Brothers and Sisters 😊

📖 In Acts chapter 18 today we see a “Furtherance of instruction” given to the eloquent and educated (yet unfinished) Apollos, who…

“With Spirit-filled words fervently spoke to the crowds about the things concerning Jesus” (vs 25).

Q. Has your knowledge, your talent, your status, your experience, or your pride ever caused you to be “Unteachable”, or to have a closed mind about receiving valuable information and important additional truths in life?

Q. What is the danger of a “Know it all” mentality?

🙏 Heavenly Father please forgive me for the many times of arrogance and conceit when I refused your instruction, or denied much needed constructive criticism and admonishment.

🙏 Lord Jesus we praise you today that you are not finished with us yet, and that we are your developing work in progress as you mold and shape us to your perfect image by your transforming grace, culminating one day in seeing you face-to-face and being like you, fully complete and without sin for all eternity.

🙏 Holy Spirit please continue to convict us of our sin, and summon us to repentance – and let none of us ever reach a point in this life where we believe that we “have arrived” regarding perfected spiritual discernment or finalized Scriptural understanding.

🙏 Triune Holy God we thank you for the example of Spirit-filled Apollos today, who gladly and humbly received instruction and used it wisely for the advancement of your Kingdom and the furtherance of the Gospel…

✝️ “Apollos spoke boldly in the synagogue, but when Priscilla and Aquila heard him, they took him aside and explained to him the way of God more accurately…Then Apollos greatly assisted those who through grace had believed, and all the more powerfully refuted the crowds in public showing by the Scriptures that Jesus is the Christ!”

Acts 18:26-28

Brothers and Sisters 😊

📖 In Acts chapter 17 today we see many faiths, beliefs, and worldviews collide in Athens Greece and on Mars Hill as Paul’s spirit was…

“Provoked and grieved within him when he saw that the city was full of (false gods, half truths), and idols of all kinds” (vs 16).

Q. Do you remember when the futility and hopelessness of relativism (no absolute or foundational truth), and the absence of accountability (living as if you are your own ultimate authority) ruled your life?

Q. What is the danger of making up your own “truth” as you go, and putting your faith in following your feelings instead of facts?

🙏 Heavenly Father please forgive me for the many times I have foolishly and selfishly chosen my own way over yours, thinking that my own faulty human reasoning was wiser than your inerrant and infallible Word of truth.

🙏 Lord Jesus we praise you today for sacrificing all to deliver us from our slavery-to-self in this life, and for rescuing us from our deserved judgment in the next – Please help us always be open minded to your wisdom, test all things & hold fast to what is good, and daily seek the truth in making your Word our final authority like the noble Bereans did…

✝️ “Now the Bereans received the Word with readiness of mind and eagerness, searching and examining the Scriptures daily to see if these things were true.”

‭‭Acts‬ ‭17:11

Brothers and Sisters 😊

📖 In Acts chapter 16 today we see a vivid picture of service and sacrifice, as Paul and Silas gladly share in Christ’s sufferings, giving up all comfort for the sake of the Gospel and the eternal benefit of the Philippian jailer and his family…

“These men are devoted servants of the Most High God, (who have given up all) and proclaim to you the way of salvation” (vs 17).

🇺🇸 Big-time shout out this Memorial Day Weekend to all those who have served in the military (past and present) to protect our loved ones and the freedoms that we enjoy in America on a daily basis – God bless each one of you and thank you so much for your service 🙏❤️💪🏼👏💯

Q. Can you think of others who have sacrificed greatly for you over the course of you life?

Q. If these people are still alive, is there anything holding you back from contacting them today and thanking them for their love and service to you?

🙏 Heavenly Father we pray earnestly today for all those who have prayed for us, sacrificed for us, served and loved us well, and even put themselves in harms way for our benefit – By the power of your Spirit please strengthen us daily to deny ourselves and look for opportunities to pass it forward and do the same for the sake of others.

🙏 Lord Jesus we praise you today for leading the way as our humble Servant King, and for ransoming us from the horrors of hell by laying down your life for our eternal benefit – Please help us never take your costly sacrifice for granted…

✝️ “After they were beaten harshly (for their faith) the two men were thrown into prison and fastened to the stocks. About midnight, Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and all the prisoners were listening. Suddenly there was a great earthquake and all the doors opened and their bonds were loosed. When the jailer arose and saw this he drew his sword and was about to kill himself. But Paul spoke to him with a loud voice saying, ‘Do not harm yourself, for we are all here’…Then the jailer, trembling with fear fell down before them and said, ‘Sirs, what must I do to be saved?’ And they said, ‘Believe in the Lord Jesus and you will be saved, you and all your household!”

Acts 16:22-31

Brothers and Sisters 😊

📖 In Acts chapter 15 today we get a lesson in legalism, as the apostles contend and debate with a sect of jewish believers from Judea who were trying to…

“Place a yoke on the neck of the gentile disciples that neither the Jews or their ancestors were able to bear” (vs 10).

Q. What is it that makes someone a true disciple and believer in Christ?

Q. What rescues us from judgment and the just consequences for our sin?

Q. And how do we avoid the dangerous mindset of Legalism (cheapening God’s grace), and License (cheapening God’s law)?

🙏 Heavenly Father please forgive me for the times that I have wrongly burdened anyone by adding anything to your perfect and all-sufficient requirement for salvation…

“It is the gift of God, not a result of works, we are saved by grace through faith in Christ alone!”

And pardon my many sins when I have selfishly refused to follow your Word…

“For we are born anew in Christ Jesus that we may obey the will of God, putting away our old ways!”

🙏 Lord Jesus we praise you today for your costly sacrifice and finished work on our behalf, and for calling us to a life of faith and repentance because of the pure Gospel message of salvation for those who put their trust in you.

🙏 Holy Spirit please help us all to have understanding and wisdom regarding positional righteousness in Christ – And grant us joyful and zealous obedience to your Word as the proper response to your saving and sustaining grace….

✝️ “But we are saved through the precious and undeserved grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, which frees us from the guilt of our sin and grants us eternal life…Therefore it is my judgment that we do not make it difficult for those who are turning to God by putting obstacles in their way, but instead we should instruct them to honor God.”

Acts 15:11,19

Brothers and Sisters 😊

📖 In Acts chapter 14 today we see Paul and Barnabas strongly exhorting the crowds to trust and believe in the true God “Who created all things”, rather than worship and trust in false and powerless idols. For it was “God the Creator who did good by giving you rain from heaven and fruitful seasons, satisfying your hearts with food and gladness.” (vs 17).

Q. What things are you expecting fulfillment and satisfaction from that ultimately will not last?

Q. What is the danger of holding temporary things tightly, and eternal things loosely?

🙏 Heavenly Father forgive me for so often relying on and clinging to created things over and above you, my Creator – Please cause us all to have far less affections for (relationships, money,  entertainment, health, job, approval, status, education, possessions, etc), than we do for our true treasure in Christ who has given us every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places.

🙏 Lord Jesus we praise you today for all that you’ve done for us, and we ask that you help us always to love you (the Giver) far more than the many gifts that you give…

✝️ “Then Paul and Barnabas said to the crowds, ‘People, why are you doing these foolish things? We come to bring you the good news that you should turn away from worshiping these vain idols, and turn toward the living God who made the heavens and the earth and the sea and all that is in them!” Acts 14:15

Brothers and Sisters 😊

📖 In Acts chapter 13 today we see…

“The Word of God turning toward unbelievers” (gentiles) in vs 46, and extending specifically to open the eyes of the powerful Roman Governor (Proconsul), who had great influence over a large province and territory.

Q. How would our views about government change if we truly believed that God was completely sovereign and in full control over our political leaders, and His good and perfect plan would be accomplished no matter who was in charge of our nation?

🙏 Heavenly Father forgive me for not praying more often for our political leaders, thinking that somehow they are outside of your reach, or too elite or corrupt to be saved and changed.

🙏 Lord Jesus we praise you today that you are “Mighty to Save”, and that in the same way we have been saved from our own sin and corruption by your grace, even the most misguided politicians (regardless of political party) can be transformed by you also to influence many in bringing the love and compassion of God to the world – Thy will be done…

✝️ “As the Gospel was spreading throughout the whole region, the gentiles began rejoicing and glorifying God, and as many as were appointed to eternal life believed…Then the Governor of the territory also believed when he saw the wondrous works of God occur, for he was astonished at the teaching of the Lord!”

Acts 13:12,48-49

Brothers and Sisters 😊

📖 In Acts chapter 12 today we see human depravity and selfish ambition on full display, as king Herod seeks to gain the crowds approval and glorify himself by persecuting innocent men (James and Peter). He then receives the harsh and just consequences for his actions…

“Herod put on his royal robes, took his seat upon the throne, and delivered his speech…and the people shouted, “You have the voice of a god, and not of a man.” Immediately an angel of the Lord struck him down, because he did not give God the glory, and he was eaten by worms and breathed his last” (vs 21-23).

Q. Have you ever been willing to put someone else down in order to gain attention and approval from others?

Q. Have you ever been jealous that someone else received accolades and attention instead of you?

Q. Do you sometimes take credit for things that only God deserves the credit for?

🙏 Heavenly Father please forgive the many times I have craved and coveted man’s approval instead of resting in yours through Christ, and how often my heart has been cold toward others when I pursued my own glory instead of rightfully giving glory to you – Help us all to have great gratitude because of your continual mercy, and thank you for not giving us the consequences that we truly deserve for our sins… #WeHaveNoGoodApartFromYou!

🙏 Lord Jesus we praise you today for always glorifying the Father and accomplishing all good things on our behalf. Thank you for ever-living to make intercession for us, and for the prayers of many that have delivered us from the prisons of our past…

✝️ “Earnest prayer for him was made to God by the church…and he described to them how the Lord had brought him out of the prison…and the Word of God increased and multiplied.”

‭‭Acts‬ ‭12:5,17,24‬ ‭

Brothers and Sisters 😊

Brothers and Sisters 😊

Brothers and Sisters 😊