sleep.

“On the very night when Herod was about to bring him forward, Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains, and guards in front of the door were watching over the prison.” Acts 12:6

“I slept like a baby.” People use this phrase to describe a good night's sleep. When babies do sleep, it's sound and peaceful. A lot of little kids are this way. The have no worries, so they don't have very many sleepless nights.

It would seem as if Peter had this same mindset. He slept, as if he has no worries or fears. However, he was sleeping between tow soldiers, bound in chains, and guarded by more soldiers outside the door. In addition, Herod was seeking to kill him.

Jesus said, “Truly I say to you, unless you are converted and become like children, you will not enter the kingdom of Heaven.” (Matthew 18:3). I believe that Peter understood this and lived it out. He had a childlike faith, in which He trusted His heavenly Father to take care of him. He truly had no worries or fears, for to him, like the apostle Paul, to live was Christ and to die was gain. He knew that all things work together for good to those who love God, and he did not consider his present sufferings worthy to be compared to the glory that was to be revealed to him. His sleep was sweet and sound, full of peaceful assurance.

How can we have this same peace and hope in fearful situations and trials? Paul wrote, “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God which surpasses all comprehension will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:6-7).

I need to constantly remember this, and apply it in my life. When I am worried or fearful, I can sleep soundly, wrapped in the peace of God. This will be especially important to remember on the mission field. Six months in a foreign country being a light for Christ will be a lot harder than I know. When I face trials and hardship, I need to let my requests be made known to God and trust in His peace. My Father knows what I need, and He is always faithful to His children.

Proverbs 3:24-26

“When you lie down, you will not be afraid; When you lie down, your sleep will be sweet. Do not be afraid of sudden fear, Nor of the onslaught of the wicked when it comes; For the LORD will be your confidence And will keep your foot from being caught.”

August 9, 2011

musical chairs.

“So Peter was kept in the prison, but prayer for him was being made fervently by the church to God.” Acts 12:5

Most of us have played a game of musical chairs. The rules are pretty basic: music plays, and everyone walks or dances in a circle around the chairs. When the music stops, everyone must sit in a seat. The one without a chair is out, and can't move forward to the next round.

Usually, this game is pretty competitive. As soon as the music stops, everyone is spurred to action. People are fighting for a chair, pushing and shoving those around them. They're desperate for a seat, so that they won't get out.

In Acts 12, Peter was imprisoned, and the Church began to pray fervently on his behalf. Peter's state spurred them to action. They were desperate enough to see things change, so they fought in prayer, and their prayers significantly affected the situation.

If only the Church today would have the same faith and fervency in prayer! Too often we are still dancing around the chairs in silence instead of desperately fighting for a seat. However, we have an active enemy who is seeking to devour us, and that alone should spur us to action.

Are we desperate enough to see circumstances change? Do we deeply desire the hand of God to move? If so, then we should be diligent and earnest in prayer.

I myself am often lacking fervor in my prayers. I need to be more devoted to constant prayer and petition on behalf of my brothers and sisters, as the early Church was on behalf of Peter. As Samuel said, “...far be it from me that I should sin against the LORD in ceasing to pray for you...” (1 Samuel 12:23). For where there is little prayer, there is little power.

Ephesians 6:18

“With all prayer and petition pray at all times in the Spirit, and with this in view, be on the alert with all perseverance and petition for all the saints,”

context.

“Then Philip opened his mouth, and beginning from this Scripture he preached Jesus to him.” Acts 8:35

When I was little, chapter books confused me. I thought that each one was an individual story. When I picked one up, I would just open to a random chapter and start reading. They hardly made any sense to me. It wasn't until later that I realized chapters should be read in order, from beginning to end.

This is common knowledge and perceived as a simple truth to most. Why then do we often apply the same concept when we read out Bibles? We open to a random chapter that seems appealing to us, and begin reading there. In doing so, we miss the deeper meaning that is to be found.

When we open the Word, we obviously cannot read it from beginning to end every time. However, we must read with the full context in mind.

Philip used the Old Testament too tell the eunuch about Jesus. Yet we so often skip over most of it when we study the Word. We don't spend time in Leviticus because it's tedious, we ignore the minor prophets, and we skim Genesis because we've heard the Creation story so many times. At the very least, we'll read Psalms or Proverbs because they're short and well-known.

Our responsibility as Christians is to point people to Jesus. If we truly understood how deeply Christ is intertwined and rooted in all of Scripture, then we would be excited to really study the Old Testament!

I need to remember to read the Bible in its full context, so that I may have a deeper understanding and be better equipped to show others Christ through the Scriptures.

John 1:1,14

“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God... And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we saw His glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth.”

sovereignty.

“The eunuch answered Philip and said, 'Please tell me, of whom does the prophet say this? Of himself or of someone else?'” Acts 8:34

The eunuch was reading a prophetic passage from Isaiah 53, and he asked Philip about it. There was only one obvious answer: Jesus.

This is an amazing example of the sovereignty of God. The eunuch was passing by reading Isaiah just in time for Philip to be prompted by the Holy Spirit to join the chariot. God set everything up so that he may be led to Jesus.

God is still sovereign, and I need to be looking for these divine appointments. Lord, open my eyes to see them and speak to my heart when you want me to act. Send me, I'll go.

1 Corinthians 9:16

“For if I preach the gospel, I have nothing to boast of, for I am under compulsion; for woe to me if I do not preach the gospel.”

help.

“And he said, 'Well how could I, unless someone guides me?' And he invited Philip to come up and sit with him.” Acts 8:31

This week, I've had to learn to let people help me. I hurt my ankle pretty badly and it's really painful, so I haven't been able to do a lot on my own. I've had to ask other people to help me walk, carry my books, get me food, hand me things, and wash my hair. Fortunately, I have been extremely blessed with an amazing family here at Potter's Field Ranch that has willingly helped me all week.

The eunuch in Acts 8 asked Philip to help him understand the Scriptures. As a result, Philip was able to be a blessing and lead him to Jesus.

This week, I have realized that I need to be more willing to ask for help when needed. Through this verse, God also showed me that I should be even more willing to ask for help when I don't understand the Scriptures or something about Him. I have not because I ask not.

James 1:5

“But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him.”

run.

“Philip ran up and heard him reading Isaiah the prophet, and said, 'Do you understand what you are reading?'” Acts 8:30

Americans today are professional procrastinators. In the morning, we repeatedly press the snooze button to delay waking up. We wait until the last possible second to accomplish an undesirable task, such as homework or a work project. We watch dust collect on our furniture as we say to ourselves, “Oh, we'll clean it later.”

When we were younger, our parents instructed us to do certain things. When asked to clean our room, take out the trash, or anything else, the common response was, “In a minute!” or “I'll do it later!”

I've heart it said that “delayed obedience is disobedience”. This is just as much true in our responses to our earthly parents as It is when we are instructed by out Father in Heaven. Philip was prompted by the Holy Spirit to go up and join the eunuch's chariot, and he did not hesitate. Verse 30 tells us that Philip ran up to it.

If only the Church today would have his same mindset! Unfortunately, our procrastination in the trivial things has seeped into the eternal. When we know we should invite our neighbor to church, intercede, tithe, ask someone for forgiveness, get involved in ministry, or repent and stop doing something, we hesitate and put it off for later. We make excuses and give a million reasons why now is not a good time.

When we do this, we are essentially telling God that what we “need” to do is more important than what He wants to accomplish through us. We're saying, “Lord, I know that you're all-knowing, all-powerful, and the Creator of the universe, but I have so much to do today. I trust you, and I know that you have never been wrong before, but I just think you're a little off on this one. Maybe later God.” Oh how ridiculous this sounds! Delayed obedience truly is disobedience.

We call Him Lord, but we do not do what He says. We say we love Him, but we hesitate to obey.

When God calls me, I need to be quick to respond. I want to run after His commands and calling as Philip did. I will no longer stand in hesitation and watch the chariots race by. For if I do, I could miss an opportunity to make an eternal difference.

1 Peter 4:1-2

“Therefore, since Christ has suffered death in the flesh, arm yourselves also with the same purpose, because he who has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin, so as to live the rest of the time in the flesh no longer for the lusts of men, but for the will of God.”

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k3Fnaj8QNuk

August 2, 2011

pearls.

“Then the Spirit said to Philip, 'Go up and join this chariot.'” Acts 8:29

This verse made me think about a story that I was recently reminded of.

Once there was a little girl, who always wore a string of plastic pearls around her neck. Even though they were fake, they were her most treasured possession. She never left home without them. One day, her father was putting her to sleep, when he asked her to give him her plastic pearls. She looked very troubled, and shook her head. He continued to do this every day, until finally his daughter asked him, “Daddy why? Don't you love me? Why do you want to take my pearls away from me?” To this he responded, “My darling daughter, you know that I love you. Why don't you trust me?” The little girl burst into sobs. She wanted to trust her father, but her plastic pearls were just far too precious. Finally, she looked up at him through teary eyes, took off her pearls, and handed them to her dad. She then cried herself to sleep.

The next morning when she woke up, the first person she saw was her father. He was standing outside of her room waiting for her, with a string of beautiful, authentic and real pearls in his hand. He looked at his little girl and said, “If you only had trusted me all along, you would have known that I had something far better for you. I love you more than you know.” She smiled, hugged her father, and he put the pearls around her neck.

At first, I wasn't sure why this story came to mind when I read the passage in Acts 8. However, as I looked at the words in verse 29, it became so clear.

The Spirit said to Philip, “Go! Get up!” God could have put a divine roadblock up to stoop the chariot for him. Instead, He told Philip to get up and go.

The Father in the story could have simply given his daughter the real pearls. However, he wanted his little girl to trust him and act.

Our God is the same today. We like to have everything lined up, and ask Him to do it for us. Yet our Father calls us to action. He knows the greater joy that lies ahead, whether it is the salvation of a eunuch of priceless pearls.

How often do I wait for God to line everything up before I go? Why do I wait for the chariot to stop instead of running after it? How many plastic treasures am I clinging to, instead of the handing them over to my Father?

I need to go where the Spirit leads. I will run after my Jesus, seeking the lost for His glory. I will cling to the cross, and let all else go.

When nothing makes sense, I will look to my Father and trust, knowing that a greater joy lies ahead.

Hebrews 12:1-2

“Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, keeping our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross...”

August 1, 2011