20th Week Acts 23-27 (Click here for Video Intro)
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Monday, Acts Chapter 23
Acts 23
Verse 16
Jeanie Boldt
December 2, 2004
Verse 16: But when the son of Paul's sister heard of this plot, he went into the barracks and told Paul.
THOUGHT
I guess I had never thought about Paul having family. He was so devoted to the Lord Jesus that he sacrificed his life to serve out Lord. However, we find that his extended family was cheering him on and supporting him and helping him. I look at it as if Bart were to stick up for me and to come to my defense.
How awesome of the Lord to use Paul’s nephew and a child at that. It doesn't matter who you are, how old you are or what you look like. If the Lord wants to use you in the plan, YOU will respond.
Praise God for these non-mentioned people in the Bible who are so vitally important. I am sure Paul is still singing his praises to the Lord for this act. You can so see the Hand of God in the life of Paul.
PRAYER
God our Father, use me today in whatever way You so desire. May I support fellow Christians and stand up for those who fulfill Your purpose in their lives. Please be with all the Christians who are being persecuted. May they feel Your touch. Help us realize that we are important to You no matter how small we may feel sometimes. We Salt Shakers are here for You, Lord. AMEN
Tuesday, Acts Chapter 24
Acts 24
Verse 16
Jeanie Boldt
December 10, 2004
Verse 16: So I strive always to keep my conscience clear before God and man.
THOUGHT
I have always believed that the Holy Spirit is a large part of our conscience. In fact, Rory and I were visiting about this on the way home from Hudson at Thanksgiving. It is by His presence that we have a sincere desire to do well before God and man as Paul stated. It is no fun not feeling right with the Holy Spirit.
I am telling you that my Grandma Hall so introduced me to this Spirit. She could say things in the perfect way to make you go down the path that the Lord would want you to take. We kids felt this in her discipline. We didn't want to disappoint our parents and the Lord for He says to honor your parents. SOOOOO we did as she directed without her raising her voice or becoming angry. She used the Holy Spirit through her close relationship with our friend, Jesus.
I so pray that you who are parents right now and some will someday be, that you introduce your children to Jesus through the Holy Spirit. It makes wanting to do things right easier with the help of the Lord, Jesus Christ. I praise God for Tanya and how she is teaching her little ones of Jesus and His love.
PRAYER
Father God, at times I wish the Holy Spirit was asleep while I went about my daily living. It would be a lot easier for the right way sometimes is not the one that seems the easier of the two. However, You did give us a choice right from the start. Help us to feel the Holy Spirit deep in our souls and live and act and love and respond the way that You desire. We praise You for this part of the Trinity. We would be lost down here on earth without it. Give us direction that makes the right way very noticeable and direct. In all things, again we see how Your plan was perfect. AMEN
Wednesday, Acts Chapter 25
Acts 25
Verse 11b:
Heather Williams
December 7, 2004
Verse 11b: "l appeal to Caesar!"
THOUGHT
Paul's story amazes me. I can't believe they kept him in prison for two years. They wouldn't let him go. I can't help but think of all our large court cases publicized by the media. I think that Paul's would have been.
Anyway, what caught my attention with this chapter was when I was reading my application, and it mentioned how Paul wanted to go to preach in Rome. He thought, well it's better to go to Rome as a prisoner than not to go at all, so he appealed to Caesar. Can you imagine?? He wanted to go there so bad he was willing to go as a prisoner to preach to them.
This reminded me of a story Brennan Manning, an author, spoke of on Sunday. He had mentioned how he went to live in a prison in Switzerland to preach to the prisoners since they weren't able to go to church. His identity was kept from them, and he witnessed to them by building relationships with them. He also spent some time on a shrimp boat in the Gulf because fishermen weren't going to church. So, he brought the Word to them. What a testimony!! It really convicted me to think how little I go out of my comfort zone to share the Word.
PRAYER
Lord, this is a hard prayer to pray, but challenge each of us to go outside our comfort zones to spread Your Word. Provide us not only opportunities but willing hearts. Thank You for Your amazing unfailing love. Help us share that love through living our lives each day. AMEN
Thursday, Acts Chapter 26
Acts 26
Verse 29
Heather Williams
December 7, 2004
Verse 29: Paul replied, “Short time or long - I pray, God, that not only you but all who are listening to me today may become what I am, except for these chains.”
THOUGHT
I guess the thing that stood out to me most in this chapter was Paul's confident, courageous, account of why he's a Christian and saying the things he preached. Agrippa gave him the chance to defend himself or testify to his actions, and he took him up on it. The Bible tells us to be prepared to give the reason of the hope that is in us, and also to give honor to whom honor is due, without flattery or fear of man. Well, Paul gives us a real example of this in Acts 26. He wasn't afraid of what would happen to him; he spoke without fear and with confidence sharing his story. In fact, I bet he was excited when he was given the chance to speak.
It wasn't an easy road for him to get where he was. He went through a divine conversion. The Spirit had to work in his heart. Paul urged that it should be a concern for everyone to become a true Christian; that there is grace enough in Christ for all. He expressed his full conviction of the truth of the gospel, the absolute necessity of faith in Christ in order to receive salvation. Such salvation from such bondage, the gospel of Christ offers to the Gentiles, to a lost world.
Yet, it is with the work of the Holy Spirit that any person can be persuaded. He needs a work of grace on his heart, like that which was needed for the conversion of the Gentiles. Let us beware of fatal hesitation in our own conduct. May we invite others into Christ’s family.
PRAYER
Lord, thank You for Your Word. Thank You for providing us with real life examples to follow. Thank You for Paul's life testimony and his teachings. Help us to be prepared to share Your love and salvation to any one at any time. AMEN
Friday, Acts Chapter 27
Acts 27
Verse 25
Heather Williams
December 9, 2004
Verse 25: "So keep up your courage, men, for I have faith in God that it will happen just as he told me."
THOUHT
Now that's faith. Paul obviously had a close relationship with God and trusted in Him and in what He told him. He was a prisoner on this boat, yet he stepped out in faith and told them what to do and encouraged them.
What if he had been wrong? He probably would have been killed. But because of his faith and trust in God and his relationship with God, he was able to trust God and survive this trip. Not only that, but the highest ranked official on the boat appreciated Paul for his words and saved his life and the lives of others as a result. Paul was a faithful servant and as a result his life was prolonged.
PRAYER
Lord, help us to grow in our faith and trust in You. Help us to step out in faith each day by what we say and what we do. You are ever faithful to us. May we hold fast to that faithfulness and trust in You. May we be Your faithful servants. AMEN
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