Fearing the Unknown

 

Read:  Leviticus 25:17-19; Psalm 25; and Acts 22

 

“We fear what we do not know.” ~ Unknown

 

S.O.A.P.

Scripture – Observation – Application – Prayer

 

S:  The troubles of my heart are enlarged; bring me out of my distresses.  Look upon my affliction and my trouble, and forgive all my sins.  Look upon my enemies, for they are many, And they hate me with violent hatred.  Guard my soul and deliver me; do not let me be ashamed, for I take refuge in You.  Psalms 25:17-20

 

O:  I imagine the above Scripture passage was a prayer Paul might have prayed often.  The Psalms are a great prayer prompter for the things we are facing in our lives!

 

As I read through the Leviticus passage I was impressed with the fact that God’s got a plan and He has it all under control!  (See Leviticus 25:17-19)  All we have to do is follow His plan!

 

A man by the name of Dan Brown writes in The Lost Symbol this quote, "What we don't understand, we fear. What we fear, we judge as evil. What we judge as evil, we attempt to control. And what we cannot control...we attack." UNKNOWN

 

I think that quote sums up Paul’s life after his conversion.  The religious Jewish leaders did not understand Paul’s conversion.  They were fearful of him and what he was teaching.  They judged him harshly and as “not religious” and therefore evil.  When he tried to explain and give his testimony they listened up to the point he began telling them about the Gentiles; then they began to attack him.  Their prejudices and jealousy kept them from understanding and it kept them bound to fear.

 

When we deal with people who do not understand our conversion stories do not be surprised when instead of being received we are attacked.  Partly it is from a lack of understanding and fear on their part and partly from reading Psalm 25 I think it is because the enemy of God uses people to afflict us and to tear us down, not because of you and I, but because of the One who lives in us. 

 

The enemy was doing everything in his weak power to thwart the message of Paul, but time and time again God won through Paul and used him mightily to further His Kingdom.  We must do as Psalm 25 says and WAIT ON THE LORD!  We must be patient.  God is at work and He does have everything in control and HE HAS A PLAN!

 

A:  Wait on the LORD.  Walk in the ways He shows me and to trust in Him.

 

P:  To You O LORD do I lift up my soul.  It is in You God that I trust.  Do not let me be ashamed or let the enemy exult himself over me.  LORD I pray for good understanding.  I pray that You would teach me Your ways and truth.  Thank you for being my Salvation!  I will wait on You all the days of my life.  Through Christ I pray, Amen & Amen.

 

 

 

Sharing the Wonderful Grace of God

 

Read Leviticus 22:31-33 and Acts 20

 

“Tumults or opposition may constrain a Christian to remove from his station or alter his purpose, but his work and his pleasure will be the same, wherever he goes.”
~ Matthew Henry

 

S.O.A.P.

Scripture – Observation – Application - Prayer

 

S:  “I want to finish the work that the Lord Jesus gave me to do—to tell people the Good News about God’s grace … I never stopped reminding each one of you how you should live, counseling you day and night and crying over you …”  Acts 20:24, 31 Easy to Read Version

 

O:  The people loved Paul.  He mentored them and taught them in the Word (verses 1-2).  He would go about the churches encouraging them and often staying for months at a time to teach and instruct them (verses 3, 7).  The Spirit of the LORD spoke to Paul and helped him to discern when it was time to move to the next church or place (verse 22).  But no matter where he went the Gospel and the Good News of God’s Kingdom was his primary task (verse 25).  The hardest part perhaps for Paul was when he had to move on.  These were his spiritual children and it was with great sadness that he would have to leave them and go on to the next church or task at hand.  When he left them he would leave them in God’s care and with the hope that God’s grace would strengthen them (verses 32-35), but it was never easy (verses 36-38).

 

A:  To do the work that the LORD gives me and to continue to share the Good News of God’s grace. 

 

P:  Father God, thank You that You direct our steps through the Holy Spirit within us.  I pray that those reading and studying Your Word today would hear You speaking to them.  Encourage them about how special they are to You LORD according to Leviticus 22:31-33.  You call them out to be a special people, a treasure to You.  Help us each to finish the work(s) that You give us to do.  In Christ Jesus I pray.  Amen & Amen.

 

“It is good for friends, when they part, to part with prayer.

Those who exhort and pray for one another,

may have many weeping seasons and painful separations,

but they will meet before the throne of God, to part no more.”

 

~ Matthew Henry

Good News

Read Acts 13

“What light, what power, what a treasure does this gospel bring with it! How excellent are its truths, its precepts, its promises!” ~ Matthew Henry

 

 

In our house and family of five for the past two weeks someone has been sick!  Am I ready for some good news?  Oh YES!  There are days things get the best of us and we are ready to hear some good news!  In our passage today Paul brings good news to the Church at Antioch.  Let’s listen in on Paul’s sermon as we read and study Acts 13 together on this Sabbath day.

 S.O.A.P.

Scripture – Observation – Application - Prayer

 

S:  “… on the Sabbath day they went into the synagogue … After the reading of the Law and the Prophets, the leaders [of the worship] of the synagogue sent to them saying, Brethren, if you have any word of exhortation or consolation or encouragement for the people, say it … we are bringing you the good news (Gospel) that what God promised to our forefathers …  And so the Word of the Lord [concerning eternal salvation through Christ] scattered and spread throughout the whole region … And the disciples were continually filled [throughout their souls] with joy and the Holy Spirit.”  Acts 13:14-15, 32, 49, 52

 

O:  Paul got up and preached a word of encouragement.  “The bare reading of the Scriptures in public assemblies is not enough; they should be expounded, and the people exhorted out of them. This is helping people in doing that which is necessary to make the word profitable, to apply it to themselves.” ~ Matthew Henry

 

How?  He recounted their history and how God led and protected them and gave them the Gospel as follows:

1.      God has brought to Israel a Savior as promised (v. 23)

2.      God raised Him from the dead (v. 30, 33-34) “The resurrection of Christ was the great proof of his being the Son of God.” ~ Matthew Henry

3.      Repentance is available to all the people (v. 24)  “We are justified [made right], not only by him as our Judge but by him as the Lord our Righteousness.” ~ Matthew Henry

4.      Forgiveness and removal of sins is for everyone who believes (v. 38)

5.      We are given right standing with God (v. 39)

6.      We serve God’s will and purpose and counsel in our own generation (v. 36)  Matthew Henry says, “ … the Lord raises up instruments for his work, from various places and stations in life … It is by the Spirit of Christ that his ministers are made both able and willing for his service, and taken from other cares that would hinder in it. Christ's ministers are to be employed in Christ's work, and, under the Spirit's guidance, to act for the glory of God the Father … [may we] serve our generation according to his will; and when death comes, may we fall asleep in him, with a joyful hope of a blessed resurrection.”

 

A:  I am reminded that God keeps His promises, that He is powerful, that at any point if I am walking contrary to His ways that He offers us a chance to turn back to Him and be forgiven and made right and that He has a plan and purpose for each one of us for such a time as this. 

 

P:  Thank you Heavenly Father that You provided a Savior as You promised and that death could not keep Him in the grave.  Thank you for resurrection power that is available to our lives today.  Thank you that you give us forgiveness for sins and right standing with You.  May we serve You and seek to do Your will and purpose.   Through Christ Jesus, Yeshua the Messiah I pray.  Amen & Amen.

 

Discussion question: 

What part of this message brings you the most encouragement today?

 

"We were not born for ourselves, but there are those living around us, to whom we must study to be serviceable.” ~ Matthew Henry

The Journey, His Presence and our Conversion

2 □ Ex. 33; Acts 9:1-19, 31-43

S:  “Now therefore, I pray you, if I have found favor in Your sight, let me know Your ways so that I may know You [becoming more deeply and intimately acquainted with You, recognizing and understanding Your ways more clearly] and that I may find grace and favor in Your sight …” Exodus 33:13 Amplified

 

O:

1)      The LORD takes care of all the “ites” before us.  (33:2)  “… the Lord knows how to deliver the godly, and will, with the temptation, also make a way to escape …”

2)      Anywhere He leads us is of no use without His Presence, even to the promised land.

3)      Moses had face-to-face time with the LORD (not Facetime or Skype, but face-to-face) as one friend to another.  Matthew Henry put it this way, “God's gracious promises, and mercy towards us, should not only encourage our faith, but also excite our fervency in prayer.”  Just as Moses interceded for the people we now have Christ who ever lives to make intercession for us.  (Romans 8:34)  “What happy tidings are these to all who understand the nature and power of prayer … you may as well find a living man without breath, as a living Christian without prayer.”

4)      Sometimes we think we are going in one direction, but God has different plans and we encounter the LORD. (Acts 9:2-3)  Paul thought he was going to Damascus to work for the LORD by executing believers, but God showed Paul his true calling and work.  “Let us not despair of renewing grace for the conversion of sinners …”

5)      Lastly, in the healing of Aeneas & Tabitha we learn that Christ, by His grace, works in us, but we must use the power He gives us to get up, go and do the work He has for us.  “…we should desire to be full of good works, for the honour of his name, and for the benefit of his saints …”

 

“God's goodness is his glory; and he will have us to know him by the glory of his mercy, more than by the glory of his majesty.” ~ Matthew Henry

 

A:  As I seek the LORD for His direction I can know that He is with me and that He will clear out all the “ites” before me so I can stay on the course He has for me.  Worship is an important part of the journey just as Moses and the people worshipped.    

 

P:  LORD, how awesome to consider Moses talking to you face-to-face.  LORD to have that kind of closeness is what we long for.  It is why I come to you daily to this study to “seek your face”.  Moses wasn’t coming to ask anything of You except to know You more fully.  LORD as I journey through this life help that to be my goal in everything I do.  Whether it is in ministry or serving my family or whatever capacity You choose to use me, LORD, let my goal be to know You more.  Thank you that You clear the way before us.  That we do not have to fear any “ite” that may try to come against us; all we have to do is trust You!  Lead each one that has come to this study today to a closer walk with You throughout this day.  In the Mighty Glorious Name of Jesus, Yeshua, my Savior I pray, Amen & Amen.

 

“If our hearts go forth toward God to meet him, he will graciously come to meet us.” ~ Matthew Henry

 

Study tip:  Find a commentary you like.  After you read and study the Scripture on your own then use a commentary to go deeper. 

 

I like this one:  http://www.biblestudytools.com/commentaries/matthew-henry-concise/