Acts 14 - 09.19.24

SCRIPTURE: Acts 14:21-22 NIV

“Then Paul and Barnabas 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.”

OBSERVATION 

What an important piece of scripture is in this chapter. Paul and Barnabas are missionaries sent to “GO and MAKE Disciples” — not converts.

In order to Strengthen the “disciples” they “return” to Lystra, Iconium, and Antioch and encourage these new believers to remain TRUE to The FAITH—

explaining to them that “persecution” is part of the walk with Jesus.

APPLICATION 

Strengthening in the Faith

Paul and Barnabas returned to Antioch—

where they had been Forcibly expelled from the City (13:50), Iconium—where they were alerted to a Threat of Stoning (14:5),  and Lystra—where Paul actually was stoned and left for dead!

Paul and Barnabas went BACK to the very cities where they had encountered GREAT Danger—because they understood the IMPORTANCE of Strengthening

the new disciples in their Faith.

Strengthen-the root word in this scripture was used in a present tense—strengthen-ing--meaning a  continual process. 

In this context the word was only used 3-times —all in the New Testament AND all in the book of Acts (15:32, 15:41). 

God desires for us to Continually—be Strengthening our Faith —

tribulations and hardships—WILL—Come—they are a part of our walk with Jesus.

We will Not be able to Stand Up against these Trials—If we are NOT continually Strengthening our Faith.

How did Paul and Barnabas strengthen the disciples?

They—Prayed and Fasted for them and appointed elders in each of the new churches.

“When they had appointed elders for them in every church, having prayed with fasting, they entrusted them to the Lord…” (Acts 14:23a AMP)

Prayer and Fasting to seek God’s perfect will and His Strength for all we do is a necessary part of our walk with God.

Submitting to Leadership in the church and having Discipleship in our personal lives is also an important lifestyle. We each need someone who we can be transparent AND accountable with IN Prayer in order to Grow in Spiritual Maturity.

THE POWER OF PRAYER

“Are any of you suffering hardships? 

You should pray. 

Are any of you happy? 

You should sing praises. 

Are any of you sick? 

You should—call for the elders of the church—to come and pray over you, 

anointing you with oil—in the Name of the Lord. 

Such a prayer—offered in faith—will heal the sick—and the Lord will make you well. 

And if you have committed any sins—you will be forgiven. 

Confess your sins—to each other—and pray for each other—

so—that you may—be healed. 

The earnest prayer—of a righteous person—has Great Power 

and Produces wonderful Results. 

Elijah was as human as WE are—

and yet WHEN he PRAYED earnestly—that NO rain would FALL—

none fell—for three and a half years! 

Then, when he PRAYED again, 

the sky sent down rain—and the earth began—to yield its crops.”

(James 5:13-18 NLT)

PRAYER

LORD Jesus,

Thank YOU for YOUR Word. I Take YOU at Your Word. YOU are a Faithful GOD-searching for those whose hearts are COMPLETELY yours. FILL me fresh-Today. Remove anything in me that is a hindrance. Give me Your Eyes and Your Heart. Open my understanding. Nothing is Impossible for YOU. YOU Part the SEA and YOU walk over Storms to demonstrate YOUR LOVE. In Your Love there is NO Fear. If God is For us-who can be against us. May we BE strengthened by Your Word, prayer, fasting and by encouraging each other in our faith. May it be our lifestyle. In Jesus Name. Amen.

Tina L Kudelka

Acts 13 - 9.18.24

Scripture

As they ministered to the Lord and fasted, the Holy Spirit said, “Now separate to Me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.” (Acts 13:2, KJV).

Observation

Paul has had a dramatic encounter with Jesus, and has turned from a Christ-persecutor to a Christ-follower in the previous chapters. Initially the other Christians were scared of him because of his violent past, and suspected that he was masquerading as a believer just to get into the church, and expose them to the authorities. All this changed because of Barnabas’ involvement. Barnabas brought Paul to the church in Jerusalem, introduced him to the apostles and testified of the great work God was doing through him, and got him accepted into the community of believers. 

Here in chapter 13, we see Paul and Barnabas worshipping the Lord and fasting. They were “ministering” to God while worshiping. Other translations (NASB, AMP) say they were serving God and fasting. Worship is our service to God, and we minister to God while worshipping. It is interesting to note that fasting was part of their worship to God. They were not fasting for a specific need or prayer request. They were fasting to seek God. 

Then the Holy Spirit revealed His direction for them. “Now separate to Me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them”. There was a call on Paul’s and Barnabas’ life, and there was a purpose they were called to accomplish together in ministry. But for this call to be appropriated in their life, they need to put themselves in a place where they could hear God. They worshipped, fasted, prayed and waited on God. And then the calling on their life was revealed, and as verse 4 says “they were sent out by the Holy Spirit”.

Paul would later become the great apostle of Christ to the gentiles, even writing half of the new testament. But everything started by seeking God in fasting and prayer.

Application

If we want to accomplish God’s purpose in our lives, there is a cost. There is a price to be paid. Will we make pursuit of God our priority? God’s word commands us to “seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness” (Matthew 6:33). Ana was an 84-year old widow, one of the only two people to whom God revealed his Son, when he was brought to the temple for dedication as a baby. What made Ana special? She “served” God with “fasting and prayer” night and day (Luke 2:37, NKJV). Would we choose to be like Ana, and be faithful in seeking God in fasting and prayer, on a regular basis? 

Prayer

Father, I don’t want to miss out on your plan for my life. As you did for Paul and Barnabas, please separate me for the work for which you have called me. Help me to seek you first. Help me to serve you with regular prayer and fasting. Please send me and accomplish the purpose that you created me for. Make my life a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to you. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

- Asha Chacko George

Acts 12 - 9.17.24

SCRIPTURE:  Acts 12:11-16  " Then Peter came to himself and said, "Now I know for certain that the Lord has sent His angel and rescued me from Herod's grasp and from all that the Jewish people expected."  When he realized this, he went to the house of Mary, the mother of John Mark, where many had assembled and were praying.  He knocked at the door in the gateway, and a servant named Rhoda came to answer.  She recognized Peter's voice, and because of her joy, she did not open the gate but ran in and announced that Peter was standing at the gateway.  "You're crazy!" they told her.  But she kept insisting that it was true.  Then they said, "It's his angel!".  Peter, however, kept on knocking, and when they opened the door and saw him, they were astounded."

OBSERVATION:  I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE this story!  

Even though Peter had been bound with, not one, but two chains, and was being guarded by two soldiers who were next to him while he was sleeping, and sentries were guarding the prison door, God miraculously freed Peter from his chains, and set him free!  God had sent an angel to free Peter from his chains, and led him past the first and second guard posts, and then past the iron gate that led him back to the city. 

The prison guards never heard the angel talking to Peter.  They never heard the chains falling off of him, and no one saw him escape the prison door!  

Some might ask, why did God even allow Peter to have to go to prison in the first place?  Why didn't He protect him from the whole ordeal?  As we read on in the story, we are clearly able to see that because God is sovereign, and that He  knows all things, He allowed Peter to prison to to prison because He knew the end of the story!  God already knew that Mary, and the others who were assembled at her house would be praying for Peter's release.  He graciously chose to hear and answer their prayers, and He did it in a supernatural way that left NO DOUBT that this was indeed a mighty act of God!  How interesting that even while the believers were praying for Peter's, release, when they saw how God had answered their prayer, they were astonished!

APPLICATION:  Sometimes when we pray, we are more focused on our limitlessness, more than on God's unlimited power!  When things appear to be impossible to us, we tend to "limit" God's miraculous ability - by not praying.  

This story is SO encouraging because we serve a God Who is all powerful, and He not only has the ability to do the impossible, He is willing to do it for us, even when we need a miracle!  

PRAYER:  I pray I will put my faith in God's unfailing, unlimited power and ability to do the impossible!  I thank Him that He is always present, and is always willing and available to hear and answer our prayers.  No matter if we need healing, encouragement, strength, direction, protection, or provision, our sovereign and gracious God loves to answer when we pray in faith according to His will.  

- Robin Orefice