AnActsDevotional

  Act 7:20-22 Moses was positioned by God, as a child, to prepare him for his future tasks.  Only God could have got a Jewish boy into  Pharaoh’s  house.  And there he learned a lot...and was even taken care of by his own Mother! Lord Jesus, help us to trust that You are working out Your plans and purposes even when we don't see it.

  Acts 7:17-19 A new leader is on the scene and Joseph and his family become picked on by the new leader! Lord Jesus, please help us as we experience changes in leadership.  Help us to remember You are always there.

  Acts 7:9-16 The story of Joseph is a story of God being there even during the tough times.  God used Joseph's situation to place him where he needed to be to help his family; the family that rejected him earlier. Lord Jesus, please protect our hearts; especially during the tough times.  Help us to continue to learn more about You and Your ways as we walk through tough times so we are prepared for Your purposes in our lives.  Amen 

  Acts 7:1-8 The high priest asks Stephen if what he's being accused of is true so Stephen starts a history lesson.  It starts with the inheritance Abraham dreamed of.  Then a covenant and a promise that would take hundreds of years to fulfill. Lord Jesus, You hold eternity in Your hands.  Help us to recognize that You are working on things that could bear fruit a hundred years from now!  Give us hope for the present and the future.  Amen

  Acts 6:15 Through all the lies they saw something...something that looked like a face of an angel.   Lord Jesus: please help us to represent You well when we're chosen to take a stand for You. Fill us with Your Holy Spirit and give us the wisdom we require for the situation.  Amen

Acts 6:11-14   Stephen was effective.  He waited on tables and he preached and satan didn't like it! So the father of all lies got people to tell lies about Stephen! Lord Jesus, please help us to recognize the tactics of the enemy and help us to listen to You instead.  Then give us the courage to obey the next little thing You tell us to do.  And Father, I pray for the persecuted church.  They need You just now.  Please don't let their suffering go to waste.  Bring revival and help us as Canadians to not take You and the freedom You have given us for granted. Amen

  Acts 6:8-10 Stephens job in the church was to wait on tables yet he had a super natural ability to speak wisdom and perform miracles.  His ability to speak the truth with wisdom had those who chose to argue with him at a loss because God spoke through him. Lord Jesus, help us to recognize all jobs in the church as jobs that require the Holy Spirit.  Give to us Your power and wisdom so that we can represent You and the Kingdom well.  Guide and direct us.  Amen

  Acts 6:5-7 It doesn't get better than this; folks agreed with the leaders plan.  Spirit filled people were found to wait on tables and they were prayed over.  The good news of Jesus was spread.  The number of disciples increased and priest became obedient to the faith. Lord Jesus; what a celebration!  When everything is working in God's Kingdom. Jesus, I ask for this again.  Unify us, bless us, grow us, so that others may see and join us and glorify You.

  Acts 6:1-4 Lord Jesus, thanks for the example of the early church.  They saw a need and addressed it...recognizing they weren't capable of taking on the extra load they looked for Spirit filled people to wait on the tables.  Help us Lord to remember that we all have a place in God's Kingdom.  

  Acts 5:41-42 It is interesting here to note that it wasn't the pain of the lashings that got to Peter and John.  It was the embarrassment of them...but they took this shame and turned it around  by rejoicing because they were considered worthy of suffering for the Name of Jesus.  They also never stopped proclaiming the good news of Jesus. Lord Jesus, please help us to stay focused on You; especially when others don't see You as we see You.  Give us the courage to proclaim Your good news to others.  Amen

  Acts 5:33-40    The disciples just stood up to the leaders of the church/temple and the leaders aren't happy.  In fact they want to put them to death!  But a wise man talked them out of it noting that if it's of God it will last but if it's not of God it will stop.  The leaders listened but still had Peter and John beaten and told not to speak of Jesus!  Oh the cost in following Jesus! Dear Jesus: In our covid days we're seeing the cost but it's nothing compared to what Peter and John saw.  Please continue to guide and direct us and give us the courage and faith to obey the next little thing You tell us to do.  Amen

  Acts 5:29-32 When you are following the Holy Spirit's leading be prepared to be challenged because God's ways are different than the ways of this world.  Peter knew what he was doing and he was motivated by the power of the Holy Spirit.  Read his defense. ‘We must obey God rather than human beings!  The God of our ancestors raised Jesus from the dead – whom you killed by hanging him on a cross.    God exalted him to his own right hand as Prince and Saviour that he might bring Israel to repentance and forgive their sins.    We are witnesses of these things, and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey him.’ Acts 5:29-32 Lord Jesus, please help us to live a life that pleases you so that we are not ashamed to tell the truth.

  Acts 5:21-28 The first thing to do when the Holy Spirit is at work is to obey Him!  The disciples went back to where they were arrested and continued to preach As church/temple leaders, be prepared for the unexpected.  They had gathered a crowd to deal with Peter and John but when they went to the jail to get them they weren't there! They were there though, still preaching Christ's death and resurrection and the church/temple leaders were feeling guilty about Jesus' death.  Is this the Holy Spirit convicting?  The leadership doesn't think so; they think it's Peter and John. Lord Jesus, please help us to discern Your Spirit at work in our lives.  Help us to remember " our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.  " Ephesians 6:12  Guide us and direct us so that Your Kingdom may come...

  Acts 5:19-20 They were put in jail by jealous temple/church leaders but God had another plan for them.  He released them and told them to share about their new life. Lord Jesus, help us to remember that even though others may come against you by punishing us You have another plan and Your plan always comes into being.  Help us not to be discourage by the negative and help us to stay focused on You.  Amen

  Acts 5:17-18 Jealousy; it happens.  In this case it happened between the leaders at the temple/church and the "nobody" disciples. Unfortunately it seems that the leaders have more power and the disciples end up in jail. Lord Jesus, please help our leaders not to become jealous.  Help them see the advantages of others doing better than they can do in various areas and help them to be encouragers in Your Kingdom...and Lord Jesus, help us all to trust that You have the outcomes in Your hands. Amen

  Acts 5:15-16 This is a fascinating passage.  Every where the disciples went people wanted to be healed and they were healed!  Today, with our medical system we don't rely on spirituality as much yet God still does exist and if we let Him He's willing to work with the medical system and our faith. Lord Jesus, help us not to undermine Your healing power because we discover more about Your creation.  Help us to celebrate Your handiwork, such as the human body, and all of it's complexities.  Help the medical staff to work with You as You show them more and more about how each human body works.  Amen

  Acts 5:12-14 These are interesting times.  The apostles are performing miracles and the believers are meeting together but people are also afraid so they didn't hang out with the believers publicly yet more and more people were becoming believers. Lord Jesus, during our covid times I'm thinking more and more people are coming to know You but they are afraid to hang out with other believers.  If this is true, please show us who they are so we can help mentor and disciple them. Thanks for the online opportunities people have to come to know You.  Please lead people away from satan's grasp into Your life giving hands.  Amen. 

  Acts 5:1-11 It is said that satan is the father of all lies.  Here is a case where there was no reason to lie but they did!   Lord Jesus, please help us to be honest with ourselves and others.  Thank you for reminding us that You take lying seriously.

Acts 3:33-37   The resurrection had such power on the disciples people started sharing in incredible ways.  The grace of God ensured no one was in need. Lord Jesus, I pray for the in filling of the Holy Spirit amongst our politicians.  We need Your wisdom to run this country. Please bless them and protect them and draw them close to You.  In Jesus name.

Acts 4:32   Unity is Jesus heart desire for us.  To be one in heart and mind...and evidence of this is we are willing to share what we have. Lord Jesus, help us to share what we have with those who share Your heart and mind.  Amen.

  Acts 4:23-31 " Now, Lord, consider their threats and enable your servants to speak your word with great boldness.   Stretch out your hand to heal and perform signs and wonders through the name of your holy servant Jesus.” Lord Jesus, when other's oppose us because of our faith may You be obvious in our lives. Amen

  Acts 4:21-22 This is a great example of how keeping focused on Jesus sets you free.  Yes, they were threatened but the people were glorifying God.  What could they do but let them go.  They had performed an obvious miracle; after all the man was over 40 years old! Lord Jesus, when religious folks try to stop our love for You help us to stay focused on You and glorify God.

  Acts 4:14-20 Peter and John had performed a miracle and spoke of the truth of Jesus but the religious leaders didn't want this news spread so they tried to silence them.  Yet Peter and John knew the truth couldn't be silenced. I am reminded of the many who have been hurt by religion as people try to keep a form of religion that doesn't consider the Kingdom.  Lord Jesus, if we have been a source of the hurt please show us how to bring healing.  Give us wisdom and courage beyond measure.