Acts 17

22 “People of Athens! I see that in every way you are very religious. 23 For as I walked around and looked carefully at your objects of worship, I even found an altar with this inscription: to an unknown god. 

Holy Bananas!  Ho much does that describe our society today.  2000 years later, and we are still sitting in the exact same place.  Probably because the underlying issue is still exactly the same....we want our will, not his.  That's really what it all boils down to.  I'm thinking of the CO-EXIST bumper stickers, and the willingness of society to embrace every religious venture......it all has value, right?  NO!  It doesn't!  None of it has value accept through the true King. 

That's a good reminder for me today.  Where/what am I worshiping?  Is it the "unknown god,"  or the True God?

tp

Acts 16

 7 When they came to the border of Mysia, they tried to enter Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus would not allow them to.


Thought it was wierd that Jesus would not let them in.  Did a little Google search and found some link to a dude named Steven Furtick's Facebook page.  He's a pastor for Elevation church.  He had quoted this verse and said rejection is nothing more than redirection from God.  He needed Paul to go to Europe to preach--a new place to spread the message.

As I clicked around I found he had a message on why am I anxious---which is something I am feeling a ton of right now.  Maybe God was redirecting me to his page.  I haven't listened to much of it yet but below is the link to his message.  My anxiety reduced even as I began to listen to his message.

http://elevationchurch.org/sermons/why-am-i-anxious/?source=fbbanner-psf

so i like his thought rejection is redirection, I'll try to keep that perspective and antennas up for redirection.

knut

Acts 15

my first thought was I  would pick a verse discussing inclusion of gentiles, but then this section caught me coming to a peak at --

 39 They had such a sharp disagreement that they parted company. Barnabas took Mark and sailed for Cyprus, 

seems like a messy fight, so I did just a little research.   Found this little analysis that makes some sense to me:

From the relationship of Paul and Barnabas we can draw an important lesson. Here were two godly men, loved by the churches, filled with the Spirit, enduring persecution together, seeing people saved, and enjoying an effective ministry. Yet they were fallible and did not see eye to eye on everything. They quarreled and parted ways. Even the best and most faithful among us are prone to the interpersonal conflicts and mistakes. We are all fallen human beings. The ministries of both men continued—in fact, the number of missionary teams doubled! God can use even our disagreements to further His work.


I've said/asked on our church governing board in the past how can we all be listening for God's will yet have such different opinions.  How we spend money, which ministries to invest energy, what is our church vision statement, social issues, politics, etc. the list goes on.  I've concluded we are too imperfect to determines God's will so we sometimes have differences.  Thats ok, God can use those differences as well.  Here is an example of that right in the bible and I didn't realize it was there.  They parted ways but God used them to continue to grow his Kingdom.

knut

Acts 14

20 But after the disciples had gathered around him, he got up and went back into the city.

I'm just amazed by the persistence.  Paul and Barnabas will not stop....even to the point of being stoned.  That's real evidence of them being filled with the holy spirit.  There's no other human reason why they wouldn't give up and hide.  The heat comes on them, where ever they go.  They wind up fleeing to avoid catastrophe....but they don't stop.

that's a good model for us in our daily life.  What are we willing to do in God's name.  How much are we willing to take?  Not as much as these two, I'm sure.

tp

Luke

Today we drop Luke off for college.  Where does time go, seems like we should still be the 18 yr kids.  I'm sad to not have him around everyday but excited for him to start this next adventure.  I pray that he finds friendship like you and I have that endures and has a foundation in his faith.

knut

Acts 13

48 When the Gentiles heard this, they were glad and honored the word of the Lord; and all who were appointed for eternal life believed.

49 The word of the Lord spread through the whole region.50 But the Jewish leaders incited the God-fearing women of high standing and the leading men of the city. They stirred up persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and expelled them from their region. 

I don't have any real take, just noticing how open the Genitles heart was to the message of salvation vs. how hardened the Jewish leaders hearts were and their response to the same message.  Maybe the lesson is the risk of holding on too tightly or placing too much value in positions of power created by man.  The result being losing something of eternal value vs. something that will be gone as quickly as our lives on earth.

knut 

Acts 12

12 When this had dawned on him, he went to the house of Mary the mother of John, also called Mark, where many people had gathered and were praying.

When Peter was freed....his first thought was to go to the house where he knew the people were huddled, praying for him.  Anytime there is a clear and tight relationship between a bible figure and God, there is a strong presence of prayer.  I don't know why its so difficult for me to get a system/time slot of prayer worked out.  Its the one thing that is missing for me.  I can feel it.  I pray often.  Little quick prayers to make sure God is in my daily thoughts.  But, I'm not carving out specific time to spend in quiet with him.

something to work on
tp

Acts 11

like a large sheet being let down from heaven by its four corners, and it came down to where I was. 6 I looked into it and saw four-footed animals of the earth, wild beasts, reptiles and birds. 7 Then I heard a voice telling me, ‘Get up, Peter. Kill and eat.’

strange visual.  Doesn't really make sense to me.
I found this on Wikipedia....of all places
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter%27s_vision_of_a_sheet_with_animals

This does make sense.  What God was telling Peter was more about the separation of nations, than it was about the eating of the meat.  God was telling Peter that all nations needed to hear the message, and it shouldn't be kept solely to the Jewish nation.

Wouldn't it have been easier to just say that?  haha

tp

Acts 10

35 but accepts from every nation the one who fears him and does what is right.

God made it clear that his saving Grace is for every person, not just the Jews.  I'm struck in this chapter by the obedience of Cornelius and Simon.  God gives them both messages and they accept those messages without doubt and act immediately upon them.

How often does God speak to me and I either miss it or pause and act with caution and questions.  How many blessings and opportunities to make a difference in his kingdom do I miss.  I pray that God helps me open my ears to what he has to to tell me and gives me clarity of thought to act when and how he wants me to act.

knut

Acts 9

I like how the author has been bringing Saul's name up in the book.......once in a while.  It seems like he is setting the stage for this chapter.
Outside of Jesus....Paul is probably the most important figure in the New Testament.  I think he is responsible for righting 1/3 of it.  His teaching really shaped the early church.  He quickly became the leading expert in Jesus, and how God wants us to live.  I tend to lose track of the significance of who Saul was.  From one extreme to the other.  This goes to show you that there isn't anything God won't forgive.  He just wants us to realize who he is, how we need him and get on his mission.
It really is an amazing story.  This is another one, that you hear in sermons so often....maybe it loses a bit of its CrAZynESs!
It really shows the power of God.

tp

Acts 8

I didn't pull a specific verse out today.  But, I'm struck by the idea that is presented, between the lines, in the first couple of paragraphs.  Its the idea that God is ALWAYS in control, and can turn any situation into something that benefits his mission.  The followers were probably very upset by the fact that they were being persecuted in Jerusalem.....and had to flee.  I can imagine them talking to each other....."how could this happen?  Isn't God paying attention?  Why would he let this happen?"  When all along he has a plan that include them scattering to spread his message.

I talk about this a lot.......and I think about it a lot......but I'm not as good at it in practice.  But, God has a plan.  It's infinitely good!  It's infinitely beyond my scope and vision.  I need to trust him no matter what happens.  Even if it turns out to be bad for me in the end (ie, Stephen)........it will undoubtedly be good for him and his mission.

God is in control.
I can rest and be still in that thought

tp

Acts 7

51 “You stiff-necked people! Your hearts and ears are still uncircumcised. You are just like your ancestors: You always resist the Holy Spirit! 

In my mind, I'm picturing the event happening.  Its almost humorous how Stephen goes through the entire history of God's people....to the people that probably know the stories better than anyone.  They teach it!
Then he hammers them with this verse.  BOOM!  He knows he's going to be killed.  He reminds them of the fact that they have killed every prophet God sent to them.  Putting himself in that camp.

I think the application of this chapter is, am I resisting the Holy Spirit?  Or am I ambivalent to him?  Am I more worried about my opinion than God's?  What is my perspective?  These people were definitely looking at life through their own lens,...not God's

tp 

Acts 6

10 But they could not stand up against the wisdom the Spirit gave him as he spoke.


Sometimes I lack the courage to share my faith when I know there is someone who doesn't believe and may actually actively challenge my faith.  My faith needs to be strong enough to know that the Holy Spirit will give me the wisdom needed to represent my faith and that I don't have to think I'm defending the reality of Jesus on my own.

knut