Tag: Acts of the Holy Spirit

Morning Reading: Acts 13:4-12 NLT – Spirit sent

Reading: Acts 13:4-12 NLT

Apostle Paul's First Missionary Journey
Apostle Paul’s First Missionary Journey

So Barnabas and Saul were sent out by the Holy Spirit. They went down to the seaport of Seleucia and then sailed for the island of Cyprus. There, in the town of Salamis, they went to the Jewish synagogues and preached the word of God. John Mark went with them as their assistant.

Afterward they traveled from town to town across the entire island until finally they reached Paphos, where they met a Jewish sorcerer, a false prophet named Bar-Jesus. He had attached himself to the governor, Sergius Paulus, who was an intelligent man. The governor invited Barnabas and Saul to visit him, for he wanted to hear the word of God. But Elymas, the sorcerer (as his name means in Greek), interfered and urged the governor to pay no attention to what Barnabas and Saul said. He was trying to keep the governor from believing.

Saul, also known as Paul, was filled with the Holy Spirit, and he looked the sorcerer in the eye. Then he said, “You son of the devil, full of every sort of deceit and fraud, and enemy of all that is good! Will you never stop perverting the true ways of the Lord? Watch now, for the Lord has laid his hand of punishment upon you, and you will be struck blind. You will not see the sunlight for some time.” Instantly mist and darkness came over the man’s eyes, and he began groping around begging for someone to take his hand and lead him.

When the governor saw what had happened, he became a believer, for he was astonished at the teaching about the Lord.

Prayer: Holy Spirit send me, equip me, to represent the Lord Jesus with wisdom and power from above. Purify my heart and calm my spirit so that I will know when to speak and when to listen. And give me the words of Life that quicken souls and lead to eternal life. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Hymn: “Wonderful words of Life” – Philip P. Bliss (1874) performed by Fountain View Academy
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Morning Reading: Acts 13:1-3 NLT – hands on commissioning

Reading: Acts 13.1-3 NLT

commissioning alonso-hands-onAmong the prophets and teachers of the church at Antioch of Syria were Barnabas, Simeon (called “the black man”), Lucius (from Cyrene), Manaen (the childhood companion of King Herod Antipas), and Saul. One day as these men were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Dedicate Barnabas and Saul for the special work to which I have called them.” So after more fasting and prayer, the men laid their hands on them and sent them on their way.

Prayer: Holy Spirit – Call forth godly prophets and teachers from within your church… people who will worship, fast and pray. And set apart worker/evangelists who will go to harvest fields near and far… seeking those who are lost. Unite the world-wide community of believers around this missionary effort… regardless of religious tradition. Speak your Word of truth… that all might know Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior. I ask it in Jesus’ name. Amen.

Hymn: “Fling Out the Banner! Let it float!” – George W. Doane (1848)
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Morning Reading: Acts 12.20-25 NLT – Soli Deo Gloria

Reading: Acts 12.20-25 NLT

Soli Deo GloriaNow Herod was very angry with the people of Tyre and Sidon. So they sent a delegation to make peace with him because their cities were dependent upon Herod’s country for food. The delegates won the support of Blastus, Herod’s personal assistant, and an appointment with Herod was granted. When the day arrived, Herod put on his royal robes, sat on his throne, and made a speech to them. The people gave him a great ovation, shouting, “It’s the voice of a god, not of a man!”

Instantly, an angel of the Lord struck Herod with a sickness, because he accepted the people’s worship instead of giving the glory to God. So he was consumed with worms and died.

Meanwhile, the word of God continued to spread, and there were many new believers.

When Barnabas and Saul had finished their mission to Jerusalem, they returned, taking John Mark with them.

Prayer: Lord God – May I be a faithful witness – by Scripture alone, by faith alone, by grace alone, through Christ alone, to the glory of God alone. Amen.

Anthem: “Soli Deo Gloria” – Annie Moses Band
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Morning Reading: Acts 12.6-19 NLT – prison break

Reading: Acts 12:6-19 NLT

The night before Peter was to be placed on trial, he was asleep, fastened with two chains between two soldiers. Others stood guard at the prison gate.

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St Peter Being Freed from Prison
Gerrit van Honthorst (1616-1618)

Suddenly, there was a bright light in the cell, and an angel of the Lord stood before Peter. The angel struck him on the side to awaken him and said, “Quick! Get up!” And the chains fell off his wrists. Then the angel told him, “Get dressed and put on your sandals.” And he did. “Now put on your coat and follow me,” the angel ordered.

So Peter left the cell, following the angel. But all the time he thought it was a vision. He didn’t realize it was actually happening.

They passed the first and second guard posts and came to the iron gate leading to the city, and this opened for them all by itself. So they passed through and started walking down the street, and then the angel suddenly left him.

Peter finally came to his senses. “It’s really true!” he said. “The Lord has sent his angel and saved me from Herod and from what the Jewish leaders had planned to do to me!”

When he realized this, he went to the home of Mary, the mother of John Mark, where many were gathered for prayer. He knocked at the door in the gate, and a servant girl named Rhoda came to open it.

When she recognized Peter’s voice, she was so overjoyed that, instead of opening the door, she ran back inside and told everyone, “Peter is standing at the door!”

“You’re out of your mind!” they said. When she insisted, they decided, “It must be his angel.”

Meanwhile, Peter continued knocking. When they finally opened the door and saw him, they were amazed.

He motioned for them to quiet down and told them how the Lord had led him out of prison. “Tell James and the other brothers what happened,” he said. And then he went to another place.

At dawn there was a great commotion among the soldiers about what had happened to Peter. Herod Agrippa ordered a thorough search for him. When he couldn’t be found, Herod interrogated the guards and sentenced them to death. Afterward Herod left Judea to stay in Caesarea for a while.

Prayer: Heavenly Father – Why is it that we pray for divine intervention, but never really expect it. Forgive our unbelief and small faith. Lord Jesus – Align us with your Kingdom purposes so that we might pray with boldness and conviction. Holy Spirit – Open our hearts and minds to all the miraculous possibilities that you work among us. Make us faithful in prayer and humble in spirit… trusting you for outcomes befitting your perfect will. Amen.

Hymn: “Sweet Hour of Prayer” – W.W. Walford (1772-1850)

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Sweet hour of prayer! sweet hour of prayer! That calls me from a world of care, and bids me at my Father’s throne make all my wants and wishes known.  In seasons of distress and grief, my soul has often found relief, and oft escaped the tempter’s snare by thy return, sweet hour of prayer!

Sweet hour of prayer! sweet hour of prayer! The joys I feel, the bliss I share of those whose anxious spirits burn with strong desires for thy return! With such I hasten to the place where God my Savior shows his face, and gladly take my station there, and wait for thee, sweet hour of prayer!

Sweet hour of prayer! sweet hour of prayer! Thy wings shall my petition bear to him whose truth and faithfulness engage the waiting soul to bless. And since he bids me seek his face, believe his word, and trust his grace, I’ll cast on him my every care, and wait for thee, sweet hour of prayer!

Morning Reading: Acts 12.1-5 NLT – more persecution

Reading: Acts 12.1-5 NLT

The Beheading of St. James by Fra Filippo Lippi, 1455 (part of the Pistoia Sante Trinita Altarpiece in the National Gallery, London)
The Beheading of St. James
by Fra Filippo Lippi, 1455
(part of the Pistoia Sante Trinita Altarpiece in the National Gallery, London)

About that time King Herod Agrippa began to persecute some believers in the church. He had the apostle James (John’s brother) killed with a sword.

When Herod saw how much this pleased the Jewish people, he also arrested Peter. (This took place during the Passover celebration.) Then he imprisoned him, placing him under the guard of four squads of four soldiers each. Herod intended to bring Peter out for public trial after the Passover. But while Peter was in prison, the church prayed very earnestly for him.

Prayer: Lord Jesus – Your followers have been persecuted from early on… some you deliver from evil, and some pay the heavy price of martyrdom. In all of it, make us people of prayer… trusting, hoping, believing and persistent. Deliver us from the evil extent in our time. Clothe us with the full armor of God… that we might stand firm against the schemes of the devil… who roams this earth seeking to devour your people. Transform us into Kingdom people… and may your will be done in us and through us… for your name’s sake. Amen.

Hymn: “Abide with me” – Henry Francis Lyte (1847)
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Abide with me: fast falls the eventide; the darkness deepens; Lord, with me abide. When other helpers fail and comforts flee, Help of the helpless, O abide with me.

Swift to its close ebbs out life’s little day; earth’s joys grow dim, its glories pass away. Change and decay in all around I see. O Lord who changes not, abide with me.

I need your presence every passing hour. What but your grace can foil the tempter’s power? Who like yourself my guide and strength can be? Through cloud and sunshine, O abide with me.

I fear no foe with you at hand to bless, though ills have weight, and tears their bitterness. Where is death’s sting? Where, grave, your victory? I triumph still, if you abide with me.

Hold now your Word before my closing eyes. Shine through the gloom and point me to the skies. Heaven’s morning breaks and earth’s vain shadows flee; in life, in death, O Lord, abide with me.