Tag: Peter

Morning Reading: Acts 3.1-11 NLT – get up and walk

Reading: Acts 3:1-11 NLT

Peter and John went to the Temple one afternoon to take part in the three o’clock prayer service.

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As they approached the Temple, a man lame from birth was being carried in. Each day he was put beside the Temple gate, the one called the Beautiful Gate, so he could beg from the people going into the Temple. When he saw Peter and John about to enter, he asked them for some money.

Peter and John looked at him intently, and Peter said, “Look at us!” The lame man looked at them eagerly, expecting some money.

But Peter said, “I don’t have any silver or gold for you. But I’ll give you what I have. In the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene, get up and walk!”

Then Peter took the lame man by the right hand and helped him up. And as he did, the man’s feet and ankles were instantly healed and strengthened. He jumped up, stood on his feet, and began to walk!

Then, walking, leaping, and praising God, he went into the Temple with them. All the people saw him walking and heard him praising God.

When they realized he was the lame beggar they had seen so often at the Beautiful Gate, they were absolutely astounded! They all rushed out in amazement to Solomon’s Colonnade, where the man was holding tightly to Peter and John.

Prayer: Lord Jesus – Forgive my timidity… my self-consciousness… my unbelief. I am so worried about looking foolish if nothing happens, that I don’t even try to offer healing in your name… especially in a public setting like the Beautiful Gate. And in the end, everyone loses… no one gets healed… no one’s life is changed… no one praises God… and no one sees your power at work in real life.

Holy Spirit – Give me the heart and mind of Peter and John… to discern the real problem… and, with boldness, to offer a healing solution. Help me to get over myself, and focus on what you want to do.

Heavenly Father – May I honor you in all things… and bring glory to your name. Amen.

Spiritual Song: “Healing Rain” – Michael W Smith

Morning Reading: Acts 2.37-41 NLT – save yourselves

Reading: Acts 2:37-41 NLT

Peter’s words pierced their hearts, and they said to him and to the other apostles, “Brothers, what should we do?”

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Philippines: 1000 people baptized

Peter replied, “Each of you must repent of your sins and turn to God, and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. Then you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. This promise is to you, and to your children, and even to the Gentiles — all who have been called by the Lord our God.”

Then Peter continued preaching for a long time, strongly urging all his listeners, “Save yourselves from this crooked generation!”

Those who believed what Peter said were baptized and added to the church that day — about 3,000 in all.

Prayer: Lord Jesus – Give us the courage and boldness to speak the truth, “Repent and be baptized for the forgiveness of your sins, then you will receive the Holy Spirit!” Holy Spirit – I call on the name of the Lord… on behalf of my children and grandchildren… my friends and neighbors… the people I see around me every day… pierce their hearts that they might be saved from this crooked generation. Heavenly Father – Call your childrem home… guard them and protect them. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Spiritual Song: “Come Just As You Are” – Alfred Barratt

Morning Reading: Acts 2.22-36 NLT – powerful witnesses

Reading: Acts 2.22-36 NLT

“People of Israel, listen! God publicly endorsed Jesus the Nazarene by doing powerful miracles, wonders, and signs through him, as you well know. But God knew what would happen, and his prearranged plan was carried out when Jesus was betrayed. With the help of lawless Gentiles, you nailed him to a cross and killed him. But God released him from the horrors of death and raised him back to life, for death could not keep him in its grip. King David said this about him:

‘I see that the Lord is always with me. I will not be shaken, for he is right beside me. No wonder my heart is glad, and my tongue shouts his praises! My body rests in hope. For you will not leave my soul among the dead or allow your Holy One to rot in the grave. You have shown me the way of life, and you will fill me with the joy of your presence.’

Empty Tomb by He Qi
Empty Tomb
by He Qi

“Dear brothers, think about this! You can be sure that the patriarch David wasn’t referring to himself, for he died and was buried, and his tomb is still here among us. But he was a prophet, and he knew God had promised with an oath that one of David’s own descendants would sit on his throne. David was looking into the future and speaking of the Messiah’s resurrection. He was saying that God would not leave him among the dead or allow his body to rot in the grave.

“God raised Jesus from the dead, and we are all witnesses of this. Now he is exalted to the place of highest honor in heaven, at God’s right hand. And the Father, as he had promised, gave him the Holy Spirit to pour out upon us, just as you see and hear today. For David himself never ascended into heaven, yet he said,

‘The Lord said to my Lord, “Sit in the place of honor at my right hand until I humble your enemies, making them a footstool under your feet.”’

“So let everyone in Israel know for certain that God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, to be both Lord and Messiah!”

Prayer: Heavenly Father – You raised Jesus from the dead and exalted him to sit at your right hand. Holy Spirit – Make me a powerful witness to the miracles, signs, and wonders that I have seen and heard… and give me the boldness to show and tell… always pointing to Jesus. Lord Jesus – May the whole world know: that no person is so lost that you can’t find him/her… that no situation is so dark that you can’t bring light to it… that no tribe or nation is so far gone that you can’t raise them from the dead. You are the God who is mighty to save. To you be all glory, honor, power, wisdom and strength. Amen.

Spiritual Song: “Mighty to Save” – Hillsong

Morning Reading: Acts 2.14-21 NLT – signs and wonders

Reading: Acts 2:14-21 NLT

Then Peter stepped forward with the eleven other apostles and shouted to the crowd, “Listen carefully, all of you, fellow Jews and residents of Jerusalem!

“Make no mistake about this. These people are not drunk, as some of you are assuming. Nine o’clock in the morning is much too early for that.

“No, what you see was predicted long ago by the prophet Joel:

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‘In the last days,’ God says,

‘I will pour out my Spirit upon all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy. Your young men will see visions, and your old men will dream dreams. In those days I will pour out my Spirit even on my servants—men and women alike— and they will prophesy.

And I will cause wonders in the heavens above and signs on the earth below— blood and fire and clouds of smoke. The sun will become dark, and the moon will turn blood red before that great and glorious day of the Lord arrives.

But everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved….’”

Prayer: Heavenly Father – Pour out your Spirit on us today. Speak words of prophecy… show us dreams and visions… fill your servants with your Spirit. Give us the words to speak that will turn this generation to you… people from every tribe and nation. I ask it in Jesus’ name. Amen.

Spiritual  Song: “How Great Is Our God” – Chris Tomlin

Morning Reading: Acts 1.12-26 NLT – Judas replaced

Reading: Acts 1.12-26 NLT

Then the apostles returned to Jerusalem from the Mount of Olives, a distance of half a mile. When they arrived, they went to the upstairs room of the house where they were staying.

Here are the names of those who were present: Peter, John, James, Andrew, Philip, Thomas, Bartholomew, Matthew, James (son of Alphaeus), Simon (the Zealot), and Judas (son of James). They all met together and were constantly united in prayer, along with Mary the mother of Jesus, several other women, and the brothers of Jesus.

During this time, when about 120 believers were together in one place, Peter stood up and addressed them. “Brothers,” he said, “the Scriptures had to be fulfilled concerning Judas, who guided those who arrested Jesus. This was predicted long ago by the Holy Spirit, speaking through King David. Judas was one of us and shared in the ministry with us.”

(Judas had bought a field with the money he received for his treachery. Falling headfirst there, his body split open, spilling out all his intestines. The news of his death spread to all the people of Jerusalem, and they gave the place the Aramaic name Akeldama, which means “Field of Blood.”)

Apostle Matthias By Duccio, 1308-1311
Apostle Matthias
By Duccio, 1308-1311
Museo dell Opera del Duomo, Florence

Peter continued, “This was written in the book of Psalms, where it says, ‘Let his home become desolate, with no one living in it.’ It also says, ‘Let someone else take his position.’

“So now we must choose a replacement for Judas from among the men who were with us the entire time we were traveling with the Lord Jesus — from the time he was baptized by John until the day he was taken from us. Whoever is chosen will join us as a witness of Jesus’ resurrection.”

So they nominated two men: Joseph called Barsabbas (also known as Justus) and Matthias. Then they all prayed, “O Lord, you know every heart. Show us which of these men you have chosen as an apostle to replace Judas in this ministry, for he has deserted us and gone where he belongs.” Then they cast lots, and Matthias was selected to become an apostle with the other eleven.

Prayer: Lord Jesus – Give me the decision-making wisdom of the Apostles… to search the Scriptures for guidance… to come up with Godly alternatives… to pray for your will to be done… and to trust the you for the outcome. To God be the glory. Amen.

Hymn: “Ye Servants of God, Your Master Proclaim” – Charles Wesley (1744)