Helping Others

 N.T.#852 "Helping Others"

August 12, 2026 

Acts 11-Part 2

LET IT GLOW

We are going to help a sister church this Saturday. A small group of us are helping pain and clean up a church and parsonage that had been closed for about a year. My brother in law is taking over as pastor. They have gone from the attendance of 9 to 27 so far. It is a country church in need of help. The people are there in the area, waiting for this to happen. The Lord is blessing the work. Today's lesson is a similar situation.

Barnabus and Saul stayed in Antioch for a full year, teaching the new believers. There was a famine in the region, a drought. The church at Antioch assisted the church in Jerusalem. They gave generously to care for the needs of others. Those two delivered help.

Each person should do as he has decided in his heart-not reluctantly or out of necessity, for God loves a cheerful giver. (2 Cor. 9:7)

Do we give to the needy?

LET IT GROW

Is the Lord preparing you for some kind of ministry?

Here we read of Gentile believers in Antioch providing loving support to Jewish believers in need. Prejudices were overcome. 

How do we react with Christians of another race?

LET IT GO

Open our eyes, Lord Jesus, to see the needs of others. 

Help us to help others for Your glory.

On a Mission

 N.T.#851 "On a Mission"

August 11, 2026 

Acts 11

LET IT GLOW 

Believers in Jesus Christ come from every tongue, tribe, nation, race, and gender. We live, work, and worship together under His banner, not our own. (Tony Evans)

Back at Jerusalem, they were waiting for Peter to arrive. Both believers and unbelievers were there. So Peter explained in detail his heavenly vision, Cornelius' conversion, and the new Gentile believers. Racial divisions stand in God's way and oppose the truth of the Gospel. (Gal. 2) Christ is Lord of all, both Gentiles and Jews. 

LET IT GROW

God's mission for the church is a worldwide one. After Stephen was stoned to death, believers scattered to Phoenicia, Cyprus, and Antioch. Jesus was preached and many turned to the Lord. (verses 19-21)

When the church at Jerusalem heard about this, they sent Barnabas to Antioch. He was a Jew from Cyprus sent to the Jews to witness to them. Many Gentiles had been saved by the grace of God. Barnabas was glad and encouraged them. He then went to Tarsus to seek Saul. They both went to Antioch, staying a whole year, teaching the people. 

A half million people lived there, including retired Roman officials. Commercial and political power was at Antioch. It was 300 miles from Jerusalem.

And the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch. (verse 26)

LET IT GO

Use us as Your missionaries today.

Fill us with Your Word and love.

Do You Believe?

N.T.#850 "Do You Believe?"

August 10, 2026

Acts 10-Part 2

LET IT GLOW 

Do you have questions about God, the Word, life? So did a man in our lesson today. Read on to find how he got answers.

This man, Cornelus, was praying and fasting and the angel of the Lord appeared to him. He was told to send for Peter in Joppa. He was a Gentile, a centurion, and a God-fearing man who gave alms and prayers to God. Four days later, Peter arrives and Cornelius tells him what transpired.

What was Peter's message?

• God is no respecter of persons. (Respecter means one exhibiting partiality.) (verse 34)
• Every nation that fears God and works righteousness is accepted with God. (verse 35)
• God wants preaching of peace by Jesus Christ (He is Lord of all.). (verse 36)
• Jesus was filled with the Holy Spirit and power from God, went about doing good and healing, for God was with Him. (verse 38)
• Peter was a witness of what Jesus did. The Jews slew and hung Jesus on a tree. (verse 39)
• God raised Jesus up on the third day and showed Him to others. (verse 40)
• He appeared only to certain ones chosen by God. The disciples ate and drank with the Risen Jesus. (verse 41)
• They preach and testify that God will be the Judge of quick (lively) and dead. (verse 42)
• That through His name (Jesus) whosoever believeth in Him shall receive remission of sins. (verse 43)

Friend, have you ever asked Jesus to forgive you of your sins and recognized He is the only Savior, Son of God?

LET IT GROW 

Peter was saying that God does not play favorites, Anyone from any nation may be saved, all on the same basis of faith. Gentiles are now acceptable, by the grace of God. Gentiles and Jews come to God the same way-believing in Jesus Christ, so both can be saved, the whosoever.

A one-time-only occurrence happened as the Holy Spirit fell on those believing Gentiles and they spoke in tongues. Those believers were baptized in Jesus' name. (verse 48)

LET IT GO 

Lord Jesus, help those who read this to believe in You as Savior. 

Jesus is alive! 

Help us share Your death, burial, and resurrection today.

What a Day For God to Work!

 N.T. #850 "What a Day For God to Work!"

August 7, 2026

Acts 10

LET IT GLOW

It was about ten years after Pentecost. It was time to go to the lost Gentiles with the Gospel. God had opened the door of faith to the Gentiles and bring them into His family. 

Warren W. Wiersbe's Bible Exposition Commentary gives us for acts to this wonderful drama:

1. Preparation
2. Explanation
3. Proclamation
4. Vindication.

Before God saved the Gentiles, He prepared Peter to bring the message and Cornelius to hear the message. 

Who was Cornelius? 

• He was a God-fearing Gentile and a Roman centurion.
• He gave charitably to the Jews.
• He prayed to God.
• He had a vision of an angel telling him to send for Peter in Joppa. (verses 3-6)
• He obeyed by sending his servants to bring Peter to him. (30 miles away)

It was probably just an ordinary day for Cornelius. Yet, God was about to do something extraordinary in his life. The emptiness Cornelius felt in his life was about to change. 

LET IT GROW

Meanwhile, Peter was on his roof praying at noon. Daily, he got alone with God three times a day to pray. This particular time Peter had a vision from God:

A large sheet was lowered from heaven with all kinds of animals in it that were unclean for Jews to eat. Peter was told to kill and eat those animals. Peter was hesitant because he had never eaten anything unclean to a Jew. 

What God hath cleansed, that call not thou common. (verse 15)

This vision was seen 3 times for Peter to understand. In the meantime, men were at Peter's gate to see him. The Lord convinced Peter He had sent them. Lodging them, the next day Peter and the men went to Cornelius at Caesarea. 

Peter had to overcome prejudices the Jews had for Gentiles. Cornelius fell down to worship Peter, but Peter declared he was only a man, for him to stand up. The two talked together. 

God had showed Peter that he should not call any man common or unclean. (verse 28)

The people were there before Peter ready to hear what God told Peter. 

God is no respecter of persons. But in every nation he that feareth Him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him. 

What does that mean? Anyone from any nation may be saved, all on the same basis of faith. It is God's grace for us all.

Peter preached Jesus as the only way to obtain forgiveness of our sins by Holy God. Jesus, the Son of God, died, was buried, and rose from the dead, a perfect sacrifice for our sins. Many believed in Jesus and were baptized. 

LET IT GO

Help us overcome our prejudices, Lord.

Use us in kingdom work to share salvation in Jesus is for all who believe.

Peter is Ministering

N.T.#849 "Peter is Ministering"

August 6, 2026

Acts 9-Part 5

LET IT GLOW 

Luke turns from Saul's ministry to Peter's ministry to the Gentiles. Peter grew up hauling nets on the Sea of Galilee, married, perhaps raised a little family in the fishing village of Bethsaida. Then he met Jesus. Not long after that, he gave up his stake in what might have been a busting-at-the-seams fishing company to follow the Messiah. He was one of the disciples that spoke quickly, acted without thinking, committed himself impulsively and led with unflinching pride. Peter was the one who declared he would not fall away from Jesus, yet denied Him 3 times Peter was the one who first suffered for his faith, beaten with John in the temple, but he went back to preaching again and won 5,000 to faith in Jesus. He became the man through whom God worked some of the greatest miracles of the apostolic era. (Swindoll)

Peter went to the city of Lydda. One of the believers was bedridden for 8 years. Someone had to feed the man, clean him up, dress him, move him, every day for 8 long years. Peter commanded the man to get up and make his bed, for Jesus makes him whole. He did. This miracle caused many in the city and surrounding area to turn to the Lord. (verses 32-35)

LET IT GROW 

Then Peter went to Joppa, the town where Jonah had run from centuries earlier. That was where Tabitha, called Dorcas, a believing woman who sewed clothing, died. Peter prayed over her and Jesus raised her up. Many in Joppa believed in Jesus.

Swindoll says where there is authentic miraculous work, the Lord alone is glorified, no showmanship, unbeliever are convinced to believe, and Biblical truth is validated. 

Friend, have you asked Jesus into your hear to be your Savior, repented of your sins?

LET IT GO

Help us deny ourself, take up our cross, and follow You, Jessus.

On The Road

N.T.#848 "On The Road"

August 5, 2026

Acts 9-Part 4

LET IT GLOW 

Have you traveled to share the Gospel of Jesus? We have made several foreign trips, with many being saved. Saul did the same. Read on to find out more of his life as a Christian.

Saul hit the ground with both feet preaching Jesus. He was on the road for a lifetime of mission work. He disputed against the Grecians and they sought to kill him. He was commissioned to take the Gospel to the Gentiles. (9:15) Saul went to Tarsus, his hometown. Many believed. 

We won't read of Saul until 11:25. Barnabas went to Tarsus to find Saul. They went to the church at Antioch and ministered there, That took place 7 years after Saul left Jerusalem and about 10 years after his conversion. Saul may have used Tarsus as his headquarters for taking the Gospel to the Gentiles in the part of the Roman Empire. He ministered in the regions of Suria and Cilicia (Gal. 1:21) and established churches there (Acts 15:41). 

Saul, later Paul, suffered for the Gospel-1 beating by Romans and 5 Jewish beatings are recorded in Acts or the epistles. Luke tells of one shipwreck he went through.

[Resource: The Bible Exposition Commentary by Warren W. Wiersbe]

"It is doubtful whether God can bless a man greatly until He has hurt him deeply." (A.W.Tozer)

"When God wants to do an impossible task, He takes an impossible man and crushes him," (Alan Redpath)

LET IT GROW 

It was a time of growth for the churches-spiritually and numerically. The door of faith had been opened to the Jews (Acts 2), Samaritans (Acts 8), and soon the Gentiles (Acts 10).

Peter returns on the scene as Saul moved off. God changes His workmen, but His work goes on. 

Our part is to surrender our wills to His will, to abandon our ways for His ways. (Swindoll)

LET IT GO 

Only Jesus paid the price for me.

Only His love could set me free.

Nobody else can open prison doors-just Jesus and nothing more.

Early Years of Saul

 N.T.#847 "Early Years of Saul"

August 4, 2026 

Acts 9-Part 3

LET IT GLOW

After Ssaul received his eyesight, Saul visited Arabia for about 3 years. The Lord instructed him to get alone so He could teach Saul His Word. Maybe it was then that he experienced perils of robbers and perils in the wilderness. (2 Cor. 11:26) Saul may have done some evangelizing while in Arabia. He messages came directly from the Lord Jesus. (Gal. 1:10-24)

Saul preached Christ as the Son of God, the Mesiah and deity, in the synagogues in Damascus.  The people were amazed that Saul changed from persecuting Christians to preaching Jesus. Those Damascus Jews could not believe their ears or eyes. After many days, the Jews took counsel to kill Saul, watching the gates day and night to kill him. 

LET IT GROW

Saul would suffer many things for the cause of Christ. (verse 16)

The disciples at Damascus let Saul down by the wall in a basket. 

The disciples in Jerusalem were afraid of Saul and believed he was not a disciple. (verse 26) Barnabas took Saul to the disciples of Jesus, declaring he:

• had seen the Lord Jesus,
• spoke to Jesus,
• and boldly preached Jesus in Damascus.

Saul was converted to a believer, Barnabas shared. He went in and out of Jerusalem. (verse 28)

What can we learn from Saul's experience?

God can use even the most obscure saint.

We should never be afraid to obey God's will.

God's works are always balanced. 

We must never underestimate the value of one person brought to Christ. (Warren W. Wiersbe)

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LET IT GO

Keep us humble before You, Jesus.

Use us in kingdom work.

Bless those who are faithful.

Save the lost.