July 3, 2014
The riotous crowd that had chanted to kill Paul now fell silent as he addressed them in their own tongue. Did he defend himself or respond in anger? No. He gave his testimony. Paul’s response was the epitome of the prayer that the early church prayed in Acts 4:29 when they prayed, “Lord, you consider their threats while granting us boldness to speak Your Word.” We can pray this prayer too. Paul was truly bold, but his courage came from a deep sense of calling by the Lord Jesus. The Lord is still calling followers that would depend on Him like Paul.
July 2, 2014
As a father and grandfather, some special urge emerges within me when one of my children use the name “Daddy” or “Pawpaw.” When my grandson, Nate says, “Pawpaw, can you play Power Rangers with me?” It’s the name he calls me that moves me more than his request. I have no interest in being the red, blue or yellow Power Ranger, but I am moved to be Nate’s “Pawpaw.” Yet, not everyone can use my name in this way. Only my children and grandchildren have this right and influence with me. Perhaps this is a small insight into how God responds when we invoke His Name. We are His children and when we call upon His Name, He responds. As Jesus said, “If you ask me anything in my name, I will do it” (John 14:14).
July 1, 2014
When King Hezekiah of Judah received a letter from the king of Assyria threatening to overthrow Jerusalem and mocking his dependence on the Lord, the king carried the letter into the Temple. He fell on his face in prayer and spread the letter out on the floor for the Lord’s consideration. The Lord heard Hezekiah’s prayer and defended Jerusalem, so that the Assyrian army retreated without firing a shot. What threatens you today? Have you “spread” it out before the Lord in prayer?
June 30, 2014
In Paul’s final instructions to the elders of the Ephesian church, he warned them of false teachers who would seek to profit from the flock rather than protect it. He called them to acknowledge that his ministry was marked by no covetous motives and hard work. He challenged them to remember Jesus and to be givers, not takers.
June 29, 2014
Paul’s ministry in Ephesus was perhaps his longest and most productive. This Roman city was the jewel of Asia and influenced the whole province. Believers in Ephesus were growing at such a rate that it began to affect the city’s culture. People were confessing their sins and burning their incantation books. And apparently, the business of selling Artemis souvenirs was declining as a result too. Persecution of Christians is often inspired by greed more than belief. Here, the silversmith union rep, Demetrius, started a riot against the Christians in the great amphitheater of Ephesus because of his declining business and reputation. Paul wanted to enter the 25,000 seat stadium to defend his faith, but his friends stopped him. Satan often uses man’s greed and desire for power to bring “confusion” to a city and to undermine the work of the gospel. But God wants to bring light and clarity, so that hearts can repent and respond.
June 28, 2014
The God of creation is also the God of revelation. Not only did He leave His fingerprints on the earth and the heavens for us to see, He spoke His promises and had them recorded for us to read. Do you doubt whether the sun will rise and set again tomorrow? Will the earth stop its annual journey through the seasons? Do you worry that the stars will cease to shine at night? God’s promises were spoken with the same voice that declared, “Let there be light,” and there was light. The same God who made everything, made the promises found in His Word.
June 27, 2014
When Paul met the Jewish tent-making couple, Aquila and Priscilla, in the city of Corinth, he found true partners in ministry and work. Paul was a bivocational church-planter and he needed work that provided a sufficient income with flexible hours. By joining with Aquila and Priscilla he found both. In Corinth he was given the flexibility to both work and preach in one of Rome’s largest and richest cities. The couple even offered him accommodations in their home. When we think of Paul’s more famous gospel partners like Barnabas, Silas and Timothy, let us not forget his strategic partnership with Aquila and Priscilla. Christian business owners are often God’s provision for supporting and advancing the gospel.
June 26, 2014
Those in Berea who heard Paul’s message, listened and compared it to Scripture before believing. This should always be our response to any teaching. Does it align with God’s Word? If it does, it can be believed. If it does not, reject it. This response of the Bereans has been recorded for our benefit, so that with the Holy Spirit’s help, we can discern the truth (1 John 4:1-3).
June 25, 2014
Have you ever found yourself stretched to the point of breaking because of difficult circumstances? We recently returned from a mission trip to Uganda. After a 37 hour trip from the States we landed in Rwanda to catch a bus to the Ugandan border. Unfortunately, the driver took us to the wrong crossing. This resulted in an additional 7 hours of travel over terrible roads and scary moments at the border. Our team maintained its morale, we did plenty of praying, but I wouldn’t say there was a whole lot of singing going on. This situation certainly doesn’t compare to Paul and Silas being beaten with rods and thrown in jail. But any difficult circumstance can reveal what’s really inside of us. When Paul and Silas faced this trial they prayed and sang hymns, and the prison doors flew open, and the jailer and his family got saved. Our gospel witness to others is often at its best when our situation is at its worst. Remember, the “other prisoners are listening.”
June 24, 2014
Our calling is to bear witness to the gospel and leave the heart’s receptivity to the Lord. We can’t “open the heart” of the hearer, but we can open our own mouths to speak the gospel message. Paul’s faithfulness to sow the seed of the gospel everywhere he went and leave the heart condition of the soil up to God was what resulted in churches being planted all over the Roman world. I wonder how many “Lydias” are apparently going about their business, yet desperately looking for God? Are we willing to be like Paul and spread the Word?