[Friday's Devotional] - Preach it! A single aim

“My only aim is to finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me – the task of testifying to the good news of God’s grace.”  Acts 20:24 [NIV]

If you have time today, read Acts 20:13-38

Our last sermon that we’re looking at is Paul’s message to the elders of the Ephesian church.  Whereas the last four have been sermons aimed at people who didn’t yet believe, this is a talk aimed at a group of Christian leaders from the city of Ephesus.  Paul hadn’t given a great deal of time and effort to the church in Ephesus, he had seen it established and begin to flourish in spite of persecution. He is on his way to Jerusalem and has a stop at the port of Miletus which is near Ephesus, sending word to the Ephesian leaders to visit him for a last meeting.

It’s an emotional occasion, but what is more apparent than anything is Paul’s single-minded passion for fulfilling the calling that Jesus had given him.  He describes his ministry of preaching and teaching, seeing people come to faith and building up new believers (v18-21), he tells them of his fears for the future (v22-23), but what is most important to him is that he finishes the task that Jesus gave him of  speaking of God’s grace (v24).  He calls the leaders to be faithful to the task given to them: to be vigilant in keeping watch over the church, shepherding it like a flock (v28).

What task have you been called to? We each have a part to play in “testifying to the good news of God’s grace” (v24), but what does that look like specifically for you?  What task has God given you in your work or in your family?  What task has he called you to in the life of the local church?  You may be at a place where you sense a call to a new task, or that one is nearing completion.  You may be confused about what God has asked you to do – maybe he’s asking you to do what is already in front of you.  Maybe this week spent looking at sermons has given you a new hunger to communicate the good news – pray that God would help you and give you opportunities.  But whatever it is let’s pray that we would do it with a single-minded passion like Paul’s.

Reflection: Paul’s calling was costly, involving suffering and hardships.  Is there cost involved in the task to which God has called you? How is God asking you to deal with that cost?

Prayer: Lord Jesus, thank you that you have called me to know you and serve you.  Give me strength in the tasks in front of me, and a single-minded passion for you.  Thank you that you are the God of all grace, and that you have been gracious with me.  Help me be gracious with others in turn today. Amen.

Olly Mears

[Thursday's Devotional] - Preach it! His Offspring

“As some of your own poets have said, ‘We are his offspring.’” Acts 17:28 [NIV]

The last three sermons from the Book of Acts that we have looked at have been to people who already had a belief in the God of Israel.  Peter and Paul were preaching to Jewish people who were already deeply immersed in Scripture and worshipped God.  What they were bringing to them was the news about Jesus the Messiah.  In a sense they had only one hurdle to cross in coming to faith.  But what would the good news about Jesus look like for people who had no understanding of the one true God?  Paul is in Athens, speaking to Greeks who are deeply religious, but have no concept of the God of Israel, let alone Jesus – they are even further removed from faith. How would he help them across those hurdles? What would he say? If you have time, read Acts 17:22-34 now.

Wonderfully, Paul starts from the precise place his listeners are at.  He speaks of what he has observed of Greek religion.  He tells them why this is flawed in terms that they could understand – some Greek philosophy was tending towards thinking that a creator God couldn’t possibly inhabit temples and as the source of life didn’t need offerings from people (v24-25).  He quotes two philosophers in saying that all human life has its source and being in God, and that we are each “his offspring.” (v28).  Only having spoken directly into their situation, using language they could understand does he then speaks about Jesus (v31).

Think about people around you.  Maybe in your work place, or your family.  In our post-Christian culture so many people that we know are like the Greeks of Athens, several steps removed from faith.  In Church we are so often inhabiting a culture that isn’t theirs, using language that they don’t understand, and talking about a God who is a stranger to them.  But this truth remains: those people are his offspring. God made them and loves them, he has called them to live in this time and place (v26-27), and when God’s people go to them and use language and concepts that they can understand even people who seem far away will come to faith (v34).  

Reflection: Who is the person around you who seems furthest removed from knowing God? What are the barriers that they would have to cross in order to come to faith?  How can you cross those barriers to go to them?  Pray that the barriers would be broken down and that person would come to believe.

Prayer: Lord Jesus, thank you that each person on this planet is made and loved by you. Fill my heart with your love for the people of this world. Help your people everywhere, and especially in Rugby, to go to people, to understand the culture around us, and speak into it a message of life and hope. And, Lord, send me. Amen.

Olly Mears

[Wednesday's Devotional] - Preach it! Forgiveness and Freedom

“Therefore, my friends, I want you to know that through Jesus the forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you.”  Acts 13:38 [NIV]

Do read Acts 13:26-43 – or if you’ve time read the whole chapter, it’s exciting stuff!

I wonder if you’ve ever been in a situation where you’ve wronged someone and known it. You deliberately did something that you knew would hurt them and that knowledge burdens you.  You desperately think of ways in which you could make it up to them.  But then they offer you their forgiveness. “What you did was wrong, but I’m not going to hold it against you.”  And suddenly the burden is lifted.  Being forgiven is the most wonderful thing.

In this sermon we’re hearing a message from the apostle Paul.  He’s preaching to Jews in a place called Antioch in Pisidia.  As with our last two sermons, Paul again wants to stress the historical fact of Jesus.  God’s Messiah has come, was killed, but has been raised to life. The punch-line today though is this: because of Jesus our sins are forgiven.  Paul says that this was “a justification you were not able to obtain under the law of Moses.” (v39).  The Jewish sacrificial system was God’s good way for his people to relate to him, but it could only go so far. It pointed people to the ultimate sacrifice that would be made by Jesus.

“Through him everyone is set free from every sin…” (v39).  Every sin. Sometimes we can go on in our Christian life struggling with a particular sin.  We try and cover it up, but know it’s there.  Or a new sin that’s never been a temptation to us before suddenly begins to trip us up.  Paul’s message is one of hope for us. Jesus offers us both forgiveness and freedom – a new start and power to live a new way.  The first thing we need to do is get real about where we’re falling.  It might help to talk and pray with a Christian friend we trust.  Offer yourself to God as you are, name your sin to him, receive his forgiveness, pray for the power of the Spirit to strengthen you to live a new life, and live that out with other Christians around you.

Reflection: Paul speaks of forgiveness and freedom every sin. Is there something in your life that you’ve felt God couldn’t forgive? There is forgiveness for every sin.

Prayer: Lord Jesus, thank you that you died for me.  Thank you that you forgive every sin. Lord, may I live in the freedom that you’ve won for me today.  Strengthen my brothers and sisters so that together we would all live in the freedom you give.  Amen.

Olly Mears

[Tuesday's Devotional] - Preach it! Times of challenge and refreshing

“Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord.”  Acts 3:19 [NIV]

If you have time today, do read Acts 3:11-26.

The people of Jerusalem were utterly amazed. They were seeing with their own eyes a man who had been unable to walk since the day he was born not only walking, but jumping around the temple.  A crowd gathered, and as the man caught his breath and leant onto Peter and John, Peter has some explaining to do.  Isn’t it interesting that Peter’s words are again a response to people’s amazement as they see God do something wonderful?  Let’s pray that God so works through us that people are amazed and ask for an explanation!

Peter again points people to the risen Jesus.  He is the reason that the man has been healed.  The problem was that the people listening to Peter were the very same people who had rejected Jesus.  Peter is bold, directly accusing his listeners of involvement in the death of Jesus: “You handed him over… you disowned him… You killed the author of life…” (v13-15). These are strong, even painful words.

But this challenge is a moment of opportunity for the people of Jerusalem. In recognising who Jesus is and what they did to him this is a chance to “Repent…and turn to God, that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord.” (v19). God’s intention is to refresh and bless his people. In fact he wants to bless all nations on the earth (v25), beginning with Peter’s hearers (v26).

This is God’s plan. He has sent Jesus his Messiah to bless every person on planet earth. But in order to give his blessing, in order to refresh us, first God needs to challenge us so that we turn back to him.  God speaks into the ways in which we shut him out of our lives, and that is uncomfortable.  But the challenge to us is always given in order to bring about refreshing.

Reflection: In what ways has God challenged you recently?  What did you do with that challenge?

Prayer: Lord Jesus, thank you that even when I reject you, you are so faithful to me. Lord, may I be open to your challenge to me, and so receive the blessing of a deeper relationship with you.  May your blessing extend through me to others today.  Amen.

Olly Mears

[Monday's Devotional] - Preach it! It's all about Jesus

“God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Messiah.” Acts 2:36b [NIV]

Before we begin, if you have time, do read Acts 2:14-41.

Something Hannah and I do frequently is download sermons from different churches online. It’s a real blessing to hear different people from all over the world teaching God’s word and preaching the good news about Jesus.  As I listen I am encouraged, challenged and equipped for living for Jesus today.  But what would it be like to listen in to a talk from one of the apostles?  How about downloading something from the early church?  What an opportunity!  That’s what we’ll be doing this week as we look at five of the sermons recorded in the book of Acts.

This first is from the day of Pentecost.  A crowd has gathered around the first believers as, filled with the power of the Holy Spirit, they have spilled out onto the streets from the upper room.  Peter has what seems a tough task on his hands.  His message has to explain to the people around him what on earth has happened.  Why the noise, the tongues and celebrations?  For Peter the answer is simple: “It’s all about Jesus,” he says.

Peter tells them about Jesus’ ministry (v22), his trial and death (v.23) and his resurrection (v.24). In case his listeners wondered how on earth that could happen, Peter goes on to show from the Psalms that David prophesied the resurrection of the Messiah. “God has raised this Jesus to life, and we are all witnesses,” he says (v32).  Now that Jesus is raised to the right hand of God he has “poured out” the promised Holy Spirit (v33).

It’s all about Jesus.  He’s the only one who can give us a new life since he has been raised to life himself.  It’s all about Jesus.  He is the heart and essence of our faith: we will never get further or better than the truths that Peter proclaims of the historical events of Jesus’ life, death and resurrection.  It’s all about Jesus.  “God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Messiah.” (v36) – he’s the one Israel had yearned for, the world’s only Master and Saviour. It’s all about Jesus.

Reflection: Think about what Jesus has done for you.  Visit again his cross and the empty tomb.  Know again that he gives you his life by his Spirit.  What was the people’s response to Jesus that day?  What response does Jesus ask of you?

Prayer: Lord Jesus, I worship you for who you are. Thank you that you truly came, that you died and rose again for me, and now give me your life through the Holy Spirit. May I live in his power today. Amen.

Olly Mears