Tag: Jesus Christ

Morning Prayer: Saturday, 17 June – Acts 5:26-42 ~ don’t fight against God

Morning Prayer

+ In the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen!

Opening Prayer

Gracious God, give me a humble, teachable, and obedient heart, that I may receive what you have revealed, and do what you have commanded. Amen.

Reading: Acts 5:26-42 (NLT)

The captain went with his Temple guards and arrested the apostles, but without violence, for they were afraid the people would stone them. Then they brought the apostles before the high council, where the high priest confronted them. “We gave you strict orders never again to teach in this man’s name!” he said. “Instead, you have filled all Jerusalem with your teaching about him, and you want to make us responsible for his death!”

But Peter and the apostles replied, “We must obey God rather than any human authority. The God of our ancestors raised Jesus from the dead after you killed him by hanging him on a cross. Then God put him in the place of honor at his right hand as Prince and Savior. He did this so the people of Israel would repent of their sins and be forgiven. We are witnesses of these things and so is the Holy Spirit, who is given by God to those who obey him.”

When they heard this, the high council was furious and decided to kill them. But one member, a Pharisee named Gamaliel, who was an expert in religious law and respected by all the people, stood up and ordered that the men be sent outside the council chamber for a while. Then he said to his colleagues, “Men of Israel, take care what you are planning to do to these men! Some time ago there was that fellow Theudas, who pretended to be someone great. About 400 others joined him, but he was killed, and all his followers went their various ways. The whole movement came to nothing. After him, at the time of the census, there was Judas of Galilee. He got people to follow him, but he was killed, too, and all his followers were scattered.

“So my advice is, leave these men alone. Let them go. If they are planning and doing these things merely on their own, it will soon be overthrown. But if it is from God, you will not be able to overthrow them. You may even find yourselves fighting against God!”

The others accepted his advice. They called in the apostles and had them flogged. Then they ordered them never again to speak in the name of Jesus, and they let them go.

The apostles left the high council rejoicing that God had counted them worthy to suffer disgrace for the name of Jesus. And every day, in the Temple and from house to house, they continued to teach and preach this message: “Jesus is the Messiah.”
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Reflection and Prayer:

Mighty God: Give me courage and a sense of urgency – whether the time is right or not, whether the opportunity seems favorable or not, whether convenient or not, whether welcome or not – to tell others that

+ Jesus has died for the forgiveness of our sins;

+ Jesus is risen and has given us his Spirit of power;

+ Jesus will come again and judge us all;

+ Repent and believe the Good news of the Gospel;

+ In Jesus Christ we are forgiven.

Holy Spirit: Give me a willing and obedient spirit that I may be a compelling and credible witness of these Gospel truths – inviting others into a saving relationship with Jesus Christ, who lives with you and the Father, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
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“Jesus Messiah” – the Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir


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Concluding Prayer – Psalm 86:14-17 (NLT)

O God, insolent people rise up against me; a violent gang is trying to kill me. You mean nothing to them. But you, O Lord, are a God of compassion and mercy, slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love and faithfulness.

Look down and have mercy on me. Give your strength to your servant; save me, the son of your servant. Send me a sign of your favor. Then those who hate me will be put to shame, for you, O Lord, help and comfort me.
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+ In the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen!

Morning Prayer: Friday, 16 June – Acts 5:17-25 ~ set free to speak life

Morning Prayer

+ In the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen!

Opening Prayer

Gracious God, give me a humble, teachable, and obedient heart, that I may receive what you have revealed, and do what you have commanded. Amen.

Reading: Acts 5:17-25 (NLT)

The high priest and his officials, who were Sadducees, were filled with jealousy. They arrested the apostles and put them in the public jail. But an angel of the Lord came at night, opened the gates of the jail, and brought them out. Then he told them, “Go to the Temple and give the people this message of life!”

So at daybreak the apostles entered the Temple, as they were told, and immediately began teaching.

When the high priest and his officials arrived, they convened the high council—the full assembly of the elders of Israel. Then they sent for the apostles to be brought from the jail for trial. But when the Temple guards went to the jail, the men were gone. So they returned to the council and reported, “The jail was securely locked, with the guards standing outside, but when we opened the gates, no one was there!”

When the captain of the Temple guard and the leading priests heard this, they were perplexed, wondering where it would all end. Then someone arrived with startling news: “The men you put in jail are standing in the Temple, teaching the people!”
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Reflection and Prayer:

Mighty God: Fill me with joy in the Holy Spirit that I may live with the end in mind – the coming of my Lord Jesus Christ.

+ Turn my worry into prayers – telling you what I need and giving thanks for all you have done for me.
+ Grant me your peace, and guard my heart and mind in Christ Jesus, as I face the challenges of the day.
+ Fix my mind on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable.
+ Speak Life through me – that I may raise up in others those things that are excellent and worthy of praise.
+ Speak Life through me – that others may be forgiven and set free, may find hope and healing, through my Lord Jesus Christ.

Mighty God: Fill me with your resurrection power that I may put into practice all I have learned and received, bringing the message of Life to a dying world – through Jesus Christ my Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
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“Speak Life” – TobyMac


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Concluding Prayer – Psalm 80:18-19 (NLT)

Revive us so we can call on your name once more. Turn us again to yourself, O Lord God of Heaven’s Armies. Make your face shine down upon us. Only then will we be saved.
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+ In the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen!

Morning Prayer: Thursday, 15 June – Acts 5:12-16 ~ power healing

Morning Prayer

+ In the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen!

Opening Prayer

Gracious God, give me a humble, teachable, and obedient heart, that I may receive what you have revealed, and do what you have commanded. Through Jesus Christ my Lord – Amen.

Reading: Acts 5:12-16 (NLT)

The apostles were performing many miraculous signs and wonders among the people. And all the believers were meeting regularly at the Temple in the area known as Solomon’s Colonnade. But no one else dared to join them, even though all the people had high regard for them. Yet more and more people believed and were brought to the Lord—crowds of both men and women. As a result of the apostles’ work, sick people were brought out into the streets on beds and mats so that Peter’s shadow might fall across some of them as he went by. Crowds came from the villages around Jerusalem, bringing their sick and those possessed by evil spirits, and they were all healed.
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Reflection and Prayer:

Come Holy Spirit – Fill me with your presence and give me confidence in the powerful name of Jesus, that I may follow in the footsteps of the apostles, showing and telling others of the mighty works of God.

+ Create in me an urgency to tell my children and grandchildren the lessons I have learned about the Lord’s power and mighty wonders.
+ Manifest your presence and power in my life that my children and grandchildren might see as well as hear of your wonder-working power.
+ Fill them with transformative faith that they may teach these wonderful truths even to children not yet born – and they in turn will teach their own children.

Lord Jesus: make me a doer of your word that my children and grandchildren may see and believe that you are the Christ, the Son of the living God, remembering your glorious miracles, obeying your commands, and giving their hearts unreservedly to God.

Soli Deo gloria!
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“Healer” – Bethel Music Live


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Concluding Prayer – Psalm 75:1 (NLT)

We thank you, O God! We give thanks because you are near. People everywhere tell of your wonderful deeds.
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+ In the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen!

 

Morning Prayer: Wednesday, 14 June – Acts 5:1-11 ~ on lying to God

Morning Prayer

+ In the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen!

Opening Prayer

Gracious God, give me a humble, teachable, and obedient heart, that I may receive what you have revealed, and do what you have commanded. Amen.

Reading: Acts 5:1-11 (NLT)

But there was a certain man named Ananias who, with his wife, Sapphira, sold some property. He brought part of the money to the apostles, claiming it was the full amount. With his wife’s consent, he kept the rest.

Then Peter said, “Ananias, why have you let Satan fill your heart? You lied to the Holy Spirit, and you kept some of the money for yourself. The property was yours to sell or not sell, as you wished. And after selling it, the money was also yours to give away. How could you do a thing like this? You weren’t lying to us but to God!”

As soon as Ananias heard these words, he fell to the floor and died. Everyone who heard about it was terrified. Then some young men got up, wrapped him in a sheet, and took him out and buried him.

About three hours later his wife came in, not knowing what had happened. Peter asked her, “Was this the price you and your husband received for your land?”

“Yes,” she replied, “that was the price.”

And Peter said, “How could the two of you even think of conspiring to test the Spirit of the Lord like this? The young men who buried your husband are just outside the door, and they will carry you out, too.”

Instantly, she fell to the floor and died. When the young men came in and saw that she was dead, they carried her out and buried her beside her husband. Great fear gripped the entire church and everyone else who heard what had happened.
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Reflection and Prayer:

Lord God: nothing in all creation is hidden from your sight; you made me and know everything about me, from the inside and out – and still you love me.

+ Create in me a pure heart, that I may not sin against you.
+ Protect me from the lies of the evil one, that I may obey your word of truth.
+ Rescue me from my self-deception, that I may live honestly before you.
+ Lead me along the path of righteousness, that I may live joyfully for ever.

Lord God: you alone are just; forgive my sins and deliver me from evil through Jesus Christ my Savior, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
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“Voice of Truth” – Casting Crowns


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Concluding Prayer – Hebrews 4:13 / Psalm 71:16 (NLT)

Nothing in all creation is hidden from God. Everything is naked and exposed before his eyes, and he is the one to whom we are accountable.
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I will praise your mighty deeds, O Sovereign Lord. I will tell everyone that you alone are just.
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+ In the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen!

Morning Prayer: Tuesday, 13 June – Acts 4:32-37 ~ no needy people

Morning Prayer

+ In the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen!

Opening Prayer

Gracious God, give me a humble, teachable, and obedient heart, that I may receive what you have revealed, and do what you have commanded. Amen.

Reading: Acts 4:32-37 (NLT)

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.
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Reflection and Prayer:

Holy Spirit: fill us with your presence, that we may be united in heart and mind with our Lord, Jesus Christ.

Heavenly Father: all that we have comes from you; make us wise and gracious managers accountable, in the end, only to you.

Lord Jesus: give us the courage to let go of our worldly security, that we may freely follow you.

Gracious God: give us hearts full of mercy and compassion, that we may give freely and generously to those in need. Through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
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“Provider” – Urban Rescue


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Concluding Prayer – Psalm 68:19 (NLT)

Praise the Lord; praise God our savior! For each day he carries us in his arms.
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+ In the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen!