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RE Verse reading–Acts 11:1-26 (day two)  “I was in the town of Joppa praying…” Peter begins his “orderly” explanation of his dramatic and controversial decision by noting his first activity. There is no hint of bragging or absolutizing his decision simply because “I prayed about it.” Others may use that phrase to avoid criticisms, but Peter simply states that while talking to God, God talked back! While we might be surprised or even a little skeptical if a friend reported that to us, Peter offers it without apology. Praying was his normal routine. Hearing from the Spirit was as well (Acts 11:12). What is your normal routine? Does it involve praying…and hearing? Unless you plan times to pray, you won’t have time to hear. Make praying and hearing your first activity this week.

Guest Blogger: Josh Vaughan – Minister to Young Marrieds & Yes, Lord! Community Ministries

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.

RE Verse reading–Acts 9:1-22, 26-28 (day four)  “The Lord told him, ‘Go to the house of Judas on Straight Street and ask for a man from Tarsus named Saul’ ” (vs 11)  Damascus is one of the oldest cities in existence.  It retains, to this day, the feel of the 1st Century.  Straight Street is still there.  It was (and is) the main East/West highway.  In Paul’s day it was lined with Corinthian columns, the address of the wealthy and influential.  An appropriate address for an emissary of the the Jewish High Court.  How puzzled Judas must have been when his guest arrived, broken and blind and fasting and seeking light.  How different Saul’s days would be from this time forward.  No longer welcomed into the finest homes, he would be shipwrecked and hungry, criticized and opposed, but he would, at last, be satisfied and saved!  “Whatever things were gain to me, these I have counted as loss”. . .even a place on Straight Street.

RE Verse reading–Acts 9:1-22, 26-28 (day three)  “Now get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do”  (vs 6)  It must have been a great relief to Saul.  The assurance of God’s guidance.  As a sinner, he deserved no such help.  It was God’s great grace. What if we believed this simple sentence for ourselves?  It echos a truth we learned in Acts 1:2  “He was taken up, after He had by the Holy Spirit given orders to them.”  God does not want us wandering around wondering about His assignment.  He will give us orders.  The Old Testament speaks the same assurance.  “Your ears will hear a word behind you, ‘This is the way, walk in it’ ”  (Isaiah 30:21)  Christ gave us this example, and taught it to Saul on this first day of his new life.  Those who wait on the Lord will be told what to do next.  It is His promise to His children.

RE Verse reading–Acts 9:1-22, 26-28 (day two)  “Immediately, something like scales fell from Saul’s eyes, and he could see again.  He got up and was baptized. . .and he regained his strength”  (vs 18-19)  I have been ungrateful.  Today I see, with fresh insight, how (appearing to Saul 2000 years ago) Christ was giving a gift to us all.  No person, apart from Christ Himself, has had more influence on the world.  What we believe, what we think, God was shaping on that eventful Damascus day.  Paul will later write 13 of the letters of the New Testament.  Through him, the church will understand her missional purpose and her moral imperative.  God’s mercy to Saul was His mercy to us!  No isolated or private experience, by touching one life, God’s purpose was to touch many.  The same principle is at work today.   If Saul’s miracle is ours, then all of God’s blessings to us are also intended for others.  We cannot be selfish or silent.

RE Verse reading–Acts 9:1-22, 26-28 (day one) “As he neared Damascus on his journey, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him.  He fell to the ground and heard a voice say to him, ‘Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?’ ” (vs 3-4)  It is an amazing story.  Amazingly true.  Who can challenge Paul’s testimony to these facts?  He was there.  This event changed him forever, and the world too.  A God of infinite mercy and creativity working to bring a man to repentance and faith.  Why don’t stories like this happen more often in our day?  Perhaps they do!  Different details to be sure.  Different measures of supernatural intervention, but still the story of God’s touch that brings conversion through faith.  Perhaps you have no tale of a blinding light or calling voice.  If however, you have moved from non-faith to faith, and this by the hand/help of God, then you have a miracle story all your own.  There are no copies.  God is too creative to repeat himself.

RE Verse reading–Acts 8:26-40 (day seven) “Then both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water and Philip baptized him”  (vs 38)  We will preach the message of believers/immersion baptism twice today.  We have no argument with those who do it differently, but we don’t find infant baptism anywhere in the New Testament.  Parents dedicate themselves and their children.  Baptism is reserved as a confession of personal faith.  Christ commands us to teach people this theologically, psychologically important step.  See Matthew 28:18-20.   We will do so today.  Twice.  In worship and Bible study we will reflect on Acts 8–how Philip and the eunuch “went down into the water”.  It is a clear picture of immersion.  Tonight at the church picnic we will preach this conviction as we witness the baptism of 7 new members of our fellowship.  “Buried with Christ in baptism, raised to walk in newness of life. . .”  Leading us down into the water, God lifts us up to new life.