Tag: Lord Jesus Christ

Morning Reading: Acts 28:30-31 NLT ~ final days

Saint Paul Writing His Epistles Probably Valentin de Boulogne (c. 1618 - 1620)
Saint Paul Writing His Epistles
Probably Valentin de Boulogne (c. 1618 – 1620)

Reading: Acts 28:30-31 NLT

For the next two years, Paul lived in Rome at his own expense. He welcomed all who visited him, boldly proclaiming the Kingdom of God and teaching about the Lord Jesus Christ. And no one tried to stop him.

Prayer: Heavenly Father – thank you for faithful servants who keep on doing what you have called them to do… even under threat and danger to their own lives. Thank you especially for the witness and legacy of the Apostle Paul.

And thank you for for preachers and teachers around the world… who are “boldly proclaiming the Kingdom of God and teaching about the Lord Jesus Christ.”

Strengthen them… and encourage them… and exceed all their hopes or expectations according to your power at work within them. To God be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.

Hymn: “Holy Father Rich in Mercy” –Colin Webster & Phil Moore (Cornerstone Church, Nottingham)

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Note: How did the Apostle Paul die? (biblestudy.org)

Q. How did the apostle Paul die? When was the apostle Paul’s death? Did he die in Rome?

A. The Bible does not tell us the exact time or manner of the apostle Paul’s death, and secular history has yet to provide us with any definitive information. However, evidence highly suggests the apostle Paul’s death occurred after his fifth missionary journey ended in 67 A.D. Paul was likely beheaded by the Romans, under Emperor Nero, sometime around May or June of 68 A.D. Nero himself died by suicide on June 9th of the same year.

The Beheading of Saint Paul Painting by Enrique Simonet in 1887.
The Beheading of Saint Paul
Painting by Enrique Simonet in 1887.

14th Sunday of Ordinary Time: Galatians 6.14-18 NLT – transformed

Morning Reading: Galatians 6:14-18 NLT

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As for me, may I never boast about anything except the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ. Because of that cross, my interest in this world has been crucified, and the world’s interest in me has also died.

It doesn’t matter whether we have been circumcised or not. What counts is whether we have been transformed into a new creation.

May God’s peace and mercy be upon all who live by this principle; they are the new people of God. From now on, don’t let anyone trouble me with these things. For I bear on my body the scars that show I belong to Jesus.

Dear brothers and sisters, may the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen.

Prayer: Lord Jesus – Fill me with your gracious Spirit. Keep my focus on you… on your cross. And change me from the inside out… to become more like you. Amen.

Spiritual Song: “From the inside Out” –Hillsong
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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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2nd Sunday in Lent: Philippians 3.17-4.1 NLT – citizens of heaven

Reading: Philippians 3.17-4.1 NLT

Dear brothers and sisters, pattern your lives after mine, and learn from those who follow our example.

For I have told you often before, and I say it again with tears in my eyes, that there are many whose conduct shows they are really enemies of the cross of Christ. They are headed for destruction. Their god is their appetite, they brag about shameful things, and they think only about this life here on earth.

HeavenBut we are citizens of heaven, where the Lord Jesus Christ lives. And we are eagerly waiting for him to return as our Savior. He will take our weak mortal bodies and change them into glorious bodies like his own, using the same power with which he will bring everything under his control. Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stay true to the Lord. I love you and long to see you, dear friends, for you are my joy and the crown I receive for my work.

Prayer: Lord Jesus – there’s a longing in our hearts to be with you in eternity… we are homesick for our true country. We wait for your return with power to rescue us from this present evil age. Strengthen us… encourage us… embolden us… empower us to live each day as joyful citizens of your Kingdom – that all may know you are indeed our Savior and Lord. To you be the honor and glory. Amen.

Spiritual Song: “Hallelujah” – Newsboys

I’m looking up / Holding out / Pressing forward / Without a doubt / Longing for the things unseen / Longing for the things I believe / My true country

Click on audio for “Hallelujah” by Newsboys

We hope and wait / For the glorious day / All tears will vanish / Wiped away / On the saints this day already shines / On the saints this day already shines / It already shines

We’ll be singing hallelujah / We’ll be singing hallelujah / At the top of our lungs, halle-le-lujah / (With all our breath, halle-le-lujah) / To Your glory, hallelujah / Hallelujah, hallelujah

And I know that it’s coming / But I can’t see it now / And I’ve touched it in moments / But I can’t hold it yet / And it glows in the darkness / And it calls us away / To our true destination / ‘Til that glorious day

We’ll be singing hallelujah / We’ll be singing hallelujah / At the top of our lungs, halle-le-lujah / (With all our breath, halle-le-lujah) / To Your glory, hallelujah / Hallelujah, hallelujah