The Everyday Prayer

Re:Verse reading–Acts 17:10-12, 16-34 (day three)  

“Boldly and without hindrance he preached the kingdom of God.” Ecclesiastes tells us that the end of a matter is better than its beginning. As the church began, the band of believers saw an explosion of growth and joy. Even though the establishment—through arrests, beatings, and jail time—responded harshly, the joy of so many people embracing Christ opened the disciples’ hearts to a Holy Spirit-fueled courage and a command of circumstances they had never before known. As years passed, did they perhaps begin to think of themselves as naive in retrospect? Things would get much, much worse. And through it all, their faith and joy would grow much, much deeper. These were the days that taught Paul how all things bend toward the good in the lives of those who love God. That was reality. It still is.

Re:Verse reading–Acts 17:10-12, 16-34 (day two)  

For while I was passing through and examining the objects of your worship, I also found an altar…vs. 23a

Why do we love children’s sermons so much? It’s true that we often get as much out of those few moments as the kids, and sometimes more. In that brief time our pastors often find an object that the kids can connect with. A picture, a toy, a book, etc. These “objects” become the focus of a larger lesson. Its a pretty effective teaching model. Begin at a place where both teacher and student can relate, and then expand on their understanding of a broader topic.

Paul did just that. These Athenians were accustomed to discourse and welcomed a new way of thinking. Paul simply met them where they were. He didn’t have to manufacture his witness. He was aware of his audience and their understanding of the world. One of our core commitments at FBCSA is to seek out meaningful opportunities to witness. Start where they are, and let your knowledge of Jesus fill in the rest.

Re:Verse reading–Acts 17:10-12, 16-34 (day one)

“Now these were more noble-minded than those in Thessalonica, for they received the word with great eagerness”–v 11

“Well, I ain’t first class, but I ain’t white trash, I’m wild and a little crazy too.  Some girls don’t like boys like me.  Aww, but some girls do.”–Sawyer Brown.

An early discovery comes to those who move out to make disciples.  Some people won’t listen to your message.  They may even hate you for it.  But, and this is the joy, some people will listen.  And believe.

Acts 17 has a bumpy beginning.  The people of Thessalonica form a mob and make continued work there impossible.  So, Paul and team move to Berea and find an entirely different mood and mind!  Sincerity/spiritual hunger rather than anger/resistance!

Aren’t you glad Paul didn’t quit because the first group “didn’t like him”!

“In due time we will reap a harvest if we do not grow weary” Galatians 6:9

Re:Verse reading–Acts 16:11-34 (day seven) 

Paul and the early Christians missionaries in Acts made many people angry.  Most often we see them challenging the religious status quo, and the religious leaders chase them out of town.  This week is different.  Paul and Silas are stuck down, beaten with many blows, and thrown into a maximum-security prison cell with their feet shackled, not because they are sharing the Gospel, but because the profit was gone (v.19).

The thought of the profit being gone is frightening.  We work our whole live to keep the profit up so that we can take home a pay check to take care of our families.  Where do we turn when the profit dries up and we are left with nothing?  These slave owners turned themselves over to anger leaving a wake of destruction.  We do not have to lose our minds when the profit dwindles.  Jesus taught a better way.

In Matthew 6:31-33 Jesus tells us to keep a proper perspective on profit and providing for our families:  Do not worry then, saying, ‘What will we eat?’ or ‘What will we drink?’ or ‘What will we wear for clothing?’  For the Gentiles eagerly seek all these things; for your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things.  But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.

Re:Verse reading–Acts 16:11-34 (day six) 

A vision appeared to Paul during the night: A Macedonian man was standing there urging him, “Come over to Macedonia and help us!” Acts 16:9

What we wouldn’t give for such clarity? God still is very much in the business of revealing himself in visions, but mostly in other parts of the world it seems. If only God would reveal to us our next steps through a vision, right? I think it is important to note God did not reveal Paul’s next steps in a vision till after he had made attempts to return to churches in Asia twice, each time the Holy Spirit prevented his return. It is important because it informs us that Paul was not waiting around for a vision. No, he was faithfully pursuing what he knew God had already called him to do, and only then God provided the vision.

Let me ask you, what if the reason we don’t experience supernatural visions from God is because we aren’t faithfully pursuing what He has already clearly revealed to us in the Bible? Or what if the reason we don’t experience visions is simply because it isn’t necessary when God already has supernaturally made His will known to us in His Word?

How about you? Are you faithfully obeying what God has already spoken? God is very much still in the business of revealing himself, even our next steps, they just happen to be supernaturally and conveniently written down in an incredible book that we all to often take for granted.

 

Re:Verse reading–Acts 16:11-34 (day five) 

In our Re:Verse passage this week, the work and ministry that establishes the church in Philippi begins. Years later the major theme in Paul’s letter to the believers in Philippi would be JOY. “ Finally, my brethren, rejoice in the Lord. To write the same things again is no trouble to me, and it is a safeguard for you.” “Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice!” Joy was something these Christians had seen firsthand when Paul and Silas were there. So, when Paul encourages them to have joy, they knew what it looked like. I suspect they remembered events from Acts 16.

Faithfully sharing the Gospel- 6:13-14 (“things spoken by Paul”)

Acting with courage- 6:18-19 (Paul confronted wrongdoing and evil)

Worship during suffering and persecution- 6:25 (“praying and singing hymns of praise”)

Service and Ministry to others 6:33-34 (“washed their wounds”, “set food before them”)

What would this kind of joy look like in our hearts and lives in 2017?

Re:Verse reading–Acts 16:11-34 (day four)

One thing is different for Paul as he travels to the cities in Asia.  Traveling with Silas, they enter the city of Philippi in Macedonia.  On the Sabbath, rather than going to the Jewish synagogue, they go in search for a place of prayer.  They find it outside the city beside the river.

In the Gospel of Luke, chapter 19, Jesus, quoting Isaiah, said, “My house shall be called a house of prayer.”  Prayer should be one of the identifying characteristics of a church.  For Paul and Silas, the place of prayer became the prison cell where they were held after their beating.  Prayer is characteristic of believers as well as churches.  In each of these cases, people came to know the Lord…Lydia and her household, the prisoners, and the jailer and his household.  Prayer leads to evangelism.  Holy Spirit inspired and infused prayer…does that describe your church and your life?

Re:Verse reading–Acts 16:11-34 (day two) 

And suddenly there came a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison house were shaken; and immediately all the doors were opened and everyone’s chains were unfastened. vs. 26

It’s hard to imagine, but prayer and praise can break bonds that hold you captive. We don’t  know what sort of mental state Paul and Silas were in after being arrested. Worried, angry, sad? Perhaps all or none, but scripture is silent in regards to that. What we do read is their response to setbacks and adversity. When they were ostensibly at their lowest we read that they chose to sing. With all the scriptures that call us to worship God, and all the Psalms that are devoted to just that is it any wonder when the Lord literally breaks the chains that bind Paul and Silas when they turn their praise to God through adversity?

You may not be locked in the inner cell of a prison, but your heart may be. You may not feel like singing, but that is just the time to start. Sing through the frustration, the pain, the rejection, and turn your heart to praise. There cannot be room for both. God will break your chains. Let’s sing.

Re:Verse reading–Acts 16:11-34 (day one)

“So putting out to sea from Troas, WE ran a straight course to Samothrace.”–v 1.

Important sentence in Acts.  Easy to miss.  In Acts 16:8, Luke says , “THEY came down to Troas.”  By v 11, he begins to speak first person “WE”.  Subtle shift?  Not for Luke, it wasn’t!

It is one of the great moments in spiritual development– you stop being a spectator and become a participant.  Stop talking about “the church” and “their goals”.  Start talking about “my church” and “our mission”.

Paul knew the strategic importance of always adding new talent.  He was constantly enlisting new people to help.  We don’t know how/when he met Dr. Luke (see Colossians 4:14). We do know at some point Paul invited him to come along.  It was an invitation that changed Luke’s life and the world!

Know anyone you could ask to help you do Kingdom work?  There is great gospel potential in the word “WE’.