Acts 9

Saul meets the LORD verse 1- 9

And Saul yet breathing out threatenings and slaughter

against the disciples of the Lord went unto the high priest

and desired of him letters

to Damascus to the synagogues

that if he found any of this way

whether they were men or women

he might bring them bound unto

Jerusalem

As he journeyed – he came near Damascus

and suddenly there shined round about him a light

from heaven and he fell to the earth

and heard a voice saying unto him

Saul – Saul – why persecute you ME?

He said

Who are YOU – Lord?

The Lord said

I am Jesus WHOM you persecute

it is hard for you to kick against the pricks

And he trembling and astonished said

Lord – what will YOU have me to do?

The Lord said to him

Arise – and go into the city

and it shall be told thee what you must do

And the men which journeyed with him stood speechless

hearing a voice – BUT seeing no man

And Saul arose from the earth

and when his eyes were opened – he saw no man

BUT they led him by the hand

and brought him into Damascus

And he was three days without sight

and neither did eat nor drink

LORD sends Ananias to Saul verse 10- 19

And there was a certain disciple at Damascus – named Ananias

and to him said the Lord in a vision – Ananias

And he said

BEHOLD – I am here – Lord

And the Lord said to him

Arise – go into the street which is called Straight

and inquire in the house of Judas

for one called Saul – of Tarsus

FOR BEHOLD – he prays

and has seen in a vision a man named

Ananias coming in and putting his hand on him

that he might receive his sight

THEN Ananias answered

Lord – I have heard by many of this man

how much evil he has done

to YOUR SAINTS at Jerusalem

and here he has authority from the chief priests

to bind all that CALL on YOUR name

BUT the Lord said to him

Go your way – for he is a chosen vessel to ME

to bear MY name before the Gentiles – kings

children of Israel

For I will show him how great things he must SUFFER

for MY name’s sake

AND Ananias went his way – and entered into the house

and putting his hands on him – said

Brother Saul – the Lord – even Jesus

that appeared to you in the way as you came

has sent me – that you might receive your sight

and be FILLED with the Holy Ghost

And immediately there fell from his eyes as it had been scales

and he received sight forthwith – and arose

and was BAPTIZED

And when he had received meat

he was STRENGTHENED

Then was Saul certain days with the disciples

which were in Damascus

Saul preaches Christ in Damascus verse 20- 22

And straightway he PREACHED Christ in the synagogues

that HE is the Son of God

BUT all that hear him were amazed

and said

Is not this he that destroyed them which

called on this name in Jerusalem

and came hither for that intent

that he might bring them bound

unto the chief priests?

BUT Saul increased the more in strength

and confounded the Jews which dwelt at Damascus

PROVING that this is very Christ [Messiah]

Jewish leaders wanted to kill Saul verse 23- 25

And after that many days were fulfilled

the Jews took counsel to kill him

BUT their laying await was known to Saul

and they watched the gates day and night to kill him

THEN the disciples took him by night

and let him down by the wall in a basket

Saul arrives in Jerusalem verse 26- 29

And when Saul was come to Jerusalem

he assayed to join himself to the disciples

BUT they were all afraid of him

and believed not that he was a disciple

BUT Barnabas took him – and brought him to the apostles

and declared unto them how he had seen the Lord in the way

and that HE had spoken to him

and how he had preached boldly at Damascus

in the name of Jesus

And he was with them coming in and going out at Jerusalem

and he spoke boldly in the name of the Lord Jesus

and disputed against the Grecians

but they went about to slay him

Saul heads to Tarsus verse 30

Which when the brethren knew – they brought him down to Caesarea

and sent him forth to Tarsus

Church had peace verse 31

THEN had the churches rest throughout all Judea

and Galilee and Samaria and were edified

and walking in the fear of the Lord

and in the comfort of the Holy Ghost

were multiplied

Peter heals Dorcas verse 32- 41

And it came to pass as Peter passed throughout all quarters

he came down also to the SAINTS – which dwelt at Lydda

and there he found a certain man named Aeneas

which had kept his bed eight years

and was sick of the palsy

AND Peter said to him

Aeneas – Jesus Christ makes you whole

arise – and make thy bed

AND he arose immediately

and all that dwelt at Lydda and Saron saw him

AND TURNED to the Lord

Now there was at Joppa a certain disciple named Tabitha

which by interpretation is called Dorcas

this woman was full of good works

and alm deeds which she did

AND it came to pass in those days – that she was sick – and died

whom when they had washed – they laid her in an upper chamber

AND forasmuch as Lydda was nigh to Joppa

and the disciples had heard that Peter was there

they sent unto him two men

desiring him that he would not delay

to come to them

THEN Peter arose and went with them

when he was come – they brought him into the upper chamber

and all the widows stood by him weeping

and showing the coats and garments

which Dorcas made

while she was with them

BUT Peter put them all forth – and kneeled down – and prayed

and turning him to the body said – Tabitha – ARISE

AND she opened her eyes – and when she saw Peter – she sat up

and he gave her his hand – and lifted her up

and when he had called the SAINTS and widows

PRESENTED her ALIVE

Peter travels to Joppa verse 42- 43

And it was known throughout all Joppa

and many believed in the Lord

AND it came to pass

that he tarried many days in Joppa with one Simon a tanner

COMMENTARY:

DAILY SPIRITUAL BREAKFAST: Young Believers

: 4 And he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutes you me? (1377 “persecutes” [dioko] means to run after, trouble, to pursue in a hostile manner, harass, follow in haste, seek after, or to chase)

DEVOTION: One of the facts that most people who try to hurt Christians don’t realize is that they are not doing it to the person they are doing it to Christ. Christ takes the people who harass Christians personal. HE is the one who protects believer.

Saul was going around the country with the permission of the religious leaders to kill or imprison those who were followers of Christ. They wanted to end HIS church. They wanted to keep their place of authority in the Roman Empire. If the church grew their authority would end.

Now the LORD met Saul as he was headed to Damascus to collect more Christians to put in jail. He had a group of men with him to help him. The men heard nothing only Saul.

Jesus had a short conversation with him. HE used the illustration of an animal fighting against a sharp instrument to keep them working. Saul was working against something he would never win. Jesus was informing him to stop doing what he was doing and become a follower of HIM.

Those who fight against the gospel and those who present it are not fighting against human beings they are fighting against the LORD. They may kill those who are believers but the LORD will continue to reach people. They may criticize the teachings of Christianity but that will only hurt them.

Those who are not believers are fighting a losing war. They might win a few battles with some of the people they meet but they will meet the LORD one day and HE always wins.

CHALLENGE: Always remember that the LORD is in control of what is happening in this world. HIS message is true and many will fight against it but that doesn’t change anything.

DAILY SPIRITUAL LUNCH: Transitional Believers

: 16 For I will shew him how great things he must suffer for my name’s sake. (3958 “suffer” [pascho] means vex, passion, or have a sensible experience)

DEVOTION: The conversion of Saul was dramatic. He was on his way to kill or imprison all those who were following Jesus. He had the letter in his hand from the Jewish leadership in Jerusalem. He was full of zeal for God. However, it was the wrong zeal.

Jesus met him on the way to Damascus. He had a vision of a light and a voice from heaven. He saw it but those who were with him didn’t. The LORD is unique in that HE can talk to someone in a crowd and the others don’t hear HIM.

Saul got up from this experience and was blind. The group had to lead him into Damascus. He fasted and prayed for three days. Finally on the third day Ananias came to him. Ananias told the LORD that he didn’t want to come but the LORD convinced him.

What was Ananias’ responsibility? He was to put his hand on him and he would receive his sight. Ananias was afraid. He knew that Saul could take him to prison. He did it anyway.

What else had the LORD reviled to Ananias? The LORD told him that Saul was a chosen vessel. He was going to bear Jesus’ name before Gentiles, kings, and the children of Israel. The LORD was going to show Saul all that he had to endure for his witness for the LORD.

In II Corinthians 11 we have a list of some of the things that Saul, who became known as Paul, had to endure as a witness for Jesus. The list is long. It is a hard list to read. If we had to go through all those things and knew it ahead of time – we would pass.

We see that Paul didn’t have a easy life ahead of him. Once we accept Christ as our Savior, we are not promised the “rose garden” life. It is a life that will make us grow more like HIS Son. This life includes pruning and chastening. Pruning is done to those who are bearing fruit but the LORD wants more fruit. Chastening is done when an individual walks the wrong way and the LORD has to get him back on the right track. It is only done to those who are followers of the LORD.

Today many pulpits don’t preach Christ because they believe all people are going to heaven. Or they believe that there is more than one way to get to heaven. Or they believe that there is no hell for eternity waiting for those who say “NO” to the gospel. The world of Christians is changing before our eyes. Those we thought were true to the Word of God are compromising with others. Christ’s teaching must come first before we can have fellowship with others. If there is no agreement on the basic doctrines of the faith – there can be no fellowship.

Our world is changing in the way it believes regarding the doctrines of the Bible. There are some who are trying to tell us that we don’t even know the author of some of the books of the Bible that the authorship seems plain. One church is saying that Solomon is not the author of the book of Ecclesiastes when it is introduced by these words “The words of the Preacher, the son of David, king of Jerusalem.” The Christian life is a challenging life. Are we ready for this life?

CHALLENGE: Continually review the basics of the Christian faith as taught in the Word of God. The twelve basic doctrines are covered in this devotional. Become a scholar of the Word!!!

DAILY SPIRITUAL SUPPER: Mature Believers

: 20 And straightway he preached Christ in the synagogues, that HE is the Son of God. (2784 “preached” [kerusso] means publish, proclaim, to be a herald, announce, or to make known)

DEVOTION: Change is what the LORD expects of us once we become followers of HIM. Saul was the one who was willing to stand by while the other religious leaders stoned Stephen. He was the one who was willing to go everywhere to find those who were followers of Jesus and have them put in jail or killed.

He was a true Pharisee. He believed what they had taught him and showed it by his actions. He was faithful to their cause until he met the LORD on the way to Damascus.

Now he was in Damascus in the synagogues teaching that Jesus was really the Son of God. He taught the Jesus was the only way to heaven. He was a good preacher for the LORD.

When we become believers we are to do the same. We might not have the knowledge of a Saul. We might not have the strength of a Stephen who was willing to face the Sanhedrin like him but we can face those who are around us with HIS message.

There was an immediate change in Saul. Ours might take more time but we still need to change from representing our old way of living to the new way of living for Christ.

CHALLENGE: Change is never easy but it is necessary.

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: 27 But Barnabas took him, and brought him to the apostles, and declared to them how he had seen the Lord in the way, and that HE had spoken to him, and how he had preached boldly at Damascus in the name of Jesus. (3955 “boldly” [parrhesiazomai] means to use freedom in speaking, be free spoken, to grow confident, show assurance, assume a bold bearing, to speak honestly and straightforwardly, or to speak openly)

DEVOTION: There always has to be someone who is willing to take a chance on a new believer. Saul was a new believer who was one who persecuted believers in his former life. The leadership in Jerusalem was not sure they could trust him. They thought he might be faking to find out who all the leaders were in the church in Jerusalem and then arrest them.

Along came a man by the name of Barnabas. He was an encourager. He saw Saul as someone who needed a chance to prove that his conversation was real to the believers of Jerusalem. He was the only one brave enough to bring him to the apostles and defend him before them. He believed in Saul and that was all he needed to convince others.

We need to take new believers under our wings and train them and encourage them. Too many fall by the wayside because there is no one who will take the time to encourage them. Barnabas encouraged someone who wrote most of the New Testament.

We can do the same for someone who may cause a revival in our time period. It took a Sunday School teacher who believed in a young man who was a shoe salesman to go to the store where he sold his shoe to invite him to come to know Jesus as his personal Savior. That man’s name is not known by many but the shoe salesman’s name is known around the world. Do you know his name?

CHALLENGE: We might be the one to help someone like him become a great witness for the LORD. Are we willing to encourage a new believer today?

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DISCIPLINES OF THE FAITH:

BODY

Chastity (Purity in living)

Fasting (Time alone with LORD without eating or drinking)

Saul was fasting as he waited for the Lord verse 9

Sacrifice (Giving up something we want to serve the LORD)

Submission (Willing to listen to others and LORD)

Solitude (Going to a quiet place without anyone)

SOUL

Fellowship (Gathering together around the Word of God)

Frugality (wise use of resources)

Journalizing (Writing down what you have learned from the LORD)

Study and Meditation (Thinking through your study in the Word)

Edified verse 31

Secrecy (Doing your good deeds without others knowing but God)

SPIRIT

Celebration (Gathering around a special occasion to worship LORD)

Confession (Tell the LORD we are sorry for our sins on a daily basis)

Prayer (Conversation with God on a personal level)

Saul was praying as he waited for the Lord verse 11

Peter prayed for Tabitha verse 40

Kneeled down

Prayed

Silence (Letting the LORD deal with some problems and needs)

Worship (Time to praise the LORD alone or in a group)

Synagogues verse 20

Saul preached Christ verse 20, 27, 29

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DOCTRINES OF THE FAITH:

Scripture (66 inerrant books of the Bible)

God the Father (First person of the Godhead)

God the Son (Second person of the Godhead –God/man, Messiah)

Lord verse 1, 5, 6, 10, 11, 15, 17, 27, 29, 31, 35,

Jesus verse 5,17, 29, 34

Your name verse 14, 27

Bear MY name (Saul) verse 15, 16

Christ verse 20, 22, 34

Son of God verse 20

Lord Jesus verse 29

Fear of the Lord verse 31

Jesus Christ verse 34

God the Holy Spirit (Third person of the Godhead – our comforter)

Holy Ghost verse 17, 31

Saul filled with Holy Ghost verse 17

Comfort of the Holy Ghost verse 31

Trinity (Three persons of the Godhead who are co-equal = ONE God)

Angels (Created before the foundation of the world – Good and Evil)

Man (Created on the sixth twenty-four hour period of creation)

Damascus verse 2, 3, 8, 10- 22, 27

Straight street verse 11

House of Judas verse 11

Gentiles verse 15

Kings verse 15

Grecians verse 29

Samaria verse 31

Sin (Missing the mark set by God on man and angels)

Threatenings against church verse 1

Slaughter against church verse 1

Persecuting the church verse 4, 5

Evil verse 13

Destroy Christians verse 21

Kill verse 23, 24, 29

Afraid verse 26

Believed not verse 26

Salvation (Provided by Christ’s death on the cross for our sins)

This way verse 2

Disciple verse 10, 19, 25, 26, 38

Pray verse 11, 40

Vision verse 13, 32, 41

Call on the name of the LORD verse 14

Chosen vessel verse 15

Bear Jesus name verse 15

Suffer verse 16

Filled with the Holy Ghost verse 17

Baptized verse 18

Disciples in Damascus verse 19

Preach Christ verse 20

Strength verse 22

Confounded the Jews verse 22

Proving verse 22

Apostles verse 27

Boldness verse 27, 29

Edified verse 31

Walking in the fear of the LORD verse 31

Comfort of the Holy Ghost verse 31

Turned to the Lord verse 35

Believed verse 42

Israel (Old Testament people of God)

Saul of Tarsus verse 1, 11, 15, 22, 27, 29, 30

Chosen vessel

Seen Lord on the way

Preached boldly

Spoke boldly

High Priest verse 1

Letters to Damascus verse 2

Jerusalem verse 2, 13, 21, 26, 28

Chief priests verse 14, 21

Children of Israel verse 15

Jews verse 22, 23

Judaea verse 31

Church (New Testament people of God)

Disciples of the Lord verse 1, 25, 26

Ananias (disciple) verse 10- 19

Saints verse 13, 32, 41

Missionary to the Gentiles verse 15

Missionary to the kings verse 15

Missionary to the children of Israel verse 15

Brother verse 17

Baptized verse 18

Preach Christ verse 20

Barnabas verse 27

Apostles verse 27

Brethren verse 30

Caesarea verse 30

Rest verse 31

Edified verse 31

Multiplied verse 31

Peter verse 32, 34, 38- 43

Lydda verse 32, 35

Aeneas – sick of palsy (healed) verse 33, 34

Saron verse 35

Joppa verse 36, 38, 42, 43

Disciple named Tabitha (Dorcas) verse 36- 42

Good works

Almsdeeds

Sick and died

Healed

Simon the tanner verse 43

Last Things (Future Events)

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QUOTES regarding passage

31 Luke’s second panel of material on the martyrdom of Stephen, the early ministries of Philip, and the conversion of Saul ends with a summary statement that speaks of the church throughout Judea, Galilee, and Samaria enjoying a time of peace after the turbulence resulting from what happened to Stephen, Philip, and Saul. Though in the first two panels there has been nothing about any advance of the Christian mission into Galilee, Luke’s Gospel, in line with the synoptic tradition, has emphasized Galilee; and certainly there were believers in Jesus there. Here, however, Luke’s reference to Judea, Galilee, and Samaria probably means all the Jewish homeland of Palestine. Here also he insists that the church in the homeland, instead of being torn apart by what God was doing in the advance of the gospel through these three pivotal figures, “was strengthened; and encouraged by the Holy Spirit, it grew in numbers, living in the fear of the Lord,” despite a certain lack of discernment and openness. (Longenecker, R. N. (1981). The Acts of the Apostles. In F. E. Gaebelein (Ed.), The Expositor’s Bible Commentary: John and Acts (Vol. 9, p. 379). Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House.)

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9:31. Usually in Acts, ekklesia describes a local congregation such as Ephesus or Philippi. Here we find one of the few times where Luke uses the word church in the universal sense. Obviously he intended to speak of all the Christian congregations, now enjoying a respite from persecution, a time of growth, strengthening, and encouragement. This verse is a typical Lucan summary of which we have already seen several and shall see several more. Some call this break between verses 31 and 32 the end of Act II in Acts. A brief review of 5:42 indicates a similar concluding verse, suggesting there the end of Act I.

From the three thousand people who trusted Christ in 2:41, to the additional believers trusting Christ daily in 2:47, the multitude of new believers in 5:14, and the increase of disciples in 6:7, we now learn that the church still continued to grow throughout the entire land of Palestine. This is the only mention in Acts of Christians in Galilee, but their presence in that province should not surprise us. It was Jesus’ home and the site of much of his ministry.

What kept Saul away from the gospel for so long? Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus had believed, and it’s certainly not unlikely that Saul had seen and heard Jesus personally as well. We know from his own words that his deep commitment to Pharisaical Judaism caused him to choke at the mention of a Messiah from Nazareth. Beyond that, we sense in 1 Corinthians 1:18 that he simply could not get around the cross. Even if he had opportunity to observe a miracle or two and perhaps listen to Jesus’ explanation of the Old Testament, which would have been impressive to an intelligent rabbi, the thought of a Messiah on the cross turned the stomachs of Jews.

Does not the same problem plague unbelievers today? Many are happy to talk about God, even a personal God who, they anticipate, will welcome them into his heaven someday. The introduction of Jesus as the virgin-born Son of Mary complicates their thinking just a bit. By the time the gospel portrays him dying on the cross for the sins of the world, many now, as then, turn away from a suffering Savior. (Gangel, K. O. (1998). Acts (Vol. 5, pp. 144–145). Nashville, TN: Broadman & Holman Publishers.)

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So the church (ἡ μεν οὐν ἐκκλησια [Hē men oun ekklēsia]). The singular ἐκκλησια [ekklēsia] is undoubtedly the true reading here (all the great documents have it so). By this time there were churches scattered over Judea, Galilee, and Samaria (Gal. 1:22), but Luke either regards the disciples in Palestine as still members of the one great church in Jerusalem (instance already the work of Philip in Samaria and soon of Peter in Joppa and Caesarea) or he employs the term ἐκκλησια [ekklēsia] in a geographical or collective sense covering all of Palestine. The strictly local sense we have seen already in 8:1 and 3 (and Matt. 18:17) and the general spiritual sense in Matt. 16:18. But in Acts 8:3 it is plain that the term is applied to the organization of Jerusalem Christians even when scattered in their homes. The use of μεν οὐν [men oun] (so) is Luke’s common way of gathering up the connection. The obvious meaning is that the persecution ceased because the persecutor had been converted. The wolf no longer ravined the sheep. It is true also that the effort of Caligula a.d. 39 to set up his image in the temple in Jerusalem for the Jews to worship greatly excited the Jews and gave them troubles of their own (Josephus, Ant. XVIII. 8, 2–9). Had peace (εἰχεν εἰρηνην [eichen eirēnēn]). Imperfect active. Kept on having peace, enjoying peace, because the persecution had ceased. Many of the disciples came back to Jerusalem and the apostles began to make preaching tours out from the city. This idiom (ἐχω εἰρηνην [echō eirēnēn]) occurs again in Rom. 5:1 (εἰρηνην ἐχωμεν [eirēnēn echōmen], present active subjunctive) where it has been grievously misunderstood. There it is an exhortation to keep on enjoying the peace with God already made, not to make peace with God which would be εἰρηνην σχωμεν [eirēnēn schōmen] (ingressive aorist subjunctive). Edified (οἰκοδομουμενη [oikodomoumenē]). Present passive participle, linear action also. One result of the enjoyment of peace after the persecution was the continued edification (Latin word aedificatio for building up a house), a favourite figure with Paul (1 Cor. 14; Eph. 3) and scattered throughout the N. T., old Greek verb. In 1 Pet. 2:5 Peter speaks of “the spiritual house” throughout the five Roman provinces being “built up” (cf. Matt. 16:18). In the comfort of the Holy Spirit (τῃ παρακλησει του ἁγιου πνευματος [tēi paraklēsei tou hagiou pneumatos]). Either locative (in) or instrumental case (by). The Holy Spirit had been promised by Jesus as “another Paraclete” and now this is shown to be true. The only instance in Acts of the use of παρακλησις [paraklēsis] with the Holy Spirit. The word, of course, means calling to one’s side (παρακαλεω [parakaleō]) either for advice or for consolation. Was multiplied (ἐπληθυνετο [eplēthuneto]). Imperfect middle passive. The multiplication of the disciples kept pace with the peace, the edification, the walking in the fear of the Lord, the comfort of the Holy Spirit. The blood of the martyrs was already becoming the seed of the church. Stephen had not borne his witness in vain. (Robertson, A. T. (1933). Word Pictures in the New Testament (Ac 9:31). Nashville, TN: Broadman Press.)

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Ver. 31. Then had the churches rest, &c.] Meaning not spiritual rest in Christ; this they had before, even in tribulation, but rest from persecution; not so much because of the conversion of Saul, the great persecutor of them, for his conversion had been three years before; but rather because of his removal to other parts, the sight of whose person, and especially his ministry, had afresh stirred up the Jews to wrath and fury. The Alexandrian copy, and some others, the Vulgate Latin, Syriac, and Ethiopic versions, read in the singular number, the church; but the several countries hereafter mentioned shews that more are designed: for it follows, throughout all Judea, and Galilee, and Samaria; for by means of the dispersion, on account of persecution, the Gospel was preached in these several places, and churches gathered, and which shared in the persecution until this time, when they began to have rest; see Gal. 1:22; 1 Thess. 2:14 and were edified; or built up on the foundation Christ, and their most holy faith, through the ministry of the word and ordinances, and their mutual love and holy conversation; and had an increase of members, and of grace, and of spiritual knowledge: and walking in the fear of the Lord; which was always before their eyes, and upon their hearts, continuing in religious exercises, and in the discharge of every duty, both to God and man. Not in a slavish fear of the wrath of the Lord, and of damnation for sin committed against him; for this is not consistent with their characters, as Gospel churches, made of persons who had received not the spirit of bondage to fear, but the spirit of adoption, nor with their edification in faith and holiness; for he that feareth is not made perfect in love; 1 John 4:18 which edifies; nor with the comforts of the Holy Ghost, they are afterwards said to walk in: but in a godly fear, which has the Lord for its author, is not of a man’s self, but of the grace of God, and is encouraged and increased by the discoveries of his grace and goodness: and which has the Lord for its object, whose name is holy and reverend, and is to be feared by all his saints: it shews itself in an hatred of sin; in a departure from it; in a carefulness not to offend the Lord; in withholding nothing from him, though ever so dear and valuable, he calls for; and in attending to all the parts of divine worship: and walking in it denotes a continuance in it, a constant progression in all the acts of internal and external worship, which are both included in the fear of the Lord; and it requires strength, and supposes pleasure and freedom. It is said of Enoch, that he walked with God; which the Targum of Onkelos paraphrases, he walked in the fear of the Lord, Gen. 5:22, 24 the same phrase which is here used. And in the comfort of the Holy Ghost; which he communicated by shedding abroad the love of God in them, taking the things of Christ, and shewing them to them, applying covenant-blessings and Gospel-promises to their souls, owning the word and ordinances, and making them useful to them, thereby leading them into fellowship with the father, and with the son. In all which he acts the part of a Comforter, and answers to the character he bears, and the office he is in: the love of God, which he directs into, and sheds abroad in the heart, refreshes and revives the spirit of God’s people; it influences and encourages every grace that is wrought in them; and makes them easy and comfortable under all providences, even the most afflicting ones: the things of Christ he takes and shews unto them are his blood, righteousness, and sacrifice; which being applied, and interest in them shewn, produce abundance of peace, joy, and comfort: the promises of the covenant, and of the Gospel, he opens and applies, being such as hold forth the blessings of grace unto them; and being exceeding great, and precious, and suitable to their cases; and being absolute and unconditional, immutable, and sure, afford them much pleasure and satisfaction: and the word and ordinances being attended with the Holy Ghost, and much assurance, are breasts of consolation to them: and walking in those comforts which he administers, by such means, denotes a continuance of them, a long enjoyment of them, which is not very common; for, generally speaking, these comforts last but for a small time; and also it intimates much delight and pleasure in them, see Psal. 94:19 and so were multiplied; both in their gifts and graces, and in the number of converts added to them. (Gill, J. (1809). An Exposition of the New Testament (Vol. 2, pp. 229–230). London: Mathews and Leigh.)

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It is not only the blood of the martyrs that is the seed of the church. God can use times of rest and tranquility as well as times of rage and tribulation. He brings His people into green pastures and beside the still waters from time to time. He makes even our enemies to be at peace with us.

A truce now seems to have been accepted in Palestine. Jews and Christians decided to leave each other alone. Judaism set its sails towards the sunset in its stubborn refusal to acknowledge Jesus as Messiah. The church dropped anchor for the time being before spreading its sails again in search of new worlds to win for Christ.

In this lull the believers grew in grace and increased in the knowledge of God. The Holy Spirit was evident in their gatherings everywhere throughout the Holy Land. Numbers continued to be saved. It was a welcome respite. (Phillips, J. (2009). Exploring Acts: An Expository Commentary (Ac 9:31). Kregel Publications; WORDsearch Corp.)

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FROM MY READING:

HERESY AT MOODY CHURCH/MOODY BIBLE INSTITUTE (Friday Church News Notes, December 20, 2019, www.wayoflife.org fbns@wayoflife.org, 866-295-4143) – Daniel Cameron, who has taught theology at Moody Bible Institute (MBI) since 2017, holds the heresy that Jesus shared man’s fallen nature. He had an epiphany of this doctrine at a Chris Tomlin Christian rock concert while listening to the words of “Jesus Messiah” — “He became sin, who knew no sin. That we might become His righteousness.” This is an inaccurate translation that allows for the heresy that Christ partook of human fallenness, which is what Cameron believes. (He was ordained by Moody Church and works with youth there.) In Christianity Today this month, Cameron wrote, “Theologians such as Karl Barth and T.F. Torrance argue in the spirit of Gregory of Nazianzus that ‘the unassumed is the unhealed.’ In order for Jesus to bring healing to our sinful natures and provide a new way to be human, in the incarnation Jesus must vicariously assume a fallen human nature into union with his divine nature and divine person. In the words of 20th-century Scottish theologian T.F. Torrance, Jesus ‘entered into our condemned state under divine judgment and made it his own, suffered the Eli, Eli, lama sabacthani, and yielded up the Ghost under the burden of sin and judgment and wrath.’ … Because sin is a corruption of nature, it is that fallen nature that Jesus assumed into union within His person” (“What It Means that Jesus Was ‘Without Sin’?” Christianity Today, Dec. 5, 2019). In true Barthian fashion, Cameron uses human logic as an authority and employs double speak to claim that Jesus “assumed fallen nature” but also that Jesus was sinless. Cameron makes non-critical reference to three heretics in this one article: Karl Barth, T.F. Torrance, and Gregory of Nazianzus, a disciple of Origen and a publisher of his works. These are the dangerous waters of contemporary evangelicalism. Since the days of Harold Ockenga, they have renounced “separatism,” so there is no protection from heresy.

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3 John 1

John praises and encourages Gaius for his “witness of . . . love before the church” (v. 6).
INSIGHT

Affirmation is a powerful force for good in the Christian life. We all long to be affirmed for who we are and what we are doing. We all like to hear: “Good job.” In essence, that is what John writes in his third epistle. He affirms Gaius in several areas: for his knowledge of truth, for his application of that knowledge, for offering hospitality to fellow Christians and to strangers, and for helping to support traveling missionaries. Good job, Gaius. (Quiet Walk)

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WE ARE EXHORTED TO PRAY

And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us. 1 John 5:14
We must be exceptionally careful in the matter of comparing Scripture with Scripture. The Bible never contradicts itself. We must never base our doctrine upon one statement only; or to put it in another way, our doctrine must never be so formulated as to be in conflict with any other statement of Scripture or to contradict any other clear and obvious scriptural teaching.
Then, having done that, we come to certain conclusions. One conclusion is that there is an element of mystery about this question of prayer; it is one of those aspects of God’s gracious dealings with us that is beyond our understanding. Now I feel like saying, “Thank God for that!” I mean that in an ultimate and absolute sense you and I simply cannot reconcile God’s omniscience and foreknowledge and sovereignty with this fact of prayer that we find so clearly taught in Scripture.
But there are so many other things one cannot understand. I cannot understand how a holy God would ever forgive or can ever forgive a single soul. I cannot understand it, but thank God, I believe it! I cannot understand the eternal mind and heart, but I thank God for a revelation that assures me that God can be just and a justifier of the ungodly. And there are many other instances and illustrations that I could give of exactly the same thing, and this question of prayer is one of them. In an ultimate philosophical sense there is an element of mystery about it, but praise God, we are not left with philosophy. We have a Gospel that comes to us in its simplicity and tells us what to do. So though our little minds cannot understand it philosophically, there is nothing that is so plain and clear in Scripture as that we are taught and exhorted to pray. Go through the Scriptures, and notice the frequency of the exhortations to pray.
A Thought to Ponder: Prayer is one of those aspects of God’s gracious dealings with us that is beyond our understanding.

(From Life in God, p. 116, by Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones)

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Zechariah’s Visions: The Four Chariots
“And I turned, and lifted up mine eyes, and looked, and, behold, there came four chariots out from between two mountains; and the mountains were mountains of brass.” (Zechariah 6:1)
These four great angelic creatures appear in several roles in Scripture. They are specifically identified as “four spirits” and are positioned “before the LORD of all the earth” (Zechariah 6:5). They come out from between two mountains of brass to walk “to and fro through the earth” (Zechariah 6:7). The horses are the same color as the horses in Revelation 6, indicating that these horsemen are age-long angelic authorities that execute and implement God’s will in the earth.
The four living creatures seen by Ezekiel may be the chariots that the horsemen are riding in Ezekiel 1:5. Those living creatures have four faces and four wings (Ezekiel 1:6), and a “wheel was on the earth beside each living creature” (Ezekiel 1:15).
The similar descriptions and connection with the book of world judgment in Zechariah and Revelation argue for a close relationship with four special creatures that are directly positioned with, and to, the throne of the Second Person of the Godhead—the Lamb of God. The differences are tantalizing but can easily be understood as eyewitness testimony by different people at different times in history.
Zechariah was told of their work in the “north country” (Babylon, Gog, and Magog) and in the “south country” (Egypt, Libya). Given Daniel’s previous prophecy of the north and south (Daniel 11), Zechariah would understand the future focus of the horsemen as history moved forward. “They are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come” (1 Corinthians 10:11).

(HMM III, The Institute for Creation Research)

People to Walk with God by Mel Walke

Sometimes it seems as if the generation gap is growing wider and wider. According to one writer on the AARP website, the term “generation gap” was coined by an editor from Look magazine in the 1960’s because he saw a “substantive divide in virtually everything between the young and the old.”

Current news reports seem to reveal an ever-widening gulf between today’s young people in areas such as politics, religion, values, fashion, music, and certainly technology. This generational rift appears to be especially present in the church as well.

In a time when mega-churches are growing in both popularity and notoriety—in many ways because of their goal to attract millennials—there remains a huge number of smaller, traditional churches.

According to a report from the Hartford Institute for Religion, there are approximately 177,000 churches under 100 people, and only about 7,000 churches that average over 1,000 people. Another report stated that the median size of a church in the United States is approximately 80 people.

This statistical evidence seems to indicate that younger people may be attending megachurches, while older people are sticking with traditional churches further increasing the perceived generation gap in the American church.

Is the Generation Gap Worth Another Look?

However, maybe this supposed ministry gap deserves another look. The United States is perhaps on the verge of a seismic shift of cultural influence with the rise of this current generation of young people – commonly referred to as “Generation Z.” Recent research reports that the demographic cohort of Gen Z will grow into this country’s largest generation, bumping millennials off the throne of societal impact. Perhaps this phenomenon will provide an opportunity for connecting the generations in the church.

In many church programs, the older adults are separated almost exclusively from younger people. Children and teenagers meet in their own locations, while senior citizens gather somewhere else with other older adults. This segregation often leads to a distrust of each other, an over-emphasis on external things, and even a critical spirit toward each other.

So often when churches isolate the generations from each other, the older members tend to exhibit a, “Kids these days!” mentality of cynicism toward students and emerging adults.

Perhaps Gen Z Will Soon Eradicate the Generational Divide

According to two recent significant studies (Growing With: Every Parent’s Guide to Helping Teenagers and Young Adults Thrive in their Faith, Family, and Future by Kara Powell & Steve Argue; and Faith for Exiles: 5 Ways for a New Generation to Follow Jesus in Digital Babylon by David Kinnaman & Mark Matlock), members of this new generation are much more likely to value the mentoring influence and intergenerational connections from older people than were other generations.

Gen Z is a generation that craves significant relationships with older adults. This positions godly older adults in the church to develop positive intergenerational connections with younger people. In fact, the rise of this generation of young people gives senior adults in the church a tangible opportunity to look for intentional and specific ways to encourage younger people in their relationship with Christ.

So, how can older adults encourage young people to walk with God? Here are seven tangible action steps to consider:

1. Pray for Them

Probably the most important thing any older adult can do for the young people in their church is to pray for them specifically—by name. It has been said that, “Prayer moves the heart of God.” It’s also true that the practice of prayer produces a burden in the heart of the person praying. This is especially true in the church.

The intentional, specific prayers of older people are a powerful connecting influence in the church. As older people pray, they gain a growing concern for younger people, and the younger people in turn see that the older people care enough about them to pray specifically for them.

Some churches provide a prayer list of the names of the younger generations for this purpose. One church made baseball card-sized prayer cards for each young person and distributed those cards in the senior citizens’ Sunday School class.

Another church made a slide presentation of digital pictures of each young person and showed the presentation prior to church services for the purpose of generating prayer. Specific ideas abound. The important thing is for older adults to pray specifically for the church’s young people.

2. Make Growing Connections with Young People

Prayer is critically important of course, but it’s also essential for older people to be intentional about developing growing and loving personal connections with younger people in the church. Genuine and constructive intergenerational relationships most often start when the older people express their loving concern for the younger generations.

These relationships can simply begin in the church foyer by greeting younger people and by simply taking the initiative to get to know them as individuals. Real relationships grow over time, so elders must not get frustrated by a perceived “stand-offish” attitude on the part of adolescents in the beginning. Members of this new generation will appreciate it when godly and caring older adults demonstrate a concern for them, their lives, and their activities.

3. Edify and Build Them up Spiritually

There are too many discouragers in the church. Today’s young people do not respond well to criticism and negativity, but will be inspired by the positive and edifying actions of older adults. Members of Gen Z desperately need older adults to be mentors and encouragers who actively seek to build these emerging adults up spiritually.

These actions do not necessarily require a huge commitment from seniors. Young people appreciate receiving simple notes, cards, e-mails, or other forms of tangible expressions of support. They love it when the church’s older people are their cheerleaders—edifying them and building them up in their walk with God.

4. Mentor Younger People

One of the key ways for older people to encourage younger people is through the practice of mentoring. Seniors may think they do not have adequate energy or resources to be effective mentors, but the best mentoring is not necessarily a commitment of extra time. Mentoring can basically be doing what you already do, just inviting someone younger to learn it from you.

Older people often have the time available to serve as mentors for younger people. They can seek to identify things they might have in common with them (for example: geographical proximity, vocational similarity, shared life experiences, comparable interests, etc.) These commonalities can provide springboards for growing mentoring connections and can supply the opportunity for what the Bible describes in Titus 2:1-8 to happen.

5. Tell God Stories

There are two significant Biblical accounts that demonstrate the importance of older generations sharing “God stories” with young people. One is found in Joshua 4 where the nation of Israel crosses the Jordan River into the promised land. Each tribe of Israel was instructed by God to place a stone on the riverbank as a memorial for what God has done for them. Joshua 4:6 and Joshua 4:21 provide the explanation of the purpose for this memorial. It would be natural for the children “in times to come” to ask about the meaning of the stones. The elders were to tell them the miraculous works God had done for them in the past.

The other account is found in Psalm 78:7, where elders are instructed to tell the generation to come not to “forget the works God.” The remainder of that Psalm gives an overview of what God had done for Israel in their history.

Older people should take every opportunity they can to tell God stories to younger generations. These accounts will remind young people that the church is all about what God has done. It can encourage them to look for God to do other great things for them in the future. This endeavor should be practiced intentionally, where older people look for informal ways to share their stories with young people.

6. Invest in Their Lives

Younger people today crave growing connections with older people. These positive relationships can begin with simple investments by older people in their lives. This doesn’t mean necessarily an outlay of money—although in some cases that might be appropriate. More likely, it could be an investment of time shared together around a plate of cookies and a cup of coffee, in the sending a simple “I’m praying for you” card, or sitting together during a church fellowship time.

7. Give them Space to Be Involved and Lead in Church

There is one final way that is imperative for older people to do, that will encourage young people to stay involved in church and to go on in their lives for Him: give them space to be involved and to ultimately serve as leaders in the church.

As people age, it often becomes difficult for them to admit that they are becoming the older generation and that they will become less active and less involved in the church as they once were. This perhaps is especially true with retiring Baby Boomers. For some reason, Boomers do not like to give up their influence or control over the work of the church.

Older believers can be greatly used by God to encourage emerging generations to be involved in specific ways in the life of the church. Of course, older Christian may need to realize that younger people may have a different outlook and that they may do things differently than they did. As Christ tarries, church functions will undoubtedly look differently from generation to generation.

Members of Gen Z are looking for ways to get involved. Their involvement will be imperative for the lasting effectiveness of the church.

The generation gap doesn’t have to get any wider. In fact, it’s time to help close that gap in the church. Older people can do much to encourage today’s young people in their own personal walk with God by implementing these simple strategies. Senior adults must be committed to doing all they can to encourage young people in the church. The future is at stake.

Mel Walker is the president of Vision For Youth, Inc., an international network of youth ministry, and he is also is the youth pastor at Wyoming Valley Church in Wilkes-Barre, PA. Mel has been actively involved in various aspects of youth ministry for over 40 years. He is also an author, speaker, and a consultant with churches. More information about his speaking and writing ministry can be found at: www.GoingOnForGod.com. Mel has written 12 books on various aspects of youth ministry, plus he speaks to hundreds of teenagers and parents each year. Mel & Peggy Walker are the parents of 3 adult children – all of whom are in vocational ministry. You can follow him on Twitter: @vfyouth.

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Michael writes (NY): I am always uneasy when institutional religion gets involved in politics but was flabbergasted when the magazine Christianity Today advocated the president be impeached out of his office. Historically we saw similar during the Nazi era when institutional Protestantism sided with the Third Reich etc. Think and believe what you may, religion should be kept out of politics as when it does not it dilutes and confuses culture. And the next step is national religion.

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Dr. James Dobson issued today the following statement, as a private citizen, to the Christian community

I have read a new editorial published by Christianity Today that promotes impeachment of President Donald Trump. The editors didn’t tell us who should take his place in the aftermath. Maybe the magazine would prefer a president who is passionately pro-abortion, anti-family, hostile to the military, dispassionate toward Israel, supports a socialist form of government, promotes confiscatory taxation, opposes school choice, favors men in women’s sports and boys in girl’s locker rooms, promotes the entire LGBTQ agenda, opposes parental rights, and distrusts evangelicals and anyone who is not politically correct. By the way, after Christianity Today has helped vacate the Oval Office, I hope they will tell us if their candidate to replace Mr. Trump will fight for religious liberty and the Bill of Rights? Give your readers a little more clarity on why President Trump should be turned out of office after being duly elected by 63 million voters? Is it really because he made a phone call that displeased you? There must be more to your argument than that. While Christianity Today is making its case for impeachment, I hope the editors will now tell us who they support for president among the Democrat field. That should tell us the rest of the story. (I agree with James Dobson’s comments regarding a magazine that used to be sound doctrinally)

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We now have a Facebook page for Small Church Ministries – please invite others to join us on Facebook. Thank you. Look for the logo from the devotionals.