Archive for the ‘Acts--BibleTrekToday’ Category

Scripture reading for July 1st: Acts 21:1-17

As Paul traveled to Jerusalem, he and his traveling companions made stops to visit the brethren in the churches which Paul had a part in starting.  At Tyre, the group stayed with disciples there for seven days.  Through the Holy Spirit, they warned Paul not to go to Jerusalem.  (Acts 21:4)  However, this did not deter them from traveling on.

When the reached Caesarea, they stayed a few days with Philip the evangelist.  Philip was one of the original seven deacons (Acts 6:5) and he had four daughters who were prophetesses. “After we had been there a number of days, a prophet named Agabus came down from Judea.  Coming over to us, he took Paul’s belt, tied his own hands and feet with it and said, “The Holy Spirit says, ‘In this way the Jews of Jerusalem will bind the owner of this belt and will hand him over to the Gentiles.” (Acts 21:10-11)  This caused all the people there and with Paul to plead with him not to go to Jerusalem!

“Then 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.”  When he would not be dissuaded, we gave up and said, “The Lord’s will be done.” (Acts 21:12-14)  Paul knew what the Holy Spirit had told him.  The prophecies only confirmed what he knew was the Lord’s will.  He was willing to suffer as Jesus had for him and die if necessary!

Several lessons  are for us here.  First, prophesy is not always directive but informative and confirming what God’s will is.  It is also not always good news for our flesh, but is often warning and preparation.  We must hear from God ourselves first!

Second, God uses suffering and imprisonment to further His plans and reach people.  His servants must be willing to suffer.  We can’t always have it like we want it!  In the end, we must say “The Lord’s will be done”!  It is our privilege to suffer and even die for the Name of our Lord Jesus if that is required for God’s will!   We must be careful that our personal feeling and others opinions don’t sway us from obeying God!   God’s will is always best, even if it’s difficult!

Scripture reading for June 30th: Acts 20:1-38

The apostle Paul was very long-winded!  It is recorded that he literally preached all night and that one of the listeners had fallen asleep and fell from a second story window and actually died.  Paul went and prayed for him and he returned to life!  (Acts 20:7-12)  I guess the moral of this story is that if you put someone to sleep or they die during your message, you are responsible to wake them again from sleep or death!

Paul had a desire in his heart to go to Jerusalem.  He visited several of the churches in the area, but had not had opportunity to say ‘farewell’ to the leaders at Ephesus where he had preached for over three years.  He sent for these leaders from Miletus and had opportunity to speak to them one last time.  His message has been used by preachers leaving congregations for centuries!

Paul’s first point concerned his own ministry to them.  “You know that I have not hesitated to preach anything that would be helpful to you but have taught you publically and from house to house.  I have declared to both Jews and Greeks that they must turn to God in repentance and have faith in our Lord Jesus.” (Acts 20:20-21)  Paul’s ministry was sound and Gospel based.  He went personally to their homes as well as preaching in public on a regular basis.  As a result of this he could say, “. . .I am innocent of the blood of all men.  For I have not hesitated to proclaim to you the whole will of God.” (Acts 20:26b-27)

His next point was a warning about the future.  They needed to be watchful and shepherd the Church of Jesus Christ that the Holy Spirit had given them oversight of.  “I know that after I leave, savage wolves will come in among you and will not spare the flock.  Even from your own number men will arise and distort the truth in order to draw away disciples after them.  So be on your guard!” (Acts 20:29-31a)

Finally, Paul committed this church to the grace of God.  He encouraged them to follow his own example of living a simple life of giving that could be imitated by their followers.  They must work hard and help the weak, remembering that Jesus told them it was more blessed to give than receive.  (Acts 20:35)

Scripture reading for June 29th: Acts 19:13-41

Idols have a way of crowding out a true relationship with God.  Satan offers a cheap substitute for God and promises us that we can have spirituality and a god we can control.  We actually make a god that looks like what we want so we can do what we want without fear of punishment.  This may be a nice arrangement, but it is deadly and brings eternal separation from God in the end!

As Paul was preparing to leave Ephesus, there was a great uproar cause by a silversmith named Demetrius.  This man was a part of a trade union that made shrines and idols out of silver for the worshipers of Artemis, the goddess of the Ephesians.  They got together and began discussing how Paul had taken away many of their customers in the city and province.  “He (Paul) says that man-made gods are no gods at all.  There is danger not only that our trade will lose its good name, but also that the temple of the great goddess Artemis will be discredited, and the goddess herself, who is worshiped throughout the province of Asia and the world will be robbed of her divine majesty.” (Acts 19:26b-27)

Note how irrational these idol makers were!  They refused to contemplate that what they made with their hands was really not a ‘god’!  Their real motive was money!  Their way of making money was being threatened and their idol was being exposed for what it really was–a fake!  Many were seeing this and had to make a choice.  Would they continue to worship a lie or would they turn to the true God and worship Him through His Son Jesus Christ!  This was the message that Paul was preaching there!

This group of idol-makers stirred up a riot to try and kill those who were threatening their idols!  Satan loves to create chaos and confusion!  His tactic is to create disorder and to keep people in bondage by blinding their minds with a lie!  They began shouting, “Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!” (Acts 19:28)   The people seized several of Christ’s followers and Paul wanted to appear before the crowd but was restrained by the disciples.  Finally the crowd was calmed down by the city clerk and dispersed. Confronting idolatry can be hazardous to your physical health but is part being a disciple of Jesus!

Scripture reading for June 28th: Acts 18:22-19:12

One of the major ministries of Jesus Christ was dealing with those bound by demons.  He told His followers that they would also cast out demons in His Name.  (Mark 16:17)  The Kingdom of God is always opposed and in conflict with the kingdom of Satan.  When there is a clash of the kingdoms, those who know Christ always win.  Those who are not properly in God’s kingdom don’t come out as well!

Paul left Apollos at Corinth and went to Ephesus.  There he found some disciples who were baptized in John’s baptism of repentance.  He asked them if they had received the Holy Spirit and they had not even heard about Him!  Paul then told them about Jesus Christ and their need to be baptized.  They were baptized and as Paul prayed for them, laying his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came on them and they spoke in tongues and prophesied just like they original day of Pentecost!  This was over 20 years after that first Pentecost!

While there preaching in the synagogue for about three months, Paul stirred up more opposition.  He left the synagogue and went to the lecture hall of Tyrannus and spent two years there preaching. “God did extraordinary miracles through Paul, so that even handkerchiefs and aprons that had touched him were taken to the sick, and their illnesses were cured and the evil spirits left them.” (Acts 19:11)

There were seven Jewish exorcists going around using the name of Jesus whom Paul preached to try and cast out demons.  One day they tried to cast out a demon and the evil spirit spoke back to them.  “Jesus I know, and I know about Paul, but who are you?”  “Then the man who had the evil spirit jumped on them and overpowered them all.  He gave them such a beating that they ran out of the house naked and bleeding!” (Acts 19:14-16)  This incident caused many who were involved in the occult to bring their occult materials to be burned and to repent.  The result was an even greater revival!

Two lessons we can learn from this story.  One is to not be afraid to deal with the demonic if you truly know Jesus Christ as Lord.  The second is that the devil and demons know whether you are really a Christian.  They don’t treat impostors very well!

Scripture reading for June 27th: Acts 18:1-21

The apostle Paul always seemed to get in trouble as he preached about Jesus Christ in the synagogues.  After leaving Athens and the confrontation with the intellectuals on Mars Hill, Paul went to Corinth and again went to the synagogue.  There he encountered some interest at first, but soon was being opposed by some abusive Jews.  Paul did as Jesus instructed, shaking out his clothes and stating, “Your blood be on your own heads!  I am clear of my responsibility.  From now on I will go to the Gentiles!” (Acts 18:6)

He went next door to the house of a man named Titius Justice, who was a worshiper of God.  This means that he was a Gentile seeker who had attended the synagogue.  Paul used his house to preach and the synagogue ruler Crispus and his entire household was saved!  Many others were saved and baptized! (Acts 18:7-8)

Sometimes leaders need fresh vision and encouragement.  Even though we are living life one day at a time, we need to know that we are in line with where God wants us.  Sometimes we can feel His pleasure, but other times we feel the opposition and even fear.  God knew that Paul needed encouragement to stay in Corinth for a more extended period of time so He gave him a vision.  “Don’t be afraid; keep on speaking, don’t be silent.  For I am with you, and no one is going to attack and harm you, because I have many people in this city.” (Acts 18:10) Many of God’s mighty saints struggled with fear.  The Holy Spirit gave them great boldness anyway and a vision and word of encouragement could keep them on track. Paul stayed in Corinth teaching for a year and a half.

As Paul left there, he went back to many of the churches he had started and preached to them.  He had a ministry of encouragement and disciple making.  He was particularly sensitive to the leading of the Lord.  When asked by some Jews at Ephesus to stay and spend more time, he declined.  He told them that he would come back if it was the Lord’s will.  (Acts 18:21)  God knows how to direct His disciples.  We are all on a directed journey to accomplish God’s will and must finish our course!  Are you listening to the Holy Spirit today?

Scripture reading for June 26th: Acts 17:1-34

“As soon as it was night, the brothers sent Paul and Silas away to Berea.  On arriving there, they went to the Jewish synagogue.  Now the Bereans were of more noble character than the Thessalonians, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true.  Many of the Jews believed, as did also a number of prominent Greek women and many Greek men.” (Acts 17:10-12)

Paul and Silas had a habit of visiting the Jewish synagogues first in each city.  There they would preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ to the Jews first, and often this stirred up trouble.  They had done this in Thessalonica and the Jews stirred up trouble for them, not bothering to listen or check out from Scripture whether their message was true or not.  The brothers hid Paul and Silas until it was night and then sent them to Berea.  Their reception in Berea was better.

There was an obvious reason why these Bereans were more open.  They held the Scriptures in high regard and used them to test the words of every teacher and preacher that came their way.  When they saw that what Paul and Silas were proclaiming was from the Scriptures and lined up with what God had taught, they opened their hearts to salvation and the Gospel message!

I want to encourage you to take up the same habit as the Bereans!  Do you study the Scriptures each day so that you know what God has said for yourself?  When you go to church, do you take your Bible and check out what the preacher is saying with what the Bible actually teaches?  When you listen to radio or TV preachers, are you discerning their messages by the Bible?  There is a great need for more Bereans in the church of America today!

Satan loves to deceive and knows the Scriptures too.  He often uses false teachers who take the Scriptures and distort their truths for financial gain or to gather a following.  God has given us His Word and the Holy Spirit to discern what is true and what is false.  Ask the Lord for the heart of a Berean each time you listen to the word of God preached!  It may save you from trouble and heartache!

Scripture reading for June 25th: Acts 16:16-40

As Paul and Silas were going to prayer in Philipi, they were followed by a slave girl with a spirit of divination.   She was owned by some people who used her in fortune-telling.  This girl kept after the missionaries day by day shouting, “These men are  servants of the Most High God, who are telling you the way to be saved.” (Acts 16:17-18)  Finally, Paul became fed up with her taunting and in the Name of Jesus Christ commanded the spirit to come out of her.

It is interesting to note that the demons in this girl recognized who Paul and Silas were and what they were doing.  Their taunt, however, was derogatory.  Paul and Silas waited on the Holy Spirit and finally acted to silence this evil spirit.  This threw her owners into an uproar because they lost their source of income!  The idols of money and power go down screaming!  Paul and Silas were arrested, severely beaten and imprisoned before they could evade the worked up crowd!  They were placed in jail in stocks and under guard as vicious criminals.

Paul and Silas were not in despair, even if they were hurting and uncomfortable!  “About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them.  Suddenly their was such a violent earthquake that the foundations of the prison were shaken.  At once all the prison doors flew open, and everybody’s chains came loose.  The jailer woke up, and when he saw the prison doors open he drew his sword and was about to kill himself because he thought the prisoners had escaped.  But Paul shouted, “Don’t harm yourself! We are all here.”" (Acts 16:25-28)  Where God guides, He provides!  God responded to their faith and sent a most unusual earthquake.  His purposes were being worked out through the suffering of His servants and their trust in Him.

The jailer was so touched by Paul’s care for him that he asked how he might be saved!  Paul and Silas told him to believe on the Lord Jesus and he and his household were saved and baptized that night!  What was meant for evil, turned out for great good!  If you are suffering today because of your faith, why not take time to pray and worship?  God may send you a special earthquake!

Scripture reading for June 24th: Acts 15:32-16:15

God can use even our disagreements to further His purposes!  Our reading today contains a sharp disagreement between veteran missionaries Paul and Barnabas concerning whether or not to take along John Mark on a missions trip.  Paul felt that it was not wise because Mark had left them part-way through their last journey.  Barnabas was able to see beyond this flaw and stood up for taking him along.  In the end, these two parted company and we have two missions journeys instead of one!  It is possible to disagree agreeably!

The Holy Spirit played a major role in direction of these early missionaries.  As they traveled from town to town, God used them to strengthen the churches and bring in new believers.  They were going to go into the province of Asia, but the Holy Spirit stopped them.  Again, they tried to enter the province of Bithynia, but the Holy Spirit of Jesus said “No”.  (Acts 16:6-7)  Was God opposing His workers by not allowing them to preach in these areas?

God knows everything and has a plan to reach each person, city, and nation.  His great wisdom is brought to us by the Holy Spirit.  As Paul obeyed the Holy Spirit, he was given a vision of a man from Macedonia standing and calling out to him, “Come over to Macedonia and help us.” (Acts 16:9)  This vision was Paul’s direction to go there and preach the Gospel.  They were led by the Spirit on the Sabbath to a place by the river where some women were gathered for prayer.  God opened the heart of one of the women, Lydia, who believed and was baptized along with members of her household.  She opened her home to Paul and his companions.

When we delight ourselves in the Lord, He gives us the desires of our heart!  (Psalm 37:4)  We begin to want what He wants!  (Proverbs 16:3 AMP)  The Holy Spirit resides in us to take the things of God and reveal them to us.  When we are open and invite the Holy Spirit to fill us and lead us, it is amazing how divine ‘coincidences’ happen and God moves us to accomplish His will!  Why not begin this practice each day and allow the Book of Acts to come alive in your life?

Scripture reading for June 23rd: Acts 15:1-31

The church today is sometimes affected by legalism.  Well-meaning Christians, pastors, and leaders try to define holiness developing rules or traditions that help them define what pleases God.  This confuses people and often causes conflict and division.  The early church also struggled with this.  Most of the early church members were Jews and they had a history of keeping the Law of God.  These new believers struggled to know how to balance keeping the Law with salvation by faith through grace!

“Some men came down from Judea to Antioch and were teaching the brothers: “Unless you are circumcised, according to the custom taught by Moses, you cannot be saved.” (Acts 15:1)  This teaching brought sharp debate in the early church and Paul and Barnabas were appointed to go to Jerusalem to the apostles and elders to discuss this question.  They had seen God pour out His Spirit on uncircumcised Gentiles in many places where they were sent by the Holy Spirit to preach and disagreed with this teaching.

At Jerusalem, this conflict was found to be simmering as well.  There were believers who came from the party of the Pharisees who agreed that the Gentiles must be circumcised and required to obey the Law of Moses.  (Acts 15:5)  The apostles and elders gathered for discussion and Paul got up and addressed them.  He noted that God accepted the Gentiles and poured out the Holy Spirit on them without their keeping of the Law.  God purified their hearts by faith, not by law-keeping!  In fact, no Jew was ever able to keep the Law and become justified either!  (Acts 15:8-12)

James spoke up in agreement, citing the Old Testament prophet Amos as confirming Paul’s word to them.  “It is my judgment, therefore, that we should not make it difficult for the Gentiles who are turning to God.  Instead we should write to them telling them to abstain from food polluted by idols, from sexual immorality,  from the meat of strangled animals and from blood.” (Acts 15:19-20)    This seemed good to the elders and apostles and the Holy Spirit, so they sent Paul and Barnabas back to Antioch to share the ruling.

Salvation by grace alone was then taught by the early church.  Adding law would not be allowed to hinder people from coming to Christ from any background.  Are you trusting in Christ alone for salvation?

Scripture reading for June 22nd: Acts 14:8-28

Today’s prosperity gospel promises health, wealth and good times to those who will believe.  Those who preach this false gospel take the promises of God out of context or pick the ones that sound good and ignore the rest for their own gain and to draw a crowd.  They know how to use the Scriptures to their own advantage and tickle people’s ears!  The record of the ministry of Jesus and the church in Acts tells the true Gospel!

Jesus preached a message of the Kingdom of God that commanded people to repent!  He told his disciples that they would be blessed when they suffered hatred, insults and rejection because of Him.  They would be blessed if they were poor, hungry and weeping for His sake.   In fact if all men were speaking well of you, you probably were a false prophet!  (Luke 6:20-26)

At Lystra, Paul was used by God to heal a crippled man who was lame from birth.  Paul and Barnabas had a time with the crowd that gathered and tried to worship them.  They preached to them until some Jews from Antioch and Iconium came and dragged Paul out of the city and stoned him. The disciples prayed over him and God raised him up and he went back into the city.  (Acts 14:8-20)

“Then they returned to Lystra, Iconium and Antioch, strengthening the disciples and encouraging them to remain true to the faith.  “We must go through many hardships to enter the kingdom of God,” they said.  Paul and Barnabas appointed elders for them in each church and, with prayer and fasting, committed them to the Lord, in whom they put their trust.” (Acts 14:21b-23)  These disciples were fearless, realizing that God would take care of them.  They gave their lives to help God’s church and do what Jesus had commanded them.  They did not experience or preach a ‘prosperity’ gospel, but lived in the power and joy of the Holy Spirit accepting hardship and persecution as part of the package.

As you read these accounts of the early church and the preaching of these first apostles and missionaries, do you think the church today is preaching the same Gospel?  Are you living by the Gospel that Jesus and Paul preached?  Today is a good day to repent and be filled with the Holy Spirit!