Saturday, October 31, 2009

Take Strength From The Lord

Acts 23:11
11The following night the Lord stood near Paul and said, "Take courage! As you have testified about me in Jerusalem, so you must also testify in Rome."


Paul just gave his testimony to the teachers and leaders in Jerusalem. He had gone through trials and the Lord says that he must go through more trials.

Living a life for Christ does not mean that you have nothing to worry about. There will continue to be trails to go through, but God will be with us. He says to continue and keep strong, take courage.

Father, thank you so much. Lord, I need your strength to go through these trials. I need You to be my rock, my base, my core. Sometimes it is tough, but I know that You are with me. I thank you Lord. I pray for your strength to continue to live for You. I pray this in Jesus might name.
Amen.

Friday, October 30, 2009

Having Others Open Up

Acts 22:1-2
1"Brothers and fathers, listen now to my defense." 2When they heard him speak to them in Aramaic, they became very quiet.


When Paul spoke in Aramaic, the crowd settled down because this caused them to relate to Paul more, since it is one of their native language.

It is important to relate to those that you are reaching out to. Here, Paul does it through speaking the same language, but in other situations, connecting yourself with others, and ultimately Jesus, is a great way to speak into the lives of others.

Father God, I know that your Holy Spirit guides me. I pray for Your spirit to allow me to find ways to relate to others, that they may open up their hearts and not be closed to the words that You have given. I pray for opportunity and for grace. I know that You are the one who changes lives, so I pray for this. I give you all the glory in Jesus name.
Amen.

Thursday, October 29, 2009

Showing True Passion

Acts 21:12-14
12When we heard this, we and the people there pleaded with Paul not to go up to Jerusalem. 13Then Paul answered, "Why are you weeping and breaking my heart? I am ready not only to be bound, but also to die in Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus." 14When he would not be dissuaded, we gave up and said, "The Lord's will be done."


Paul knows that there is danger when going to Jerusalem, yet His passion to share the gospel compels him to still go.

The Holy Spirit has given Paul the passion to go and do great things. Even through dangers, Paul is able to suffer for the Christ.

Father God, Paul knew what passion was, just as You did. This passage shows me the true nature of passion and what being passionate about You really is. I pray that I may be steadfast, focused on You, and able to draw on Your strength when coming against tough times. Let me be passionate and fight through and overcome through Christ who strengthens me. I pray this to lift You up.
Amen.

Wednesday, October 28, 2009

Sunday To Celebrate Together Our Living God

Acts 20:7
7On the first day of the week we came together to break bread. Paul spoke to the people and, because he intended to leave the next day, kept on talking until midnight.


Saturday was the Sabbath for the Jews, and so for them, the first day of the week was Sunday. They started to meet on Sunday to also celebrate the resurrection of Jesus.

My knowledge of the Bible is still so very little when I come across verses like these, that reveal to me the understanding of the culture of the people back then to give me revelation now. All these times, I thought Sunday is our Sabbath, just like how Jews have theirs on Saturday, but now I know that Saturday is our Sabbath as well, and we do the same thing as the early church and meet on the first day of the week, Sunday, to celebrate the resurrection of Christ Jesus.

Father God, I thank you for your resurrection. For you lived and died, so that I may truely live. Thank you Lord. Thank you for letting me live in a land that can celebrate that great act. I give you all the glory in Your mighty name.
Amen.

Tuesday, October 27, 2009

Knowing His Words Through Daily Devotions

Acts 19:8-10
8Paul entered the synagogue and spoke boldly there for three months, arguing persuasively about the kingdom of God. 9But some of them became obstinate; they refused to believe and publicly maligned the Way. So Paul left them. He took the disciples with him and had discussions daily in the lecture hall of Tyrannus. 10This went on for two years, so that all the Jews and Greeks who lived in the province of Asia heard the word of the Lord.


Paul tried to share the word of the Lord to those in the synagogue, yet he continued to have the sharing of the word even though those who didn't want to hear it. He had these "daily" discussions.

These daily discussions are like our daily devotions. It is vital to read the word and allow God to reveal Himself through His words.

Father God, I pray for revelation. I ask that Your words reveal more of You in it. Holy Spirit, anoint the rhema that is revealed to me. I pray to draw closer and closer to You. Speak to me, just like before when I was so close to You. I ask this that I may know You more. In Jesus name.
Amen.

Monday, October 26, 2009

God Reveals Himself

Acts 18:24-26
24Meanwhile a Jew named Apollos, a native of Alexandria, came to Ephesus. He was a learned man, with a thorough knowledge of the Scriptures. 25He had been instructed in the way of the Lord, and he spoke with great fervor and taught about Jesus accurately, though he knew only the baptism of John. 26He began to speak boldly in the synagogue. When Priscilla and Aquila heard him, they invited him to their home and explained to him the way of God more adequately.


Apollos was a man that knew a lot about God and preached from the words, but he did not know of Jesus.

God is a mystery. We are not to know everything about Him, but like Apollos, He reveals Himself to us each and every day.

Father God, I pray for revelation. I ask that you reveal yourself to me. I want to know more of You. I pray for Your vision and Your love towards others. I pray for all that you will do in my life. Continue to reveal yourself. I pray this to glorify your name.
Amen.

Sunday, October 25, 2009

Praying For Hardened Hearts

Acts 17:2-3
2As his custom was, Paul went into the synagogue, and on three Sabbath days he reasoned with them from the Scriptures, 3explaining and proving that the Christ had to suffer and rise from the dead. "This Jesus I am proclaiming to you is the Christ," he said.


Paul debated with the people in the temple for three weeks. These people reasoned and argued, but in the end, many of them kicked him out of the city.

It is not our role to debate with others the truth of God, but we are called to present the good news of Jesus Christ. There are many people out there that just want to argue, but instead of arguing, speak truth into their lives, and pray for them.

Jesus Christ, I thank you for the great things you have done in my life. I know your good deeds and your blessings that you have covered me with. I pray for a spirit of not reasoning and debating, but a spirit to present Your love towards others. I pray for those hearts that your words fall on, and that their hearts may be open and that they may hear and be transformed by Your words. I pray this in faith in Jesus name.
Amen.

Saturday, October 24, 2009

Judging Others

Acts 16:19-21
19When the owners of the slave girl realized that their hope of making money was gone, they seized Paul and Silas and dragged them into the marketplace to face the authorities. 20They brought them before the magistrates and said, "These men are Jews, and are throwing our city into an uproar 21by advocating customs unlawful for us Romans to accept or practice."


When the owners brought Paul and Silas to the crowd, they said that they were Jews, and making an uproar. They could have said that these men were making an uproar, but he had to use the label "Jews".

Putting a label on someone or a group of someones gives the impression of misleading guidance. We should not label people and put on them our own judgment, but to treat all the same.

Father God, I thank you for eyes to see that people do get judged, but we should not judge others and treat others differently, because you have loved all, even though we are sinners. I thank you for all that you have done. Let your will be done in Jesus name.
Amen.

Wednesday, October 21, 2009

A Message Of Grace

Acts 15:10-11
10Now then, why do you try to test God by putting on the necks of the disciples a yoke that neither we nor our fathers have been able to bear? 11No! We believe it is through the grace of our Lord Jesus that we are saved, just as they are."


There was a dispute of whether a one can be saved if not circumcised, which meant Gentiles. Paul and Barnabas went to see the elders of on this issue. By God's words, they decided that God saves all through grace.

This is such an awesome passage, because it declares the grace of God for all, whether you are from one background or another. No one does anything to be saved, but only through grace do we have Salvation through Christ Jesus.

Father God, I thank you for your grace on men. I know it is not because I am a certain way, or I did a certain thing that you offer salvation, but by your grace did Your son die on the cross for me. I thank you so much. You are Awesome. Allow me to share your good news to those that do not know Your grace, that they may see the truth. I give you all the glory in Jesus name.
Amen.