Tag: Book of Acts

Morning Reading: Acts 4.32-37 NLT – shared resources

Reading: Acts 4.32-37 NLT

Shabbat dinner and discussion at a Moishe House. Photo courtesy of Moishe House.
Shabbat dinner and discussion at a Moishe House.
Photo courtesy of Moishe House.

All the believers were united in heart and mind. And they felt that what they owned was not their own, so they shared everything they had. The apostles testified powerfully to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and God’s great blessing was upon them all. There were no needy people among them, because those who owned land or houses would sell them and bring the money to the apostles to give to those in need.

For instance, there was Joseph, the one the apostles nicknamed Barnabas (which means “Son of Encouragement”). He was from the tribe of Levi and came from the island of Cyprus. He sold a field he owned and brought the money to the apostles.

Prayer: Heavenly Father – Everything that I have is on loan from you. You are the giver of all good gifts… you are the giver of life itself. Holy Spirit – Make me a faithful steward of all the resources at my disposal. Give me a willing heart to follow your leading in their use and distribution. Lord Jesus – In all decisions – large and small – may your receive the honor due your name. Amen.

Hymn: “Let All Things Now Living” – Katherine K. Davis (1939)

Morning Reading: Acts 4.23-31 NLT – give us boldness

Reading: Acts 4:23-31 NLT

As soon as they were freed, Peter and John returned to the other believers and told them what the leading priests and elders had said.

When they heard the report, all the believers lifted their voices together in prayer to God:

“O Sovereign Lord, Creator of heaven and earth, the sea, and everything in them— you spoke long ago by the Holy Spirit through our ancestor David, your servant, saying,

‘Why were the nations so angry? Why did they waste their time with futile plans? The kings of the earth prepared for battle; the rulers gathered together against the Lord and against his Messiah.’

“In fact, this has happened here in this very city! For Herod Antipas, Pontius Pilate the governor, the Gentiles, and the people of Israel were all united against Jesus, your holy servant, whom you anointed. But everything they did was determined beforehand according to your will.

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Iris Ministries in Mozambique.

“And now, O Lord, hear their threats, and give us, your servants, great boldness in preaching your word. Stretch out your hand with healing power; may miraculous signs and wonders be done through the name of your holy servant Jesus.”

After this prayer, the meeting place shook, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit. Then they preached the word of God with boldness.

Prayer: Lord God – Hear my prayer. Give your servants great boldness in preaching your word. Stretch out your hand with healing power; may miraculous signs and wonders be done through the name of your holy servant Jesus. And may you receive all the honor and glory due your name. Amen.

Spiritual Song: “Show Your Power” – Kevin Prosch

Morning Reading: Acts 4.13-22 NLT – can’t stop telling

Reading: Acts 4.13-22 NLT

The members of the council were amazed when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, for they could see that they were ordinary men with no special training in the Scriptures. They also recognized them as men who had been with Jesus. But since they could see the man who had been healed standing right there among them, there was nothing the council could say. So they ordered Peter and John out of the council chamber and conferred among themselves.

Testimony in Kenya
Testimony in Kenya

“What should we do with these men?” they asked each other. “We can’t deny that they have performed a miraculous sign, and everybody in Jerusalem knows about it. But to keep them from spreading their propaganda any further, we must warn them not to speak to anyone in Jesus’ name again.” So they called the apostles back in and commanded them never again to speak or teach in the name of Jesus.

But Peter and John replied, “Do you think God wants us to obey you rather than him? We cannot stop telling about everything we have seen and heard.”

The council then threatened them further, but they finally let them go because they didn’t know how to punish them without starting a riot. For everyone was praising God for this miraculous sign—the healing of a man who had been lame for more than forty years.

Prayer: Lord Jesus – Give me the boldness and steadfastness of Peter and John who, under threat of the authorities, remained obedient to God. Holy Spirit – Give me the words to speak truth to power in a way that is clear and unequivocal . Heavenly Father – Work your wonders in me and through me… that the world may know Jesus is Lord. Amen.

Hymn: “Since Jesus Came Into My Heart” – Rufus H. McDaniel (1914)

Morning Reading: Acts 4.5-12 NLT – no other name

Reading: Acts 4:5-12 NLT

The next day the council of all the rulers and elders and teachers of religious law met in Jerusalem. Annas the high priest was there, along with Caiaphas, John, Alexander, and other relatives of the high priest.

They brought in the two disciples and demanded, “By what power, or in whose name, have you done this?”

jesus_savesThen Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, “Rulers and elders of our people, are we being questioned today because we’ve done a good deed for a crippled man? Do you want to know how he was healed?

“Let me clearly state to all of you and to all the people of Israel that he was healed by the powerful name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene, the man you crucified but whom God raised from the dead.

“For Jesus is the one referred to in the Scriptures, where it says, ‘The stone that you builders rejected has now become the cornerstone.’

“There is salvation in no one else! God has given no other name under heaven by which we must be saved.”

Prayer: Lord Jesus – You alone have the power to heal… you alone have the power to save.  You alone are the way, the truth,  and the life…. no one comes to the Father except through you. May the whole world know that you are Lord.  To you be all honor, glory,  wisdom,  power, riches and strength.  Amen.

Spiritual Song: “There Is No Other Name” – Robin Mark

Morning Reading: Acts 4.1-4 NLT – growing church

Reading: Acts 4:1-4 NLT

While Peter and John were speaking to the people, they were confronted by the priests, the captain of the Temple guard, and some of the Sadducees.

People attend a Mass led by Catholic priest Marcelo Rossi at the Mother of God sanctuary in Sao Paulo, Brazil, Saturday, Nov. 3, 2012. Rossi, a Latin Grammy-nominated Christian music singer and author of best-selling books in Brazil, inaugurated on Friday the massive new Roman Catholic church that will hold about 20,000 worshippers when complete. (AP Photo/Andre Penner)
People attend a Mass led by Catholic priest Marcelo Rossi at the Mother of God sanctuary in Sao Paulo, Brazil, Saturday, Nov. 3, 2012.
Rossi, inaugurated on Friday the massive new Roman Catholic church that will hold about 20,000 worshippers when complete. (AP Photo/Andre Penner)

These leaders were very disturbed that Peter and John were teaching the people that through Jesus there is a resurrection of the dead.

They arrested them and, since it was already evening, put them in jail until morning.

But many of the people who heard their message believed it, so the number of believers now totaled about 5,000 men, not counting women and children.

Prayer: Lord Jesus – Fill your church with your Spirit. Guide and direct your servants to seek and save those who are lost. Baptize them into your family and make them spirit and truth worshipers. Teach and train them to become more like you and send them out to tell others of your mercy and grace. And may you receive all the glory. Amen.

Hymn: “We’ve a Story to Tell to the Nations” – H. Ernest Nichol (1896)