Hospitality

Acts 16
And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God:
and the prisoners heard them.   Acts 16:25


Background:
Chapters 16-19 contain as many as eight years of ministry summarized in
these few chapters, which tell of Paul's work in many of the European cities
of the empire. Luke joins Paul, Silas, and Timothy on the missionary team.
(from Nelson's Illustrated Bible Handbook)

In Charles Swindoll's book Paul: A Man of Grace and Grit"  he says:

A man from Macedonia had said,"Come over and help us." God had in
mind a seller of purple, an exploited slave girl, and a rugged, brutal Roman
jailer. When you travel as God would have you travel, like Paul, you're
sensitive  to doors that open and at peace with doors that close.

These three were the first members of the church at Philippi, which met at
Lydia's home. This church was founded on Paul's second missionary journey.
The Holy Spirit sent Paul to Philippi where it became the entrance of the
gospel into Europe.
Philippi was a place where businessmen and salesmen travelled
to and from all over the world.

LET IT GLOW

Over the last thirty years, my family has had many revival preachers stay
in our home. Sure it was extra work-extensive cleaning, more laundry, and
special meals, but the blessings and benefits outweighed the work.
A woman in the Bible opened her home, also.

The Preacher's outline & Sermon Bible  states:

Lydia was a professional woman. She was a seller of purple fabric. Purple
fabrics were in great demand in the Roman world. Purple was used on the
toga or outer garments by the royalty of Rome. Therefore, as in every society,
even the lower classes desired what the upper class had.
Lydia was apparently very wealthy. Her home and financial means were large
enough to accommodate not only the mission party and a household, but the
church itself. (verse 15, 40) Note also that her hometown was Thyatira. She
apparently had business establishments and homes in both places. Perhaps
Thyatira, a flourishing city known for its purple dyes and cloth, was her
manufacturing and shipping headquarters, and Philippi was her distribution
center.

The mission team stayed at Lydia's house. She was very hospitable, don't
you think? Four house guests would make quite a difference for us, but to her.

A booklet by Agape Ministries, called Let's Practice Hospitality, says:
The dictionary defines it a "behaving in a kind and generous manner toward
guests-expressing welcome, generosity."
In the same booklet, Jackie Cave said,"Hospitality begins in the home by daily
practice with the family. Our family is a gift from God to us. The one most
deserving of our kindest hospitality is our own dear husband. No effort is too
much trouble to make sure he understand just how grateful we are that God
gave us him."
Also, Mrs. Aloha Broome says she has a plaque in her home that states "Let
all guests be received as Christ."

Some scriptures on this subject include: 1Peter 4:9, Romans 12:13,
1 Timothy 6:17-19, Titus 1:8.


LET IT GROW

Why were Paul and Silas in a dark, smelly dungeon? The had cast out a
demon from a slave girl. She had been used to make money for her owners by
telling the future. Now that she was delivered and was a Christian, her owners
could not make money from her services. (Of course, it was God's way of
putting them in contact with the Roman jailer who needed to be saved.)

What were these two doing at midnight? They were praying and praising
God. Did I say they were in a dungeon, a prison? They sang while down there
in the inner part, and their feet were in stocks? Yes, and God delivered them
with an earthquake opening the cells and freeing their feet. Isn't the Lord full
of surprises?


LET IT GO

Open my home more to those who share the gospel.

Be more hospitable.

Keep praying and praising, no matter what the circumstances.
(At least I'm not in jail.)

Grace

Acts 15
But we believe that through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ we
shall be saved, even as they.  Acts 15:11


LET IT GLOW

Just out of the blue, one day my husband bought me a dozen red roses. What
a surprise! It was a beautiful and unexpected gift. It was the only time in 37
years. I must say that I felt like I got something I didn't deserve, since it wasn't
a special ocassion.


"Grace is getting what you don't deserve," my pastor husband says.

Two questions about salvation arose for the Jerusalem church council to solve:
1. Is a ritual or ceremony necessary to be saved?
2. Does a man have to accept the whold law before he can be saved?
(from The Preacher's Outline & Sermon)

The answer to both questions is "no." What happened at the beginning of this
chapter was this: Pharisees who were converted to Christianity were teaching
salvation by circumcision and keeping of the law at the Antioch church. These
are considered "works." This group met in a formal conference with the
apostles and elders at Jerusalem.

Jerry Falwell in Liberty  Bible Commentary states:

Peter reminded the group that God had accepted the Gentiles by faith alone
and not on Jewish terms. He emphasized that salvation was through grace of
the Lord.

Peter talks to the group in verses 7-11. It had been about ten years since he
witnessed to Cornelius and his house (Gentiles). They were saved by God.
Both Gentiles and Jews are saved by the grace and faith in the Lord Jesus
Christ. Aren't you glad, since we can never perfectly keep the Ten
Commandments and the rest of the law?
Grace, grace, wonderful grace.

Romans 3:23-24 says, "For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of
God; being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ
Jesus."

Ephesians 2:8-9 syas,"For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of
yourselves: it is the gift of God: not of works, lest any man should boast."

Do I show grace to others while asking the Lord for grace, or do I ask for
grace but neglect to show it to others?


LET IT GROW

James is the pastor of the Jerusalem church. He is the author of the book of
James and the half brother of Jesus.  He suggests four guidelines to pass
on to the Gentile churches. They should abstain from all association with idol
worship, refect sexual immorality, give up unbutchered meat, and abstain from
blood, which may have referred to military service in the Roman army.
(verse 20)

A letter is sent out by the apostles and elders to the Gentile churches. Paul
and Barnabas spread the news on seperate journeys and with the help of
Mark, Silas, and Timothy. Paul and Barnabas did not serve together again
due to their disagreement over taking Mark with them again. Mark had
deserted them during their first misson journey.

Do I impose my own standards on other believers as a price of acceptance?
Am I using the Word of God as my guidelines to live by or am I using rituals
and traditions?


LET IT GO

Show grace even to those who don't deserve it.

Realize that I don't deserve grace from the Lord either.

Share a rose with the unlovely.

Evaluate my reasons for doing things using the Bible as my standard.

Live by grace and be thankful for it.

It's All About You, Jesus

Acts 14
And when they were come, and had gathered the church together, they
rehearsed all that God had done with them, and how he had opened
the door of faith unto the Gentiles.  Acts 14:27


LET IT GLOW

Back in April, I felt the Lord calling me to have a Bible study reading through
the New Testament on this blog. I was hoping to interest family and friends
to join me, but the Lord has enlarged my territory, as Jabez prayed. Since we
started in May, there have been 6 people from foreign countries who have
visited and countless others nationally. I give all the glory to God. He inspires
the words. Besides, the Scriptures are His Words. Truly, it's all about You,
Jesus. (If you haven't read the explanations of "Let it Glow, Grow, Go,"
it's found on May 31.)
Thank you for walking with me, gals, on my country road of faith. If you
have time, leave a comment.

Now to the Word.
Paul and Barnabas shared with Christians back in Antioch, about
all the things God had done with them and how He opened a door of faith to
the Gentiles. There were no Christian radio interviews nor press conferences.
Can you hear  amens? Certainly it is encouraging to hear of the wonderful
things our God is doing.
Jesus is still saving folks! Our church is baptizing 4 new converts this Sunday
and revival services have not been held yet. (start Sun. am) Thought I'd share
some good news like Paul & Barnabas did. We praise You, Jesus, for Your
mercy that You continue to show us. Thank You for answering our prayers.

LET IT GROW

Paul and Barnabas continued on to major Asian cities, preaching the gospel
and establishing new churches. These missionaries fled to Lystra and Derbe,
cities of Lycaonia. After preaching Jesus and the crippled man was healed,
the people claimed Paul and Barnabas were Greek gods, which came down
in the likeness of men. (verse 11) Paul and Barnabas tried to convince them
otherwise, since they were only men like them.
The Jews persuaded the people to stone Paul and leave him for dead outside
the city. (verse 19) Was it a coincidence that God allowed Paul to be stoned
in the same manner as Stephen? The two missionaries returned to this city,
then the next day, they began their return trip home, (Antioch) encouraging the
new disciples in each city.

Charles Swindoll's book, Paul: a Man of Grace & Grit states:

There are 4 observations about what made Paul's ministry authentic:
1. Paul's ministry was saturated with the Word of God. Fifteen times in
    chapters 13 and 14 the phrases "God's Word," the "word of truth," the
    "teaching of  the Lord," the "Law and the Prophets," and the "good news"
    are mentioned.
2. Paul's message emphasized the gospel to the lost and grace to the saved.
3. Though the responses were mixed, Paul's responses were mature.
4. In all that Paul did, the glory went to God.


What an example Paul is for us.


LET IT GO

In all I do, let others know that life is about Jesus, not about me.

Share the gospel with the lost and grace with the saved.

Words of Encouragement

Acts 13
After the usual readings from the books of Moses and the prophets,
those in charge of the swrvice sent them this message:"Brothers, if
you have any word of encouragement for the people, come and give it."
Acts 13:15  NLT


LET IT GLOW

There is a sweet lady at our church who always gives me either words of
encouragement or a bear hug. She is around the age of what my own mother
would have been if she were alive, so she is such a special lady to me. Every
Sunday either she looks for me or I look for her. Sometimes we don't exchange
words, just a hug is enough to keep me going all week. Do you have someone
like her? I hope so. Everyone needs an encourager.

With the invitation to speak for Jesus, Paul gives a long message of historical
background of  the Jewish faith and Jesus' coming as the Messiah.
In verses 38-39, Paul said,"Be it known unto you therefore, men and brethren,
that through this man (meaning Jesus) is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins:
And by him all that believe are justified from all things, from which ye could not
be justified by the law of Moses."

What was the response? Verse 48 says,"And when the Gentiles heard this,
they were glad, and glorified the word of the Lord; and as many as were
ordained to eternal life believed."

Yes, the Word of God does not return void, but it achieves what Its purpose is.
May Your Words, Lord be a blessing to others today.


LET IT GROW

Background:
In chapters 12-19 of Acts, we are in the period of the Gentile evangelism and
the establishment of the Gentile churches. The rest of the Book of Acts tell the
story of one group of missionaries, which enabled the early church to reach their
world for Christ.        (from Nelson's Illustrated Bible Handbook)

Jerry Falwell's Liberty Bible Commentary informs us:

Paul, Barnabas, and Mark were sent out by the church of Antioch as
missionaries into Asia. Scriptures tell us the cities where they shared the
Gospel:
Island of Cyprus-cities of Seleucia, Salames, Paphos
Region of Pisidia-cities of Pamphylia.


Mark returned back to Jerusalem , but Paul and Barnabas continued on to
Perga and Antioch in Pisidia, where Paul preached the message discussed
above. Even though Gentiles became believers in Jesus, the Jews stirred up
people and persecuted the two missionaries. Verse 51 says Paul and
Barnabas were expelled from the city. From there the two went joyfully
and filled with the Holy Ghost to the city of Iconium.

As I think about all of this, I realize the goodness of God to share Jesus with
us Gentiles. Also, the sacrifice and willingness of Paul and Barnabas as they
traveled and endured hardships so people would hear about Jesus. That
means to us that the Gospel was handed down through generations to us in our
present time. So we are obligated to pass the Word and love of Jesus onto our
world. We can be missionaries in our own neighborhood and city or around
the world.


LET IT GO

Be an encouragement to other believers.

Share Jesus' love and Word of salvation as a missionary in my world far and
near.

Doors

Acts 12
He (Peter) knocked at the door in the gate, and a servant girl named
Rhoda came to open it. When she recognized Peter's voice, she was so
overjoyed that, instead of opening the door, she ran back inside and
told everyone, "Peter is standing at the door!" "You're out of your
mind!" they said. When she insisted, they decided,"It must be his
angel." Meanwhile, Peter continued knocking. When they finally
opened the door and saw him, they were amazed.   
Acts 12:13-16  NLT


LET IT GLOW

In verse 1, we read about Herod, grandson of Herod the Great, and nephew
of Herod who beheaded John the Baptist. He killed James, the brother of John.
James was the first of the apostles to be martyred. Why did this happen to
James? He was part of Jesus' inner circle, one of His three choosen, special
friends.
Yet God answered no to prayers for James. Sometimes His answer is yes, no,
or wait. Can I accept God's will when He answers no? Do I trust in the
sovereignty of God? Do I believe that He knows best and I don't?

Henry Blackaby says,"The purpose of prayer is not to conform God to our
will but to adjust our will to God. We must learn to trust God so that if He
says no, we accept that His will is best."

Killing James pleased the Jews, who wanted to stop the spread of Christianity.
So Herod imprisoned Peter, but it was the Jewish Passover time, which
meant Peter would be tried after Easter. Peter was in chains, between two
soldiers, and a guard was at the prison door. An angel came and delivered
Peter from the prison, setting him free.
Jesus wants to set us free from the chains of sin that keep us bound. Do we
pray for it?


LET IT GROW

I live in an old house, which is probably 70 years old. It is the one in which I
grew up as a child. There is a door between the kitchen and laundry room.
This door will not stay closed, during the summer, without a doorstop in front
of it. However, during the winter, it will stay closed on its own, without the
doorstop. Maybe it's the humidity which causes this, I don't know. This
procedure could upset me if I let it. I have to put down a basket of laundry in
order to close the door and prop the doorstop in front of it, every time. So I
repeat the task because I don't want to air condition the laundry room.

Have you ever thought about doors? There are several kinds of doors-barn
doors, gate doors, house doors, closet doors, church doors. They are all made
differently and have a different function. They can keep something in or
something out. Doors can be locked or kept open. They can be an enterance
or an exit.

Doors-Webster's Dictionary describes a door as  any means of access,
entrance, or exit.

What happened in the above scripture is amazing to me. Peter is freed by an
angel from prison and goes to Mary's house, who is John Mark's mother. The
church is having a prayer meeting for Peter.
When I read this story, I tell Rhoda, "Just open the door and let Peter inside."
But she never does. It's not like a stranger is knocking in the middle of the
night. No, she recognized Peter's voice. Rhoda, a servant girl, got excited, so
excited that Peter was at the door, that she runs inside and tells everyone the
good news. Perhaps she had been in the prayer meeting, too. At any rate, she
knew God had answered their prayers.

How did the brethren respond? Did they run and open the door for Peter,
greeting him with excitement? No, they thought Rhoda was out of her mind.
Where's their faith? Why are they doubting that God performed a miracle while
answering their prayers? Lest I be too judgemental, I'm guilty of the same thing.
Is my faith so weak that I'm surprised when God answers my prayers?

Meanwhile, Peter kept knocking. Thank goodness he didn't leave, but persisted.
(I wonder what he was thinking, standing there knocking.) The people were
amazed when they finally opened the door and saw Peter. Am I amazed
whenever God opens doors for me as a result of answered prayers?

In John 10:9, Jesus says,"I am the door; by me if any man enter in, he shall be
saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture."

Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and shew thee great and might things,
which thou knowest not.    Jeremiah 33:3

Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open
the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.
Revelation 3:20


LET IT GO

Open the door of my heart and let Jesus come inside to be Lord of it.

Keep praying and having faith.

Accept God's answers, even if they are "no or wait."

Thank Him for the "yes"  answers.

Who am I?

Acts 11
And since God gave these Gentiles the same gift he gave us when we
believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I to stand in God's way?
Acts 11:17 NLT


LET IT GLOW

When our children were young, we used to play a game with them while we
traveled six hours in the car to their grandma's house. The game was called
"Who am I?" I would read descriptive card clues of a person in the Bible
and my family would guess the name of the person it described.
Peter asked the question in our key verse written above. Let's see what led
up to it.

Due to the strong criticism of Peter's visit to Cornelius, a Gentile, Peter reports
what happened back in chapter 10. God spoke to Peter, sending him to
witness to Cornelius and his household. These Gentiles were saved,
through repentance, as a result of Peter's obedience. (verse 14)

The reference book, The Preacher's Outline & Sermon Bible says:

          Peter was convinced of another truth: he could not withstand
          (stand against) God. The Greek is emphasized, "I, who was I that I
          could withstand God?" Peter had absolutely nothing to do with giving
          the Holy Spirit to the Gentiles. No man is going to stop God from doing
          what He purposes to do. It was God's will that the door of salvation be
          swung open to the Gentiles and God was doing it.

Peter asked, "Who am I?"  I think he was meaning that not even Peter was
going to stop God from saving Gentiles when it was His will.

In John 11:25-26, Jesus said unto her, "I am the resurrection, and the life; he
that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live; And whosoever
liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this?"

Back in Matthew 16, Jesus asked His disciples,"Whom say ye that I am?"
Peter answered,"Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God."

Praise God that He included us Gentiles in His plan of salvation through
faith in Jesus Christ.


LET IT GROW

In verse 18, the reality of Gentile salvation, the Greeks at Antioch, is accepted
in the Jerusalem church.
Then, verse 19 tells us that because of the stoning and death of deacon
Stephen, believing Jews of Jerusalem scattered. This was God's way of
spreading the gospel into the world. However, it was only preached to the
Jews.

Nelson's Illustrated Bible Handbook says:

          Gentiles in Antioch turned to Christ in great numbers.(Population was
           500,000.) So the Jerusalem church sent Barnabas as a missionary to
           Antioch. Then, he brings Saul to Antioch to help and both stay and
           minister to the first Gentile congregation.
           It is here the name "Christian" which means "little Christs," is
           coined for the followers of Jesus.


A famine occurs in Judea and the church at Antioch sent money to help with
relief and to show brotherly Christian love.

We should not only care about the souls of people, but their physical needs
of the body, also.


LET IT GO

I do not want to stand in God's way of achieving His purposes.

I want to be a missionary that shows  Christian love to people in need
around me and elsewhere.

Sheets

Acts 10
But the voice spoke again:"Do not call something unclean if God has
made it clean."   Acts 10:15 NLT


LET IT GLOW

In the town of Caesarea there lived a Roman army officer named Cornelius,
who was a captain of the Italian Regiment. He was a devout, God-fearing
man.He was praying one afternoon, when an angel of God came to
Cornelius and told him to send some messengers to Joppa to bring Simon
Peter back to him. (Peter would tell Cornelius and his household how to be
saved, according to Acts 11:14.)  "Cornelius' prayers and gifts to the poor
had been received by God as an offering," the angel told him in verse 4.

How encouraging it is to know God, our heavenly Father, answers prayers.
Sometimes we need reasurring, don't we, at least I do.


LET IT GROW

Often times when I get the sheets out of the clothes dryer, they are rolled up
with towels and washcloths inside. Sometimes I have to run the dryer longer
in order to finish drying everything. Afterwards comes the task of folding up a
king sized sheet by ones self. Did you know that a sheet is mentioned in the
Bible? I'm always learning new things from reading the Word. This sheet must
have been larger than king-sized, because it held animals.

In the meantime, Peter was praying on a roof top and fell into a trance. He
saw the sky open and a large sheet let down by its four corners. In the sheet
were all sorts of animals, reptiles, and birds that were unclean for a Jew to eat.
Three times the Lord told Peter to kill and eat these unclean animals, but Peter
refused because of his Jewish laws.

The Lord says to not call something unclean if God has made it clean.
(verse 15)
This was an illustration for not only animals, but also for people-Gentiles to be
specific. Through faith in Jesus Christ, we Gentiles are acceptable to God.
I am so very glad!

So Peter preaches to Cornelius' household that "God is no respector of
persons"(verse 34) and "he is Lord of all." This is the first time Peter preaches
to Gentiles about the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. What
happened? The next chapter tells us.

The Preacher's Outline & Sermon Bible  says:

People can be prejudice when people differ in nationality, color, beliefs,
religion, speech, looks, behavior, ability, energy, position, status, social
standing, possessions, wealth, birth, and heritage. Prejudice arises when
people feel they and their differences make them better than others.


LET IT GO

Keep praying, remembering that God hears and answers.

Bring my prejudices to the Lord for a changing of my heart so He can use me
for His purpose.

He is Lord of all and loves them, so should I.