365 Reflections

Cross reference Acts 7's opening verses about Abraham with Genesis 11 and something interesting becomes very clear. In Acts 7 Stephen declares: Acts 7:2–4 (ESV) "Brothers and fathers, hear me. The God of glory appeared to our father Abraham when he was in Mesopotamia, before he lived in Haran , 3 and said to him, ‘Go out from your land and from your kindred and go into the land that I will show you.’ 4 Then he went out from the land of the Chaldeans and lived in Haran. And after his father died , God removed him from there into this land in which you are now living. Then in Genesis 11, right before the promise to Abraham: Genesis 11:31–32 (ESV) Terah took Abram his son and Lot the son of Haran, his grandson, and Sarai his daughter-in-law, his son Abram’s wife, and they went forth together from Ur of the Chaldeans to go into the land of Canaan, but when they came to Haran, they settled there. 32 The days of Terah were 205 years, and Terah died in Haran. Ab...

No sooner does a church grow than administrative problems arise fast and furiously. The Greek widows were feeling mishandled in the daily distribution of food. What's the solution? Men, full of the Holy Spirit. Acts 6 puts fullness of the Holy Spirit in perspective. This was not casting out demons or preaching powerful evangelistic messages. This was not raising the dead or calling fire down from heaven. This was not spot-light,high-light reel ministry. Yet the qualifications were clear: "seven men of good repute, full of the Spirit and of wisdom." What do we need the Holy Spirit for? We need the Holy Spirit to handle challenges in administrating the ministry of the church. There is no lack of need for better, more effective operation in almost any church. We usually look for skill, but God's Word says look for the fullness of the Spirit . We need to be full of the Holy Spirit so that we can SERVE people. This was food service. This was ordinary behi...

When the Church is born in Acts 2 the end of that chapter reads " And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved.    Acts 2:47 (ESV) After God judges Ananias and Sapphira for lying to the Holy Spirit and pretending to be more than they were, stealing the glory of God, the people are filled with reverent fear... It reads in Acts 5:13   None of the rest dared join them, but the people held them in high esteem. Then, this line, Acts 5:14 (ESV) 14 And more than ever believers were added to the Lord, multitudes of both men and women, I never saw the difference between those verses until now. In Acts 2:47, people were added to " their number" . But a few pretenders got in, as is the case for any church... but after the judgment of the two pretenders, believers were "added to the Lord " . You can be in Church and not IN THE LORD. You can like the band and the cool atmosphere or the community and sense of belonging and still not be i...

Acts 5:1–2 (ESV) But a man named Ananias, with his wife Sapphira, sold a piece of property, 2 and with his wife’s knowledge he kept back for himself some of the proceeds and brought only a part of it and laid it at the apostles’ feet. Right from the beginning of this movement, pretenders have been there. The problem in any church are the people who try to be better than they are. Ananias and Sapphira are case in point. They didn't have to do this. That was actually the most tragic thing of all. They could have given what they wanted, but these two desired prominence and notoriety by looking more generous than they really were.  This will not be tolerated in the New Covenant... As an example, they are swiftly struck down dead by the Holy Spirit.  Why such a quick and decisive judgment?  Because of the nature of the New Covenant. This is about the New Creation of Jesus! You don't get in because of what YOU DO, you get in because of what God did through Jesus Ch...

The Early Church didn't pray for miracles... they prayed for boldness to accompany them. Acts 4:29–31 (ESV) And now, Lord, look upon their threats and grant to your servants to continue to speak your word with all boldness, 30 while you stretch out your hand to heal, and signs and wonders are performed through the name of your holy servant Jesus.” 31 And when they had prayed, the place in which they were gathered together was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and continued to speak the word of God with boldness. I like this prayer. It starts in Verse 25 with the address, "Sovereign Lord..." God is sovereignly doing something right now.  Our job is to jump on board with God and talk about Jesus in any situation. The Early Church saw what God was doing, and made the main issue to preach Jesus.  We ask for miracles to make our lives better or free of pain. But that was not the pattern of the movement of Jesus in the beginning. Think about it, ...

Peter and John are brought before one of the most prestigious Jewish families in the entire nation. Notice the details Luke gives us in their trial before the court convened about them after healing the lame man at the Beautiful Gate: Acts 4:5–6 (ESV) On the next day their rulers and elders and scribes gathered together in Jerusalem, 6 with Annas the high priest and Caiaphas and John and Alexander, and all who were of the high-priestly family. These were the "movers and shakers" of Judea at this time. Annas was the most powerful political person in the Nation at this time. He was kind of the "Godfather" of this clan of very important people. John also served as high priest. Caiaphas (the current High Priest) will forever go down in history for being the High Priest that put into works to Crucify Christ and then to attack and threaten his church. He has been long dead but at the time he was the longest tenured High Priest in History. Then it records ...

Acts 3:25–26 (ESV) You are the sons of the prophets and of the covenant that God made with your fathers, saying to Abraham, ‘And in your offspring shall all the families of the earth be blessed.’ 26 God, having raised up his servant, sent him to you first, to bless you by turning every one of you from your wickedness.” This is now the second sermon in the Book of Acts. It's an amazing study to look at what the Apostles and disciples talked about in their sermons throughout this book. For all our "smart ideas" and "clever wisdom" of how to get people to our churches and get them to love Jesus, there is no beating the sermons of Peter and others in these pages. The Bible is clear from the very first page, God makes it all things happen by His spoken Word. God's actions are tied up in God's speaking. That is why proclaiming Christ and Him Crucified is the power to change a heart, a family, a community, a town and ultimately a nation and the wor...

Acts 2:1–5 (ESV) When the day of Pentecost arrived, they were all together in one place. 2 And suddenly there came from heaven a sound like a mighty rushing wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. 3 And divided tongues as of fire appeared to them and rested on each one of them. 4 And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance. Acts 2:11 (ESV) -we hear them telling in our own tongues the mighty works of God.” Historically, the day of Pentecost brought more pilgrims to Jerusalem than even Passover did. This may be because of the good weather. But how incredible that God would send the Spirit on the festival where more people showed up? On the day of Pentecost, the priest would take oil, mix it with flour, bake it and present two loaves of bread to the Lord. Think of it this way, all those grains of wheat were crushed down into flour and the individual flour particles were brought togeth...

Taking chances or discerning the Spirit? Acts 1:21 (ESV) So one of the men who have accompanied us during tall the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us, 22 beginning from the baptism of John until the day when he was taken up from us—one of these men must become with us a witness to his resurrection.” 23 And they put forward two, Joseph called Barsabbas, who was also called zJustus, and Matthias. 24 And they prayed and said, “You, Lord, who know the hearts of all, show which one of these two you have chosen 25 to take the place in this ministry and apostleship from which Judas turned aside to go to his own place.” 26 And they cast lots for them, and the lot fell on Matthias, and he was numbered with the eleven apostles. The last vote taken, the last lot cast in the book of Acts is in the first chapter. The 11 disciples need a 12th and they bring two men forward, say a short prayer for God's help, and the lot falls to a man named Matthias.  And we never hear from h...

We all love the last chapter of Ephesians. The war is on and we are to fight with the weapons God gives, putting on the whole armor of God. But it's more than spiritual sentimentality or something to explore. The fight is real and important beyond what we understand. Paul does something interesting in this pericope. He instills alarm and courage at the same time. Alarm in that our enemy is real and must be taken seriously... Ephesians 6:12 (ESV) For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. Our enemies are real!  They are numerous, ordered, and all over. They are cosmic powers , they are forces of evil, they are rulers and they are authorities . These are serious titles to alert the Christian to serious attention. You are at war. And every step in the wrong direction is a step toward spiritual collapse and ...

The most vilified word in the Bible for 21st century Americans? Here it is... black and white, plain english, Ephesians 5:21 (ESV) submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ . Oh how we hate to submit to anybody. Hey, our country was founded on sticking it to the authorities and tossing our tea into the sea. No one's going to tell us what to do. But herein lies the American Church's greatest opportunity to shine bright. Actually submitting to one another would do two things: 1. It would be obedience to God. 2. It would stick out like a sore thumb in a culture fixated on self-actualization, not self-humiliation. Funny thing is, Paul doesn't just say "Submit to one another." No! He adds, "out of reverence for Christ." he knows first hand that harm done to a Christian is harm done to Christ. What did Jesus ask him on the road to Damascus where he was going to persecute believers? "Saul, Saul, why do you persecute ME?" Jesus qu...

There are four things you need to know about the verb in Ephesians 5:18 Ephesians 5:18 (ESV) And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit, "Be filled" 1. It's plural. The Holy Spirit is to be experience corporately. You must be filled in community. Most times you see the Holy Spirit come upon someone in the Old Testament, it is to an individual. Almost every time in the New Testament, it is to a group of people. Notice how the command continues in verse 19: "addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart," 2. It is in the "ever" present tense. I'm not an English professor, but here's what I mean, it could be translated, "be being filled." Always receive the Holy Spirit. Always ask God. Every day, whenever you think of it, let the Holy Spirit be filling of your body and soul. 3. It is passive. You are the...

It is not a popular sermon topic. You won't see many sermon series based on it, but it sure is important to the new life we have in Christ. It's called kindness. And we are to imitate our God with it. I always saw Ephesians 5:1 as the start of a new thought for Paul. But the Greek text (without chapters and verses of course) could go either way. Looking at it like this may help: Ephesians 4:29–5:1 (ESV) Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear. 30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. 31 Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. 32 Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you. 1 Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children. The Greek preposition for "therefore" could be ...

Ephesians 4:17 (ESV) Now this I say and testify in the Lord, that you must no longer walk as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their minds. The problem is not in the world. The problem is in your mind. It is also in your heart and soul, but here Paul addresses the mind. The word for "futility" can be translated "nothingness." A "what's the point" existence that lives for today and nothing more.  It's the word Paul uses when he speaks about our faith apart from the resurrection hope: 1 Corinthians 15:13 "if there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised. 14 And if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is in vain and your faith is in vain ." There's no point to the mind of an unbeliever. There is no ultimate goal. For your mind may conceive of things wonderful and beautiful, but in the end, they are all vanity and nothingness. The world is full of knowledge, but not much wisdom. Th...

We now come upon chapter 4 of Ephesians. Paul is going to move from impartation of doctrine to the implications of doctrine. The first 3 chapters of Ephesians are filled with incredible doctoral truths - promises of God to those who are in Christ Jesus. They nurture our soul, they lift our spirits, they empower our lives. But chapter 4 brings us to what we must do with what we now know. It's all summed up in the second word of the chapter: Ephesians. 4:4. (ESV) I therefore , a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, 2 with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, 3 eager to m aintain the unity of the Spirit ... There's an old preachers joke that goes like this. Whenever you see the word "therefore" in scripture you have to ask yourself "what is it there for?" What is doctrine there for? Doctrine is wonderful and empowering, true and bea...

How are we going to stand in the midst of a society increasingly at odds with the ways of our God? Ephesians 3:14 (ESV) For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, 15 from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named, 16 that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being, 17 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love, 18 may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, 19 and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. Can you see Paul on his face in a roman prison calling out to God? What a picture of faith and what an example for us all. The scripture records a lot of prayers. But the most heartfelt prayers are those uttered when one is bowed before God. It is utter desperation and hopelessness apart from God's i...

You know the hardest thing about preaching to Americans? Is the fact that most of us are pretty decent people. That the system of America, for the most part, rewards you for being upright and moral and kind and compassionate and helpful to other people. And that's what makes it so hard to preach the gospel to Americans. Because most Americans believe they are good enough for God. And nothing could be further from the truth. Paul writes to the Ephesians in chapter 2 to remind them of their status before Christ saves them. He says: Ephesians 2:1-3 (ESV)   And you were dead in the trespasses and sins 2 in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience— 3 among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind.  You were "dead ...

We would have spent our vacation in a cramped hotel room. Three days and four nights in Vermont, just the two of us. And we would have enjoyed our accommodations fairly well as they were a gift from someone else. Never look a gift horse in the mouth! But thanks to a broken air-conditioner I had to talk to the front desk. While mentioning that the first attempt at fixing it didn't work, I brought up the fact that we were expecting a bit more than a simple hotel room when the reservation said, "Suite". The attendant informed me that our key opened the room next door to ours as well! So we got another two-room Suite with a working air conditioner and spent our vacation according to a reality we almost missed. Too many Christians live like we were about to that weekend in September. Cramped in a confining space of limits. This is the reason Paul writes Ephesians. For the first three chapters he proclaims the wonderful realities of a new life in Christ to this wond...

Paul ends his correspondence with the Corinthians with a personal challenge of a very serious nature. Having spent almost the entire epistle defending his apostleship and gospel, he turns the tables on his hearers. 2 Corinthians 13:5–7 (ESV)  Examine yourselves, to see whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Or do you not realize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?—unless indeed you fail to meet the test! 6 I hope you will find out that we have not failed the test. 7 But we pray to God that you may not do wrong—not that we may appear to have met the test, but that you may do what is right, though we may seem to have failed. Notice the twist in Verse 6. He says he hopes, after testing themselves, they will find out that Paul is genuine! That's a serious challenge. Paul has already told these people believers have a responsibility to judge believers (1 Cor. 4-5). But now, before they go any further testing his life and ministerial qualifications, t...

When God says no to our prayers, what is our response? Paul the Apostle had experienced a first hand visit to heaven. God had done a wonderful thing for him and to him.  The Corinthians needed to hear about this since they doubted Paul's authority and Apostleship in the first place. A vision of heaven would certainly impress this crowd in love with the spectacular and supernatural... But something happened after that visit.  Paul recounts the story: 2 Corinthians 12:7 So to keep me from becoming conceited because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations, a thorn was given me in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to harass me, to keep me from becoming conceited. 8 Three times I pleaded with the Lord about this, that it should leave me. 9 But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Paul prayed and God said "no." Why? First. God says "no" because God is more concerned with our character than our comfo...

Paul the apostle was known for performing great miraculous works. He heals many, he cast out demons, he established churches, he survived beatings imprisonments and riots. The supernatural hand of God was upon him in many ways. If there was something supernatural to experience, Paul experienced it. What a great life that must've been! But that's not all that Paul got. Five times I received at the hands of the Jews the forty lashes less one. Three times I was beaten with rods. Once I was stoned. Three times I was shipwrecked; a night and a day I was adrift at sea; on frequent journeys, in danger from rivers, danger from robbers, danger from my own people, danger from Gentiles, danger in the city, danger in the wilderness, danger at sea, danger from false brothers; in toil and hardship, through many a sleepless night, in hunger and thirst, often without food, in cold and exposure. (2 Corinthians 11:24-27 ESV) This is why Paul can say that he bore in his body the...

It is interesting to me that Paul approaches the church which gave him the most trouble with such words as are found in the opening verses of 2 Corinthians 10. They doubted his ministry, they criticized his actions, they held him in contempt... This was the man who brought them the Gospel. And yet his approach is meek to this band of misfit followers so full of themselves thinking they have gone beyond him. 2 Corinthians 10:1–2 (ESV) I, Paul, myself entreat you, by the meekness and gentleness of Christ—I who am humble when face to face with you, but bold toward you when I am away!— 2 I beg of you that when I am present I may not have to show boldness with such confidence as I count on showing against some who suspect us of walking according to the flesh. Paul's name means "little." He calls on that designation here to warn the Corinthian opposition so that he may have to be bold to some troublemakers. The Judaizers were stirring up trouble in Corinth, arguing for...

2 Corinthians 9:8 (ESV)  God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work. I read somehwere, "sufficiency" here means: "adequate resources within." What a great life that would be! How does it happen? First, you learn how to sow! Because God gives to those who know how to give. I didn't say it, Paul said it under inspiration of the Holy Spirit. 2 Corinthians 9:10 (NLT)  God is the one who provides seed for the farmer and then bread to eat. In the same way, he will provide and increase your resources and then produce a great harvest of generosity in you. God gives seed to farmers . Are you a farmer or a hoarder? Are you eating the seed you should be planting or are you faithful to do what God does with what God gives? God is a giver. He gives seed. We often don't think of money this way. But Paul does. Paul is using a host of agricultural illusions for...

Lee Iacocca calls the "Bean Counters". People who handle the money for the organization. He often shared in his book how frustrating Bean Counters were to people with vision. Sometimes you need to grow even when the money is tight. The Church is known for putting to death many great soul-winning projects because of fear they won't have enough money. How foolish! I mean, who do we serve??? Meanwhile the world takes chances and risks necessary to do great things in the name of industry! Should we not to the same in the Name of Christ? Paul is sending a couple guys to collect the money for the mission to Jerusalem in 2 Corinthians 8-9. He's writing ahead to tell them who they should expect. The guys he picks to carry the money tells us a great deal about what kind of person should handle the money in the kingdom of God. 2 Corinthians 8:16–19 (ESV) But thanks be to God, who put into the heart of Titus the same earnest care I have for you. 17 For he not only a...

The first game you ever learn as a child? "Mine." See something, take it, say, "Mine." Then when someone else tries to take it away from you, scream even louder... "MINE!" Then when they still don't give it back, cry and fuss and throw a temper tantrum. Can you tell I have a toddler right now? What is it about us and our innate desire for owning and holding stuff? It's just stuff! Paul does something interesting to call upon the Corinthians to be generous. He quotes a scripture about the manna God gave the Israelites in the desert during their 40 years of wandering.  Here's the quote in context: 2 Corinthians 8:13–15 (ESV) For I do not mean that others should be eased and you burdened, but that as a matter of fairness 14 your abundance at the present time should supply their need, so that their abundance may supply your need, that there may be fairness. 15 As it is written, “Whoever gathered much had nothing left over, and whoever ...

2 Corinthians 7:9 (ESV) As it is, I rejoice, not because you were grieved, but because you were grieved into repenting. For you felt a godly grief, so that you suffered no loss through us. Paul rejoices over the Corinthian's grief. Why? What good is grief over sin if it does not produce a change of mind and a change of lifestyle? The Corinthians were rebuked by Paul and instead of simply feeling bad about their sin, they grieved and changed as a result. This is reason to rejoice! There are times to mourn, there are times to rejoice. This moment encompassed both. Because when one sinner repents, this is a joyous occasion. We need to understand why. It is because sin is so damaging, so empty, so blinding and so horrible that all heaven rejoices when we turn away from it. Get that picture in your mind in the face of temptation. The courts of heaven and the angels are watching with baited breath over that moment. Will you win? Will you lose? Do you ever watch a sporting event w...