Pastor Gary's OYB Devotion Archive for June 14

PETER’S MINISTRY TO THE JEWS

From: June 14, 2024

“Now as Peter went here and there among them all, he came down also to the saints who lived at Lydda” (Acts 9:32 ESV).

After Paul’s conversion there was a season of peace for the church. During this time, the apostle Peter traveled throughout Judea, Samaria and Galilee visiting the new believers and strengthening them in the faith. In the town of Lydda, which goes by the name “Lod” today, Peter healed a paralytic named Aeneas. This caused a great number of people to turn to the Lord after hearing Peter’s preaching.

From there, Peter continued on the Joppa highway to the sea coast town of Joppa (Pronounced “Yaffa”). Peter healed a woman named “Dorcas” (“Tabitha” in Aramaic) and a great number of people believed in Jesus there. Peter made Joppa his base of ministry for a time, staying at the home of Simon the Tanner.

Can you imagine having the apostle Peter come to your town? He and the other apostles had great freedom during this season. Peter became known for his ministry among the Jewish background believers in Jesus.

PRAYER: Dear Father, would You move in our cities and in our world as You did in the ministry of Peter? Stretch forth Your hand to bring revival and save. Give us a holy boldness to declare Your Word that people might believe. In Jesus’ name, amen.

BE LIKE BARNABAS

From: June 14, 2023

“Then Barnabas brought him to the apostles and told them how Saul had seen the Lord on the way to Damascus and how the Lord had spoken to Saul. He also told them that Saul had preached boldly in the name of Jesus in Damascus” (Acts 9:27 NLT).

After Saul became a follower of Jesus at Damascus, he returned to Jerusalem. There he sought to meet with the apostles, but they didn’t trust that the former persecutor had really changed. They were afraid to meet with him. But a believer named Barnabas, whose name means “Son of Encouragement,” vouched for Saul and presented him to the apostles, so they accepted him.

What a great friend to have! Someone to stand up for you and put his own name on the line for you, so that you can have a second chance at life. How like Jesus was this Barnabas, who reconciled Saul and the apostles to one another. Saul had been a ringleader of the early persecution of the church. He was even present at the stoning of Stephen, the first Christian martyr. Yet, now he was accepted as one of the disciples of Jesus. Surely it was the voice of the Spirit of Christ that spoke through Barnabas that the apostles so quickly forgave and accepted Saul, who later changed his name to “Paul.”

O that more of us would be a Barnabas, a peacemaker and a reconciler for Jesus!

PRAYER: Dear Father, we thank You for Jesus who is our Mediator. For He is the One who brought us to You. He is our Waymaker and peace, so that we are no longer far from You, but brought near. Now fill us afresh today with Your Spirit, so that we carry Your message of reconciliation to those far from You in this world. Strengthen us for the work. In Jesus’ name, amen.

“The church then had peace throughout Judea, Galilee, and Samaria, and it became stronger as the believers lived in the fear of the Lord. And with the encouragement of the Holy Spirit, it also grew in numbers” (Acts 9:31 NLT).

From: June 14, 2022

A SEASON OF PEACE, STRENGTH, AND GROWTH FOR THE CHURCH

Previously, a “great wave of persecution” (Acts 8:1) had swept through the church at Jerusalem. It began with the stoning of Stephen and continued until the believers were scattered throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria. Yet, following this season of persecution, there came a time of peace. Even the great persecutor of the church, Saul, had become a believer after his encounter with Jesus on the road to Damascus. Instead of eliminating or weakening the church, it had grown bigger and stronger after the season of persecution.

What will it take for the church in America to see a season of peace, strength, and growth? All the current prognosticators describe the American church as being in a state of turmoil, weakness and decline. What is the future of the church in America? What would it take to see a season like Acts 9:31 in today’s church?

Looking closely at this story from the first century church, it seems to me that it was the Lord who brought both the season of persecution and the season of peace upon the church. He is the Gardener, Jesus is the Vine, and we are the branches. The Father both prunes and brings forth fruit as He wills.

What is our part? Well, the only description of the believers’ activity in this verse is that they “lived in the fear of the Lord.” In other words, they revered Him above all others. It was in this season of giving the Lord their first love and priority, that the Lord gave the church peace, strength and growth.

Ultimately, the Lord is the one who determines the health of the church. Therefore, let us pray for revival, for peace, for strength and for growth. And let us live in the fear of the Lord as we pray, knowing that He determines all things as He wills.

PRAYER: Dear Father, we pray for the church in our city, in our state, in our country, and in our world. Lord, bring revival. We humble ourselves this day in fear and dependence on You alone. All things in our world seem to be getting worse. Evil is on the rise. Yet, we trust in You. Revive us. Grant us the encouragement of the Holy Spirit as You did the early church. In Jesus’ name, amen.

“Barnabas, however, took him and brought him to the apostles and explained to them how Saul had seen the Lord” (Acts 9:27 HCSB).

From: June 14, 2021

BE LIKE BARNABAS

After Saul became a follower of Jesus at Damascus, he returned to Jerusalem. There he sought to meet with the apostles, but they didn’t trust that the former persecutor had really changed and were afraid to see him. But a believer named Barnabas, whose name means “Son of Encouragement,” vouched for Saul and presented him to the apostles, so they accepted him.

What a great friend to have! Someone to mediate for you and put his own name on the line for you, so that you can have a second chance at life. How like Jesus was this Barnabas, who reconciled Saul and the apostles to one another. Saul had been a ringleader of the early persecution of the church. He was even present at the stoning of Stephen, the first Christian martyr. Yet, now he was accepted as one of the disciples of Jesus. Surely it was the voice of the Spirit of Christ that spoke through Barnabas that the apostles so quickly forgave and accepted Saul, who later changed his name to “Paul.”

O that more of us would be a Barnabas, a peacemaker and a reconciler for Jesus!

PRAYER: Dear Father, we thank You for Jesus who is our Mediator. For He is the One who brought us to You. He is our Waymaker and peace, so that we are no longer far from You, but brought near. Now fill us afresh today with Your Spirit, so that we carry Your message of reconciliation to those far from You in this world. Strengthen us for the work. In Jesus’ name, amen.

“But Barnabas took him and brought him to the apostles.” (Acts 9:27 NKJV).

From: June 14, 2020

BE A BARNABAS

After Saul became a follower of Jesus at Damascus, he returned to Jerusalem. There he sought to meet with the apostles, but they were afraid and didn’t believe he had changed. But one of the disciples named Barnabas, whose name means “Son of Encouragement,” vouched for Saul and presented him to the apostles, so they accepted him.

What a great friend to have! Someone to mediate for you and put his own name on the line for you, so that you can have a second chance at life. How like Jesus was this Barnabas, who reconciled Paul and the apostles to one another. Paul had been a ringleader of the early persecution of the church, even the stoning of Stephen, the first Christian martyr. Yet, now he was accepted as one of the disciples of Jesus. Surely it was the voice of the Spirit of Christ that spoke through Barnabas that the apostles so quickly forgave and accepted Paul. O that more of us would be a Barnabas, a peacemaker for Jesus!

PRAYER: Dear Father, we thank You for Jesus who is our Mediator. For He is the One who brought us to You. He is our Waymaker and peace, so that we are no longer far from You, but brought near. Now fill us afresh today with Your Spirit, so that we carry Your message of reconciliation to those far from You in this world. Strengthen us for the work. In Jesus’ name, amen.

“Peter traveled from place to place, and he came down to visit the believers in the town of Lydda” (Acts 9:32 NLT).

From: June 14, 2018

PETER’S MINISTRY TO THE JEWS

After Paul’s conversion there was a season of peace for the church. During this time, the apostle Peter traveled throughout Judea, Samaria and Galilee visiting the new believers and strengthening them in the faith. In the town of Lydda, which goes by the name “Lod” today, Peter healed a paralytic named Aeneas. This caused a great number of people to turn to the Lord after hearing Peter’s preaching. From there, Peter continued on the Jaffa (Pronounced “Yaffa”) highway to the sea coast town of Jaffa. Peter healed a woman named Dorcas in Jaffa and a great number of people believed in Jesus there. Peter made Jaffa his base of ministry for a long time, staying at the home of Simon the Tanner.

Can you imagine having the apostle Peter come to your town? He and the other apostles had great freedom during this season. Peter became known for his ministry among the JBBs (Jewish Background Believers).

“For I have been told by the word of the Lord, ‘You shall not eat bread nor drink water there, nor return by going the way you came.’” (1 Kings 13:17 NKJV).

From: June 14, 2017

The Judean prophet had clear instructions from the Lord to maintain his fast and return a different way home, but he was deceived by an old prophet’s claim that the Lord had said he could stay and eat with him. He had resisted King Jeroboam’s invitation, but he fell prey to the old prophet’s lie. And while returning to Judah, he was killed by a lion along the way.

This is one of the stranger episodes in the Bible, yet a clear principle might be seen. Obey the Word of the Lord even when a another believer tells you that he has had a fresh revelation on the matter. Especially, when the so-called new word from the Lord makes it easier to give in to your fleshly appetite. Better to fast and live, than to eat and die.

“But Barnabas took him and brought him to the apostles and declared to them how on the road he had seen the Lord, who spoke to him, and how at Damascus he had preached boldly in the name of Jesus” (Acts 9:27 ESV)

From: June 14, 2016

After Saul the Persecutor became Paul the Preacher, he sought to meet with the disciples, but they were afraid. But Barnabas, whose name means “Son of Encouragement,” vouched for Paul and presented him to the apostles. What a great friend to have! Someone who will mediate for you and put their own name on the line for you, so that you can have a second chance at life. How like Jesus was this Barnabas who encouraged both Paul and the apostles to be reconciled to one another.

“Grandchildren are the crowning glory of the aged; parents are the pride of their children” (Proverbs 17:6)

From: June 14, 2012

The Lord has allowed me to live to see the truth of this proverb. What a blessing to have grandchildren not only by blood, but also by Spirit. For God has blessed me to know both. I have three grandchildren (and one on the way) through the flesh. But I have untold spiritual grandchildren through the preaching of the Gospel!

“Then the church throughout Judea, Galilee and Samaria enjoyed a time of peace. It was strengthened; and encouraged by the Holy Spirit, it grew in numbers, living in the fear of the Lord” (Acts 9:31)

From: June 14, 2011

This season of peace followed one of persecution. Seasons are not coincidental. The Gardener uses them to make the Vine’s branches more fruitful.