Acts 17 Paul, Silas, and Timothy traveled from Philippi around the coast, through Amphipolis and Apollonia, to Thessalonica.  Paul spent three Sabbaths at the Jewish synagogue there "explaining and giving evidence that the Christ had to suffer and rise again from the dead, and saying 'This Jesus whom I am proclaiming to you is the Christ.' "  Some of the Jews, along with some Greek men and women, became believers.  But.. jealous Jews stirred up trouble and started a riot.. dragging Jason, a man who had welcomed Paul into his home, in front of the city authorities.  After this, the "brethren" sent Paul and Silas away by night. 

Paul and Silas end up in Berea.. "now these were more noble-minded than those in Thessalonica, for they received the word with great eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily, to see whether these things were so. Many of them therefore believed, along with a number of prominent Greek women and men,"  Once again trouble comes and Paul is sent away, leaving Silas and Timothy behind this time. Paul is "conducted" to Athens where he waits for Silas and Timothy to join him. 

Several things come to my attention through this passage.  First, I notice again how Paul is moved from place to place... not by his own will.. but as the Lord uses his circumstances to move him.  In these two cities Paul is moved because of troubles caused by the Jews. This seems to be common to Paul's life and ministry.. and he just goes where he is led.. finding people everywhere who will listen and believe the message of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  The second thing I notice is how the Lord reaches "leading" and "prominent" women, as well as men,  bringing them into the Church.  God was building a church throughout  Macedonia, the country which we now call Greece, choosing and calling women and men, Jews and Greeks, rich and poor.. revealing His impartiality and grace to all! 

Paul writes 2 letters to Thessalonica, but Berea is not really mentioned again.  A man from Berea does accompany Paul during his third missionary journey, but that is the last that is mentioned. The first letter to Thessalonica is thought to be Paul's first letter ever written to a church.  Paul opens that letter with these encouraging words, "We give thanks to God always for all of you, making mention of you in our prayers; constantly bearing in mind your work of faith and labor of love,  and steadfastness of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ in the presence of our God and Father." ( 1st Thessalonians 1:2-3)

Father in heaven, we thank You for the way You move us.. like Paul.. from place to place according to Your plan and purpose.  It's not always comfortable to be moved or conducted.. or led away from where we want to be.. but we know that You are good and You have good plans for us!  Help us to also be willing to go where You send us. We are also thankful for the way You build Your church .. calling men and women of many nations, regardless of status or influence.. regardless of wealth or poverty.. You fit us together into one body where Your Holy Spirit lives. Father, bless Your church around the world today.. deliver us from evil and from the evil one we pray.. Let Your Kingdom come and Your will be done in us! In Jesus' name. Amen,

 Acts 16 Paul and Silas went to Lystra.. the same city that at first wanted to worship Paul, thinking he was the god Hermes.. and then ended up stoning him and leaving him for dead.  In Lystra, Paul found Timothy, a believer, who's mother was Jewish and father was Greek.  Paul wanted Timothy to go with them and he decided it would be good for him to be circumcised "because of the Jews".  

As they went back to the cities where churches had been established they shared the directives of the elders in Jerusalem and encouraged the believers. "So the churches were being strengthened in the faith, and were increasing in number daily."

In verses 6-12 we  learn that Paul was redirected from the path he wanted to take.. north to Bithynia.. and moved west until they came to Troas on the coast of the Aegean Sea. Here is where Paul has the vision of a man from Macedonia saying, "Come over to Macedonia and help us." Paul acted immediately to secure passage to Macedonia, "concluding that God called us to preach the gospel to them." ( v10) 

The team landed in a town called Neapolis. It is this seaport that God chose to use as a gateway for the gospel of Jesus Christ to enter Europe! So thankful that He sent Paul westward! Ten miles from Neopolis was the Roman city of Philippi. Paul and his fellow disciples stayed there "for some days."  It is here at the riverside that Paul meets Lydia.. the very first convert in Europe. 

Philippi is also the place that Paul delivered a slave girl from a "spirit of divination"; where he and Silas were arrested, beaten, and placed in prison; where he and Silas sang hymns at midnight; where an earthquake freed them from their shackles; where the jailer and his family ended up being saved; and where Paul insisted that the magistrates publicly release him and Silas because they were Roman citizens and had been treated illegally. 

Lydia, "a seller of purple fabrics",  and the jailer, who's name we are not told.. were the first members of this church in Philippi.. coming to faith through the message preached by Paul.  We know from Paul's letter to Philippi that Paul continued to have a great love for this church. He wrote, " I have you in my heart..." (Phil. 1:7) 

Father in heaven, Your plan is always perfect and even when problems, persecution, and prison try to stop your servants.. You prevail!  All praise and glory belongs to You, our Great and Loving God.  Thank You for leading Paul to Europe.. for the letters that he wrote for the churches.. for they still are Your words that strengthen our faith and encourage us in our walk with the Lord Jesus.  The church and even the town of Philippi may be no more.. but Your word will never pass away!  Thank You Lord. Give us ears to hear and hearts to obey all that You have taught us.. fill us with Your Spirit we pray, in Jesus' name. Amen. 

 Acts 15 Dissension- strife, controversy, insurrection...  A group of men came from Judea.. not sent from the apostles or elders.. to take a stand on the issue of circumcision for those Gentiles who were claiming to be Christ followers.  This issue was so important that the church sent Paul and Barnabas, along with some others to Jerusalem to bring it before the apostles and elders in the church. 

Both sides were presented.  Much discussion and investigation took place. The debate ended when Peter spoke up, reminding everyone about what God had done.. "Brethren, you know that in the early days God made a choice among you, that by my mouth the Gentiles should hear the word of the gospel and believe. and God, who knows the heart, bore witness to them, giving them the Holy Spirit, just as He also did to us; and He made no distinction between us and them, cleansing their hearts by faith."  

Peter continued with this great statement, "But we believe that we are saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus, in the same way as they also are." 

God, Himself, affirmed the salvation of uncircumcised Gentiles by giving them the Holy Spirit. Both Jews and Gentiles are saved in the same way.. by faith in the grace of the Lord Jesus!  It was true then and is still the Truth.  So thankful for the grace of Jesus Christ that has brought us into the Kingdom of God!

It is James who has the final word.  "Therefore it is in my judgment that we do not trouble those who are turning to God from among the Gentiles.. "  They only asked that the Gentiles "abstain from things sacrificed to idols, and from things strangled and from blood and from fornication."  These would be moral or ethical issues that would keep the Gentiles free from the cultural idolatry and also  keep them from offending the Jewish believers. 

Dissension, of a more personal level, came when Paul and Barnabas disagreed about taking Mark along on a second missionary journey.  It was resolved by Barnabas taking Mark with him to Cyprus and Paul taking along Silas back to Syria and Cilicia. Both groups went with the same purpose, to strengthen and encourage the churches. God was at work.. and He is still at work today! He leads His servants to the people who need encouragement and strength.. He leads His servants to preach the gospel of the Lord Jesus.. so others will come to have faith in the grace of the Lord Jesus unto salvation! 

Father, when there is dissension.. may we learn to handle it like the church did back in that day.. listening, debating, and looking to what You have made clear by Your Spirit and the Word of God. Bring unity in Your church so that the message of the Gospel is not made a burden, but a great joy in the grace that You have poured out on us all. Our faith is in the Lord Jesus Christ, sent to be our Savior and King forever. We praise and worship You with thankful hearts. Help us to be conformed by Your Spirit and transformed by Your Word to the glory of Your Holy Name.  It is in the name of Jesus we pray. Amen. 

 Acts 13:44-14:28   The second Sabbath day in Antioch (Pisidian)  brought the "whole city" out to hear Paul and Barnabas preach the Word of God. They spoke boldly, but the Jews were jealous and began contradicting the Word.  Paul rebuked them and proclaimed that they would now turn to the Gentiles. "And when the Gentiles heard this, they began rejoicing and glorifying the Word of the Lord; and as many as had been appointed to eternal life  believed." 

The Jews stirred up trouble and the Gentiles rejoiced. Paul and Barnabas were driven out of the city, but the believers were "filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit". 

Paul and Barnabas went to Iconium where they spoke again and many believed. Then the Jews stirred up trouble... even while God continued to work in Paul and Barnabas, giving them boldness to speak the Word and "bearing witness to the word of His grace, granting that signs and wonders be done by their hands." 

Again Paul and Barnabas were persecuted and moved on to Lystra. Here, Paul saw a man who was lame from birth.. "when he had fixed his gaze upon him, and had seen that he had faith to be made well, said with a loud voice, 'Stand upright on your feet' '.    The man jumped up and walked! This miracle had unintended consequences as the people proclaimed Paul and Barnabas to be gods. They had to convince the people to not offer sacrifices to them! 

But, then along came the Jews from Antioch and Iconium.. stirring up problems.. so much so that the same people who wanted to worship Paul.. now "dragged him out of the city" and stoned him.  They thought he was dead, but Paul arose and went back into the city..  They then made their way back to Lystra and Iconium.. and back to Antioch.  They continued preaching.. they encouraged the believers.. they set up elders.. they prayed and fasted with them. And finally, they returned back to Antioch and reported to the church all that had happened. 

Paul taught the believers that "Through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God."  He lived it before them and encouraged them to "continue in the faith".  Then he "commended them to the Lord."

Father in heaven, thank You for establishing the Church.. thank You for leaders and teachers who boldly preach the Word of God..and for the joy that men and women share when they come to believe in Jesus Christ the Lord.  Fill Your church with Your Spirit and help us to persevere in persecution and trouble.  I thank you for the word "commended" used in this passage. We, as believers, have been placed before You, presented to You, and entrusted into Your charge.. the Lord Jesus has brought us into Your Kingdom and we have become Your children and servants.  Thank You for those who have obeyed You and brought to us the message of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Thank You for appointing us to eternal life and giving us faith to believe for salvation and for healing.  We seek Your Presence today, Lord God. Lead us nearer and nearer into Your Love we pray, in Jesus' name. Amen. 

 Acts 13:16-42  Paul's sermon was given in Pisidian Antioch on a Sabbath day, in a synagogue, attended by Jews and by God-fearing Gentiles. His message was powerful and clear... 

v17  God chose the Jews, made them a great number in Egypt, and led them out. 

v18 God "put up" with His people for 40 years in the wilderness.

v19 God destroyed the nations in the land of Canaan and gave it to His people "as an inheritance."

v20 God gave Israel judges and prophets to lead them.

V21 Israel asked for a king and God chose Saul.

v22 God removed Saul and "raised up" David.. "I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after My heart". 

v23 God promised that the offspring of David would come as a Savior.. and Jesus is the One sent.

v24 John ( the Baptist) came to preach repentance to "all the people of Israel"

v25 John told of the One coming who was greater than he.

v26 " Brethren sons of Abraham's family, and those among you who fear God, to us the word of this salvation is sent out."   

Here comes the heart of Paul's message!

v27 -30. The leaders in Jerusalem rejected and condemned the One sent to save them. They put Him to death. He was laid in a tomb... "But God raised Him from the dead"!

v32 "And we preach to you the good news of the promise made to the fathers, that God has fulfilled this promise to our children in that He raised up Jesus, as it is written in the second Psalm 'Thou art My Son; today I have Begotten Thee.' " 

Paul used scripture to  show that the Messiah would indeed die.. but would not decay.. "therefore let it be known to you, brethren, that through Him forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you."  (v38) 

The people who heard Paul wanted to hear more.. what wonderful words.. "through Him everyone who believes is freed from all things, from which you could not be freed through the Law of Moses." 

Freedom and forgiveness.. Good News!  God did it all.  The Law could not. Moses could not. Even the Prophets and Judges...could not.  Only Jesus Christ who came, died and rose again could bring what the Father ordained.. salvation through the only Begotten Son of God.  Hallelujah !  What a Savior!

Father in heaven, we rejoice at the message of salvation.. that we have freedom from the rule of sin and the law.. that we have forgiveness through Jesus Christ, the Begotten Son of God.. who came in the flesh and dwelt on earth, who died on the cross as the Lamb of God, and who rose again to reign in the Kingdom forever and ever.  Thank You for such a marvelous salvation!  You planned it.. You promised it.. and You brought it to pass.  All glory and honor and praise to You, our Gracious God and to Jesus Christ our Lord and King.. and to the Holy Spirit Who has opened our eyes to see and our ears to hear this blessed Gospel. Amen. 

 Acts 13:1-12 The church at Antioch had 5 main "prophets and teachers".. Barnabas, Simeon, Lucius, Manaen, and Saul.  The Holy Spirit spoke to these leaders saying "Set apart for Me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them." 

With prayer and fasting, they laid their hands on the two men and sent them out.  The first place they went was Cyprus, the island where Barnabas had grown up.  They began preaching in the synagogues through the whole island from one end to the other. When they reached Paphos they met two significant people.. Elymas/ BarJesus who was a magician and false prophet; and Sergius Paulus, the proconsul of Cyprus.  Elymas used fraud and deceit to try to keep the proconsul from hearing or believing the message of the Gospel. Paul rebuked him and stopped him by speaking to him, "and now, behold, the hand of the Lord is upon you, and you will be blind and not see the sun for a time."  A "mist and a darkness fell upon him."  

But, the proconsul, listened to the Word, saw what the Lord had done and "believed". 

It was here that John Mark, who had traveled with them to Cyprus, turned back to Jerusalem.  Paul and Barnabas and whoever else was traveling with them sailed from Paphos on to Perga in a region called Pamphylia, which is in modern day Turkey. The group traveled inland to the city of Pisidian Antioch.  This was another important city in Asia Minor. Here Paul and his companions went to the synagogue and Paul preached his first recorded message.  It is also here that Paul "turned to the Gentiles". 

Paul was led by the Holy Spirit everywhere he was sent. He probably never imagined what God had in store for him when he met Jesus on the road to Damascus. God prepared him for this ministry of preaching the good news about Jesus Christ in all the places he was sent.. in places he was received and in places he was rejected and ejected.  No matter what, Paul and the disciples were "continually filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit." 

Father, prepare us also for the work You have for each of us, wherever it is that You send us.  Fill us with Your Spirit and with joy as we walk through the path that You have led us in.. that we might be Your witnesses wherever we might be. Help us to be faithful and bold in proclaiming the good news about Jesus Christ the Lord. Bless those who are even now serving You in other lands.. may the Word of God run rapidly throughout the land and many more come to believe in Jesus Christ the Lord. amen. 

 Acts 12   Herod took up where Saul had stopped.. persecuting the church.  Verse 2 "and he had James the brother of John put to death with a sword."  

James and John.. the sons of thunder.. had once wanted to call down fire from heaven when a village of Samaritans did not receive Jesus.  They were also 2 of the 3 that saw Jesus transfigured on the mountain top, speaking with Moses and Elijah.  James and John had asked Jesus if they could be seated next to Him when He ruled in His Kingdom.  They told Him that they could drink of the cup that He would drink.. and they did.  James was the first of the disciples to be martyred for the name of Jesus. John would be the last. 

After James was killed, Herod.. quite pleased with the response of the Jews.. had Peter arrested.  He intended to kill Peter also, but the Lord intervened. Peter was sleeping between 2 soldiers, guarded by 4 squads.. and apparently at peace with his fate.  The Lord had other plans. An angel woke Peter up and told him to put on his cloak and his shoes. He then led Peter out through the doors, past the soldiers, right through a gate that opened on its own accord. Only then did Peter realize that this was not a dream!

Peter went to the home of Mary, the mother of John Mark. A prayer meeting was going on in that house and God answered their prayers for Peter.. but, they couldn't believe it when the servant girl told them Peter was at the door!   Peter told them to let the others know that he had been set free and then left for unknown parts. 

Herod was furious and ordered the innocent soldiers to their deaths.  He then left Jerusalem and went to Caesarea.  Anger filled Herod's life... and eventually brought him to an awful death.  When people began to flatter him and refer to him as a "god", Herod drank it all in. "And immediately an angel of the Lord struck him because he did not give God the glory, and he was eaten by worms and died." ( v23) 

Father God, we do not know what a day will bring.. but we put our trust in You that Your plan is good and no matter what we face, You will be with us.. and Your name will be glorified.  We do not know why James was killed and Peter spared, but we know that You were leading their steps and holding them in Your Hands.. completing Your will in them both.  As it is with each of Your children.  Whatever You have for us today, we simply pray.. Your will be done! Let our lives be a testimony of Your grace and goodness no matter when or how we die.. whether we are released from these mortal bodies by death or if we are caught up with Jesus in the rapture..we pray, "To God be the Glory".  Amen. 

 Acts 11:19-30 The Lord used the death of Stephen to move His church from Jerusalem outward into Samaria and now into "Phoenicia,  Cyprus, and Antioch".   In verse 20 we are told that some men from Cyprus and Cyrene came to Antioch and began preaching about Jesus to the Greeks as well as to the  Jews. "And the hand of the Lord was with them, and a large number who believed turned to the Lord." 

Cyprus is an island off the coast of Phoenicia, and was the birthplace of Barnabas. Cyrene was a city in northern Africa, near ancient Ethiopia.  One man that we know came from Cyrene was Simon,"and as they were coming out they found a man of Cyrene named Simon, whom they pressed into service to bear His cross." ( Matthew 27:32)  There were people from Cyrene in Jerusalem on the day of Pentecost (Acts 2:10)  There were men from Cyrene who argued with Stephen. ( Acts 6:9) There is also a prophet named Lucius of Cyrene, part of the church in Antioch who commissioned Saul and Barnabas for the first missionary journey. One of the other leaders in Antioch was "Simeon, that was called Niger" Could this have been the same Simon/Simeon that carried the cross?

The church at Antioch was not only the first church where the believers were called Christians.. it was the first multi-cultural church that the Lord established by His hand. 

As the church grew, the leaders in Jerusalem heard about what the Lord was doing there and sent Barnabas to them.  He "rejoiced and began to encourage them all with resolute heart to remain true to the Lord."  After a little while... Barnabas went to Tarsus and found Saul, bringing him back to Antioch. For a year the two men worked together teaching this growing, thriving church. When the prophet Agabus came from Jerusalem and told of a coming famine this church began, "according to their ability, determined to send relief unto the brethren"...  collecting money to send to the believers back there.  Barnabas and Saul would deliver this gift to the elders. 

Antioch was a large city filled with many Jews who had gone there to start businesses in a relatively free environment. There was also a large Greek population.  It was the third largest Roman city, after Rome and Alexandria.  It was also a seaport on the Orontes River, 20 miles inland from the Mediterranean . There were pagan religions in Antioch as well as the Jews, Greeks, and Romans with all of their religious preferences. In spite of all this the Lord built His church in Antioch!  God used these people to send out the first missionaries, do relief work for those undergoing famine, and to bring together Jews and Greeks and others into one family, honoring God, the Father, Jesus Christ the Son, and the Holy Spirit who filled them with His Love. 

Today this city is called Antakya and is located in Turkey just north of the Syrian border. It is still a multi-ethnic population. 

Father in heaven, help us to never underestimate what You can do.. what You want to do in Your church. Built us up in our faith that we might be "resolute" to remain true to You in every way. Send out workers into the harvest field.. help us to be determined, according to our own ability, to help those of our brothers and sisters in Christ in their times of need... and bring us together in unity.. "to be of the same mind with one another according to Christ Jesus that with one accord we many with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ."  In the name of the Lord Jesus we pray. Amen. 

Acts 10-11:18  The Lord moved Peter.. again.  He was in Joppa, waiting for lunch, when God gave him a vision.  Three times a sheet was lowered from the sky.. containing all kinds of "unclean" animals that were not permitted for the Jews to eat.  Each time Peter was told to kill and eat.. and each time he resisted.  The Lord had a lesson for Peter, "What God has cleansed, no longer consider unholy."  Peter was learning that the Law did not have authority over the Lord.. God Himself was and is the Supreme authority!

Meanwhile, in Caesarea, we are introduced to Cornelius, the centurion,  a Gentile follower of God. Cornelius was known among the Jews for his "prayers and alms". We learn here that God noticed him too!  Cornelius also has a vision. An angel of the Lord came to him and told him to send for Peter.. in Joppa.. at the home of Simon.  Immediately, Cornelius obeyed, sending two servants and a devout soldier. These men were trusted with this important mission.. and traveled the distance  of around 38-40 miles (about 12-13 hours of walking) in just a day.  When they arrived at Simon's house and talked to Peter, he was still thinking about his vision.  The Spirit of God told Peter, "Behold, three men are looking for you. But, arise, go downstairs, and accompany them without misgiving; for I have sent them Myself." 

Peter and the men, plus some of the disciples from Joppa, went to Cornelius. Peter preached about Jesus, the Holy Spirit came upon them just like he had the Jews in Jerusalem, and all those present were baptized in the name of Jesus Christ.  

Peter's understanding was completely changed by this.. " I most certainly understand now that God is not one to show partiality, but in every nation the man who fears Him and does what is right is welcome to Him." 

When Peter went back to Jerusalem the news had already reached them about the Gentiles and they were ready to blast Peter.. but when Peter told the whole story they "quieted down and glorified God saying ' Well then, God has granted to the Gentiles also the repentance that leads to life.' " 

Do we realize how amazing and wonderful that event was?  Just think about how many non-Jews are now believers in Jesus Christ.  We have been granted "repentance that leads to life".. We have been welcomed into the Kingdom of God's Son!  So thankful for the grace of our God who does not show partiality. There is no nation that is exempt from God's grace if they will fear Him and come to believe in Jesus Christ the Lord.  Hallelujah! 

Father, thank You for showing us Your love for all of mankind. May every tongue and tribe and nation bow before You and receive the Lord Jesus Christ as their King forever.  There are many nations today that still need to hear the good news about Jesus, so we pray that You, the Lord of the harvest, would send out workers into the fields.  Bless and strengthen Your servants around the world. We pray for those who are working in ministries like the CMA, Wycliffe, FEBC, Slavic Gospel, Remember Nu, Voice of the Martyrs, Compassion International, OMF, and Samaritan's Purse.  I'm sure there are many more that I do not know of, Lord God.. but You know them and I pray that Your Spirit will move Your servants to where the message needs to be heard.. to the hearts You have prepared.. that You will grant repentance that leads to life.. all over the world today.  We ask this, Lord God, in the name of the Savior, the Light of the World.. Jesus Christ. Amen. 

 Acts 9:32-43  "...Peter was traveling through all those parts.."  The Lord moved Peter from Jerusalem to a town called Lydda.  There he found a man named Aeneas who had been bedridden for 8 years.  Peter had compassion on this man and said, "Aeneas, Jesus Christ heals you; arise, and make your bed. And immediately he arose." 

I wonder if Peter was remembering the paralyzed man that had been let down through the roof in front of Jesus?  Or the man by the pool of Siloam who had not been able to move into the water for 38 years. What a privilege he had to be able to help this man!  Because of this many in that city and in the whole region turned to Jesus. 

The news traveled quickly and the disciples in Joppa heard that Peter was nearby. They traveled the 9 miles to Lydda and entreated Peter to come to Joppa.... for "a certain disciple named Tabitha.." had died. This woman was known for her kindness and charity. She would make garments for the widows.  She was so loved that when she died they wouldn't put her in a grave.. they washed her body and laid her in an upper room. The widows stood there weeping until Peter came into the room and sent them out. 

Peter "knelt down and prayed".  Then he turned to her and said, "Tabitha, arise".  And she did. Tabitha, the gazelle.. in Greek "Dorcas".. was returned.. alive.. to her friends and fellow disciples in Joppa. God was moving there.. and so that is where Peter stayed for "many days".

Father in heaven, we come to You today, asking that You will move in our town and region.. that the Name of Jesus would be preached and that many more will believe and turn their lives over to You. We pray for Your church to be filled with disciples like Tabitha.. abounding in deeds of kindness and charity.. showing the love of Christ to those in need.  Help us to be fully surrendered to Your will, witnesses of Your power to save the lost and to bring life to the dying.  We are Your servants.. use us for Your purposes we pray. In Jesus' name. Amen.

 Acts 9:19-31  "Now for several days he (Saul) was with the disciples who were at Damascus."   The newly saved and transformed Saul began to preach Jesus.  He went to the synagogues.. the same ones that he had planned to visit in order to detain Christians.. telling everyone there that "Jesus is the Son of God."  People there had heard all about Saul, the persecutor.. but were stunned when he came as Saul the disciple of Jesus Christ.  Saul took all the knowledge that he had gained as a student of Gamaliel.. and filled by the Holy Spirit he confounded the Jews.. "by proving that this Jesus is the Christ." 

It didn't take long for the Jews to begin plotting to kill Saul. So, those who had become his disciples took him and put him in a large basket. They lowered him out of a window on the city wall and he traveled back to Jerusalem.  Saul tried to approach disciples there in Jerusalem, but they were all afraid of him, until Barnabas "took hold of him" , brought him to the apostles, and "described to them how he had seen the Lord on the road, and that He had talked to him, and how at Damascus he had spoken out boldly in the name of Jesus." 

It wasn't long.. again.. before Saul became a target of the Jews.  Again others took hold of Saul and sent him to Caesarea where he boarded a ship to Tarsus. The next we read about Saul is when Barnabas goes to Tarsus to find him and bring him to Antioch where together, they led the church there. (Acts 11:25-26)

I noticed something about Saul/Paul in this passage.  After meeting Jesus on the road, Saul was led by the hand into Damascus.. he sight was restored by Ananias, his disciples took him and lowered him in the basket.. Barnabas brought him to meet the apostles.. the brethren took him to Caesarea and put him on a boat to Tarsus.. and finally Barnabas brought him to Antioch. 

Saul did not determine his own path but allowed the Lord to order his steps. The Lord used others in his life to move him to where God wanted him to preach that Jesus is the Christ.  Proverbs 16:9 says, "The mind of man plans his way, but the Lord directs his steps." Saul seems to have learned that truth from the beginning of his walk with Jesus.  He would find this true for the rest of his life.. willingly allowing the Lord to move him wherever He chose.. even to prison.. even to death. 

Father in heaven, we do like to make plans for ourselves.. but we know that Your plans are always better and so we willingly lay our lives down and ask for You to direct our steps.  Your will be done!  We ask that You would work in us both to will and to do what pleases You.  Move us, take us, bring us, and yes, when You see fit, bring us Home.  Help us to rest in Jesus,  for we are the branches and He is the Vine.. do as You desire so that we will bear fruit for the glory of Your Holy Name. Come and have Your way Spirit of God, flow in us and through us we pray, in Jesus' name. Amen.

 Acts 9 " Now Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest, and asked for letters from him to the synagogues at Damascus.. " 

Damascus claims to be the oldest capital city in the world.  It has existed for around 5000 years.  It is now the capital of Syria, home to over 2 million people.  Over the years Damascus was ruled by many different nations and religions.  One of the oldest mosques was at one time a church named for John the Baptist.  Two of the main trade highways went through Damascus in Paul's day.  It was an important center of the Middle East. There were many Jews that moved to Damascus during the Roman occupation of Israel, establishing synagogues throughout the area.  Paul was motivated to make sure that Christianity was not moving into this major city.. 

But.. we know that Paul was actually being moved.. not by his own indignation.. but by the Spirit of God. Paul had.. unknowingly.. traveled to a personal encounter with the Living Lord on that road to Damascus. 

It began with a flash of light from heaven that knocked him to the ground.  Then he heart the voice, "Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?"  His answer  reveals the beginning of Saul's transformation by the power of God's grace.. "Who art Thou, Lord?"   There was no doubt in Saul's mind at that point that he was in the Presence of Someone so great that He should be called "Lord".   The Lord answered Saul, " I am Jesus whom you are persecuting.. " 

The men around Saul were speechless... but Saul was blinded. He had to be led by the hand into the city of Damascus. For three days Saul fasted.. blind and overwhelmed...he prayed.  On the third day the Lord directed a reluctant Ananias to go to Saul and lay his hands on him. The Lord told Ananias that Saul was His "chosen instrument.. to bear [His] Name before the Gentiles and kings and the sons of Israel." 

Saul received his sight.. was baptized and filled with the Holy Spirit. Only then did he eat some food and was "strengthened".  From persecutor to believer.. look what one encounter with the Living Lord can do!

Father in heaven, You are great and mighty.. able to change the hardest hearts.. You alone can transform lives!  Thank You for loving us so much that we can come to You... because You choose us to be Your own. We are overwhelmed by Your grace and patience and kindness.. knowing that we are nothing.. helpless to save ourselves.. fully and utterly dependent on Your Spirit to bring us into Your Presence.. whether on a road.. or in a church.. we thank You for calling us by name and revealing our sins.. and forgiving us our trespasses.May we glorify Your name in all we do today, Lord, we pray. In Jesus' name. Amen. 

 Acts 8:25-40 It seems that Philip traveled back towards Jerusalem with Peter and John, but somewhere along the way an angel spoke to him, telling him to take the desert road to Gaza.  Gaza was located south west of Jerusalem, towards the Mediterranean Sea.  The Lord led Philip to meet an Ethiopian court official along the road.  This man worked directly for the queen of Ethiopia called Candace.  He was in charge of all of the queen's treasure, and "he had come to Jerusalem to worship." 

The man had procured a copy of the scroll of Isaiah and was reading it aloud as he traveled by carriage or chariot along the road.  The Holy Spirit told Philip to catch up to the carriage and so he ran along the road and heard the man reading.  He asked him, "Do you understand what you are reading?" 

Well it just so happened that he was reading Isaiah 53  which is the Messianic prophecy about Jesus being "led as a sheep to slaughter".  The man wondered if this was Isaiah talking about himself or someone else and Philip "preached Jesus to him."  Whatever scriptures Philip used we are not told.. how long they talked we do not know.. but it was enough that the man ordered the chariot to stop when they came across some water and he asked to be baptized!

Philip spoke again " If you believe with all your heart, you may" The man testified clearly, " I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God."  Then Philip baptized him right then and there!  The man went his way rejoicing.. but Philip was swept away by the Spirit and found himself in another town, Azotus ( Ashdod) miles away.   

Philip just kept walking north along the sea, stopping at city after city "preaching the gospel".  He ended up in Caesarea. Caesarea was an important city because it was the place that Herod the Great had built.  It had a great harbor where Paul would sail from and it was the place of his trial before Felix, Festus, and Agrippa. The city had a majority of Greek citizens. 

It appears that Philip established a church there in Caesarea.. In Acts 21:8 we are told that Paul and his team stayed with Philip on his way to Jerusalem.  Philip had "four virgin daughters who were prophetesses".  It was at that time that Agabus, another prophet from Judea, came and took Paul's belt and tied up his own feet and hands to demonstrate what was going to happen when Paul went to Jerusalem.  The church wept for Paul and begged him not to go.. but Paul knew that he had to anyway.  There were disciples from this church that accompanied Paul to Jerusalem. Some of these may have been the Greeks that were seen with Paul and thought to have been brought into the temple.. leading to Paul's arrest. 

Father in heaven,  thank You for men like Philip and Paul and others who preached Jesus!  May godly men and women, filled by Your Spirit, moved by Your Spirit, and even swept away by Your Spirit.. continue to preach Jesus wherever they go!  Fill us today, that we might hear Your voice and find those who You are sending us to.. and tell them about Jesus Christ.  Bless Your servants today Lord God. We ask this in Jesus' name. Amen. 

 Acts 8:4-24  Philip was one of the 7 men chosen to serve in the church, but when the church was scattered because of the persecution in Jerusalem, Philip went to Samaria.  He began preaching and "proclaiming Christ".  He also performed many signs and wonders, casting out unclean spirits and healing those in need.  The whole city was rejoicing because of what God was doing among them. 

One man in particular came to Philip to be baptized.  Simon was a magician. He gathered a lot of followers and enjoyed the attention he received for his magic. The people called him great.. like a god..   But, when he saw the miracles that Philip was doing, he was amazed and wanted to follow along. 

When Peter and John came to Samaria after hearing what the Lord was doing there, they began laying hands on the believers so that they could receive the Holy Spirit.  Here is where Simon's heart was revealed to the apostles... for he wanted the power to also lay hands on people to give them the Holy Spirit and he was willing to pay for that authority...  Immediately Peter rebuked him, "May your silver perish with you, because you thought you could obtain the gift of God with money! You have no part or portion in this matter, for your heart is not right before God." 

Peter said that Simon's heart was full of bitterness and he was a slave of iniquity. He told Simon to repent and to "pray the Lord that if possible, the intention of your heart may be forgiven you."  Simon, in return, asked them to pray for him themselves.. 

Did Simon repent? Did he find true forgiveness?  Did he receive the Holy Spirit? We are not told.  Hopefully he humbled himself before the Lord and found salvation and freedom from the strongholds that Satan had trapped him in. 

Father in heaven, there are many people who claim to believe in Christ Jesus and may even be baptized.. but their hearts are still not right before You.  We need You, Holy Spirit, to examine all of our  hearts and bring us to full repentance and forgiveness in Jesus.. Set us free from every sin and stronghold that may keep us from having a right heart before You. Keep us, Lord, in the shelter of Your love and grace. Bring us into the fullness of Your Presence to the glory of Your Name we pray. Amen.

 Acts 8:1-3  "And Saul was in hearty agreement with putting him to death." Saul was a "young man" at the time of Stephen's death. He did not participate in the actual stoning.. but he was there, looking on with approval. It inspired in him a spirit of anger... and he "began ravaging the church, entering house after house; and dragging off men and women, he would put them in prison." No wonder the church scattered.. leaving Jerusalem, where a "great persecution arose against the church." Saul was in the center of that great persecution.

These verses in Acts 8 introduce us to Saul.. at his worst. He testified about this himself.. 

Acts 22:4  "And I persecuted this Way to the death, binding and putting both men and women into prison."

Acts 26:9-11 "So then, I thought to myself that I had to do many things hostile to the name of Jesus of Nazareth. And this is just what I did in Jerusalem; not only did I lock up many of the saints in prisons, having received authority from the chief priests, but also when they were being put to death I cast my vote against them. And as I punished them often in all the synagogues, I tried to force them to blaspheme; and being furiously enraged at them, I kept pursuing them even to foreign cities." 

Paul wrote to Timothy about this also, "I thank Christ Jesus our Lord who has strengthened me, because He considered me faithful, putting me into service; even though I was formerly a blasphemer and a persecutor and a violent aggressor... " In I Timothy 1:15 he wrote, "It is a trustworthy statement, deserving full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, among whom I am foremost of all." 

Saul/Paul never tried to deny his former life.. he never forgot the evil things that he had done. But.. he knew the grace and mercy of Jesus Christ who became his Savior and Lord.. It is Jesus who made him a new creation.. who gave him a new Spirit.. who completely changed his life and calling. 

Saul had listened to the words of Stephen and had watched him die. He only felt anger and hatred for those who believed. Yet, God chose to call him into a intimate relationship with Jesus Christ.. filling him with the Holy Spirit.. and using him to preach the Gospel.. and to die for the Name that is above all names...only God could change a man so drastically and perfectly. Hallelujah! What a Savior! 

Father in heaven, we are thankful that You sent Jesus Christ into this world to save sinners. You see every heart and know every one of us.. You alone can make us a new creation through faith in Jesus Christ. Fill us, Holy Spirit, that we might be Your ambassadors, telling others how You changed our lives.. removing us from being slaves to the dominion of darkness.. and making us citizens of the Kingdom of Light. All praise to You, God our Father, and to Christ Jesus our Lord and Savior. Amen.

 Acts 6-7  The 12 apostles told the people to select 7 godly men to take charge of the things that might cause them to "neglect" the Word or their times of prayer.  They were all selected as men of "good reputation, full of the Spirit and of wisdom".  Out of those 7 we find out more about Stephen.  

 Stephen is described further as a "man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit". (v5).. and also "full of grace and power"(v8).  He performed "great wonders and signs among the people."  And, he spoke with wisdom.. filled with the Spirit. (v10)

Because of Stephen's preaching he became a target of the Council.  They brought in false witnesses and accused him of blasphemy. Still, Stephen stood before them.. with a face "like the face of an angel." 

Stephen preached a powerful message outlining the history of the Jewish nation from Abraham to Jesus. He showed how time after time the people of God failed to obey God's word.. failed to worship the One True God.. failed to recognize the Messiah that had come in answer to their own prayers. 

And still.... they would not repent.. but became so angry that they stoned Stephen to death. 

Stephen saw Jesus.. standing at the right hand of God.  His last words were "Lord Jesus, receive my spirit!" and "Lord, do not hold this sin against them!" 

Father in heaven, may we be full of Your Spirit, full of grace, full of power, and full of faith.  May we be made ready for the day when we stand before Your throne.. our spirits received by Jesus Christ our Lord. Will You do Your supernatural work in us that we might will and do what pleases You.  In the Name of Jesus we pray. Amen.

Acts 5: 12-42   God was at work in the apostles.. using them to present signs and wonders among the people.  They met in public at that time, in Solomon's portico, the same place that Jesus had preached a time or two. They were teaching about Jesus.. boldly proclaiming Him as both Lord and Christ, the Messiah; the "Prince and a Savior to grant repentance to Israel; and forgiveness of sins." 

The power of the Name of Jesus and the Presence of the Holy Spirit brought many people to faith... "multitudes of men and women were constantly added to their number."  God was at work in Peter.  He was so filled with the Spirit that people laid those that were sick on the streets so that his shadow would fall on them.  People came from everywhere to find healing and deliverance. And, of course, the Sadducees were filled with rage and "jealousy". 

The apostles were once again arrested. "But an angel of the Lord during the night opened the gate of the prison" and took them out.  He told them to go back to the temple and preach the "whole message of this Life."  So they did. 

It is almost comical. The High priest and his gang called for a meeting of the whole Council.  Then they called for the apostles to be brought out.  The officers went to the prison. The guards were standing guard. The doors were locked.  But, the jail was empty.  Nobody knew what had happened!  Then the report came in.. the apostles were back at the temple.. teaching!  Again, they were brought in.. again they were commanded to not speak in the Name of Jesus.. and again, they spoke boldly "We must obey God rather than man."

The council had the nerve to accuse the apostles of intending "to bring this man's blood upon us.."  They were the same ones who had said, " His blood be on us and on our children!" ( Matthew 27:25)  

Peter spoke powerfully before them, " The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom you had put to death by hanging Him on a cross.  He is the one whom God exalted to His right hand as a Prince and Savior, to grant repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins. And we are witnesses of these things and so is the Holy Spirit whom God has given to those who obey Him."   They were guilty... but God was still in control! He still offered forgiveness to those who would repent and obey Him fully. 

Verse 33 says that they were "cut to the quick"..  but instead of repentance.. they were ready to kill the apostles.  One man, Gamaliel, stood up and addressed the Council.  He spoke with wisdom.  The Council needed to consider carefully what they would do next.  If this movement was not of God.. it would "come to nothing...... but if it is of God you will not be able to overthrow them; or else you may even be found fighting against God." 

They listened to Gamaliel. They flogged the apostles and sent them home, telling them again to stop teaching about Jesus.  "And every day, in the  temple and from house to house they kept right on teaching and preaching Jesus as the Christ." 

Father in heaven, all these years later, the Gospel of Jesus Christ is still being preached.  Let the power of the Holy Spirit fall on like those days. Let Your church stand up and speak up no matter who demands us to stop.  We must obey You and not man.  Help us to always be witnesses of the Truth.. that Jesus came, that He died to pay the price of sin for all of mankind..  that He rose again...  and that those who will believe in His Name and call upon Him will be saved and given the gift of Your Spirit. We give praise to the Lord Jesus, our Risen Savior at the right hand of our God!  Praise to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit . Amen

 Acts 5 Verses 1-11 tell the story of Ananias and Sapphira, the couple who sold some land and gave a portion to the apostles.  The problem was.. they lied about it.  They seemed to have claimed to give the whole amount that they received for the property, but  really it was just a "portion" of it.  The problem, as Peter explained, was not how much they gave or didn't give.. the problem was that the two of them together deliberately decided to  lie about it... 

Peter understood that Satan had "filled" their hearts.. to lie to the Holy Spirit.  They had allowed the spirit of deception.. the father of lies.. to lead them in this interaction with the Church of Christ.. to lie to the Spirit of Truth! 

Because of their actions both Ananias and Sapphira died.. separately.. on the very same day. "And great fear came upon the whole church and upon all who heard of these things." (v11) 

God was at work bringing men and women into His kingdom.  He used the apostles to do "signs and wonders".  But.. He also used this situation with Ananias and Sapphira to bring to light the Truth.  Coming to believe in Jesus Christ; living in the Spirit of the Lord; becoming part of God's church and kingdom.. is a sacred covenant with the Holy, Almighty God of heaven and earth.  Only by His great mercy and grace are we saved.. only by His great power and love are we forgiven and sanctified.  Had Ananias and Sapphira repented and spoken the truth.. they would have been forgiven.  But, they did not.  Satan tried to use them to bring disunity into the church.. and the Lord stopped that without hesitation. 

Unfortunately, it happened again soon enough.  Even worse, it still happens now. 

Father in heaven, You are our Holy and Perfect God, and we are Your humble servants .  We need Your Spirit to fall fresh on us.. day by day and hour by hour.. so that we might walk in Truth and live in obedience to Your Holy Word.  Help us we pray.  Jesus has overcome the enemy and by His holy Name we ask for cleansing and wholeness in Your Church. Break down the gates of the enemy. Lead us in righteousness and deliver us from  the lies and deception of the enemy we pray.. in Jesus' name. Amen. 

 Acts 4  " And there is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among men, by which we must be saved."  

This is the message that "uneducated and untrained" spoke boldly to the priests and rulers and elders of Israel,  There stood before them a grown man who had spent his whole life as an invalid.. now standing before them.. completely healed "by this name" - the Name of Jesus Christ.  

The Lord was at work in Jerusalem.. using His apostles and others... to bring others to faith in the risen Lord.   The Sadducees were most disturbed at the fact that they proclaimed the resurrection of Jesus from the dead.  Peter and John refused to stop speaking what they had "seen and heard"! They were His witnesses and wanted to do nothing more than to proclaim His Name. 

All the believers.. now over 5000 men... gathered and praised the Lord. They heard the threats but prayed for confidence to "speak" His word.  The Holy Spirit filled them once again.. shaking the room and answering their cry.  "And with great power the apostles were giving witness to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and abundant grace was upon them all." 

Holy Spirit, come upon Your church today.. give Your servants the power to speak up.. to proclaim the resurrection of Jesus Christ!  His Name is the only Name we have been given, the only way to salvation, the only Way, Truth, and Life. Let the work of the Lord our God continue in our world.. the whole world that You have made.. so that a great harvest of souls will be made ready for the day of our Lord's return. It is in His  Name that we pray. Amen 

 Acts 3 Peter and John went up to the temple to pray.. and God led them to heal the man who had been lame all his life.  Peter said, "I do not possess silver and gold, but what I do have I give to you; In the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene - walk!" Peter took the man's hand and pulled him up  - as his feet and his ankles were strengthened.  He went from never walking to  leaping, jumping, and walking right into the temple.  No longer sitting at the gate.. he walked through the court of women.. and for the first time entered into the place of worship.  

Still "clinging" to the apostles, they moved with the crowd of amazed worshippers into the porch of Solomon.  There, Peter addressed the crowd and spoke about Jesus.  The people had "delivered up and disowned " Him; they had asked for a murderer to be freed and for the "Prince of life" to be put to death.  But, God raised Him from the dead and His Name is the One who healed this man .  Again, Peter calls upon the people to repent that their sins would be forgiven.. 

Jesus was the fulfillment of every prophesy.  He is the Servant of God that they had been awaiting and the One who would come again to fulfill all that the holy prophets had spoken.  But first... Jesus was raised from the dead to "bless you by turning every one of you from your wicked ways." 

"Repent"- think differently.. turn away.. regret.. change your mind. Verse 19 "Repent therefore, and return that your sins may be wiped away, in order that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord."  This is the call that still is needed. Turn from sin and to the Lord our God, to Christ the Eternal Son.. and receive the Spirit of refreshing. 

Father draw us ever more into Your blessed Presence we pray. Amen

 Acts 2 The day of Pentecost came and the group of believers met together once again. "And suddenly there came from heaven a noise like a violent rushing wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. And there appeared to them tongues as of fire distribution themselves, and they rested on each one of them." 

God "poured forth" His Spirit that day.  He fulfilled the promises of prophets.. and the promise of Jesus.. doing what He said He would do.  The believers heard the sound.. saw the fire.. and received the Holy Spirit.  Immediately they began to speak about the "mighty deeds of God".  The fact that others all heard their words as if spoken in their native languages was both amazing and bewildering.  "And they all continued in amazement and great perplexity.."  They all had this one question.. "What does this mean?"

Peter stood up and addressed the crowd.. people from many different nations.. all confused and astounded.. some mocking.. some doubting.. but all ready to listen for the moment.  Peter began with the Word of God.. quoting the prophet Joel, "And it shall be in the last days, God says, that I will pour forth of My Spirit upon all mankind.. "   Peter proclaimed the gospel, " Jesus the Nazarene, a man attested to you by God with miracles and wonders and signs which God perform through Him in your midst... this Man, delivered up by the predetermined plan and foreknowledge of God, you nailed to a cross by the hands of godless men and put Him to death. And God raised Him up again, putting an end to the agony of death, since it was impossible for Him to be held in its power." ( v17-24) 

Peter continued his message by speaking of the resurrection of Jesus and His ascension into heaven, "exalted to the right hand of God".  Jesus received the promise of the Father, the Holy Spirit, and He "poured forth" the Spirit "this which you both see and hear."  

"Therefore let all the house of Israel know for certain that God has made Him both Lord and Christ -this Jesus whom you sacrificed." (v36)

The people who listened carefully to Peter's message were "pierced to the heart".  They didn't know what to do. Peter told them to "Repent and let each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit."  3000 people received this word, were baptized... and joined the kingdom that day.  The church was born. 

Father in heaven, thank You for the gift of Your Spirit, "poured forth" from our Lord Jesus to all who repent and are baptized. We want to continue to walk in the Spirit every day, living in the power of Your great love and grace. Help us to also to continue to  be steadfast in the reading of Your word and in fellowship with other believers and in much prayer.  Let our voices be so lifted up in praise to Your Name that others will come to be saved as You work in us Your will and delight. In the Name of Jesus our Lord we pray. Amen 

 Acts 1 :1-11 Luke tells of the last meetings between Jesus and His disciples before He ascended into heaven.  He spent that time giving them "orders";(v2)  presenting Himself to those He had chosen for 40 days.. giving them "proof" that He was indeed alive; and "speaking of the things concerning the kingdom of God."( v3)  Jesus gathered His followers together and reminded them to wait in Jerusalem "to wait for what the Father had promised." (v4)

The promise of the Holy Spirit's  baptism was more important than the restoration of the kingdom of Israel..which was certainly on the minds of the disciples.  Jesus wouldn't answer their questions about that.. He had a different priority.. a greater purpose.. "But.. you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you ; and you shall be My witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea, and Samaria, and even to the remotest part of the earth." (v8)

Jesus prepared His disciples for the coming of the Holy Spirit and then He ascended into the sky right before their eyes.  It had to be an amazing moment!  They just stood their staring until the angels came and told them to stop!  "This Jesus, who has been taken up from you into heaven , will come in just the same way as you have watched Him go into heaven." ( v11) 

Vs 12-26  Luke gives a timeline for what happened next.  The disciples went back into Jerusalem, back into the "upper room", and waited as they were told. "These all with one mind were continually devoting themselves to prayer, along with the women, and Mary , the mother of Jesus, and with His brothers."  I love that Luke includes the brothers of Jesus in this list of believers.. they finally believed!  All through the ministry of Jesus on earth they had not accepted Him as the Lord, the Son of God.. now they knew and devoted themselves to prayer!  They would receive the Holy Spirit and be His witnesses too.  What amazing grace. 

Luke tells us what happened to Judas and the election of Matthias to take his place as one of the 12. Scripture was examined and fulfilled in both of these events. 

There is a moment of suspense here... we know what happened next.. and we can almost begin to feel the anticipation that those in the upper room were experiencing.. The  Holy Spirit was coming in a way that had never happened before.. and they had no idea what was about to happen.. 

Father in heaven, we thank You for giving Your children this wonderful promise, this sacred Gift.. .. Your Holy Spirit.. Who came to give us "power" to be Your witnesses.  Fill us continually we pray.  In Jesus' name. Amen. 

 Joshua 24 Before Joshua passed away at the age of 110 he called all the leaders of Israel together at Shechem and presented a new covenant between them and the Lord their God.  The Lord spoke to them all.. reminding them of what He had done..

He "took" Abraham from "beyond the River" and brought into Canaan and promised him the land.

He gave Jacob and Esau to their father Isaac. It was Jacob who went down into Egypt.

He sent Moses and Aaron to bring them out of Egypt. 

He led them across the Red Sea.

He gave them victories and deliverance.. He gave them "a land on which you have not labored, and cities which you had not built, and you have lived on them; you are eating of vineyards and olive groves which you did not plant." 

Joshua then presented the challenge. " Now, therefore, fear  the Lord and serve Him in sincerity and truth; and put away the gods which your fathers served beyond the River and in Egypt, and serve the Lord." 

Three times the Israelites vowed to serve the Lord their God and obey His voice.  Joshua told them that God would use their words as "witnesses" against themselves.. and they agreed. 

After this Joshua passed away and was buried in the land given to the tribe of Ephraim.  "And Israel served the Lord all the days of Joshua and all the days of the elders who survived Joshua, and had known all the deeds of the Lord which He had done for Israel." 

Unfortunately .. that was as far as they went.. and the nation began to fall away.  

The lesson is clear.. we must not forget all that the Lord had done.. we must teach the next generation these truths! We must keep clinging to the Lord!  We must be diligent to keep adding perseverance  and virtue and knowledge  and godliness and self-control.. and love.. and obedience to God's word as we walk with Jesus. 

Father, come and fill us again with Your Spirit so that You are exalted in our lives. Teach us and guide us Spirit of our Mighty God.. we need You... for what is impossible for us to do in our own strength.. You alone can do in us.  May Your plans and purposes be completed in us according to the power of Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior whom we serve. Help us to be faithful.. Help us to teach our children and grandchildren Your Words.. that they may also continue to walk in the Light.  We ask this in Jesus' name. 

Amen. 

 It was early Saturday morning and I was awake.. thinking about the  recent disaster in Nepal.. a glacier collapsed.. a whole city was violently overtaken by a mountain high flood of mud and rock and water.  The pictures are devastating as people ran for their lives.. in vain.  There have been several earthquakes lately that have also brought about sudden destruction .. buildings collapsing.. people lost.. lives taken… without warning..without time to say goodbye.. without time to repent and prepare to meet the Lord. 

I am reminded of Jonah.  He reluctantly preached a simple message to the evil people of Nineveh.. “Forty more days and Nineveh will be overthrown.”   The people of Nineveh repented and God relented.  Disaster was diverted. 

What would the people of Nepal given.. to have had that message.. a flood .. a disaster was coming. Forty days?  Even 40 hours or 40 minutes would have helped some..  But, they received no warning.  How about the people of Venezuela or Columbia?   They had no warning of the disaster about to hit them. How many of them  were ready to meet  their Creator?

In Luke 13 some people were telling Jesus about a  terrible thing that had happened to some Galileans.  Jesus answered them in an unexpected way, “Do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners that all the other Galileans because they suffered this way?  I tell you, no!  But unless you repent, you too will all perish. Or those eighteen who died when the tower in Siloam fell on them - do you think they were more guilty than all the others living in Jerusalem? I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you too will all perish.” 

Disasters come.. unexpectedly.. suddenly.. and from all appearances.. randomly.  Life will end and we do not know the day nor the hour.  The Lord had compassion on Nineveh.. there were “120,000 people” who could not tell their right hands from their left.  Maybe these were children.. maybe these were just ordinary people who were living the only life they knew… not ready to die.. like the people in Nepal, or Columbia or Venezuela.. or in the next earthquake or flood.. or other disaster. 

When Jesus was speaking to His disciples about the time of His return He said this,      “But about that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son; but only the Father. As it was in the days of Noah, so it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. For in the days before the flood, people were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, up to the day Noah entered the ark;  and they knew nothing about what would happen until the flood came and took them away. That is how it will be at the coming of the Son of Man.” ( Matthew 24:36-39)  

Isn’t that how it was in Nepal just a few days ago?

Revelation 6 describes the judgements to come when the Lamb.. He who is worthy to open the scroll.. begins to break the seals one by one.. and God’s wrath is poured out upon the earth.  Verse 17 says, “For the great day of their wrath has come, and who can withstand it?”  People great and small..rich and poor.. kings and slaves.. will all run and try to hide themselves in caves and on mountains, we are told in verse 15.  But, just like those in Nepal just a few days ago.. it doesn’t matter who you are.. what position you hold.. what wealth you have accumulated.. when the disaster hits, when the judgement comes, when the tower falls, or whatever.. “unless you repent, you too will perish.” 

This is the word that the Lord spoke to me early Saturday morning.  We must pray for those who are lost without Jesus, those who may perish tomorrow.. from a  disaster or from disease or an accident.. or whatever.  We will all die, but Jesus came that we might not perish but have everlasting life by believing in Him. Let the good news of the gospel of Jesus Christ be heard around the world today! 

Father in heaven, may Your name be exalted in all the earth.. in every nation.. in every city..in every heart!  May Your will be done!  May Your Kingdom come. Let the Gospel news be shouted from the mountains and the Truth be announced in every city.  Let Your great mercy and grace be preached in all the earth we pray, in the Name of Jesus Christ the Lord.  Amen.