Acts 27

On his trip to Rome to appear before Caesar, Paul’s ship was dashed upon the rocks enroute. God sent an angel to reassure him that all on the ship would be safe if they would stay with him. As the angel predicted, they were preserved but the ship was lost.

We are experiencing one of life’s storms as we endure the Coronavirus pandemic. We sense God’s reassuring voice telling us that He has a plan and we will be preserved to fulfill His purposes. Yes, there will be some losses, but we will come out with our lives and the things most precious to us.

God, use this plague to bring souls to salvation.

Acts 24-26

Paul was arrested, imprisoned and tried on trumped up charges by the religious leaders of the day. He spoke truth. They fought truth.  (Sound familiar?)

He essentially gave testimony to his own life experiences. He told of what had happened to him on the road to Damascus when the Lord spoke out of a great light from heaven. His entire background prepared him to witness to Festus about his conversion and the power of the Gospel working in his life.  He also mentioned praying for Festus to understand the Gospel.

These two elements are predominant; (1) he gave testimony of his own experience, and (2) he was committed to prayer for unbelievers.

Testify and pray.

Testify and pray.

Acts 22,23

This will be an Easter to remember … quarantined and unable to go to church and celebrate the resurrection with other Christian believers. But, Christ is alive in our hearts so we can give Him praise in our homes. Yesterday and all through the night I have been singing Easter hymns in my heart. For me, the traditional hymns of Easter are a highpoint … “Christ Arose,” “He Lives,” “Christ the Lord is Risen Today,” among others.

It’s His resurrection power that now lives in us that gives this day its lasting importance. We can overcome every form of earthly restriction because Christ conquered death, hell, and the grave.

But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you.  [Romans 8:11]

Acts 21

Paul experienced very great opposition when he arrived in Jerusalem for the Passover. It seemed that the entire city of Jerusalem was against him. He caused a near riot when he was seen in public. He had to be rescued by the Roman soldiers.

You can be doing God’s work in a world-changing way and still incur vicious opposition.

“All that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.” 2 Tim. 3:12

Acts 20

Paul was such an honorable servant of God. He supported himself as he continued to preach and teach about Jesus. He stated, “I haven’t coveted anyone’s silver or gold or clothes … I have provided for myself and my companions using my own hands.”

This does not mean that pastors should be bi-vocational. It just means that Paul was so committed to the integrity of his ministry that he did not want ANY doubt on his motive for preaching.

When a minister has his eyes on material possessions, he is missing the mark. His eyes are probably not on Jesus alone.

Acts 18,19

When Paul came to Ephesus, he asked the believers, “Have you received the Holy Spirit?” He prayed for a group of twelve after baptizing them in the name of Jesus. He laid his hands on them. They received and began speaking in tongues.

This is the scriptural pattern for receiving the Holy Spirit infilling/baptism. This happened to me when I was 16 years old. I have prayed in tongues ever since.

When our daughter Ashley was born, she suffered a laryngospasm … her little vocal cords sealed off the airway and she started turning blue. When the nurse saw it, she hit the button on the wall and immediately medical people arrived and began working on her. Poor Patty, she was watching it all from her bed, having just given birth. I felt led to begin praying in the Spirit in tongues, under my breath. Praise the Lord, Ashley was OK.

” The Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.”  [Rom. 8:26]

Acts 17

When Paul preached at Berea, the Bible says the Jews there were more noble than others because they examined the scriptures daily. They were devoted students of God’s laws. It can be inferred that they had teachers and leaders who encouraged and modeled this healthy study habit.

For many years I relied upon my accrued understanding of God’s Word, not having cultivated the daily discipline of following a consistent pattern of daily scripture reading (I listen to it) and study. I was even in full-time ministry. Yes, I read the Bible, but it’s “more noble” to study the scriptures EVERYDAY!

Acts 16

When Paul encountered a demon-possessed woman on the way to the river to pray, he was so annoyed by her disruption that he turned and said, “In the name of Jesus Christ, I COMMAND YOU to come out of her.”  The spirit immediately left her.

When dealing with demon spirits, it’s wise to use scriptural wording. If it works for Paul, (and it’s recorded in scripture) don’t try to improve with your own methodology.

Acts 14,15

Because there was dispute over whether Gentiles needed to observe the law of Moses including circumcision etc., Paul and Barnabas were sent back to Jerusalem to appear before the Apostles and church leaders to get a ruling.

Peter, because of his revelation at the house of Cornelius, spoke of his conviction that Gentile hearts could be purified of sin by their faith in Christ in the same way that a Jew could receive salvation … a work of God’s grace.

The whole question of whether following the law merited salvation was settled. Faith and trust in Christ was the criteria, not observing dos and don’ts.

Acts 13

Paul took his opportunity to address the Jews in the synagogue at Antioch while on an evangelistic journey. In his discourse, he identified the fact that Christ, through His self-sacrifice, legally made those who believed in Him free from the penalty of EVERY SIN. There is no sin or offense His blood cannot cover.

We can walk through life with the power He gives us to be FREE FROM SIN.