Read: Acts 27
We see how Paul gains respect as a prophet of God. He tries to warn the centurion in vs 10 of what God has showed him would happen but the centurion decided to take the advise of the head sailor. I imagine the weather was fair without a cloud in the sky but God was setting the centurion up to do His purpose, which was to save Paul's life. Sure enough, the storm hits and try as they might, they could not land the ship on any of the islands they passed. Finally they are driven out to sea. After many days they start throwing things over the ship. Isn't that what we do when we are in a trial. The trivial things or of no use or importance. We only hold on to the things that give us life. Time goes by in darkness and everyone has time to contemplate life and death and the future....if there is one. Paul waits till then, when they are totally humbled, to speak. He reminds them of his warning that this would happen.
And since he was right about that, they figure he might be right about the next thing he is about to tell them. He tells them to not worry he has good news. Who doesn't want to hear that at a time like this. An angel had appeared to Paul that night and told him that Paul and all the men with him would make it to Rome, but first they would be cast upon an island. On the 14th night they realized they were getting closer and closer to land. There were huge rocks in the water and the shipmen started to get into a life boat and go ashore to save their own lives until Paul saw them and told the centurion that if they didn't get back into the boat the people left would not be saved. By this time the centurion believed Paul's words and commanded them back into the boat. (Sometimes what looks like the quick answer to get out of your trial is the very thing that will make your trial longer. The only way through is to ask God's guidance.)
Finally the ship broke in half and those who could swim, swam ashore and the others floated on boards from the ship. All were saved and all Paul's words had come true. May we, like Paul, triumph in our trials through God's word to us.
Thursday, May 7, 2009
Wednesday, May 6, 2009
Wed.'s Devo - No Regrets!
Read Acts 25 & 26
I know this is a lot of reading for one day but it's a complete thought. Paul testifies in Jerusalem and is pressing on to Rome. Remember God told him that he would be his witness in Jerusalem and in Rome. Paul is on the home stretch. Everywhere he goes his accusers are right behind him. They tell there side with lots of lies and Paul tells the truth with lots of power. Paul stands before the leaders of the nations and gets to tell his salvation experience. Every one of them realizes Paul has done nothing worthy of death so they just send him on to the next leader. Little do they know they are playing right into God's will. They were Paul's personal body guards that made sure he got to where God was sending him unharmed. What the enemy meant for harm, God meant for good.
When Paul stands before King Agrippa he recounts his whole life story and what Jesus has done for him. When he gets to the part about Jesus dieing and rising from the dead, Festus tells him he is crazy. Paul respectfully tells him he is not crazy but totally sober. Paul keeps speaking life over him. He says things like: I know you understand this, none of this is hidden from you, and I know you believe the prophets. Finally Agrippa said to him, "Paul, almost you persuade me to be a Christian." After the trial, the judges meet and discusse what to do. They come to the same conclusion: Paul has done nothing worthy of imprisonment or death. We could have set him free if he had not appealed to Caesar.
So Paul is on his way to stand before Caesar.
What does all this mean to us? We have a destiny. We can check out anytime we want or we can boldly march in the face of the enemy doing God's will without fear. It is definitely the exciting life and the one with no regrets. Lord, may we live our lives boldly for You with no regrets.
I know this is a lot of reading for one day but it's a complete thought. Paul testifies in Jerusalem and is pressing on to Rome. Remember God told him that he would be his witness in Jerusalem and in Rome. Paul is on the home stretch. Everywhere he goes his accusers are right behind him. They tell there side with lots of lies and Paul tells the truth with lots of power. Paul stands before the leaders of the nations and gets to tell his salvation experience. Every one of them realizes Paul has done nothing worthy of death so they just send him on to the next leader. Little do they know they are playing right into God's will. They were Paul's personal body guards that made sure he got to where God was sending him unharmed. What the enemy meant for harm, God meant for good.
When Paul stands before King Agrippa he recounts his whole life story and what Jesus has done for him. When he gets to the part about Jesus dieing and rising from the dead, Festus tells him he is crazy. Paul respectfully tells him he is not crazy but totally sober. Paul keeps speaking life over him. He says things like: I know you understand this, none of this is hidden from you, and I know you believe the prophets. Finally Agrippa said to him, "Paul, almost you persuade me to be a Christian." After the trial, the judges meet and discusse what to do. They come to the same conclusion: Paul has done nothing worthy of imprisonment or death. We could have set him free if he had not appealed to Caesar.
So Paul is on his way to stand before Caesar.
What does all this mean to us? We have a destiny. We can check out anytime we want or we can boldly march in the face of the enemy doing God's will without fear. It is definitely the exciting life and the one with no regrets. Lord, may we live our lives boldly for You with no regrets.
Tuesday, May 5, 2009
Tuesday's Devo -What is Your Platform?
Read Acts 24
Paul is brought before Felix, the governor and his accuser, Tetullus is speaking his beef against Paul. He accuses him of being a pest, a leader of a rebellion, a ringleader of the Nazarenes and profaning the temple. Paul was a pest to the religious community but it was the Word he preached that divided the people. The only rebellion he was a part of was the rebellion against the truth. He had vowed one vow which, I guess in their eyes, made him a leader of the whole sect. Profaning the temple would not fall in the governor's interest since he is not a Jew.
Now it's time for Paul's defense. He declares his innocence once more and then confesses his faith. After all, that is why he came. He keeps talking about resurrection because that is the power of the cross.
Nothing that Paul is accused of is worthy of arrest or imprisonment but Felix is a weak leader and he wants to wait and ask Felix (another Felix), the chief captain who is coming soon. He puts Paul in house arrest and allows him to have company.
When Felix #2 comes he brings his Jewish wife Drusilla. They listen to Paul and send him back to prison so they can think about it. He was hoping Paul would try to bribe him so he kept asking to meet with him. This went on for 2 years till he needed to make a decision. He decided to keep the Jews happy and left him bound. By the way, "Felix" means "happy". I guess it was his destiny to please man and keep them happy.
The great thing about all these false accusations was that it kept giving Paul a platform to proclaim the truth to those who would have never came to hear him speak. It got the message out of the church building. If we don't go to the world the Lord will find a way for us to have a platform. Jail anyone?
Paul is brought before Felix, the governor and his accuser, Tetullus is speaking his beef against Paul. He accuses him of being a pest, a leader of a rebellion, a ringleader of the Nazarenes and profaning the temple. Paul was a pest to the religious community but it was the Word he preached that divided the people. The only rebellion he was a part of was the rebellion against the truth. He had vowed one vow which, I guess in their eyes, made him a leader of the whole sect. Profaning the temple would not fall in the governor's interest since he is not a Jew.
Now it's time for Paul's defense. He declares his innocence once more and then confesses his faith. After all, that is why he came. He keeps talking about resurrection because that is the power of the cross.
Nothing that Paul is accused of is worthy of arrest or imprisonment but Felix is a weak leader and he wants to wait and ask Felix (another Felix), the chief captain who is coming soon. He puts Paul in house arrest and allows him to have company.
When Felix #2 comes he brings his Jewish wife Drusilla. They listen to Paul and send him back to prison so they can think about it. He was hoping Paul would try to bribe him so he kept asking to meet with him. This went on for 2 years till he needed to make a decision. He decided to keep the Jews happy and left him bound. By the way, "Felix" means "happy". I guess it was his destiny to please man and keep them happy.
The great thing about all these false accusations was that it kept giving Paul a platform to proclaim the truth to those who would have never came to hear him speak. It got the message out of the church building. If we don't go to the world the Lord will find a way for us to have a platform. Jail anyone?
Monday, May 4, 2009
Monday's Devo - Paul...Satan's Greatest Nightmare
Read Acts 23
Paul loves confrontation and is intimidated by no one. He claimed not guilty and was slapped on the mouth. He smarts off to the one who slapped him only to find out it was the high priest. Paul actually apologizes to him because he honors God's Word and the office he held.
It was revealed to him that the court was divided between Saducees and Pharasees. So he uses that to divide them. He was once a Pharasee and they believe in angels and the resurrection; the Sadducees don't believe in either. He has experienced both so that is his platform. It works well since "a house divided against itself cannot stand". They finally had to rescue Paul from being torn apart by the council and put him back at the castle. That night God stood before him and told him not to fear, he was going to testify also in Rome. That had to be comforting a little. At least he wasn't going to die tomorrow.
The devil hated Paul. He was always trying to kill him because Paul's testimony was so loud and powerful. God knows the enemies plans and gets them to God's people. The people who vowed to kill Paul were overheard by Paul's nephew so they ordered 200 soldiers and 200 spearsmen to accompany Paul out of the city. They left that night instead of the next day when they had planned. When God wants something accomplished he will use the enemy to do his will. So Paul is delivered safely to the governor of Caesarea.
We need Paul's in this age: men and women who are willing to lay down their lives for the kingdom. I want to be that kind of warrior; dangerous to the enemy.
Paul loves confrontation and is intimidated by no one. He claimed not guilty and was slapped on the mouth. He smarts off to the one who slapped him only to find out it was the high priest. Paul actually apologizes to him because he honors God's Word and the office he held.
It was revealed to him that the court was divided between Saducees and Pharasees. So he uses that to divide them. He was once a Pharasee and they believe in angels and the resurrection; the Sadducees don't believe in either. He has experienced both so that is his platform. It works well since "a house divided against itself cannot stand". They finally had to rescue Paul from being torn apart by the council and put him back at the castle. That night God stood before him and told him not to fear, he was going to testify also in Rome. That had to be comforting a little. At least he wasn't going to die tomorrow.
The devil hated Paul. He was always trying to kill him because Paul's testimony was so loud and powerful. God knows the enemies plans and gets them to God's people. The people who vowed to kill Paul were overheard by Paul's nephew so they ordered 200 soldiers and 200 spearsmen to accompany Paul out of the city. They left that night instead of the next day when they had planned. When God wants something accomplished he will use the enemy to do his will. So Paul is delivered safely to the governor of Caesarea.
We need Paul's in this age: men and women who are willing to lay down their lives for the kingdom. I want to be that kind of warrior; dangerous to the enemy.
Sunday, May 3, 2009
Sunday's Devo - In the Midst of Trials
That is where we are right now...in the midst of a trial. We got a letter this week from the IRS saying that in 2007 we under paid our taxes $14,000!!! Not the kind of mail you want to get. That year we got back over that amount and the IRS sent us a second check saying they owed us even more. Now they want it all back. Well, needless to say, my dear husband was devastated. We have investments that we don't know that much about it but we had gotten advise from his accountant/ brother as to how to fill out that part on the tax return. Now they are saying we did it wrong. Well, I'm not taking that sitting down. I told the devil what he can do with that and I told him he was not stealing that money from us. We try to use our money for God's kingdom and see our money as God's money. Just a couple of weeks I stood before a group of people and said, "God is looking for a people that will give extravagantly to the Lord and his kingdom. And for those people, He is going to pour more and more money into their hands so they can use it for God." And now, this happens. It is obvious it is the enemy's doings. I love a challenge from the enemy. It is like Goliath coming out and taunting God's army. All it takes is a David with the stone flung in the right direction. In other words all it takes is someone who sees what is going on and has faith in God. He can take the Word of God and send it right into the devil's forehead. As I was typing this, Dave stopped me to read to me a passage in Jeramiah. I think this is our rock! It is Jer. 32:40-42 "And I will make an everlasting covenant with them: I will never stop doing good for them. I will put a desire in their hearts to worship me. and they will never leave me. I will find joy doing good for them and will faithfully and wholeheartedly replant them in this land. This is what the Lord says: Just as I have brought all these calamities on them, so I will do all the good I have promised them." God promised in Deuteronmy 28 that the blessings of God will come on us and overtake us.
What trial are you going through? Find your stone and aim it right at the devil's forehead.
What trial are you going through? Find your stone and aim it right at the devil's forehead.
Saturday, May 2, 2009
Saturday's Devo - Tongues Anyone?
It seems like everywhere I turn I am having people ask me about the Holy Spirit and speaking in tongues. It reminds me of the early 70's when the Charismatic movement swept across the nation and people everywhere were experiencing "glossolalia". That was the term the newspapers gave to speaking in tongues. It was written about in Times, Newsweek, and newspapers all across the nation. I was in high school at the time and had been raised in a Southern Baptist church. My mother had been going to a prayer group where the lady that led it had received the baptism in the Holy Spirit and spoke in tongues. It wasn't long before my mom did, then my dad. Speaking in tongues had been one of those things that only Pentecostals did and rated right up there with handling snakes. So my parents new-found gift was not well received in our Baptist church. We finally had to leave the Baptist church for a Full Gospell Church. It was very hard to do but necessary at the time. My parents became "God chasers" and we drove all over the south to hear good speakers. I was privaledged to sit under some of the patriots of the faith like: Katherine Kullman, Rex Humbard, Derek Prince, Bob Mumford, and many many others. I finally received the Holy Spirit's baptism and began speaking in tongues when I was in the 11th grade. I had been praying for it for over a year and thought it was only for the "super spiritual" of which I was certainly not. I finally realized it was for everyone, and given unconditionally to all who asked. So why do we want this gift? Jesus thought it was a must-have. He told his disciples to wait in the upper room and hide until the Holy Spirit came. They did and when they received it they had power to go out and witness to every Jew in town. Three thousand were won to the Lord in a day.
I was thinking today about the power of tongues and what it accomplishes and this thought came to me. God created the world by the power of his voice. It was not until he "spoke it" that it acctually happened. Creative life is in the power of the tongue. So since the Holy Spirit is the intercessor he needs a mouth to speak out his purposes. We cannot know the mind of the spirit.
Ro. 8: 26-27 says, "The Spirit helps our infirmities; for we do not know what we should pray for as we should; but the Spirit itself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. And he that searches the hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because he makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God." So it is like the Holy Spirit is roaming the earth looking for a mouth he can create his purposes through. We have been given this incredible opportunity to be used by the Holy Spirit to intercede in his behalf and birth his plans. We may never know what great thing we have accomplished by praying in tongues, but one day we will. If you are seeking this gift, ask and you will receive.
"If you, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children;p how much more shall the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him?" Luke 11:11
I was thinking today about the power of tongues and what it accomplishes and this thought came to me. God created the world by the power of his voice. It was not until he "spoke it" that it acctually happened. Creative life is in the power of the tongue. So since the Holy Spirit is the intercessor he needs a mouth to speak out his purposes. We cannot know the mind of the spirit.
Ro. 8: 26-27 says, "The Spirit helps our infirmities; for we do not know what we should pray for as we should; but the Spirit itself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. And he that searches the hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because he makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God." So it is like the Holy Spirit is roaming the earth looking for a mouth he can create his purposes through. We have been given this incredible opportunity to be used by the Holy Spirit to intercede in his behalf and birth his plans. We may never know what great thing we have accomplished by praying in tongues, but one day we will. If you are seeking this gift, ask and you will receive.
"If you, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children;p how much more shall the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him?" Luke 11:11
Friday, May 1, 2009
Friday's Devo - Driven to the Very End
Read Acts 21 & 22
Sometimes we have the wrong attitude about death and suffering. In today's reading everyone is trying to discourage Paul from going to Jerusalem because they have been given a glimpse into the future and see what is awaiting Paul. Paul also knew what was ahead. He had already told his converts along the way that he would not see their face again. I noticed the number 7 was used twice in this chapter. "7" means "complete". His ministry was complete and nearing the end. We have been appointed a time to be born and a time to die. It's what we do with the in-between that counts. Paul made his life count and he is nearing the end. He is marching boldly and fearlessly into his final days.
He uses every opportunity to set up a platform to preach the good news. Even in the case of mistaken identity he sees this as a chance to witness. In Chapter 22 he stands before the mob that wants him dead and gives them his testimony. They listened intently till he got to the part about taking the message of Jesus to the Gentiles, then they went balistic. The chief captain maintained order by bringing Paul into the castle so he could question him and have him scourged. But as they are tying Paul up he asked about his Roman rights. A Roman is not to be bound or scourged.
I love Paul's answer to the guard who had bought his Roman citizenship. Paul responded, "I was born free." What a true statement. Before he was born God destined him to be his son. (Eph. 1:5) So Paul uses his Roman citizen card to get another chance to share his testimony before the council tomorrow.
I want to be that driven to tell the gospell. Paul saw every opportunity as an opportunity for Jesus. He was driven to tell the Good News. May we be that driven.
Sometimes we have the wrong attitude about death and suffering. In today's reading everyone is trying to discourage Paul from going to Jerusalem because they have been given a glimpse into the future and see what is awaiting Paul. Paul also knew what was ahead. He had already told his converts along the way that he would not see their face again. I noticed the number 7 was used twice in this chapter. "7" means "complete". His ministry was complete and nearing the end. We have been appointed a time to be born and a time to die. It's what we do with the in-between that counts. Paul made his life count and he is nearing the end. He is marching boldly and fearlessly into his final days.
He uses every opportunity to set up a platform to preach the good news. Even in the case of mistaken identity he sees this as a chance to witness. In Chapter 22 he stands before the mob that wants him dead and gives them his testimony. They listened intently till he got to the part about taking the message of Jesus to the Gentiles, then they went balistic. The chief captain maintained order by bringing Paul into the castle so he could question him and have him scourged. But as they are tying Paul up he asked about his Roman rights. A Roman is not to be bound or scourged.
I love Paul's answer to the guard who had bought his Roman citizenship. Paul responded, "I was born free." What a true statement. Before he was born God destined him to be his son. (Eph. 1:5) So Paul uses his Roman citizen card to get another chance to share his testimony before the council tomorrow.
I want to be that driven to tell the gospell. Paul saw every opportunity as an opportunity for Jesus. He was driven to tell the Good News. May we be that driven.
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