RTW November 8
Happy And Agreeable Work
The members of the council were amazed when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, for they could see that they were ordinary men with no special training in the Scriptures. They also recognized them as men who had been with Jesus.
Acts 4:13
My Takeaways
Something Old
I love that God can use “ordinary” and “unskilled” people like me.
Something New
Ephesians 2:10 gives this assurance, For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. (NIV)
Good is defined as agreeable, happy, and distinguished.
Something to Do
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Wendy, your lesson really hit home for me today. “I wish I could do that” is a phrase I have said or thought for many years-my entire life actually. And now God has awakened a dream and a passion in my heart that lines up so perfectly with my gift of encouragement, but it doesn’t make sense to even attempt it at my age (54yo). And yet here I am doing it anyway. And ordinary woman with no special training. I am done listening to the lies that I can’t do it or I don’t have what it takes.
Your lesson lines up with the section that spoke to me this morning as the crippled bigger looked too Peter and John “expecting some money “ and what he got was so much more. I think the limitations I place on even my own expectations keep me at the gate when God wants me to enter the temple.
Acts 3:12 says that Peter saw an opportunity and then he preached the gospel with boldness. In Acts 4:8 it says he was filled with the holy spirit when speaking to the authorities. Am I looking for opportunities to share the gospel? When I see an opportunity so I speak out in boldness knowing the holy spiritual will give me the words and do the work in that persons heart? I am so timid at sharing the gospel or in putting Christ into everyday conversations. I want to be bold for Him and let everyday conversations point others to Him. God give me courage today to speak of you and look for opportunities to share the gospel. Help me trust that your Holy Spirit lives in me and will speak for me when I don’t know what to say.
Right on hange20!
My Takeaways: Seize the moments
Something Old: As I read today I noticed how Peter, John, and the other apostles took advantage of the great gift God left them-the coming of the Holy Spirit, they were healing people and preaching the Gospel in whichever language was needed to bring thousands of people to Christ. The early Church was growing quickly and “each day the Lord added to their group those who were being saved” (Acts 2:47). The apostles never let an opportunity to spread the gospel passed them by. God is always arranging opportunities for me. I need to be alert and ready like the apostles were . Using every situation good or bad to glorify God and spread the Good News. When “all of the believers were united and lifting their voices in prayer” (4:24), one of the things they prayed for was boldness (v.29-31). The enemy wants me to remain silent, to ignore open doors, to squelch the Spirit’s prompting, or to wait for another time. BUT I must be faithful to see and take advantage of all opportunities and be bold!
Something New: Acts 5, Ananias and Sapohira sin, spoke volumes to me today. The sin wasn’t what percentage they were or weren’t giving – but that they were acting as if they were giving 100%, which was a lie. In verse 3 I read – “Then Peter said, “Ananias, how is it that Satan has so filled your heart that you have lied to the Holy Spirit and have kept for yourself some of the money you received for the land?”” Satan was active in the hearts of men and women in the early church just as he is still on the loose today. He likes to pretend that the small things don’t matter. And deceive me into doing wrong. I often think myself as so good just because I haven’t murdered, stolen anything, been unfaithful in my marriage etc. But all sins start small. I don’t think anyone wakes up one morning and says I think I’ll go murder someone or I wonder whose spouse I can steal today. “It’s a slow fade people don’t crumble in a day,” as the song goes. After all, Adam and Eve did not commit adultery and did not murder–they merely ate a piece of fruit that God had told them not to eat. This may seem only a small sin, but it is a sin that has made all the difference. Ananias and Sapohira reminded me today that all sins are big, because all sins separated me from God!
Something To Do: Pray daily for God to “lead me not into temptation, but deliver me from evil and allow me to use and see the opportunities he has given me to spread the gospel to those around me .