Read passage: https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts+16.16-34

Scripture

They said to him, “Believe in the Lord Jesus and you will be saved, you and your household.”

Observation

A demonised slave girl follows Paul and his team, calling out a testimony that Paul has a message of salvation. Paul grows tired of this and commands the demon to come out of her.

With the spirit of divination gone, the slave now has lost her earning potential. Her owners have Paul and Silas dragged before the magistrates, who have them flogged and thrown into prison.

About midnight, Paul and Silas are praising God. Suddenly there is an earthquake and the prison doors are opened. Expecting the prisoners to have escaped, the gaoler is about to kill himself, but Paul tells him that they are all still in there. Paul then tells him the gospel, and his entire family is baptised.

Application

When the power of the Holy Spirit is revealed, people are forced to react one way or another. Those who are in bondage to the things of the world will react with violence, but those who are looking for salvation will eagerly receive the gospel.

It is no good preaching the Good News without prayer and without the presence of the Holy Spirit. The message is just heard as a jumble of words unless the Holy Spirit is working in the hearts of the listeners. Then their whole world is shaken and put right.

Prayer

Lord let me be a Paul, led by your Spirit, directed in all my paths and testifying powerfully to your salvation. Amen

Read passage: Acts 16.9-15

Scripture
When he had seen the vision, we immediately turned to cross over to Macedonia, being convinced that God had called us to proclaim the good news to them.

Observation
Paul and his apostolic band are travelling, but, as they attempt to go to various places, the Holy Spirit blocks them. Then Paul has a vision in the night, seeing a Macedonian man pleading with him to come to them.

The group travels to Macedonia, ending up in Philippi, a leading city in the region. On the Sabbath they go to the river bank expecting to find a gathering place for the Jews. There they find some women meeting for prayers. They share the good news with them and at least one of them, Lydia, is saved. She and her household are baptised.

Application
It is clear from the text that the Holy Spirit was determined that Paul travels to Philippi, resisting other plans that Paul has. When he goes to the place directed by the Spirit, the ministry there is fruitful.

There are many times when God allows us to make decisions based on our own wisdom and thinking. There are other times when the Lord narrows down our options until we pick the way he wants us to go.

All of our planning and deciding needs to be done in sensitivity to the Holy Spirit. The bigger the decision, the more we need to pray and listen for the still small voice.

Prayer
Help me Lord to grow in sensitivity to your voice. Amen

Reference: https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts+11:1-18

Scripture

When they heard this, they were silenced. And they praised God saying, “Then God has given even to the Gentiles the repentance that leads to life.”

Observation

Following Peter’s experience at Caesarea, where Gentiles had received the gospel and the Holy Spirit, some of the circumcised believers in Jerusalem criticise Peter.

Peter recounts what happened. His conclusion is that God has poured out His spirit on the Gentile believers, so who is he to stand in God’s way?

The critics are silenced and they praise God for bringing Gentiles to repentance.

Application

If God is moving who are we to stand in His way? God’s plans are often bigger than what we can see, just as the plan of salvation went way beyond the Jews.

God is not willing for anyone to be lost and so He will do what is necessary to see the gospel preached to all people. That includes people we may not approve.

When God moves, the church and its leaders must be careful not to resist Him. We want to limit God, constrain Him, tame Him. When a river overflows its banks it is uncontainable. Yet we try!

We pray for revival but want it on our terms. We ask for the Spirit to move, but become fearful when He does.

Prayer

Who am I to hinder you Lord? Help me to be open to your many-faceted works and to welcome all that you do, even when I don’t understand it.

Reference: https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts+9.1-20

Scripture

The Lord said, “Go! This man is my chosen instrument to carry my name before the Gentiles and their kings and before the people of Israel. I will show him how much he must suffer for me.”

Observation

Saul is breathing murderous threats against the followers of Jesus. He receives authority from the High Priest to go to Damascus and bring back in captivity any disciples there.

Along the road he has an encounter with Jesus and is struck blind. He goes on to Damascus and eats nothing for three days,

A believer named Ananias is told by the Lord to go to Saul and lay hands on him to restore his sight. Ananias does this, and Saul is immediately healed.

Saul then spends several days in Damascus preaching about Jesus in the synagogues.

Application

When a person has an encounter with Christ, everything is changed. No matter how opposed to God they may be, a real meeting with Christ is life-changing.

We need to pray more intensely for our unsaved friends and family members, that they will come to see Jesus face to face.

The church is good at evangelism programmes and revival meetings. But just one touch from the Lord will set a person on the path to salvation far more quickly than a dozen programmes.

Prayer

Lord please help me to pray fervently for my unsaved friends to be touched by Jesus. Amen.

Reference: https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=acts 5.27-32

Scripture

“We are witnesses of these things, and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey him.”

Observation

The apostles have been arrested but set free by an angel. They are re-arrested and brought before the Sanhedrin.

The high priest says to them that despite being ordered to remain silent, they have filled the city with their teaching.

Peter and the others reply that they must obey God rather than men. God has raised Christ whom the authorities had executed. God has exalted Him as Lord and Saviour to bring repentance and forgiveness of sins to Israel.

Application

The testimony of the apostles is simple. The authorities executed Jesus, but God raised Him up and now He gives salvation and forgiveness to all who trust in Him.

We don’t have to make witnessing complicated. We follow a risen Saviour. The Holy Spirit can bring conviction and faith. We just have to say what we have seen and experienced.

Peter says, We are witnesses of these things.” It’s not a myth or made up story- Jesus is alive and He offers eternal life to all who will make Him their king.

Prayer

Thank you Lord for the gift of salvation. Show me how to testify to my friends about your great grace. Amen.

Reference: https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=acts+10:34-48

Scripture

“We are witnesses of everything he did in the country of the Jews and in Jerusalem. They killed him by hanging him on a tree, but God raised him up on the third day and caused him to be seen.”

Observation

Peter is addressing the household of Cornelius, a God-fearing centurion. Peter shares about his vision and his realisation that God accepts people from every nation.

Jesus brought the Good News to the Jews and was crucified, but God raised Him from the dead. He was seen by many people, but not by everyone.

While Peter is talking the Holy Spirit falls on all who hear the message, and they speak in tongues. Peter then orders the new believers to be baptised.

Application

We are witnesses of these things. Every believer who has a relationship with Jesus is a witness. We have experienced the power of the Gospel and the filling of the Holy Spirit. Therefore we must testify.

The amazing fact of Easter is that Jesus was crucified for our sins and then raised up to life.

The power of God is such that He brings the dead back to life and promises eternal life to every person who acknowledges that Jesus Christ is Lord.

Prayer

Lord Jesus Christ, have mercy on me, a sinner. Make the message of Easter- death and resurrection- a living reality in me. Amen.

Scripture

Then Peter and John laid hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit.

Observation

Philip goes to Samaria and preaches the Good News. The crowds listen eagerly to the message which is backed up with great signs of healing and deliverance.

In that city, a practitioner of magic named Simon has a huge following. Many of his followers become christians and are baptised. Simon himself is saved and stays constantly at Philip’s side.

The apostles send Peter and John to investigate what is happening in Samaria. They discover that none of the converts has received the Holy Spirit, so they lay hands on them.

Application

Many christians have an incomplete experience of God. They may have received Jesus but the Holy Spirit remains a stranger to them.

It is not enough to simply ask Jesus into your heart. We need the fullness of the Holy Spirit to fulfil the calling that God has for us and to simply live out the christian life.

The Samaritans received Jesus, but until the apostles came and laid hands on them, they lacked power. Philip was doing the preaching, healing and demon removal. But after they received the Holy Spirit, the power of God was unleashed in every believer.

Prayer

Holy Spirit come and fill me. Baptise me and release your power in me. Amen.