Day 9 - 29 Day Challenge

God of Surprises

If you were looking for a top line ambassador, someone who would represent you before kings. (v 15). Who would you choose? More to the point who would be the most unlikely candidate from those we have been introduced to so far in the book of acts. Surely one of the Apostles. Not God!

He chooses the person that seems to have been most against Him. Saul seems to have been on a personal mission to bring disaster to this new movement called the Way. Yet God springs a surprise on the early church by choosing their number one enemy to take the church forward to new heights.

Reading the story with hindsight looses some of its risk. We know now that Saul who became Paul was a mainstay of the church, planting churches, developing doctrine and writing most of what we now know as the New Testament. Back at the start of the story taking a risk on this man was opening yourself to death.

People like Ananias and Barnabas are heroes in church history. Without their attentiveness to God, their willingness to trust and the audacity to take a risk, who knows what would have happened to this great man of God.

My Prayer

Help me God never to write anybody off from your grace. You can reach anyone and everyone even people I think are God haters. Your life transforming power can change any heart. Help me to be attentive to your voice and boldness to take risks

Day 8 - 28 Day Challenge

Persecution and power - Acts 8

The martyrdom of Stephen seemed to be a catalyst for more and more persecution of the church. Stephen was the first but it was only the opening to a flood.

Things were really changing. The church up to this point seemed to be one continuous story of growth and development. Now it was entering a dangerous and difficult time, one which the early church met head on.

Someone once said that being in the will of God was the safest place to be. That did no seem to apply to the early church. Dangerous, adventurous, heartbreaking and exciting may be some better adjectives.

The death of this great man Stephen really hit the church hard. So much so that we are told that it was a solemn occasion with not a dry eye in the house. God has never promised to take away the hardship but he did promise to be with us through it.

Sure there were tears in the early church. They faced difficulty and danger the like that I can only imagine but nothing would stop them.

v 4 - Forced to leave home base, the followers of Jesus all became missionaries. Wherever they were scattered, they preached the Message about Jesus.

My prayer

Thank you Father that you are always with me. You have promised to be with me at all times both the good and the bad. Help me never to forget that when things are easy and when things are hard. Help me always to listen to what you are saying and use every circumstance for your plan.

What if ... we met together regularly

Just finishing up another great Sunday.

We are in our second week of our series leading up to Easter called What if?

What is what happened in the early church happened in our church and city today.

This week Mark looked at What if ... we met together. One of the highlights for me was when he talked about the accountability of meeting with other believers especially outside our larger Sunday gatherings. We tend to put breaking of bread or communion into our larger Sunday gathering. It seems that at least in the early church in Jerusalem this happened more in homes.

Celebrating communion in your home with your family, friends and social network is actually much more difficult that in a large Sunday gathering. You can't hide in front of these people who know you so well. You just have to be real. With one of the main thrusts of communion being ensuring your relationships are right what better place to do it.

Why wait for Sunday?

Day 7 - 28 Day Challenge

A Squandered Inheritance

In Chapter 7 we have an incredible account of the martyrdom of Stephen. The man chosen to be a table servant.

Once again I am struck by the quality of this man. Here we see the first martyr of the church. It was not one of the Apostles it was a guy who served tables in the church. But what credentials he had, he was honest, was respected, full of power, he performed miracles. Most importantly he was a man full of the Holy Spirit. Time and again this week we have read over and over in the first 7 chapters of Acts that the early Christians were full of the Holy Spirit.

The verse that struck me most was v 53. The Jews had God's law handed to them gift wrapped and they squandered it.

What an indictment to squander the gift of God. They had it all but they wasted it.

My Prayer

God I open myself again today to your Holy Spirit. Fill my life again today so I can live a life of boldness totally sold out for you. I realise I need more of you in my life for me to be the person I want to be. You have given me so many gifts to help me, a rich church heritage, your word, a great family and great friends. Help me not to get distracted and live out your promises.