Context: Paul argues in Romans 6 that because of Christ’s death, we are free from sin’s power.  We can count ourselves dead to sin and alive to God.

Romans 6:17 – “But thanks be to God that, though you used to be slaves to sin, you have come to obey from your heart the pattern of teaching that has now claimed your allegiance.”

Observation: When we obey the teaching of God’s Word, we should give God thanks.

Application: I must give God glory, honor, thanks, praise, etc. for any obedience I see in my life.  Obedience requires my effort but is enabled by God’s grace.

Have you seen obedience in your life?  Have you thanked God for it?

Context: Paul is explaining that we received a sin nature (death reigning) through Adam, and it was shown to us through the law.  Now we can receive the gift of righteousness (life reigning) by grace through faith in Christ.

Romans 5:17 – “For if, by the trespass of the one man, death reigned through that one man, how much more will those who receive God’s abundant provision of grace and of the gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man, Jesus Christ!”

Observations:

• If – by the trespass of the one man (Adam),
  • death reigned through that one man,
• Then – how much more will those
  • who receive God’s abundant provision of grace
  • and of the gift of righteousness
    • reign in life
      • through the one man,
        • Jesus Christ!

Application: Life, not death, reigns in my life by grace through faith in Christ.  I want to celebrate that today.  I will pray for opportunities to explain this “gift of righteousness” to those that I come into contact with.

As a Christian, are you living with life reigning or death reigning?

Context: Paul explains that Abraham’s righteousness was attained through faith and not works.  He believed in God’s promises and was…

Romans 4:21 – “…fully convinced that God was able to do what He had promised.”
Observations:

• Fully convinced (ESV) – being fully persuaded (NIV)
• That God was (and is!) able
• To do what He had promised – Most of the time, we now receive these promises through scripture.

Application:  I want to have the confidence and faith of Abraham.  Today I will look for promises that God has given me and ask myself if I am living convinced that He is able to do them.

Do you believe God is able to do what He has promised?  Do your actions back this up?

Context: Paul has followed the Lord’s lead to Rome and has been given the opportunity to share the gospel with many.  “For two whole years Paul stayed there in his own rented house and welcomed all who came to see him.”

Acts 28:31 (The last verse in Acts) “He proclaimed the kingdom of God and taught about the Lord Jesus Christ—with all boldness and without hindrance!”

Observations:

• He proclaimed the kingdom of God (not just a savior but the KING)
• Taught about the Lord Jesus Christ
• All boldness – speaking with authority
• Without hindrance – the gospel was proclaimed freely through him

Apply: I must proclaim and teach with all boldness and without hindrance.  I want to pray for this specifically and call others to do the same.

Are you proclaiming the kingdom of God boldly?

Context: Paul has been arrested and stood before the counsel of Sadducees and Pharisees.  The counsel had a sharp disagreement and turned violent, so they led Paul back to the barracks for the night.

Acts 23:11 – “The following night the Lord stood by him and said, ‘Take courage, for as you have testified to the facts about me in Jerusalem, so you must testify also in Rome.’”

Observations:

• The Lord stood by him and said:
• Take courage… – a command given by God to His people consistently throughout scripture.  Courage is not the absence of fear.  It is moving forward in fearful situations knowing God is with you.  A wise man once said: “Courage is fear that has said its prayers.”
• …As you have testified to the facts about me in Jerusalem, so you must testify also in Rome.

Application: I must meet personally with the Lord, so that I can hear Him speak words of courage and direction into my life.  I want to be ready to share “the facts” about Jesus with my own people and with others.

How has God spoken words of courage into your life?

Context: Paul has been arrested in Jerusalem, and before he is put into the barracks, he asks to speak with the people.  Permission is granted, and he shares the story of his conversion.

Acts 22:14-15 – “And he (Ananias) said, “The God of our fathers appointed you to know His will, to see the Righteous One and to hear a voice from His mouth; for you will be a witness for Him to everyone of what you have seen and heard.”

Observations:

• Appointed to:
  • Know His will
  • See the Righteous One (Jesus)
  • Hear a voice from His mouth
• For:
  • You will be a witness for Him to everyone of what you have seen and heard.

Apply:  Jesus has chosen to reveal Himself to me in many different ways.  I now have the responsibility to be a witness for Him to everyone who hasn’t been exposed to Jesus in the same way.  I will pray and look for those opportunities today.

How can you be a “witness for Him to everyone of what you have seen and heard” today?

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?