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Day 35

noreply@blogger.com (Chaplain Therapist) — Fri, 17 Feb 2012 08:00:00 +0000

Kindness mixed with confusion

Key Verses: 4, 11, 15, 19, 23,

In the city of Iconium some people enthusiastically embrace the Gospel. Before they can kill him they flee to Lystra where a lame man is healed. The people think Paul and Barnabas are gods and they want to offer sacrifices of worship to them. They have a hard time stopping the crowd from doing this.

Those who oppose what God is doing come and they take it out on Paul by stoning him in an attempt to kill him. Then they drag his body outside the city. The Jews think he is dead, but the disciples gather around him, and he gets up and returns to the city. I am not sure what happened when the disciples gathered around him, but he went from seemingly dead to alive enough to go back to the city and leave the next day. I can envision them praying for Paul’s recovery. They were a praying group of people. They knew how to listen to the leading of the Holy Spirit, and I can see the Holy Spirit leading them to pray. Paul’s mission was not done. He needed to be alive.

Paul returns to his starting point by way of the cities in which he has ministered. In each place he sets up leadership, officially appointing elders, probably what we would call pastors. They were in charge of leading and guiding these new believers. The Lord has always used people to lead His people. God uses human beings. Who are the human beings who help lead you to the Lord? Are you following them as they lead, or are you part of the complaint squad? In military terms, have you become OPFOR, oppositional forces?

REVIEW: HOLY SPIRIT

Day 34

noreply@blogger.com (Chaplain Therapist) — Thu, 16 Feb 2012 08:00:00 +0000

Relaying gospel to Antioch

Acts 13

Key Verses: 2-3, 11, 15, 27, 32-33, 38-39, 46

The first missionaries are chosen and commissioned. This happened after worship and fasting by a group of believers in Antioch. The Holy Spirit speaks to them. We don’t know what method He used to speak, but we know they obeyed. Barnabas and Saul are sent off to spread the Gospel as a team. They sail to Cyprus and end up preaching to the ruler of the Island. He becomes a Christian after his servant is converted. An opponent is struck blind for his rebellion.

Paul and Barnabas continue in their journey, stopping at the Jewish synagogues as their first stops. He shares an account of Jesus’ mission that was rooted in Israel’s history and completed in Jesus’ death and resurrection. But he also tells them what it means for their lives. Jesus brought forgiveness, freedom from sin and a new start with God. Many who hear the message believe and are further encouraged by Paul and Barnabas.

But just as before, there were those who did not want things to change and they began persecuting Paul and Barnabas. They foolishly thought they could stop the Gospel. As the disciples are expelled from their region they shake the dust off their feet and continue. Their lives are filled with two things: persecution and joy.

When the LORD is working, these two seem to go hand in hand. When the Holy Spirit is working, no one can stand in the way. No amount of persecution can stop the joy. Do you have joy today? When the Gospel is being shared, the Holy Spirit present, and God’s people gathering, joy is present. Difficult times will come, but that does not mean the LORD has abandoned us. Difficult times are an opportunity for God to show Himself great.

REVIEW: Run the spots in John that you get stuck on, just the rough spots.

Day 33

noreply@blogger.com (Chaplain Therapist) — Wed, 15 Feb 2012 08:00:00 +0000

Memorize: Outbreak from the prison

Acts 12

Key Verses: 1, 3, 5, 15, 19, 22-23, 24

Herod was a very paranoid person. Look at the security precautions he imposes on Peter as he is guarded in prison, sixteen professional soldiers guarding one fisherman. But he had not counted on a praying church! And Peter does not seem to be worried as he sleeps between his guards with more guards at the door. He is resting comfortably the day before his rigged trial which Herod hopes will lead to his conviction.

Peter is sleeping so well that the bright light of the angel’s presence does not wake him up. He must be pushed to get him to wake up. And those pesky chains drop off. He has to be told to get dressed, he is so sleepy. Peter thinks it is a vision. They walk right out of prison, past the guards, through the gate into the city.

His friends who were praying don’t believe it is Peter at the door of the house where they were praying for his release. He is free. The guards who were on duty that night pay with their lives. Herod wields his power ruthlessly. Herod pays with his life as well. He receives honor and praise due the LORD and keeps it, rather than passing it along to the LORD. He receives it as his own and pays for this pride with his life.

But the word of God can’t be kept in prison. It continues to spread. Herod wanted to stop the Gospel’s spread for political reasons. Anything that threatened the status quo put his job in jeopardy. The Jews had been fairly peaceful and he benefited from that peace. These ‘Christians’ were an unknown entity, and therefore had to be silenced. But you can’t silence God. He will speak. Even prison walls, chains, and guards can’t stop what He wants to do.

REVIEW: HOLY SPIRIT

Day 32

noreply@blogger.com (Chaplain Therapist) — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 08:00:00 +0000

Memorize: Worship with Gentiles defended

Acts 11

Key Verses: 3, 17, 19-20, 26, 28-29

Peter’s actions with Cornelius raised some major questions from his fellow Jews in Jerusalem. But once they understood that the Holy Spirit came on the Gentiles just like the Jews, their objections were laid to rest. There was no need for Gentiles to become Jews before God could work in their lives. There were no steps people had to take before they could come to faith. Faith was the first step. It was also the only step. Nothing outward was necessary before or in addition to faith.

The persecution that started with Stephen brought about an explosion of the Gospel. Many Greeks believed in Jesus. And in the middle of this explosion, Barnabas and Saul join forces in pursuit of spreading the Gospel. We see in this passage a shift. Judea was the source of spiritual blessing for the Gentiles. Now with the famine upon them, the Greeks from other regions send help, specifically food support, to the Jews in Judea. These two things would never have happened apart from the grace both had received in the Gospel. The Gospel breaks down the barriers that had existed for many years.

When we enter into worship we let go of prejudice, at least we have the opportunity to do this. That is because we realize that God has dropped all those barriers. And if He has accepted us who were outside because of sin, who are we to exclude others because of some artificial barrier we have imposed? The Gospel creates the opportunity for new friendships, new alliances formed to advance His Word. Barnabas and Saul became partners when formerly they were enemies, at least from Saul’s former perspective.

What barriers have you imposed that keep other people on your “do not witness to” list? Don’t you think it is time to allow the Holy Spirit to work in your heart and life, opening up doors of opportunity that were formerly closed? Are you willing to team up with others to accomplish that goal? Are you willing to let God work in your life?

REVIEW: Review Acts 1-10 HOLY SPIRIT. You might also want to run through John.

Day 31

noreply@blogger.com (Chaplain Therapist) — Mon, 13 Feb 2012 08:00:00 +0000

Memorize: Taking gospel to Cornelius

Acts 10

Key Verses: 2, 5, 11-13, 34-35, 43, 47

God has to get a special message to Peter, and he has to do it in a life-changing way. You see, Peter is one of the disciples who could get stuck in the Jewish trappings. He could end up enforcing the Jewish ceremonial customs on these new Believers. He himself could get caught up in thinking that Jesus’ message was not enough, that Believers needed to keep the ceremonial laws of the Jews as well as believe in Jesus. So God sends Peter to a god-fearing Gentile, an important Roman soldier.

So God sends an angel to the recipient: one copy to Cornelius and one to Peter. Cornelius’ message connects him to Peter and Peter’s message connects him to the Truth. And the Truth is that all the old barriers to a relationship with God have been dropped, that God has made a new way through Jesus to begin and maintain that relationship with the Living God. For Peter eating ‘unclean’ animals was not an option. As a good Jew, Peter would never eat such things because the LORD had said they were ‘unclean.’ But now the LORD says He has cleaned them; they are now on the menu. And then just to make sure Peter gets the message, when the escorts from Cornelius arrive, the LORD tells Peter to go with them, another thing Peter would not have done on his own.

What I want us to notice is that Peter delivers Jesus to Cornelius. The message is a simple message that connects what Cornelius knows about God to the fulfillment in Jesus. And something happens that immediately signals to Peter that the Holy Spirit has arrived. This sign of the Holy Spirit’s presence is picked up by those who came with Peter as witnesses. They speak in languages they have not learned, just like what happened on the Day of Pentecost at the birth of the Church.

REVIEW: Acts 1-10 HOLY SPIRIT.

Day 30

noreply@blogger.com (Chaplain Therapist) — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 08:00:00 +0000

Memorize: Introducing Saul to gospel

Acts 9

Key Verses: 1-2, 3, 5, 16, 27, 33, 40

Do you ever think that some people will never change, that they will always be so hurtful and perhaps even evil? I am sure Saul’s enemies might have thought that way about him. He got a thirst for blood and he was not satisfied with one death. He wanted more. He wanted to spread his terror, and the religious leaders were all to happy to have him as their front man. He would do the dirty work.

But God…. Those are some powerful words. But God intervened and everything changed. Jesus shows up and Saul’s stubbornness gets transformed into tenacity. Instead of dishing out suffering, Saul is going to become the object of some suffering. But he is also going to become one of the greatest figures in Church history.

But every great person needs friends, and Saul has Barnabas. Barnabas is willing to put his neck on the line for Saul. For whom are you willing to put your neck on the line? Who is willing to put their neck on the line for you? Barnabas pulls Saul into the inner circle of believers in Jerusalem. He gets fully accepted by those whom he once sought to kill. Enemies become friends, more than friends, family.

And the Lord continues to spread the message. Peter reaches Aeneas and Dorcas with a healing touch. Aeneas’ legs are healed and Dorcas is raised from the dead. Nothing can stop the forward movement of the Gospel. Even today the Gospel spreads behind human walls and political barriers. People risk their lives today to bring the Gospel to people who would otherwise have no contact with any Believers. Some are killed for their acts. But even as some are killed, some repent and are saved. Our life is not our own.

Even as Saul’s life shifted in a moment and was willing to lay it all on the line for his Lord, so we too have this same choice. Are we willing to lay it on the line? The Lord may not give us the grace of Martyrdom, but He still calls us to die, die to selfishness and pride. In what ways are you dying for Jesus?

REVIEW: Run JOHN THE GOSPEL OF BELIEF.

Day 29

noreply@blogger.com (Chaplain Therapist) — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 08:00:00 +0000

Memorize: Rising persecution scatters church

Acts 8

Key Verses: 3, 4, 8, 17, 25, 31, 39

Compared to what happened to Stephen, Saul’s response was very measured. He had them arrested. At least there would be some kind of judicial hearing, rather than mob justice.

But the more the Believers were scattered, the more they preached. And when they responded, joy was the result. When we are set free from the burden of sin, joy overtakes us. This even happens in a place thought to be beyond hope, Samaria. Samaria became a place of rejection, a place of mixed race people who from the Jewish perspective had polluted the worship of the LORD. But now they are responding to the hope offered in Christ.

When Peter and John arrive to authenticate what God is doing among them, the Holy Spirit shows up in a way that is tangible. There was something that happened, either seen or heard or both, that was observed by those present. Simon the Sorcerer sees what happens and he wants the power to do this himself. Baby Believers often get some things wrong, and Simon was no exception.

Prejudice can be cured with a large dose of grace. This is what happens people fully embrace Jesus. Old thoughts about other people groups are radically transformed. Enemies become friends. The old walls come tumbling down. When Jesus is the center of the message then God is able to make us one in Him.

But the message of Jesus spreads to Africa by chariot. Here is an educated man unable to understand what he is reading. This can happen when someone tries to understand the Scriptures without a willingness to hear what God wants to say. If we are willing to hear the message, the Holy Spirit makes our hearts receptive to the message. This is what happens to this eunuch. He wants to know and the LORD uses Philip to open his heart and mind. And joy is the result of belief in Jesus.

The more persecution arises, the more the Church scatters and grows. It crosses all the old boundaries and reaches more and more people. We are a result of this persecution.

REVIEW: Run the Phrases.

Day 28

noreply@blogger.com (Chaplain Therapist) — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 08:00:00 +0000

Memorize: Intensive defense by Stephen

Acts 7

Key Verses: 3, 9-10, 18, 25, 37, 39, 51, 58

God often calls people to leave and go. We see this as we read the events here in Acts. Stephen lays out a brief history of God’s call to His people to leave and to gather. Stephen shows parallels between Israel’s stubbornness and the religious leaders’ stubbornness, Israel’s rejection of God’s messengers and the religious leaders’ rejection of Jesus. Joseph was rejected by his brothers. Israel was rejected by the Egyptians. Moses was rejected by his fellow Israelites. And now the religious leaders are rejecting the Messiah, Jesus, whom Moses predicted would come to bring deliverance once again to those who would obey.

Stephen does not hold back the sharpness of his argument. He could soften his tone, remove the attack in his words in an effort to save his life, but he doesn’t. He states the Truth clearly and pointedly. There is no doubt that the religious leaders understand these words. The intensity with which they attack is astonishing. With Jesus they went and got permission to have Him killed. Now they let their fury overtake the situation and take the law into their own hands. Rome had not given them the authority to kill and yet that is exactly what they do. They let their anger get out of control.

Verse 51 stick the knife in their hearts and gives it a twist. They are resisting what God is doing, just like their ancestors did. They are just like those who killed the prophets before them. They are responsible for killing the Messiah. Stephen receives the negative feedback of their rejection. He becomes the physical object upon whom their anger is unleashed. He is stoned to death. If you search YouTube you can watch a modern day stoning. It is a brutal way to die. There is nothing impersonal about it. Individual stones thrown. Individual anger released. Pain inflicted. Death.

Stephen is the first Christian to be killed for his faith in Jesus. Millions have followed him. Thousands are killed each year for their faith today. I want to encourage you to visit persecution.org and read what is happening today to your fellow brothers and sisters in Christ around the world. There are modern day Stephens who are making just as bold a stance. How bold is your stand for Christ?

REVIEW: Run John again. Then run Acts. It should be getting easier, but don’t get discouraged if it isn’t. Just stick with it.

Day 27

noreply@blogger.com (Chaplain Therapist) — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 08:00:00 +0000

Memorize: Providing deacons ends injustice

Acts 6

Key Verses: 1, 7, 15

Injustice can happen when people get involved in the process. But justice can be approached as well. The two groups of Jews have been divided because of years of prejudice. And even the Church was blind to some of the implications of this history and how it got worked out in practical life. Widows were not being equally treated. So the Apostles get pulled into their dispute. They trust the Apostles to do this fairly, but the Apostles recognize that they have other things for which they are uniquely qualified that they must do. So they delegate this important task to people-chosen leaders. When this happens, justice happens, and many more come to faith. Finally as system that works!

Deacons are individuals chosen by a group of people to help with the practical side of ministry. This then frees the teaching people to teach. You can’t ‘hire’ people to do ministry. We can each step up into the place of ministry to which God calls us, and be faithful in fulfilling that ministry. To put this in modern terms, we need many more volunteers to each carry a very small load in order to free up some people who have been carrying a very large load. The problem is that we ‘hire’ people to do things, things that we ourselves should be doing, and can be doing. We have become consumers of Christ and not followers of Christ. Followers get involved, while consumers sit at the sidelines and watch.

Stephen starts with the ministry of food distribution and grows to become someone used by God to perform miracles. He becomes powerful in sharing Jesus’ message and becomes an object of hatred and opposition. If we are faithful in the little ministries, perhaps God will grow you into greater ministries. Servants willing to do the small tasks without getting in the way of the Holy Spirit can be trusted to do greater things without getting in His way.

REVIEW: Focus on the first Chapter Phrases in Acts.

Day 26

noreply@blogger.com (Chaplain Therapist) — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 08:00:00 +0000

Memorize: Sapphira and Ananias judged

Acts 5

Key Verses: 1, 4, 13, 15, 19, 38-39

Some people just feel like they need to be the ones getting the credit. They are not content to let Jesus get the credit, so they jump in the spotlight. That is what happened with Sapphira and Ananias. Many believers were following the prompting of the Holy Spirit and redistributing their own wealth. We saw that at the end of chapter four. Some wealthy people know how to give generously, but most give for the show it will produce. They set up foundations with the scraps of their wealth and call in the news crews to be sure their ‘generosity’ gets magnified. All the while they throw lavish parties and continue to squander their wealth on themselves. The Early Church did something very different. People surrendered their rights to their wealth. It was no longer their wealth. Jesus owned all of them.

The Holy Spirit does not let Sapphira and Ananias get away with it. Their hypocrisy is exposed and they are struck dead. They could have brought a large sum of money and donated it and that would have been fine. Instead, they tried to claim that what they donated was the total of what was sold, a deception, and that is why they were struck dead. They tried to deceive God.

The message is spreading, and people are hesitant to assume leadership roles. They recognize that leadership carries with it a set of big shoes which must be filled. That is why so many people who feel the call to leadership today don’t step up. They don’t want to take on responsibility. They want to feel like they are in charge of their own lives.

And the miraculous continues to happen. The miraculous highlights what the LORD is doing in order that people will believe in Jesus. The miracles are just the spotlight pointing at Jesus. Jesus is the object of display, not the lights themselves. I hate it when spotlights hit you in the eye when you are trying to look as something important. You just wish the spotlights would stay focused on the stage. Those lights can temporarily blind you to what is important. Miracles can do the same thing. They can become the object of focus rather than Jesus. When God does miracles, it is only to point out and highlight Jesus.

When God is at work, no one can stop Him. The apostles keep right on preaching and teaching, even when warned not to continue. They obey God rather than man. They submit to His will rather than human will. Politics and expediency don’t determine the Truth. No poll or focus group defines their campaign. They continue to give witness to what they have seen and what Jesus has done. Not a bad pattern for our lives. We just need to focus more on Jesus as they did.

REVIEW: John. Look at the first four chapters of Acts. Start running HOLY through your memorizing computer.

Day 25

noreply@blogger.com (Chaplain Therapist) — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 08:00:00 +0000

Memorize: Yield from public preaching

Acts 4

Key Verses: 3, 7, 10, 12, 20, 29, 33

The Sadducees were a small slice of the Jews of Jesus’ day. They did not believe in any miracles. Miracles were against their beliefs. So when they hear the apostles proclaiming that a miracle happened, they have to stop it. They get Peter and John arrested. But even as the Sadducees refuse to believe, many others believe because of the evidence that is before them.

Imagine these two men standing before the religious leaders of their day! Why should they stand before these distinguished men? They were the powerbrokers, the disciples the powerless. But the Holy Spirit changed all that. The leaders can’t deny what happened. They just want to know the source of their power. And Peter doesn’t shy back from confronting them about their role in killing Jesus, but about God’s power to raise him from the dead and heal the lame man. They confirm the results. The man is walking around, no denying that.

If this happened today in this country we would have all sorts of ‘natural’ explanations to explain away what happened. We are too ‘smart’ to believe in these kinds of things. The cable news commentators would have all the experts talking in endless interviews. It would be a circus! And all the while, the lame man would be walking around healed.

So despite the threats to their lives, the disciples continue telling what they have experienced. They pray for boldness! They want to continue to share and let the LORD work through them to reach the world. They wanted God’s power working in and through them. They were not afraid to let God move. I think we are afraid to let God move. It would take us out of our comfort zone, and I know I like my comfort. When God’s grace is working, then needs are seen and met by the people of God. No need for welfare among believers. The Spirit opens us up to radical compassion. To put it simply, they yield to the Holy Spirit’s leading.

REVIEW: Lock Acts 1-4 in your brain: HOLY. Run these four chapter Phrases right now.

Day 24

noreply@blogger.com (Chaplain Therapist) — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 08:00:00 +0000

Memorize: Lame man is healed

Acts 3

Key Verses: 6, 15-16, 19

We look at begging from a very different perspective today than they did back then. Devout Jews felt an obligation to give to the poor. We feel an obligation to cross to the other side of the street. The man in our passage was looking for a handout, but got the opportunity for employment and responsibility. Begging was a relatively easy task in a life probably filled with difficulties. He got a break from trying to care for himself as he sat and begged. After being healed he would have had to find something productive to do with his life, a radical change. And people recognized that radical change. What radical change do people see in you that signals to them that Jesus is working in your life?

Peter does not pull any punches in saying that “you” killed Jesus. His hearers were responsible for Jesus’ death. But remember, Peter had denied Jesus as well. What a transformation the presence of the Holy Spirit makes in a life! Denier to proclaimer. Peter passes on all the credit to Jesus. Today we have the tendency to collect credit and cash it in for our own purposes. We build ‘ministries’ and organizations that lose their sense of direction. Peter keeps focus: Jesus’ name and the faith that comes through Him.

The difference between Peter and his audience? Repentance! So that is exactly what Peter calls his audience to do. Peter calls them to go to a place that he himself has been. Peter repented. He calls them to repentance. If you have not surrendered to Jesus you can’t call someone else to surrender. You must walk the road before trying to lead someone else there.

REVIEW: Run through John. It should be getting a little easier. Run any rough spots. As someone else to check it as you recite it. Take your time. Concentrate. You can do it!

Day 23

noreply@blogger.com (Chaplain Therapist) — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 08:00:00 +0000

Memorize: Outpouring of Holy Spirit

Acts 2

Key Verses: 3, 5, 8, 15, 16, 22, 37-38, 42

Sometimes we get so used to hearing a passage of Scripture, or we just read so fast, that we take some things for granted. Take a look at verse three. These are not tongues of fire, but something that looked like tongues of fire above their heads. A tongue of fire is like the flame of a candle, not like a physical mouth tongue made out of fire. These are small details, but important ones. Every word of the Word is important. This “tongue” is a visible sign of the presence of the Holy Spirit. Speaking in an unlearned language was the audible sign of the Holy Spirit’s presence. The LORD made these tangible

Some people think that the miracle was that each heard their own language being spoken rather than the disciples speaking all these different languages, a miracle of hearing rather than a miracle of speaking. Besides not fitting with the text, how would they know that all the languages were being heard unless they themselves heard all the different language? They would only be hearing their own language. And their reaction is that they think they are drunk. I didn’t know that drinking alcohol gave a person the power to speak comprehensively in a language they had not learned. Why bother going to language school, just have a few drinks!

Luke doesn’t use the normal wording for fulfillment of prophecy. If it were fulfillment, then the blood, fire, and smoke would be there as well. Jesus’ signs and wonders were God’s stamp of approval on His life. They were God’s spotlight shining through eternity. They had seen these miracles and Peter points that out to them. They had handed Him over to be crucified. He rose from the grave. This was predicted by David more than 700 years before it happened.

When the central Truth of Jesus is preached, God convicts people and calls them to Himself. Then people are changed and the world changes as a result.

The Early Church was simple: teaching, fellowship, eating and prayer. And when that happened, people flocked to obey. How have we made it so complicated? How have we made it about the music, the kid’s programs, the donuts? We have become consumers of a religious program rather than witnesses to what Jesus has done in our lives. We tell third-hand stories about a second hand experience hoping someone will gain first-hand knowledge, because we are too afraid to encounter God ourselves. God would tell us to change, and we don’t want to change.

REVIEW: Keep working John.

Day 22

noreply@blogger.com (Chaplain Therapist) — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 08:00:00 +0000

Memorize: Heavenly ascension of Christ

Acts 1

Key Verses: 1-3, 4-5, 8, 11,

Acts begins by saying it is a second volume of a two volume work, the first being the Gospel of Luke. We don’t know anything about this man Theophilus except that his name means “lover of God.” Theophilus is thought to be a wealthy believer who might have paid Luke to do the research, at least that is how we would say it today. He probably supported Luke as he searched out the facts and recorded them.

Notice that Luke says these are the things Jesus BEGAN to do and teach. That is because Jesus was still doing these types of things even after the events recorded in the book. In fact He is still doing them today! Luke ties the end of the Gospel of Luke in to the beginning of Acts with these beginning summary verses.

“Don’t leave Jerusalem because I am sending the promised Holy Spirit. He will give you the power to accomplish everything that needs to be accomplished.” Then Jesus rises bodily up into the sky and disappears. The disciples watch Him go and the angels relay the promise of Jesus Second Coming. His return will be bodily and visibly. Just like the disciples, people will see His return. Not everyone on earth saw Jesus ascend into Heaven. Perhaps, not everyone will see Him return. But there are other things that happen when He returns that will be discovered later in the year.

Following Jesus ascension the believers gather, about 120 of them. Peter proposes that a replacement for Judas be chosen. I happen to think this is the first mistake of the early church. The quoted Psalm does not say “they will elect another to take his place of leadership.” The qualification for this replacement was their first-hand knowledge of Jesus’ ministry from beginning to end. So they choose Matthias. We hear nothing else about Matthias in history. We must be careful in quoting Scripture and in presuming to know the will of God. Could Paul have been Judas’ replacement?

Day 21.99 Book of Acts

noreply@blogger.com (Chaplain Therapist) — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 08:00:00 +0000

Memorize: Holy Spirit Working in the Church

Acrostic Theme: Holy Spirit Working in the Church

Author: Luke the Apostle who also wrote the Gospel of Luke

Date Written: Between 62-70 A.D.

Audience: Dedicated to Theophilus, but written to both Jews & Gentiles.

Key Verse: 1:8 This book is all about Jesus continuing His ministry in His followers. We see the Holy Spirit taking over where Jesus left off. As promised, Jesus sends the Holy Spirit to continue His work and witness. And the content of the witness is Jesus. The person of Jesus, His interaction with the world, and His power to change lives dominate what gets shared in this book. It doesn’t matter who is speaking or to whom, Jesus is the topic of discussion. His life, ministry, resurrection, and continued presence as witnessed by the presence of the Holy Spirit is the center of what they share again and again.

Outline:

1:1-2:13 Pre-Witness Preparation
2:14-5:42 Jerusalem Witness
6:1-12:25 Beyond Jerusalem Witness
13:1-14:28 Cyprus & Southern Galatia Witness
15:1-35 Jerusalem Council Witness
15:36-18:22 Greece Witness
18:23-21:16 Ephesus Witness
21:17-23:35 Jerusalem Witness & Arrest
24:1-26:32 Caesarea Witness
27:1-28:31 Rome Witness

Holy Spirit Working in the Church

01. Heavenly ascension of Christ

02. Outpouring of Holy Spirit

03. Lame man is healed

04. Yield from public preaching

05. Sapphira and Ananias judged

06. Providing deacons ends injustice

07. Intensive defense by Stephen

08. Rising persecution scatters church

09. Introducing Saul to gospel

10. Taking gospel to Cornelius

11. Worship with Gentiles defended

12. Outbreak from the prison

13. Relaying gospel to Antioch

14. Kindness mixed with confusion

15. Investigation by Jerusalem Council

16. Need for Timothy's circumcision

17. Gospel presentation in Athens

18. Interview with Aquila, Priscilla

19. New believers in Ephesus

20. Touching farewell from Ephesians

21. Holy Spirit warns Paul

22. Effect of Paul's Testimony

23. Council of the Sanhedrin

24. Hearing held by Felix

25. Urgent appeal to Caesar

26. Reasoning with King Agrippa

27. Caesarea to Malta Island

28. Heralding gospel in chains

Sunday, January 29, 2012

noreply@blogger.com (Chaplain Therapist) — Sun, 29 Jan 2012 08:00:00 +0000

Congratulations! You now are beginning to get a handle on John. I would suggest that you concentrate on chapters 14-21, since they are the newest.

We will start Acts this coming week. I suggest that you go over John each day and focus on any Phrases that trip you up. Roll back and forth around the chapter Phrase you are stumbling over. If Chapter 14 Offer of Holy Spirit is giving you trouble, then do something like 14, 15, 13, 14, 15, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16…. The more you roll over and around the chapter Phrases, the more they will get lodged in your brain.

There will be some spots where you get stuck. Don’t sweat it! Just roll over it again and keep at it. Your brain will pick it up.

Recap: John the Gospel of Belief

John the Gospel of Belief

01. Jesus is the Word

02. Outstanding miracle at Cana

03. Heavenly birth taught Nicodemus

04. Need of Samaritan woman

05. Testimony to Jesus' deity

06. Holy Bread of Life

07. Exclamation at the feast

08. Grace for adulteress defended

09. Opposition to removing blindness

10. Shepherd and His sheep

11. Power to raise Lazarus

12. Entry into Jerusalem triumphant

13. Last supper and discourse

14. Offer of Holy Spirit

15. Fruit of the vine

16. Believer's comfort and joy

17. Extended prayer of Christ

18. Lord's betrayal and denial

19. Illegal trials and crucifixion

20. Eyewitnesses to the resurrection

21. Final charge to Peter

Day 21

noreply@blogger.com (Chaplain Therapist) — Sat, 28 Jan 2012 08:00:00 +0000

Memorize: Final charge to Peter

John 21

Key Verses: 7, 14, 17, 21, 24, 25

Seven of the disciples decide to go fishing and none of them catch anything. This is typical fishing! Too many men doing nothing and catching nothing. Jesus is waiting with breakfast on the shore and helps them catch an abundance of fish before inviting them to eat. He eats with them. This was the third meeting with the disciples after His resurrection. Three confirmations.

It is time for Jesus to get to work, the work of restoring Peter. He had denied Jesus three times, so Jesus invites and charges Peter three times. It had to be humbling and very difficult for Peter to look Jesus in the eyes as He asked these questions. But each time Jesus responded with a charge to do ministry.

And then Jesus tells Peter what the future holds for him. The one who thinks he has it all together will be led around almost helpless in old age. Peter was going to die because he followed Jesus. And yet Peter follows.

Another quick lesson from this chapter. We can’t get sidetracked along the way worrying about other people’s ministry and future. That is not our concern. The Lord has that in His hands and we don’t need to be concerned about it. We need to follow.

And we finally learn the identity of the mysterious “disciple whom Jesus loved.” It is the author of this book, John the disciple. And there were so many things that Jesus did that just weren’t written down. I want to challenge you to begin keeping track of the things the Lord does in your life, big and small. Focus on what is happening, rather than focusing on what isn’t. Peter wanted certain things to happen and not happen, but in the end, God worked through Him and did great things because He believed. God will do the same thing in your life, if you let Him.

REVIEW: Acrostic Theme & each chapter’s phrase.

Day 20

noreply@blogger.com (Chaplain Therapist) — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 08:00:00 +0000

Memorize: Eyewitnesses to the resurrection

John 20

Key Verses: 9, 16-17, 19, 21-22, 29, 30-31

After Jesus’ hasty burial in a borrowed tomb just moments before the Sabbath period began, the disciples and His close companions observe the Sabbath. Just moments after the official Sabbath has ended Mary Magdalene goes to properly prepare Jesus body. But as she arrives at the tomb, she sees that someone has tampered with it, or so she thinks. She runs to return and report this to the disciples who respond by running to the tomb themselves. They arrive and explore the almost empty tomb. The linens that were wrapped around Jesus’ body are still there, but Jesus is not. They still don’t understand the resurrection, so they return to their temporary lodgings.

But Mary returns, puzzled but determined to try to finish her respects. There must be an explanation. She looks into the tomb and sees two angelic beings who talk with her briefly. She turns and sees someone, and in her puzzled state, not understanding the resurrection, she mistakes Him for the gardener. But Jesus just speaks her name and Mary’s world is changed. She hugs Him as if there is no tomorrow. But Jesus has a mission for her: go tell the disciples.

For the next two weeks on Sunday, Jesus appears behind closed doors to His disciples. He shows them the marks of His crucifixion. They believe. And He gives them a mission. They are eyewitnesses to the resurrection. Their job is to tell what they have seen and experienced. They have seen Jesus alive again.

But the last verses of this chapter are the key to the whole book of John. Everything written is nothing compared to what could be written, and the reason anything was written down was so that we would believe. Believing is the key. When we trust Him, everything changes. Our view of the world and eternity lines up with God’s view of the world and eternity. And when that happens we experience life, real life, eternal life right here, right now.

REVIEW: Acrostic Theme & each chapter’s phrase.

Day 19

noreply@blogger.com (Chaplain Therapist) — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 08:00:00 +0000

Memorize: Illegal trials and crucifixion

John 19

Key Verses: 1, 11, 22, 26-27, 30, 34, 38

No concerns about coercive interrogation techniques back then. Flog the prisoner, then ask the questions. I guess most prisoners would blurt out whatever they could to get the flogging to stop, but not Jesus. He stays true to the end. He doesn’t give in to the easy way. Pilate knows Jesus is innocent, but bows to political pressure.

Pilate is a superstitious and suspicious man. When Jesus doesn’t cave in after the flogging and then talks about His power coming from God, this is almost too much for Pilate. How can anyone not cave? Everyone else has? What is different about Jesus? Could He be God as I have heard that He claims? He tries to set Jesus free, but gets backed into a corner.

Jesus receives the death penalty for being innocent! He is nailed to a cross, the capital punishment instrument of that day. The guards get their piece of the action by gambling for the leftover clothes. Jesus takes care of His mother by giving responsibility for her care to one of the disciples. He asks for a drink and dies. They check to confirm his death. He is taken down and put in a new stone tomb by two powerful religious leaders who became His followers.

Without Jesus’ death, His words are empty. Liars are not people to be trusted. If He lied about who He was, why should be believe what He says about anything else in life? How can we trust anything He said? But three days later, Jesus is alive again.

Despite the illegal trials and crucifixion, Jesus is triumphant.

REVIEW: Acrostic Theme & each chapter’s phrase.

Day 18

noreply@blogger.com (Chaplain Therapist) — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 08:00:00 +0000

Lord's betrayal and denial

John 18

Key Verses: 6, 15, 27, 31

This is no shootout at the OK Corral. No resistance to arrest here. No swat team needed. Jesus walks out and surrenders. They show up ready for a fight, and Jesus gives Himself over to death. Remember, Jesus mission was to die for our sins. His purpose in coming to earth was about to be fulfilled. So He yields to the will of God. His first act of sacrifice is to gain the freedom of His disciples, which He does.

Jesus is taken into a high security area and one of the disciples is able to gain access for himself and Peter. One of the disciples has some connections. Not all political connections are evil. Some can be used for the sake of the Gospel. We must make sure that the means match the Gospel. No bribe is passed and accepted, no future favor promised, no influence sold. This disciple just asks that Peter be able to come with him, and permission is granted. “He’s with me.”

In the chamber Jesus ‘trial’ begins and lying is on the menu. Jesus makes some clear statements, is slapped, and His slapper lies about the identity of whose presence he is in. This slapper knows Annas is the head of the Priestly family. He Their family controls who is High Priest for most of the first century AD. I get the picture of a Mafia family. He is the ‘godfather’ of this family.

Our reputations go with us everywhere we go. Remember Malchus, the servant who received the first ‘ear ectomy’, his story has quickly passed through the servant rumor network. And now, the man who swung the sword is standing in the courtyard of the ‘godfather’. If I were a good servant, I would ask for identification as well. There might be a medal or a promotion in it.

These leaders bring Jesus to the one who has execution authority and they still have no real charges to present, certainly nothing deserving death. They in essence tell Pilate “trust us.” They are asking Pilate to delegate his authority to them, something a smart leader does carefully. And Pilate is not a stupid ruler, so he wants to examine Jesus himself.

REVIEW: Acrostic Theme & each chapter’s phrase.

Day 17

noreply@blogger.com (Chaplain Therapist) — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 08:00:00 +0000

Extended prayer of Christ

John 17

Key Verses: 3, 5, 15, 21

Eternal life is knowing the true God. When we know Him, we have eternal life. Life is about relationship. When we have relationship with the true God, we have life. It is eternal life because He is eternal. If I am part of a celebrity’s family, I get celebrity life filled with cameras and autograph seekers. If I am in the family of someone who is unemployed right now, I get a life of concern and frugality. When we are in relationship with the Eternal God, we get eternal life.

Notice with care verse five. Jesus was with the Father before the world began and had the same glory as the Father has. Jesus is saying that He existed before the Virgin Birth, before Adam and Eve, before “In the beginning.” In this prayer Jesus clearly states His pre-creation existence. Only God existed before creation.

Jesus prays for the protection of the disciples, the early believers and for us. But more than protection, He prays for unity. This is not the unity we get at a rally, but unity of a much deeper kind. The unity of being that Jesus shares with the Father and Holy Spirit is the model for the unity that we can share. Jesus says that He did everything just as the Father instructed. Their wills were completely in sync. Nothing that Jesus did was done out of selfish desire or vein conceit. He was always focused on the Father’s will. We can have this kind of unity of purpose as well. But it is more than that. “…you are in me and I am in you… they also be in us….” There is a unity of presence as well. We are in God and God is in us. And all of this so that people will know that Jesus was sent from the Father and that God loves us.

Jesus extended prayer is about mission, the mission of bringing God’s presence within reach. When we believe in Him, then God’s presence stays with us and His love changes our lives. Sin’s penalty is removed and sin’s presence and influence is washed away as we yield more and more to that presence and will. AS we read His Word and allow the sharpening effect of Christian fellowship and prayer, the presence of the Holy Spirit changes us. We continue to yield to His will and we chose obedience. Then we experience God’s love and the world gets to see God’s love in action as we act in His Name.

REVIEW: Acrostic Theme & each chapter’s phrase. Concentrate on GOSPEL OF, chapters 8-15.

Day 16

noreply@blogger.com (Chaplain Therapist) — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 08:00:00 +0000

Believer's comfort and joy

John 16

Key Verses: 1, 7-8, 16, 33

Jesus continues to prepare His disciples for what is coming next: His death and burial. I have been with many people as they tried to prepare their families for their upcoming death. This is one of the hardest things to do. Often cancer patients know they are dying and try to communicate this to their families. Sometimes the families have a very difficult time accepting the reality of what is next. The disciples are just such a ‘family.’ Jesus has been telling them all along that He was going to die, but they have been unable to hear that message. They also have difficulty hearing the message of their coming rejection and persecution.

Jesus says that it is necessary for Him to leave so that He can send the Holy Spirit to them. The Holy Spirit is God working in the believers. He works in the world by proving the world wrong in the three areas of sin, righteousness and judgment. These are the three areas for which the world hates the Gospel. The Gospel brings hope for believers, but allows judgment to stand on unbelievers. Jesus death stands in stark contrast to those who would give excuses for sin. Jesus proved that judgment for sin is real. He bore the world’s sin and makes free access if we will but believe in Him. But the world hates this because there is an absolute moral authority in our lives, whether we accept it or not. There are universal rights and wrongs. We don’t get to make up the rules as we go along. We are all under condemnation. Period. Jesus offers a way out, the only way out of that condemnation.

When the Holy Spirit came after the Resurrection the believers were transformed. The loss and sorrow turned into comfort and joy. The short period of absence, because of the tomb, was replaced with a permanent sense of God’s presence with us in the person of the Holy Spirit. He is the One who embodies God’s peace in our lives. When we allow the Spirit to dwell, peace is pervasive. When the Spirit is leading us, we have victory regardless of the world’s scoring system. We overcome! What a comfort and joy we have, knowing that in the end all will be made right. The troubles we have suffered will pass away and only victory will remain.

REVIEW: Acrostic Theme & each chapter’s phrase.

Saturday, January 21, 2012

noreply@blogger.com (Chaplain Therapist) — Sat, 21 Jan 2012 08:00:00 +0000

John the Gospel of Belief

01. Jesus is the Word

02. Outstanding miracle at Cana

03. Heavenly birth taught Nicodemus

04. Need of Samaritan woman

05. Testimony to Jesus' deity

06. Holy Bread of Life

07. Exclamation at the feast

08. Grace for adulteress defended

09. Opposition to removing blindness

10. Shepherd and His sheep

11. Power to raise Lazarus

12. Entry into Jerusalem triumphant

13. Last supper and discourse

14. Offer of Holy Spirit

15. Fruit of the vine

16. Believer's comfort and joy

17. Extended prayer of Christ

18. Lord's betrayal and denial

19. Illegal trials and crucifixion

20. Eyewitnesses to the resurrection

21. Final charge to Peter

Day 15

noreply@blogger.com (Chaplain Therapist) — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 08:00:00 +0000

Fruit of the vine

John 15

Key Verses: 5, 12-14, 16

Jesus uses a picture from His culture that all the people of His day would have readily understood. Everyone knew about grapevines. They knew that pruning was necessary for fruit production. They knew what happened to a branch that was disconnected from the vine. Jesus applies these lessons to Himself. We must stay connected, vitally connected to Him. If we don’t we lose the connection and we wither and die. We must receive the nutrients from the vine in order to survive. We need the life of Jesus flowing to and through us if we are to produce fruit.

One fruit is love, love for God and love for each other. Jesus showed us His love by laying down His life for us. The highest military honors go to those who put their own life on the line for others. The greatest acts of valor come from actions that show the individual valued other’s lives more than their own. Jesus put His life on the line for us. He did this so that we could be fruit bearing people. He wants us to have lives that do more than consume. He wants us to have lives that produce.

Loving others means that we have to put our own priorities on hold and meet their needs. Love is self-sacrificing. Love is something the Lord will push through us if we are connected to Him, just as the sap is pushed though the vine. If we are connected, love will flow. If love is not flowing, then we must question our connection to Him.

REVIEW: Acrostic Theme & each chapter’s phrase.

Day 14

noreply@blogger.com (Chaplain Therapist) — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 08:00:00 +0000

Offer of Holy Spirit

John 14

Key Verses: 1-3, 6, 16-17, 20, 27

As Jesus prepares to die, He knows His death is not the end. He will rise again and then return to Heaven with the Father. He knows that His death and then His leaving will be difficult for the disciples, so He begins to prepare their hearts for the pain. And the best preparation is for them to know Him better, so He reveals more about Himself to them.

Jesus is the way and the truth and the life. He holds the exclusive rights to entry into Heaven. If you want to be with God after death, you must believe in Jesus. There are no exceptions. But now there is a way to heaven where there used to be no way, because sin prevented us from entering. We can now know truth with certainty. If it aligns with Jesus, it is truth. If it is at odds, it is not truth. Death was the only option available before Jesus. Now life has been opened up to everyone who believes.

And the seal of that new life is the presence of the Holy Spirit in our lives. When we believe God’s Spirit lives in us and we enter into a vital, intimate relationship with God. There is no separating us. He is in us and we are in Him. And when this happens, peace is one of the results. The disciples’ human reaction to the coming grief would be panic, but Jesus says He is giving them peace.

When we accept the offer of the Holy Spirit, our life will change. This is the new birth, the heavenly birth talked about in chapter three. The Holy Spirit is now with us, just as Jesus was with the disciples, teaching and reminding. When in doubt, go to the Scriptures and as the Holy Spirit to make His will known to you. And He will. It may not happen in the first minute, but it will happen. He will make His will known to you. Are you ready to believe and obey?

REVIEW: Acrostic Theme & each chapter’s phrase. Concentrate on GOSPEL, chapters 8-13. You should have JOHN THE, chapters 1-7, firmly in your grasp. Keep it up. It will get easier over the next couple of weeks.