Tag: Christians

Morning Reading: Acts 9.1-9 NLT – paradigm shift

Reading: Acts 9:1-9 NLT

Meanwhile, Saul was uttering threats with every breath and was eager to kill the Lord’s followers.

So he went to the high priest. He requested letters addressed to the synagogues in Damascus, asking for their cooperation in the arrest of any followers of the Way he found there. He wanted to bring them—both men and women—back to Jerusalem in chains.

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As he was approaching Damascus on this mission, a light from heaven suddenly shone down around him. He fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to him, “Saul! Saul! Why are you persecuting me?”

“Who are you, lord?” Saul asked.

And the voice replied, “I am Jesus, the one you are persecuting!  Now get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.”

The men with Saul stood speechless, for they heard the sound of someone’s voice but saw no one! Saul picked himself up off the ground, but when he opened his eyes he was blind.

So his companions led him by the hand to Damascus. He remained there blind for three days and did not eat or drink.

Prayer: Lord Jesus – What would it take for you change the direction of my life… especially when I thought I was doing your will in the first place? Holy Spirit – Mold me, make me, use me in whatever way you choose. Give me a willing spirit to change what I’m doing, if that’s what you want for me. Heavenly Father – May I honor you and your family in all that I do. Amen.

Spiritual Song: “Lead me Lord, I will follow” – Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir
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12th Sunday in Ordinary Time: Galatians 3.26-29 NLT – heirs of God

Reading: Galatians 3:26-29 NLT

For you are all children of God through faith in Christ Jesus. And all who have been united with Christ in baptism have put on Christ, like putting on new clothes.

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There is no longer Jew or Gentile, slave or free, male and female. For you are all one in Christ Jesus.

And now that you belong to Christ, you are the true children of Abraham. You are his heirs, and God’s promise to Abraham belongs to you.

Prayer: Lord Jesus – Soften the hearts of your children towards one another. May all who have been united with you in baptism, be united with one another in spirit… respecting our differences, yet encouraging one another as children and heirs of God. For your name’s sake I ask it. Amen.

Spiritual Song: Make Us One – Cindy Morgan

Morning Reading: Acts 8.26-40 NLT – Spirit led

Reading: Acts 8:26-40 NLT

As for Philip, an angel of the Lord said to him, “Go south down the desert road that runs from Jerusalem to Gaza.”

So he started out, and he met the treasurer of Ethiopia, a eunuch of great authority under the Kandake, the queen of Ethiopia. The eunuch had gone to Jerusalem to worship, and he was now returning. Seated in his carriage, he was reading aloud from the book of the prophet Isaiah.

The Holy Spirit said to Philip, “Go over and walk along beside the carriage.” Philip ran over and heard the man reading from the prophet Isaiah.

Philip asked, “Do you understand what you are reading?” The man replied, “How can I, unless someone instructs me?” And he urged Philip to come up into the carriage and sit with him.

The passage of Scripture he had been reading was this:

“He was led like a sheep to the slaughter. And as a lamb is silent before the shearers, he did not open his mouth. He was humiliated and received no justice. Who can speak of his descendants? For his life was taken from the earth.”

The eunuch asked Philip, “Tell me, was the prophet talking about himself or someone else?”

So beginning with this same Scripture, Philip told him the Good News about Jesus.

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As they rode along, they came to some water, and the eunuch said, “Look! There’s some water! Why can’t I be baptized?”

[Some manuscripts add: Philip said, “You can, if you believe with all your heart.” And he answered, “I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.”]

He ordered the carriage to stop, and they went down into the water, and Philip baptized him. When they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord snatched Philip away. The eunuch never saw him again but went on his way rejoicing.

Meanwhile, Philip found himself farther north at the town of Azotus. He preached the Good News there and in every town along the way until he came to Caesarea.

Prayer: Heavenly Father – You send your emissaries to every tribe and nation… some go willingly, some go in spite of themselves. But wherever you send me, enable me to see it as another opportunity to share the Good News about Jesus. Holy Spirit – Open my eyes to see the opportunities that you have prepared for me. And give me the courage to seize the moment… and allow you to speak through me. Lord Jesus – May many confess you as Savior and Lord… and be baptized into your family. Amen.

Gospel Hymn: “We have heard the joyful sound” – Priscilla J. Owens
Adaptation by Colin Webster, Cornerstone Church, UK
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Morning Reading: Acts 8.4-25 NLT – power evangelism

Reading: Acts 8:4-25 NLT

But the believers who were scattered preached the Good News about Jesus wherever they went.

Philip, for example, went to the city of Samaria and told the people there about the Messiah. Crowds listened intently to Philip because they were eager to hear his message and see the miraculous signs he did. Many evil spirits were cast out, screaming as they left their victims. And many who had been paralyzed or lame were healed. So there was great joy in that city.

A man named Simon had been a sorcerer there for many years, amazing the people of Samaria and claiming to be someone great. Everyone, from the least to the greatest, often spoke of him as “the Great One—the Power of God.” They listened closely to him because for a long time he had astounded them with his magic.

But now the people believed Philip’s message of Good News concerning the Kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ. As a result, many men and women were baptized.

Then Simon himself believed and was baptized. He began following Philip wherever he went, and he was amazed by the signs and great miracles Philip performed.

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When the apostles in Jerusalem heard that the people of Samaria had accepted God’s message, they sent Peter and John there. As soon as they arrived, they prayed for these new believers to receive the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit had not yet come upon any of them, for they had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. Then Peter and John laid their hands upon these believers, and they received the Holy Spirit.

When Simon saw that the Spirit was given when the apostles laid their hands on people, he offered them money to buy this power. “Let me have this power, too,” he exclaimed, “so that when I lay my hands on people, they will receive the Holy Spirit!”

But Peter replied, “May your money be destroyed with you for thinking God’s gift can be bought! You can have no part in this, for your heart is not right with God. Repent of your wickedness and pray to the Lord. Perhaps he will forgive your evil thoughts, for I can see that you are full of bitter jealousy and are held captive by sin.”

“Pray to the Lord for me,” Simon exclaimed, “that these terrible things you’ve said won’t happen to me!”

After testifying and preaching the word of the Lord in Samaria, Peter and John returned to Jerusalem. And they stopped in many Samaritan villages along the way to preach the Good News.

Prayer: Heavenly Father- Search my heart and cleanse me from my evil thoughts. Free me from captivity to sins of commission and omission. Fill me with your Spirit so that I might boldly tell others about the Good News of Jesus. And may your Kingdom purposes be advanced in me and through me. Amen.

Spiritual Song: “Change my heart O God” – Eddie Espinosa, Vineyard
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Morning Reading: Acts 8.1-3 NLT – persecution

Reading: Acts 8.1-3 NLT

persecuted christiansSaul was one of the witnesses, and he agreed completely with the killing of Stephen.

A great wave of persecution began that day, sweeping over the church in Jerusalem; and all the believers except the apostles were scattered through the regions of Judea and Samaria. (Some devout men came and buried Stephen with great mourning.)

But Saul was going everywhere to destroy the church. He went from house to house, dragging out both men and women to throw them into prison.

Prayer: Heavenly Father – Protect your church throughout the world… every size, shape, language and custom. Hold your people close to your heart. Holy Spirit – Come alongside of every Christian imprisoned, or persecuted, for their faith in Jesus Christ… comfort them, defend them, strengthen them, release them. Lord Jesus – Be their Shepherd, their Savior, their Rock… and send your guardian angels to fight in their defense. And may you be glorified in the suffering of all those who have placed their trust in you. Amen.

Spiritual Song: “O Lord Hear My Prayer” – Jacques Berthier