Bible League: Living His Word So the church throughout all Judea and Galilee and Samaria had peace and was being built up. And walking in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit, it multiplied.— Acts 9:31 ESV How could there be a better way to walk than in the fear of the Lord and the comfort of the Holy Spirit? I read that this morning and thought, "Wow! I want my church to be like that." In the first part of this chapter in Acts, the New Testament Christians have just been delivered from one of their greatest adversaries, Saul of Tarsus. He is converted to Jesus Christ in a dramatic way and goes to work immediately, proving to as many Jews as he can that Jesus was the Messiah. Oh, if only our God would convert all His enemies just like that! But because He hasn't, we must figure out how to grow the Church despite the enemies. God has not left us powerless against our enemies. He has given us the Holy Spirit to guide us and the power of prayer with which to petition One who is far above any enemy we face. And we have each other to lean on. Our verse names three geographic regions, but uses the word "Church" in the singular. We should follow this example and think of ourselves as one Church. We, all the churches in the country, must also be united in one body of Christ, putting on the armor of God to fight against the schemes of the devil. Divided, we are small; but if all churches would work together as the Church, we would walk more uprightly, unafraid. Let us pray for this kind of unity. And while we do not have rest from our enemies yet, we know that the day is coming when every knee shall bow, and all will be made right. We will continue until that day to walk in the fear of the Lord and the comfort of the Holy Spirit; and may the Church, by His power, be multiplied. By Grace Barnes, Bible League International volunteer, Michigan USA Bible in a Year Old Testament ReadingProverbs 11, 12 Proverbs 11 -- A false balance is an abomination to the Lord NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB Proverbs 12 -- Whoever loves correction loves knowledge; he who hates reproof is stupid. NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB New Testament Reading 1 Corinthians 15:33-58 1 Corinthians 15 -- The Resurrection of Christ, the Dead and the Body NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB Reading Plan Courtesy of Christian Classics Etherial Library. Tyndale Life Application Daily Devotion So God's message continued to spread. The number of believers greatly increased in Jerusalem, and many of the Jewish priests were converted, too.Insight The word of God spread like ripples on a pond where, from a single center, each wave touches the next, spreading wider and farther. The gospel still spreads this way today. Challenge You don't have to change the world single-handedly—it is enough just to be part of the wave, touching those around you, who in turn will touch others until all have felt the movement. Don't ever feel that your part is insignificant or unimportant. Morning and Evening by Spurgeon Mark 2:4 And when they could not come nigh unto him for the press, they uncovered the roof where he was: and when they had broken it up, they let down the bed wherein the sick of the palsy lay.Faith is full of inventions. The house was full, a crowd blocked up the door, but faith found a way of getting at the Lord and placing the palsied man before him. If we cannot get sinners where Jesus is by ordinary methods we must use extraordinary ones. It seems, according to Luke 5:19, that a tiling had to be removed, which would make dust and cause a measure of danger to those below, but where the case is very urgent we must not mind running some risks and shocking some proprieties. Jesus was there to heal, and therefore fall what might, faith ventured all so that her poor paralyzed charge might have his sins forgiven. O that we had more daring faith among us! Cannot we, dear reader, seek it this morning for ourselves and for our fellow-workers, and will we not try today to perform some gallant act for the love of souls and the glory of the Lord. The world is constantly inventing; genius serves all the purposes of human desire: cannot faith invent too, and reach by some new means the outcasts who lie perishing around us? It was the presence of Jesus which excited victorious courage in the four bearers of the palsied man: is not the Lord among us now? Have we seen his face for ourselves this morning? Have we felt his healing power in our own souls? If so, then through door, through window, or through roof, let us, breaking through all impediments, labor to bring poor souls to Jesus. All means are good and decorous when faith and love are truly set on winning souls. If hunger for bread can break through stone walls, surely hunger for souls is not to be hindered in its efforts. O Lord, make us quick to suggest methods of reaching thy poor sin-sick ones, and bold to carry them out at all hazards. Daily Light on the Daily Path Romans 12:12 rejoicing in hope, persevering in tribulation, devoted to prayer,Colossians 1:5 because of the hope laid up for you in heaven, of which you previously heard in the word of truth, the gospel 1 Corinthians 15:19 If we have hoped in Christ in this life only, we are of all men most to be pitied. Acts 14:22 strengthening the souls of the disciples, encouraging them to continue in the faith, and saying, "Through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God." Luke 14:27 "Whoever does not carry his own cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple. 1 Thessalonians 3:3 so that no one would be disturbed by these afflictions; for you yourselves know that we have been destined for this. Philippians 4:4 Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice! Romans 15:13 Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you will abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. 1 Peter 1:3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 1 Peter 1:8 and though you have not seen Him, you love Him, and though you do not see Him now, but believe in Him, you greatly rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory, Romans 5:2 through whom also we have obtained our introduction by faith into this grace in which we stand; and we exult in hope of the glory of God. New American Standard Bible Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, Calif. All rights reserved. For Permission to Quote Information visit http://www.lockman.org. |
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