishness.  We should be impressed that the leaders of the church in Antioch were “serving” the Lord, focusing on the Lord, praying and waiting on the Lord, determined to serve the Lord’s purposes and not their own.  It is a necessary assignment for all leaders (both political and religious)  Too easy to follow our own egos or ambition.  As we consider an election on Tuesday, we should look for leaders who seek this kind of righteousness.  What is His will for this land?  Larger than either party, not determined by a poll, the will of God is what we seek.  True leaders serve the Lord.

RE Verse reading–Acts 13:1-52 (day one)  “While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, ‘Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.’ ” (vs2)  It may be the most important recovery of all.  Confidence in the competence of Christ.  An active trust that the Lord knows His own business and will effectively involve us as we seek Him.  The Antioch church had such confidence.  Some scholars believe that the Spirit had previously spoken to Barnabas and Saul re. this missionary assignment.  The church, however, required a deeper certainty that came as the leaders sought the Lord together/heard His voice together in an attitude of praise and surrender.  Jesus taught us the same procedure.  “Pray to the LORD OF THE HARVEST, to send out workers”  (Matthew 9:38)  What new confidence we would have!  What new effectiveness!  The Savior knows how/when/where to employ us in His Kingdom work!  Let us seek Him.

RE Verse reading–Acts11:1-26 (day seven)  “If God gave them the same gift that He gave us. . .who was I to hinder God?”  (vs 17)  “Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall!”  Perhaps you remember President Reagan’s famous words at the Berlin Wall.  They remind me of  Acts 11.  God was tearing down the legal wall that had, for centuries, divided Jew from Gentile.  For the first time since the Tower of Babel, the world had an opportunity for true unity and equality.  How inspiring!  How hopeful!  It is ironic that many in our day portray religion as essentially divisive.  Christ is actually our ONE opportunity to be united.   “He Himself is our peace, who made both groups into one and broke down the barrier of the dividing wall. . .making the two into one new man, thus establishing peace, and might reconcile them both in one body to God through the cross”  (Ephesians 2:14-16)  Most of us live behind walls.  God breaks them down.

RE Verse reading–Acts 11:1-26 (day six)  “What God has made clean, you must not call profane”  (vs 9)  Does God change?  At one level the answer is easy.  “He is the same yesterday, today and forever”  (Hebrews 13:8)  At another level, it is less so.  At the very least, God “changes plays”.  Like a quarterback with an audible,  God does, at times, declare a different direction, a new decision rising from His unchanging character.  Peter found himself in the middle of such a shift.  Something new to understand.  Something new to teach others.  The heavenly voice declared an end to the laws of separation (kosher) and a vast new horizon for world-wide missions.  God doesn’t change but His instructions to us sometimes do.  “Do not call to mind the former things, or ponder things of the past.  Behold, I will do something new, now it will spring forth; will you not be aware of it?”  (Isaiah 43:18-19)  May the Lord make us flexible.

RE Verse reading–Acts 11:1-26 (day one)  “When Peter went up to Jersualem, the circumcised believers criticized him, saying, ‘Why did you go to uncircumcised men and eat with them?’ ”  (vs2)  Predictable.  New things are hard.  People’s first reaction will be resistance (read criticism).  It happens.  Even to believers.  Peter is wise.  Without being defensive, he provides these brothers with information that will help them understand his behavior.  He does not argue.  He does not criticize them for criticizing him.  He simply reports His experience with God.  Vs.5–God gave me a vision.  Vs. 8–I resisted too (so I understand why you are hesitating)  Vs. 12–The Spirit told me to go.  Vs. 13–the men were waiting, reporting a vision of their own. Vs. 15–God gave them the gift of the Holy Spirit.  Vs. 16–It is consistent with the words of the Lord. Perhaps we would all do better with our critics if we learned from Peter.  “When they heard this, they were silenced”  (vs 18)

Editor’s note–Tuesday through Friday, this week and next, the everydayprayer blog will be authored by Josh Vaughan, Bryan Richardson, Larry Soape and Scott Lane.  I will be posting Monday and Saturday and Sunday.  Thanks gentlemen for your help!  Thank you blog-friends for your faithfulness!

RE Verse reading–Acts 9:1-22, 26-28  (day seven) “Saul was still breathing out murderous threats against the Lord’s disciples. (vs 1) “Like a river glorious is God’s perfect peace, over all victorious in its bright increase.” ~ Frances Havergal ~  The book of Acts is testimony/record of God’s kingdom expansion.  In widening circles the gospel spread just as Jesus had commanded.  “Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, the uttermost parts of the world.”  God’s plan was (is) “overall victorious”, even over the declared enemies of His Son.  It is a reminder we constantly need.  The reason we pray for our enemies (actually HIS enemies if our vision were clearer) is because God desires them to be saved!  “First of all, then, I urge that entreaties and prayers. . .be made for kings and all who are in authority. . .this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth”  (1 Timothy 2:1-4)

RE Verse reading–Acts 9:1-22, 26-28 (day six)  ” This man is my chosen instrument to proclaim my name to the Gentiles and their kings and the people of Israel.  I will show him how much he must suffer for my name.”  (vs 15-16)  The Lord made it clear from the start.  Serving Christ is hard.  Suffering is required.  I wonder (sometimes) why it is included in the equation.  Why did Jesus have to die?  Why does He lead Saul (us) to “the fellowship of His sufferings”?  Apparently there is no other way.  Those who want to serve God, for others to be saved must be willing to pay the price of sacrifice and loss.  “Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal among you. . .as though some strange thing were happening to you; but to the degree that you share the sufferings of Christ, keep on rejoicing, so that also at the revelation of His glory you may rejoice with exaltation.”  (1 Peter 4:12-13)

RE Verse reading–Acts 9:1-22, 26-28 (day five)  “Meanwhile, Saul was still breathing out murderous threats against the Lord’s disciples”  (vs 1)  It is a small word.  It reveals a big problem.  Saul was STILL breathing out threats.  It refers to a course of action that continues even after sufficient cause is given to pause and reconsider.  It describes the person who resists the Holy Spirit, ignores the “still small voice” of conscience and stubbornly continues down the previously selected path.  It must have been difficult for Saul to watch Stephen die. (Acts 6)  It must have also been difficult to hear and ignore the prayers for mercy from the Christians that he arrested and murdered. (Acts 26)  There were many warning signs for Saul.  He ignored them all.  Standing before the assembly that would condemn him,  Martin Luther said , “My conscience is captive to the Word of God. . . it is neither safe nor right to go against conscience”. Paul is learning this same lesson.