Acts 23 - 5.5.25
Scripture
Acts 23:11 NIV
“The following night the Lord stood near Paul and said, “Take courage! As you have testified about me in Jerusalem, so you must also testify in Rome.””
Observation
Paul was before the Pharisees and Sanhedrin (again!), having to answer for his ministry in Jesus Christ. There was also a plot to kill him; however, before he learned of that plot, the Lord encouraged Paul to be courageous. He told him that he was still going to testify about Him in Rome. He didn’t want Paul to lose heart and told him he still had work to do.
Paul could have easily buckled under the weight of all the pressure on him. He could have easily been discouraged and decided to quit the mission because the journey was too hard. But, Paul didn’t quit. He kept pressing forward and having hope in the Lord to complete the mission. Why? Because the Holy Spirit was in him and with him.
Application
Continue being filled with Holy Spirit and lean on His great faithfulness through the journey.
The journey of faith is not always easy, but when we are in line with God’s will, His Spirit will always provide the encouragement we need to continue pressing forward.
One of my goals several years ago was to memorize Ephesians 6:11-18, which is the passage on the armor of God. One particular part of the passage talks about putting on the full armor of God so that when the day of evil comes, we may be able to take our stand; but after we have done everything, just keep standing.
We cannot keep standing without the Holy Spirit. Also, continually being filled with His Spirit is not an option, but a must, especially when we understand who is warring against our spirit. Ephesians says that our struggle is against the rulers, authorities, powers of this dark world and the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. It is not just the B-team. It is the A-team heads of evil! The only One able to defeat them and the only One who they have no hold over is Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior! So why wouldn’t we want His Holy Spirit residing in us and being filled with Him everyday?
Are you facing an obstacle right now where you are tempted to throw in the towel? Read and memorize the armor of God in Ephesians 6 and be encouraged to stand firm in the Lord! Ask the Holy Spirit to fill You with His truth.
Prayer
Dear Lord, thank You for Your encouragement to keep standing firm, to keep pressing forward and to keep being on mission for You despite hardships and opposition. May we seek to always be filled with Your Holy Spirit so that we can withstand the pressures that come with living a life completely set apart for You. Amen.
-Michelle Gaddi
2 Chronicles 24 - 5.2.25
Scripture: 2 Chronicles 24:2, 8-14 NIV
“Joash did what was right in the eyes of the Lord all the years of Jehoiada the priest. At the king’s command, a chest was made and placed outside, at the gate of the temple of the Lord. A proclamation was then issued in Judah and Jerusalem that they should bring to the Lord the tax that Moses the servant of God had required of Israel in the wilderness. All the officials and all the people brought their contributions gladly, dropping them into the chest until it was full. Whenever the chest was brought in by the Levites to the king’s officials and they saw that there was a large amount of money, the royal secretary and the officer of the chief priest would come and empty the chest and carry it back to its place. They did this regularly and collected a great amount of money. The king and Jehoiada gave it to those who carried out the work required for the temple of the Lord. They hired masons and carpenters to restore the Lord’s temple, and also workers in iron and bronze to repair the temple. The men in charge of the work were diligent, and the repairs progressed under them. They rebuilt the temple of God according to its original design and reinforced it. When they had finished, they brought the rest of the money to the king and Jehoiada, and with it were made articles for the Lord’s temple: articles for the service and for the burnt offerings, and also dishes and other objects of gold and silver. As long as Jehoiada lived, burnt offerings were presented continually in the temple of the Lord.”
Observation:
Joash did what was right “all the years of Jehoiada the priest. A godly mentor kept him on track and motivated him to do great things for God.
The first attempt to collect money failed. The priests were going from town to town to collect.
The king took a different approach. He had a chest made and placed outside the temple gate and reissued the proclamation that they should bring to the Lord the contribution, most other versions do not use the word “tax,” that Moses required in the wilderness.
People and officials brought their contributions gladly. The chest was so full it kept having to be emptied.
There was enough to restore the temple to its original design and build articles for service.
What made the difference? I can only stipulate. The first time people were asking for money. The second an easy to access location was set up for them to come on their own accord and give. People responded and gave abundantly when they could do so on their own accord.
Application:
As I read this the abundance of the offerings really stood out to me. When I was praying over what verses to write about I hesitated using this one wondering, “Is this just sticking out to me because like the temple our church’s kids ministry and multipurpose rooms are in dire need of repair? Am I just supposed to pray about it myself?”
Coming back to it again, I felt I should share.
We all have needs in our lives. Truth be told my house needs lots of repair too! Am I trusting Him? Do I ask? Often I decide on my own I don’t have enough without seeking God. God has given us principals to follow.
“And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:19 NIV
Paul prayed this truth blessing after the Philippians had sacrificially gave to help his needs as he shared the Gospel.
On my second reading that there were the two attempts to collect the money needed also stood out to me. This is a good point for all of us to remember, if our first attempt is not successful try again. Keep obeying and encouraging others to do the same.
Another nugget, when we follow God’s directives to tithe and give generously His kingdom gets built. His house will have all it needs to function for His glory.
Don’t give up. God does not want His house in disrepair.
You are His. He will make sure what we have is what we need in our personal houses.
Joash declared the people should give as God commanded and set up the place for them to give. We need to have faith to ask things that are in accordance with God’s word. Share the rewards obedience brings.
Prayer:
Lord, thank you for always providing for our needs. You want us to live in abundance. We are so blessed to have all that we do. Please help us be grateful and to obey your Word. Please provide for the needs of Desert Streams, all the churches, and your people, as we are faithful to You.
Stir up in hearts the faith to obey your command to tithe and give. So, just like what happened with Joash our “temple” meeting place will be restored. We want this because we know lives will be changed and You will be glorified. Amen
- Cindy Howard
ACTS 19 - 05.01.25
SCRIPTURE -Acts 19:1
“While Apollos was at Corinth,
Paul took the road through the interior and arrived at Ephesus…..
[apologies in advance for a looonnng SOAP…] 🫣
OBSERVATION
This first verse refers back to what we read in chapter 18 when we come upon a man named Apollos. A man spiritually impassioned—eloquent and cultured—AND well versed in the Old Testament.
Although this verse is a mere “lead-in” to Paul’s Main story, the story of Apollos catches my attention with great importance because of the opportunity we have with our “small groups”.
Where did Apollos come from???
Allow me to go back a few steps further to when Paul shared the Gospel in Corinth. For this is where we first meet Aquila, a Jew, and his wife, Priscilla.
The couple had come to Corinth and settled there, pursuing their trade as tentmakers, when Emperor Claudius expelled all Jews from Italy.
Paul was also a tentmaker who lived and worked with Aquila and Priscilla while establishing the Corinthian Church. Priscilla and Aquila were Faithful and valuable disciples during Paul’s time in Corinth. So valuable that after a year and a half, when Paul left for Ephesus—He took Priscilla and Aquila with him.
The couple ended up staying in Ephesus establishing a church in their home there while Paul continued on in his missionary journey (1 Cor 16:19).
And—It is in Ephesus—that Priscilla and Aquila come upon a powerful and eloquent preacher named Apollos. Apollos would go into the Jewish synagogues and preach with a similar fervor to John the Baptist—but in a more refined manner.
Apollos’ knowledge of scripture and Jesus was accurate BUT incomplete. He Knew Jesus had come—but it was John’s baptism he was still preaching.
He hadn’t YET been given The COMPLETE Gospel Message
-Jesus death on the Cross and His Shed blood for the remission of our sins
-Jesus resurrection on the third day demonstrating that HE conquered death and sin for those who believe in HIM AND assures us an eternity in Heaven.
-the Gift of the indwelling of the Holy Spirit for each believer who receive Jesus as their Savior and Lord through His accomplished work on the Cross.
-AND the mystery that Jesus accomplished work on the cross NOW brings Grace extended to All People—the CHURCH IN Unity for BOTH Jews and Gentiles.
Priscilla and Aquila brought Apollos into their home church and explained in detail to him each of these aspects SO he could Know Jesus as His Personal Lord and Savior.
The results were IMMEDIATE!
Apollos received the Good News
and THEN wanted to GO and Spread the Good News—to Southern Greece.
The believers in Ephesus encouraged him to do so—and wrote to the disciples to welcome him there.
Apollos became an “on fire” believer for Jesus Christ.
His testimony was SO Powerful that even the most skilled and learned Jews
had difficulty refuting him. He became a master “debater”.
Today, we might say Apollos was given the gift of apologetics being highly skilled and proficient in the ability to argue biblically and factually
that Jesus Christ was in fact—The Messiah!
Many people Came to KNOW Jesus as Lord and Savior Through His Ministry!
(1 Corinthians 1:12, 3:4-6, 4:6).
“You are still worldly.
For since there is jealousy and quarreling among you, are you not worldly?
Are you not acting like mere humans?
For when one says, “I follow Paul,” and another, “I follow Apollos,”
are you not mere human beings? What, after all, is Apollos? And what is Paul?
Only servants, through whom you came to believe—as the Lord has assigned to each his task.
I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God has been making it grow.”
(1 Corinthians 3:3-6 NIV)
APPLICATION
Discipleship is SO important —who are you discipling?
There is a future Priscilla and Aquila AND Apollo Today waiting to be invested in…
I’ve read through Acts countless times—but never saw through this lens before.
God is laying on my heart deeply the story of these intersecting disciples.
We all have people we know that we can invest in. And we KNOW that God gives everyone special Gifts. Gifts that are specifically intended to BE used for His Kingdom.
When those gifts are Identified and Encouraged That individual is Being FULFILLED because they KNOW they are doing what God created them to DO.
Also—when we are doing what God created us for—the WHOLE Church is FILLED with LOVE, Healthy, and GROWING! (Ephesians 4:16)
This story stands out as well because it’s a story of redemption.
Priscilla and Aquila had experienced trauma, genuine heartache and loss. They were expelled from their home and homeland in Rome because Aquila was a Jew. Whatever business they had built up, friendships, roots, belongings, financial securities-these were gone because of a ruthless Emperor.
They must have wondered how will we ever be able to recoup?
Rome being THE City for business and enterprise.
They could have turned bitter and angry.
BUT—God!
God had a Better Plan! A plan that would bring them into Ministry for Him.
In Corinth where they would settle and rebuild—they would meet an Apostle named Paul. We don’t really know if they were already believers or became believers under Paul. What we DO know is that Paul discipled them and they were like sponges!…Learning so quickly that in just one and half years Paul wanted to bring them with him—and equally important—they WANTED to GO to Ephesus.
Priscilla and Aquila had the gift of hospitality from the beginning inviting Paul to live with them and hosting others into their home, starting a church in their home.
AND, They saw gifting in others.
When Apollos was teaching with fervor—they didn’t dismiss him because his knowledge was incomplete. They SAW the Gift and Invested in him by sharing the COMPLETE Information about the Gospel.
Apollos gladly RECEIVED the Teaching and Training.
And shortly thereafter he was ready to GO out on mission and SHARE!
Paul invested in Priscilla and Aquila.
Priscilla and Aquila invested in Apollos.
God’s Gospel keeps spreading!!!
On a final note:
When Paul was imprisoned in Rome and writing Timothy for the last time—Timothy was Pastoring in Ephesus. And who is with him?? Aquila and Priscilla are STILL there in Ephesus—faithfully ministering and receiving Christians in their home and spreading the Gospel. (2 Timothy 4:19)
Discipleship is about inviting others into a closer more intimate relationship with Jesus. AND—Inviting them into our lives.
Showing them first hand what that looks like. Giving them a front row seat WITHOUT any “smoke and mirrors”. Life sometimes is challenging and throws us a curve. How are we handling it as Christ Followers? Allowing others “in” is the best way for them to experience and learn what it means to “Turn to Jesus” for every need in addition to our lifestyle of being in His word, daily prayer, worship, serving and relationships—Giving space for them to ask questions openly so they can learn to make godly choices out of a heart that is daily being more transformed into the image of Christ.
“And so, dear brothers and sisters,
I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all he has done for you.
Let them be a living and holy sacrifice—the kind HE will find acceptable.
This IS truly the way to worship him.
Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world,
but LET God —-TRANSFORM you into a NEW person
by CHANGING the WAY —you THINK.
Then —you will learn to KNOW— God’s will for you,
which is good and pleasing and perfect.”
(Romans 12:1-2 NLT)
“Go therefore and make disciples”
EVERYONE—is given this command by Jesus. No one is exempt.
If you are a disciple
YOU are Called by Jesus
to GO and Make disciples.
PRAYER
LORD Jesus,
Thank You for Your Word Today. Thank You Lord that there are SO many examples You Give us of Disciples. YOU Love to equip Your People and See them flourish in Your Kingdom for Your glory! May we BE encouragers of each other to spur each other on towards Good Works that please honor You Lord. Help me Lord to keep my eyes on You and not Copy what’s going on in this world but to remain pure before You. Change the way I think and Transform and Wash me with Your Word. Help me to be a good, righteous and loving example to those You have placed in my life. Help me to be first and foremost focused on pleasing YOU above all. Give me boldness and help me Lord to be at Your feet AND Be the feet that carry Your Good News.
Here I am Lord, Send me.
Tina L Kudelka.