26 of 40 Lenten Journey
Today's readings: Acts 8 and page 64
in Terry Teykl's book: Acts 29
larryjameson.blogspot.com
Dear Prospect, Trinity,
and Asbury Church family,
Good morning dear ones!
What an amazing chapter of
the Bible is found in Acts 8.
Even the geography is
interesting. It starts in
Jerusalem with the persecution
of the church. Then in verse
5 we see Philip go to Samaria.
That's almost 700 miles north.
Then in verse 26 Philip is led
to go to Gaza which is more than
a week away by foot. And I don't
think Philip had his driver's
license. Then Philip is
moved by God (like the transporter
in Star Trek) to Azotus
which is many miles to the north.
Wow. Chapter 8 is a geography
lesson!
Terry Teykl points out that
Acts chapter 8 is also a
lesson on windows of Gospel
receptivity. Terry says that
when someone is made ready to
accept Jesus, they can have
a "breakthrough". Some Christian
leaders call these
"Spiritual Breakthroughs".
They are moments of personal
change that God works in our
hearts to put us in a better
place. Oh, we see these in our
churches! We see these in our
shared ministry. These are
real. And God is using you
and me just like he did Philip
in Acts chapter 8.
I would like to ask for
your prayers this week,
for our Neighbors Network,
and for the Zoom Bible Study
I'm offering this Sunday at 10am
(Meeting ID 302-000-9952),
and for the Palm Sunday and
Easter Sunday Online Worship
Celebrations that I'm assigned
to lead on the Dover District.
Pray for me to be useful!
Pray that I don't mess up.
Seriously. That is my prayer
request.
This is a bit of a long post
but I do want to mention that
it was exciting for me to see
our bulk mailing arrive yesterday
at the parsonage. It gave me
great joy to put that in the
mail to you this week.
I put two mail-back offering
envelopes in each letter.
Pray that God will inspire our
people to be generous so that
the church can pay our bills,
AND be effective witnesses
for the Gospel in our community.
Prayer by Larry Jameson
Dear Holy Spirit,
move us just like you did
for Philip the evangelist.
Open windows of opportunity
to have spiritual conversations
with people we never imagined
we would talk to.
In the name of Jesus Christ
we pray. Amen.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Acts 8 (RSV)
1 And Saul was consenting to his death.
Saul Persecutes the Church
And on that day a great persecution arose against the church in Jerusalem; and they were all scattered throughout the region of Judea and Samar′ia, except the apostles. 2 Devout men buried Stephen, and made great lamentation over him. 3 But Saul was ravaging the church, and entering house after house, he dragged off men and women and committed them to prison.
Philip Preaches in Samaria
4 Now those who were scattered went about preaching the word. 5 Philip went down to a city of Samar′ia, and proclaimed to them the Christ. 6 And the multitudes with one accord gave heed to what was said by Philip, when they heard him and saw the signs which he did. 7 For unclean spirits came out of many who were possessed, crying with a loud voice; and many who were paralyzed or lame were healed. 8 So there was much joy in that city.
9 But there was a man named Simon who had previously practiced magic in the city and amazed the nation of Samar′ia, saying that he himself was somebody great. 10 They all gave heed to him, from the least to the greatest, saying, “This man is that power of God which is called Great.” 11 And they gave heed to him, because for a long time he had amazed them with his magic. 12 But when they believed Philip as he preached good news about the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women. 13 Even Simon himself believed, and after being baptized he continued with Philip. And seeing signs and great miracles performed, he was amazed.
14 Now when the apostles at Jerusalem heard that Samar′ia had received the word of God, they sent to them Peter and John, 15 who came down and prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit; 16 for it had not yet fallen on any of them, but they had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. 17 Then they laid their hands on them and they received the Holy Spirit. 18 Now when Simon saw that the Spirit was given through the laying on of the apostles’ hands, he offered them money, 19 saying, “Give me also this power, that any one on whom I lay my hands may receive the Holy Spirit.” 20 But Peter said to him, “Your silver perish with you, because you thought you could obtain the gift of God with money! 21 You have neither part nor lot in this matter, for your heart is not right before God. 22 Repent therefore of this wickedness of yours, and pray to the Lord that, if possible, the intent of your heart may be forgiven you. 23 For I see that you are in the gall of bitterness and in the bond of iniquity.” 24 And Simon answered, “Pray for me to the Lord, that nothing of what you have said may come upon me.”
25 Now when they had testified and spoken the word of the Lord, they returned to Jerusalem, preaching the gospel to many villages of the Samaritans.
Philip and the Ethiopian Eunuch
26 But an angel of the Lord said to Philip, “Rise and go toward the south to the road that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza.” This is a desert road. 27 And he rose and went. And behold, an Ethiopian, a eunuch, a minister of the Can′dace, queen of the Ethiopians, in charge of all her treasure, had come to Jerusalem to worship 28 and was returning; seated in his chariot, he was reading the prophet Isaiah. 29 And the Spirit said to Philip, “Go up and join this chariot.” 30 So Philip ran to him, and heard him reading Isaiah the prophet, and asked, “Do you understand what you are reading?” 31 And he said, “How can I, unless some one guides me?” And he invited Philip to come up and sit with him. 32 Now the passage of the scripture which he was reading was this:
“As a sheep led to the slaughter
or a lamb before its shearer is dumb,
so he opens not his mouth.
33 In his humiliation justice was denied him.
Who can describe his generation?
For his life is taken up from the earth.”
34 And the eunuch said to Philip, “About whom, pray, does the prophet say this, about himself or about some one else?” 35 Then Philip opened his mouth, and beginning with this scripture he told him the good news of Jesus. 36 And as they went along the road they came to some water, and the eunuch said, “See, here is water! What is to prevent my being baptized?” 38 And he commanded the chariot to stop, and they both went down into the water, Philip and the eunuch, and he baptized him. 39 And when they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught up Philip; and the eunuch saw him no more, and went on his way rejoicing. 40 But Philip was found at Azo′tus, and passing on he preached the gospel to all the towns till he came to Caesare′a.
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