Author: Larry Soape

Re:Verse reading–Acts 11:1-26 (day four)

They are words that would be an excellent epitaph…”And I remembered the word of the Lord.”  (V. 16) The Holy Spirit brought to Peter’s mind what Jesus had taught them.  Then, Peter applied that insight to the present and acted on it.  Wouldn’t you want to encounter a need or opportunity and then “remember the word of the Lord”?  There was no arguing once the source of authority was identified.

What was the result of Peter’s obediently acting on the word of the Lord?  The Gentiles received the repentance that leads to life.  As believers in Christ, this should be our desire…that our lives would lead others to a saving faith, a repentance that leads to life.  This experience was against everything that Peter had been taught as a Jewish boy.  He chose to follow the word of the Lord though, rather than his emotions or feelings.  God’s Word is not always in sync with the popular culture or opinions of the day, but it will never fail to lead others to God and bring Him glory!

Re:Verse reading–Acts 9:1-22, 26-31 (day four)

Many had come to know Jesus in the recent days…3,000 at Pentecost, 5,000 at Peter’s second sermon.  All of these and more were now disciples of Jesus. What was different about Saul?  God had special plans for Saul…He was going to show Saul how much he must suffer for Jesus’ name sake.  Saul would be a missionary to the gentiles and kings, as well as the sons of Israel.

Saul could have rejected God’s plan for his life, but he didn’t.  He was immediately baptized and began to preach and witness in the synagogues.  Saul was a man with a mission!

What about you?  Has God asked you to do something that you have not yet done?  Are you holding out for a better assignment?  God will not give you a new assignment until you have been obedient to His first command.  More obedience…stronger character…bigger assignment!  Maybe you too can be shipwrecked and imprisoned…like Saul.

Re:Verse reading–Acts 6:8-10, 7:54-58, 8:1-5, 26-38 (day four) 

When we face difficult situations, often our first response is to pray and ask God to deliver us from the hardship.  When things are going really great, we often ask God to sustain the good times.  Both of these responses are completely opposite to what we see here in Scripture.  The early Church was facing very intense persecution which began to scatter the believers to the four winds.  What appeared to be bad though, provided for the Gospel to spread across the whole known world.  With the multitudes that were responding to Phillip’s preaching, most preachers would set up their tent and build their numbers and prestige.  Phillip was set on obedience to God though.  Instead of staying with the comfortable, he departed for the desert roads to find his divine appointment.

Whatever our situation…good or bad…we must make sure our response is according to God’s plan and Word.  Phillip chose obedience regardless of his circumstances.  Shouldn’t we?

Re:Verse reading–Acts 4:5-31 (day four)

We see it so often today…leaders, or at least perceived leaders, promote their own agenda, regardless of the facts.  Facts have no bearing on their pre-conceived plan of action.  ‘Truth’ is what they decide is ‘truth’.  The religious leaders in Acts 4 admitted to themselves that a noteworthy miracle had taken place.  They wanted to suppress the truth though, in order to maintain their control and authority over the people.  Here they were, religious leaders, and they proposed a solution that put them in direct opposition to God.

Have you ever found yourself in that position?  In opposition to God and His Word…all the while claiming to be serving Him?  The work of the Holy Spirit is to give us clear and precise understanding of God’s plan and will for our lives.  When we lose sight of the truth, we have that wonderful thing called repentance.  Repent and turn to the promptings of the Spirit and the Truth of God’s Word.

Re: Verse reading–Acts 3:1-20  (day four)

We call it a refresh button .  It brings the screen of our phone or computer up to date.  It replaces the old with the new.  Wouldn’t it be nice to have a refresh button in life…making everything new and right?  Good news!  We do.  Verse 19 says, “Therefore, repent and return, so that your sins may be wiped away, in order that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord;”  Repentance is more than just a desire to do good, it involves action…a turning away from one behavior (sin) and decisively turning to a right behavior according to God’s plan.  Repentance is always to a behavior in line with God’s Word.  Replacing the old with the new!  Repentance can lead to forgiveness of sin and salvation, or it can lead to a correction in the direction of life and a return to righteousness.  Is it time to hit the refresh button in your life?

Re: Verse reading–Acts 2:1-41 (day four)

God had placed the nation of Israel at the crossroads of the world.  At the Day of Pentecost, there were devout men from every nation under heaven present.  God had assembled His band of ambassadors to carry the gospel around the world.  The Holy Spirit spoke through the disciples so that every man heard the message in his own native tongue.  The message each man heard was of the mighty deeds of God.  Immediately, the Spirit began to give insight and understanding of Scripture.

Today, we look for and attribute many deeds to the Holy Spirit.  Lest we forget though…the Holy Spirit leads people to God.  Evangelism is the work of the Holy Spirit.  In our electronic age of internet and social media, we have an even greater opportunity to spread the gospel to every nation under heaven.  God used Israel’s position at the world’s crossroads to distribute His message…how will he use our church to be His spokesman in the center of our city?

Re:Verse reading–Acts 1:1-14 (day four)

As we begin our new study in Acts about the beginning of the early church, let’s put some things in perspective.  One of the biggest differences between today’s church and the early church was the lack of authoritative Scripture.  The Canon of Scripture did not yet exist…the New Testament was just being written.  Most of the Old Testament was available, but was not yet collected and established as God’s Word.  The Church was guided by the Holy Spirit speaking through the leaders and elders of the Church.

Today, we have not only the full Canon of Scripture, but also the understanding that it is God-breathed and Truth.  This ‘new’ tool should only serve to make the modern church more effective in ministry and witness.  We continue to have the Holy Spirit to bring us understanding and direction, but now with the inspired Word of God available to teach us.  What will be the legacy of the modern church?  To whom much is given, much is required! (Luke 12:48)