In the last two week’s devotion we have read where Paul casts the devil out of the girl in Acts 16 and instead of causing a great revival it caused a religious riot. Never forget a real revival brings lost people to Jesus and hungry people more into His Presence but at the same time it also causes religious people to get mad. Religious people crucified Jesus! As I watched the Passion of the Christ, it caused me to remember the hatred, the jealously, and the anger that the religious leaders of that day had for Jesus. It was vicious and as we grow closer to Jesus our attack with come from the same source.
While we know the attack is coming, we also know that Father God has already made plans to turn the attack into an opportunity for Him to demonstrate His Power! He is waiting to show off on our behalf! Never forget your Father in heaven is never intimidated by the enemy in any form of the word, He is greater and knows it! Paul and Silas have been arrested, beaten, and thrown into the inner prison and now we read: Acts 16:25 Around midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening. This is preaching ground for any preacher! It’s at the midnight times of our lives when people really know if we have what we claim to have in our relationship with Jesus. People do not pay much attention to our words when things are going our way but they always pay attention to our actions during the storms in our lives. We sing that the God on the mountain is still God in the valley but people want to hear more than words, they want to see the reality of Father God in our lives. Remember your greatest pulpit is during your greatest midnight because that is when people are listening to you the most. At midnight, when it’s the darkest, the loneliest, the hardest is when we must demonstrate our faith. Paul and Silas, beaten, blooded, tired, in stocks, in the inner prison (no fault of their own) could have quit, could have thrown in the towel but instead we read that they prayed and praised. Notice this, their prayers and their praises were so loud that the other prisoners heard them. They were not afraid if they offended the prisoners. They began to pray and praise so loud everyone heard them. Once again your prayers and praise will not offend sinners just the religious so go ahead and verbalize your prayers and praise. It’s important for your praise and prayers to be audible! I know there is a time to pray and praise quietly but friends, Father God loves it when you praise and pray so others hear you. It demonstrates that you are not ashamed of Him in your life. Many times we are commanded to shout out loud, to clap out loud, to cry aloud, because it pleases Father God. Personally I would have thought this would have been a good time to pray and praise quietly but they would have missed their miracle if they had. Not only did the other prisoners hear them but their prayers and praise infiltrated the throne room of Father God. Their praise was so powerful, not because of the perfect pitch or perfect vocal tones, but because it came from their hearts in a midnight hour. I believe Father God inhabited their praise and tapped his foot on the prison floor (just my imagination) and we read: Acts 16:26 Suddenly, there was a massive earthquake, and the prison was shaken to its foundations. All the doors immediately flew open, and the chains of every prisoner fell off! Suddenly, what a word! Suddenly what held them bound, what held them captive was broken off of them. The doors which held them in now became an exit. I need to prophesy to someone that your suddenly is coming as you learn to pray and praise in your midnight hour. It may seem dark, it may seem too late, it may seem hopeless but Father God will show up on time every time if we will not allow midnight to steal our prayers and praise. Midnight will change you or you will change your midnight by your prayers and praise. As long as you pout and murmur about the darkness, about the mistreatment, about the injustice midnight will dominate but as you pray and praise then midnight will dissipate. I love the part of the verse where it says the foundation was shaken which means the prison could not be used again. As we pray and praise in our midnight hour, what use to hold us, to bind us, God will destroy its foundation to never hold us captive again. Prayer Thoughts: Father God, help me to learn that people are listening and watching me in my midnight hour. Help me to have the wisdom, knowledge & maturity to praise you when things look dark instead of murmuring and complaining in Jesus Name!
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Acts 16:19 Her masters' hopes of wealth were now shattered, so they grabbed Paul and Silas and dragged them before the authorities at the marketplace.
Paul had just cast the devil out of a young lady who was being used in divination and witchcraft and now the war started. When this interfered with her master’s way of making a living they grabbed Paul and Silas and took them to the leaders of the city. It’s amazing what greed can do to you; they rather have money from divination than have the young girl set free from demonic activity. Greed is an awful thing because it will turn your heart away from Father God so quickly. Now we see what could have sparked a revival causing a riot but if it takes a riot to have revival the price is still worth it. We will learn the riot allowed Paul and Silas to touch hundreds of lives in a prison. 20 "The whole city is in an uproar because of these Jews!" they shouted to the city officials. 21 "They are teaching customs that are illegal for us Romans to practice." Notice the lies: 1. Whole city is in an uproar. This was not true, only those who lost their source of income were upset. I’ve learned a long time ago that when someone comes to me and says the whole area, the whole church, the whole organization is upset that usually it is them and their little band of followers which is usually family that is upset. I know Father God has to just giggle when things like this are spoken. Pastor the whole church is upset and find out it’s the person speaking and their mama, help me preach somebody. Friends, never let a personal opinion allow you to cause division in the house of the Lord; there is a high price to pay because division will keep people from being saved and others from growing into their spiritual destiny and their blood will be on their hands. 2. Teaching customs illegal for them to keep. This was also another lie because Paul was only teaching the Kingdom of God which was for every culture and every person on planet earth. The truth was they were mad because their source of income was depleted. I’ve seen others get mad when truth was spoken and their power or influence was diminished. Never forget, Greed and Power (influence) can become a god to many people. I’ve learned this; I don’t really know someone until they are given a little authority. The test of real servant-hood Christianity is this, can you stay humble while serving in leadership? Can you still keep a towel mentality with a leadership title? The sad part is this, many can’t. Their title becomes their identity instead of the love of God being their identity. Over 50 years of being in church I’ve seen this happen too often; people getting a title and it going to their head. Friends, I never need a title to serve with a towel and if I have a title, the title must never become more important than the towel. Just because we might have a title doesn’t make us God. No my friend, to whom much is given much is required. When you are a leader, Father God will test not only your works but even the motives of your heart. The bigger test is when you are done wrong God checks your fruits because a leader must know how to still bear fruit when being done wrong. They have to be able to pray Father forgive them as they nail you to a cross. 22 A mob quickly formed against Paul and Silas, and the city officials ordered them stripped and beaten with wooden rods. 23 They were severely beaten, and then they were thrown into prison. The jailer was ordered to make sure they didn't escape. 24 So the jailer put them into the inner dungeon and clamped their feet in the stocks. I wonder if Paul and Silas knew this was going to happen for just having revival and casting out a devil. There is always a price to pay for real revival and to walk in real power. Notice that because a few got upset a mob was formed and within a short period of time Paul and Silas were stripped and beaten with wooden rods. I know how we sing and rejoice when a demon is cast out, but can we still walk Godly when we are being lied about and beaten down with false accusations? Soon Paul and Silas found themselves in the inner prison, the dirtiest and most awful part of the prisons of those days. It was dark, it stunk, and it was dirty and they were not even allowed to walk around but rather their feet were put in stocks, like they were murderers. Next week we will see how they overcame this time of testing! Prayer Points: Father help us to keep a servant’s attitude in your Kingdom and a son’s attitude in your Family. Keep us Hungry and Humble in Jesus Name. Acts 15:4 When they arrived in Jerusalem, Barnabas and Paul were welcomed by the whole church, including the apostles and elders. They reported everything God had done through them. 5 But then some of the believers who belonged to the sect of the Pharisees stood up and insisted, "The Gentile converts must be circumcised and required to follow the law of Moses."
I love true religion which is described in the New Testament but I hate this type of religious mentality where everyone has to adhere to my personal standard of Christian conduct/dress especially when it comes to the outward appearance. I’ve been talked about for wearing a suit, for wearing jeans, for not wearing a tie, for not wearing a suit for not wearing jeans because of personal preferences. Body of Christ, we need to be more concerned about the heart than we are the outward appearance. When the heart gets right, the Holy Spirit will direct everything else. If we were to go back to the biblical dress code, I would not be in a suit or jeans preaching but rather a robe of some sort. Never let personal preferences keep you from loving others and rejoicing with others. Paul was talking about all those who had got saved and filled with the Holy Spirit and how revival had broken out, miracles were happening and the religious stood up immediately and said, “They have to be circumcised like us”. They wanted to steal the spiritual freedom the new born Christians had just found. They wanted to make them live by the law instead of grace! I remember back years ago when we had a school at the church and one of the teenagers came up to me shrewdly and said in essence, “Pastor you are going to hell”, to which I responded “Why”? He proceeded to tell me, “You can’t go to heaven with a beard”. I said to him, “Really”? He said, “Yes, you can’t be saved and have a beard”! I said, “That’s sad because I was trying to cover my ugly and look more like Jesus” and he immediately showed his lack of knowledge by saying, “Jesus didn’t have a beard”. I replied, “The Bible says they plucked His beard”. He said, “It does?” and I said, “It sure does, it was prophesied they would pluck his beard” and he walked off speechless. Religion loves to condemn while Christians celebrate the victories of others. They should have been so happy about the conversions but rather they couldn’t wait to say their religious two cents worth. They had always lived by the law because that’s all they had been taught and was not receptive to the truth that Jesus had fulfilled the law once and for all. Now people could be saved by grace through faith and not by works. Let’s read the conclusion of this debate because Paul says it better than I could: 6 So the apostles and elders met together to resolve this issue. 7 At the meeting, after a long discussion, Peter stood and addressed them as follows: "Brothers, you all know that God chose me from among you some time ago to preach to the Gentiles so that they could hear the Good News and believe. 8 God knows people's hearts, and he confirmed that he accepts Gentiles by giving them the Holy Spirit, just as he did to us. 9 He made no distinction between us and them, for he cleansed their hearts through faith. 10 So why are you now challenging God by burdening the Gentile believers with a yoke that neither we nor our ancestors were able to bear? 11 We believe that we are all saved the same way, by the undeserved grace of the Lord Jesus." 12 Everyone listened quietly as Barnabas and Paul told about the miraculous signs and wonders God had done through them among the Gentiles.13 When they had finished, James stood and said, "Brothers, listen to me. 14 Peter has told you about the time God first visited the Gentiles to take from them a people for himself. 15 And this conversion of Gentiles is exactly what the prophets predicted. As it is written: 16 'Afterward I will return and restore the fallen house of David. I will rebuild its ruins and restore it, 17 so that the rest of humanity might seek the Lord, including the Gentiles—all those I have called to be mine. The Lord has spoken—18 he who made these things known so long ago.' 19 "And so my judgment is that we should not make it difficult for the Gentiles who are turning to God. 20 Instead, we should write and tell them to abstain from eating food offered to idols, from sexual immorality, from eating the meat of strangled animals, and from consuming blood. 21 For these laws of Moses have been preached in Jewish synagogues in every city on every Sabbath for many generations." Prayer Points: Father God, never let me get caught up in religion that condemns and never let me be deceived by false doctrine of any kind. Keep my heart and motives pure in your sight, Amen! Acts
15:37 Barnabas agreed and wanted to take along John Mark. Quick review, Paul and Barnabas, who were representatives from the main church in Jerusalem, had decided to go check on and encourage all the churches that had been established. As we read the verse above we see that Barnabas (nicknamed Son of Encouragement) decided that he wanted to take along John Mark, his cousin to which Paul would object. Let me give you some history about Barnabas. A noticeable trait of Barnabas, a prominent early church leader fondly nicknamed Son of Encouragement (Acts 4:37), is that he seeks out and assists others. The Biblical text highlights this twice with Saul/Paul (9:26-28; 11:25-26), once concerning the vibrant church in Antioch, Syria (11:19-30) and once in connection with his younger kinsman, John Mark (15:36-41). Often these other individuals and groups are believers in Jesus who, for whatever reason, run a bit against the grain of mainstream thought and action. Instead of ostracizing them, Barnabas not only deliberately encounters them, but also listens to them and welcomes them warmly. First, Barnabas befriends Saul. Acts introduces Saul as a persecutor of believers in what was then known as the Way (Acts 7:58; 8:1-3; 9:2). Saul then gets transformed on road to Damascus. Saul’s sudden change of character and bold preaching lead the Jews to conspire to kill him. Saul travels to Jerusalem after being lowered from the walls of Damascus in a basket to escape the city by night (Acts 9:21-26). The disciples in Jerusalem fearfully avoid him, not believing he really is a believer (Acts 9:26). Luke writes: “But Barnabas took him, brought him to the apostles, and described for them how on the road he had seen the Lord, who had spoken to him, and how in Damascus he had spoken boldly in the name of Jesus” (Acts 9:27). Sometime later, the Jerusalem Council sends Barnabas to Antioch, Syria, to investigate something new: believing Jews and Greeks (Gentiles) worship Jesus together! Believing Jews had been scattered as a result of persecution, with some settling in their new exiled homes (Acts 11:19-30). These scattered believers evidently talked to their neighbors, many of them Greeks, telling them news of the risen Lord Jesus (Acts 11:20). Luke writes that “the hand of the Lord was with them, and a great number became believers and turned to the Lord” (Acts 11:21). Notice how persecution actually caused growth in the church. Luke portrays Barnabas’s mission as fact-finding rather than as hostile. When Barnabas arrives in Antioch, he displays the same characteristics he exhibited in earlier stories: he acts openly, listens and makes ethical decisions. The text says that when he “saw the grace of God, he rejoiced” (Acts 11:23). Typical of a man of honorable character, Barnabas’s mind looks at the facts: these people – some of them uncircumcised Gentiles! – Really are new converts! Barnabas sees that they, like him and other Jewish converts, believed in this radical new faith; he sees this as evidence of the work and grace of God. He tells the Antioch believers “to remain faithful to the Lord with steadfast devotion” (Acts 11:23). Barnabas pastors the church but its demands are too many for one. So he seeks out Saul – yet again – and journeys to Tarsus to find him (Acts 11:25-26). Barnabas’s action shows his humility and discernment. The text indicates that Barnabas’s overriding concerns were the needs of the people and the furtherance of the gospel. Yet he must have realized that Saul’s skill in debate and Saul’s incredible mind might overshadow his own qualities. Luke, however, gives no indication of jealousy on Barnabas’s part, only an indication of his desire to promote the name of the Lord Jesus. Barnabas offers the younger man a job: co-pastoring the dynamic Antioch believers. Saul accepts. The young church grows even more under their joint leadership (Acts 11:26). It must have been a glorious and fruitful time for both congregation and teachers. Most likely, this time shaped much of Saul/Paul’s theology. When the Antioch church fasts and prays, the Holy Spirit tells the church to “set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them” (Acts 13:2). This becomes what scholars term Paul’s first missionary journey. We talked about this last week. I’m taking the time to give you history so when we read next week’s devotion, you can understand that Paul and Barnabas have a lot of history in ministry together. Even with that being said, conflict would soon arise that would separate their ministries but Father God still had a plan. Prayer Points: Father help me to realize that conflicts will arise in our lives, even at times with our brothers and sisters in Christ but help me remember You always have a plan of restoration. Acts 16:11 We boarded a boat at Troas and sailed straight across to the island of Samothrace, and the next day we landed at Neapolis. 12 From there we reached Philippi, a major city of that district of Macedonia and a Roman colony. And we stayed there several days. 13 On the Sabbath we went a little way outside the city to a riverbank, where we thought people would be meeting for prayer, and we sat down to speak with some women who had gathered there. 14 One of them was Lydia from Thyatira, a merchant of expensive purple cloth, who worshiped God. As she listened to us, the Lord opened her heart, and she accepted what Paul was saying. 15 She was baptized along with other members of her household, and she asked us to be her guests. "If you agree that I am a true believer in the Lord," she said, "come and stay at my home." And she urged us until we agreed.
I want to look at the life of Lydia in our devotion today. Lydia without a doubt had to be an amazing lady especially to be a successful business woman during that time period and culture. We are not sure if Lydia was actually her name or if she was just from Lydia. Many writers think Lydia means “The Lydian,” seeing Thyatira was a city of Lydia, and that her personal name is unknown. I just wanted to give you that little history lesson. We do not have any information concerning her family connections. Scripture does not supply us with any information regarding Lydia’s background apart from the fact that she lived in Thyatira which was one of the Macedonian colonies. We do know the city was the melting pot of many nations, and that the chief object of worship was Apollo, who was worshiped as the sun-god under the name of Tyrinnus. There was also a strong Jewish element in the city maintaining faith in Jehovah. She was a business woman: As I studied about Lydia I found that the water of the area was so well-adapted for dyeing, that no other place could produce the scarlet cloth as brilliantly and so permanently dyed. This unique purple dye brought the city universal renown. Lydia was a well-known seller of this product and typifies a successful business woman in a prosperous city. She undoubtedly had ability, enthusiasm, and singleness of purpose and mental insight which caused her to prosper. She was a devout woman: We are not sure if she was of Jewish descent but we know “She worshipped God”. Often business people are so engrossed in their affairs that they have no time for religion. But Lydia, in spite of all her secular obligations, found time to worship according to the Jewish faith. Many times she made her way to the riverside to join in the prayer meeting. Now notice this, even though she was religious it is evident she had not encountered Jesus as her Savior but when Paul began to speak, her heart was quickened and she accepted the good news of Jesus being her personal Messiah. Then to prove her conversion to Christ, she was publically baptized with her household. Lydia had the honor of being Paul’s first European convert. Becoming a Christian did not make her less of a successful business woman. Now she had Christ as her Senior Partner and with Him we can imagine that trade remained good and that much of her profit was used to assist His servants in the work of the Gospel. Lydia’s transformation of life was evidenced by her eagerness to give missionaries the hospitality of her fine home. Lydia always had “open house” for the saints of God and her home became a center of Christian fellowship in Philippi with perhaps the first Christian church being formed therein. Lydia not only sold her dyes—she served her Savior. She stayed in business that she might have the money to help God’s servants in their ministry. How her generous care of Paul and Silas, and of many others, must have cheered their hearts. Lydia put Jesus first but she was still a successful business woman who continued to sell her purple dyes for the glory of God. When we reach heaven, we shall find this “seller of purple” wearing more superior garments, robes not stained even with the notable dye of Thyatira, but “washed and made white in the blood of the Lamb.” The main truth I need you to see in her conversion is that she was already a worshipper and prayer but she still did not know Jesus as her Savior. There are so many in this region who are just like Lydia and they need you, they need me to tell them about Jesus, about the cross, about His resurrection and what He has done for us. Prayer Points: Father Give me the boldness and wisdom I need to be the Christian you desire who consistently shares their faith with the Lydias of this world. Acts 16:1 Paul went first to Derbe and then to Lystra, where there was a young disciple named Timothy. His mother was a Jewish believer, but his father was a Greek. 2 Timothy was well thought of by the believers in Lystra and Iconium, 3 so Paul wanted him to join them on their journey. In deference to the Jews of the area, he arranged for Timothy to be circumcised before they left, for everyone knew that his father was a Greek. 4 Then they went from town to town, instructing the believers to follow the decisions made by the apostles and elders in Jerusalem. 5 So the churches were strengthened in their faith and grew larger every day.
This shows a great quality in the life of young Timothy, being willing to be circumcised. He did not have to be circumcised to be saved but for the sake of not offending some people he would eventually minister to, he humbled himself and did what was best for Father God’s Kingdom. I’m thankful for those types of people today, who will forfeit their rights to keep peace and bring peace to Father God’s Kingdom. The good news is this: when we humble ourselves for the Kingdom, great will be our reward. There is an old saying I’ve said many times, you can be 100 % right but still be 100% wrong. Friend, if I have to choose, I want to be right in the sight of Father God who not only sees my actions but also knows my heart. We, as children of God, must always make decisions which are good for the Kingdom of God; we must make decisions which do not bring a reproach on His Word and His Church. Maybe you might be able to go to a certain place and it not be a sin but friend it can damage your reputation so quickly. We are in this world but we must separate ourselves from this world and be different because we are different. The Bible commands us to shun the very appearance of evil. Timothy could have said, I don’t have to be circumcised, I’m saved by grace not works but because it was better for the Kingdom, he submitted his own will to what was best for that situation and those whom he would be ministering to. Remember you never sacrifice anything in Father God’s kingdom that you will not be rewarded for. Timothy became a very important person in the life of the early church but it all started with humbling himself and coming under spiritual authority. 6 Next Paul and Silas traveled through the area of Phrygia and Galatia, because the Holy Spirit had prevented them from preaching the word in the province of Asia at that time. 7 Then coming to the borders of Mysia, they headed north for the province of Bithynia, but again the Spirit of Jesus did not allow them to go there. 8 So instead, they went on through Mysia to the seaport of Troas. No doubt Paul and Silas were probably astounded at the fact that the Holy Spirit led them not to preach in Asia, Mysia and Bithynia but they willingly obeyed His voice. We must never forget, we only see the corner but God sees around the corner. To this day, we still are not sure why they were not allowed to evangelize this area at this time but rest assured there was a purpose. There is a promise in the Word of God that declares: If you are willing and obedient then you will eat the good of the land. Friends, It’s not just our actions but also our willingness to follow the leading of the Holy Spirit. 9 That night Paul had a vision: A man from Macedonia in northern Greece was standing there, pleading with him, "Come over to Macedonia and help us!" 10 So we decided to leave for Macedonia at once, having concluded that God was calling us to preach the Good News there. Because they were willing and obedient to obey the Holy Spirit, it opened up a supernatural experience for Paul. He had a vision that would impact a nation and his ministry. We must simply learn to TRUST GOD in every area of our lives even when we do not know the purpose behind His commandment to us. This was a call to preach the gospel in an extensive pagan land, amid many trials and dangers. To this call, notwithstanding all this prospect of danger, Paul and Silas cheerfully responded, and gave themselves to the work. Paul and Silas were not looking for an easy way, they simply wanted to walk in obedience to the will of Father God for their lives. Prayer Points: Pray for the wisdom and strength to be obedient to the voice of the Holy Spirit and to those in authority over us even when we don’t understand why. Last week we gave you a lot of history concerning Barnabas and Paul because I wanted you to have this facts established: 1. Brothers in Christ; 2. Co-Laborers in many mission works together and without a doubt friends. Remember everyone is not in your life for your whole life, many are put in your life for specific purposes and specific seasons. Thank God and celebrate those Father God puts in your life, who can finish the final season of your destiny because they are few most of the time. It’s proven right here in the early church.
Acts 15:37 Barnabas agreed and wanted to take along John Mark. 38 But Paul disagreed strongly, since John Mark had deserted them in Pamphylia and had not continued with them in their work. Barnabas, the people person, the encourager wanted to give John Mark another chance but Paul had not got over the fact that John Mark had quit on them in an earlier missionary journey, leaving them and going back home. There are so many ways this story can be approached from but let’s look at this side of the story: what if Paul had extended to John Mark the same mercy and grace that had been given to him. Maybe John Mark had got ahead of the Holy Spirit in his zeal to do something for Jesus and he wasn’t mature enough to fight the demonic encounters that an early missionary would fight. The scriptures does not give indication why John Mark left them. Could it have been a family matter? A job situation? A death? Or just because he was scared? We don’t know, we can only speculate but the fact was they were on a missionary assignment and John Mark left them and went home. Could Paul have been holding a grudge? Could Paul have been holding some unforgiveness? Once again scripture does not tell us, so we can only speculate but it would not be based on facts. This is a major disagreement between two of the early leaders of the early church proving to us that disputes, misunderstandings, and disagreements are part of ministry. It’s how we resolve the issues that is important. Ephesians says, neither give place to the devil. 39 Their disagreement was so sharp that they separated. Barnabas took John Mark with him and sailed for Cyprus. 40 Paul chose Silas, and as he left, the believers entrusted him to the Lord's gracious care. 41 Then he traveled throughout Syria and Cilicia, strengthening the churches there. Undoubtedly this disagreement got a little heated to the point that leaders had to go their separate ways. Barnabas took John Mark and sailed off for Cyprus and Paul got another missionary partner named Silas and took off to Syria and Cilicia. Both of these teams went on to do great work for the Kingdom but without a doubt this disagreement left a mark on the early church, causing division. The text omits two factors many find crucial in avoiding or minimizing conflict. First, prayer: there is no evidence that Barnabas and Paul prayed – and Acts abounds with prayer examples (see 1:14; 2:42; 6:4; 9:11). Anytime there is disagreement there should be a season of prayer. Second, a mediator or peacemaker is absent. It appears Barnabas and Paul decided to argue first and talk later—something typical of people throughout the ages. That is never acceptable among the children of God, we are called to be peacemakers. Who was right, who was wrong? That’s an easy question, both men were right and both men were wrong and Father God still loved them both. This dispute was not over doctrinal issues but rather a judgment call. To their credit, this dispute did not detour them in their pursuit of building the Kingdom. They realized the truth of the fact, that this was a personal issue they had to get over and they did. Read this carefully, over the long haul, the decision of Barnabas may have proved best – at least for John Mark. Years later, Paul finds the formerly useless Mark “useful,” as revealed in the apostle’s concluding epistle. “Get Mark and bring him with you, for he is useful to me for ministering” (2 Tim. 4:11). And in Colossians 4:10, one observes that the once-rejected young worker was commended, and the Colossian saints were asked to be receptive to him. What am I saying? Never Never Give Up On Anyone! You never know whom the Holy Spirit will use in your future to help you. The one Paul refused to take with him, is one of the one he would later request. I’m thankful God isn’t through with any of us, so we need to exercise the same amount of grace and patience we desire Father God to show to us. I’ve learned this: I can be 100% right in facts but 100% wrong in attitude. Prayer Points: Pray, when I’m in a disagreement with some-one, help me to see the scene as you see it. Don’t let me be close minded or stubborn, but help me to see truth and walk in the truth. We have been studying how the early church was in revival and the Gentiles were being saved, healed and filled and now we read this:
Acts 15: 36 After some time Paul said to Barnabas, "Let's go back and visit each city where we previously preached the word of the Lord, to see how the new believers are doing." I love their spirit. They were not just interested in getting people saved but really engaged in making sure the new believers were continuing their spiritual walk with the Lord. For too many years, leaders have been more concerned about numbers than they are about people continuing along their spiritual journey. It’s not just enough to begin; we must continue growing in Christ. Friends, we as the body of Christ, are responsible for the rest of the body, not just the ministers. Ministers cannot take care of the whole body but it’s their duty to train and equip others to care for the body. Too many times believers rely too much on the ministers to do all the work of the ministry but every believer is called and anointed to minister to others, to disciple others, to help others. The whole body of Christ must learn to be involved in ministry, using their gifts and talents in the Kingdom. Eph 4:11 Now these are the gifts Christ gave to the church: the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, and the pastors and teachers. 12 Their responsibility is to equip God's people to do his work and build up the church, the body of Christ. This is how the church was supposed to function; everyone doing their part but somewhere we began to miss it and thought the gifts God gave to the church were supposed to do all the work of ministry. I want Acts again! I want to see the supernatural manifestation of God’s power and glory over this region but if that is to happen, we must get back to what how the church functioned in the book of Acts. Acts 6:2 So the Twelve called a meeting of all the believers. They said, "We apostles should spend our time teaching the word of God, not running a food program. 3 And so, brothers, select seven men who are well respected and are full of the Spirit and wisdom. We will give them this responsibility. 7 So God's message continued to spread. The number of believers greatly increased in Jerusalem, and many of the Jewish priests were converted, too. In every believer there are talents Father God has imparted into them for work in the ministry of Father God’s Kingdom and in the local body. When the ministry gifts (pastors, teachers, evangelists, prophets, apostles) do all the work, other people’s talents are not released and soon they will become spiritually oppressed because they are not able to release their talents. We must release people within the body of Christ to minister to the body of Christ. This devotion goes out to different churches and to many people so I try to keep all the devotions applicable to everyone. If you have a gift or talent that is not being used, please go to your pastor to let him know you are willing to use the gift Father God has given you in the local body of Christ. We all want to hear the words WELL DONE when we meet Jesus but He can’t say WELL DONE if we have not DONE WELL with the talents He gave us. Please hear my heart when I say this, sometimes what we like to minister (or be involved) in ministry which is not what we are gifted to do. Make sure when you go to your spiritual leader and offer your ministry gifts, that you are gifted for what you have volunteered to do. I love to sing but I’m not gifted to sing so I sing in private. Maybe you love teaching but that doesn’t mean you are gifted to teach. Your gift will make room for you in each local body but stay within your gifting. I’ve seen people trying to help with students who were not gifted for that purpose and it created misery for the person and chaos for those involved. I’ve heard people want to sing but couldn’t carry a note and it didn’t bring harmony. When you find your place of ministry, your gifting will develop even more and you will begin to feel complete in your ministry assignment. Everyone needs to take a Ministry Gift Testing (we have one if you need it) to find out where your spiritual gifting lies. If you want to be a hostess but you do not have the gift of being hospitable, then we need to find your true gifting or it will create confusion. This devotion just seem to flow this morning, seemingly away from the text but I know it’s God’s for this week to all of us. Prayer Points: Father God give me a passion for ministry that goes with the talents you have placed deep inside of me. Guide me into the ministry path in my local church that you have for me. The early church leaders made up their minds in last week’s devotion that the Gentiles did not have to keep the Jewish laws but rather they were saved by grace through faith. Now they write a letter to the Gentile churches and send their counsel. Let’s read this together.
Acts 15: 22 Then the apostles and elders together with the whole church in Jerusalem chose delegates, and they sent them to Antioch of Syria with Paul and Barnabas to report on this decision. The men chosen were two of the church leaders—Judas (also called Barsabbas) and Silas. 23 This is the letter they took with them: "This letter is from the apostles and elders, your brothers in Jerusalem. It is written to the Gentile believers in Antioch, Syria, and Cilicia. Greetings! 24 "We understand that some men from here have troubled you and upset you with their teaching, but we did not send them! 25 So we decided, having come to complete agreement, to send you official representatives, along with our beloved Barnabas and Paul, 26 who have risked their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. 27 We are sending Judas and Silas to confirm what we have decided concerning your question.28 "For it seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us to lay no greater burden on you than these few requirements: 29 You must abstain from eating food offered to idols, from consuming blood or the meat of strangled animals, and from sexual immorality. If you do this, you will do well. Farewell." It’s amazing to me how people take spiritual oversight in a person or in a group of people’s lives without proper spiritual authority. In verse 24 we read that these who troubled the Gentiles and tried to bring them back into bondage were not even sent by the early church leaders. Friends, we must be careful whom we let speak into our lives. I’ve learned that many times those who want to have spiritual authority over others almost never operate under proper spiritual authority themselves and many times their family and their house is out of order. If I’m going to follow someone, I want to know their fruits. I want to know how they react to the authority they are under. The men who stirred up this trouble were not under proper authority but yet spoke as if they were. The Bible plainly teaches authority in the church and if churches are to see a major move of God then that authority must be set up and adhered to. Eph 4:11 And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; 12 For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: KJV This is the way Father God set up the church and I still believe in the five fold ministry of the church He set up. The ministry of the apostle, prophet, evangelist, pastor and teacher was to oversee, train and equip the believers so they could build the Kingdom. The deacons in Acts were set up to assist the ministers in the vision God has for the local body. The first deacon’s duties were to serve tables and help pass out food while the ministers prayed, studied and sought the Lord on behalf of the church. Many churches today are set up so unscriptural, that the Lord won’t send a major move of God in that local body because of the chaos which would happen. 30 The messengers went at once to Antioch, where they called a general meeting of the believers and delivered the letter. 31 And there was great joy throughout the church that day as they read this encouraging message. 32 Then Judas and Silas, both being prophets, spoke at length to the believers, encouraging and strengthening their faith. 33 They stayed for a while, and then the believers sent them back to the church in Jerusalem with a blessing of peace. 35 Paul and Barnabas stayed in Antioch. They and many others taught and preached the word of the Lord there. So they went immediately and called the Gentile believers together and read the letter to them. Immediately there was joy and freedom experienced among the new believers. God-assigned authority brings freedom and joy while also bringing correction and rebuke when needed. Friends, it so important to stay under the proper authority Father God has set for the local church. Always remember this about scriptural authority: to be in authority you have to be under authority. I learned a long time ago to stay under the authority God placed over me without murmuring and grumbling, so His anointing can rest upon my life. My responsibility is to help cover those above me in prayer, fasting and also to honor them as a gift from Father God to me. Prayer Points: 1. Pray for those whom God has put in spiritual authority in your life. Pray that the Holy Spirit will use you to bring freedom and life to those around you. Acts 14:21 After preaching the Good News in Derbe and making many disciples, Paul and Barnabas returned to Lystra, Iconium, and Antioch of Pisidia,
What remarkable courage the apostles demonstrated going back to the very places they had been persecuted and stoned. The welfare of the infant churches they deemed of more consequence than their own safety; and they threw themselves again into the midst of danger, to comfort and strengthen those just converted to God. There are times when ministers and leaders should not count their own lives dear to them (Acts 20:24), but when they should fearlessly throw themselves into the midst of danger, confiding only in the protecting care of their God and Savior. We must remember that this is at the beginning of the early church which still had no New Testament, just the apostle’s teachings when they would come through their town preaching and ministering. 22 where they strengthened the believers. They encouraged them to continue in the faith, reminding them that we must suffer many hardships to enter the Kingdom of God. Remember these were young converts; that they were surrounded by enemies, and exposed to temptations and to dangers because the religious system of that time hated the truth of Jesus being the Messiah. They had very little knowledge with the truths of the gospel, and that it was therefore important that they should be further instructed in the truth, and established in the faith of the gospel. When we stand for the full gospel, we will suffer hardship in the 21st Century because there is still a spirit of religion that operates in every region that hates the truth of the Gospel. Every day someone in countries around the world give their lives for the gospel. Hardship, which means troubles, pressure, persecution, is a word that most in America does not want to hear. We want an easy gospel but friends there is a cost to being a disciple for Jesus Christ. It will cost you your personal desires. We are still commanded to take up a cross and follow Jesus but the price is so worth the pressure! 23 Paul and Barnabas also appointed elders in every church. With prayer and fasting, they turned the elders over to the care of the Lord, in whom they had put their trust. The KJV version said they ordained the elders; the meaning of the word ordained here is appointed and the word elder here is simply the aged and mature. The implication is this; the early elders were to take charge of the churches during the absence of the apostles. The apostles were about to leave them. They were just organized into churches and many in the early church were young and inexperienced; they needed counsel and direction; they were exposed to dangers; and it was necessary that persons should be designated to watch over the spiritual interests of the each church. The probability is that they performed all the functions that were required in the infant and feeble churches such as exhorting, instructing, governing, etc. The more experienced and able would most likely be active in exhorting and instructing the brethren; and all would be useful in counseling and guiding the flock. Notice they took the example Jesus gave them, making important decision through prayer and fasting. 24 Then they traveled back through Pisidia to Pamphylia. 25 They preached the word in Perga, then went down to Attalia. 26 Finally, they returned by ship to Antioch of Syria, where their journey had begun. The believers there had entrusted them to the grace of God to do the work they had now completed. 27 Upon arriving in Antioch, they called the church together and reported everything God had done through them and how he had opened the door of faith to the Gentiles, too. 28 And they stayed there with the believers for a long time. We see this as some of the first missionary efforts of the early church. Jesus commanded them to go into all the world and they were accomplishing this commission and the power of the Lord was there to empower them for this mission. Prayer Points: Father help us carry out your purposes in our lives regardless of the price it might cost us because someone’s eternity is based on the purpose you created me with. |