Tag: Vision

Morning Reading: Acts 18:9-17 NLT – many people belong to me

Reading: Acts 18:9-17 NLT

Belfast from Black Mountain
Belfast from Black Mountain

One night the Lord spoke to Paul in a vision and told him, “Don’t be afraid! Speak out! Don’t be silent! For I am with you, and no one will attack and harm you, for many people in this city belong to me.” So Paul stayed there for the next year and a half, teaching the word of God.

But when Gallio became governor of Achaia, some Jews rose up together against Paul and brought him before the governor for judgment. They accused Paul of “persuading people to worship God in ways that are contrary to our law.”

But just as Paul started to make his defense, Gallio turned to Paul’s accusers and said, “Listen, you Jews, if this were a case involving some wrongdoing or a serious crime, I would have a reason to accept your case. But since it is merely a question of words and names and your Jewish law, take care of it yourselves. I refuse to judge such matters.” And he threw them out of the courtroom.

The crowd then grabbed Sosthenes, the leader of the synagogue, and beat him right there in the courtroom. But Gallio paid no attention.

Prayer: Lord Jesus – You have already prepared the hearts of your own… to hear your voice and welcome your word of Life. Give us your mind to understand… your words to speak… and your heart which burns with compassion for those who are lost… to guide them gently into your fold… and to feed and care for them as they discover your eternal purpose for their lives. And protect your people from all harm… whether in the fold or outside. For your name’s sake I ask it. Amen.

Spiritual Song: “You Alone Can Rescue” – Matt Redman

Morning Reading: Acts 16:6-10 NLT – help us

Reading: Acts 16:6-10 NLT

Modern mosaic, “Vision Telling Paul to Come over to Macedonia,” in Veroia (ancient Berea), Greece
Modern mosaic, “Vision Telling Paul to Come over to Macedonia,” in Veroia (ancient Berea), Greece

Next Paul and Silas traveled through the area of Phrygia and Galatia, because the Holy Spirit had prevented them from preaching the word in the province of Asia at that time. Then coming to the borders of Mysia, they headed north for the province of Bithynia, but again the Spirit of Jesus did not allow them to go there. So instead, they went on through Mysia to the seaport of Troas.

That night Paul had a vision: A man from Macedonia in northern Greece was standing there, pleading with him, “Come over to Macedonia and help us!” So we decided to leave for Macedonia at once, having concluded that God was calling us to preach the Good News there.

Prayer: Holy Spirit – Quiet my heart… clear my mind… calm my spirit – so that I can hear you when you guide me. Give me the discernment to distinguish your voice from the noise within and about me. And give me the will to obediently follow where you lead me. I ask it in Jesus’ name. Amen.

Spiritual Song: “Here for You” – Matt Redman

Morning Reading: Acts 10.9-23 NLT – made clean by God

Reading: Acts 10:9-23 NLT

The next day as Cornelius’s messengers were nearing the town, Peter went up on the flat roof to pray. It was about noon, and he was hungry.

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But while a meal was being prepared, he fell into a trance. He saw the sky open, and something like a large sheet was let down by its four corners. In the sheet were all sorts of animals, reptiles, and birds.

Then a voice said to him, “Get up, Peter; kill and eat them.”

“No, Lord,” Peter declared. “I have never eaten anything that our Jewish laws have declared impure and unclean. ”

But the voice spoke again: “Do not call something unclean if God has made it clean.” The same vision was repeated three times. Then the sheet was suddenly pulled up to heaven. Peter was very perplexed. What could the vision mean?

Just then the men sent by Cornelius found Simon’s house. Standing outside the gate, they asked if a man named Simon Peter was staying there.

Meanwhile, as Peter was puzzling over the vision, the Holy Spirit said to him, “Three men have come looking for you. Get up, go downstairs, and go with them without hesitation. Don’t worry, for I have sent them.”

So Peter went down and said, “I’m the man you are looking for. Why have you come?”

They said, “We were sent by Cornelius, a Roman officer. He is a devout and God-fearing man, well respected by all the Jews. A holy angel instructed him to summon you to his house so that he can hear your message.”

So Peter invited the men to stay for the night. The next day he went with them, accompanied by some of the brothers from Joppa.

Prayer:Lord Jesus – Forgive my tendency to rely on religious rules and traditions rather than a living relationship with you. Holy Spirit – Break into my slumber with visions of freedom and deliverance. Heavenly Father – May your Kingdom come in me and through me. Amen.

Spiritual Song: “I Am Free” – Newsboys
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Morning Reading: Acts 10.1-8 NLT – angel vision

Reading: Acts 10:1-8 NLT In Caesarea there lived a Roman army officer named Cornelius, who was a captain of the Italian Regiment. He was a devout, God-fearing man, as was everyone in his household. He gave generously to the poor and prayed regularly to God.

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Vision of Cornelius the Centurion
Gerbrand van den Eeckhout (1621-1674)

One afternoon about three o’clock, he had a vision in which he saw an angel of God coming toward him. “Cornelius!” the angel said.

Cornelius stared at him in terror. “What is it, sir?” he asked the angel.

And the angel replied, “Your prayers and gifts to the poor have been received by God as an offering! Now send some men to Joppa, and summon a man named Simon Peter. He is staying with Simon, a tanner who lives near the seashore.”

As soon as the angel was gone, Cornelius called two of his household servants and a devout soldier, one of his personal attendants. He told them what had happened and sent them off to Joppa.

Prayer: Lord God – Give me a generous heart… and make me a God-fearing person of prayer. Help me to listen more than I speak… and give me a spirit of willing obedience. I ask it in Jesus’ name. Amen.

Spiritual Song: “I will run to you” – Hillsong _________________________

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UdWGLm4zxEA&feature=youtube_gdata_player

5th Sunday of Lent: Philippians 3.8-14 (NLT) – press on

Morning Reading: Philippians 3.8-14 NLT

patrick21Yes, everything else is worthless when compared with the infinite value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have discarded everything else, counting it all as garbage, so that I could gain Christ and become one with him. I no longer count on my own righteousness through obeying the law; rather, I become righteous through faith in Christ. For God’s way of making us right with himself depends on faith.

I want to know Christ and experience the mighty power that raised him from the dead. I want to suffer with him, sharing in his death, so that one way or another I will experience the resurrection from the dead!

I don’t mean to say that I have already achieved these things or that I have already reached perfection. But I press on to possess that perfection for which Christ Jesus first possessed me. No, dear brothers and sisters, I have not achieved it, but I focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us.

Prayer: “St Patrick’s Breastplate” (ca. 389-461 AD.)

I bind unto myself today to the power of God to hold and lead, His eye to watch, His might to stay, His ear to hearken to my need: the wisdom of my God to teach, His hand to guide, His shield to ward; the Word of God to give me speech, His heavenly host to be my guard.

Christ be with me, Christ within me, Christ behind me,
Christ before me, Christ beside me, Christ about me,
Christ to comfort me and restore me, Christ beneath me,
Christ above me, Christ in the hearts of all that love me,
Christ in the mouth of friend and stranger.

I bind unto myself to the Name, the strong Name of the Trinity, by invocation of the same, the Three in One, and One in Three, the Creator of the universe; Eternal Father, Spirit, Word: praise to the Lord of my salvation, salvation is of Christ the Lord. Amen.

Hymn: “Be Thou My Vision”