Category: Acts 2017

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

“Stephen, a man full of God’s grace and power…”  By grace we are saved.  The mighty acts of power were necessary to push back the rot of a decaying universe through the healing of broken bodies, pointing to a day when all things will be new.  But grace governed that power.  That is why Stephen could use it to reveal God and resist the temptation of leveraging it to gain the upper hand.  It was the grace brimming in his soul that enabled him to turn his eyes to heaven.  It was the grace flooding his spirit that gave him the peace to fall asleep.  And it was the grace radiating from his life that reached a young man named Saul, and began the preparatory work for his meeting with Jesus on the road to Damascus.

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

Then the Spirit said to Philip, “Go up and join this chariot.”  Philip ran up and heard him reading Isaiah the prophet… 8:29-30a

Philip knew that he would not be on this journey were it not for the work of the Holy Spirit. It seems logical, then, to assume that Philip was very sensitive to the Spirit’s guidance. How did he respond? He ran. There is so much to unpack about the Re:Verse this week, but what has struck me first was Philip’s obedience. He was on a desert road to begin with, also at the Spirit’s behest, and now he has been called to speak to a foreigner. We don’t read of his hesitations, or his doubts. These might have existed, but they are not what drove Philip. He knew had had a reason to be on that journey. He was called, and therefore he felt compelled to share the truth.

We would do well to remember that we are on a journey instigated by the Holy Spirit. When we are called, will you run to or from?

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

“Do you understand what you are reading? “–8:30

In 1975, Bill Hybels started Willow Creek Community Church in a west-side suburb of Chicago.  A church designed to be “seeker sensitive”–aware of the questions and concerns of people who do not yet know the Lord, with church activities and services shaped around the mindset of “seekers” (Hybel’s word).

In AD 33, Deacon Philip gave us a different version of being sensitively aware of “people not yet reached”.  Both seeker sensitive and Spirit sensitive, Philip got near enough to the Ethiopian Eunuch to hear him reading scripture (aloud, as was the ancient practice) and offered help in interpreting the meaning.  Brilliant.  Kind.  Considerate. Philip’s offered friendship became, for this man, a door into light and life.

MANY  are “white unto harvest” said Jesus in John 4, prepared  by the drawing work of the Spirit.  Are you being sensitive to them?  Are you ready to speak when your opportunity comes?

 

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

There is a story in Luke 16 that puzzles me.  Two men die.  One goes to heaven, the other goes to hell.  The man in hell begs for a drop of water to touch his tongue which Abraham denies.  Then he begs Abraham to send the other dead man to his house to warn his 5 brothers of the torment of hell, which Abraham also denies.  The man in hells believes if they see a miracle they will surely repent, but Jesus knows better.

“If they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, they will not be persuaded even if someone rises from the dead.” Luke 16:31

In my heart, I want those 5 brothers to believe when God does something incredible, but some people are not going to change their minds no matter what they see or what you say.  Peter is confronted with this fact in Acts 4.  The rulers see an unmistakable miracle and instead of believing they try to suppress the Gospel.  Did none of them wonder what God was doing?

No matter what you do or what you say you will not be able to convert all the naysayers.  All we can do is be a faithful witness to the Gospel, and our God will shape people’s hearts.  If they do not believe you have not failed, they have failed.  They have failed to see God for who He really is.

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

“…whom you crucified,” Acts 4:10

Peter does not mince words with his interrogators, or the two previous times he said the exact same thing. At first glance, this words would not appear to be the best of strategies. Peter’s aim is far more than to cast accurate blame, but rather to put on full display the extravagant love of Jesus. He contrasts their utter rejection of Jesus (which led to his death) against Jesus offer of forgiveness made possible through his death and resurrection. He wants them to feel the weight of this great extravagant work of love. He wants them to know that while they were Jesus’ enemies, he died for them and rose from the grave so they could know forgiveness and restoration. He wanted them to know just how good this news was.

The gospel is good news. Do we feel the weight of that? Do you?

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

When they had placed them in the center, they began to inquire, “By what power, or in what name, have you done this?”   It was a new circumstance and experience- the first persecution of Jesus’ followers. Peter and John found themselves questioned and comfronted by a who’s who of leaders and elders.   Were they scared?  Were they anxious?  Were they intimidated?  It would seem natural. But there was  a supernatural response. They were calm and courageous.  They were faithful.  Jesus’ words must have been in their hearts and minds. “and you will stand before governors and kings for My sake, as a testimony to them. The gospel must first be preached to all the nations. When they arrest you and hand you over, do not worry beforehand about what you are to say, but say whatever is given you in that hour; for it is not you who speak, but it is the Holy Spirit.”‭‭ Mark‬ ‭13.

When we face difficult situations and circumstances we must remember and trust the words and promises of the Lord.   We must be faithful.

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 4:5-31 (day three)

“By what power or what name did you do this?”  There’s a difference between wonder and suspicion.  Wonder asks, “How can these things be?”  Suspicion inquires, “Are you trying to gain the upper hand?”  Wonder makes room for miracles; suspicion fears loss of control.  Wonder draws a person nearer to the source of miracle; suspicion drives a person away from anything unexplainable.  Wonder prepares the heart for the eternal; suspicion hardens the heart towards God.  Some of us will approach the spiritual realm with wonder; some of us will approach it with suspicion.

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

And seeing the man who had been healed standing with them, they had nothing to say in reply. vs. 14

Is your witness like this? I confess, mine rarely is, but what a beautiful story. Those whose hearts were cold toward the gospel were determined not to hear it, but the testimony of Peter and John coupled with their actions did not leave any room for dispute. They had no glaring fallacies to point out regarding their message. The evidence of the healing miracle was leaping around beside them. They simply had nothing to say.

We may not see all of our efforts end in the conversion of thousands, but may our prayer be that the world will have nothing on us. Nothing to hold over us. May our love and compassion be so clear that they simply cannot speak. I am praying for your testimony to be strong today. Will you pray for mine? There are many watching, and God is at work.

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

“Now as they observed the confidence of Peter and John, and understood that they were uneducated and untrained men, they were amazed and began to recognize them as having been with Jesus.”–v 13

As a young person, with some regular relapses even now, I suffered from a deep lack of confidence.  Who I was just didn’t seem to be enough–that’s how it felt, anyway.

A few years after receiving Christ, I discovered this scripture and the comfort of it.  Confidence comes from “being with” Christ.  Learning His mind.  Resting in His life, approval and protection.  If that is where Peter/John found it, I could too!

In Matthew 11, Jesus promises to give us rest.  In Acts 3, he promises to give us confidence.  Not available anywhere else.  Attractive and noticeable, even to those who don’t believe.

“The wicked flee when no one  is pursuing, but the righteous are as bold as a lion”–Proverbs 28:1.