Tag: Gentiles

Morning Reading: Acts 15:1-3 NLT – council delegates

Reading: Acts 15:1-3 NLT

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While Paul and Barnabas were at Antioch of Syria, some men from Judea arrived and began to teach the believers : “Unless you are circumcised as required by the law of Moses, you cannot be saved.” Paul and Barnabas disagreed with them, arguing vehemently.

Finally, the church decided to send Paul and Barnabas to Jerusalem, accompanied by some local believers, to talk to the apostles and elders about this question. The church sent the delegates to Jerusalem, and they stopped along the way in Phoenicia and Samaria to visit the believers. They told them—much to everyone’s joy—that the Gentiles, too, were being converted.

Prayer: Lord Jesus – all I need is you… your love, your mercy,  and your grace. You’ve done it all, on my behalf, on the cross. Set me free from any rules or regulations that I might add in to all sufficient grace. And give me a welcoming spirit towards all whom you have called to yourself.  To you be the glory. Amen.

Spiritual Song: “In Christ Alone” – Newsboys

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O4U5PgQgCdI&feature=youtube_gdata_player

Morning Reading: Acts 14: 26-28 NLT – open door

Reading: Acts 14:26-28 NLT

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Finally, they returned by ship to Antioch of Syria, where their journey had begun. The believers there had entrusted them to the grace of God to do the work they had now completed.

Upon arriving in Antioch, they called the church together and reported everything God had done through them and how he had opened the door of faith to the Gentiles, too. And they stayed there with the believers for a long time.

Prayer: Lord Jesus – May I be found faithful by the grace of God to complete the work you have entrusted to me. And may I be willing to walk through the doors you open for me. Amen.

Hymn: “The Church’s One Foundation” – S. J. Stone (1866)

Morning Reading: Acts 13:44-52 NLT – light to the gentiles

Reading: Acts 13:44-52

The following week almost the entire city turned out to hear them preach the word of the Lord. But when some of the Jews saw the crowds, they were jealous; so they slandered Paul and argued against whatever he said.

"Simeon's Moment" Lithograph by Ron Dicianni
“Simeon’s Moment”
Lithograph by Ron Dicianni

Then Paul and Barnabas spoke out boldly and declared, “It was necessary that we first preach the word of God to you Jews. But since you have rejected it and judged yourselves unworthy of eternal life, we will offer it to the Gentiles. For the Lord gave us this command when he said,

‘I have made you a light to the Gentiles, to bring salvation to the farthest corners of the earth.’”

When the Gentiles heard this, they were very glad and thanked the Lord for his message; and all who were chosen for eternal life became believers. So the Lord’s message spread throughout that region.

Then the Jews stirred up the influential religious women and the leaders of the city, and they incited a mob against Paul and Barnabas and ran them out of town. So they shook the dust from their feet as a sign of rejection and went to the town of Iconium. And the believers were filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit.

Prayer: Lord Jesus – Make us bearers of your Light and Life to the farthest corners of the earth. Fill us with joy and the Holy Spirit… that hearing we might receive… that receiving we might be saved… and spread the Good News in our homes… and neighborhoods and workplaces. Strengthen believers throughout the world to be your faithful witnesses. Amen.

Spiritual Song: “Shine on us” – Michael W. Smith / Debbie Smith

Morning Reading: Acts 11.1-18 NLT – privilege of repenting

Reading: Acts 11:1-18 NLT

Soon the news reached the apostles and other believers in Judea that the Gentiles had received the word of God.

But when Peter arrived back in Jerusalem, the Jewish believers criticized him. “You entered the home of Gentiles and even ate with them!” they said.

Then Peter told them exactly what had happened. “I was in the town of Joppa,” he said, “and while I was praying, I went into a trance and saw a vision. Something like a large sheet was let down by its four corners from the sky. And it came right down to me. When I looked inside the sheet, I saw all sorts of tame and wild animals, reptiles, and birds. And I heard a voice say, ‘Get up, Peter; kill and eat them.’

“‘No, Lord,’ I replied. ‘I have never eaten anything that our Jewish laws have declared impure or unclean. ’

“But the voice from heaven spoke again: ‘Do not call something unclean if God has made it clean.’ This happened three times before the sheet and all it contained was pulled back up to heaven.

“Just then three men who had been sent from Caesarea arrived at the house where we were staying. The Holy Spirit told me to go with them and not to worry that they were Gentiles. These six brothers here accompanied me, and we soon entered the home of the man who had sent for us. He told us how an angel had appeared to him in his home and had told him, ‘Send messengers to Joppa, and summon a man named Simon Peter. He will tell you how you and everyone in your household can be saved!’

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“As I began to speak,” Peter continued, “the Holy Spirit fell on them, just as he fell on us at the beginning. Then I thought of the Lord’s words when he said, ‘John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.’  And since God gave these Gentiles the same gift he gave us when we believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I to stand in God’s way?”

When the others heard this, they stopped objecting and began praising God. They said, “We can see that God has also given the Gentiles the privilege of repenting of their sins and receiving eternal life.”

Prayer: Heavenly Father – You have repeated this story of Cornelius’ conversion and baptism three times for emphasis – everyone, regardless of their background, has been given the privilege of repenting and receiving eternal life through faith in Jesus Christ. No people, tribe or nation is left out… no matter what I might think of them. Lord Jesus – You died for my sins and the sins of the world. Give me a passion for the lost… wherever I might find them. Holy Spirit – Show your power… demonstrate the authenticity of those who believe and repent… so that together we might rejoice with the angels in heaven over every soul that receives eternal life. I ask it in Jesus’ name. Amen.

Spiritual Song: “Hosanna” – Hillsong United
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Morning Reading: Acts 10.24-48 NLT – no favoritism

Reading: Acts 10:24-48 NLT

They arrived in Caesarea the following day. Cornelius was waiting for them and had called together his relatives and close friends.

As Peter entered his home, Cornelius fell at his feet and worshiped him. But Peter pulled him up and said, “Stand up! I’m a human being just like you!” So they talked together and went inside, where many others were assembled.

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Peter told them, “You know it is against our laws for a Jewish man to enter a Gentile home like this or to associate with you. But God has shown me that I should no longer think of anyone as impure or unclean. So I came without objection as soon as I was sent for. Now tell me why you sent for me.”

Cornelius replied, “Four days ago I was praying in my house about this same time, three o’clock in the afternoon. Suddenly, a man in dazzling clothes was standing in front of me. He told me, ‘Cornelius, your prayer has been heard, and your gifts to the poor have been noticed by God! Now send messengers to Joppa, and summon a man named Simon Peter. He is staying in the home of Simon, a tanner who lives near the seashore.’ So I sent for you at once, and it was good of you to come. Now we are all here, waiting before God to hear the message the Lord has given you.”

Then Peter replied, “I see very clearly that God shows no favoritism. In every nation he accepts those who fear him and do what is right. This is the message of Good News for the people of Israel—that there is peace with God through Jesus Christ, who is Lord of all. You know what happened throughout Judea, beginning in Galilee, after John began preaching his message of baptism. And you know that God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power. Then Jesus went around doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with him.

“And we apostles are witnesses of all he did throughout Judea and in Jerusalem. They put him to death by hanging him on a cross,  but God raised him to life on the third day. Then God allowed him to appear, not to the general public, but to us whom God had chosen in advance to be his witnesses. We were those who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead. And he ordered us to preach everywhere and to testify that Jesus is the one appointed by God to be the judge of all—the living and the dead. He is the one all the prophets testified about, saying that everyone who believes in him will have their sins forgiven through his name.”

Even as Peter was saying these things, the Holy Spirit fell upon all who were listening to the message. The Jewish believers who came with Peter were amazed that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out on the Gentiles, too. For they heard them speaking in other tongues and praising God.

Then Peter asked, “Can anyone object to their being baptized, now that they have received the Holy Spirit just as we did?” So he gave orders for them to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ.

Afterward Cornelius asked him to stay with them for several days.

Prayer: Heavenly Father – Yours is a big family made up of people from every tribe and nation. Give me an open heart towards all who love and serve you. Holy Spirit– Manifest your presence and power in the life of every believer… and show us how to express our praise and longings of our hearts. Lord Jesus – Keep our eyes focused on you, to the end that every knee shall bow and tongue confess you as Lord. Amen.

Hymn: “Show me your glory” – Jesus Culture
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=df7XEvFNX-E&feature=youtube_gdata_player