Acts 10 tells the story of the conversion of a Roman man named Cornelius. See, Cornelius was a Roman Centurion who didn't know the Lord but feared the Lord. He had a vision of an angel telling him to send for Peter. So Cornelius sent three men to get Peter.
While this is happening Peter got a vision of his own. In his vision he saw all sorts of unclean animals and a voice told him to, "Get up Peter. Kill and eat." Peter refused to three times (I guess that's Peter's thing). When Peter woke up the three men Cornelius sent there to get him arrived. So Peter walked the 32 miles north to Cornelius' house.
Once at Cornelius' house Peter shared a simple version of the Gospel and many Gentiles believed and received the Holy Spirit. After this Peter said, "Can anyone keep these people from being baptized with water? They have received the Holy Spirit just as we have." Then the new believers were baptized and Peter stayed a few more days with them.
The point of this story in Acts is that the Gospel is for all. Peter and many of the early believers thought it was just for the Jews. If fact Peter and John were surprised just a few chapters earlier that half-blood Jews (Samaritans) could receive the Holy Spirit.
Now most of the time when we read this story we think, "Silly Peter, why did you screw up again? Of course the Gospel is for everyone."
Soon after thinking silly Peter we go and hoard the Gospel. We refuse to tell so and so because they'll never listen. Or I can't tell them they'll never listen, I'll just live my Gospel and if they believe then God can save them.
Well, silly Christians the Gospel is for all. The Gospel is for all and it comes through the hearing of the Word. The men and women at Cornelius' house believed by hearing Peter speak God's Word. Folks, nothing has changed. We must speak God's Word if we want the world around us to believe.
The Gospel is for all; it's that simple. Who have you counted unworthy to hear the Gospel message? Who have you passed by because there's no way they could be saved? Or did you see that tattoo? Did you know they spend most nights at the bar? Did you know he's a Muslim? The Gospel is for all. If we believe that and we believe the urgency of the Gospel we will do something today.
The Gospel is for all. Share it today.
Monday, November 14, 2011
Tuesday, November 8, 2011
Acts 9- Microwave and Crock Pot Change
Acts 9 is an incredibly familiar passage, but that being said read it before continuing.
Acts 9 is the unbelievable story of the conversion of Saul (later Paul). Saul starts off the chapter "still breathing out murderous threats against the Lord's disciples," but by the end of the chapter Saul is friends with the disciples and is beginning his first missionary work by heading to Tarsus.
When many of us read about the conversion and amazing change of Saul (Paul) we think, "What is wrong with me? Why is it taking me so long to make a difference?"
When you read Acts 9 the sequence of events is boom, boom, boom fast; however, that is just the pace of Acts. Let's look at Galatians to hear how Paul tells the same story of his conversion. I'm writing from Galatians 1:13-18
"For you have heard of my previous way of life in Judaism, how intensely I persecuted the church of God and tried to destroy it. I was advancing in Judaism beyond many Jews of my own age and was extremely zealous for the traditions of my fathers. But when God, who set me apart from birth and called me by His grace, was pleased to reveal His Son in me so that I might preach Him among the Gentiles, I did not consult any man, nor did I go up to Jerusalem to see those who were apostles before I was, but I went immediately into Arabia and later returned to Damascus.
Then after three years, I returned to Jerusalem to get acquainted with Peter and stayed with him for fifteen days."
So the sequence in Acts 9 happened over a 3 year fifteen day period. Saul was not the Billy Graham of his time over night, God took time to prepare him.
So, what can we learn? I believe this shows, as my pastor likes to say, that God changes us both like a microwave and a Crock Pot.
God changed Saul like a microwave. He's on the road to Damascus to kill Christians and boom three days later he is a Christian. Saul immediately began to share the good news with those around him.
God changed Saul like a Crock Pot. He waited three years to even visit the disciples. Saul spent time in the desert of Arabia and in Damascus being prepared for his role as the greatest missionary of all time.
When we begin to ask God, "Why are you taking so long to use me? Didn't you call me to great things?" When we ask this we should think of Saul. Saul was faithful sharing the Gospel in the community around him before God expanded his mission field. Therefore, if God is calling you to a big thing, be faithful in the smaller role He has given now. Now is when God is preparing you to do a big thing.
God will change your heart immediately when you come to Him. Yet, God will change your heart over time as well so that you can do amazing things for Him. Be patient, but don't neglect to be faithful in the small things today.
Acts 9 is the unbelievable story of the conversion of Saul (later Paul). Saul starts off the chapter "still breathing out murderous threats against the Lord's disciples," but by the end of the chapter Saul is friends with the disciples and is beginning his first missionary work by heading to Tarsus.
When many of us read about the conversion and amazing change of Saul (Paul) we think, "What is wrong with me? Why is it taking me so long to make a difference?"
When you read Acts 9 the sequence of events is boom, boom, boom fast; however, that is just the pace of Acts. Let's look at Galatians to hear how Paul tells the same story of his conversion. I'm writing from Galatians 1:13-18
"For you have heard of my previous way of life in Judaism, how intensely I persecuted the church of God and tried to destroy it. I was advancing in Judaism beyond many Jews of my own age and was extremely zealous for the traditions of my fathers. But when God, who set me apart from birth and called me by His grace, was pleased to reveal His Son in me so that I might preach Him among the Gentiles, I did not consult any man, nor did I go up to Jerusalem to see those who were apostles before I was, but I went immediately into Arabia and later returned to Damascus.
Then after three years, I returned to Jerusalem to get acquainted with Peter and stayed with him for fifteen days."
So the sequence in Acts 9 happened over a 3 year fifteen day period. Saul was not the Billy Graham of his time over night, God took time to prepare him.
So, what can we learn? I believe this shows, as my pastor likes to say, that God changes us both like a microwave and a Crock Pot.
God changed Saul like a microwave. He's on the road to Damascus to kill Christians and boom three days later he is a Christian. Saul immediately began to share the good news with those around him.
God changed Saul like a Crock Pot. He waited three years to even visit the disciples. Saul spent time in the desert of Arabia and in Damascus being prepared for his role as the greatest missionary of all time.
When we begin to ask God, "Why are you taking so long to use me? Didn't you call me to great things?" When we ask this we should think of Saul. Saul was faithful sharing the Gospel in the community around him before God expanded his mission field. Therefore, if God is calling you to a big thing, be faithful in the smaller role He has given now. Now is when God is preparing you to do a big thing.
God will change your heart immediately when you come to Him. Yet, God will change your heart over time as well so that you can do amazing things for Him. Be patient, but don't neglect to be faithful in the small things today.
Wednesday, November 2, 2011
Acts 8- The Unstoppable Force of the Gospel
Before you read this post take time to read Acts 8.
Acts 8 is amazing, but Acts 8 is most amazing because it follows Acts 7. In Acts 7 we saw the murder of Stephen. A murder like this could spell the end of a movement or at least a dip in a movement's momentum. However, in Acts 8 we see the unstoppable force of the Gospel. The Word spread like wildfire in the midst of persecution... take that Satan.
I want to take a look at three simple truths from this chapter.
1) Acts 8:1-8
Here we see that God used persecution to spread the Gospel. The church at Jerusalem was comfortable staying in Jerusalem, but persecution drove them out. Did God cause the persecution? I don't know. Did God use the persecution? Heck yes. I believe that God uses the hard times in our lives to do the same thing.
So, how is God trying to spread the Gospel through your trouble?
2) Acts 8:9-25
Pride is a dangerous sin, but it can be overcome. In this story we see Simon the Sorcerer who was full of pride due to his position in the community. Simon even desired status so much that he asked if he could pay the disciples to get the ability to give the Holy Spirit. Now the disciples rebuked him and, as I read it, he was so humbled that he didn't even feel worthy to pray by himself for forgiveness. I have a lot of pride in my life, thank God he can overcome my pride. However, the removal of pride often comes from a harsh rebuke.
Are you able to take that kind of constructive criticism?
3) Acts 8:26-40
Sometimes God will ask us to leave a good situation to be in step with His plan. Earlier in the chapter we saw Philip go from deacon to evangelist. Philip got the opportunity to lead many people to Christ. Then God told Philip to leave. What must that have been like? He must have wondered what God was thinking, but he went. Because Philip left he was able to meet the Ethiopian Eunuch and lead him to Christ. Did you know that the Ethiopian Church is one of the original Christian groups in the world? If Philip wouldn't have left a good situation to stay in stride with God maybe the Gospel doesn't reach Ethiopia and millions die without having ever heard.
Is God calling you to leave a good situation to trust that He still has good in store for you?
Marvel at the unstoppable force of the Gospel and pray that you can be a part of God's work today.
Acts 8 is amazing, but Acts 8 is most amazing because it follows Acts 7. In Acts 7 we saw the murder of Stephen. A murder like this could spell the end of a movement or at least a dip in a movement's momentum. However, in Acts 8 we see the unstoppable force of the Gospel. The Word spread like wildfire in the midst of persecution... take that Satan.
I want to take a look at three simple truths from this chapter.
1) Acts 8:1-8
Here we see that God used persecution to spread the Gospel. The church at Jerusalem was comfortable staying in Jerusalem, but persecution drove them out. Did God cause the persecution? I don't know. Did God use the persecution? Heck yes. I believe that God uses the hard times in our lives to do the same thing.
So, how is God trying to spread the Gospel through your trouble?
2) Acts 8:9-25
Pride is a dangerous sin, but it can be overcome. In this story we see Simon the Sorcerer who was full of pride due to his position in the community. Simon even desired status so much that he asked if he could pay the disciples to get the ability to give the Holy Spirit. Now the disciples rebuked him and, as I read it, he was so humbled that he didn't even feel worthy to pray by himself for forgiveness. I have a lot of pride in my life, thank God he can overcome my pride. However, the removal of pride often comes from a harsh rebuke.
Are you able to take that kind of constructive criticism?
3) Acts 8:26-40
Sometimes God will ask us to leave a good situation to be in step with His plan. Earlier in the chapter we saw Philip go from deacon to evangelist. Philip got the opportunity to lead many people to Christ. Then God told Philip to leave. What must that have been like? He must have wondered what God was thinking, but he went. Because Philip left he was able to meet the Ethiopian Eunuch and lead him to Christ. Did you know that the Ethiopian Church is one of the original Christian groups in the world? If Philip wouldn't have left a good situation to stay in stride with God maybe the Gospel doesn't reach Ethiopia and millions die without having ever heard.
Is God calling you to leave a good situation to trust that He still has good in store for you?
Marvel at the unstoppable force of the Gospel and pray that you can be a part of God's work today.
Monday, October 24, 2011
Acts 7- Courage for Christ
In Acts 7 we see the murder of Stephen. Stephen was one of the Church's first deacons and a man filled with the Holy Spirit. In Acts Chapter 7 he went to trial. In Stephen's trial he showed no fear and spoke truth through the power of the Holy Spirit. That truth got him killed because it was offensive and convicting to those that heard it. Stephen was the Church's first martyr.
Stephen was the first of many martyrs in the first church. Stephen was the first of the martyrs in the Church in general. Martyrdom has not gone away. Just because we here in the United States talk about persecution like it's being made fun of, doesn't mean that that is the reality throughout the world.
Read this story from a past National Review article:
"Afghan Christian, Shoib Assadullah, was arrested on October 21, 2010, for giving a copy of the New Testament to a man, and is being held in Mazar-e-Sharif. No Afghan lawyer has agreed to defend him, and (he) will probably face charges of apostasy, a crime that is punishable by death under the government’s version of sharia. As the State Department’s 2010 International Religious Freedom Report notes, religious freedom in Afghanistan has diminished “particularly for Christian groups and individuals.”
For all I know this man was killed for sharing a copy of the New Testament.
The same author wrote a follow-up article to update another Afghan man who had been arrested for his faith:
"The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom, which, together with the U.S. Embassy, has been active on the case, is reporting that Said Musa, the Afghan man facing a death sentence for having become a Christian has now been released and is safely in another country."
Sadly Musa is the exception in countries like Afghanistan.
Persecution.org writes that the Iraqi Christian Community is facing ethnic cleansing from Muslim Terrorist and is in danger of disappearing from the planet. Due to persecution their numbers have declined by about one million since 2003. You Tube Iraqi Christians: Facing Extinction. You will be shocked.
So, we are left with the question: "Could I suffer and die for my Savior?" But I think we are left with something else. I know that all of these martyrs were not poor saps. I think the reason they died is because they recognized the beauty of their Savior in a way maybe I haven't. They love God so much that they would die for the one who died for them. So, instead of asking, "Could I die for Christ like them?' ask "Do I live for Christ like them?" Do I see my God as He truly is? Do I risk anything to follow my Lord?
Stephen and other martyrs were not fools. Stephen saw the glory of God before he died and accepted death gladly and was even able to forgive his murderers. Only an all powerful God like mine could render that response.
See our God as He is and live courageously for Christ today.
Stephen was the first of many martyrs in the first church. Stephen was the first of the martyrs in the Church in general. Martyrdom has not gone away. Just because we here in the United States talk about persecution like it's being made fun of, doesn't mean that that is the reality throughout the world.
Read this story from a past National Review article:
"Afghan Christian, Shoib Assadullah, was arrested on October 21, 2010, for giving a copy of the New Testament to a man, and is being held in Mazar-e-Sharif. No Afghan lawyer has agreed to defend him, and (he) will probably face charges of apostasy, a crime that is punishable by death under the government’s version of sharia. As the State Department’s 2010 International Religious Freedom Report notes, religious freedom in Afghanistan has diminished “particularly for Christian groups and individuals.”
For all I know this man was killed for sharing a copy of the New Testament.
The same author wrote a follow-up article to update another Afghan man who had been arrested for his faith:
"The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom, which, together with the U.S. Embassy, has been active on the case, is reporting that Said Musa, the Afghan man facing a death sentence for having become a Christian has now been released and is safely in another country."
Sadly Musa is the exception in countries like Afghanistan.
Persecution.org writes that the Iraqi Christian Community is facing ethnic cleansing from Muslim Terrorist and is in danger of disappearing from the planet. Due to persecution their numbers have declined by about one million since 2003. You Tube Iraqi Christians: Facing Extinction. You will be shocked.
So, we are left with the question: "Could I suffer and die for my Savior?" But I think we are left with something else. I know that all of these martyrs were not poor saps. I think the reason they died is because they recognized the beauty of their Savior in a way maybe I haven't. They love God so much that they would die for the one who died for them. So, instead of asking, "Could I die for Christ like them?' ask "Do I live for Christ like them?" Do I see my God as He truly is? Do I risk anything to follow my Lord?
Stephen and other martyrs were not fools. Stephen saw the glory of God before he died and accepted death gladly and was even able to forgive his murderers. Only an all powerful God like mine could render that response.
See our God as He is and live courageously for Christ today.
Tuesday, October 18, 2011
Acts 6- Come On Men
Acts 6 is a fairly short chapter with two stories in it. I believe the second story fits best with the next chapter so I want to focus on the story in verses 1 through 7.
When we left the first church it seemed like a perfect church, unless your name is Ananias or Sapphira. In chapter 6 we see the first church dealing with its first congregation wide internal conflict. One half of the church believed that the other half was ignoring their needs. So the first church needed to respond. (By the way this should prove their is no such thing as a perfect church, so stop looking for one).
How did it respond? Did it ask the leadership to spread its self more thinly? No. The twelve disciples said it would be wrong for them to neglect the ministry of the Word and the ministry of prayer to do another ministry.
The leaders in the church did a few great things here and the first is that they didn't underestimate the enormous power of the ministries of prayer and sharing the Word. Those two ministries are immensely important for the life of a church and these men were wise to keep up their work there.
So how did the first church rise above their first congregation wide internal conflict?
Men stepped up in leadership. These men were full of the Holy Spirit and wisdom. The Church and our churches need men to be filled with the Holy Spirit and wisdom and to step up in leadership. When this happened in the first church, "the number of disciples in Jerusalem increased rapidly".
Women, this does not mean there are not leadership and service roles for you. Of course there are, in fact I would not be who I am today without the many women who were Sunday school teachers and servant-leaders around my life. What I am saying is that for a church to have great growth men need to step up.
Women are filling many roles and spreading themselves thin because men are dropping the ball. Step up men. I'm sure the women of the church would agree with me that they want the men of the church to be prayer warriors, ministers of the word, servants, and leaders. In fact I believe men should be leading more in every aspect. What woman dreams of being with a man that is an impressionable tag-along?
So men, step up. Minister in your local church in the capacity God created you for. If that's teaching, then teach. If it is serving widows and orphans, then serve. But the bottom line is step up and do something. When we do men, our local churches will grow in influence in our communities. So if you want God's will to be done on earth as it is in heaven... then step up men today.
When we left the first church it seemed like a perfect church, unless your name is Ananias or Sapphira. In chapter 6 we see the first church dealing with its first congregation wide internal conflict. One half of the church believed that the other half was ignoring their needs. So the first church needed to respond. (By the way this should prove their is no such thing as a perfect church, so stop looking for one).
How did it respond? Did it ask the leadership to spread its self more thinly? No. The twelve disciples said it would be wrong for them to neglect the ministry of the Word and the ministry of prayer to do another ministry.
The leaders in the church did a few great things here and the first is that they didn't underestimate the enormous power of the ministries of prayer and sharing the Word. Those two ministries are immensely important for the life of a church and these men were wise to keep up their work there.
So how did the first church rise above their first congregation wide internal conflict?
Men stepped up in leadership. These men were full of the Holy Spirit and wisdom. The Church and our churches need men to be filled with the Holy Spirit and wisdom and to step up in leadership. When this happened in the first church, "the number of disciples in Jerusalem increased rapidly".
Women, this does not mean there are not leadership and service roles for you. Of course there are, in fact I would not be who I am today without the many women who were Sunday school teachers and servant-leaders around my life. What I am saying is that for a church to have great growth men need to step up.
Women are filling many roles and spreading themselves thin because men are dropping the ball. Step up men. I'm sure the women of the church would agree with me that they want the men of the church to be prayer warriors, ministers of the word, servants, and leaders. In fact I believe men should be leading more in every aspect. What woman dreams of being with a man that is an impressionable tag-along?
So men, step up. Minister in your local church in the capacity God created you for. If that's teaching, then teach. If it is serving widows and orphans, then serve. But the bottom line is step up and do something. When we do men, our local churches will grow in influence in our communities. So if you want God's will to be done on earth as it is in heaven... then step up men today.
Monday, October 10, 2011
Psalm 29
I want to take a break from Acts for just a while. Here is an awesome Psalm I want to share with you.
"Ascribe to the Lord, O might ones,
ascribe to the Lord glory and strength.
Ascribe to the Lord the glory due His name;
worship the Lord in the splendor of His holiness.
The voice of the Lord is over the waters;
the God of glory thunders,
the Lord thunders over the mighty waters.
the voice of the Lord is powerful;
the voice of the Lord is majestic.
The voice of the Lord breaks the cedars;
the Lord breaks in pieces the cedars of Lebanon.
He makes Lebanon skip like a calf,
Sirion like a young wild ox.
The voice of the Lord shakes the desert;
the Lord shakes the Desert of Kadesh.
The voice of the Lord twists the oaks
and strips the forests bare.
And in His temple all cry, 'Glory!'
The Lord sits enthroned over the flood;
the Lord is enthroned as King forever.
The Lord gives strength to His people;
the Lord blesses His people with peace."
How Great is Our God! He has total control over trees like the cedars of Lebanon that could get to be 120 feet tall and 30 feet around! He has total control of Sirion, the mountain also know has Mount Hermon! He controls the barren desert and the lush forest! He is the God of the sky and the water!
Not only is God all the things mentioned above, but He is Lord over you and I. When we start our prayers, "Dear Lord", this is the Lord we are talking about.
Thinks about the might of our God today.
"Ascribe to the Lord, O might ones,
ascribe to the Lord glory and strength.
Ascribe to the Lord the glory due His name;
worship the Lord in the splendor of His holiness.
The voice of the Lord is over the waters;
the God of glory thunders,
the Lord thunders over the mighty waters.
the voice of the Lord is powerful;
the voice of the Lord is majestic.
The voice of the Lord breaks the cedars;
the Lord breaks in pieces the cedars of Lebanon.
He makes Lebanon skip like a calf,
Sirion like a young wild ox.
The voice of the Lord shakes the desert;
the Lord shakes the Desert of Kadesh.
The voice of the Lord twists the oaks
and strips the forests bare.
And in His temple all cry, 'Glory!'
The Lord sits enthroned over the flood;
the Lord is enthroned as King forever.
The Lord gives strength to His people;
the Lord blesses His people with peace."
How Great is Our God! He has total control over trees like the cedars of Lebanon that could get to be 120 feet tall and 30 feet around! He has total control of Sirion, the mountain also know has Mount Hermon! He controls the barren desert and the lush forest! He is the God of the sky and the water!
Not only is God all the things mentioned above, but He is Lord over you and I. When we start our prayers, "Dear Lord", this is the Lord we are talking about.
Thinks about the might of our God today.
Sunday, October 2, 2011
Acts 5- Yeah Pain!
Acts Chapter 5 is a pretty wild section of scripture. It is a very difficult passage of scripture for many as well. Therefore, I'm going to apologize for not answering some of the obvious questions in this chapter like, "Why would God kill Ananias and Sapphira for something as small as a lie?"
In this chapter we have the story of Ananias and Sapphira. Following that story we see the miraculous signs and wonders that God performed through the apostles. We see people healed by the shadow of Peter. We see the Church getting a right fear of God. We see many added to the Church. And we see Peter and the apostles arrested... again.
This time Peter and the apostles were put in prison for the night. An angel of God busts them out of prison and tells them to preach again. So, when those in charge find the prison empty and the apostles doing again what they had been arrested for, those in charge were ticked off.
"We gave you strict orders not to teach in this name. Yet you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching and are determined to make us guilty of this man's blood."
Peter and the guys replied: "We must obey God rather than men!" Then Peter gave the Gospel again to those in charge.
Those in charge were now even more ticked off and if it were not for a wise man named Gamaliel they would have killed the apostles. But instead they had the apostles flogged and released. (Remember the flogging scene in "The Passion of the Christ"? This is what they did to the apostles.)
So the apostles came away beaten and bloody with chunks of their back having been ripped out. And here is their response in verse 41, "The apostles left the Sanhedrin, rejoicing because they had been counted worthy of suffering disgrace for the Name."
Wow! Rejoicing after being flogged?! Why?
Believe it or not I played football in high school. One thing about playing defense is that you won't get blocked if you aren't going toward the ball. No one would care if I was going to the left and the play was going to the right, no lineman would block me.
Same thing with Satan. He will not block you if you are not pressing on toward the prize. So when you get blocked in life you should rejoice. Easier said than done, right? Still, persecutions are road signs as we are running the race.
Be worthy of being blocked. Run toward the ball. Rejoice when you suffer for the Name today.
In this chapter we have the story of Ananias and Sapphira. Following that story we see the miraculous signs and wonders that God performed through the apostles. We see people healed by the shadow of Peter. We see the Church getting a right fear of God. We see many added to the Church. And we see Peter and the apostles arrested... again.
This time Peter and the apostles were put in prison for the night. An angel of God busts them out of prison and tells them to preach again. So, when those in charge find the prison empty and the apostles doing again what they had been arrested for, those in charge were ticked off.
"We gave you strict orders not to teach in this name. Yet you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching and are determined to make us guilty of this man's blood."
Peter and the guys replied: "We must obey God rather than men!" Then Peter gave the Gospel again to those in charge.
Those in charge were now even more ticked off and if it were not for a wise man named Gamaliel they would have killed the apostles. But instead they had the apostles flogged and released. (Remember the flogging scene in "The Passion of the Christ"? This is what they did to the apostles.)
So the apostles came away beaten and bloody with chunks of their back having been ripped out. And here is their response in verse 41, "The apostles left the Sanhedrin, rejoicing because they had been counted worthy of suffering disgrace for the Name."
Wow! Rejoicing after being flogged?! Why?
Believe it or not I played football in high school. One thing about playing defense is that you won't get blocked if you aren't going toward the ball. No one would care if I was going to the left and the play was going to the right, no lineman would block me.
Same thing with Satan. He will not block you if you are not pressing on toward the prize. So when you get blocked in life you should rejoice. Easier said than done, right? Still, persecutions are road signs as we are running the race.
Be worthy of being blocked. Run toward the ball. Rejoice when you suffer for the Name today.
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