The Everyday Prayer

RE Verse reading–1 Corinthians 16:1-4, 2 Corinthians 8:1-15, 9:6-15 (day one)  “On the first day of the week each of you is to put aside and save”  (1 Corinthians 16:1)  It is the will of God for every believer.  Freely you have received.  Freely give.  To do so, we must save.  The ancients meant something more specific than moderns do.  The Greek word for save is thesaurus.  It meant “treasury or store-house”.  In English, a thesaurus is a book (treasury) of words and synonyms stored up for greater usefulness.  In similar fashion, believers are to spend less than we make so that the overplus can be invested for the good of others and Kingdom service.  What a simple and profound principle!  Rich and poor alike, whether we have much or little, we are to save some of it (from ourselves) for others.  Saving the world is still the plan of God.  We take a giant step forward when we begin to save and give.

RE Verse reading–Acts 4:36-37, 11:19-26, 15:36-40 (day seven)  “And he left for Tarsus to look for Saul” (11:25)  Part of God’s generosity is poured out on us in the form of friendships.  This week as I have read the story of Barnabus (Son of Encouragement) and his protege Paul, I have thought back over the people who have discipled, inspired, corrected and shaped me.  Family, friends, professors, pastors. . .people who believed in me when I didn’t believe in myself.  A time or two, they came to find me in one place because I was needed in another.  Looking back, there are no words to express my gratitude for their influence.  Who knew?  When God wants to pour out His grace, He often uses a friend to deliver the needed strength.  “I thank my God in all my remembrance of you, always offering prayer for joy in my every prayer for you all”  (Philippians 1:3-4)  You know who you are.  I am grateful.

RE Verse reading–Acts 4:36-37, 11:19-26, 15:36-40 (day six)  “Pick up Mark and bring him with you, for he is useful to me for service” (2 Timothy 4:11)  It is possible to have a positive end to a difficult chapter.  Sometimes being “friends again” is better than being “friends the first time”.  No narrative is supplied to this encouraging story.  Barnabus is not mentioned.  Did he die?  Did he go on to an eternal place from which he could watch with satisfaction his two friends became friends again?  We don’t know.  What the Scripture does tell is that, eventually, Paul’s attitude toward John Mark changed.  Perhaps Mark just grew up and out of his early irresponsibility.  Perhaps Paul’s hard-drivenness softened some with age and wisdom.  Whatever the explanation, there is great hope here!  “Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you”  (Ephesians 4:2) When conflict happens, forgive and wait!  It is possible to be friends again.

RE Verse reading–Acts 4:36-37, 11:19-26, 15:36-40 (day five)  “And there occurred such a sharp disagreement that they separated from one another and Barnabus took Mark with him and sailed to Cyprus.  But Paul chose Silas and left, being committed by the brethren to the grace of the Lord”  (15:39-40)  Sometimes godly people disagree.  Sometimes strongly.  It is a mistake to minimize the conflict between Barnabus and Paul.  “Sharp disagreement” translates a single word that means” to stab from the side, to be betrayed by a trusted brother”.  I am grateful that both men knew to continue to serve Christ.  Conflict with a brother is often painful and always dangerous, but  it does not have to be fatal to the parties involved or the common mission of the church.  These things have a way of sorting themselves out over time.  Do not become resentful! Do not quit or harbor anger!  Continue to serve and leave the management of your brother to your Father.

RE Verse reading–Acts 4:36-37, 11:19-26, 15:36-40 (day four)  “He (Barnabus) rejoiced and began to encourage (parakaleo) them”  (11:23)  “And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper (parakaleo) (John 14:16)  “Repent and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you shall receive the GIFT of the Holy Spirit.  For this promise is for . . .all. . .our God shall call to Himself”  (Acts 2:38)  The Holy Spirit is our incentive.  He is God’s promise to us.  The Bible describes Barnabus as an encourager employing the same word used elsewhere for the Holy Spirit.  The Spirit coming and calling to us is our encourgement!  How carefully we should guard against grieving or provoking Him.  ” ‘He who believes in Me, out of his innermost being shall flow rivers of living water’.  This He spoke of the Spirt” says John 7:38-39.  Discovering strength in Him, we become an encouragement to others.  He is God’s gift to us.

RE Verse reading–Acts 4:36-37, 11:19-26, 15:36-40 (day three)  “For he was a good man, and full of the Holy Spirit and of faith” (11:24)  The Greek word pleres meant “full”.  It described a vessel filled to the top, a surface covered in every part, or a soul completely permeated.  The Bible says that we must be filled with the Spirit of God.  There will be no power otherwise.  Luke 4:1 says that Jesus was “full (pleres) of the Holy Spirit”.  Acts 2:4 says “they were filled (pleres) with the Holy Spirit”.  Acts 11:24 says that Barnabus was a good man as a consequence of being filled (pleres) by/with the Holy Spirit and faith.  this past Sunday I showed the children a glass.  To be filled, the glasss had to have only one thing and that one thing had to have all of it.  The human heart does not have the luxury of loving two things at once.  We must be filled.  All of us. Only Him.

RE Verse reading–Acts 4:36-37, 11:19-26, 15:36-40 (day two)  “He rejoiced and began to encourage them all with resolute heart to remain true to the Lord”  (11:23)  I sometimes think that encouragement should be written enCOURAGEment.  Most moderns miss the heroic call that the ancient word implied.  Perhaps this explains the nickname “Barnabus” (Arabic, bar=son of, nabi=prophet)  Like a prophet of old, Barnabus called the new Christians at Antioch to the high purposes of God and the sacrifices that would be required.  No soft comforter, Barnabus coached and called them to be resolute (a Greek word that meant “to place before”, a call for bold, fearless witness).  Sometimes encouragement is more than a kind word or a note in the mail.  Sometimes it is a spine-strenthening call to not take the easy road, to “pay the price” in a conflict that is worth every sacrifice!  May the Lord give such prophets to us, people who call us to courage as we serve the Lord.

RE Verse reading–Acts 4:36-37, 11:19-26, 15:36-40 (day one)  “Now Joseph, a Levite of Cyprian birth, who was also called Barnabus by the apostles (which translated means Son of Encouragement). . .sold it (his land) and brought the money and laid it at the apostle’s feet”  (4:36-37)  Encouragement!  What a great word.  In a world that can be routinely ungrateful and regularly critical, the people who encourage us are gifts from God!  This week, our thoughts turn toward a man whose nickname meant “Son of Encouragement”.  Joseph was so dependably helpful the Apostles decided it was genetic!  Remember our theme for this summer RE Verse study?  The generosity of God!  Our Father is abundant in mercy, lavish in His gifts.  One of the ways we see it (and one of the places we owe Him our thanks) is in the encouragers He provides for us.  Who are the people, past and present, who have spoken challenge and instruction and hope and help into your life?

RE Verse reading–Acts 2:41-47, 4:32-35 (day seven)  “Everyone kept feeling a sense of awe; and many wonders and signs were taking place through the apostles”  (2:43)  Occasionally, I hear people say that awe means “respect or reverence”.  Maybe so, but the Greek word used by Luke in Acts 2 is the common word for fear. (phobos-“panic, dread or flight”)  One more place where the New Testament is obviously not designed to appeal to consumers.  When the Holy Spirit makes the presence of Christ real, we will fell afraid. . .uncomfortable. . . not in charge. . . vulnerable.  Unless we encounter a God who makes us “want to run” (at least in part), we may not be dealing with the true God.  Until we fear (sin and discipline and the possiblity that the Father would be displeased), we have probably not gone far enough into the life He has promised.  Church is supposed to be awe full.  Those who fear God ususally don’t fear anything else.

RE Verse reading–Acts 2:41-47, 4:32-35  “For the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. . .If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit”  (Galatians 5:22-23, 25)  It can be discouraging to look at the picture of the early church.  Their “first love” (Revelation 2) expressed itself in such dramatic and desirable ways.  We, sadly, do not present the same picture and feel ashamed by the contrast.  Facing this, it will be a mistake to focus on outcomes rather than cause.  It is not our job is to shape ourselves like the early church.  It would be impossible even if we tried.  Our task is to follow the Spirit of God.  As we do, He will shape our church in ways, old and new, that will powerfully impact the world for His glory and people’s good.  What was possible then is possible now–and more!  The way forward is to walk by the Spirit.