SOULJournal

Acts 9

¹⁵ But the Lord said to Ananias, “Go! This man is my chosen instrument to carry my name before the Gentiles and their kings and before the people of Israel. ¹⁶ I will show him how much he must suffer for my name.”

Saul the persecutor was about to become Paul the apostle of Jesus Christ! His background and qualifications suited him perfectly for the work to which God had called him:
(1) He knew the Jewish culture and language well.
(2) Because he was reared in Tarsus he was well acquainted with the Greek culture and its philosophies.
(3) He possessed all the privileges of a Roman citizen.
(4) He was trained and skilled in Jewish theology.
(5) Because he was capable in a secular trade he was able to support himself.
(6) God gave him zeal, leadership qualities, and theological insight.

 

When God calls us to do something He gives us all that we would need to ensure success.  He uses our past experiences and training to His future glory.  What we must do is be willing to surrender those things to Him and allow Him to redeem them.  

 

Acts 8

On that day a great persecution broke out against the church at Jerusalem, and all except the apostles were scattered throughout Judea and Samaria... ⁴ Those who had been scattered preached the word wherever they went.

Now that is what I call making the most of a bad situation.

 

Acts 6

SCRIPTURE
"choose seven men from among you who are known to be full of the Spirit"

OBSERVATION
How can you tell if someone if full of the Holy Spirit?

UNDERSTANDING
When I was growing up I thought that being full of the Holy Spirit meant someone who spoke in tongues, prophesied and gave words of knowledge and wisdom etc.   But something bothered me about this model - it seemed like some of those same people who did all of those things were the same ones who treated their wives badly, were not known in the community as people of integrity etc.  (Obviously this is a generalized statement)  Where was the disconnect?  I think that if we think that being full of the Spirit are just those things then we miss the mark.  Not only are people to be showing the gifts of the Spirit (which is what these are)  but in the everyday living they are to be showing the fruits of the Spirit...love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, self-control, faithfulness and gentleness.  To be full of the Spirit means that these things are increasingly evident in our lives.  Gifts are the easy part, given to us, but fruit is something that must be cultivated.  To be known as someone full of the Spirit means that the fruit is obvious.  Of course there is more to this understanding of being full of the Spirit such as walking in step with the Holy Spirit (i.e being obedient to His leading), being a bold witness of the gospel, etc.

LIFE APPLICATION
Are you known as someone who is full of the Spirit?  How do we choose leaders in the church today?  Is this our criteria?  Let us cultivate the fruits of the Spirit in our lives as we allow the gifts to be manifested as well.

Acts 5

SCRIPTURE
3 Then Peter said, “Ananias, how is it that Satan has so filled your heart that you have lied to the Holy Spirit and have kept for yourself some of the money you received for the land? 4 Didn’t it belong to you before it was sold? And after it was sold, wasn’t the money at your disposal? What made you think of doing such a thing? You have not lied to men but to God.”

OBSERVATION
You can fool the people at church but you cant fool God.
UNDERSTANDING
Ananias and Sapphira are typical of many Christ-followers, they want the approval of people more than the approval of God.  In keeping back part of the money and saying that it was the whole amount pointed to a motive issue - they wanted to look good in front of people and disobeyed God to do so by lying.  The moral of this story is not that God is going to strike you dead if you do this because if that were so many of us would be dead right now.  The truth of this story is that such people pleasing and lying, and trying to manipulate our way to the top are all things that are displeasing to God. 

LIFE APPLICATION
Who are you living for?  Are you trying to look good in front of people while being disobedient to God in secret?  You are not fooling anyone and this action is displeasing to God.  Stop and repent, and don't do it anymore before it is too late.  Let us be God pleasers instead of men-pleasers.

Acts 4

SCRIPTURE
Acts 4

OBSERVATION
Persecution for the sake of the gospel is to be expected.

UNDERSTANDING
It was not very long after the church began that the persecution began as well.  Peter and John are arrested for their willingness to preach about Jesus.  As they stand before the people responsible for their persecution they model some things that we would be wise to emulate if we are to live lives worthy of our calling to be witnesses of the gospel. 
Peter and John are filled with the Spirit and obedient to His leading.  vs 8.
They are not afraid to seize the opportunities to preach about Jesus even though it seems like their lives are on the line.  vs 8-12
After they were released they did not run and hide but went to the rest of the fellowship so that they could have support, prayer and encouragement as they continued their mission. vs 23
They were thankful for the persecution and did not complain or whine about it.  They considered it a privilege.  vs 23-31
They prayed for more boldness to stand firm and not give in.  vs 23-31

LIFE APPLICATION
We in our setting are not persecuted by arrests and threat of death but there are many other ways we are persecuted in America.  We live in a very anti-Christ culture and the pressure to be politically correct is ever on us.  Let us be like the early church who did not water down or back down from presenting Jesus whenever and wherever they had the opportunity.  Ask the Holy Spirit to give you boldness to stand firm and not give in to the pressure and then be obedient to Him when He leads you.  As James reminds us, "Consider it pure joy when you face trials of many kinds..." James 1:2

Acts 3

SCRIPTURE
“Silver or gold I do not have, but what I have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk.”

OBSERVATION
The best gift we can give anyone is Jesus.

UNDERSTANDING
Peter and John were not rich men.  I am sure as they passed the man begging there was compassion in their hearts for him.  In their society it was important to take care of those who could not take care of themselves, so they felt a sense of obligation to the man as well.  But what are they to do?  No money to give him so let's ignore his cries and keep moving?  Thankfully they did not do that, they gave what from what they had, even if it was not what the man was really asking for.  They prayed for him and he was able to walk again. But not only walk again but come to belief in the Lord Jesus.

LIFE APPLICATION
Too often we pass people by and feel bad that we can do nothing for them because we dont have any money or resources to help them in their current request.  But do we stop long enough to give them something deeper?  Maybe we can pray for them.  I dont think it matters if they are healed or not, I think that it is the fact that we are willing to stop and direct them to Christ that is important.  Trust God to do the rest.  Don't limit yourself to helping people financially, what are some other ways we can introduce them to Jesus?  That was the whole point of the miracle - to introduce the beggar to Jesus.  Let us be creative in how we help people so that we introduce them to the One who can meet the deepest and most important needs of their lives.

Acts 2

Peter gets up and starts to preach to the onlooking crowd.  He gives them a gospel message that says...

• Jesus is a historic person 2:22
• Jesus was crucified and is now risen 2:23-24 3:13-15
• All this was prophesied 2:25-35 3:18
• Jesus is God’s Messiah 2:36 3:20
• All who turn and believe will be forgiven and given the Holy Spirit   2:37-38 3:19, 21-26

 ³⁷ When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?”

 ³⁸ Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. ³⁹ The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off—for all whom the Lord our God will call.”

On hearing the proof that Jesus was the Son of God come to save them, and witnessing the miracle of many men and women speaking the wonders of God in so many different languages, the people are cut to the heart and ask what shall we do?  Peter tells them that the first thing any person should do is make a radical and complete change of heart and life. Then let each one be baptized after this change has taken place.

The promise of the Holy Spirit is not just for the Jews, Peter prophesies, but it is for those who are far off, Gentiles, and for all whom our Lord will call, that includes us!  We have been promised the Holy Spirit who gives us power to be witnesses.  Are we living as though we have the power of the Holy Spirit present in our lives?  The presence and power of the Holy Spirit in our lives is a game changer, allowing us to live victorious and fruitful Christian lives.

 

Acts 28

Philippians 4:11 –Philippians 4:13 (NIV) 

I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do everything through him who gives me strength.

Paul as a Christian leader admonished the Philippian church to learn to be happy and joyful in all situations, making sure to look at the circumstances of life from God's perspective.  Many people would say, "Yeah right Paul, easy for you to say, but hard to do."  But Paul here was not speaking from theory but from the practice of his life.  He was the kind of leader who modeled the actions he asked people to do.  This particular recommendation about contentment can be seen in our reading of Acts 28...

³⁰ For two whole years Paul stayed there in his own rented house and welcomed all who came to see him. ³¹ He proclaimed the kingdom of God and taught about the Lord Jesus Christ—with all boldness and without hindrance!

Two years added to the probably two and a half years he had already spent being imprisoned for no good reason.  He could have thought that the situation of his life was terribly wrong but no sir not our Paul, he chooses to not only be content but to thrive in those moment.  I was reading a little history of Malta - there is a Christian population found on that island that traces itself back to the time of Paul's shipwreck when he didn't sit around sulking that he was a prisoner, but he helped with the work and was used powerfully by God to bring the gospel to those people.

Then there is Rome where he proclaimed the kingdom of God and taught about the Lord Jesus Christ with all boldness.  

Let us make the most of the circumstances of our lives.  No more whining! 

Acts 27

²³ Last night an angel of the God to whom I belong and whom I serve stood beside me ²⁴ and said, ‘Do not be afraid, Paul. You must stand trial before Caesar; and God has graciously given you the lives of all who sail with you.’ ²⁵ So keep up your courage, men, for I have faith in God that it will happen just as he told me. ²⁶ Nevertheless, we must run aground on some island.”

There is a saying that I live by that may sound crazy but I believe it to be true..."The servant of the Lord is indestructible until the Lord is done with him."  Now people may abuse that thought by thinking they could do whatever they want and God will protect them, but that is not what I mean.  I believe that when we are pursuing, in obedience, the will and plan of God then we don't have to be fearful for our lives.  God will protect us and keep us from harm until the time that our part we are playing in His plans is done.  Again, it does not mean that we will not experience hardships and trials - 2 weeks in a storm, fearing for your life qualifies as a hardship I would think - but in the middle of the hardships and trials God will keep us safe.

So keep courage and dont be afraid to step out in faith and do the things that God calls you to.  Some people run from what God calls them to because they think it is too dangerous for themselves and their family, but there is no safer place we can be than in God's plan and will. 

What is God calling you to do that seems dangerous, risky and scary?  He will protect you and keep you safe till such time as your part in His plan is completed.  Don't live scared, live bold and with confidence that the servant of God is indestructible until the Lord is done with him or her.

Acts 26

²⁹ Paul replied, “Short time or long—I pray to God that not only you but all who are listening to me today may become what I am, except for these chains.”

Always on purpose, Paul makes the most of every opportunity.  He knew his calling and he stayed focused.

Our mission, much like Paul's, is to go and make disciples (multiply Christ-followers everywhere).  The question is how on purpose are we? 
Are we focused on the mission at hand or do we get distracted with the circumstances of life? 
Are we making the most of every opportunity or are we missing most of the opportunities?