no excuses

Posted on February 14, 2011 by Jefferson Vann

SDC12151 Acts 11:19-30.  The book of Acts records three missionary journeys taken by the apostle Paul, but this passage relates a summary of four missionary journeys taken before them. First, some undisclosed disciples from Cyprus and Cyrene spread the gospel among Hellenists in Antioch. Then The elders in Jerusalem sent Barnabus to investigate what was happening in Antioch, and when he saw that the Holy Spirit was working there, he took it upon himself to fetch Saul (Paul) from Tarsus to help him teach the new disciples there. And when these new disciples learned by revelation from the Holy Spirit that there was going to be famine and economic disaster, they asked Barnabus and Saul to go to Jerusalem with their contribution toward the relief of their brothers (Jewish Christians in Judea). Apparently only one of these journeys was officially sanctioned by the church leaders in Jerusalem, but each of them was prompted by the Holy Spirit.

LORD, give us the courage to go where your Holy Spirit says to go. No excuses.

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maybe this is it

Posted on February 13, 2011 by Jefferson Vann

SDC12126 Gen. 40.  What was it that kept Joseph faithful to God and walking in integrity as he lived a forgotten life in the bowels of an Egyptian prison?  He had revelations from God in his past, and he must have believed that God had something in store for his future. When the cupbearer and baker had dreams, he must have thought that this was going to be his ticket out. He was right, but he certainly did not expect to have to wait another two years to use that ticket (41:1).   When you have the hope of the LORD’s deliverance in your heart, you can wait a lifetime and still be expectant.  When changes happen, you go with the flow because you believe God is directing the stream.

LORD, give us the faithfulness and the hope of Joseph.

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the LORD was with him

Posted on February 12, 2011 by Jefferson Vann

SDC12124 Gen. 39. What was it that allowed Joseph to maintain his integrity while all those terrible things happened to him? How was he able to keep bitterness and cynicism from spoiling his attitude and destroying his witness? One clue to that mystery is found throughout today’s text. The LORD was with him (2,3,21,23). God’s presence reminded him of his hope. His hope was based on God’s revelation of his future. That future hope was more real to Joseph than the present difficulties he faced. Believers today can walk according to the commands of Christ because they have entered his kingdom, a kingdom which will be revealed in our future. In spite of the difficulties we face today, we can stay strong, because our LORD is with us, and our destiny we know.

LORD, keep us strong in you. keep our destiny ever before our eyes, so that we can walk in integrity today.

Posted in commitment, eternal life, faithfulness, future, hope, integrity, kingdom of God, perseverance, suffering | Tagged | 1 Comment

three days without sight

Posted on February 11, 2011 by Jefferson Vann

SDC12123 Acts 9:1-31.  After his encounter with the risen Christ on the road to Damascus, Saul of Tarsus was left blinded and helpless for three days.  That unexpected down time was three days of grace, and in them Saul was learning the significance of what Jesus said to him.  Jesus had said “why are you persecuting me?”  Saul thought he was persecuting the church.  Christ’s appearance to him revealed who Jesus really was, and who the church is. We are Christ’s body. To persecute us is to persecute Christ. During those three days, Saul must have begun developing his Christology and ecclesiology that would proclaim the mysteries of “Christ in you, the hope of glory” (Col. 1:27), and “you are the body of Christ” (1 Cor. 12:27; Eph. 4:12).

LORD, when we are struck with periods of unexpected down time, may we take advantage of the gift by learning from your word, that we may proclaim you more effectively.

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right hearts

Posted on February 10, 2011 by Jefferson Vann

SDC12121 Acts 8.  Saul’s heart had not yet been touched by the Holy spirit’s regeneration power, so his heart was not yet right. He was ravaging the church because of his evil ambition. Simon of Samaria’s heart was touched by the truth of the gospel, but still in the gall of bitterness, and the bond of iniquity.  Philips’s heart was right, and he showed it by his eagerness to proclaim Christ to the Samaritans and elsewhere. The believers in Samaria had right hearts before God, and welcomed the kingdom truth about Jesus and the Holy Spirit’s power for ministry.  The Ethiopian Eunuch’s heart was right, and his hunger for the word needed only guidance from Philip to produce faith in Christ.

LORD, rescue us from the evil ambition of wrong hearts. Give us right hearts who long to proclaim Christ and his kingdom.

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fighting against God

Posted on February 9, 2011 by Jefferson Vann

SDC12120 2 Chronicles 13.  It took only 18 years for the kingdom to go from one divided  to become one engaged in civil war. Abijah’s army was outnumbered two to one, and he, himself was not entirely faithful to the LORD. But he knew that the LORD had made a covenant with David, he knew that Jeroboam had angered God by his expulsion of his priests and Levites, replacing them with impostors. He knew that the Jerusalem temple worship was legitimate, whereas Jeroboam’s cult was not.  The armies of Judah knew to cry out to the Lord when they were in trouble. Half a million Israelites died that day, another monument to man’s attempt to undo God’s will. When will we learn that he is sovereign?

LORD, as we fight life’s battles, give us the good sense not to fight against you.

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obedient to the faith

Posted on February 8, 2011 by Jefferson Vann

Peter w Ananias 90-366 Acts 4:32-6:7.  The church of Jesus Christ is not simply a social movement. The kingdom of God has a king in heaven, and he has given us a body of instruction recorded in the Gospels. Believers are obligated to obey those instructions. The power of the Holy Spirit accompanied by the love we show in obedience to Jesus’ commands is irresistible. When those within the church community disobey the faith, it brings dishonor not only upon the church, but also Christ himself. Judgment (like that which happened with Ananias and Sapphira) will follow such disobedience. Sometimes, obeying means changing things. The seven were appointed to their new position because the community recognized a need, and the church had to change the way it did things in order to be obedient to the faith.

LORD, give us humility and commitment to learn the faith, and courage to obey it.

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no future

Posted on February 7, 2011 by Jefferson Vann

SDC12338 Psalm 37.  This wisdom psalm from David encourages believers to think rightly about their future and that of the wicked. we need to stop worrying about wicked people and envying their strength and possessions. They may seem strong and secure now, but they will shrivel up like a dead plant (2).  They will be cut off (a metaphor for death) (9,22,28,38). They will be no more (10). They will not be at their place (10). Their day is coming (13).  Their weapons will be turned against them ((15). Their strong arms will be broken (17).  They will perish, vanish like smoke (20).  They will pass away and be no more, be looked for and not found (36).  They will be altogether destroyed (38).  They may have a glorious present, but they will have no future (38).

LORD, help us to consistently trust in you, for only in you is there a future.

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one decision

Posted on February 6, 2011 by Jefferson Vann

SDC12117 2 Chronicles 10.  It was one decision that Rehoboam made that led to division and rebellion and the dissolution of  Israel. He decided to listen to the wrong counselors. They encouraged him to make the heavy yoke even heavier. The older men had advised Rehoboam that if he only listened and responded to the appeal of his people he could keep the nation together. But the king’s choice was with the younger men, his own peers. Spiritual leadership is like that too. We must be very careful to make wise choices, because some mistakes cannot be easily mended with a simple apology. An entire house can be destroyed by the removal of a single brick.

LORD, help us to make right decisions. May we take the needs of everyone into consideration before we choose.

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witnesses to his resurrection

Posted on February 5, 2011 by Jefferson Vann

SDC12116 Acts 1.  Luke’s Gospel was about what Jesus began to do and teach (1). Acts was about what he would continue to do and teach through his witnesses. He told his followers that the Holy Spirit would come upon them and empower them to witness, wherever he sent them — even to the end of the earth (8). Peter understood that to be a witness is to testify that Christ has been raised from the dead (22). That fact has validated all of what Jesus did and taught. Because he is risen we know that he will come again. Because he is risen — not because of us– we know that he will keep his promise to give us eternal life. This changes everything.

LORD, we trust not in our nature, but in your resurrection.

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