Acts 19-20 March 11, 2009
Posted by Sparky in Acts, NT - Other.Tags: Acts, Paul, preaching, raised from dead
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Short post today – mainly for comedy value!
Acts 20:7-9
On 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. There were many lamps in the upstairs room where we were meeting. Seated in a window was a young man named Eutychus, who was sinking into a deep sleep as Paul talked on and on. When he was sound asleep, he fell to the ground from the third story and was picked up dead.
Observation
People may have fallen asleep while I’ve preached, but I’m delighted to say that none of them have died in the process!
PS It’s okay after this - Eutychus was raised from the dead!
Acts 5-6 January 21, 2009
Posted by Sparky in Acts, NT - Other.Tags: Acts, disciples, doing God's will, Gamaliel, Jesus, Jews, prayer
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Scripture:
Acts 5:38-39 – “In the present case I advise you: Leave these men alone! Let them go! For if their purpose or activity is of human origin, it will fail. But if it is from God, you will not be able to stop these men; you will only find yourselves fighting against God.”
Observation:
Praise God for the wisdom of Gamaliel. The verses above are from a speech that this member of the Sanhedrin, the Jewish council, gave in response to the crisis brewing because of the apostles’ actions in Jerusalem. He compared their movement to two others that had failed due to leaders being killed and then the followers dispersing after a while. Hoping that the same would happen with Jesus’ disciples, he encourages the Sanhedrin members to leave them largely alone, and see what happens. Maybe this was short-sighted (but hey, we can praise God for that!), but the last line of the speech is so perceptive. If God is determined to do something, no human can even hope to stop it.
Application:
How can this be applied? I think it’s in the area of prayer that we can use this lesson – if we’re seeking God’s will in our lives and the lives of those around us, and our prayers line up with his will, then they are very worthwhile indeed. As a Christian of many years, I have gone through times when I thought prayer was a total waste of time, just a boring activity that I had to go through. I’ve also had times when I’ve really seen its power – those times get forgotten so easily! When we join our prayers to God’s determination to get certain things done, then we will see those prayers answered.
Prayer:
Lord, may my prayers match up with your will for my life and the people I pray for. Help me to remember the times when I’ve really seen prayer work, and believe that you listen and act, no matter what I see around me or what I hear from others. Help me to increase my faith in You.
Acts 9-10 December 16, 2008
Posted by Sparky in Acts, NT - Other.Tags: Acts, Ananias, boldness, hearing God, Saul, value
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Scripture
Acts 9:17
Then Ananias went to the house and entered it. Placing his hands on Saul, he said, “Brother Saul, the Lord—Jesus, who appeared to you on the road as you were coming here—has sent me so that you may see again and be filled with the Holy Spirit.”
Observation
Okay, some context. Saul, Christian-hater and persecutor of anyone who even smells like they might believe that Jesus was the Messiah, has just had his conversion experience – Damascus road, blinding light, voice of Jesus, the whole works. He still goes to Damascus, but can’t function without his sight – we’re told he didn’t eat or drink anything for 3 days. At the same time one of the believers, Ananias, gets told by God in no uncertain terms to go and find this man who’s been torturing and killing his co-believers in Jerusalem, and welcome him into the fold. In v13-14 we learn that Ananias was unsurprisingly unsure about whether this was wise or not – but obedient to God, he goes and lays hands on him. And his first word to Saul is “Brother”.
This is amazing boldness in my opinion – Ananias not only overcomes his urge for self-preservation, but speaks to Saul without prejudice and with openness, no matter what was going on in his head. How mature, how brave, how Jesus-like!
Application
Not only is the boldness of Ananias impressive, but also his trust in God, and his ability to hear God and perceive the value of someone who, until now, had done everything he could to make the Christians’ lives hard. There are so many things to admire here, and to seek to live up to.
Prayer
God, please change my heart to make it more like yours, and more like Ananias’ in this moment. Help me overcome fear when speaking to people about you, and help me to hear your voice about those I am in contact with; also, please would you enable me to see the value YOU place on people, especially the ones I find hard to like, and not my own value. Amen.
