November 13th – Read Acts 5:17-32

     Margaret Nikol was born into a pastor’s family in Bulgaria. Her mother and father were murdered for their faith by the communists in the 1960s. Margaret was a brilliant violinist, and in spite of opposition she got an excellent education. She achieved fame throughout Europe and became concertmaster of the Dresden Symphony. But because of her faith in Christ, she was subjected to physical and emotional cruelty. Eventually, she was given a prison sentence—to begin as soon as the concert season was over.
     But God had other plans. Margaret was invited to play in Vienna at an Easter concert in 1982. The communists repeatedly denied permission, but finally, because of outside pressure, they relented. “God was faster than they were,” testifies Margaret. In Vienna she requested political asylum, and no less than five free nations offered it! Today, Margaret Nikol travels all over the world in behalf of a growing ministry in Bulgaria.
     The same God who delivered Margaret from communist oppression, and who sent an angel to free the apostles from prison (Acts 5:19), can also rescue us from whatever is holding us captive—physically or spiritually. We must never give up hope! God is our great deliverer.
     The God who holds the universe is the God who is holding you.

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November 12th - Read Acts 5:1-11

     Two young women lost their lives in a fire that swept through their apartment as they slept. Their home was equipped with a smoke detector that was in good working order, but it hadn't gone off. Why? Fire inspectors concluded that the device had been deactivated for a party the night before. The unit had been disconnected to keep it from sounding off because of the smoke from cooking and candles.
     In Acts 5 we have another example of two people who apparently deactivated an alarm system that could have saved their lives.
Ananias and Sapphira must have quenched the Holy Spirit by turning a deaf ear to their consciences, believing they had plenty of good reasons for doing what they did. But their action cost them their lives.
     We need to realize that the Holy Spirit was not given to annoy us like a sensitive smoke detector. He doesn't sound false alarms. When He activates our conscience by bringing to mind a principle or warning from God's Word, it is really His love and wisdom in action.
By weighing the warnings of His love against the cost of our foolishness, we'll soon realize that it's always better to be safe than sorry.
     To ignore your conscience is to invite trouble!

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November 11th - Read – Acts 5:1-11

     Life is full of trade-offs. Today's poor choices are a down payment on tomorrow's problems. It's all a part of living with the law of God that says we reap what we sow (Gal. 6:7).
     That was true of a 30-year-old Mississippi resident. A conviction for felony drunk driving resulted in his getting a 15-year prison sentence.
     The judge then suspended 14 years of the sentence if the man would honor the terms of a 1-year house arrest.
     The trade-off was simple: Stay home and out of trouble for 1 year instead of going to prison for 15. But the man didn't like being cooped up, so he went fishing--driving with a suspended license to get there. He was arrested and the judge threw him in prison. The fishing trip cost him many years of freedom.
     What bad trade-offs do we make? Do we reject God's mercy so we can enjoy sin's season of pleasure? In the Bible, we see some examples.
Moses traded the Promised Land for an outburst of anger (Num. 20:7-13). David traded his reputation for a night of passion (2 Sam. 11). Ananias and Sapphira traded life for some extra money (Acts 5:1-11).
     Are you facing temptation today? Don't give in. Cling to Jesus. Obey His commands. Never exchange fellowship with Him for anything. It's always a poor trade-off.

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November 10th - Read Acts 5

     As celebrated violinist Erica Morini, ninety years old and nearly blind, lay dying last fall in a New York hospital, her Manhattan apartment was robbed.
     But this was no ordinary thievery. Morini’s prized possession was taken: a 268-year-old Stradivarius violin worth $3.5 million. Morini had willed any profits from the sale of the violin to charity, along with the rest of her estate. She died two weeks after the robbery, never knowing that her beloved violin was gone.
     Reports such as this make us shake our heads in amazement at the coldness of human hearts. But then, we shouldn’t wonder why someone would steal from a dying woman. Ananias and Sapphira, members of the church at Jerusalem and witnesses to incredible events, stole from the living Lord!
Just as persecution from without has a way of spurring the growth of the church and the spread of the gospel, so does the cleansing of the church
from within. The sin of this couple and the severity of their judgment need to be seen in the context of a church where all the believers (Acts
4:32) rallied in the face of persecution and poverty.
     Ananias and Sapphira tried to deceive the apostles and lied to God.
When the church is at its strongest and most dynamic, when the body of Christ is committed to proclamation and worship and true fellowship, sin is taken very seriously. Purity is a priority. Acts 5:11 records the result of these two deaths, but fear did not cause the church to cringe or pull back. Just the opposite. The church emerged from this act of judgment to resume and increase its witness, even as persecution grew.
     Look at the words of the Jewish elder named Gamaliel in verses 38-39. His observation is a fact that no one in Jerusalem could deny. Whatever
they thought of Peter and his fellow apostles, something unexplainable was happening in their lives.

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November 7th – Read Acts 4:23-35

     A story is told of a 19-year-old Christian girl in China who was beaten and thrown into a filthy cell. It was dark, but from the smell she knew that the slimy floor was covered with human excrement. There was no bed or chair. She had to sit and sleep in this filth.
     She squatted down so that as little of her bleeding body as possible would touch the floor and silently gave thanks to the Lord that she was worthy to suffer for Him. She asked Him for wisdom and strength, not to get out of this terrible place, but that wherever He put her, she would be able to continue to preach the gospel.  One day as she quietly sang a hymn, the Lord impressed on her, “This is to be your ministry.” She thought, “I’m all alone.  Whom can I preach to?”
Suddenly an idea came to her. She stood up and called for the guard.
     “Sir, can I do some hard labor for you?” The guard looked at her with contempt, mingled with surprise. No one had ever made that kind of request before. She said, “Look, this prison is filthy.  Let me go into the cells and clean up the excrement. Just give me some water and a brush.”
Soon she found herself on her hands and knees cleaning and preaching to people who had lost all hope of ever seeing another human being who did not come to beat them. When they realized that they could have eternal life as God’s free gift, they repented of their sins and trusted in Jesus Christ. Soon all the prisoners had believed in Jesus Christ. The warden was furious. He gave her a sheet of paper and told her to write out a confession of her crimes against the revolution. She wrote out the plan of salvation, so that the warden and even others heard about Christ (from The Church in China, by Carl Lawrence [Bethany House], 1985).
     We may never have to suffer for the gospel as she did, but we should follow her example. If we face persecution, we should respond by reaffirming our commitment to our Sovereign God. We should reaffirm our commitment to the fellowship of the saints.  And we should be unstoppable in our commitment to the Lord’s work in the world, of proclaiming the good news of Christ to those who are perishing.

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November 6th – Read Acts 4:1-20

     Whenever I read the book of Acts, I'm struck by the spontaneity of the witness of the first Christians. Everywhere they went, in every circumstance, they boldly proclaimed Jesus as the true Messiah and the Savior of mankind--and many people believed. After Peter and John were arrested for proclaiming the good news, Peter told the council, "We cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard" (Acts 4:20).
     Today many of us find it difficult to witness. Sometimes it takes the simple courage of young people to motivate and encourage us.
     One summer, some teens from their church were conducting 5-day Bible clubs in the area. One hot afternoon the pastor took them out for ice cream. The line was long, so one of the teens took out her "wordless book," which was made up of colors to help explain the gospel to young children. Before long, several children and one mom had heard the story of Jesus from that willing witness.
     Peter wrote in his first letter, "Always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you" (1 Pet. 3:15). Sometimes the best witness is a simple response to a sudden opportunity to talk about Jesus.
   Are you ready?   Give some thought to these questions…Do you know how to explain the gospel to others? Do you regularly look for opportunities to tell others what Christ means to you?
     Remember, someone took the time to share with you!

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Hope you had a restful night, given all of the hoopla that comes with a presidential election.

It doesn't matter to me who you voted for, but now that all the chips have been laid, we (Christian community) must pray for & support our new leaders when the inception of their terms begins in January.  Obama has inherited numerous problems from numerous perspectives.  He will need our prayers.
PD

November 5th – Read Acts 4:5-22

   One day, while driving in rush hour traffic, a woman driver found herself behind a car with a bumper sticker. It had a yellow smiley face on it with these words: "Smile--Jesus Loves You."
   Suddenly another car squeezed in front of the "smiley" car, forcing the driver to hit the brakes. With that, he shook his fist angrily,
displaying anything but a smiley face. The woman driver felt ashamed for the misrepresentation of a Christian, until she remembered her own impatience as a driver. That incident reminded her that our actions andreactions, more than the display of a sticker on our car, show whether we know the Lord Jesus.
   Acts 4 tells us that Peter and John faced opposition from local rulers, elders, and scribes as they proclaimed the good news of Christ. But their reaction caused their opponents to start thinking. Even though Peter and John were not highly educated, the people marveled at their bold witness and realized that these two men had been with Jesus. There was no need for a bumper sticker on the apostles' donkey--their words and deeds said it all.
   Please ponder this thought today.  Do you feel too untrained or timid to be a witness for God? If you'll spend time getting to know Jesus
intimately, He'll empower you to impress others with Himself. You'll have boldness--without a bumper sticker.  —
   Remember...Actions speak louder than bumper stickers!

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November 4th  Read Acts 4:1-22

     These thoughts come from an excellent Bible teacher, Haddon Robinson.
     A soldier was standing at attention during a parade drill when he waved to one of the spectators. The drill instructor went over to the
young man and growled, "Soldier, don't ever do that again!" But as his company marched past the reviewing stand the young man waved a
second time. When the troops got back to the barracks, the drill instructor barreled in and barked at the soldier, "I told you not to
wave! Aren't you afraid of me?" "Yes sir," the private replied, "but you don't know my mother!"
     Peter and John had upset the religious elite in Jerusalem. The city's power brokers were disturbed by the message the two men preached and the miracles they performed. They had to be stopped. Peter and John were arrested and thrown into jail. They had every reason to be afraid. Yet, the next day they stood up to their accusers with great courage. "Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you more than to God, you judge," they boldly said (Acts 4:19). They feared God more than they feared their persecutors.
     If we are tempted to be quiet when we should speak up for Christ, we must remember that we can speak and act with conviction because we know our God. His authority outranks all others. He is the One we need to please.
     When you fear God, you have nothing else to fear.

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November 3, 2008 –Read Acts 4

   Peter and John were in danger. The religious leaders in Jerusalem opposing the gospel had warned them to cease their missionary efforts (Acts 4:18).
   When the apostles reported this to the other believers, they immediately held a prayer meeting.
   What happened next is thrilling. The believers first praised God. Then they asked for boldness that they might continue the work. The results were dramatic. The house shook, and the believers were filled with the Spirit. They boldly witnessed (vv.31,33), and enjoyed spiritual unity (v.32). They gave unselfishly to those in need (vv.32,34-37).
   I have never felt a building shake at a prayer meeting, but I have seen God's power at work. When I've tried to help repair a broken marriage or a divided church, I've asked those involved to pray. Sometimes they refused. Other times they mumbled carefully worded prayers. The meeting failed.
   But occasionally someone would pray in earnest. Almost immediately the atmosphere would change. Confession and forgiveness soon replaced charges and countercharges.
   When we pray sincerely, praising God and presenting Him with petitions that seek His glory, great things happen. But first we must pray from the heart.

E. M. Bounds once said "Our intercession may be the key to God's intervention."

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October 31st – Read Acts 4: 32-37

     When the American poet Edgar Guest was a young man, his first child died, plunging him into despair. The morning after his devastating
loss, Guest went to the drugstore owned by his neighbor. The man called Guest into his office in the back, put both hands on the young
writer's shoulders and expressed his compassion. He ended by saying: “I want you to know that if you need anything at all, come to me.
What's mine is yours.”
     The early church in Acts faced a need.   Barnabas not only said, “What's mine is yours,” he also followed up on his pledge by selling
a piece of land and bringing the proceeds to the apostles.  What an encouragement that must have been!  He stepped up to do the job!
     He became such a valued member of the Jerusalem church that when people began turning to Christ at Antioch, the apostles sent Barnabas to check things out (Acts 11:22-24).  More than that, he went to Tarsus to persuade a convert named Saul to come to Antioch.  After a year of effective ministry together, Barnabas and Saul were ready for the first missionary journey (Acts 13:1-3).
     Saul, now called Paul, got ready to head out on the second missionary trip. Barnabas could not bring himself to discard Mark, even though Mark had failed on the first trip. God blessed that decision.
     Paul even spoke later of Mark as a valued ministry companion (2 Tim. 4:11).
     Since there are never too many encouragers around, your encouraging words and actions are always needed.  They are always welcome!  It was so nice to be on the receiving end last week at church when you surprised me at the hayride event.
     Everybody would like to have a person like Barnabas for a friend. But we also need to make sure the encouragement is flowing both ways. Look for an opportunity for God to use you for the encouragement of others.  Are your friendships balanced or one-sided?  Are your
friends doing all the encouraging and giving, or are you also ministering to them and their needs?  This review is worth an investment of your time this weekend.

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October 30th  - Read – Acts 4:23-32

     In her book Exile to Sweet Dixie, Eileen Conklin tells the story of Euthemia Goldsborough, who was active in the Confederate underground in Baltimore during the Civil War and helped nurse Confederate POWs. Goldsborough was arrested for smuggling mail, medicine, and clothing to the South, and was exiled to the Confederate capital of Richmond, Virginia.
     Every war produces stories of people who operate in enemy territory.
In the developing spiritual warfare described in the book of Acts, the apostles boldly carried on their ministry in enemy territory in
defiance of the prohibitions of the rulers and the danger to their own lives. They bravely stood up in the center of Jerusalem and
proclaimed Jesus as Israel’s Savior and Messiah.
     After their arrest and release, Peter and John went back to the believers and reported everything that had happened to them. These
Christians probably felt anxiety-–even fear--as they waited for the Jewish council to decide the fate of Peter and John.
     But the church didn’t hide or quit its mission. These believers prayed instead--with tremendous focus and power. They praised God for
His sovereign authority as Creator and acknowledged that the opposition they faced was simply an extension of the hostility Jesus
Himself encountered. Then they asked for courage in ministering the Word and prayed that God would display His power through “signs and wonders.”
     God answered this prayer with a demonstration of His power and presence. By God’s sovereign action, the Holy Spirit filled those who
were gathered together.
     Then Luke, the author of Acts, turns immediately to present evidence that the church was unified in its purpose. This sharing of property and goods to meet needs is often erroneously called “Christian socialism.” But this was voluntary action, not government policy. And the sharing wasn’t equal among all; goods were given to those with needs.
     Luke uses this facet of church life to introduce Barnabas, a key figure in the book. Barnabas’s generosity contrasted sharply with the
actions of Ananias and Sapphira (5:1-11). Barnabas demonstrated the gracious gift of the Spirit through his generous lifestyle.
     The apostles were able to proclaim the gospel with effectiveness because of their God-centered perspective. They believed that God,
not governments or powerful people, was in control of all things (23, 28). This focus enabled them to minister courageously.
     You too can pray with the same confidence that these men had. The God of Peter and John is our God as well. We can trust Him to go before us in every situation of life. And with the apostles of old we need to pray that God will enable us to speak and minister with confidence.

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October 29th – Read ACTS 4:32-37

     You are His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you (1 Peter 2:9).  I think this verse captures what
is happening in our study of Acts.  Here’s a more contemporary picture!
     As newsman Clarence W. Hall followed American troops through Okinawa in 1945, he and his jeep driver came upon a small town that stood out as a beautiful example of a Christian community. He wrote, "We had seen other Okinawan villages, . . . down at the heels and despairing; by contrast, this one shone like a diamond in a dung heap. Everywhere we were greeted by smiles and dignified bows. Proudly the old men showed us their spotless homes, their terraced fields, .. . their storehouses and granaries, their prized sugar mill."
     Hall saw no jails and no drunkenness, and divorce was unknown. He learned an American missionary had come there thirty years earlier.
While he was in the village, he had led two elderly townspeople to Christ and left them with a Japanese Bible. These new believers studied the Scriptures and started leading their fellow villagers to Jesus. Hall's jeep driver said he was amazed at the difference between this village and the others around it. He remarked, "So this is what comes out of only a Bible and a couple of old guys who wanted to live like Jesus."
     The great power of God's Word leads to salvation through faith in Christ, creating a "special people," a community of believers who
love one another, exhort one another, and serve God together. We need to pray that our church (as well as all evangelical churches) will be
an example of God's power to a watching world.

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In light of discussions about a need for volunteers to maintain, as well as develop other ministries, I thought this devotional was quite appropriate.  Please ponder what it has to say and see what evaluations you come up with for yourself.

 Have a great day. 

 PD

 October 28th – Read Acts 4:32-35
WHO WILL DO THE WORK?

Those who believed were of one heart and one soul. --Acts 4:32

The following letter, which speaks for itself, was circulated in a large congregation.

Dear Friend:

Our church membership..................1400
Nonresident members.........................75
Balance left to do the work.............1325

Elderly who've done their share...........25
Balance left to do the work.............1300

Sick and shut-ins..................................25
Balance left to do the work.............1275

Members who do not give................350
Christmas and Easters members...300
Balance to do the work.................625

Members who are overworked.........300
Balance left to do the work................325

Members with alibis...........................200
Balance left to do the work................125

Members too busy with other things.123
Balance left to do the work....................2

Just you and me, friend, and you had better get busy, because it's too much for me!

The historian Luke said the members of the first-century church were of one mind, they cared for each other, and God was working among them. He will work in our church too if we will let His Spirit work through us. -HWR

The church is made up of just two kinds of folk;
No matter how you and I view it --
The ones who just talk about what should be done,
And those who get busy and do it. – Anon

Our Daily Bread.

September 29th – Read Acts 2:14-41

The Scottish reformer John Knox was born just a few years before Martin Luther launched the Protestant Reformation. Knox, who became deeply involved in Reformation preaching and activity, is said to have cried out to God, ""Give me Scotland or I die!"" Knox's passion for the souls of his countrymen moved the hand and heart of God. Despite years of exile in France, Germany, and Switzerland, Knox was the primary originator of the Scottish Reformation.

Like John Knox, the apostle Peter had a deep passion for the salvation of his countrymen. And just as Knox faced opposition, threats, and arrest for preaching Reformation truth to the monarchs and religious establishment of Europe, Peter also faced hostility for his witness about Jesus Christ.

There's one more parallel between the two: their courage to preach Christ, regardless of the cost. Peter had denied Jesus three times at the crucifixion. But just a few weeks later, ""Peter stood up with the Eleven, raised his voice and addressed the crowd"" fearlessly on the Day of Pentecost (v. 14).

It took a passion for truth and plenty of courage for Peter to declare, ""You, with the help of wicked men, put [Jesus] to death by nailing Him to the cross. But God raised Him from the dead"" (vv. 23-24).

Peter's Pentecost sermon demonstrated to the Jews that the miraculous events they were seeing were not the result of drunkenness, but the prophesied work of the Holy Spirit. And he proved that Jesus was the Christ, the promised Messiah from God.

The message was powerful, the evidence irrefutable. But Peter wasn't just proving a point. When his listeners were convicted by the Spirit and said, ""What shall we do?"" (v. 37), Peter was ready. He called for repentance in the name of Christ for the forgiveness of sins, and baptism as a testimony of that change of heart.

The response was overwhelming (v. 41), and the church was born. Peter would pay a heavy price for his commitment to Christ, including threats, arrest, a severe beating (Acts 4-5), and imprisonment under a death sentence (Acts 12). A true passion for souls can be costly.