Year 2 Day 138
Pray (ACts) Read - Acts 25v13-26v32 Message - Scott Woodburn Paul had appealed directly to the Roman Emperor Nero in order to finally be judged guilty or innocent of the charges brought against him, but first he would receive an opportunity to speak to a slightly less important historical figure. King Agrippa and his wife Bernice come to Caesarea and meet with Festus (v13). Agrippa was the grandson of Herod the Great and ruled over the northern part of Judea. They stayed in Caesarea for many days (v14) and so Festus takes the opportunity to tell the King all about his captive Paul (v14-21). Agrippa is intrigued and states that he would like to hear from Paul personally (v22) which no doubt pleased Festus. Festus was duty bound to send Paul to Rome (v25) but as he admits, he doesn’t know what to write to the Emperor (v26-27). Perhaps Agrippa can offer advice? The next day Paul received a wonderful opportunity to share Christ. Paul stood before Agrippa and told him the whole story. Paul was born and reared as a Jew and lived as a Pharisee (26v4-8). He grew to despise the Christian church and did his best to fight against it (26v9-12). Yet his life was to change one lunchtime on the road to Damascus. Jesus appeared to Paul and would send him to preach the Gospel to the Gentiles (26v13-18). All Paul had done since that day was preach Christ and Him crucified to anyone who would listen. All he was guilty of was saying exactly what the prophets and Moses had promised - “that the Christ must suffer and that, by being the first to rise from the dead, he would proclaim light both to our people and to the Gentiles.” (26v23) It was at that point Festus decided that he’d heard enough. With a loud voice he declared “Paul, you are out of your mind; your great learning is driving you out of your mind.” (26v24) Yet Paul continued. He wasn’t out of his mind, he was speaking truthfully and rationally (26v25) but also boldly (26v26). Paul understood that Agrippa was no fool. He knew the accuracy of what Paul had said (26v26) and he was a man who believed the prophets (26v27). Agrippa’s response isn’t to accuse Paul of madness, instead he asks “In a short time would you persuade me to be a Christian?” (26v28). Of course! Paul wanted nothing more for Agrippa and Festus and Bernice and everyone listening to trust Christ. “Whether short or long” he said “I would to God that not only you but also all who hear me this day might become such as I am—except for these chains.” (26v29) Brothers and sisters behold the providence of God! Paul’s liberty has been taken from him because of trumped up charges. Felix found no fault in him. Festus found no fault in him. Agrippa found no fault in him (26v31). Indeed without Paul’s appeal to Nero he could even have been set free (26v32). But he wasn’t yet free. Instead he was receiving multiple opportunities to preach the Gospel to the very top of Jewish and Gentile society. His ministry had brought Agrippa to a place of asking “would you persuade me to be a Christian?” Much about how the Lord governs and guides is a mystery to us. We don’t understand the purpose in our dark days. We can’t fathom why our lives take the turns they do. But this we do know…there is nothing about life that is accidental or random. God has not retreated to His castle and left us to it. He governs every inch of our lives and there is a good purpose in it all. I must be honest here and say that I’ve stood in plenty of graveyards and struggled to see the good purpose and I’ve sat in hospital rooms and couldn’t find the positives. But I believe the Lord is good. I believe His Word. I believe that He is for us and I believe that He will dry ever tear. In Paul's case there were still many dark days ahead, yet even his captivity would be providentially used by God to spread the news of Christ. I don’t know the impact of Paul’s speech to Agrippa but that isn’t any of my business. God knows and His Word never fails. Did Felix eventually believe? Did Festus? Agrippa? Bernice? Again, God knows and His Word never fails. May we trust Him as the storms break over our heads and may we long for the day that our faith becomes sight and we will get to see Jesus. Pray (acTS) Sing WSC Q27 Wherein did Christ’s humiliation consist? Christ’s humiliation consisted in his being born, and that in a low condition, made under the law, undergoing the miseries of this life, the wrath of God, and the cursed death of the cross; in being buried, and continuing under the power of death for a time.
0 Comments
Year 2 Day 137
Pray (AC-ts) Read — John 14:1-6 Message Alan Burke “First posted Year 1 Day 10 - 31 March 20” Trouble can come at any stage in our lives, the diagnosis of an illness, the loss of a loved one, the unexpected situation. Today our trouble is the Coronavirus, something that we cannot see, that has us living in fear, Trouble has come in a way none of could have imagined. Today we look to John 14:1-7, the disciples were with Jesus in the upper room, reclined at the table, trying to wrap their heads around Jesus’ own words that He would die (12:20-36). Their hopes and expectations had been thrown into disarray and they were troubled. To this Jesus tells them not to be, instead to trust in God and Him (v1). Directing them, as well as us to the means by which one can overcome a troubled heart, that we can be free from much of the anxiety in all of life’s circumstances. In the midst of what ever it may be Jesus gives us the means to overcome trouble and that is to have ‘Have Faith’. Each and every day, troubled or not this is what we need, what our nation needs, what our world needs, to ‘Have Faith’. Have faith in Jesus because ultimately everything else will fail us. For Jesus went to the cross to deal with our sin, so we could have the steadfast assurance at life end we will go with Him too. That’s what He reminds His followers (v2-3), He has gone to prepare a place for all who have faith, we know the way (v4), even though at that time Thomas didn’t understand (v5), and that way is faith in Jesus (v6) and if you know Him, you know the Father. What does this mean, well it may not be popular but there is only one way to the Father, to eternal salvation and that is through faith in Jesus. So in trouble look to him, in your self isolation, look to him, in your fear, worry, anxiety because in Him we know the way. Pray (ac-TS) Sing WSC Q27 Wherein did Christ’ s humiliation consist? Christ’ s humiliation consisted in his being born, and that in a low condition, (Luke 2:7) made under the law, (Gal. 4:4) undergoing the miseries of this life, (Heb. 12:2–3, Isa. 53:2–3) the wrath of God, (Luke 22:44, Matt. 27:46) and the cursed death of the cross:; (Phil. 2:8) in being buried, (1 Cor. 15:3–4) and continuing under the power of death for a time. (Acts 2:24–27,31) Year 2 Day 136
Pray (ACts) Read - Acts 25v1-12 Message - Scott Woodburn It’s a well known phrase within the church that the Christian is “in the world but not of the world”. In other words we live on earth, we work here, we love here and one day we will die here. However with that said, the Christian is not to be shaped by the world or its agenda. In these devotions we’ve previously mentioned “two kingdoms” theology. As Christians we live in both the kingdom of God and the kingdom of man. The kingdom of man is not our home and it is certainly passing away but we are to serve God here faithfully until He calls us to glory. In today’s passage we see a little bit of this dynamic. Paul’s enemies continued to lay their case against him to the new Roman in town, Festus (v1-2). They wanted Paul moved to Jerusalem so they could kill him on the way (v3). Thankfully Festus planned to deal with Paul in Caesarea and so for the time being, Paul was safe (v4-5). When Paul finally stood before Festus he was clear that he had done nothing wrong stating “Neither against the law of the Jews, nor against the temple, nor against Caesar have I committed any offense.” (v8) Unfortunately Festus wanted to win favour with the Jews and suggested that Paul be moved to Jerusalem (v9). It’s at this point that we see Paul’s dual citizenship. He is a child of God by faith in Christ and he is also a Roman citizen. Paul had been in captivity for over two years and so now he decides enough is enough. He is not seeking to avoid justice (v11) but he no longer wishes to be the subject of foolish political games and so Paul tells Festus… “I appeal to Caesar” (v11b). Paul understood his new identity in Christ, but that identity didn’t mean he could escape from the realities of this sinful world. Therefore as a Christian he appealed to the law of the land, expecting fair and equal treatment by the State. This incident might seem quite boring and irrelevant but it is far from it. We wake each day as citizens of heaven who live as citizens of whatever state we call home. How should we live in such a situation? In multiple ways. Firstly, we keep our eyes on Jesus always remembering that our true citizenship is in heaven and from there we await our Saviour (Philippians 3v20). Secondly, we live as good citizens of this land, obeying (when possible) the laws of this country. The Lord has placed the rulers over us and we honour Him as we honour them (Romans 13v1-7). Thirdly, we pray for the authorities as the Lord commands (1 Timothy 2v1-3). Fourthly, we never use legal means against fellow Christians. Paul appealed to Caesar against the attacks of the enemy but a Christian should never follow this path against another Christian (1 Corinthians 6v1-8). Finally, sometimes it is necessary to call upon “Caesar” to apply the laws of the land justly as we have seen in this passage. The Word says that righteousness exalts a nation (Proverbs 14v34) and so we should pray that our State is a place of justice, righteousness and peace. The world is seductive, it is passing away and it is a place where sin abounds…but…it is also where we must live and work and serve. Therefore in our day to day interactions, in good days and bad, in front of our neighbours and in front of Caesar, we always seek to extol and honour the name of Christ. Paul would later put it this way… “Therefore we are always confident and know that as long as we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord. For we live by faith, not by sight. We are confident, I say, and would prefer to be away from the body and at home with the Lord. So we make it our goal to please him, whether we are at home in the body or away from it. For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each of us may receive what is due us for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad.” (2 Corinthians 5v6-10) Pray (acTS) Sing WSC Q26 How doth Christ execute the office of a king? Christ executeth the office of a king, in subduing us to himself, in ruling and defending us, and in restraining and conquering all his and our enemies. Year 2 Day 135
Pray (AC-ts) Read — Matthew 6:27-34 Message Alan Burke “First posted Year 1 Day 8 - 29 March 20” Just a few weeks ago many of us were preoccupied with the normal everyday stuff that each of us had to deal with and off course along with that there were those worries and anxieties. Now our worries and anxieties are over something as insignificant as toilet roll and on the other extreme over the real threat that coronavirus is to us. But Jesus challenges His followers to make a choice when it comes to our outlook on life, choosing between faith or worry. These verses we look at from Matthew, forms part of the Sermon on the Mount. Just before them, Jesus had just taught his followers to choose between God and wealth (v19-24) and this is key to help us to understand what Jesus says here in v25-34. Verse 25 begins with the word ‘therefore’, the thing is if we trust in God not wealth, then in all aspects of life we should trust God. Trust God because of who He is, because of who he is we don’t need to be anxious, after all He is the God who created the world and all that is in it and upholds it by the power of his word (Heb. 1:3). To make the point, Jesus gives us two examples from the natural world, He tells us to look to the birds (v26), consider the lilies (v28-29), and the grass of the field (30). He is telling us that we are more valuable than any of these things, after all we are created in the image of God (Gen. 1:28). What is more, is that God in His grace has given us more than we deserve in that He did not spare His own son but gave Him up for us all (Rom. 8:32). What we need more than anything right now is to remember who God is, and put Him and his Kingdom at the very centre of our lives (v33), knowing that through Christ Jesus we are his, and making His rule and our relationship Him our priority. For every day He has planned for us (Ps. 139:16), and nothing we can do, worry and anxiety cannot add a single day to our lives, neither can stockpiling toilet roll (v27), let tomorrow bring what it will bring (v34), the Lord reigns over it all. Pray (ac-TS) Sing WSC Q25 How doth Christ execute the office of a priest? Christ executeth the office of a priest, in his once offering up of himself a sacrifice to satisfy divine justice, (Heb. 9:14,28) and reconcile us to God; (Heb. 2:17) and in making continual intercession for us. (Heb. 7:24–25) Year 2 Day 134
Pray (ACts) Read - Acts 24v22-27 Message - Scott Woodburn As August comes upon us we return to the book of Acts and it seems fitting that in the month named after Rome’s first Emperor, Paul finds himself standing before a lesser known Roman called Felix. Felix may not be as famous as Caesar Augustus but we do know a little bit about Paul’s captor. Firstly, Felix knew all about the Christian faith. He is described as “having a rather accurate knowledge of the Way” (v22). This doesn’t mean he was a saved man (we’ll see that soon enough) but instead he had listened to the Jews and to Paul and his knowledge of Christianity was solid. Secondly, Felix didn’t lock Paul up and throw away the key. He allowed the Apostle (who was a Roman citizen) some freedom with his friends coming and going (v23). Thirdly, Felix enjoyed listening to Paul and over a period of two years he called upon Paul frequently who reasoned with the Roman about the Christian faith. We know too that Felix had a beautiful young wife called Drusilla who was Jewish (v24). She was in her late teens and was the youngest daughter of Herod Agrippa I. Felix was her second husband and Drusilla was the third wife of Felix. History tells us that he was so overcome by her beauty that Felix did all he could to persuade her to leave her husband. We see in the passage that Felix also loved money. He conversed with Paul on a regular basis hoping that Paul would offer a bribe (v26). What would you say to such a man? Paul with his usual directness spoke about righteousness, self-control and the coming judgement (v25). We will all stand before Christ and all of us must be counted righteous in His sight. This righteousness comes from outside us. As we receive Christ by faith, His righteousness is credited or imputed to our account. This is a vital issue that all must understand. Paul also addressed the elephant in the room, self-control. Felix through manipulation had stolen another man’s wife who had now become his third. Such behaviour then and now was not acceptable in the sight of God. Marriage was to be taken seriously and so Paul addressed Felix directly with a condemnation of his adulterous ways. Finally Paul preached about the final judgement. When Christ returns He will come as the judge. He will take His throne and the entire human race will stand before Him. We can be surer of this day than we can about seeing tomorrow. Why? Because the resurrection of Christ is a God given guarantee that Christ will return as judge (Acts 17v31). Felix was a blessed man with the Apostle Paul as his personal preacher. What was his response to such a wonderful state of affairs? Paul’s teaching alarmed Felix (v25) but there is no record of his conversion. Indeed he is soon replaced, later accused of all kinds of underhandedness and probably dies as a result of tuberculosis. The life of Felix always reminds me of the urgency of today. Today is a day of grace filled with opportunities to share Christ and Him crucified and it is a day of opportunity for repentance and preparation to meet the Lord. If the Gospel has thrilled your heart - then share it. If the Gospel has ever made you tremble - then believe it. The times of ignorance God overlooked, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent, because he has fixed a day on which he will judge the world in righteousness by a man whom he has appointed; and of this he has given assurance to all by raising him from the dead.” (Acts 17v30-31) Pray (acTS) Sing WSC Q24 How doth Christ execute the office of a prophet? Christ executeth the office of a prophet, in revealing to us, by his Word and Spirit, the will of God for our salvation. Year 2 Day 133
Pray (AC-ts) Read — Psalm 63:1-7 Message Alan Burke “First posted Year 1 Day 4 - 26 March 20” - ‘Thirsty for God’ I can imagine if we were in the desert as David in this psalm, foremost on our minds would be a drink of cool refreshing water. Not David though, as he cries out to God (v1) it is clear that what he longs for, what is foremost in his mind in the day of trouble that he faces, is the Lord. He longs more than anything to worship God in the sanctuary with the people of God (v2). David in the desert fleeing from either Saul or Absalom is concerned not for his life but for closeness and fellowship with the Lord. It a thirst that is in all of us, some people try to satisfy it with things this world tries to offer but only the Lord Himself can give us a spring of water welling up to eternal life. This spiritual thirst that can be only be satisfied in the Lord Jesus, that’s what we are reminded of in John 4:7-12. Knowing this should lead us to respond with our lives, and should lead us to yearn more for God’s goodness, because v3 His love is ‘better than life’. He is the one (v5) that brings satisfaction, the one who is worthy of praise, in the midst of the sleepless nights (v6) that we now face, just as David thought upon his God, knowing his confidence was in the Lord, his help is to be found it Him(v7). We too through faith, no matter what we face, in the days that like ahead, can look to our Saviour Jesus Christ who satisfies like nothing else can, look to Him who is our help, trust in Him above all else. Pray (ac-TS) Sing WSC Q23 What offices doth Christ execute as our Redeemer? Christ, as our Redeemer, executeth the offices of a prophet, of a priest, and of a king, both in his estate of humiliation and exaltation. (Acts 3:21–22, Heb. 12:25, 2 Cor. 13:3, Heb. 5:5–7, Heb. 7:25, Ps. 2:6, Isa. 9:6–7, Matt. 21:5, Ps. 2:8–11) |
Alan
|