[Thursday's Devotional] - A New Day

Time moves on, everything changes…

 

It's the end of an era as we turn the page from 1 Kings to 2 Kings. Elijah's ministry is coming to an end, and the focus starts to shift to a new prophet, Elisha.

 

Elisha stays close to Elijah, really wanting to learn from him and to pick up some of Elijah's anointing:

 

 When they had crossed, Elijah said to Elisha, "Tell me, what can I do for you before I am taken from you?"

 "Let me inherit a double portion of your spirit," Elisha replied….

Elisha then picked up Elijah's cloak that had fallen from him and went back and stood on the bank of the Jordan.  He took the cloak that had fallen from Elijah and struck the water with it. "Where now is the LORD, the God of Elijah?" he asked. When he struck the water, it divided to the right and to the left, and he crossed over.

The company of the prophets from Jericho, who were watching, said, 'The spirit of Elijah is resting on Elisha.' 2 Kings 2:9,13-15 [NIV]

 

Elijah and Elisha both made a choice to listen to God, and to be led by him. Their life stories are examples of what it means to be 'naturally supernatural', living with God and seeing God's power breaking into our world today. This theme continues through the Bible, and into our own day.

 

In my teenage years, I was inspired by John Wimber's Bible teaching.  Wimber challenged us to put into action Bible teaching about listening to God and praying for God's kingdom to come in all sorts of ways, including healing and miracles.

 

One weekend our church hosted a conference on healing and the prophets.  The speaker was Blaine Cook one of Wimber's associates.  As we moved into a prayer ministry time, he shared a word of knowledge about a damaged nose and I was reminded of a time when a hard ball had hit my nose a few years before.  For years I had suffered with sinusitis, and no treatment had really touched it.  I was prayed for, and as I went back to my seat people saw the bone in my nose moving.  On the way home, I filled 3 handkerchiefs …and I have never had a problem with sinusitis since then.

 

Just as Elisha wanted to learn from Elijah and to receive his anointing, Blaine Cook wanted to model his ministry on John Wimber's and I am one of many people to benefit from that life choice.

 

So What?

What would you love to see in your life?

What choices are you making to see this happen?

Who are you modeling yourself on?

 

Tim Norman

 

Read the Bible in a year: Psalm 78:40-55, 2 Kings 1:1-2:25, Acts 20:1-38

 

[Wednesday's Devotional] - Tomorrow's News

Wake up, coffee, wash, dress, breakfast, read the Bible, pray, what's the news?

 

Life is filled with things we have to do, things we want to do.

 

We want to know what is going on, and we want to know that things will be ok.

 

King Ahab was going to war, and he want to check what would happen. So they called in the prophets who told them they would win, but King Jehosaphat wanted to be sure and insisted that they have a real prophet of the Lord. This is what he said:

 

"Micaiah said, "As surely as the LORD lives, I can tell him only what the LORD tells me….I saw all Israel scattered on the hills like sheep without a shepherd, and the LORD said, 'These people have no master. Let each one go home in peace.'"

1 Kings 22:14, 17 [NIV]

 

Ahab calling in the prophets seems to be little more than following a habit, or perhaps a protocol which was required of him. He didn't really want to follow God, but rather seems to have wanted to have God give approval to whatever he had decided to do.

 

It must have been a challenge for Micaiah to remain faithful to God, disagreeing with the prevailing opinion.

 

And what about us?

Do we want to hear from God, and follow him?

 

Are there times when we have to stand up for what God is saying, even if it isn't popular?

 

Tim Norman

 

Read the Bible in a year:  Proverbs 15:31-16:7, 1 Kings 22:1-53, Acts 19:1-41

 

 

[Tuesday's Devotional] - Help Me!

^"The man of God came up and told the king of Israel, "This is what the LORD says: 'Because the Arameans think the LORD is a god of the hills and not a god of the valleys, I will deliver this vast army into your hands, and you will know that I am the LORD." 1 Kings 20:28 [NIV]

 

The odds were against Israel, and they could have followed all sorts of strategies – give up and surrender, make an alliance with another nation and risk compromising in some way. This time God sent a messenger to tell them that he would deliver them, and that was exactly what happened.

 

 

So What?

In the face of our own challenges, do we really trust God?

 

Tim Norman

 

Read the Bible in a year: Psalm 78:32-39, 1 Kings 20:1-21:29, Acts 18:9-28

 

[Monday's Devotional] - Showdown!

It's that Monday morning feeling. The weekend was great, and now Monday is here.

 

Today's reading from 1 Kings starts with one of the highpoints in the account of Elijah's ministry. With great faith Elijah challenges the prophets of Baal to a showdown. He is hugely outnumbered, but his faith is rewarded and his God answers his prayers. Everyone sees that his God is the true God.

 

Then comes the surprise. Queen Jezebel threatens his life, and Elijah runs for his life even when he has just seen God honour his faith and obedience.

 

What has gone wrong? What does the Bible writer want us to learn?

 

The Bible is full of examples of real people living real lives with God – with their ups and downs, their successes and failures.

 

God provided food for Elijah, and then let him sleep. A second time God provided food for Elijah, and this time he gave him a new set of marching orders. This passage shows us that God takes very seriously the needs of our whole being (physical, mental, emotional and spiritual) – food, drink and rest go a long way in meeting our physical, mental and emotional needs. Perhaps Elijah hadn't really been looking after himself very well, certainly he'd been through a huge experience and needed replenishing.

 

These words from a great hymn sum up what happened next:

'Breathe through the heats of our desire
Thy coolness and Thy balm;
Let sense be dumb, let flesh retire;
Speak through the earthquake, wind, and fire,
O still, small voice of calm.'

 

So What?

What can you learn from God's faithfulness to Elijah in a tough situation?

What can you learn about the way God looked after Elijah?

 

Tim Norman

 

Read the Bible in a year:  Psalm 78:17-31, 1 Kings 18:16-19:21, Acts 17:22-18:8

 

[Friday's Devotional] - Guided by the Spirit

Paul has now set off on his second journey, and today we read how God directs him and his accomplices to Macedonia.

"When they came to the border of Mysia, they tried to enter Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus would not allow them to. So they passed by Mysia and went down to Troas. During the night Paul had a vision of a man of Macedonia standing and begging him, 'Come over to Macedonia and help us.' After Paul had seen the vision, we got ready at once to leave for Macedonia, concluding that God had called us to preach the gospel to them." Acts 16:7-10 [NIV]

It's difficult to understand how it actually happened. How did the Spirit of Jesus not allow them to enter Bithynia? Was there a force-field that stopped them going in that direction? Was it just that there were no buses that day? I guess we will never know for sure! What is clear is that Paul then had a clear message from God in the form of a vision, in this case, which he immediately responded to. Paul shows us the way to respond to God's call.

Unfortunately we don't often get such a clear message from God; or do we?

We live in a very scientifically minded age; humankind thinks that it has (or is working on) the answers for everything. When God calls, do we hear or see that it is God, or are we now conditioned to look for some other 'reasonable explanation'. I'm sure that when we look for God at work in the world around us, in the lives of those we interact with, then we see God in action more and more. When we look for other reasons for events or invoke coincidence then our perception of God diminishes.

The more we are aware of God in the world about us then the more likely it is that we will hear his call and have the opportunity of responding as Paul did.

Today's prayer; Father, open my eyes to you and your work. Open my mind to the possibility that it is you at work, not circumstance. Open my ears to hear your call and help me respond 'at once' with all that I am.

Amen

Mike Iredale

Read the Bible in a year:  Psalm 78:1-8, 1 Kings 12:25-14:20, Acts 16:1-15

[Thursday's Devotional] - Tested by the Spirit

Today we are back with Paul. He has now finished his first long journey, and been selected with others to travel to Jerusalem to discuss the 'circumcision question' with the apostles and elders there. After the debate, agreement is reached and a letter written to be taken back to the gentile Christians in Antioch.

"Therefore we are sending Judas and Silas to confirm by word of mouth what we are writing. It seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us not to burden you with anything beyond the following requirements: You are to abstain from food sacrificed to idols, from blood, fro the meat of strangled animals and from sexual immorality. You will do well to avoid these things." Acts 15:27-29 [NIV]

There must have been a fair degree of prayer and discernment for the authors of the letter to know that 'it seemed good to the Holy Spirit'. They also seem to have got their priorities right; the Holy Spirit coming before themselves in the discernment process.

If you are anything like me you approach decisions (and life) the other way round – does it seem good to me first, does it seem good to the Holy Spirit second; and usually forgetting the second part completely!

Jesus said these things about the Holy Spirit, "But the Counsellor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and remind you of everything." John 14:26; and, "But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all truth," John 16:13

Aren't we missing out on a wonderful opportunity here? When there is a big decision to be made we might pray and ask God for guidance (we might not); but what about all the other, smaller decisions that we make. What about testing what we might watch or read or listen to, or where we might go?

Rather than just going with the flow, doing the same as everyone else, conforming to the world why not make our relationship with the indwelling Spirit of God more active rather than passive; who knows how much more effective we might be at revealing the presence of God to the world!

Today's prayer; Father, grow in me the desire to turn to you for guidance as the first thing that I do rather than the last. Make me more effective as a bearer of your light.

Amen

Mike Iredale

Read the Bible in a year:  Psalm 77:10-20, 1 Kings 11:14-12:24, Acts 15:22-41

[Wednesday's Devotional] - Because of His love

Today's reading tells of the visit of the Queen of Sheba to Solomon. How she marvels at his God-given wisdom, and at all that he has been blessed with.

"Praise be to the Lord your God, who has delighted in you and placed you on the throne of Israel. Because of the Lord's eternal love for Israel, he has made you king; to maintain justice and righteousness." 1 Kings 10:9 [NIV]

She recognises the hand of God. She recognises that God is motivated by love.

We too know that God is motivated by love; "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him." John 3:16-17 [NIV].

It is through Jesus giving himself for us that we can know God, live with God, and know that our future is assured with God; all because he loves us.

It never does any harm to reflect on what God has done for each of us, and what God continues to do for each of us. Take time today to do just that.

Today's prayer; Father, thank you for saving me. Thank you for all you have done for me. Help me to respond by giving of myself for you, just as you gave of yourself for me.

Amen

Mike Iredale

Read the Bible in a year:  Psalm 77:1-9, 1 Kings 9:10-11:13, Acts 15:1-21

[Tuesday's Devotional] - Indwelt by God

Today we are with Solomon, having just finished the huge task of building the Temple, a dwelling place for the Lord Almighty.

"The Lord said to him: I have heard the prayer and plea you have made before me; I have consecrated this temple, which you have built, by putting my Name there for ever. My eyes and my heart will always be there." 1 Kings 9:3 [NIV]

When the temple was complete and sacrifices offered the Lord's presence filled the temple; "When Solomon finished praying, fire came down from heaven and consumed the burnt offering and the sacrifices, and the glory of the Lord filled the temple. The priests could not enter the temple of the Lord because the glory of the lord filled it." 2 Chronicles 7:1-2 [NIV]

God no longer dwells on earth in the same way. Jesus came and radically changed everything. His sacrifice, once for all, restored the relationship between God and his people. We now have the gift of the Holy Spirit dwelling within us, our connection with God; God in us. Jesus said to his disciples, "On that day you will realise that I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in you." John 14:20. This is realised through the Spirit dwelling within us.

So, the place where God now dwells on earth is within each of us. We are each a living stone in the living temple of God. It is through us that the presence of God is now seen in the world. What a privilege! What a responsibility!

Today's prayer; Father, through your presence within me, inspire me and enable me to love you with all that I am and to love my neighbour as myself. Use me as you will to reveal yourself to the world.

Amen

Mike Iredale

Read the Bible in a year: Proverbs 15:11-20, 1 Kings 8:22-9:9, Acts 14:8-28

[Monday's Devotional] - Spirit filled

Today's reading from Acts finds us with Paul on his first missionary journey. We read of the gladness of the gentiles when Paul tells them the good news and makes clear that the good news is as much for them as for the Jews. The good news is heard through the whole region. Then comes persecution from one direction and they are expelled from the area; and as they leave to travel on we read:

 

"And the disciples were filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit." Acts 13:52 [NIV]

Despite having their work curtailed and being forced out they were filled with joy. Which raises the question; how often are we filled with joy as we live as followers of Jesus?

When we use our spirit-given gifts to love others and serve others we do get a sense of joy. When things go well we certainly do, perhaps not so much when things go less well. C. S. Lewis' autobiographical story of his journey into faith is entitled, 'Surprised by Joy'; how much are we even aware of 'joy' let alone surprised by it?

I suspect that there are many reasons why we might be less aware of 'joy' than we might be; differing reasons at different times; differing reasons for different people. There might be something to do with busyness, or with doing things our way and in our own strength, or not using the gifts that we have been blessed with, or due to relationship issue with others, or relationship issues with God, or.....

The one thing that we can do today is pray; Father, fill me more and more with your Holy Spirit. Let me know your presence more and more; guide me to live as you would wish and let me know more and more the joy that comes in following you.

Amen

Mike Iredale

Read the Bible in a year:  Psalm 76:1-12, 1 Kings 7:23-8:21, Acts 13:42-14:7

[Friday's Devotional] - Empowering

This week we have been reading about some of the most amazing miracles in the whole Bible.  They weren't even done by Jesus but by men that were downbeat and disowning him just a short while earlier.  Their change of attitude has to be as big an authentication of the truth of the power of the risen Jesus and the Holy Spirit as the miracles themselves.

 

I was listening to a talk by Kenny Borthwick the other day, and he was wondering why we don't see so many healings and miracles in Britain today. As a young convert Kenny was told these miracles don't happen anymore, but he doubted that.  There are plenty of reported miraculous things happening in poor countries where people are aware they need God's help.  I wonder if the reason is partly because we rely on modern medicine, so don't call on God the same?

 

Surely the Holy Spirit is given, as the creed says, to "make Christ known in the world".  Kenny's challenge to us was to go on seeking the empowering of the Holy Spirit in our lives, not being content with uttering a few words in tongues, or relying on equipping ourselves to make Christ known.  Equipping ourselves with teaching and techniques can never replace the empowering of God, as every renewal movement has starting with a move of the Holy Spirit.

 

My most powerful encounter with God was twenty years ago, whilst alone in my college room.  I had the most amazing sense of the presence of God that it felt like I was in heaven.  I was left with tears running down my cheeks at God's amazing love.  God was there beyond shadow of a doubt.  I wonder though if I have failed to push on through to seek the Spirit's empowering for sharing my Faith.

 

Kenny revealed that he sought the Holy Spirit for a long time without success. He had to go through the humiliation of standing in a meeting with people falling around him, but being unaffected by the Spirit himself.  It wasn't until crying out in desperation to a friend for his need that wave upon wave of blessing came.  How much do we want this blessing of the Holy Spirit?  Are we willing to risk humiliation?

 

Kenny says he is a shy man, often finding it difficult to pass the time of day with people, yet knows the anointing of God when he comes to speak.  I identified with his shyness.

 

What could God do through me if I let him? What could he do through you?

 

 

Jon Seaton

 

Read the Bible in a year: Proverbs 15: 1-10, 1 Kings 2:13-3:15, Acts 11:19-12:19a

[Thursday's Devotional] - What's going on?

In our passage from Acts today, Peter is hungry and wants something to eat. He has a vision of all kinds of animals in a sheet, and then hears a voice telling him to "kill and eat".  He is repulsed by this and tells God he has never eaten anything impure.  He then gets summoned by a centurion called Cornelius who has been spoken to by an angel.  If Peter visits Cornelius it would break the Jewish rule of associating with Gentiles.  He realises God has said through his vision that no man is unclean, and so he goes.

This flouting of Jewish Law by God could have been very confusing for Peter, but Peter had a close enough relationship to God to discern what was going on.

A few years ago I was looking to change job, and was praying about it at my desk.  A few minutes later the phone went, and it was an old boss of mine asking me if I would consider a new post.  This had to be God's doing, I thought.  I applied for the job, but during the interview it didn't turn out to be quite what was promised, but I decided that I should still be faithful to what I thought was God's call.  I was rather surprised by some fellow Christians' lack of enthusiasm at my story, and they advised me to proceed with caution.  As it turned out they were right.  I wasn't even offered the job.  It wasn't God after all.

I find discernment difficult, as I expect most of us do.  Today's passage makes it sound easy, but what we shouldn't do is give up trying.  I am encouraged by Paul, who maybe had greater insight into the purposes of God than anybody except Jesus, and yet he says he strove to "know Christ" (Philippians 3:10). Discernment is obviously a lifetime's work.

 

Jon Seaton

 

Read the Bible in a year: Psalm 74: 10-17, 1 Kings 1:1-2:12, Acts 10:23b-11:18

[Wednesday's Devotional] - Compassion in Death

Have you ever felt numb to the reality of death?  Have you had times of going through life feeling immortal until someone close to you dies?  I have felt like that - I was nearly thirty before losing someone close to me, my Grandmother. She had a good life, and died knowing Jesus after a long illness.

 

Whether death is something familiar to us or not, it can hit us rather hard when someone close to us dies.  In our passage today (Acts 9:32-43) Tabitha's friends were women who knew death – they had all lost their husbands.  We see how upset they were at Tabitha dying.  I expect she had helped them in their grief or loneliness or poverty, as it says she was kind to the poor.  We see how much she meant to them as they cried and by the way they showed Peter the clothes she had made.  God had come close to these women through Tabitha, but now He had taken her away.

 

I think this story is a wonderful story for two reasons.  Firstly as an example of Christian community coming together to support people in need, both through Tabitha to the widows, and then through Peter and the disciples making the effort to be with them in their grief.  Secondly, it is wonderful because of the miracle of God restoring Tabitha's life.

 

I think these two reasons are linked.  As our spirit is moved to compassion we are reflecting God's compassion.  Maybe it's not surprising that things happen when the human spirit and the Holy Spirit come together.  Peter had seen God come close in compassion at death before, when Jesus wept at Lazarus's death, and then witnessed him restore Lazarus to life.  I expect that gave Peter the boldness to command Tabitha to "get up".  It is a lovely image of how God comes close in death.  He is so present that people come back to life, both literally for Tabitha, but also spiritually for her widowed friends and people all over Joppa.

 

Although we may not see someone resurrected from death (although how fantastic that would be!) it is very comforting to know that our life giving God is so present and in control.  It is exciting to see how present God is through the love of his followers.

 

I hope I can show some compassion and awareness of life, rather than being numb to the realities of it.

 

Jon Seaton

Read the Bible in a year: Psalm 74: 1-9, 2 Samuel 23:8-24:25, Acts 9:32-10:23a

[Tuesday's Devotional] - What are you afraid of?

The Lord told [Ananias], "Go to the house of Judas on Straight Street and ask for a man from Tarsus named Saul, for he is praying.  In a vision he has seen a man named Ananias come and place his hands on him to restore his sight."

 "Lord," Ananias answered, "I have heard many reports about this man and all the harm he has done to your holy people in Jerusalem.  And he has come here with authority from the chief priests to arrest all who call on your name."

But the Lord said to Ananias, "Go! This man is my chosen instrument to proclaim my name to the Gentiles and their kings and to the people of Israel. Acts 9:11-15 [NIV]

How would you like to be Ananias, called by God to go and heal a man who is breathing "murderous threats" against you and your fellow Christians?  Would you do it?  I think I would have to be so sure it was God speaking.  But just imagine how good Ananias must have felt when it all worked out, that he was God's instrument for change, releasing probably the most powerful evangelist and theologian the world has ever seen.

A friend challenged me with the phrase "What would you do if you weren't afraid?"  Some would argue that fear is a God given feeling for our self-preservation, and I certainly wouldn't advocate taking stupid risks that we're not called to or have very little potential impact for good.

I think a lot of our fears are relational.  The number one fear is public speaking, and that is one that controls me, but not as much as it used to.  A few years ago I volunteered to go into Onley prison to help with the chapel service on a Sunday.  To my surprise I was asked to take a turn speaking at the service.  After trying to squirm out of it (you know it's not my thing, Lord) I spent a sleepless night before delivering my nervous talk.  It wasn't earth shattering, no scales dropped from people's eyes as far as I know, but I do think God started to change me, and reduce my fear of public speaking.

Do you have some fears that God is calling you to face?  Do you think that may be part of your spiritual growth?  What would you do if you weren't afraid?

Jon Seaton

 

Read the Bible in a year: Psalms 73: 15-28, 2 Samuel 22:1-23:7, Acts 9:1-31

[Monday's Devotional] - Power and Obedience

When the crowds heard Philip and saw the miraculous signs he did, they all paid close attention to what he said. With shrieks, evil spirits came out of many, and many paralytics and cripples were healed. So there was great joy in that city. Acts 8:6-8 [NIV]

 

Wouldn't it be fantastic if God came in power to Rugby, the same way as he did in Samaria, so that through works of power people "pay close attention" to the Gospel, and have great joy.  Maybe the thought of Revival is something you pray and long for, and that hope is an encouragement to you.  It is especially amazing that all this went on in Samaria, and the people had not yet received the Holy Spirit.  They were about to however (Acts 8:17), and Jesus had prophesied to the woman at the well about this time (see John chapter 4).

 

Maybe the hope of Revival just seems too far away when you see your friends' and neighbours' ambivalence to God.  Maybe you don't have a revival prophecy to cling to.  I must admit that if my sole expectation was for an Acts 8 kind of revival, I would soon become disheartened.  But our Bible passage also has Philip bringing the Gospel in another way, to an Ethiopian eunuch. Philip patiently unfolds the truth of Scripture to the man and so brings about revival in his life.  That appeals more to me as a workable model for evangelism today, more like what we do in Alpha.

 

What strikes me about Philip is how obedient he is.  It must have been tempting for him to have thought he'd cracked it, winning the crowds with miraculous signs.  Surely he was now the big crowd evangelist?  Yet he is obedient to God's prompting to follow up the individual Ethiopian in a quiet way.  Maybe it is wrong to focus too much on certain models for Evangelism, thinking we are only called to act in one way.  Maybe we should try and follow God's prompting for what He wants us to do, whatever that entails.

Jon Seaton

Read the Bible in a year: Proverbs 14: 25-35, 2 Samuel 20:1-21:22, Acts 8:4-40

[Friday's Devotional] - Facing Your Giants

¹⁹ Your righteousness, God, reaches to the heavens,
you who have done great things.
Who is like you, God?
²⁰ Though you have made me see troubles,
many and bitter,
you will restore my life again;
from the depths of the earth
you will again bring me up.
²¹ You will increase my honour
and comfort me once more.

²² I will praise you with the harp
for your faithfulness, my God;
I will sing praise to you with the lyre,
Holy One of Israel.
²³ My lips will shout for joy
when I sing praise to you—
I whom you have delivered.
²⁴ My tongue will tell of your righteous acts
all day long,
for those who wanted to harm me
have been put to shame and confusion.

Psalm 71:19-24 [NIV]

 

David learned the key to happiness and contentment from the many trials and hardships that tested his faith over the years and I can sure relate to that.  What he learned was to keep focused on God and on the goodness of God.  When we begin to allow ourselves to focus on ourselves we will always begin to doubt God.  In truth, we all have problems; health issues, financial problems, friend issues, family problems, church problems and we have more to do than we can possibly get done!  The list can go on and on.  In fact, the more we list, the more we begin to feel that there is no end to our troubles and we just want to give up because we doubt that God is really doing anything to help us.

On the other hand, when we focus on God and His goodness and we see Him in our lives as He works in us daily, we begin to be filled with a sense of peace and assurance. We can know that everything is going to be fine because God said it will.  I read a wonderful book many years ago, 'Facing your Giants' by Max Lucado, 'Focus on giants—you stumble.  Focus on God—your giants tumble'.  I wrote earlier in the week about being expectant and telling others about God and His graciousness toward us.  It is my choice how I face my life, I can either drown myself in my problems or I can count my blessings and submerse myself in the goodness, love and promises of God. I pray God will bless each of us as we trust Him today.

Dear God, help me to keep the eyes of my heart focused on you today. Help me to know your love and care in my life. Fill me with your Spirit that I may not grumble and complain but have your peace in my heart. I thank you for all you do for me each and every day. In Jesus name, Amen.

 

Dawn Milward

 

Read the bible in a year:  Psalm 71:19-24, 2 Samuel 15:13-16:23, Acts 6:1-7:19

[Thursday's Devotional] - Live the Life!

Our reading in Acts today finds the apostles thrown into jail for their escapades of miracles and bold preaching.  One might think they would look to take a breather, having upset the religious leaders who were jealous, perhaps they should consider being a little more cautious.  But no, an Angel stops by, opens the Jail door and sends them out again.  There is no thought on the Apostles part about what will happen next.  There is no discussion about possibly relocating their ministry, no, they follow the call of God on their lives, conveyed by an Angel no less, and get stuck in again, telling people about this new life! 

This passage sure made me smile, try explaining to the temple guard and the chief priests what had happened, "we found the jail securely locked, with the guards standing at the doors; but when we opened them, we found no-one inside" (Acts 5v 23) the Holy Spirit knocks spots off Houdini.  Once released the Apostles are at it again, teaching and ministering to people in the temple courts.

I've heard it said, "If you lack enemies, you are not doing something worthwhile."  The most worthwhile activity that we can do as a Christian is to proclaim or share the gospel of Jesus Christ, and this activity will inevitably cause us to have enemies

Reading through this section of Acts, the words of the Angel: "Go, stand in the temple courts and tell the people the full message of this new life," (Acts 5 v 20) are interesting. The angel didn't say go and share the ten ways you can make your life better, or these are the things you need to add on to what you do in order that you can be closer to God.?!  No, Peter and John were commanded just as I think we are commanded, to share our lives with the people around us.  To simply live life.  Learn to live life from a changed perspective, essentially that's what this is all about.  Being a Christ Follower is about more than just adding to our schedule daily bible readings and church meetings.  It is about completely changing our lives!  It's about us as the Church sharing the story of this new Life that we live in Jesus.  I think so often we limit what the words of the bible are saying to eternity.  That Jesus will bring new life in the next life.  But we need to remember that this Life is for the taking now!  Are you Kingdom Living?

When we begin to recognize this and allow God to change, not just things about our lives, but to change us completely.  We live a new Life that isn't bound by the worries of this world, but is capable of resting completely in the arms of our loving Father.  A Life that we can live in the authority of the Spirit, a life that has meaning and purpose.

Live the Life!

Dawn Milward

Read the bible in a year:  Proverbs 14:15-24, 2 Samuel 14:1-15:12, Acts 5:12-42

[Wednesday's Devotional] - Ananias & Sapphira

There was a movement going through the church where people were selling their properties and giving all the money to the church, living a communal lifestyle (Acts 4:32-37).  They were able to give and share because they felt that what they had was not their own, they would not see a brother or sister suffer when others had plenty.  Truth is, everything you and I have is on loan from God, what are you doing with it?

 

So Ananias and Sapphira also sold a field that they had, and gave some of the money to the church.  Their sin was not keeping part of the money, as Peter said 'the field was theirs, and the money was theirs to do what they liked with' (Acts 5v4, paraphrase) their sin was pretending to have given it all; their crime was against the Spirit, lying to God. The only reason I think they would have done this was to be noticed by people, possibly competing with Barnabas (Acts 4:36-37). Their motivation for this was pride.  The question is: do we do the same thing?

 

God's­­­ condition is that we give cheerfully (2 Cor. 9:7), honestly, and without making a fanfare, that is not just of our finances, but also in our service to him.

 

I, like many, have been guilty of wanting to 'be noticed' for things I have done, it is part of my flawed nature, yet the greatest joy for me has always been when I have done as instructed, 'but when you give to someone in need, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing'. (Matthew 6 v 3).  Such deeds are a secret between me and God, we smile together, I add a clause of my own, 'if anyone finds out about it, it will not count', that helps me.

 

Like the early church let us bless those around us, why not do something today and don't get found out!  God will put someone on your heart if you ask him.  I cannot count the number of times I was blessed by my church family at St Matthews: money in my pigeon hole one Christmas when I had nothing, furniture for my home, a 4-berth caravan, doughnuts and coffee on my doorstep when I moved house, a bag of shopping, a car for my son … …….the list is immense, as is my gratitude.

 

Can't afford to give and share what you have?  In my opinion, we can't afford not to,

 

Dawn Milward

 

Read the bible in a year:  Psalm 71:9-18, 2 Samuel 13:1-39, Acts 4:23-5:11

 

 

[Tuesday's Devotional] - David & Bathsheba

David was a man after God's own heart. (1Sam 13 v 14) & (Acts 13:22) so what happened with Bathsheba?  What was David thinking?  Maybe things were getting too good for David.  He was King of Israel and Judah.  The kingdom was prospering.  God seemed to bless everything that David touched.  This is DAVID, King of Israel!  Psalm writer!  Yet he had his weaknesses, like all of us.

I'm sure you all know this story in today's reading, if it were current news headlines it may read:

God's favourite king in illicit affair!

Hero of the Bible implicated in adultery and murder!

King David steals generals wife then has him executed!

This is the same man who wrote so many of those beautiful, tender Psalms. One of which is Psalm 51, a Psalm of repentance written shortly after his affair with Bathsheba.

It's stories like this that add authority and authenticity to the Bible, if we were writing the Bible, might we try to cover up this blemish on the Royal Line?

David eventually marries Bathsheba, their son Solomon, built the Temple, wrote Proverbs and desired wisdom as a gift from God.  David, Bathsheba and Solomon are all in the family tree of Jesus as revealed in Matthew's genealogy.  Solomon being listed as "the son of Bathsheba, who had been Uriah's wife"

My point is, the story doesn't end here.  David doesn't get away with it as far as keeping his dirty little secret and God won't let him, we can't hide our heart from God.  Even though David commits a callous and heartless act he is still Israel's king and after he confessed it, he is forgiven.  Even God's chosen one, King David (my, favourite messer-upper) had spiritual weaknesses.  There are consequences to our sin, as there were for David; however, if we are willing to face God -- and ourselves -- with the same painful honesty as David did, healing and restoration follow.

Each day I mess-up to some degree, it is always such an encouragement to me that God chooses flawed people to do fabulous things.  He can fulfil his work without me, and without you, yet he chooses us and changes us when we choose to give him our hearts and our time.

 

Dawn Milward

 

 

Read the bible in a year:  Psalm 71:1-8, 2 Samuel 11:1-12:31, Acts 4:1-22

 

[Monday's Devotional] - Expectantly Beautiful

Acts chapter 3 is awesome!  It is where we find the 1st miracle performed by the apostles after the ascension of Jesus.  We must look at the entire 3rd chapter to get the full impact of this miracle which took place at the gate called beautiful, one of the favoured entrances to the temple.  The Jewish historian Josephus describes this gate as being made of fine Corinthian brass, seventy-five feet high with huge double doors, so beautiful that it "greatly excelled those that were only covered over with silver and gold." (Cited in Stott).

The lame man sat at those gates begging, he knew the devout Jews and Gentiles observed 3 times of prayer throughout the day and he simply wanted to be supported in the condition he'd known since birth, however, God wanted to completely change his condition.  How marvellous!  God wants to continually change our condition too, the condition of our bodies, hearts, attitudes and habits.

 

This lame man had the key: "So the man gave them his attention, expecting to get something from them" (Acts 3 v5) … and boy was he in for a surprise!  He asked for money and received healing.  He had the spirit of Expectancy, when we ask God for something we need we must expect that he will provide.  God always sees something better for us than we see for ourselves.  Having moved house at Easter, a time when Chris had no work and our savings had ran out, we clung to that spirit of Expectancy for a beautiful home and work, did God disappoint?  Of course not, he topped anything we could have imagined, he wants to give his children good gifts, to use for His glory.

 

I write this thinking of my friends who boldly heal in the name of Jesus outside Asda on a Saturday, I think of healings I have seen and been a party to in His name, of testimonies to tell, we all have them and it is important that we share them to encourage others.  It is important that we expect more.  Later in this chapter we find that people who even pass through Peter's shadow get healed, because of God's power in his shadow, bet they didn't expect that!

 

The healed man went jumping, shouting and praising God, a crowd gathered filled with wonder and amazement and Peter used this opportunity to share the message of Jesus Christ.  The same Peter who cut off the soldiers' ear and denied his Lord 3 times, stumbling away in tears, is now boldly capitalising on the opportunity to share the mercy and grace of God.

 

Let us, in spite of our own weaknesses, pray for courage like Peter to step out and tell of the things the Lord has done.  Let us live with that spirit of expectancy.  Expectancy opens your heart and better enables you to hear and receive from the Lord those things your heart so desires.

 

 

Dawn Milward

 

 

Read the bible in a year:  Psalm 70:1-5, 2 Samuel 9:1-10:19, Acts 3:1-26

 

 

[Friday's Devotional] - Making it stick!

So the intrigue continues.  David is finally made King of Israel after more treachery and political manoeuvring by various people in a similar vein to those that we explored earlier.  Human nature doesn't change.  But, the story doesn't end yet; a whole new chapter starts here.

 

David needs a capital.  The Jebusite city of Jerusalem is his choice.  However, the inhabitants don't recognise him as King yet.  The nation did not unite behind him and the Jebusites were sure that their fortifications, coupled with the street beggars would be enough to keep David at bay.  They were wrong.  It would appear that 'the blind and the lame' became a tongue in cheek reference to the Jebusites among David and his followers thereafter.

 

On taking Jerusalem, David starts the work of establishing his kingship.  Hiram the King of Tyre, up in the north, sent him a gift of cedar timber and craftsmen to build David a house.  Hiram would have been keen to build a good relationship with his southern neighbour.  This house would help David to be seen as King among the people of the city.  David also gets to work establishing a family line by taking concubines and wives from among the local women (imagine all those mother-in-laws!).  The point is that David is working at kingship.  Yes, God has said that David will be King, and he is.  But that doesn't mean that David can sit back and leave it all to God.  David clearly understands that he has to do his part in God's plans.  David understands that he has to pray like it all depends on God and work like it all depends on him.  That way brings success and we need to do the same.

 

John Martin-Jones

 

Read the Bible in a year: Psalm 69:13-28, 2 Samuel 3:22-5:16, Acts 1:1-22

[Thursday's Devotional] - Everything is politics, but politics isn't everything

 

I had to read this section of Samuel twice to get my head around it.  All of the unusual names don't help.  I teach children with some unusual names - and some even more unusual spellings, but some of these really take the biscuit.  In a nut shell, David has been made king of the area around Jerusalem and to the south, Ish-bosheth, Sauls's son, has the northern area which includes the Jordan valley and Galilee.  There is continued tension between the two kingdoms, a fierce rivalry and military skirmishes.

 

There is intrigue.  Abner seems keen to join David after the accusation made against him by Ish-bosheth, of sleeping with one of Saul's  concubines.  This  is seemingly enough to make him want to change sides.  Was it that?  Or did Abner see which way things were likely to go and decide to get onto the winning side?  Who knows? The point is that there is another force at work here.  It is God.  God had promised David the throne of Israel and David is going to have it.  God never said that David would be handed the throne over night.  It took years and that is sometimes the way things work out in God's timing.

 

There was a worship song that was popular a few years ago.  I think it was called 'He lives'. It included the lyric "Into our hands he will give the land we claim."  Well he will, but it might take forty years to receive it as the Israelites found out in the wilderness. The point is that David is going to be King of Israel.  The Lord of History has declared it and it is going to come to pass.

 

Remember this next time you doubt that there is a point to your existence.  David must have felt that his chances of becoming King of Israel were not great when he considered the size of his small kingdom and the size of Ish-bosheth's Israel.  But God had a plan, and despite the situation and all the politics and rivalry and intrigue that could lead to all kinds of outcomes, the simple fact is that David is going to be King, because God has said so.

 

John Martin-Jones

 

Read the Bible in a year: Psalm 69:1-12, 2 Samuel 2:8-3:21, John 21:1-25

 

[Wednesday's Devotional] - David's Lament

 

Our reading starts with a young Amalekite "chancer" coming to tell David of Saul's death.  He has brought Saul's crown and armlet to David.  It would appear, based on 1 Samuel, that he is lying about putting Saul out of his misery.  He clearly expects praise for his actions.  He gets none.  Just the penalty due for destroying God's anointed King.

 

David has good reason to be relieved or even pleased about Saul's death, but he isn't.  He was very close to Jonathan in his youth, but David's sadness is rightly for Saul too.  A terrible thing has happened.

 

David's song of lament for Saul tells of his deep sadness.  Read it carefully.  Some of David's Psalms are also called laments.  Used in worship, laments like this are a very powerful form of prayer.  They are a way of crystallising the pain felt by the writer and the community using the lament in worship.  Bringing that pain before God in word or song enables the community to bring their pain before God together and stand before him in it.  It is not a way of bringing pain before God in private silence, but in corporate solidarity.  With the pain owned and out in the open, God will bring healing.

 

The modern church does not often use lament (maybe the Sheffield Wednesday supporters should though) in worship.  Perhaps we are missing something.

 

I have found a reasonably contemporary recording of a lament (1970).  Have a listen to it by clicking on the link. Don McLean's Waters of Babylon is a lament from a later part of Israel's history but it is beautiful.  Perhaps you could try writing your own to help you bring your pain before God next time you need to.

 

Waters of Babylon

 

John Martin-Jones

 

Read the Bible in a year: Proverbs 13:20-14:4, 2 Samuel 1:1-2:7, John 20:10-31