AnActsDevotional

  Acts 10:27-28 To be prejudice is the pre-judge.  In this case Peter pre-judge Gentiles because of his Jewish background but God broke through to Peter and showed him that God loves Gentiles too. Lord Jesus, please help us not to judge as unclean those that You have chosen as clean; especially since we all need to be cleaned by You.  Help us to navigate our times and not pretend that sin doesn't exist but help us to love the sinner and hate the sin.  Teach us how to love each other well.  Help us to identify our own selfishness but at the same time help us not to be walked all over.  Give us Your wisdom.  Amen

  Acts 10:24-26 When God works in and through us we must always remember is was God working in and through us.  Peter did a good job here.  When Cornelius fell at his feet in reverence he told him to get up as he too was just a man. Lord Jesus, please help us to handle the praise and respect of others appropriately so that we give You the honour and praise You deserve.

  Acts 10:11-23 Peter was a Jew so he grew up believing certain foods were wrong to eat but the Gentiles ate them.  In his vision he was challenged with his limited thinking and God told him He was the person who decided what was right an wrong; not people!  Peter was then further pushed out of his comfort zone when some Gentiles came knocking; because God had sent them. Lord Jesus, please help us to break down people made barriers and accept the people You accept.  Give us guidance to know what is of You and what s not and fill us with Your messages for the people and help us deliver them with Your love.

  Acts 10:9-10 God speaks at the most unusual times!  This time it was just before lunch and Peter was hungry. Lord Jesus, please help us to be prepared for you to speak at any time of day; not just in church!  And help us to listen to what You have to say.  And Lord, help us to not be impatient in the waiting.  Help us to recognize waiting times as times to listen to You. Amen

  Acts 10:7-8 As a result of the angel's visitation Cornelius followed up with what he was told to do.  He chose another Godly man, a soldier, and two servants and sent them off to Joppa. Lord Jesus, help us to be obedient to you.  Give us the wisdom and the courage to do the tasks that You have called us to do. Amen

  Acts 10:3-6 The ordinary man,  Cornelius, had an extra ordinary vision with very specific detail....and in getting this detail he was afraid. Lord Jesus, please help us have just enough fear to know it's You speak and the courage to obey You.  Please break through the ordinary to show Yourself to us and to others.  You are an awesome God and can do anything.  Please help us not to limit You. Amen

  Acts 10:1-2 Here is a Roman soldier who gives generously to those in need and has a God fearing devotion to God. Lord Jesus, we know there are God fearing people in all walks of life. Help each one to do what is right in Your eyes.  Amen

  Acts 9:36-43 Spectacular!  Someone is risen from the dead as a result of Peter's prayer. Lord Jesus, please help us to support those who do good deeds in the community and when they are sick help us to pray for healing for them.  And Lord, help us to believe in prayer again.  Thanks for starting to answer prayers this week.  Give us the faith to believe that You are in control and that You are working.

Acts 9:32-35   Peter, having seen Jesus heal a paralyzed man; saw a paralyzed man and thought Jesus can do this even if He is no longer seen!...and Jesus did it, and more came to believe. Lord Jesus, work through our bodies so that we can help to turn people to You.  Lord Jesus, I also pray for our medical system right now.  Their is a crisis of workers.  Please raise up more Doctors and Nurses with hearts of compassion.  Provide workers for the long term care homes that have Your compassion.  Watch over the sick and provide for them what they need to be healed.

  Acts 9:31 After Saul left town after his life was in danger by the Jews the church lived at peace, was strengthened and encouraged by the Holy Spirit.  Instead of fearing people they feared the Lord and their numbers grew. Lord Jesus, I pray for this for our churches.  May we fear You with a reverent type of fear, trust Your Holy Spirit and live in strength and peace so that we may see our numbers grow.  Bless the Christmas appeal so we may best do Your work.  Give us the money that's required for next year's work.  Amen

Acts 9:26-30    It was hard for Saul to fit in; after all he used to kill Christians!  Yet the apostles/elders heard his testimony because of one brave Christian who introduced him.  This reminds me of ex-offenders trying to fit into to church.  Their history scares many but their testimony can change things. Lord Jesus, please help ex-offenders find a place in Your Kingdom.  Give them the courage and faith to stay the course so their testimony makes a difference in many lives.   Amen

Acts 9:23-25   Jews want to kill Saul now that he's a Christian but Saul heard about their plan and escaped. Lord Jesus, thank you for allowing us to use our brains to protect ourselves.  Please be with the persecuted church.  Help them to be wise and effective in Your Kingdom.  Amen

  Acts 9:20-22 Saul was indeed a changed man; he had heard Stephen before Stephen was stoned to death.  He had seen the responses of the persecuted church in Jerusalem and he had his own spectacular event and now he was a changed man!  He knew how to convince others that Jesus was indeed the Messiah! Lord Jesus, we pray for the persecuted church.  May you raise up other people who like Saul, turn their lives around, for You.  Amen

  Acts 9:10-19 This is a tremendous story of courage on  Ananias's part.  It makes me think of the persecuted church. Lord Jesus, please be with the men and women in the persecuted church who are being called to witness to those who wish them harm.  Give them the courage to obey You when You call and the wisdom to know what is of You and what is not.  Thank You for hero's of the faith like the Boom family.  Check out the Hiding Place for more information on them.  Lord Jesus, please give us the courage to stand up for what is right, the wisdom to know what is of You and the courage to obey You.

  Acts 9:8-9 After Saul's spectacular encounter with God he was left blind, without anything; just waiting and fasting. Lord Jesus, help us to be patient after the spectacular; recognizing that You work in and through us in many ways, both in the spectacular and normal days of our lives.

Acts 9:7   Sometimes when God speaks to us others observe something but they aren't sure what it is.  Saul heard God speaking but the witnesses only heard a sound.  The witnesses also did not see anyone.  This verifies that Saul wasn't being tricked by someone.  No matter what the witnesses were speechless so something spectacular took place. Lord Jesus, help us not to dismiss You working in the lives of other people because we haven't got the full picture.  Help us to appreciate what we do experience and testify to that. Amen

Acts 9:6   It's hard to wait and listen yet God required this of Saul and He requires it of us. Lord Jesus, please help us to wait and listen to You. Give us the wisdom to look around and see where You are working and give us the courage to listen to Your message.  Help us to discern if the message is from You, other people, satan, or our own selfishness. Take away our thoughts, satan's thoughts, other people's thoughts and leave us with Your thoughts.  Amen

  Acts 9:3-5 It's a dramatic moment.  Saul is off to arrest and/or kill the Christians when he is blinded by a light and he hears Jesus ask "Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?"  It's interesting that Jesus doesn't ask "Why do you persecute the Christians?"  He asks "why do you persecute me ?" Oh Lord, thank You so much for taking us on.  I think of the persecuted church just now and I realize that it's You they are persecuting...someone who did no harm.  Lord Jesus, will you intervene in many amazing ways as You protect Your people during this time of persecution, such that the church grows even deeper and stronger.  Create many Saul's who turn their lives over to You because of the testimony of the persecuted church and allow those people to warn us in North America.  Give them an ear to the nominal Christians so we too can awaken to Your will and purpose in our lives.  Give dreams of You to those who aren't following You so that...

 Acts 9:1-2 As I read today's verses I'm reminded of the persecuted church.   Lord Jesus, please bless those that are being persecuted just now.  Protect them and grow your Kingdom through them in Jesus name.  And Lord, please help us not to surrender our freedom.  We need You in North America like we've never needed You before.  Help us as Christians to live the way You want us to live so that others can see You make a difference in our lives.  Thanks for hearing and answering prayer.

  Acts 8:39-40 It's fascinating to note Philip disappears as soon at the baptism is over.  It's like a Star Trek moment!  Yet the eunuch is happy...so this is not about the eunuch being happy because he has company; it really is about being baptized.  And Philip goes to various new locations sharing his believe that Jesus in the Messiah. Lord Jesus, please help us to rejoice because we know You and help us to share our faith with others!

  Acts 8:36-38 Today we have the story of the eunuch baptism. It seems to me that baptism is an outer sign of an inner change.  It's something we can do when we don't have the words to explain what's happening on the inside.  It is a fantastic story of how God opened up the eyes of the eunuch through reading scripture and talking to Philip such that he wanted to become baptized. Lord Jesus, help us to come along side of You and show us how we can explain the inner change in our lives; whether it's through sharing or through becoming baptized.

  Acts 8:30-35 This passage is a brilliant story of evangelism.  Philip started where the  eunuch was and then proceeded to tell him how the passage he was reading referred to Jesus.  Note the eunuch was reading from Isaiah; a book found amongst the dead sea scrolls and note how it fit Jesus perfectly. Lord Jesus, please show us how to share our faith.  Help us to start where our friends are at and share the truths we know about You. Amen

  Acts 8:26-29 In this case Philip had an angel tell him which direction to go in, literally.  Sometimes God just wants us to go a certain direction on a street, or to a certain location because He has a divine appointment setup for us.  The  eunuch  also had a divine appointment; going about his regular church/devotional activities. Lord Jesus, help us to keep our eyes and ears open to where You are working and allow us to join You in Your tasks.  Amen

  Acts 8:25 After Philip started the work in Samaria we see Peter and John take it over.  In God's Kingdom we are to share the work load and make sure it's about Jesus, not us. Lord Jesus, please help us to empower others in the Kingdom of God.