20 of 40 Lenten Journey
Today's readings: Acts 4 and page 56
in Terry Teykl's book: Acts 29
larryjameson.blogspot.com
Dear Prospect, Trinity,
and Asbury Church family,
Good morning on this rainy day!
Dear ones, I encourage
every one of you to
DO EVERYTHING YOU CAN
TO REACH AND LOVE
YOUR PEOPLE.
In Hebrews 13:16
the Bible says,
"Do not forget to do good
and to share with others,
for with such sacrifices
God is pleased."
We became a bit spoiled
and complacent because of
the ease we enjoyed before
the virus crisis.
We were able to travel,
fellowship, and go
to restaurants together.
Those days will return,
and our lives will reset
eventually!
In the mean time, we are all
learning how to be stronger,
and what is most important
to each of us.
I'm finding out that Sunday
worship in the sanctuary
is not the only way
we serve the Lord Jesus.
There are lots of opportunities
to serve the Lord, right now.
I have been praying for you
and preparing for a Zoom meeting
with key leaders of our churches
today at 7pm.
I hope to talk to them about
1) how we check in on ALL our people
to see if everyone is doing OK,
2) how we can offer Bible teaching,
prayer, and fellowship in spite
of closing our church buildings,
3) how we can encourage our people
to continue supporting the church
with our tithes and offerings.
Please pray for me that I provide
clear and effective leadership
as we consider those three areas
of need. If you can discern
other needs that have been
overlooked, please text,
email, or call me!
larryjameson@gmail.com
home 302-786-2642
cell 302-519-1025
Yesterday I encouraged you
to take a few minutes every day
and write a letter to somebody,
especially the children of our
churches. Were you able to
do that yet? If you need an
address or don't know how to
start, just pray about it.
God honors prayer!
And you can always call one
of our church small group
coordinators to ask for
a suggestion or information.
I am looking for some volunteers
to do some phone base tech work.
I'd like to see more of our
church members set up with Zoom.
If you are good at doing
video conferencing,
please let me know.
I would very much like to
do a few Zoom conferences
with Sunday School classes
(children and adults),
and other church groups.
I'd like to do more Bible
teaching, have prayer,
and share testimonies
with groups of people.
I would welcome any help
with that sort of thing.
Please pray for our churches
to become more available
and useful.
Our bulk mailing is coming
along nicely. Sue and I have
completed putting labels on
envelopes for every member of
Prospect, Trinity, and Asbury.
Now I need to write a letter,
run it off, and get them all
folded and enclosed.
We are doing this step by step.
Please pray that God will
inspire me to write something
encouraging and effective
in the bulk mail letter.
Remember to call someone
in your small group today,
and also someone new who
lives nearby.
Be warm. Be yourself.
Say, "I'm just checking in.
How are you doing?"
God will open doors
for you if you do this.
Please share these daily
messages with your friends
and family. Forward this
email to a friend
and encourage them to get
involved in the Neighbors
Network we are forming.
Prayer by Larry Jameson
Thank you, dear Holy Spirit,
for empowering your people:
in the midst of crisis,
in spite of opposition,
in practical ways.
In the name of Jesus Christ
we pray. Amen.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Acts 4 (NIV)
Peter and John Before the Sanhedrin
1 The priests and the captain of the temple guard and the Sadducees came up to Peter and John while they were speaking to the people. 2 They were greatly disturbed because the apostles were teaching the people, proclaiming in Jesus the resurrection of the dead. 3 They seized Peter and John and, because it was evening, they put them in jail until the next day. 4 But many who heard the message believed; so the number of men who believed grew to about five thousand.
5 The next day the rulers, the elders and the teachers of the law met in Jerusalem. 6 Annas the high priest was there, and so were Caiaphas, John, Alexander and others of the high priest’s family. 7 They had Peter and John brought before them and began to question them: “By what power or what name did you do this?”
8 Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them: “Rulers and elders of the people! 9 If we are being called to account today for an act of kindness shown to a man who was lame and are being asked how he was healed, 10 then know this, you and all the people of Israel: It is by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified but whom God raised from the dead, that this man stands before you healed. 11 Jesus is
“‘the stone you builders rejected,
which has become the cornerstone.’
12 Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved.”
13 When they saw the courage of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished and they took note that these men had been with Jesus. 14 But since they could see the man who had been healed standing there with them, there was nothing they could say. 15 So they ordered them to withdraw from the Sanhedrin and then conferred together. 16 “What are we going to do with these men?” they asked. “Everyone living in Jerusalem knows they have performed a notable sign, and we cannot deny it. 17 But to stop this thing from spreading any further among the people, we must warn them to speak no longer to anyone in this name.”
18 Then they called them in again and commanded them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus. 19 But Peter and John replied, “Which is right in God’s eyes: to listen to you, or to him? You be the judges! 20 As for us, we cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard.”
21 After further threats they let them go. They could not decide how to punish them, because all the people were praising God for what had happened. 22 For the man who was miraculously healed was over forty years old.
The Believers Pray
23 On their release, Peter and John went back to their own people and reported all that the chief priests and the elders had said to them. 24 When they heard this, they raised their voices together in prayer to God. “Sovereign Lord,” they said, “you made the heavens and the earth and the sea, and everything in them. 25 You spoke by the Holy Spirit through the mouth of your servant, our father David:
“‘Why do the nations rage
and the peoples plot in vain?
26 The kings of the earth rise up
and the rulers band together
against the Lord
and against his anointed one.’
27 Indeed Herod and Pontius Pilate met together with the Gentiles and the people of Israel in this city to conspire against your holy servant Jesus, whom you anointed. 28 They did what your power and will had decided beforehand should happen. 29 Now, Lord, consider their threats and enable your servants to speak your word with great boldness. 30 Stretch out your hand to heal and perform signs and wonders through the name of your holy servant Jesus.”
31 After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly.
The Believers Share Their Possessions
32 All the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that any of their possessions was their own, but they shared everything they had. 33 With great power the apostles continued to testify to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. And God’s grace was so powerfully at work in them all 34 that there were no needy persons among them. For from time to time those who owned land or houses sold them, brought the money from the sales 35 and put it at the apostles’ feet, and it was distributed to anyone who had need.
36 Joseph, a Levite from Cyprus, whom the apostles called Barnabas (which means “son of encouragement”), 37 sold a field he owned and brought the money and put it at the apostles’ feet.
No comments:
Post a Comment