The Spoken and Unspoken Message

 

Read Ps. 19 and Acts 11

S.O.A.P.

 

 

S:  Psalm 19 is so poetic!  I especially love verses 3 and 4 speaking of the stars and the sunrise and sunset: 

 

“Their words aren’t heard,
    their voices aren’t recorded,
But their silence fills the earth:
    unspoken truth is spoken everywhere.”

 

And then speaking of God’s Word the Psalmist pens these words in verses 7-9:

 

“The revelation of God is whole
    and pulls our lives together.
The signposts of God are clear
    and point out the right road.
The life-maps of God are right,
    showing the way to joy.
The directions of God are plain
    and easy on the eyes.”

The Message

 

I also like how plainly The Message reads verse 12, “Clean the slate, God, so we can start the day fresh!  Keep me from stupid sins, from thinking I can take over your work …”

 

Peter puts it this way in Acts 11:17, “who was I and what power or authority had I to interfere or hinder or forbid or withstand God?”  Words like these quieted people up in a hurry! (vs 18)

 

O:  As I read the accounts in Acts 11 I am reminded of my New Testament Survey Class I took this past semester.  Acts is like a history book of the early church.  What is cool about it is you can take each epistle that was written and sort of place it into the book of Acts.  Acts 11 takes place in about 43 AD at about the same time the Book of Matthew was written.  As we get into the next few chapters we will begin to see Paul’s missionary journeys.  The letters of Paul fit right into the book of Acts written by Luke from this point forward. 

 

Matthew	40-55 AD
James	45 AD
Galatians	48-49 AD

 

Much of Galatians ties into Acts 11.  The revelation mentioned (Gal 2:2) corresponds with the prophecy of Agabus in verse 27-28.  Paul exhortation to remember the poor (Gal. 2: 10) fits with the purpose of the Acts 11.  When studying this last semester I found this all to be very insightful and it helped me to get a better view of the Bible as a whole and the living history of the early church. 

 

A:  The application for me today is first to thank Him for his handiwork that we see day in and day out.  Take special notice of the skies and how their “unspoken truth” is everywhere.  Not to worship the creation, but the Creator who make all of those beautiful things and keeps it running day in and day out.  Secondly as we said yesterday to share with others the message of salvation and to encourage present day believers as well.

 

P:  LORD, I thank you Father for the many, many ways that You reveal Yourself to us in nature.  We often see some magnificent displays of Your creativity and beauty.  Help us to take special note of these things and to look to You with more and more adoration.  Now according to Acts 11 I pray that Your presence would be with us in such power,  that many would hear the message of Your WORD and believe and surrender their lives to You.  Help us to encourage those who already believe to remain faithful and devoted to You, Lord.  Control us by Your Holy Spirit and fill us to capacity with faith and Your power.  In the words of the Psalmist I pray, “These are the words in my mouth.  Accept them when I place them on the morning altar, O God, my Altar-Rock, God, Priest-of-My-Altar.”  Amen & Amen.