Getting Stoned for Jesus

(Reposted from 2/7/09 and 7/21/13)

Today’s Bible Reading:  Leviticus 4-6, Acts 14

Topic: Courage Under Fire

SCRIPTURE:  Acts 14:19-20

¹⁹ Then Jews from Antioch and Iconium came there; and having persuaded the multitudes, they stoned Paul and dragged him out of the city, supposing him to be dead. ²⁰ However, when the disciples gathered around him, he rose up and went into the city. And the next day he departed with Barnabas to Derbe. (Acts 14:19-20 NKJV)

OBSERVATION:

I’ve known people who have been stoned, especially back in the 60’s—but that’s another story altogether J. 

The Apostle Paul got stoned with real stones here in Acts 14.  I’m always amazed when I read in God’s Word about the persecution the early Christians endured.  Paul especially endured multiple attacks over his lifetime of dedication to preaching the gospel of Jesus Christ.  Verse 19 tells of another instance when the evil opposition to Christ attacked; this time with murderous vengeance.  Paul was viciously attacked by an angry mob.  Paul’s head and body became the strike zone at which each one pitched their hardest fast balls.  Only these fastballs were likely baseball sized stones—hard and jagged.  Paul was bloodied, bruised, swollen and unconscious.  He looked dead.  Indeed, he may very well have been dead.  That’s what the mob believed as they dragged his body outside the city limits and tossed him aside without dignity like refuse not even worthy of burial. 

APPLICATION:

I wonder, if I were so attacked, would I have the persistence of Paul to get back up and return to the task of standing up for Christ?  Thank God Christians don’t often face that level of physical attack in America today.  Most Christians, however, cannot be unaware that animosity against us has been starkly on the rise in recent years.  In the face of mounting ill-will do we shrink in our convictions to share our faith with the world?  Will we (will I) have the fortitude and courage to lovingly stand up for Jesus against all opposition?  Will we (will I) resist the urge to strike back rather than to love our enemies?  I submit that we (that I) must!  I submit that it is our (my) mission to behave as Jesus would behave, with courageous determination and love.    

PRAYER:

Lord, when I am weak, You are strong.  By Your Spirit may I be endowed with the necessary measure of courage, persistence and love in the face of mounting opposition.

For Your sake and to the building of Your kingdom.  Amen.  -AP

Turning Point

(Repost from 7/1/12)
Today’s Bible Reading:  Leviticus 1-3, Acts 13

Topic: God’s Sovereignty

SCRIPTURE:  Acts 13:42-46

⁴² So when the Jews went out of the synagogue, the Gentiles begged that these words might be preached to them the next Sabbath. ⁴³ Now when the congregation had broken up, many of the Jews and devout proselytes followed Paul and Barnabas, who, speaking to them, persuaded them to continue in the grace of God.

⁴⁴ On the next Sabbath almost the whole city came together to hear the word of God. ⁴⁵ But when the Jews saw the multitudes, they were filled with envy; and contradicting and blaspheming, they opposed the things spoken by Paul. ⁴⁶ Then Paul and Barnabas grew bold and said, “It was necessary that the word of God should be spoken to you first; but since you reject it, and judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life, behold, we turn to the Gentiles. (Acts 12:5 NKJV)

OBSERVATION:

I love these moments that signal an historical shift—a seminal moment recorded in time that ushers in a momentous change in history that actually affects who and where I am as well as millions of other people through the ages since.  Verse 46 signals the beginning of the shift of the Apostle Paul’s ministry from the Jews to the Gentiles.  In verse 42 we see that non-Jewish people (Gentiles) were being drawn to the gospel message of Christ.  In verse 43, we see Paul and Barnabas are still primarily focused on persuading Jewish people that Jesus was and is their Messiah.  Verses 44 & 45 record a very sad event, certainly prompted by the forces of darkness.  The evil spirit of envy rears its ugly head among some of the Jews so susceptible to its influence.  But, as so often occurs, what Satan intends for evil, God turns around for good.  Verse 45 is the catalyst Sovereign God uses to guide Paul and Barnabas in a new direction He had already ordained.  Who knows where many a Gentile like me would be today if Paul and Barnabas had not been guided to the decision to say, “behold, we turn to the Gentiles” (v. 46).

APPLICATION:

Every time evil seems to win we would do well to look for and be open to the good that God may raise up as a result.  Every time evil strikes a hard blow against a believer, may he or she or they be reminded to hope rather than be swallowed by despair.  Through every strike of the enemy may we trust that our Sovereign God is still in control.    

PRAYER:

Lord, fill my heart and soul with unshakable trust in You and Your goodness over and above any and every situation.

In the name of Jesus the Messiah I pray.  Amen.  -AP

Prayer Makes a Difference

(Reposted from 6/19/2011 & 2/5/09--favorite)

Today’s Bible Reading:  Exodus 39-40, Psalm 15, Acts 12

Topic: Prayer

SCRIPTURE:  Acts 12:1-19 (particularly v. 5)

⁵ Peter was therefore kept in prison, but constant prayer was offered to God for him by the church. (Acts 12:5 NKJV)

OBSERVATION:

The most important word in this verse is the little conjunction, “but.” Peter was kept in prison, but the church was earnestly praying to God for him. (Acts 12:5 NIV emphasis mine) 

It says, they were “earnestly praying” in the NIV translation.  In the NKJV the idea is expressed that they were in “constant prayer.”  The original Greek word in this text actually carries both connotations, meaning—intently, fervently, without ceasing.

The point here is that they didn’t just have Peter added to their prayer chain—adding his name to the prayer list.  (And there is nothing wrong with prayer chains and prayer lists).  But the emphasis here is that the entire Jerusalem church went to prayer in earnest—praying with intensity that God would deliver Peter out of the hands of Herod, who was determined to put him to death just as he had put James to death.  (See verse 2).

APPLICATION:

Prayer makes a difference!  As you read this passage (Acts 12), can’t you almost feel the powers of darkness behind this?  Can’t you sense the presence of evil spirits pressing and manipulating and prodding these attacks against the Christian Church and their leaders?

We are living in a day today of spiritual warfare too.  Anything we’re going to try to do for God, the enemy is going to try to hinder us—going to try to discourage us—going to try to keep us from sincere prayer.  But, clearly understand that when we come to God in prayer in the name of Jesus, prayer accomplishes things—prayer makes a difference!

PRAYER:

Lord, it is so easy to become distracted from communion with You it seems.  Because the spiritual realm is invisible to my physical sight, it is easy to feel my prayers are impotent.  Thank You that Your Word shows me that my prayers and other believers’ prayers make a difference.  Renew in me and in Your Church an earnestness in prayer in these difficult days.

In the powerful, difference making name of Jesus.  Amen.  -AP  

Bigotry Exposed

Today’s Bible Reading:  Exodus 37-38, Psalm 19, Acts 11

Topic: God’s Love

SCRIPTURE:  Acts 11:18

¹⁸ When they heard these things they became silent; and they glorified God, saying, “Then God has also granted to the Gentiles repentance to life.” (Acts 11:18 NKJV)

OBSERVATION:

Bigotry is such a product of ignorance and culture.  I love this verse because it’s like – “bing,” the light bulb just came on for the Jewish believers.  When they were presented with the evidence that Gentiles had believed in Jesus and had received the baptism in the Holy Spirit, it was like, “Wow, God loves other people besides just us!”  Which of course, as we pointed out in yesterday’s devotion, was always the case.  But because of their ignorance and cultural mindset, such a concept never occurred to them.  The good part of this verse is that they were willing to be enlightened and to have their thinking changed.  Thank God!   

APPLICATION:

The real bigots in the world are those who refuse to be changed—who wallow in their ignorance—who will close their eyes and cover their ears to any new revelation.

PRAYER:

May people see and hear YOUR heart Lord!

Through Christ.  Amen.  -AP

God's Chosen

Today’s Bible Reading:  Exodus 35-36, Acts 10

Topic: Overcoming Prejudice

SCRIPTURE:  Acts 10:34-35

³⁴ Then Peter opened his mouth and said: “In truth I perceive that God shows no partiality. ³⁵ But in every nation whoever fears Him and works righteousness is accepted by Him. (Acts 10:34-35 NKJV)

OBSERVATION:

Peter received a critically illuminating truth from God, “God shows no partiality… whoever fears Him and works righteousness is accepted by Him.”  Think about what must have been going on in Peter’s mind.  He may have been thinking, “But God, aren’t we Hebrews Your chosen people?  Doesn’t that mean we’re better?  Aren’t we supposed to stay separated from other peoples because they are unclean and inferior to us?  What’s going on God?”  But God’s answer was clear, “What God has cleansed you must not call common” (v. 15).  The profound truth revealed to Peter and to us, is that what God was revealing was not new.  God was not suddenly changing the rules.  This was always true of God’s heart for all mankind—it is true today.    

APPLICATION:

What we discover from this passage is that God’s chosen people are “whoever fears Him and works righteousness” (v. 35)—that is, anyone and everyone who calls upon the name of the Lord shall be saved (Joel 2:32, Acts 2:21, Romans 10:13). 

Christians are susceptible to falling into the same error as the Jews in Peter’s day.  We dare not begin to think of ourselves as better, just blessed to be saved by His grace.  Yes, we are to separate ourselves in the sense that, as we fear Him, we strive to live apart from the sinful weaknesses we have now been forgiven of, and strive to live righteously before Him (v. 35).  But, contrary to some theological schools of thought, I do not believe that God chooses some people and rejects others.  His choice is for all mankind to accept and receive Him.  He is, “not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance” (2 Peter 3:9). 

PRAYER:

Lord, as I seek to serve You, may I not live separate from people lost in sin, but rather live separate from the sinful weaknesses that once separated me from You.  By Your grace and with Your help, may I accept all people whom You love, and help them to see that you have chosen them too.

Through Christ Jesus the Savior.  Amen.  -AP 

Benched

Today’s Bible Reading:  Exodus 33-34, Psalm 16, Acts 9

Topic: Waiting

SCRIPTURE:  Acts 9:29-31

²⁹ And he (Saul) spoke boldly in the name of the Lord Jesus and disputed against the Hellenists, but they attempted to kill him. ³⁰ When the brethren found out, they brought him down to Caesarea and sent him out to Tarsus.  ³¹ Then the churches throughout all Judea, Galilee, and Samaria had peace and were edified. And walking in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit, they were multiplied. (Acts 9:29-31 NKJV)

OBSERVATION:

These key verses in Acts must first be prefaced with a chronology of the context: 

At this juncture in the narrative of the early Church, Saul the persecutor of Christian believers has undergone an amazing conversion to Christ after the incident on the road to Damascus.  Saul had been saved, healed and called to serve Christ, the One he had previously been persecuting (see vv. 1-19).  Saul immediately began standing up for Jesus and convincingly preaching in His name to non-believing Jews in Damascus, but they were angered and tried to kill him (vv. 20-25).  Then he fled to Jerusalem, but the Christians there did not trust a man who had been throwing them in jail, whereupon a disciple named Barnabas stood up for him and took him under his wing (an amazing topic for another reflection).  This brings us to verse 29.  Despite the setbacks, Saul continued to preach, this time to the Grecian Jews in Jerusalem (Hellenists); but these too tried to kill him (v. 29).  So the Christian believers sent him away for his own safety to Caesarea and eventually to Tarsus.  Finally (in verse 31) we come to the key observation that strikes me in this passage — 

After Saul was gone and out of the picture, the Church had peace, gained in strength, and grew.  Saul (later to be named Paul) was called by Jesus Himself to be a leader in His Church, but rather than having any place of leadership, he is immediately sidelined.  In fact, it seems the Church actually prospered better without him. 

APPLICATION:

At this juncture in my life and ministry, I identify with Saul.  I have been called to ministry and leadership.  I’ve served as a starter on the Lord’s team.  But trying circumstances and forces against me in the past few years seem to have benched me.  I continue to study and prepare myself, and minister in small ways; but I wonder about how or if the Lord will use me in the future. 

We know that Saul (Paul) did not remain on the bench, and that he eventually fulfilled God’s calling upon him.  I am therefore encouraged to await greater usefulness and fruitfulness ahead.

PRAYER:

Lord, my life and my calling is to serve You.  May You continue to prepare me for the work and path You have ordained ahead.  I humbly and eagerly await Your bidding.

In Christ’s name and for Your service.  Amen.  -AP

NOTE: I penned this particular journal entry some years ago after leaving primary pastoral ministry to care for my wife through surgery and recovery from cancer. She got better and is now cancer free PTL! But even after she gained in strength, getting back into the game seemed to take a while. I praise the Lord for the opportunities I have had to serve him since, yet I still long to serve Him more fully. Never-the-less Lord, not my will but Your will be done with my life.  

Rooted to Grow

Today’s Bible Reading:  Exodus 30-32, Acts 8

Topic: Evangelism

SCRIPTURE:  Acts 8:1 & 4

¹ …At that time a great persecution arose against the church which was at Jerusalem; and they were all scattered throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles.

⁴ Therefore those who were scattered went everywhere preaching the word.

(Acts 8:1 & 4 NKJV)

OBSERVATION:

There are at least three points worthy of noting in these verses:

1. The believers were harshly persecuted resulting in many needing to flee Jerusalem.

2. The apostles did not flee, but remained in Jerusalem keeping the leadership of the Church intact, rooted, and functioning.

3. The believers who were scattered did not relent their beliefs because of the persecution.  Because they were well rooted in relationship with Christ, they became the means by which the gospel was spread and the Church experienced even greater growth.

APPLICATION:

As a leader it is my job to hold firm and lead people to such a strong relationship with God that they effectively become Christ’s ambassadors and evangelists.  It is the people themselves, filled with the Holy Spirit, who will grow the Church.

PRAYER:

Lord, grant that I may see this model and vision fulfilled.

In Jesus’ name.  Amen.  –AP