Context: Paul is traveling to Jerusalem, knowing that imprisonment and possibly death await him.

Acts 21:4 – “We sought out the disciples there and stayed with them seven days. Through the Spirit they urged Paul not to go on to Jerusalem.”

Observations:

• Disciples
• Urged Paul through the Spirit
• Not go on to Jerusalem

Yet, Paul goes to Jerusalem.  The Holy Spirit has shown them (see also verse 12) what Paul already knows – pain, imprisonment and possibly death await him.

Apply: I must be close enough to God that I am following His direction in my life, not someone else’s words.  I also must lead those in my ministry to be close enough to God that they are following the Spirit’s direction in their lives and not just my words.

Do you have enough confidence in the Spirit’s direction in your personal life to go against the grain?

Context: God was doing extraordinary miracles at the hands of Paul.  Several itinerant Jewish exorcists tried to cast out demons with the name of Jesus, and the demons came on them saying, “Jesus I know and Paul I recognize, but who are you?”

Acts19:17: “When this became known to the Jews and Greeks living in Ephesus, they were all seized with fear, and the name of the Lord Jesus was held in high honor.”

Observations:

• When this became known – story of being ill-equipped for the power and dangers involved in spiritual warfare…
• …Fear led to the name of the Lord Jesus being held in “high honor.”
• Proverbs 1:7 – “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.”

Application:  I want to be driven by a healthy fear of the Lord.  I must be aware of the supernatural battle I am a part of and seek to stay close to the only One, Jesus, who gives victory.

How would you define a healthy fear of God?

Context: Paul and Silas have been arrested, stripped and severely beaten with rods after casting out a demon and having a crowd stirred against them for “advocating customs unlawful for Romans to accept or practice.”

Acts 16:25: “About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them.”

Observations:

• Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God
• Other prisoners were listening to them

Application: I don’t want my relationship with God to be hidden, but I want to allow others to see the real relationship that is offered through Christ.

Prayer: Lord, help me to understand and live out a healthy balance between praying in secret and allowing others to witness.

Context: The church in Jerusalem hears that many people have believed and turned to the Lord in Antioch, so they send Barnabas to them.

Acts 11:23 – “When he came and saw the grace of God, he was glad, and he exhorted them all to remain faithful to the Lord with steadfast purpose…”

Observations:

• When he saw the grace of God
  • he was glad (rejoiced)
• He exhorted (to call or encourage) them all to
  • Remain faithful to the Lord
    • With steadfast purpose (prosthesis – with resolute hearts, NIV – with all their hearts)

Application:  1. I want to look for the grace of God around me and rejoice in it.  2. I want to challenge others to remain faithful to Christ with “steadfast purpose.”

How has grace motivated gladness in your life?

Context: The Ethiopian eunuch is reading Isaiah. Philip approaches him, asks him if he understands what he is reading, and the eunuch replies, “How can I, unless someone explains it to me?”

Acts 8:35 – “Then Philip began with that very passage of Scripture and told him the good news about Jesus.”

Observations:  The Spirit of God uses the Word of God through a man of God to bring salvation to a human heart (cf. 1 Pet. 1:23-25).

Application Prayer:  “Lord, empower the Holy Spirit to help me open the Word and explain the good news about Jesus.”

Context: Peter and the other apostles have been charged by the Sanhedrin (religious leaders who had the power to press criminal charges) to stop preaching in the name of Jesus.  The apostles reply, “We must obey God rather than men!”  A Pharisee named Gamaliel convinces the Sanhedrin to flog and release them, “for if their purpose or activity is of human origin, it will fail.  But if it is from God, you will not be able to stop these men; you will only find yourselves fighting against God.”

Acts 5:41 – “The apostles left the Sanhedrin, rejoicing because they had been counted worthy of suffering disgrace for the Name.”

Observations:

• Rejoicing BECAUSE they had been counted worthy of suffering
• Suffering disgrace for the Name
• The story continues: “Day after day, in the temple courts and from house to house, they never stopped teaching and proclaiming the good news that Jesus is the Christ.”

Application:  I must be ready to stand up for the Name of Jesus at all times.  When I present the gospel in the midst of adversity – I want to see it as a joy.

Prayer: Lord, give me the mindset of the apostles as I seek to boldly make Your name known in the face of suffering.

Context: Peter and John have met a lame beggar outside the temple gate called Beautiful.

The Beautiful Gate on the Eastern wall of the temple mount. The Muslims have bricked it closed because of the prophecies of the Messiah's return through this gate.

Acts 3:6 – Then Peter said, “Silver or gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you.  In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk.”

Observations:

• Peter and John said they did not have silver or gold
• They gave the beggar healing through Jesus’ name.

Application: I need to be ready to give to others what God has given to me (and I have silver and gold).  I also must remember that the world needs healing through Jesus more than it needs social justice.

Prayer: Guide me to the needs that You have gifted me to meet.  Give me the power to work through Your Holy Spirit in people’s lives.

Context: The Holy Spirit has come, and Peter has preached to the Jews in Jerusalem. “Therefore let all Israel be assured of this: God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Messiah.” – (v36)

Acts 2:37 – “ When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?”

Peter’s Answer: “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off—for all whom the Lord our God will call.” – (v38-39)

Observations:

• Hearing prompted a “cut to the heart”
• What shall we do?
  • Repent
  • Be baptized
    • And you will receive the Holy Spirit

Application: I must preach the gospel like Peter.  I need to pray that the Holy Spirit would pierce hearts and lead others to ask: “What shall we do?”

Prayer: Lord, through the power of the Holy Spirit, pierce the hearts of those around me with the gospel.  Make their hearts ready to respond with: “What shall we do?”  Give me the words to show them a response based on faith and not works.

Context: Peter has denied Jesus three times, and Jesus asks him three times to reaffirm his love and recommissions him.

John 21:17 – (Jesus) said to him the third time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?”  Peter was grieved because He said to him the third time, “Do you love me?” and he said to Him, “Lord, You know everything; You know that I love You.” Jesus said to him, “Feed my sheep.”

Observations:

• Peter was grieved that Jesus would question his love for Him.
• We show our love for Jesus in how we love His sheep.  Yesterday I taught the same truth out of John 15:9-17.

Application: I fear the performance factor in my ministry role.  I am grieved to think that I have gone through seasons of looking for others’ approval above seeking to love and feed them God’s Word.  I want to spend time this week meditating on Jesus’ basic command “Feed my sheep.”

Prayer: Lord, I love You!  Remove every other motivation and give me the ability to feed Your sheep.

Context: Jesus is praying for His disciples to have His joy fulfilled in them, and that they would be protected from the evil one.

John 17:17 “Sanctify them in the truth; Your word is truth.” – Jesus in prayer

Observations:

• Sanctify them – lifelong process of separation from evil and growth in holiness
• In the truth – believe, think and live in accordance to the truth
• Your word is truth – Greek word is a noun not an adjective (not your word is true).  The Bible is itself the truth.

Application: I must be in (not just reading it, but changed by it) the Word of God (in the truth) to be sanctified.

Prayer: Lord, sanctify me by the Truth- Your Word is truth.  Guide me through Your Word daily and give me eyes to see how my life needs to be sanctified in it.