Tag: KIngdom of God

Morning Reading: Acts 14:21-25 NLT – encouragement and appointments

Reading: Acts 14:21-25 NLT

After preaching the Good News in Derbe and making many disciples, Paul and Barnabas returned to Lystra, Iconium, and Antioch of Pisidia, where they strengthened the believers.

image

They encouraged them to continue in the faith, reminding them that we must suffer many hardships to enter the Kingdom of God.

Paul and Barnabas also appointed elders in every church. With prayer and fasting, they turned the elders over to the care of the Lord, in whom they had put their trust.

Then they traveled back through Pisidia to Pamphylia. They preached the word in Perga, then went down to Attalia.

Prayer: Lord Jesus – Make me an encourager. Give me the wisdom when to speak… or not. Make me a strengthener. Give me strength and courage… to give away to others. Make me a servant. Give me discernment… to help identify and annoint servant leaders. Make me a pray-er… to offer myself as a living sacrifice to advance your Kingdom purpose where you have placed me. To you be the glory. Amen.

Hymn: “There’s a wideness in God’s mercy”
_________________________
There’s a wideness in God’s mercy like the wideness of the sea; there’s a kindness in his justice, which is more than liberty.

There is no place where earth’s sorrows are more felt than in God’s heaven: there is no place where earth’s failings have such kindly judgment given.

For the love of God is broader than the measure of the mind; and the heart of the Eternal is most wonderfully kind.

If our love were but more faithful, we should take him at his word; and our life be filled with glory from the glory of the Lord.

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.

image

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
_______________________

Morning Reading: Acts 1.1-5 NLT – friend of God

Acts of the Holy Spirit
Acts of the Holy Spirit

Reading: Acts 1.1-5 NLT

In my first book I told you, Theophilus, about everything Jesus began to do and teach until the day he was taken up to heaven after giving his chosen apostles further instructions through the Holy Spirit. During the forty days after his crucifixion, he appeared to the apostles from time to time, and he proved to them in many ways that he was actually alive. And he talked to them about the Kingdom of God.

Once when he was eating with them, he commanded them, “Do not leave Jerusalem until the Father sends you the gift he promised, as I told you before. John baptized with water, but in just a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.”

Prayer: Lord Jesus – As I begin this new adventure with you, reading through the Book of Acts, enlighten and enliven me to all the possibilities and blessings of friendship with you. Fill me with your Spirit and give me the courage and boldness of your friends in another age… so that I can live for you in this day and age. May your Kingdom come and your will be done… in me. Amen.

Spiritual Song: “I am a Friend of God” – Phillips, Craig & Dean

Morning Reading: Luke 22.24-30 NLT – turning tables

Reading: Luke 22.24-30 NLT

Then they began to argue among themselves about who would be the greatest among them. Jesus told them, “In this world the kings and great men lord it over their people, yet they are called ‘friends of the people.’

"Divine Servant" Max Griener Jr, 1986-1989
“Divine Servant”
Max Griener Jr, 1986-1989

But among you it will be different. Those who are the greatest among you should take the lowest rank, and the leader should be like a servant. Who is more important, the one who sits at the table or the one who serves? The one who sits at the table, of course. But not here! For I am among you as one who serves.

“You have stayed with me in my time of trial. And just as my Father has granted me a Kingdom, I now grant you the right to eat and drink at my table in my Kingdom. And you will sit on thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel….”

Prayer: Lord Jesus – The disciples seem silly arguing about who is the greatest among them. And yet – not so silly at all – when I begin to compare my life and work with that of others. Fill me with godly contentment.  Give me a servant’s heart, that I might be with you in Kingdom come. And by your grace, reserve a place for me at your table. To God be the glory. Amen.

Hymn: “Servant Song” – Donna Marie McGargill, OSM

What do you want of me, Lord? Where do you want me to serve you? Where can I sing your praises. I am your song. Jesus, Jesus, you are the Lord. Jesus, Jesus, you are the way.

I hear you call my name, Lord, and I am moved within me. Your Spirit stirs my deepest self. Sing your songs in me. Jesus, Jesus, you are my Lord. Jesus, Jesus, you are the way.

Above, below, and around me. Before, behind and all through me, your Spirit burns deep within me. Fire my life with your love. Jesus, Jesus, be warmth of my heart. Jesus, Jesus, you are the way.

You are the light in my darkness. You are my strength when I’m weary. You give me sight when I’m blinded. Come see for me. Jesus, Jesus, you are my light. Jesus, Jesus, you are the way.

Morning Reading: Luke 22:7-23 NLT – my body / my blood

Reading: Luke 22:7-23 NLT

Now the Festival of Unleavened Bread arrived, when the Passover lamb is sacrificed. Jesus sent Peter and John ahead and said, “Go and prepare the Passover meal, so we can eat it together.”

“Where do you want us to prepare it?” they asked him.

He replied, “As soon as you enter Jerusalem, a man carrying a pitcher of water will meet you. Follow him. At the house he enters, say to the owner, ‘The Teacher asks: Where is the guest room where I can eat the Passover meal with my disciples?’ He will take you upstairs to a large room that is already set up. That is where you should prepare our meal.” They went off to the city and found everything just as Jesus had said, and they prepared the Passover meal there.

When the time came, Jesus and the apostles sat down together at the table. Jesus said, “I have been very eager to eat this Passover meal with you before my suffering begins. For I tell you now that I won’t eat this meal again until its meaning is fulfilled in the Kingdom of God.”

"Last Supper" Simon Ushakov, 1685
“Last Supper”
Simon Ushakov, 1685

Then he took a cup of wine and gave thanks to God for it. Then he said, “Take this and share it among yourselves. For I will not drink wine again until the Kingdom of God has come.”

He took some bread and gave thanks to God for it. Then he broke it in pieces and gave it to the disciples, saying, “This is my body, which is given for you. Do this to remember me.”

After supper he took another cup of wine and said, “This cup is the new covenant between God and his people—an agreement confirmed with my blood, which is poured out as a sacrifice for you.

“But here at this table, sitting among us as a friend, is the man who will betray me. For it has been determined that the Son of Man must die. But what sorrow awaits the one who betrays him.” The disciples began to ask each other which of them would ever do such a thing.

Prayers of Confession and Pardon: The Book of Common Worship, 1946

Dear Heavenly Father, we lower our heads before you and we confess that we have too often forgotten that we are yours. Sometimes we carry on our lives as if there was no God and we fall short of being a credible witness to You. For these things we ask your forgiveness and we also ask for your strength. Give us clear minds and open hearts so we may witness to You in our world. Remind us to be who You would have us to be regardless of what we are doing or who we are with. Hold us to You and build our relationship with You and with those You have given us on earth.

Almighty God, who does freely pardon all who repent and turn to Him, now fulfill in every contrite heart the promise of redeeming grace; forgiving all our sins, and cleansing us from an evil conscience; through the perfect sacrifice of Christ Jesus our Lord. Amen.

Communion Hymn: “Take and Eat” – James J. Quinn; (refrain): Michael Joncas

Refrain: Take and eat; take and eat: this is my body given up for you. Take and drink; take and drink: this is my blood given up for you.

I am the Word that spoke and light was made; I am the seed that died to be re-born; I am the bread that comes from heaven above; I am the vine that fills your cup with joy.

I am the way that leads the exile home; I am the truth that sets the captive free; I am the life that raises up the dead; I am your peace, true peace my gift to you.

I am the Lamb that takes away your sin; I am the gate that guards you night and day; You are my flock; you know the shepherd’s voice; You are my own; your ransom is my blood.