Acts 9-10

Our reading covers two chapters today.  I am so glad you are joining me in Acts 9-10.

Who is the worst person you know?  Now, don't name any names in the comments, please.  Just picture this person in your mind.  Can you even imagine what God could do if this person allowed the Holy Spirit to take control?  That is Saul's story.  He was leading the persecution against the Lord's followers.  After Saul encountered Christ, not only was his life changed, but the Spirit used him to change the world.  Will you pray right now that God would begin a similar work in the person He brought to your mind just now?  Jesus wants to show up in this person's life!

Now take your prayer a step further.  Will you pray that God will use you in this person's life just like He used Ananias in Saul's life?  Will you vow to obey the Spirit's leading to share the truth of the Gospel, even when it scares the living daylights out of you?  Girl, you and I do not want to stand before God's throne and give excuses about why we refused to share the saving grace with our lost and dying world!  If you need help in this area, please email me.  Let's work on this together.

The chapters we are reading today are filled with stories of people just like you who let God use their stories to encourage others to follow the Lord.  Which story resonates with you?  Will you ask God to use your story to encourage someone in the faith today?

Saul - New believer; excited to begin preaching immediately; preached with power even when it made people angry.

Barnabas - Thank heavens for this guy!  He discipled Saul and introduced him to other believers.  He poured his life into a newbie.

Peter - A seasoned follower; continued to preach and to heal; he followed the Spirit's leading.

Aeneas - Bedridden for 8 years; he told his story of how God healed him, and many became believers in Jesus.

Tabitha (her Greek name was Dorcas) - God used Peter to bring her back to life; many heard her story and became believers.

Cornelius - Very religious; gave to the poor; prayed daily; still longed for the truth of the gospel; invited his friends and family to hear the message; paved the way for Gentiles to be included in the grace of the Gospel.

Where does your name fit on the list?  I will pray for you today and ask the Holy Spirit to fill you to overflowing with His message of saving grace.  Don't resist him, Sister!

Acts 8

Today's reading in Acts 8 focuses on persecution in the church.  After you read it, will you stop to pray for our brothers and sisters around the globe who are facing persecution?  You can find out specifics here.

You and I don't want to face persecution; however, God often uses it in our lives to get us to move and to do what He has asked of us.  Word to the wise - Go and preach the gospel whenever and wherever the Spirit of God prompts you.  Do not wait for God to bring persecution into your life to make you willing to move.  The pattern in my life has been God making me uncomfortable so I will go where He leads.  Let's get out of our comfort zones willingly, girls, and go spread the Word.

Now let's look at some specifics from Acts.  Saul, who became Paul, the writer of half of our New Testament, stood there to hold the coats of those who stoned Stephen for being a follower of Jesus.  This sparked a great persecution in Jerusalem and the surrounding area, and believers scattered to the uttermost parts of the earth.  (Matthew 28:18-20; Acts 1:8)  God used Saul to scatter the believers; then God changed Saul's life in Acts 9. This great persecutor became the apostle Paul, and God used him to disciple the new church.  Talk about a changed life!  Murderer to life saver.  Death threats to eternal life.

I want to point out a couple of first mentions:  Barnabas in Acts 4:36-37, and Saul in Acts 7:58-8:3.  What an unlikely pair!  Good cop.  Bad cop.  Encourager.  Persecutor.  It makes me think of the story in Luke 7, where Jesus teaches the lesson that those who are forgiven much will love much.

Acts 8 ends with the story of Philip teaching and baptizing an Ethiopian government official.  Today will you join me in asking the Spirit of God to fill you?  Will you let the Spirit move you where He wants you?  It's an exciting journey, girlfriend!

Acts 3 & 4

After the walk through Acts 2 and the overview of the work of the Holy Spirit throughout Acts, I thought I would move on to the book of Romans (which is my favorite book in the Bible, btw.)  I am SO glad that the Spirit prompted me to take a peek at Acts 3-4 though!  There is power in the Word, ladies.  I started this chronological Bible study in June 2008, and it was only supposed to take me 61 days.  Ha!  It took me two years to study from Genesis to the Resurrection of Jesus, because God keeps showing up and showing off in Scripture, and I don't want to miss a single drop of His goodness.  I took six years off, and I am so grateful that God didn't let me go, but has drawn me back to this study with His loving kindness.  (Romans 2:4)  One of my favorite plaques says, "Faith in God includes faith in His timing."  I believe God has brought you and me to the study of His Holy Spirit at just the right time.  I agree with several other believers who say that we are seeing a mighty work of God in this day and age, and I want to be part of it!  How about you?

Acts 3 & 4 tells us the story when Peter and John healed a man who had been lame from birth, and then they took the heat from the Jewish council over their actions.  Talk about a life change, and I'm not even referring to the man who learned to walk instantly as an adult!  In less than two months, Peter went from a cursing scaredy cat who denied Jesus to a courageous believer who invoked the healing power of Jesus.  Before the resurrection of Jesus, Peter cowered and then hid from the Sanhedrin.  After the resurrection, Peter defied the authorities and performed miracles.  That's the power of the Holy Spirit in the life of a believer, girls.  Give me some of that!!

My favorite thing about ministry is to see God changing lives.  It excites me to see entire families transformed when they come to salvation in Christ.  The power of a changed life is inspiring!  So, I really want to hear your story.  Do you have a testimony that indicates, "I once was lost, but now I'm found," or "I once was lame, but now I walk," or "I once was a scaredy cat, but now I'm bold"?  Will you write your story in the comments?

I want you to become a pro at sharing your Jesus story.  It doesn't have to be long and detailed.  In fact, sometimes you only have a minute or two to tell your story to a lost friend.  Sometimes we are scared or embarrassed to talk about our salvation, but girls, no one can deny your story of how Jesus changed your life! (Acts 4:14)  In truth, there are people whose eternal destination depends on your personal testimony of the change God has brought in you.  A guest pastor recently challenged my church family with this question, "How bad must I hate my neighbor not to tell him about Jesus?"

Girls, we probably don't have silver or gold, but let's start sharing Jesus!  (Acts 3:6)  If you want help getting started, begin by asking questions.  That's what my blog is all about!  Let's glorify the Spirit together!!

p.s.  I didn't even get to the following topics in our chapters today:  miracles, the Trinity, Jesus' return, unity in the body, or Barnabas.  Let me know if you want to discuss any of these nuggets of gold.  I just can't get enough of God's Word, girls!!